Bees and Hive (C&C are welcome too)

Hi! I hope everyone's doing great. I have here a cropped photo of some
bees (most of them out of focus) and their hive. I took this with my
kit-lens (18-55) and done some post-processing. I guess you have an
idea how close I was with these stingers. By the way, would you know
what kind of bees these are? TIA.


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_7nO3EBpvAsc/So...iu_TheHive.jpg


Here's a link to a larger version: Bees and Hive


Here's another photo of another stinger but bigger than the stingers above and found it buzzing about alone.


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7nO3EBpvAsc/So...inger copy.jpg


Larger photo: Stinger

If I'm right, those aren't bees--those are wasps. I'm thinking Paper Wasps...but the ones pictured look very similar to Yellow Jackets (Yellow Jackets may have a bit more yellow on the tail end, though), so I don't think I'd be venturing close enough to be taking pictures with a kit lens. Hell, I'm not even sure I'd do it with my 70-200!

Can anyone tell me what this is?Actual size isabout 1/2 an inch.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.26.13/2009_2D00_07_2D00_05_2D00_09_2D00_11_2D00_22.JPG[/img]

i always see them in summer, not bees or wasps, i call them hover flies...LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maleko

i always see them in summer, not bees or wasps, i call them hover flies...LOL
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This shot was taken on July 5th and they hardly EVER landed on anything! They would just hang out around flowers. They were way too small to focus on in the air (plus their movement was erractic) so I had to wait for one to finally land.

Hi. Indeed they are wasps, Sean. Silly me. I posted these photos first before I tried to search what they really are. I guess I just got too excited to post them.


The first is a photo of paper wasps. The second, I'm not so sure what kind of wasp or it can be a hornet or some sort.


@ Mark: That looks like a fly to me except that it's colorful than the ordinary fly I am used to seeing but I think the red eyes give it away.