leaf cutters

i went out this morning a fitted a new piece of light blocking cardboard on the bee hatchery because...

the bees were due to arrive today...and they did...

doubtlessly some had hatched out in the two day trip so into the refrigerator ( half an hour ) to slow them down a bit...

and when i opened the mesh bag i found...

more than a "few" had hatched...

most were males...they have green eyes, females black eyes...who hatch out first...they wandered around my hand...

and onto my thumb and finger...

and took off...

to be replaced by another until they had all buzzed off...

a couple of the boys were squabbling about something or other...i broke it up with my index finger and they took off too...

the unhatched cocoons are in the hatchery and will be done in a few days...then we will scout out the yard for leafcutters...and if crown bees has a late summer sale there may just be more.