Javier knew of ants protecting treehopper nymphs but had never seen a bee doing it. It took him several days of returning to the same spot to find this image, a stingless bee beating its wings to warn him off, painting rainbows in its wake, and the nymphs safely lined up beneath.
As well as aggressive wingbeats, stingless bees fly protectively over the juvenile treehoppers. In return for their diligence, they drink the nutritious drops of honeydew produced by the nymphs. These ones are only recently hatched.
Spain
Javier is a Spanish biologist and wildlife and conservation photographer who focuses on the natural history, science and conservation of smaller animals. He is an Emerging League Photographer at the International League of Conservation Photographers and believes that the power of photography can be used to help conserve our planet and the animals and plants that live on it.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.
