Ashy Mining Bee by Janice Gill

A Bee or not a Bee, that is the question.

This tiny insect is just under a centimetre long. To the casual observer, it appears black and may be mistaken for a fly. It could easily be swatted away.

In fact, this is a male Ashy Mining Bee. As with the more noticeable Bumble and Honey bees, it does an excellent job of flower pollination.