Happy World Bee Day! Bees are definitely my favourite animal. Not only do I think they are incredibly cute, but the function they play in our ecosystems makes them essential to our survival, as well as many other species of plant and animal. As one of the world's key pollinators, bees are responsible for many of the fruits and vegetables we eat on a day to day basis.
Where I'm from, in Australia, we have almost 2,000 native species of bee, many of them solitary. Thanks to land clearing, the use of pesticides and competition with introduce bee species such as the European Honeybee, many of these species are disappearing.
In recognition of this special day, I've decided to share some of my favourite portraits of different bees I've been lucky enough to share space with.
