Last fall before the first frost, the area was crazy alive with bees. There were many different types of them stocking up on nectar and pollen to get them or their hive or nest through the winter. There were lots of flowers, especially blackjacks, that time of year. This was one of many bees that were buzzing around from flower to flower not only eating, but also carrying pollen everywhere, as you can see. Thanks to all that pollinator activity in the fall (and most of the rest of the year), we have crops to eat and flowers to admire now. This particular bee is a carpenter-mimic leafcutter bee (Megachille xylocopoides), which is a type of solitary bee. They look similar to carpenter bees, but instead of building nests in wood, they create nests from leaves that they cut from plants. They are found in the United States from Texas, through the Gulf Coast, and as far north as Pennsylvania. They can be aggressive if harassed, but I have never seen that side of them. I guess that’s one of the advantages of trying not to disrupt your photo subjects.