Usually when a second insect lands on a flower the one there first takes off. These two seemed oblivious to the other and kept about their work. Although lady bugs, lady birds to some, are known as predators of smaller insects they do also gobble up pollen when they find some. Since it is on a bud I’d guess something microscopic is being devoured but he/she may be probing for pollen. No doubt about the bee’s motives.
Western Honey Bee-Apis mellifera and Asian Lady Beetle- Harmonia axyridis
I tried flipping the image but knowing how I captured it, it just didn’t look right. Hope upside down doesn’t make you dizzy.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Nice capture of the pair, Steve, and I rather like the insects upside down in their seemingly gravity defying walkabouts.
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Thanks, Ellen. I do try to present as captured most often. I thought of changing this only because my composition has too much bottom and not enough top. 🙂
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I always enjoy finding multiple insect species on a plant, or even on a single flower. This is an especially nice combination, and the fact that the buds are mostly visible above the insects is a plus. Great photo.
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Thanks, Linda. I do also but many times catching them both, or all, still is a challenge. I do wish I had more buds in the frame.
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Neat shot! and I hadn’t known ladybugs ate pollen, I thought they were totally devoted to aphids.
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I guess they have their druthers but, like most of us, will eat what is provided. Thanks, Robert.
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Personally I’d go for the pollen, before aphids, but you’re right, in a pinch I’d eat the bugs to survive. Maybe sprinkle them on a vegetable dish. Appetizing Aphids Au Jus on Artichokes
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We should remember that the coexisting coworkers formed a trio, including the one who took the picture and therefore doesn’t appear in it.
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Three buds with buds.
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You captured a rare event, Steve! I have not seen before a ladybug and a bee so close together in peaceful coexistence.
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To borrow a quote…”Can we all just get along?”. There’s more than enough for all. Thanks, Peter!
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Such a unique and glorious photo, Steve.
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Thank you, Jet. I am glad you enjoyed seeing this pair.
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That’s a great shot, Steve! Always good to get 2 for the price of 1 🙂
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Yup, love those bonus bugs (bees and beetles really). Thanks, Pete.
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Very Nice Steve! Great Image!
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Thanks, Reed!
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Interesting to see that they’re engrossed enough in their work not to take any notice of each other – or of you! 🙂
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Most often bees don’t stay long enough to get a good clear shot, too busy to stay in any one place for more than a brief moment. And often do fly off at my approach. Lady beetles too are in constant motion it seems. Guess they were concentrating on the job at hand…as was I. 🙂
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Now you went and did it. I liked you before this but you called it a bug everybody knows it’s not a true Bug it’s a beetle name for “our lady” IE Mary. Just being obnoxious and having fun I had fun hammering at home to students for years. It is sort of neat to point it out when you’re teaching classifications. Do you know what type of bladder wort that is? Focus is great on both blossoms and both insects, BEETLE and bea.
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Thanks, Don. I am glad you enjoy the images here. The flower is actually Common Milkweed-Asclepias syriaca which we encourage to grow in various places in the yard for pollinators, especially Monarch Butterflies. I did get it right below the picture.
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Nice opportunity that you took advantage of. This reminds me how much I enjoy watching the interactions of wildlife and how sometimes, like this, you see interesting pairings that you might not expect. I always marvel at this with birds, how sometimes certain species (or individuals) avoid or chase off other species but then at other times you see the two sitting side by side.
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There is so much to experience in Nature and we’ll never run out of new and amazing experiences. Glad that you enjoyed this, Todd. Thanks!
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So sharp … very nice! I like your title too!
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Thanks, Denise. I am not often very creative with writing. Titles are short and a bit easier. 🙂
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And you captured both in a great shot – a bit dizzy though!
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Upside down does feel odd a bit…for us. These two don’t mind it at all. .. Thanks, Ann-Christiane!
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I could get used to it…
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Interesting!
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I thought so too.
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