It's Alive Life

‘Polyester bees’ brew beer-scented baby food in plastic cribs

Solitary moms set up an unusual microbrewery for each egg

A close up photo of a bee sitting on a purple flower with green leaves and stems in the background.

A kind of cellophane bee, Ptiloglossa arizonensis, collects pollen from a silverleaf nightshade flower. She will mix the pollen with nectar in homemade plastic cribs to create runny beer-scented baby food for her young.

Tobin Hammer

By Susan Milius

Female Ptiloglossa bees are single moms with a lot to do and little time.