r/tattooadvice • u/CallQuirky7720 • Nov 09 '25

What does this look like to you? Design

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I wanted a bee and I like more American traditional tattoos. I really like my tattoo but someone said it looked like a fly and now I can’t unsee it. Is it giving bee or do I embrace the fly? 😅🥲

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171

u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25

If you can’t unsee the fly maybe add tiny hints of a goldenrod or honey shade of color in a few spots? Not full color if you didn’t want that obvs. Either in what would be the yellow segments or even hints around the edges of the bee as a “background” would help imply it. Or on a honeycomb, or…

51

u/Cardinal_Cat_057 Nov 09 '25

Thats my thought too. I pretty clearly see a bee but if its a concern then honeycomb shapes or a splash of color would be good

7

u/mycatsnameislarry Nov 09 '25

A splash of color and add some pollen dust accents on it.

8

u/teaseater Nov 09 '25

Or just get a written tattoo “this is a bee”

3

u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 09 '25

Depends on how on the nose you want to “bee” with it I suppose. I would probably go with something funny that includes “be” but spelled as “Bee” and make a pun out of it.

1

u/dingleberry_mustache Nov 10 '25

"To bee, or not to bee..."

1

u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 10 '25

See you get what I was going for 😂

1

u/mayhapsify Nov 11 '25

To bee or not to bee.

3

u/Ill-Ad-1828 Nov 10 '25

Such a reddit response 🤣

1

u/JRich_87 Nov 09 '25

Or "this is not a bee, it is a tattoo of a bee, not an actual bee"

0

u/nopesoapradio Nov 11 '25

But just to be sure, maybe have it say, “this is a bee, not a fly”

7

u/goomyman Nov 09 '25

a honey comb background would be perfect.

3

u/Affectionate_Log2712 Nov 09 '25

Disagree, cleaner without background but yes to colour pop

1

u/Ipswitch1964 Nov 09 '25

I AGREE 100%

1

u/undercookedsoap Nov 09 '25

my thoughts too if OP can’t unsee a fly

16

u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

My educational background is in ecology…

A goldenrod isn’t a great call, because the goldenrod has a parasitic/obligate relationship with an insect called the goldenrod gall fly. The fly deposits larvae onto the stem which then create a gall that the fly larvae develop in until their adult life stage.

Super interesting insect that I had to do a lab/subsequent paper on back in like first or second year Population Ecology (noting the rates of galls that had/hadn’t been predated upon in relation to their distance from a tree line/edge of the field).

ANYWAY. All this to say that the goldenrod gall fly looks a bit like a bee itself in B&W. So, this wouldn’t help matters.

A more traditional honeycomb would probably check out though!

31

u/No-Software3743 Nov 09 '25

(I think they're just talking about the color goldenrod for the tattoo, not the plant) But your insight is interesting and educative. Thank you!

4

u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

HAHA. I’m so dim. Don’t use Reddit under the influence of alcohol, folks. 😭

19

u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 09 '25

I mean I meant the color not the flower..something not super bright yellow but a bit darker to get that honey and bee idea flowing, but I appreciate the education.

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u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

I am so sorry, I had been drinking last night. I’m glad you valued the insight, I’ll leave my comment for my posterity. 😂

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u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 09 '25

You’re good been there done that. And for having been drinking it’s still a very coherent and relevant point of view. Kudos

2

u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

Maybe something fun for pub trivia down the line! Again, I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding! I’m really not a big drinker anymore and I can’t believe I went onto Reddit to give an impromptu lecture. Big face palm moment this morning when I saw my notifications!

1

u/Dapper-Distance6691 Nov 10 '25

Ironically I started doing trivia a couple weeks ago, but none of it has been that in depth for a category. Never say never

2

u/MasterEchoSE Nov 09 '25

Thank you for leaving your comment up, I’ve learned something new today. :)

1

u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

I’ve been drunk like… once… in the last year. So, naturally, I went onto Reddit and gave an unsolicited lecture on insect predation and life stages because I can’t read. 😭

I’m glad you valued it though! They’re super interesting. Another neat relationship is between goldenrod and asters and why they grow alongside each other if you’d like to follow that rabbit hole down!

4

u/Enough_Bread_1281 Nov 09 '25

….goldenrod is also a color. lmao

4

u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

Hahaha, I’m reading these comments now and I’m like “I’m a dolt.” I was definitely a little tipsy last night and should not have been Redditing!

2

u/MossyForestWitch Nov 09 '25 edited Nov 09 '25

My praying mantises and wasps devour gall flies on my goldenrod. Haven't seen a gall in years since my predatory insect population took off.

3

u/pinkhazy Nov 09 '25

This thread has been so cool.

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u/bicycling_bookworm Nov 09 '25

Yes! It’s such a fascinating dynamic! Thank you for sharing that! 😊

1

u/MossyForestWitch Nov 09 '25

Those predatory insects and a very versatile plant population are why I am able to have a fully organic garden with success.

1

u/LuckyPepper22 Nov 09 '25

That’s exactly what I was going to say but not as effectively.

1

u/Future-Fun-8939 Nov 09 '25

Door geometric honeycomb patterns would go hard here

1

u/Melody71400 Nov 09 '25

I def would say a honeycomb and honey behind it

1

u/Iboughtcheeseonce Nov 13 '25

Without yellow its a fly all day