Images

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

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Now here is a beauty. Nomada graenicheri, rare as all get out and its host is unknown (but could be one of the summer Andrena...). This one was collected in the mountains of Virginia by Megan Ayers as part of her team's efforts to survey the bees of that state. For some reason the facial shot presents notes of anime...at least to me. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

Dominican Republic

Mark Hepner collected this Puppy in West Virginia. This lovely yellow and black species (a common pattern out there in the bee world) is one of those specialist bees that lives in its own little neighborhood. That neighborhood for Paranthidium jugatorium is the world provided by Woodland Sunflowers...but only in the East, which means it is an Appalachian species.

The subtle and calmness that is the speckled sharpshooter, captured in grass in Upper Marlboro, MD

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

This is picture 9 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Pasites maculatus, White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee, specimen collected by Ron McGinley in PakistanTaxonomists have given plenty of Red Cuckoo Bees names, 23 globally to be exact, but only the White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee has received much attention beyond the usual cataloging.

Pasites maculatus, White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee, specimen collected by Ron McGinley in PakistanTaxonomists have given plenty of Red Cuckoo Bees names, 23 globally to be exact, but only the White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee has received much attention beyond the usual cataloging.

The Carpenter bee flower. This is one of the passion flowers, Passiflora incarnata, designed to be pollinated by Carpenter bees which fit right in and are daubed by pollen (note the stigmas are those large white things ABOVE the stamens). Since each vine is self incompatible they have to get it right. Flower and photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

This is Passiflora lutea. Lovely small, Yellow Passion Fruit. Worth planting this around your garden and watching to see if you can get a state bee record of Pseudopanurgus passiflorae...which, indeed, has been found in other states by gardeners. And besides, its pretty. Flower and photo from Helen Lowe Metzman.

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

One the spider wasps that are often called Tarantula Hawks, many often display various shades of red in their wings, perhaps as a warning to birds as their sting is notoriously painful. This one was collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba and photographed by Aaman Mengis

This is picture 5 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Perdita albihirta geraeae, female, Petrified Forest National Park...note the lovely turned mandible