Images

Centris species are replacements for Bumble Bees in the American Tropics. This aptly named species is from Sara Prado's studies in Puerto Rico, where she studies the native pollinating bees of the island.

Bombus auricomus, A species regularly found in urban areas, but uncommon elsewhere, this one is from Baltimore along powerlines near the collectively owned Armistead Gardens

Bombus auricomus, A species regularly found in urban areas, but uncommon elsewhere, this one is from Baltimore along powerlines near the collectively owned Armistead Gardens

Bombus bifarius is one of the common species of western bumble bees, surprisingly, there are nearly 50 different species found north of Mexico and many are also tricky to identify and can only be accomplished under a microscope. So not like butterflies.

Another Chrysidid wasp (cuckoo wasp) from the Hart-Miller Dredge Spoil site in Baltimore Harbor, collected by Eugene Scarpulla, photographed by Brooke Alexander Identification by Lynn KimseyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of o

Chrysocolletes species, Wavy-haired Bee, specimen collected by Laurence in Australia Another genus of bees whose range is restricted to Australia; five species are known, but three of them are only known from male specimens, the females remain unknown.

Golden-backed Snipe Fly, Collected by Francisco Posada, Laurel, Maryland

Roooooarrrrrr!, Danger, creature from the black lagoon. Or...not. Here we have a close up look at the many interesting features that are left behind when a cicada emerges. This one was in my backyard and left his/her full body suit behind on the shed.

Tiger Beetle, Collected in a Sand Pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland Detemination by Lepphotos as: eastern race of the Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle -- Cicindela tranquebarica tranquebarica

New Maryland state record. Common Clay Bank Tiger beetle (Cicindella limbalis), or, in this case, the Uncommon Clay Bank Tiger beetle. The specimen and 2 others were found while we were hunting these (with permission) in the yet unopened Wills Mountain State Park in Western Maryland.

Water Hemlock. Cicuta maculata. Super poisonous, but good for bees. Photo and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200.

What a beautiful name, ... an overlooked plant of woodlands, now I am wondering what its pollinators might be...when does it bloom, seems like maybe middle of summer when most of the bees are absent. Specimen and picture by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A series of shots of Citrus Psyllid adults (including a recently emerged white adult) , and larvae of Diaphorina citri which is the transporting agent of citrus greening disease now devastating Florida's orange groves. Pictures taken at Level 3 level quarantine at USDA's Lab at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Thanks to Tina Paul for fascilitating all of this.

Cerceris triangulata

Cerceris triangulata, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Ah....the redbud a lovely native leguminous north american small tree. Widely planted, awesome pollinator pollen and nectar food source...and...very interestingly, it has clear seed pods until mid summer which allows investigators to look at rates of pollination....could be used as a sentinel and a great citizen science project.

Redbud leaves, Cercis canadensis, fresh spring leaves at their births, at the end of the cycle, no leaf is untouched by another organisim, be it insect, arthropod, virus, fungus, or bacteria and eventually drops. A particularly lovely member of the pea family. Pictures and photos by Helen Lowe Metzman from Howard County, Maryland.

Ah....the redbud a lovely native leguminous north american small tree. Widely planted, awesome pollinator pollen and nectar food source...and...very interestingly, it has clear seed pods until mid summer which allows investigators to look at rates of pollination....could be used as a sentinel and a great citizen science project.

A nice fluffy male Centris attripes from Central Texas collected during a family reunion. Centris are large bumble bee sized bees and as you move into desert and tropical area in the Americas the number of bumble bees decline and the number of often oil using Centris species and the equally large Carpenter bees increase.

White turtlehead. Chelone glabra. A good bumble bee plant and host for the Maryland State Butterfly, the Baltimore Checkerspot. Photo and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman. Howard County, Maryland.

A series of pictures of a male and female species that loves Bellflowers (Campanula). Meaning that the female of this species provisions its nest (note: males never help in all Hymenoptera) with the pollen of this plant.