Images

One of the relatively few fall Andrena bees (most occur on spring wildflowers). This dark species is associated with Goldenrods and Asters...but then again, that is the main nectar and pollen source of the Fall. They also have a tendency to show up in sandy areas and, indeed, this specimen is from the Carolina Sandhills collected by Heather Campbell.

From the sand pits of Anne Arundel County Maryland comes this small Andrena, Andrena nubecula. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena virginiana, famale, Maryland, Garrett County, July 2012

This is picture 3 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington 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.As majestic as the Golden State itself,we present Andricus quercuscalifornicus.

Anisodactylus haplomus. The third and final new state beetle record from Cove Point, Calvert County Maryland. Another carabid beetle collected by Brent Steury. 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.

There is something about the oily iridescence of these spider wasps that I find particularly attractive, the light has to hit the wings just right, like in this picture, and the subtly brewed stained glass opalescence that come through are impossible to replicate Collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, photographed by Aaman MengisCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Sta

Collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, photographed by AamanCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, photographed by AamanCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Here is a series of male and female Anthidiellum ehrhorni. these are small, relatively cute in the scheme of things, bees that dwell in the drylands of Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. They are fast flying and remind me of flying peas for some reason. Though I can't recall any peas that look like A. ehrhorni.

Can't really get tired of Anthidiellums. Here is Anthidiellum notatum...it is found throughout the United States and leaks into both Canada and Mexico. As is often the case for something that occurs across an entire continent, there are color variants, differences in various dimensionalities of veins, pitting, legs, and other structures.

Andrena ziziaformis meaning ... of the form of zizia...meaning kind of like Andrena zizia....which means the Andrena bee that collects the pollen of the plant Zizia...aka... Golden Alexanders. This little, tiny Andrena male has wonderful example of WIPS, wing interference patterns that show up in small Hymenoptera of many kinds. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

We are finally getting around to some of the common bees of the region. This one is Andrena miserabilis. Why miserabilis for a name? Not sure, it is not a particularly miserable bee, it comes out early in the spring and can be found in almost any environment from backyard to Woodlands.

Andrena ceanothi, female

Andrena crataegi, female

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Andrena fragilis, male, Cecil County, Maryland, June 2012

Andrena gardineri, Maryland, Garrett County, May 2012

Maryland

Andrena miserabilis, showing sharp pronotal corners

Andrena nigrihirta, female, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Andrena virginiana, male, Maryland, Garrett County, July 2012