Images

A large bright green with blue overtones Agapostemon from Badlands National Park. One of several species present there and very similar to A. virescens and a bit tricky to tell apart. Photo by Wayne Boo with help from Ben Smith on upping the Photoshopping techniques.

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

East of the Mississippi River there are 4 species of Agapostemons. The largest of the metallic green Sweat Bees. In some places they can be extremely abundant. This species, however, is never abundant, but exists throughout its range in a here and there sort of way. Regularly occurring, but never dominating.

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

Hardy County, West Virginia

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the raree Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

Another shot of the previous bee, this time from the back. Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

Andrena confederata - A male of this uncommon species found in Calvert County and photographed by Dejen Mengis.

Andrena cressonii - Common, shows up almost everywhere in the spring. Secret identification tip of the day: There is a raised line slanting across the pronotal collar that is usually visible from one side of there other (depending on how the head is cocked). As you go west the legs tend to get very orange...is it a different species?

A bee that feeds its babies a restricted diet. In this case that diet is that of Geranium pollen. While I didn't check this specimen from Virginia those lovely pollen grains on its hind legs are very likely Geranium.

Cast skin, Prince George's County Maryland, collected by Richard Orr

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.