Images

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Halictus brunnescens: probably the largest species of Halictus in the Mediterranean region of Europe, together with its sibling species Halictus quadricinctus. They are usually found on large purple thistles. In early summer you can see the females digging themselves into the flower to reach the nectar. Picture taken by Sara Guerriera.

Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, covered in pollen from an unknown plant

Halictus ligatus. One of the crow bees of the North America. It occurs almost everywhere and remains common in urban and disturbed sites, where it is just fine with gathering pollen from alien weeds and flower beds.

Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, covered in pollen from an unknown plant

Gynandromorph. Park male. Part Female. Intersex. We run into these periodically. Maybe something like once every 25,000 specimens or so. This one is Halictus ligatus and was collected by Sara Bushman from Maine as part of her studies of coastal bees. This specimen is a hodge-podge of male and femaleness.

From the Aegean Islands of Greece comes what is most likely the most common Halictus in the region. Collected by Jelle Devalez. 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.

From the Aegean Islands of Greece comes what is most likely the most common Halictus in the region. Collected by Jelle Devalez. 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.

A relatively new invader to North America. Unlike most of the other invasive bees, this is a ground nester, most of the others nest in holes and likely come over as nest stowaways in shipping containers and dunnage.

A nest parasite of Colletes bees, this is perhaps the most common of the Epeolus species in eastern North America. This species main target is likely the common fall Cellophane Bee Colletes simulans. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

A lovely study in coffee-colored integument, heavily branched thick bright white hairs and some nicely formed spines on the scutellum (the back part of the thorax). Members of this group are nest parasites on species in the genus Colletes. Another specimen from the Packer Lab.

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Eriotremex formosanus, A giant introduced horntail from Asia found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Rattlesnake Master. What a lovely name for Eryngium yuccifolium. Not so common in the wild,but people are planting it regularly now and it usually yields a lovely show of bees on the blooms. Photo and plant by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Some ratty specimens of Eucera dubitata from West Virginia. Photos by Kamren Jefferson.

Previously seen on this Flickr site was the male of Eucera dubitata, now here is the female. The genus is a spring one and as you can see from its longggg tongue it has the equipment to harvest nectar and pollen from long corolla-ed flowers.

Carphophis amoenus amoenus - sadly one that I chopped up when digging my garden today...but at least I was able to take a picture. 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.

Calopteryx maculata, Ebony Jewelwing, Beltsville, Maryland Stream, Male June 2013

Calopteryx maculata, Ebony Jewelwing, Beltsville, Maryland Stream, Male June 2013

Calopteryx maculata, Ebony Jewelwing, Beltsville, Maryland Stream, Male June 2013

Cactus seed supplied by the Desert Botanical GardenCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 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