Images

An often uncommon spring Andrena, I associate with the Appalachians, this is a male with a sweet yellow clypeus. Collected by MaLisa Spring near Marietta, Ohio. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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

Two different specimens of Andrena geranii. A northernish species that appears to be a specialist on ....geraniums. Notable is the slight blue metallic sheen to the body. Aaman Dengis and Brooke Alexander took the pictures.

Two different specimens of Andrena geranii. A northernish species that appears to be a specialist on ....geraniums. Notable is the slight blue metallic sheen to the body. Aaman Dengis and Brooke Alexander took the pictures.

Another odd ball Andrena from the Channel Islands. This one is A. gnaphalli, collected as part of a larger study of bees in climatically vulnerable National Parks. An apparent Asteraceaea specialist with some glints of green and red instead of the normal black integument.

Connecticut, Tracy Zarillo Collector

A couple more shots of Andrena asteris, one male, and one female. Note the super fluffy hairs on the hind tibia of the female.

Andrena barbara, female

Andrena barbara, female

Andrena barbara, male

Andrena bisalicis, female, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, SC, Chesterfield County

For some reason I really like the lighting on the face of this specimen... eerie, the bee contemplating the decline of its own kind, that sort of thing. But I depart...Here is Andrena bradleyi, the Long-faced Mining Bee, a vaccinium (blueberry) specialist. If you hang out around blueberries then you might find this bee...the flowering plants that is.

Antennaria are underappreciated. ... They are subtly and softly sculptural in their hairiness and seem to thrive in the poor exposed soils of roadcuts and overgrazed areas that haven't been completely taken over by weeds. This Plaintain-leaved Everlasting. Collected by and picture taken by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.

Another lovely Buprestid from Kruger National Park in South Africa. Also another beetle found feeding on blooming trees in the park by project leaders Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison.

Beetles from Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is the start of a series of pictures of insects that come to the flowers in Kruger. This is a project led by James Harrison from S.A. and Jonathan Mawdsley from the U.S. I was lucky enough to come along and do some bee collecting. Interesting system.

Found in a Bombus atratus nest in Bogata, Colunbia by Francisco Posada

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.

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.

Collected in the deserts of Cochise County in Arizona as part of the famous Bee Course there by Tim McMahon, these speedy little bees are found throughout much of North America.

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.

Anthidiellum notatum, male, Alleghany County, Maryland, Shale Barrens, July 2012

Background fun. Note that in one picture in this series we put a background of grass in our mini-insect studio in front of the black velvet curtain. What do you think ...pro? con?This is Anthidium illustre a snappy looking beast from the Rocky Mountains west.