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Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA
Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA
Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

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Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back

Megachile exilis - Megs are most famous for being leaf cutters, but some are not (leaf cutters that is). M.

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Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side

Megachile exilis - Megs are most famous for being leaf cutters, but some are not (leaf cutters that is). M.

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Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

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Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

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Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD

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

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

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Megachile inermis, female, right side
Megachile inermis, female, right side
Megachile inermis, female, right side

Megachile inermis - A large female leaf cutter from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. So many species out there, it just goes on and on. Picture taken by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Megachile inermis - A large female leaf cutter from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. So many species out there, it just goes on and on. Picture taken by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Megachile inimica, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Megachile inimica, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Megachile inimica, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD

A lover of yellow composites. Sunflowers and things that look like sunflowers. Megachile inimica is a big leaf cutter, quite hunky really, a bee's bee. This is a male and was collected at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

A lover of yellow composites. Sunflowers and things that look like sunflowers. Megachile inimica is a big leaf cutter, quite hunky really, a bee's bee. This is a male and was collected at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

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Megachile inimica, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Megachile inimica, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Megachile inimica, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD

A lover of yellow composites. Sunflowers and things that look like sunflowers. Megachile inimica is a big leaf cutter, quite hunky really, a bee's bee. This is a male and was collected at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

A lover of yellow composites. Sunflowers and things that look like sunflowers. Megachile inimica is a big leaf cutter, quite hunky really, a bee's bee. This is a male and was collected at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

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Melissodes lustra, F, Face, CA, Santa Barbara County
Melissodes lustra, F, Face, CA, Santa Barbara County
Melissodes lustra, F, Face, CA, Santa Barbara County

The Channel Islands off of the coast of California have their own endemic set of animals and plants. I would expect that there might be some insects of the bee kind that might be endemic to, though I'm not familiar enough with their literature to know that is the case. Here, is Melissodes lustra from those islands. Photography from Sue Boo.

The Channel Islands off of the coast of California have their own endemic set of animals and plants. I would expect that there might be some insects of the bee kind that might be endemic to, though I'm not familiar enough with their literature to know that is the case. Here, is Melissodes lustra from those islands. Photography from Sue Boo.

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Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY
Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY
Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

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Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

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Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

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Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County
Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County
Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County

A cranberry specialist. This bee is one of the few bees that specializes on bogs and bog plants and is found in scattered locations from Southern New England along the coastal plane to the Gulf Coast. This specimen was collected by Heather Campbell in the sandhills of North Carolina.

A cranberry specialist. This bee is one of the few bees that specializes on bogs and bog plants and is found in scattered locations from Southern New England along the coastal plane to the Gulf Coast. This specimen was collected by Heather Campbell in the sandhills of North Carolina.

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Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

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Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

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Melospiza georgiana, side body
Melospiza georgiana, side body
Melospiza georgiana, side body

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

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