Images

A sand loving, ground nesting Megachile from Gateway National Recreation Area on Sandy Hook in New Jersey. 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, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Megachile albisecta: An European summer species found on knapweed and thistles. A beautiful and large species. Collected by Jelle Devalez in the Aegean Island of Lesvos, Greece. 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.

Now this is one handsome male. This is Megachile albitarsis, we took it long enough ago (am working through out backlog of things needing photoshopping) that I can't recall the circumstances. This large, not uncommon, southern bee has big hands. These are used to cover the female's eyes during mating. You can make up your own story as to why.

Carrying on from the recent posts of Lithurgus chrysurus, here is another European bee that specializes on Knapweed. This specimen from the West Coast, but it occurs throughout North America. Photo by Anders Croft. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

A trinomial: Megachile brevis onobrychidis. Thus it is a declaired subspecies of M. brevis of which there have been several and at least one has turned into a species. Since the distribution of M.

I like looking at this shot, the symmetry, this alien being, this unknowable insect, there is something alive, even relatable here. This one is worth looking at full-screen. What if, indeed, this Megachile brevis, was as large as a puppy dog, would we treat it the same as we do now?

From the Adirondacks of New York comes Megachile centuncularis. Sadly, it is an invasive species that can be quite common in northern cities across the U.S. as well as throughout the northern part of the globe. Maybe that is why it is so successful, it likes our holes.

Not originating from here. This is Megachile centuncularis, from studies by MaLisa Spring in Cleveland. Cleveland and other large cities house more than their share of non-native species largely or likely because of the presence of so many non-native weeds and garden introductions.

Not originating from here. This is Megachile centuncularis, from studies by MaLisa Spring in Cleveland. Cleveland and other large cities house more than their share of non-native species largely or likely because of the presence of so many non-native weeds and garden introductions.

Lasioglossum truncatum, Garrett County Maryland, July 2012

Beltsville, MD, May 2012

The False Potato Beetle. Closely related to the Colorado Potato Beetle, but prefers other potato relatives such as Horsenettle. Proportions, colors, layout....exquisite. Collected by the fabulous potato beetle researcher Don Weber at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center.

Leptochilus acolhuus, Key Biscayne National Park, Florida, Thanks to Matthias Buck for the determination.

Unknown beetle, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, collected in colored bowl trap

Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, June 2013, Upper Marlboro, MD...eating moths coming to my moth light, highly reflective

A series of pictures from Silas Bossert from the National Collection at the Smithsonian. They use their own hi res camera equipment, but prefer a light background. Another Nomiin, this Leuconomia was collected in Kruger National Park in South Africa on expedition with Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison.

Prince George's County Maryland, Collected by Richard Orr

Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, while early blooming, I see few if any bees on the flowers. This specimen collected and photographed by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.

Lindernia dubia, false pimpernel, one of numerous low growing flowering plants that feed the many tiny bees that live out there, that we don't pay any attention to. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A lovely and quirky looking Liphanthus from Southern Chile. Capture on expedition with Laurence Packer in 2017. Photograph by Anders Croft.

Lipotriches , Plain Sweat Bee , collected in AustraliaThis is one of the bees in which the males are known to form sleeping aggregations "“ small groups to dozens of individuals clustering together on the same twig late in the afternoon and remaining there until after dawn.