Images

A pretty kick butt bee plant. Lots of action at about eye height. Who can ask for more....it even blooms for long periods of time. Even better for the bee watcher. Likes wet feet, but I have a nice one growing right in my sand and gravel soiled backyard that I planted. I think this plant is underutilized in bee meadow plantings.

Unknown Vespidae, Yellowstone National Park, Photoshopping done by Ann Simpkins

Triepeolus concavus. Most Triepeolus bees are nest parasites of Melissodes, but a few interestingly have taken up with other groups of bees. This big one invades the nests of Svastra species...a group allied with Melissodes but a bit more robust and buff in their body. This one collected in Badlands National Park.

Triepeolus concavus. Most Triepeolus bees are nest parasites of Melissodes, but a few interestingly have taken up with other groups of bees. This big one invades the nests of Svastra species...a group allied with Melissodes but a bit more robust and buff in their body. This one collected in Badlands National Park.

Triepeolus distinctus. This is the female of the male of the species that was posted a couple of weeks ago. Equally lovely. Both were found in an untended sand pit near my house. The key is untended as most sand pits not are filled with junk and the capped with clay and then planted with cool-season grasses and maybe some trees. The worst thing you could do.

Triepeolus distinctus. This is the female of the male of the species that was posted a couple of weeks ago. Equally lovely. Both were found in an untended sand pit near my house. The key is untended as most sand pits not are filled with junk and the capped with clay and then planted with cool-season grasses and maybe some trees. The worst thing you could do.

Red-eyed Bee. What a lovely palette this bee has of tomato saturated reds, on a shiny black integument with stripes of appressed off-white hairs. This bee was found when Mimi Jenkins and I went to my favorite sand pit to collect bees while our offices were shut down due to a security threat. Such a bonus.

Red-eyed Bee. What a lovely palette this bee has of saturated reds, burnt umber hairs, on a shiny black integument. Upholstery, anyone would want. This bee was found when Mimi Jenkins and I went to my favorite sand pit to collect bees while our offices were shut down due to a security threat. Such a bonus.

Here is the Common Blue Violet. State Agriculture Bulletins talk about "Controlling" this tough beauty. Native, rugged individualist, creator of ground cover with its own distinct specialist bee (Andrena viola) in its own genus. What's not to like here? Oh, that's right the, I forgot about the existence of lawn privilege ...

Here is the Common Blue Violet. State Agriculture Bulletins talk about "Controlling" this tough beauty. Native, rugged individualist, creator of ground cover with its own distinct specialist bee (Andrena viola) in its own genus. What's not to like here? Oh, that's right the, I forgot about the existence of lawn privilege ...

I believe this to be a wasp in the Genus Ectemnius, but I don't know for sure as I just am not a wasp expert. This one was collected in the Neck District of Talbot County Maryland a few weeks ago. Photo by Wayne Boo.

An unknown species of Wasp from the Dominican Republic, collected on a trip I took a couple of years ago. Photo by Kamren Jefferson, Photoshopping by Dejen Mengis. 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.

Unknown Species of Wasp, Bryce Canyon National Park

Unknown Species of Wasp, Bryce Canyon National Park

Fun wasp from Kruger National Park. Note the expanded antennal ends (actually the other antennae snapped off). Most likely this is one of the pollen gathering wasps in Masserinae group. So, you thought only bees in the stinging category of insects gathered pollen. Nope. However, in North America, these wasps mostly, if not entirely show up only in the West.

likely scelionine genus Sparasion, determined by Roger A. Burks and Doug Yanega, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida

A nest parasite of Melissodes, this is a relatively common species of an uncommon genus. Collected by Sabrie Breland in South Georgia in a lovely remnant of longleaf pine. Picture by Brooke Alexander.

Powerlines. Or more accurately transmission corridors. Now one of the few places that open country forb communities exist in many parts of the East. Often seen as a blight, they if not mown or sprayed to death, are places of refuge for many rare bees.

Here is a bee, Triepeolus remigatus, that is native to North America, but in much of the continent occurs only because of the crops we plant. In this case that crop is squash and pumpkins.

An unknown species of Triepeolus from the southern most part of Georgia. Not sure what species as it doesn't seem to key out very well to any particular species. Will have to send off to Molly Gee for ID. Collected by Dave Gruenewald who is studying the bees in southern pine plantations.

The black onion fly...Tritoxa flexa. So fabulous in coloration. Picture by Wayne Boo, Photoshopping by Dejen Mengis. 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.