Images

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.

Another nest parasite. Another Triepeolus. This time is is T. lunatus. A common species for a nest parasite in that it shows up regularly. The thought is that it is the nest parasite of Melissodes bimaculata which is perhaps the most abundant long-horned bee in the East, but probably is more generic in what Melissodes' nest it will invade.

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.

Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, Part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. This, is a nest parasite of bees in the genus Melissodes

Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, Part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. This, is a nest parasite of bees in the genus Melissodes

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.

First state record for Maryland. Collected at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in their very lovely pollinator garden. A possible nest parasite of Svastra obliqua which was also collected at the same time.

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.

One of a few undescribed Triepeolus that Molly Rightmyer left undescribed after her revision of the group North of Mexico. She simply labeled it Sp. 101. This one was captured by Tim McMahon in Cochise County, Arizona.

This small picture-winged fly was captured in Maryland and Photographed by Wayne Boo

This is picture 12 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Dominican Republic, trypoxylon mexicanum

Trypoxylon mexicanum, Trypoxylon species unknown

Dominican Republic, Trypoxylon mexicanum

Trypoxylon subimpressum, Cuba, GTMO,

Trypoxylon subimpressum, Cuba, GTMO,

Tylopelta gibbera, a wee, brown, spec-like, treehopper. This species runs from Central America north where it quietly sips sap from the tick-trefoil plant group.

Tylopelta gibbera, a wee, brown, spec-like, treehopper. This species runs from Central America north where it quietly sips sap from the tick-trefoil plant group.

The not so simple blueberry...this is Vaccinium corymbosum. First we know it is not so simple simply because there are so many bee species that only feed Vaccinium pollen to their babies. Why? There are Andrenas, Melittas, Habropodas, Osmias, and probably some others that escape me.

Japanese Burrowing Cricket, Beltsville, MD, July 2012, A reporter from Wired Magazine commented that this specimen was remarkably similar to Rodin's "The Thinker"

More Velvet Ant pictures...who wouldn't want more shots of this Badass Cowkiller? This one from Arkansas sent live in the mail by our correspondent FT. Its good to have such friends. Photos by Wayne Boo.