Images

Connecticut, Tracy Zarillo collector

Andrena specularia - This is a prairie bee. I know that because it is from North Dakota and there are no records that I know of east of the Mississippi River. In fact, there are no legit records outside of North Dakota. Other than the mysterious Turtle Mountains, ND is all about prairie. I would like to propose that this become the state's bee.

Pulled from malaise trap sludge, this little male was found in Calvert County as part of a survey of the Hymenoptera of Warrior's Rest Park. Photoshopping by Thistle Droege and photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Badlands national Park, South Dakota, Pennington County

Badlands national Park, South Dakota, Pennington County

Badlands national Park, South Dakota, Pennington County

One of the relatively few fall Andrena bees (most occur on spring wildflowers). This dark species is associated with Goldenrods and Asters...but then again, that is the main nectar and pollen source of the Fall. They also have a tendency to show up in sandy areas and, indeed, this specimen is from the Carolina Sandhills collected by Heather Campbell.

From the sand pits of Anne Arundel County Maryland comes this small Andrena, Andrena nubecula. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

Tiny Ceratina from Panama...in the first picture in this series you will see a rod going into its body to hold it in position for photographing in our mini bee studio. Actually this is not a rod but the very tip of the finest acupuncture pin. Yep, that is a small bee.

Ceratina guarnacciana, female, Dominican Republic

Ah, a mysterious Ceratina introduced into the Hawaiian island chain. This species is found throughout the islands now, but no one is quite sure what the species is. It is near the species C. dentipes but may or may not be it. So many mysteries in the world and too many introduced species. Photography by Sierra Williams and Photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Fuzzy, round-headed, and big are a pretty good short cut to the ID of Diadasia bees. Westerners, they, in a very casual pocket prairie sort of way make East of the Mississippi River. The bulk of the population is in dry natural areas from the middle prairies to the West. Here is a common one from our work in the Badlands of South Dakota.

A common genus out West, this genus does not really make it to the wet and lush East. This specimen we collected in the Badlands of South Dakota in the park of the same name. Clair Mudd took the shot.

Small Fuzzy Diadaasia diminuta. This little fur ball, is a globe mallow specialist. I am too tired after trying to beat back invasives all day in the yard to say any more. A lovely day though all the bees finally are emerging, including my first queen bumbles. The little poofs are from Badlands National Park in South Dakota.

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring--When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;Thrush's eggs look like little low heavens, and thrushThrough the echoing timber does so rinse and wringThe ear, it strikes like lightning to hear him sing;The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brushThe descending blue; that blue is all in a rushWith richness; the ra

The male of the female Lithurgopsis gibbosus already presented on this site. An uncommon species compared to its sister genus Megachile, it is often overlooked because of the superficial similarities.

A bee from across the pond. This is Lithurgus chrysurus. This is a Euro bee, but in the 70s some one noticed that their house in Philipsburg, NJ was being drilled to bits by bees.

A bee from across the pond. This is Lithurgus chrysurus. This is a Euro bee, but in the 70s some one noticed that their house in Philipsburg, NJ was being drilled to bits by bees.

Lithurgus tibialis: a fascinating species in that it is much smaller and looks quiet different from other Lithurgus species occurring in Europe and has the peculiar preference for flowers of Chrozophora, a quite unusual pollen source.., but from studies in Greece it is clear that the females almost solely visit this plant and collect its pollen.

Ah, the lovely wild hummingbird attracting Cardinal Flower. Nice to have bright red emerging from the wetlands every once in a while. Photograph and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Indian tobacco - Check out the pooched out lower parts of the flower (not sure of the technical name). An annual that crops up all over the place in Maryland. Specimen and picture by Helen Lowe Metzman.