Images

Unknown Fly species, from Malaise traps at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 2007, floating in hand sanitizer in a quartz cuvette....with improved clarity over the plastic cuvettes previously used

The first set in a long series of pictures to come out of a visit to Laurence Packer's lab, where we are picking out all sorts of lovely world wide bees to photograph. This dandy (yes it is tomato colored) is common in the temperate areas of Chile and Argentina, this bad girl is from Chile.

Elephantopus carolinianus - One of the elephant's foot group. I heard that it can be a good pollinator plant, but don't, as of yet, have much in the way of experience these. Photo and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Not 100% sure about this one, but seems likely that it is Cimbex americana, the elm sawfly, but in any case, quite the boss sawfly. There is something interesting going on here. If you meet some insects at a party and ask the question: Insect, show me your fluorescent orange parts they will only show you their antennae and their tarsal segments. Why?

While the host is away the Epeolus will play. This is E. autumnalis, collected by Jessica Rykken in Massachusetts. It does not gather pollen. Rather, the female sneaketh into the nest of a Colletes while it is out gathering more food and inserts its egg into the wall of the nest.

While the host is away the Epeolus will play. This is E. autumnalis, collected by Jessica Rykken in Massachusetts. It does not gather pollen. Rather, the female sneaketh into the nest of a Colletes while it is out gathering more food and inserts its egg into the wall of the nest.

Symphyotrichum species, Beltsville, Maryland, Aster, Prince George's County

Nectar dries quickly in the Atacama Desert of Chile, the driest desert in the world, and so many plants hide their nectar in deep nectaries. Bees visiting these flowers need long tongues and, in some instances, a very long head to reach the nectar.

Found a Common Grackle lying on the ground yesterday and took it to photograph. While taking pictures of the lovely subtle sheened feathers on the back of the head, an ant must have walked through one of the shots and its ghostly imprint remained.

Nymph, Beltsville, MD

Hmmmm, this is indeed and obviously a beetle, but what we have here is a failure to communicate. Our master list does not include this species and "crackalure" is not anything I am aware of ... nor is there the usual information on time and date of the stacking. But it is pretty. So up it goes and maybe it will be discovered later what species it is.

One of what seem like one billion different kinds of small shiny slightly metallic Lasioglossum species. This one characterized by very sparse pitting on the top of the thorax and bit more glintyness on the abdomen (yep, not great characters).

A bee of the coastal dunes. Restricted almost entirely to dune systems or more precisely, deep sandy areas next to salt water, this is one of the few bees that seem to have a strong habitat component (rather than plant component) to their distribution. Too bad about that sea level rise thing for them, I suppose.

Now, this is an interesting bee. Obviously it has occurred in Michigan, and indeed until quite recently that was the only place it was known from and in fact, was known only from one single specimen. However, it was so unique that was described by Ted Mitchell over 50 years ago as a new species.

Now, this is an interesting bee. Obviously it has occurred in Michigan, and indeed until quite recently that was the only place it was known from and in fact, was known only from one single specimen. However, it was so unique that was described by Ted Mitchell over 50 years ago as a new species.

Wetland Bee. There are many bees in wetlands. Why? Because so many wetland plants have flowers that are designed to lure bees. Why, for example, are water lilies so large and colorful? So they look good in our pretend ponds? Nope. To attract bees out into the pond for a little pollination fun? Yup.

Wetland Bee. There are many bees in wetlands. Why? Because so many wetland plants have flowers that are designed to lure bees. Why, for example, are water lilies so large and colorful? So they look good in our pretend ponds? Nope. To attract bees out into the pond for a little pollination fun? Yup.

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

Sleeping Bear Dunes .... The National Lakeshore. Has Dunes. Has very cool and rare dune bees. Here though is Lasioglossum nymphaeurum which occurs all over the East, and is notable in my mind for the rugged propodeal triangle...as you already know, dear friend. Photography by Sierra Williams and Shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Sleeping Bear Dunes .... The National Lakeshore. Has Dunes. Has very cool and rare dune bees. Here though is Lasioglossum nymphaeurum which occurs all over the East, and is notable in my mind for the rugged propodeal triangle...as you already know, dear friend. Photography by Sierra Williams and Shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

A small bee, a small sweat bee, a small difficult to identify sweat bee, Lasioglossum oblongum, collected in Wisconsin and photographed by Brooke Alexander. Characteristically, with very few hairs on its abdomen.