Images

An often uncommon spring Andrena, I associate with the Appalachians, this is a male with a sweet yellow clypeus. Collected by MaLisa Spring near Marietta, Ohio. 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

Two different specimens of Andrena geranii. A northernish species that appears to be a specialist on ....geraniums. Notable is the slight blue metallic sheen to the body. Aaman Dengis and Brooke Alexander took the pictures.

Two different specimens of Andrena geranii. A northernish species that appears to be a specialist on ....geraniums. Notable is the slight blue metallic sheen to the body. Aaman Dengis and Brooke Alexander took the pictures.

Two different specimens of Andrena geranii. A northernish species that appears to be a specialist on ....geraniums. Notable is the slight blue metallic sheen to the body. Aaman Dengis and Brooke Alexander took the pictures.

Another odd ball Andrena from the Channel Islands. This one is A. gnaphalli, collected as part of a larger study of bees in climatically vulnerable National Parks. An apparent Asteraceaea specialist with some glints of green and red instead of the normal black integument.

Another odd ball Andrena from the Channel Islands. This one is A. gnaphalli, collected as part of a larger study of bees in climatically vulnerable National Parks. An apparent Asteraceaea specialist with some glints of green and red instead of the normal black integument.

Not the best lighting, but this is Andrena gnaphalii....a interesting Andrena with a green tinge. From the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Photo by Anders Croft.

Not the best lighting, but this is Andrena gnaphalii....a interesting Andrena with a green tinge. From the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Photo by Anders Croft.

Another odd ball Andrena from the Channel Islands. This one is A. gnaphalli, collected as part of a larger study of bees in climatically vulnerable National Parks. An apparent Asteraceaea specialist with some glints of green and red instead of the normal black integument.

Is the scientific name implies (helianthus = sunflowers), Andrena helianthi is a sunflower specialist. Not just the annual sunflower, commonly now raised to produce sunflower seed and sunflower oil, but also the many species of perennials and flowers, which are well deserving of spots in our gardens.

Sunflowers. Specifically, the genus Helianthus to separate out the other "sunflower" plants. Only found in North America. So tall and glorious that we have adopted many for our gardens. Thrusting skyward they telegraph their supply of pollen and nectar to the bees that only feed their young pollen of Sunflower. Here is one of them. The appropriately named A.

Sunflowers. Specifically, the genus Helianthus to separate out the other "sunflower" plants. Only found in North America. So tall and glorious that we have adopted many for our gardens. Thrusting skyward they telegraph their supply of pollen and nectar to the bees that only feed their young pollen of Sunflower. Here is one of them. The appropriately named A.

Sunflowers. Specifically, the genus Helianthus to separate out the other "sunflower" plants. Only found in North America. So tall and glorious that we have adopted many for our gardens. Thrusting skyward they telegraph their supply of pollen and nectar to the bees that only feed their young pollen of Sunflower. Here is one of them. The appropriately named A.

Another uncommon Andrena bee in the subgenus Trachandrena, this one seems to favor wooded areas. Formerly little known in the state, it is now recorded in 11 counties. Photography by Hannah Sutton.

Maryland, Anne Arundel County

Maryland, Anne Arundel County

Yet another! Large Melandrena species from the Eastern United States. The males are particularly difficult to tell apart. This one come from the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina.

Andrena hippotes is another Andrena in the Tracandrena subgenus. It does have the distinctive feature, at least in the East, of having orange legs, which helped separated out from the other Tracandrena species. However, like many of these colorations and markings in bees, it is likely to sometimes not be there.

Photo by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena hippotes, female

Yellow Bee: Yellow Pollen : Andrena hirticincta : Maine : Agriculture field edges. This is a fall bee, a bee of goldenrod and aster. How nice. Collected By Brianne Du Clos and photographed by Dejen Mengis.