Images

Maine, Collected by Sara Bushman

Badlands national Park, South Dakota

Andrena anograe, female, Badlands National Park

Andrena anograe, female, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

Andrena forbesii from Maryland, thanks to Ann Simpkins for photoshopping

An odd, dark Andrena bee of deep sandy areas that comes out in the middle of summer

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

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.

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.

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.

Andrena ceanothi, Hancock County, Maine Acadia National Park

Andrena cragini, male, new species record for South Dakota from Badlands National Park as part of a park wide inventory, this small Andrena species appears to be a Leadplant pollen specialist, photgraphed by interns Joyce, Colby, and Amber

A very common bee in our region. It can be found in almost any spring habitat from woods to yards.

One of the most common Andrena in the East, as well as throughout the US and southern Canada. Here we have the male of Andrena cressonii. This species shows up across many habitats, weedy, wooded, agricultural, lawns, suburbs, and wildlands.

New Lense set up! This is my first stack from a new lens set up that I learned from Johan Ingles-Le Nobel's lovely Extreme Macro layout.

Monster cleptoparasite, this dramatic species is a nest parasite of bees in the genus Centris and is endemic to South America. Note the one shot of the lovely expanded tibial spurs. I do not know their function, but it may have to do with nest invasions, either digging or gripping the walls of the nest. Lovely metallic blue / purple colors.

From Acadia National Park in Maine, this is one of but a few Andrena that come out in the Fall. Brooke Alexander was the photographer.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile