Images

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

A western Augochlorella species... this time from Zion National Park in Utah, known for its rock formations, but also protecting some darn nice bees. Kim Huntzinger identified this bad boy and Wayne Boo took the shot today and of course the staff of Zion did the bee catching.

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence

One the books is a species called Augochloropsis metallica...it has 2 named subspecies A. m. fulgida and A. m. metallica. Turns out that preliminary molecule checking indicates that, yes, they are separate species. Morphology backs that up too. This lovely is from WV collected by Mark Hepner.

One the books is a species called Augochloropsis metallica...it has 2 named subspecies A. m. fulgida and A. m. metallica. Turns out that preliminary molecule checking indicates that, yes, they are separate species. Morphology backs that up too. This lovely is from WV collected by Mark Hepner.

This bee is in your garden! Have you seen it? Collected on the Tomatoes in Francisco Posada's in Laurel, Maryland

Now, here is Augochloropsis metallica metallica. See the previous post about A. m. fulgida for contrast. Note the generally darker blue and the fringe of stiff hairs along the edge of the abdomen.Brooke Googins is the photographer. This bee was collected on Plummer's Island as part of Gene Scarpulla's bee project in the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland.

Now, here is Augochloropsis metallica metallica. See the previous post about A. m. fulgida for contrast. Note the generally darker blue and the fringe of stiff hairs along the edge of the abdomen.Brooke Googins is the photographer. This bee was collected on Plummer's Island as part of Gene Scarpulla's bee project in the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland.

Collected by Heather Campbell in the Sandhills of North Carolina

Augochloropsis anonyma, female, Florida

The smooth tones of an unexpected composite, Baccharis halimifolia. Photo taken by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland. Photography Information: 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.

The smooth tones of an unexpected composite, Baccharis halimifolia. Photo taken by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland. Photography Information: 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.

Persimmon Psyllid, Baeoalitriozus diospyri, collected on persimmon yesterday by Brad Seay in Davidsonville Maryland. Adult and eggs.

Ah, something in the pea family. This is Baptisia tinctoria...horseflyweed. If I find a patch of this relatively uncommon plant I always spend some time seeing what bees are active around it. In particularly I am looking for Anthidiellums and other members of Megachilidae. Definitely something to plant in your yard if you can get hold of them.