Images

Unknown species of ant, Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming,

Bling Butterfly - Anteros fomosus - a.k.a.Black-bellied Anteros, or Formosus Jewelmark, collected in Peru. This is the underside and I show a variety of shots at different magnifications to highlight the lovely metalmarks some of the mirror-like scales create. Specimen from the Natural History Museum in Washington D.,C.

Bling Butterfly - Anteros fomosus - a.k.a.Black-bellied Anteros, or Formosus Jewelmark, collected in Peru. This is the underside and I show a variety of shots at different magnifications to highlight the lovely metalmarks some of the mirror-like scales create. Specimen from the Natural History Museum in Washington D.,C.

Here is a series of male and female Anthidiellum ehrhorni. these are small, relatively cute in the scheme of things, bees that dwell in the drylands of Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. They are fast flying and remind me of flying peas for some reason. Though I can't recall any peas that look like A. ehrhorni.

Here is a series of male and female Anthidiellum ehrhorni. these are small, relatively cute in the scheme of things, bees that dwell in the drylands of Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. They are fast flying and remind me of flying peas for some reason. Though I can't recall any peas that look like A. ehrhorni.

Anthidiellum - Latin dimunitive of the the larger, and more robust, genus Anthidium. This little bees often go unnoticed both because they are very small and because they are very fast...zipping from flower to flower seemingly without resting.

A lovely little southern pea loving bee. Its so nice to know that these little flying jewels are out there and not everything is a honey bee. Collected by Sabrie Breland in the southern pinelands of Georgia and photographed by Sara Guerrieri.

Background fun. Note that in one picture in this series we put a background of grass in our mini-insect studio in front of the black velvet curtain. What do you think ...pro? con?This is Anthidium illustre a snappy looking beast from the Rocky Mountains west.

Andrena illinoiensis, South Dakota, Badlands National Park,

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.

Andrena krigiana

what is your thinking on willows? Like most people, maybe not much. They make great wicker baskets. They also tolerate some pretty extreme conditions along rivers, streams, tundra, that other trees can handle. In the East they are the largest plant being that has "specialist" bees.

Andrena macra. One of almost 100 species of Andrena that occur in the State of Maryland.

Andrena macra, a southern bee that just barely makes its way to Maryland. Seems to like to aggregate nests in sandy areas and create small colonies, although colonies are probably a poor word choice, perhaps more likely they just like to nest near one another.

Andrena macra, a southern bee that just barely makes its way to Maryland. Seems to like to aggregate nests in sandy areas and create small colonies, although colonies are probably a poor word choice, perhaps more likely they just like to nest near one another.

A little tiny Andrena bee collected in the sandhills of North Carolina by Heather Campbell. Not much is know about this species, other than it appears to be uncommon and spotty in occurrence and runs from the West to the East coast with a fair amount of variation, which usually indicates that other species may be hidden within this one. So much work to do.

A little tiny Andrena bee collected in the sandhills of North Carolina by Heather Campbell. Not much is know about this species, other than it appears to be uncommon and spotty in occurrence and runs from the West to the East coast with a fair amount of variation, which usually indicates that other species may be hidden within this one. So much work to do.

Another dark northern Andrena. This one also runs down the high elevations of the Rockies and the Appalachians. Collected in Hancock County, Maine and contibuted by Alison Dibble.

A couple of so so pictures of Andrena milwaukeensis. Check out the tiny dark hairs in the facial fovea.. Photo by Dejen Mengis

A bee (Andrena morrisonella) that may or may not be the same species as A. imitatrix.

From Anne Arundel County, in Maryland, 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