Images

An invader of other bees nests, this is Coelioxys porterae, found, in this case from Acadia National Park in Maine. I can't recall which species of Megachile (leaf cutting bees) this species parasitizes us but there are plenty of options in the park. This is a male, and as with almost all males it has all kinds of pointy projections on its rear end.

Coelioxys porterae, male, Maine, Acadia National Park

Another Coelioxys nest parasite bee from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This one is a nest parasite of big Leaf Cutters like Megachile latimanus. Here are shots of a male and a female.

The most common of the Coelioxys nest parasites in the mid-atlantic region. This is C. sayi, in this case, a male and simply a mating machine, not involved in nest construction. Check out the multi-pointed rear end. I am unaware of what use this is, but most of the Coelioxys males have some variant of this unusual pattern. Photographed by Ashleigh Jaoobs.

The most common Coelioxys in the East. C. sayi is a nest parasite, slipping into the nests of leaf cutters like Megachile mendica and kin and dropping an egg into the wall of their nests. In the female, like this one, the edge of the clypeus is slightly indented (hard to see). Now you know.

The most common Coelioxys in the East. C. sayi is a nest parasite, slipping into the nests of leaf cutters like Megachile mendica and kin and dropping an egg into the wall of their nests. In the female, like this one, the edge of the clypeus is slightly indented (hard to see). Now you know.

Coelioxys vigilans, Female, Dominican Republic, March 2012

Coelioxys sayi, female, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Odenton, Maryland

Colletes aestivalis. Rare? or Not Rare? This is a Heuchera specialist. Heuchera is planted everywhere, why is the species not seen and seen by some as a potential species of concern. A few things pilgrim.

Colletes aestivalis. Rare? or Not Rare? This is a Heuchera specialist. Heuchera is planted everywhere, why is the species not seen and seen by some as a potential species of concern. A few things pilgrim.

Chino Farms Maryland....they are restoring their grasslands and open land on what I think is the largest farm in Maryland;and as a bonus they got a specimen of the very rare Colletes brevicornis. Hannah and Ashleigh, new interns from my lab took this picture...good job.

One of two shots of yet another slime mold group found by Susan Hopkins during the ATBI Adirondack bioblitz this past week. One can see where they get the common name of coral slime molds.

This lovely purple blue Chrysidid wasp was found be Gene Scarpulla on the dredge spoil augmented Hart-Miller Island in the Chesapeake Bay. It is interesting to ponder whey these nest parasites are inevitably a bright metallic color and not something seemingly more cryptic (cryptic to an insect and cryptic to a mammal are likely two different things).

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

Cerceris hatuey, female, Cuba

Cerceris triangulata, Female, GTMO, Cuba

Just one of many kinds of bees for which we know little to nothing. Beautiful wings though! This specimen comes from Brazil and was found in Laurence Packer's lab 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.

One of the Trichiotinus flower chafer beetles, collected on Vinton Furnace Experimental Station of the USFS, home to many uncommon native bees. Photographed by Brooke Alexander

Mystery Wasp....I think it is a Chalcid, but a couple of people have now suggested that is likely a Leucospis. This was from 2014 and was collected in Anne Arundel County and... I can't quite recall why we took this picture. Can someone id the wasp for us?Thanks Pilgrims. Picture taken by Wayne Boo.

Chamaesyce maculata, Spotted Spurge, August 2012, Beltsville, Maryland

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