Images

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

A 100 year old specimen of a nest parasite of Colletes from Argentina. Those patterns on its abdomen are tiny, multibranched prone hairs. Nifty bee graphics. Picture by Samia Shell.

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

Yep, Black Walnuts have flowers....and here is a female one. Check out the fuzzy stigmas on top of what will be the nut later.

Another unknown jumping spider from Upper Marlboro, this one is only a few mm long, lots of wonderful things live complictated lives at the scale of a few mmCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Yesterday I captured this smallish (10mm) jumping spider. Not being a spider person I have not idea which genus it even is. So any help there would be wonderful. The closeup was done with a 10x nikon microscope lens on a 200mm used pentax. Beltsville, Maryland.

A series of shots of an unknown jumping spider from the Patuxent Bee Laboratory. Wish I knew more about spider id......

A series of shots of an unknown jumping spider from the Patuxent Bee Laboratory. Wish I knew more about spider id......

A July June Bug, Scarabaeid beetle, from my moth light, Upper Marlboro, MD

Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia. One of the last woodland bloomers in late May and early June in our part of the world.

Catterpillar of Endangered Karner Blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis, almost ready to pupate ...a.k.a. a fatty

Shed skin from captive reared Endangered Karner Blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Lasioglossum pectinatum, Maryland , Washington County. One very rare bee, this is the first one I have seen a specimen of from the state

Lasioglossum pectinatum, Maryland , Washington County. One very rare bee, this is the first one I have seen a specimen of from the state

Lasioglossum pectinatum, Maryland , Washington County. One very rare bee, this is the first one I have seen a specimen of from the state

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female.

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female, you can see its pollen carrying hairs under its abdomen.

Hoplitis fulgida, a female from Grand Tetons National Park, collected as part of a study of climate change. Most species in this genus are the normal black colored bee things, but a few, like this one are, as the Latin in name implies, glittering jewels.

Hoplitis pilosifrons. Oft overlooked. This species is relatively common occurring in almost any substantive collection of bees from a region or location anywhere East of the Rockies. It has the bad habit of being bland in its characters and often leads to misidentifications.