Images

Lasioglossum surianae, Male, Florida, Miami-Dade County

Lasioglossum surianae, Male, Florida, Miami-Dade County

Sara Prado found this Megachile concinna in agriculture fields in her Puerto Rico studies. Is it native to P.R.? Nope. It is a tramp species that shows up in different places from its homeland in the Mediteranean. Photo by Brooke Alexander.

Here is a small leaf cutter from Puerto Rico. However, it is not native to P.R. but likely inadvertently introduced through its habit of nesting in holes in wood...which could be holes in pallets or packing crates. Found is scattered locations around North America and even in Hawaii.

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

A mysterious species of Megachile that seems to have recently become common in the East, this specimen or one like it represents the first Maryland record and was collected from the back parking lot of Redskin's Stadium, not exactly the wilderness (or perhaps just a different wilderness..).

Now, this is an interesting bee. Obviously it has occurred in Michigan, and indeed until quite recently that was the only place it was known from and in fact, was known only from one single specimen. However, it was so unique that was described by Ted Mitchell over 50 years ago as a new species.

Wetland Bee. There are many bees in wetlands. Why? Because so many wetland plants have flowers that are designed to lure bees. Why, for example, are water lilies so large and colorful? So they look good in our pretend ponds? Nope. To attract bees out into the pond for a little pollination fun? Yup.

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

Lasioglossum oblongum. An interesting species that pops up here and there. One of the most interesting places for me has been to see it in large numbers along the edges of salt marshes on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where few other bees persist. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Virginia, Page County

Lasioglossum parvum...collected in Puerto Rico agricultural areas by Sara Prado

Lasioglossum parvum...collected in Puerto Rico agricultural areas by Sara Prado

Ah, a dark Lasioglossum, small, all black, a bit of gloss on the thorax, sides rough, angulate, like crumpled tinfoil, except black. Small, common, and expected thoughout the East.

One of many species of slightly metallic Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group. Lasioglossum perpunctatum is a northernly inclined species found in the Appalachians and up across northern North America.