Images

A northern leaf-utter. Note all the lovely cutting edges on the mandibles. Found at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.

Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.

Seems similar to M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

While almost certainly M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

Melissodes communis from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Perhaps the most common species of Melissodes in the deep south. Big and hits the yellow composites like most of the Melissodes. Fast flier. The group is known as summer long-horned bees. Picture by Brooke Alexander, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

A pollen specialist. This species gathers pollen from what appears to be entirely the wet meadow growing plant. ironweed. A lovely deep purple aster that when planted in meadows and gardens is almost immediately discovered by this bee even though the region surrounding seems devoid of ironweed.

A pollen specialist. This species gathers pollen from what appears to be entirely the wet meadow growing plant. ironweed. A lovely deep purple aster that when planted in meadows and gardens is almost immediately discovered by this bee even though the region surrounding seems devoid of ironweed.

Melissodes dentiventris, male, an uncommon denizen of dry sandy areas, specializing on pollination of composites...particularly maryland goldenaster. Collected in Anne Arundel County Maryland

Virginia, front Royal Smithsonian project collected in northwest Virginia.

Virginia, front Royal Smithsonian project collected in northwest Virginia.

Medeola virginiana - Indian cucumber root. Yes, the root is edible and yummy. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman. 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.

I recently spent some time at a family reunion in South Central Texas and, of course, brought my net. Here is Megachile albitarsis, a large ground nesting Meg with its lovely amber red eyes and orange pollen carrying hairs.

Carrying on from the recent posts of Lithurgus chrysurus, here is another European bee that specializes on Knapweed. This specimen from the West Coast, but it occurs throughout North America. Photo by Anders Croft. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

I like this particular view of the underside of this bee. The black hairs are characteristic of the species, but it is also an oddly appealing picture in its aspect and layout, at least to me.Megachile apicalis - Invasive species: Specialist on knapweeds: Not common unless you haunt industrial and other wastelands where it can be common.

A trinomial: Megachile brevis onobrychidis. Thus it is a declaired subspecies of M. brevis of which there have been several and at least one has turned into a species. Since the distribution of M.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee - A leaf cutting bee, common throughout much of North America

From the Adirondacks of New York comes Megachile centuncularis. Sadly, it is an invasive species that can be quite common in northern cities across the U.S. as well as throughout the northern part of the globe. Maybe that is why it is so successful, it likes our holes.

Hawaii was colonized once by a single species of Masked Bee (Hylaeus), and evolved and split into dozens of species. Subsequent to Polynesian and European colonization a steady progression of non-native plants and bees have invaded.

Hawaii was colonized once by a single species of Masked Bee (Hylaeus), and evolved and split into dozens of species. Subsequent to Polynesian and European colonization a steady progression of non-native plants and bees have invaded.

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.