Images

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

A dark spring Andrena mining bee seen throughout the East in woodlands and the edge of woodlands foraging on the blooms of trees and the flowers that appear in early spring within rich deciduous woods. Andrena carlini is often the most common Andrena. One of the few bees in this large taxonomic group with dark pollen collecting hairs.

Hardy County, West Virginia

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the raree Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

Another shot of the previous bee, this time from the back. 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

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

Andrena confederata - A male of this uncommon species found in Calvert County and photographed by Dejen Mengis.

Andrena cressonii - Common, shows up almost everywhere in the spring. Secret identification tip of the day: There is a raised line slanting across the pronotal collar that is usually visible from one side of there other (depending on how the head is cocked). As you go west the legs tend to get very orange...is it a different species?

A bee that feeds its babies a restricted diet. In this case that diet is that of Geranium pollen. While I didn't check this specimen from Virginia those lovely pollen grains on its hind legs are very likely Geranium.

Cast skin, Prince George's County Maryland, collected by Richard Orr

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

Andrena aliciae, male

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

One of the relatively few fall Andrena species, this one from West Virginia. As the name implies, it is a lover of asters, and probably only uses Aster pollen to feed its young. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

A couple of shots of Andrena asteris. Turns out the species is, indeed, an aster specialist. Not particularly common, unless you spend a lot of time looking at asters. If you spend a lot of time looking at willows then good luck finding this species Kiddo. Photo by Wayne Boo.