Images

Aptly named: Lasioglossum coeruleum. Most of the many confusing members of these small sweat bees glimmer discretely in metallic integument, but our friend here takes it up a notch to and Osmia level.

Such a lovely blue and relatively unusual in the Genus Lasioglossum. At least in the East there is no other Lasioglossum so extensively and uniformly blue. So blue that it is often mistaken for an Osmia. This species is associated with woodlands, feeding on the vernal flora of the woods and nearby fields and nesting in rotten wood.

Lasioglossum creberrimum, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

A very deserty looking bee from the deserts of Bryce Canyon National Park. Lovely patterns. 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.

Lasioglossum egregium, nicely patterned bands of hair on its hinders, this is a common bee in the West. This particular one is from Bryce Canyon National Park. More to see in Bryce than a bunch of rocks, I think. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Lasioglossum egregium, nicely patterned bands of hair on its hinders, this is a common bee in the West. This particular one is from Bryce Canyon National Park. More to see in Bryce than a bunch of rocks, I think. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Lasioglossum egregium, nicely patterned bands of hair on its hinders, this is a common bee in the West. This particular one is from Bryce Canyon National Park. More to see in Bryce than a bunch of rocks, I think. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many tricky to identify Dialictus bee species, this from the lovely Cumberland Island National Seashore, Cumberland Island having many interesting species and worthy of much more exploration. Photo taken by Kamren Jefferson

Another Chrysidid wasp (cuckoo wasp) from the Hart-Miller Dredge Spoil site in Baltimore Harbor, collected by Eugene Scarpulla, photographed by Brooke Alexander Identification by Lynn KimseyCanon 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, link to a .pdf of o

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

Unknown Stinkbug from Hardy County, West Viginia. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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.

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

Here is a series of 6 shots of Hylaeus verticalis, 3 male, 3 female. A northern and mountain bee throughout North America. One of a bunch of different Masked Bees that lurk around the continent. Photos by Sue Boo and Brooke Alexander.

A native Hawaiian. This species of Hawaiian bee, Hylaeus volatilis, is in the only group of truly native Hawaiian bees, all of which descended from perhaps a single colonization event of a long ago masked bee (Hylaeus) which evolved to become many different species across the island chain, forming partnerships with the native Hawaiian plants.

Hylaeus volatilis - A native species of Hawaiian bee found at mid elevations on East Maui. This species is particularly interesting in that it is a nest parasite of other native Hylaeus species

Larimer County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

Larimer County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

Always a bit floppy, this is St. Andrew's Cross a small bushy thing with long odd petals.....I will admit to knowing little about the plant. Pictures and plant collection by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Key Biscayne National Park, Florida