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USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Zizia aurea, Golden Alexanders, Howard County, Md,
Zizia aurea, Golden Alexanders, Howard County, Md,
Zizia aurea, Golden Alexanders, Howard County, Md,

Zizia - Every garden deserves a set of plant folks from the carrot family. This is Golden Alexanders, it even comes with a bee that only uses its pollen to feed its young, Andrena ziziae. Flat-topped and little flowers, this creates the perfect feeding platform for little wasps and bees. Check out the rest of the family and include them in your gardens too.

Zizia - Every garden deserves a set of plant folks from the carrot family. This is Golden Alexanders, it even comes with a bee that only uses its pollen to feed its young, Andrena ziziae. Flat-topped and little flowers, this creates the perfect feeding platform for little wasps and bees. Check out the rest of the family and include them in your gardens too.

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Wasp, U, back 1, Florida, Duval County
Wasp, U, back 1, Florida, Duval County
Wasp, U, back 1, Florida, Duval County

likely scelionine genus Sparasion, determined by Roger A. Burks and Doug Yanega, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida

likely scelionine genus Sparasion, determined by Roger A. Burks and Doug Yanega, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida

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Wax worm, U, Maryland, side
Wax worm, U, Maryland, side
Wax worm, U, Maryland, side

Galleria mellonella - The waxworm. The rather muscular and chiseled form of an introduced pest of bees nests. In this case this bad boy was found in a bumble bee nest that was built in a chickadee nest that the bumble bee queen had kicked out of the nestbox in suburban Maryland. So it goes in nature. Picture by Wayne Boo. Waxworm wrangling by Desiree Narango.

Galleria mellonella - The waxworm. The rather muscular and chiseled form of an introduced pest of bees nests. In this case this bad boy was found in a bumble bee nest that was built in a chickadee nest that the bumble bee queen had kicked out of the nestbox in suburban Maryland. So it goes in nature. Picture by Wayne Boo. Waxworm wrangling by Desiree Narango.

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Xanthorrhiza simplicissima, 2, Yellowroot, Howard County, Md,
Xanthorrhiza simplicissima, 2, Yellowroot, Howard County, Md,
Xanthorrhiza simplicissima, 2, Yellowroot, Howard County, Md,

Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Yellowroot. A long tradition in eastern North American of using this shrubby Ranunculus family plant for dyeing and medicine. Plant and specimen from Helen Lowe Metzman.

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Xyclocopa caffra, f, face, Kruger NP, South Africa
Xyclocopa caffra, f, face, Kruger NP, South Africa
Xyclocopa caffra, f, face, Kruger NP, South Africa

A common Carpenter Bee in Kruger National Park where they hang out in blooming trees (particularly legumes) once the trees start blooming with the austral spring rains. Looks a bit like the road stripers got a hold of her. Xylcopa caffra. Identified by Jonathan Mawdsley. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

A common Carpenter Bee in Kruger National Park where they hang out in blooming trees (particularly legumes) once the trees start blooming with the austral spring rains. Looks a bit like the road stripers got a hold of her. Xylcopa caffra. Identified by Jonathan Mawdsley. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

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Xyclocopa caffra, m, back, Kruger NP, South Africa
Xyclocopa caffra, m, back, Kruger NP, South Africa
Xyclocopa caffra, m, back, Kruger NP, South Africa

Another bee from Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is Xylocopa caffra...the male. Note how it is all yellow? Well the female is almost all black with some blocks of yellow on the abdomen. In a number of Carpenter bees on a number of continents this pattern repeats...while in other Carpenter bees the male and female are both dark.

Another bee from Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is Xylocopa caffra...the male. Note how it is all yellow? Well the female is almost all black with some blocks of yellow on the abdomen. In a number of Carpenter bees on a number of continents this pattern repeats...while in other Carpenter bees the male and female are both dark.

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Xylocopa balck violetwing, f, kyrgystan, side
Xylocopa balck violetwing, f, kyrgystan, side
Xylocopa balck violetwing, f, kyrgystan, side

A lovely dark Xylocopa from Kyrgyzstan with shimmering dark iridescence of wing and abdomen. 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.

A lovely dark Xylocopa from Kyrgyzstan with shimmering dark iridescence of wing and abdomen. 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.

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Xylocopa caerulea, u, back, Singapore
Xylocopa caerulea, u, back, Singapore
Xylocopa caerulea, u, back, Singapore

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

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Xylocopa caerulea, u, face, Singapore
Xylocopa caerulea, u, face, Singapore
Xylocopa caerulea, u, face, Singapore

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

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velvetbean caterpillar, moth, back
velvetbean caterpillar, moth, back
velvetbean caterpillar, moth, back

Anticarsia gemmatalis - Velvetbean Caterpillar - Soybean eater....this species can't overwinter in most of North America but moves north to populate bean and legume fields in large enough numbers to become a major pest, but like our other pesty moths...pretty sharp looking when you get to know them personally. Specimen provided by Benzon Research.

Anticarsia gemmatalis - Velvetbean Caterpillar - Soybean eater....this species can't overwinter in most of North America but moves north to populate bean and legume fields in large enough numbers to become a major pest, but like our other pesty moths...pretty sharp looking when you get to know them personally. Specimen provided by Benzon Research.

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Vitis spp., Howard Co, Maryland, H Metzman
Vitis spp., Howard Co, Maryland, H Metzman
Vitis spp., Howard Co, Maryland, H Metzman

Vitis...grapes, one of the wild species in Maryland. Species unknown at this time. Note that bees have little interest in grapes, most, if not all, grapes are self-fertilized so one rarely sees bee visitors here. Picture and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.

Vitis...grapes, one of the wild species in Maryland. Species unknown at this time. Note that bees have little interest in grapes, most, if not all, grapes are self-fertilized so one rarely sees bee visitors here. Picture and specimen by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.

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Wasp 3, U, Maryland, back
Wasp 3, U, Maryland, back
Wasp 3, U, Maryland, back

I believe this to be a wasp in the Genus Ectemnius, but I don't know for sure as I just am not a wasp expert. This one was collected in the Neck District of Talbot County Maryland a few weeks ago. Photo by Wayne Boo.

I believe this to be a wasp in the Genus Ectemnius, but I don't know for sure as I just am not a wasp expert. This one was collected in the Neck District of Talbot County Maryland a few weeks ago. Photo by Wayne Boo.

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Wasp 3
Wasp 3
Wasp 3

A very small micro spider from Prince George's County Maryland, which presumably gathers very small spiders for its nests. Apparently, these little spider wasps are very difficult to identify., but quite beautiful in their powdery grayness. Photograph by Sierra Williams and Photshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

A very small micro spider from Prince George's County Maryland, which presumably gathers very small spiders for its nests. Apparently, these little spider wasps are very difficult to identify., but quite beautiful in their powdery grayness. Photograph by Sierra Williams and Photshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Wasp 4, face
Wasp 4, face
Wasp 4, face

Unknown Aculeate Wasp, Prince George's County Maryland

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