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USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Chimaphila maculata, spotted wintergreen, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Chimaphila maculata, spotted wintergreen, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Chimaphila maculata, spotted wintergreen, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Floral Design Alert. Spotted wintergreen flowers found to be aesthetically pleasing, though quite small. Check out out the units of 5 here. Five petals, 10 pantalooned stamens. Geometrically arrayed in complimentary colors ....something that clearly was created as a message of form to us in ways that make's the Da Vinci Code seem the work of novices.

Floral Design Alert. Spotted wintergreen flowers found to be aesthetically pleasing, though quite small. Check out out the units of 5 here. Five petals, 10 pantalooned stamens. Geometrically arrayed in complimentary colors ....something that clearly was created as a message of form to us in ways that make's the Da Vinci Code seem the work of novices.

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China Bee 1, U, Side
China Bee 1, U, Side
China Bee 1, U, Side

An unknown bees from Anhui, Province, China. Collected by in May Michael Fizdale. Looks to me like it might be a Amegilla Anthophora. 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.

An unknown bees from Anhui, Province, China. Collected by in May Michael Fizdale. Looks to me like it might be a Amegilla Anthophora. 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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Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green Horse Fly, Duck, NC
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green Horse Fly, Duck, NC
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green Horse Fly, Duck, NC

A beautiful pale white and green horse fly from North Carolina, Chlorotabanus crepuscular, a drinker of blood that comes out only at dawn and dusk, this is a southern species I had not seen before. This specimen was collected in Duck, North Carolina by Lisa Kuder. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs.

A beautiful pale white and green horse fly from North Carolina, Chlorotabanus crepuscular, a drinker of blood that comes out only at dawn and dusk, this is a southern species I had not seen before. This specimen was collected in Duck, North Carolina by Lisa Kuder. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs.

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Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green horse fly, Duck, NC
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green horse fly, Duck, NC
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis, Green horse fly, Duck, NC

A beautiful pale white and green horse fly from North Carolina, Chlorotabanus crepuscular, a drinker of blood that comes out only at dawn and dusk, this is a southern species I had not seen before. This specimen was collected in Duck, North Carolina by Lisa Kuder. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs.

A beautiful pale white and green horse fly from North Carolina, Chlorotabanus crepuscular, a drinker of blood that comes out only at dawn and dusk, this is a southern species I had not seen before. This specimen was collected in Duck, North Carolina by Lisa Kuder. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs.

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Christmas Cactus mite, beltsville, md2
Christmas Cactus mite, beltsville, md2
Christmas Cactus mite, beltsville, md2

OK, we are going small, so small that the naked eye (or my naked eye) can't see these bad boys. The 20X Mitutoyo microscope objective opens up a new world. Here the mites on Bob Trumbule's mite infested Christmas Cactus come out beautifully. Too bad I have no idea what group/species they are. Note the stomata's in the picture of the nymph/larvae.

OK, we are going small, so small that the naked eye (or my naked eye) can't see these bad boys. The 20X Mitutoyo microscope objective opens up a new world. Here the mites on Bob Trumbule's mite infested Christmas Cactus come out beautifully. Too bad I have no idea what group/species they are. Note the stomata's in the picture of the nymph/larvae.

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Chrysidid Wasp
Chrysidid Wasp
Chrysidid Wasp

Always good for a lingering look is the glitzy Chrysidid Wasp group. I am not sure what species this is but it was found during Adirondack ATBI bioblitz this past week and was used to demonstrate the camera set up for the crowd. A nest parasite, usually of hymenoptera, one has to wonder ... why so metallic Mr. Wasp? Stack taken by Dejen Mengis.

Always good for a lingering look is the glitzy Chrysidid Wasp group. I am not sure what species this is but it was found during Adirondack ATBI bioblitz this past week and was used to demonstrate the camera set up for the crowd. A nest parasite, usually of hymenoptera, one has to wonder ... why so metallic Mr. Wasp? Stack taken by Dejen Mengis.

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Coelioxys immaculata, m, back, Caroline Co., MD
Coelioxys immaculata, m, back, Caroline Co., MD
Coelioxys immaculata, m, back, Caroline Co., MD

This bee, Coelioxys immaculata, is an uncommon nest parasite of other bees. Almost by definition it must be less common since the young C. immaculata usurps a cell of a leaf-cutter bee, kills the host baby bee and eats its food before emerging the next year. Note the interesting pattern of lobes on its tail end. Mysterious.

This bee, Coelioxys immaculata, is an uncommon nest parasite of other bees. Almost by definition it must be less common since the young C. immaculata usurps a cell of a leaf-cutter bee, kills the host baby bee and eats its food before emerging the next year. Note the interesting pattern of lobes on its tail end. Mysterious.

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Coelioxys immaculata, m, left, Caroline County, MD
Coelioxys immaculata, m, left, Caroline County, MD
Coelioxys immaculata, m, left, Caroline County, MD

This bee, Coelioxys immaculata, is an uncommon nest parasite of other bees. Almost by definition it must be less common since the young C. immaculata usurps a cell of a leaf-cutter bee, kills the host baby bee and eats its food before emerging the next year. Note the interesting pattern of lobes on its tail end. Mysterious.

This bee, Coelioxys immaculata, is an uncommon nest parasite of other bees. Almost by definition it must be less common since the young C. immaculata usurps a cell of a leaf-cutter bee, kills the host baby bee and eats its food before emerging the next year. Note the interesting pattern of lobes on its tail end. Mysterious.

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Coelioxys novomexicana, f, face, Yolo, CA
Coelioxys novomexicana, f, face, Yolo, CA
Coelioxys novomexicana, f, face, Yolo, CA

Coelioxys....invader of Megachile nests. This female is designed to slice into Meg nests and insert and egg which later will kill the baby leaf cutter and consume the food. This one is from the Southwest, Coelioxys novomexicana. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

Coelioxys....invader of Megachile nests. This female is designed to slice into Meg nests and insert and egg which later will kill the baby leaf cutter and consume the food. This one is from the Southwest, Coelioxys novomexicana. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

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Coelioxys novomexicana, f, right, Yolo, CA
Coelioxys novomexicana, f, right, Yolo, CA
Coelioxys novomexicana, f, right, Yolo, CA

Coelioxys....invader of Megachile nests. This female is designed to slice into Meg nests and insert and egg which later will kill the baby leaf cutter and consume the food. This one is from the Southwest, Coelioxys novomexicana. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

Coelioxys....invader of Megachile nests. This female is designed to slice into Meg nests and insert and egg which later will kill the baby leaf cutter and consume the food. This one is from the Southwest, Coelioxys novomexicana. This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas.

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Coelioxys obtusiventris, f, right side, Clark Co., Rose Pond, CA
Coelioxys obtusiventris, f, right side, Clark Co., Rose Pond, CA
Coelioxys obtusiventris, f, right side, Clark Co., Rose Pond, CA

Super rare. Only a few individuals of this species have been found, but, interestingly, this species has been found twice in Missouri, and once in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. This one was sent to me by Mike Arduser and collected in Clark County, Missouri. Note the lovely flair of hairs around the end of the abdomen....very distinctive.

Super rare. Only a few individuals of this species have been found, but, interestingly, this species has been found twice in Missouri, and once in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. This one was sent to me by Mike Arduser and collected in Clark County, Missouri. Note the lovely flair of hairs around the end of the abdomen....very distinctive.

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Coelioxys porterae, male, face
Coelioxys porterae, male, face
Coelioxys porterae, male, face

An invader of other bees nests, this is Coelioxys porterae, found, in this case from Acadia National Park in Maine. I can't recall which species of Megachile (leaf cutting bees) this species parasitizes us but there are plenty of options in the park. This is a male, and as with almost all males it has all kinds of pointy projections on its rear end.

An invader of other bees nests, this is Coelioxys porterae, found, in this case from Acadia National Park in Maine. I can't recall which species of Megachile (leaf cutting bees) this species parasitizes us but there are plenty of options in the park. This is a male, and as with almost all males it has all kinds of pointy projections on its rear end.

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Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Face, NY, Elk Lake
Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Face, NY, Elk Lake
Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Face, NY, Elk Lake

Another Coelioxys nest parasite bee from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This one is a nest parasite of big Leaf Cutters like Megachile latimanus. Here are shots of a male and a female.

Another Coelioxys nest parasite bee from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This one is a nest parasite of big Leaf Cutters like Megachile latimanus. Here are shots of a male and a female.

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Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Side, NY, Elk Lake
Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Side, NY, Elk Lake
Coelioxys rufitarsis, F, Side, NY, Elk Lake

Another Coelioxys nest parasite bee from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This one is a nest parasite of big Leaf Cutters like Megachile latimanus. Here are shots of a male and a female.

Another Coelioxys nest parasite bee from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This one is a nest parasite of big Leaf Cutters like Megachile latimanus. Here are shots of a male and a female.

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citrus psyllid, u, lavae3, ft detrick
citrus psyllid, u, lavae3, ft detrick
citrus psyllid, u, lavae3, ft detrick

A series of shots of Citrus Psyllid adults (including a recently emerged white adult) , and larvae of Diaphorina citri which is the transporting agent of citrus greening disease now devastating Florida's orange groves. Pictures taken at Level 3 level quarantine at USDA's Lab at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Thanks to Tina Paul for fascilitating all of this.

A series of shots of Citrus Psyllid adults (including a recently emerged white adult) , and larvae of Diaphorina citri which is the transporting agent of citrus greening disease now devastating Florida's orange groves. Pictures taken at Level 3 level quarantine at USDA's Lab at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Thanks to Tina Paul for fascilitating all of this.

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Citrus psyllid, u, side2,ft detrick
Citrus psyllid, u, side2,ft detrick
Citrus psyllid, u, side2,ft detrick

A series of shots of Citrus Psyllid adults (including a recently emerged white adult) , and larvae of Diaphorina citri which is the transporting agent of citrus greening disease now devastating Florida's orange groves. Pictures taken at Level 3 level quarantine at USDA's Lab at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Thanks to Tina Paul for fascilitating all of this.

A series of shots of Citrus Psyllid adults (including a recently emerged white adult) , and larvae of Diaphorina citri which is the transporting agent of citrus greening disease now devastating Florida's orange groves. Pictures taken at Level 3 level quarantine at USDA's Lab at Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Thanks to Tina Paul for fascilitating all of this.

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Claytonia virginica, 2, Spring Beauty, Howard County, Md,
Claytonia virginica, 2, Spring Beauty, Howard County, Md,
Claytonia virginica, 2, Spring Beauty, Howard County, Md,

Spring Beauties...taken by Helen Lowe Metzman...one of the most common and most productive of plants for spring bees. It even has its own species Andrena erigeniae that uses the pink pollen of this plant soley to feed its young.

Spring Beauties...taken by Helen Lowe Metzman...one of the most common and most productive of plants for spring bees. It even has its own species Andrena erigeniae that uses the pink pollen of this plant soley to feed its young.

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Cleonus, U, Face, Lake Michigan
Cleonus, U, Face, Lake Michigan
Cleonus, U, Face, Lake Michigan

Cleonus piger, the sluggish weevil, was discovered for the first time, infesting the roots of Pitcher's thistle, in 2013. It typically kills the plant and if it is an adult, the plant is killed before seeds can be produced.

Cleonus piger, the sluggish weevil, was discovered for the first time, infesting the roots of Pitcher's thistle, in 2013. It typically kills the plant and if it is an adult, the plant is killed before seeds can be produced.

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