Images

Anne Arundel County, Megachile inimica, From a Sand Pit along the Patuxent River

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along the Upper Peninsula of Michigan comes one our largest Megachilids. Photograph by Brooke Alexander 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, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Look in the bottom right hand side of the seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) pod we opened up.

Square is not something Nature normally trucks in with plants. But here it is the seedbox (Ludwidia alternifolia). A plant that is a fan of wet areas and is related to Evening Primroses. This winter specimens was collected by Helen Lowe Metzman who also took the photographs. P.S.

Square is not something Nature normally trucks in with plants. But here it is the seedbox (Ludwidia alternifolia). A plant that is a fan of wet areas and is related to Evening Primroses. This winter specimen was collected by Helen Lowe Metzman who also took the photographs. P.S.

Mystery Moth from Chincoteague Island, Virginia on playground equipment found as cocoons by they very young naturalist Luke Whitaker while playing. This most is about 6mm long. Could use help in determining the species. Check out the other two pictures in this series which a full cocoon and pupal case shots.

The Endangered Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Macropis ciliata - Possibly the first record for this species in about 100 years. This genus has grown very uncommon and I finally found a specimen along a rocky powerline in Washington County in a small patch of whorled loosestrife a few days ago.

Macropis ciliata - Possibly the first record for this species in about 100 years. This genus has grown very uncommon and I finally found a specimen along a rocky powerline in Washington County in a small patch of whorled loosestrife a few days ago.

A set of male and female Macropis ciliata from NH, collected by Michael Veit on transmission lines...part of a David Wagner study of bees and transmission. This bee is special. Not as common as it once was and a specialist on Lysimachia natives. These plants produce oils that the Macropis add to their pollen balls for their babies. No Lysimachia...no Macropis.

A set of male and female Macropis ciliata from NH, collected by Michael Veit on transmission lines...part of a David Wagner study of bees and transmission. This bee is special. Not as common as it once was and a specialist on Lysimachia natives. These plants produce oils that the Macropis add to their pollen balls for their babies. No Lysimachia...no Macropis.

Another Macropis from transmission lines from NH and MA. This species (M. nuda) is also a Lysimachia specialist and the female's bright white pollen carrying hairs and likely the hairs under the abdomen soak up oils which are used by the female to add to pollen to create the food for their young. Collected by Michael Veit and part of a study run by David Wagner.

Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, June 2013, Upper Marlboro, MD...eating moths coming to my moth light, highly reflective

Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, June 2013, Upper Marlboro, MD...eating moths coming to my moth light, highly reflective

One of the flower chafers, Leucocelis amythistina. These beetles feed on the pollen of flowers are one of the commonly found members of the large tree munching beetle clan in Kruger National Park. Nice to read the runic messages inscribed secretly on the back of this species.

Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, while early blooming, I see few if any bees on the flowers. This specimen collected and photographed by Helen Lowe Metzman in Howard County, Maryland.

Lindernia dubia, false pimpernel, one of numerous low growing flowering plants that feed the many tiny bees that live out there, that we don't pay any attention to. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Lipotriches , Plain Sweat Bee , collected in AustraliaThis is one of the bees in which the males are known to form sleeping aggregations "“ small groups to dozens of individuals clustering together on the same twig late in the afternoon and remaining there until after dawn.

Lipotriches , Plain Sweat Bee , collected in AustraliaThis is one of the bees in which the males are known to form sleeping aggregations "“ small groups to dozens of individuals clustering together on the same twig late in the afternoon and remaining there until after dawn.

Lithurgus tibialis: a fascinating species in that it is much smaller and looks quiet different from other Lithurgus species occurring in Europe and has the peculiar preference for flowers of Chrozophora, a quite unusual pollen source.., but from studies in Greece it is clear that the females almost solely visit this plant and collect its pollen.

Another Macropis from transmission lines from NH and MA. This species (M. nuda) is also a Lysimachia specialist and the female's bright white pollen carrying hairs and likely the hairs under the abdomen soak up oils which are used by the female to add to pollen to create the food for their young. Collected by Michael Veit and part of a study run by David Wagner.