Images

As the name implies this species from East of the Andes superficially resembles the parasitic bee genus Nomada. However for whatever reason they have chosen from the wardrobe of bee colors the same cloths they act quite differently. Of note is that both the males and females of this species gather oil in addition to the usual pollen and nectar.

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America, particularly in urban and disturbed environments. They are attracted to piles of dirt or open scraped soils and appear to be a huge fan of clovers, plants that also favor lawns and open disturbed sites.

A little, somewhat flattened bee, from the mountains of Yosemite National Park. Members of this group are often very discriminating in their tastes for pollen. Feeding their young pollen often from a single genus of plants. Picky eaters I suppose. Part of a study by Claire Kremen in the high conifer regions of the Park. Photo by Anders Croft.

Ceratina cockerelli, female

Yep, there are a lot of Ceratinas out there in the world. Here is the last in the series of Ceratinas from Sandra Rehan. As usual it is a small one from Panama. Tiny bees almost always have plenty of wing pop...no exception here.

A male Ceratina species from Bee Gardens in San Francisco that are surveyed for bees by Jaime Palawek. This crisp litte bee is less than the size of a grain of rice (white, long grain) and glitters worj smooth metallic blueish green colors. Glinty enough to be problematic when photographing.

A male Ceratina species from Bee Gardens in San Francisco that are surveyed for bees by Jaime Palawek. This crisp litte bee is less than the size of a grain of rice (white, long grain) and glitters with smooth metallic blueish green colors. Glinty enough to be problematic when photographing.

Wayyyyyy up in the Andes spitting distance from Argentina, this wee Callonychium chilense was collected on an expedition with Laurence Packer to southern Chile. One of those one way dirt roads that hugs the mountains and gives one opportunity to fall into the valley in a truly spectacular way. Memorable.

Dominican Republic

I don't run into the Blue Cohosh often, but want to say that it is fly rather than bee pollinated...but could easily be wrong. Certainly a woodland understory plant that blooms after much of the bee activity is done with. Picture and specimen from Helen Lowe Metzman.

Blue Cohosh. A close up of one of the flowers of Caulophyllum thalictroides. A lovely spring perennial of rich deciduous woodlands. Picture and specimen taken by Helen Lowe Metzman. Howard County, Maryland.

Notice, in particular the lobed tip of the tongue in this shot. A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

Centris...the tropical western hemisphere's answer to the Bumblebee. Bumblebees are absent from the Caribbean but bees of the genus Centris are of the same size and shape and fill the same floral niche muscling their way into large tropical flowers.

Bahamas, San Salvador Island, Collected by Dan Kjar

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

A lovely Centris from Puerto Rico, collected by Sara Prado

A lovely Centris from Puerto Rico, collected by Sara Prado

Cuba, Guantanamo Bay

Centris fasciata, female, GTMO, Cuba, June 2011

Centris fasciata, female, GTMO, Cuba, June 2011

More Hylaeus from Panama, this little species was collected by Sandra Rehan, lovely wing pop or wing interference patterns. So glossy you can see the camera lens in the reflections.