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USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Hydrastis canadensis, Goldenseal flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Hydrastis canadensis, Goldenseal flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Hydrastis canadensis, Goldenseal flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Goldenseal. Hydrastis canadensis. Another early spring bloomer. A long history as a native medicinal plant on the continent. Helen Low Metzman collected the specimen and took the picture.

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Hylaeus basaliis, F, Back, NY, Gravel Pits
Hylaeus basaliis, F, Back, NY, Gravel Pits
Hylaeus basaliis, F, Back, NY, Gravel Pits

The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.

The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.

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Hylaeus basalis, F, Side, NY, Gravel Pits
Hylaeus basalis, F, Side, NY, Gravel Pits
Hylaeus basalis, F, Side, NY, Gravel Pits

The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.

The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.

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emerald ash borer, head, md
emerald ash borer, head, md
emerald ash borer, head, md

Destroyer of Ash, this is Agrilus planipennis an invasive Buprestid that has invaded North America where it feeds on Ash. trees. At this point all ash trees in North America are threatened and could ecologically eliminate them from North American forests. On the other hand it is a beautiful Buprestid beetle that simply was brought to the wrong place.

Destroyer of Ash, this is Agrilus planipennis an invasive Buprestid that has invaded North America where it feeds on Ash. trees. At this point all ash trees in North America are threatened and could ecologically eliminate them from North American forests. On the other hand it is a beautiful Buprestid beetle that simply was brought to the wrong place.

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Enoclerus nigripes dubius, face, Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co., VA
Enoclerus nigripes dubius, face, Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co., VA
Enoclerus nigripes dubius, face, Dyke Marsh, Fairfax Co., VA

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury.

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury.

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Entylia carinata, side, upper marlboro, md
Entylia carinata, side, upper marlboro, md
Entylia carinata, side, upper marlboro, md

Entylia carinata, arrayed in pits and prominances, the Keeled Treehopper is a mighty beast up close. Collected in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

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Eoseristalis dimidata, MD, Beltsville
Eoseristalis dimidata, MD, Beltsville
Eoseristalis dimidata, MD, Beltsville

Plucked while foraging on frost asters in Beltsville, Maryland, You can still see the dusting of pollen on this species. Thanks to Chris Thompsons for the ID

Plucked while foraging on frost asters in Beltsville, Maryland, You can still see the dusting of pollen on this species. Thanks to Chris Thompsons for the ID

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Epeoloides pilosulus, m, face, NH powerline
Epeoloides pilosulus, m, face, NH powerline
Epeoloides pilosulus, m, face, NH powerline

The poster child for rare bees of concern in North America. This is Epeoloides pilosula, collected on David Wagner's study of the conservation landscape of transmission lines. This is a nest parasite of Macropis oil bees. In this study they found both M. nuda and M. ciliata uncommon bees in themselves.

The poster child for rare bees of concern in North America. This is Epeoloides pilosula, collected on David Wagner's study of the conservation landscape of transmission lines. This is a nest parasite of Macropis oil bees. In this study they found both M. nuda and M. ciliata uncommon bees in themselves.

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Epeolus bifasciatus, F, Face, SD, Pennington County
Epeolus bifasciatus, F, Face, SD, Pennington County
Epeolus bifasciatus, F, Face, SD, Pennington County

A nest parasite of Colletes bees, this sharp looking, heavily armored Epeolus bifasciatus was found in Badlands National Park in South Dakota

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Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County
Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County
Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County

This very very rare bee invades the nests of bees in the genus Colletes. Captured by Heather Campbell in the Sandhills of North Carolina and photographed by Amber JoyceCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

This very very rare bee invades the nests of bees in the genus Colletes. Captured by Heather Campbell in the Sandhills of North Carolina and photographed by Amber JoyceCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

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Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

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Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

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Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

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Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

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fleabane with butterfly scales closeup
fleabane with butterfly scales closeup
fleabane with butterfly scales closeup

Experimental Shot: Daisy Fleabane dipped in Butterfly scales, close up it is wonderful to see all the sizes, shapes, and sheens, lots of hard geometry that makes me want to work more with scales.

Experimental Shot: Daisy Fleabane dipped in Butterfly scales, close up it is wonderful to see all the sizes, shapes, and sheens, lots of hard geometry that makes me want to work more with scales.

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Florilegus condignus loop, F, side, Charles Co., Maryland
Florilegus condignus loop, F, side, Charles Co., Maryland
Florilegus condignus loop, F, side, Charles Co., Maryland

I heart Pickerelweed would read the bumper sticker on this bee as the female pictured here would only feed her babies pollen collected from the interior of marshes with blooming Pickerelweed. This one was collected as part of a survey of Indian Head Naval Base just south of Washington D.C.

I heart Pickerelweed would read the bumper sticker on this bee as the female pictured here would only feed her babies pollen collected from the interior of marshes with blooming Pickerelweed. This one was collected as part of a survey of Indian Head Naval Base just south of Washington D.C.

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Florilegus condignus, F, face, Charles Co., Maryland
Florilegus condignus, F, face, Charles Co., Maryland
Florilegus condignus, F, face, Charles Co., Maryland

Older and no so great shots (technically speaking) of Florilegus condignus. You can see tons of butterfly scales on this specimen from who knows what species were caught with it at the same time. You will find that Florilegus only collects pollen from pickerelweed (Pontedaria).

Older and no so great shots (technically speaking) of Florilegus condignus. You can see tons of butterfly scales on this specimen from who knows what species were caught with it at the same time. You will find that Florilegus only collects pollen from pickerelweed (Pontedaria).

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Florilegus condignus, U, face, District of Columbia
Florilegus condignus, U, face, District of Columbia
Florilegus condignus, U, face, District of Columbia

An uncommon specialist on Pontedaria (Pickerelweed) in this case trapped by Matt Greenstone at the US National Arboretum and a first record for the city.

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Florilegus condignus, U, side, District of Columbia
Florilegus condignus, U, side, District of Columbia
Florilegus condignus, U, side, District of Columbia

An uncommon specialist on Pontedaria (Pickerelweed) in this case trapped by Matt Greenstone at the US National Arboretum and a first record for the city.

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Fly face
Fly face
Fly face

Muscid fly of some sort, floating in Hand Sanitizer

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