Images

Photo Contest Winner | June 2021 | Honorable Mention
USGS Natiave Bee Lab, Magicicada cassinii, super rare Blue eyed variant

Hermaphrodite! (aka a gynandromorph) This Agapostemon texanus or angelicus (species can't be determined here) is part male and part female. This happens in I think all animals and I have seen about 5 of these after looking at about 400,000 bee specimens. This one was brought in by Tim McMahon after he collected it in Arizona.

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White Snakeroot, Ageratina altissima. Collected and Photographed by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Aglaoapis tridentata, Spined Goth, specimen collected by Heinrich Friese in AustriaThere are but three species of Goths, oddly scattered across the northern Old World with the Spined Goth occurring across the temperate regions, one in India, and one way down in South Africa.

Aglaoapis tridentata, Spined Goth, specimen collected by Heinrich Friese in AustriaThere are but three species of Goths, oddly scattered across the northern Old World with the Spined Goth occurring across the temperate regions, one in India, and one way down in South Africa.

Amblycorypha oblongifolia, Oblong-winged katydid, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, July 2012

Amegilla....one of a large group of large Old World bees that blend and fracture colors in wonderful ways. In this case this male Amegilla from Australia from the Laurence Packer Lab bee slots in a whole series of subtly iridescent green hairs amidst a mix of white and black, quite nice and surely a useful design for a rug or tapestry of some sort.

Ammobates muticus, Mediterranean Bee Stalker, specimen collected by E.L. Merim in Palermo, ItalyAnother red-abdomened cuckoo bee; why is it that so many cuckoo bees are more brightly colored than their hosts?

Andrena asteroides, a late season aster specialist (thus the name). This species along with a number of other Andrena specialize on this group of plants, the rest of the Genus Andrena are primarily spring flower specialists. Note the very dense pollen carrying hairs on the hind femur. Wayne Boo took this picture.

Andrena asteroides, a late season aster specialist (thus the name). This species along with a number of other Andrena specialize on this group of plants, the rest of the Genus Andrena are primarily spring flower specialists. Note the very dense pollen carrying hairs on the hind femur. Wayne Boo took this picture.

Andrena asteroides "“ A male undoubtedly caught on one of the Frost Asters in Prince George's County, Maryland. Photographed by Wayne Boo

Andrena atlantica. One of over 100 Andrena species in the Mid-Atlantic area. The male of this species does not have a positive means of being identified from A. alleghaniensis. Some needs to figure this out along with many other things. Photo by Sydney Price.

Andrena banksi, female

Andrena banksi, male

Regionally common to sometimes even abundant, this is one of the larger Andrena of the spring. It can occur in almost any habitat, gathering pollen from a wide variety of the hugely abundant pollen and nectar sources that occur in Woodlands and surrounding scrub lands.

A rather pollen riddled specimen, this uncommon (at least in Maryland) species is uniquely outfit with a long-strap like labral process...for those of you who are technically inclined.

One of quite a number of spring Andrena that occur throughout North America, this one is Andrena barbilabris. It collects pollen from quite a number of different plant groups, doesn't seem to have a specialty among them.

One of quite a number of spring Andrena that occur throughout North America, this one is Andrena barbilabris. It collects pollen from quite a number of different plant groups, doesn't seem to have a specialty among them.

Andrena barbilabris "“ A male captured in Howard County, Picture taken by Brooke Alexander

Andrena bisalicis, female, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, SC, Chesterfield County