Images

This small picture-winged fly was captured in Maryland and Photographed by Wayne Boo

The black onion fly...Tritoxa flexa. So fabulous in coloration. Picture by Wayne Boo, Photoshopping by Dejen Mengis. 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.

This is picture 12 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Pyrgotidae - Trypetoptera canadensis - Thanks to Bill Murphy for the determination. This little beauty came to my moth light last night.

Dominican Republic, trypoxylon mexicanum

Trypoxylon mexicanum, Trypoxylon species unknown

Dominican Republic, Trypoxylon mexicanum

Trypoxylon subimpressum, Cuba, GTMO,

Trypoxylon subimpressum, Cuba, GTMO,

Tylopelta gibbera, a wee, brown, spec-like, treehopper. This species runs from Central America north where it quietly sips sap from the tick-trefoil plant group.

One of the most common bees in the East...if only we could figure out how to identify it more easily. Here we have Lasioglossum trigeminum. Fits right in with A. admirandum, A. versatum, and A. callidum and I often struggle with dark second thoughts about the specimens Id, because of all the overlap.

An unknown, very small fly, note the size of the insect pin point in the picture. They head shot was taken at 10 X and the full body shot was taken at 5X.

An unknown, very small fly, note the size of the insect pin point in the picture. They head shot was taken at 10 X and the full body shot was taken at 5X. This fly was collected by Brad Seay in Davidsonville Maryland andt was associated with unknown fly was swarming on deliquescing Stropharia rugosoannulata mushrooms he collected.

The Madagascan sunset moth, yes indeed a Moth not a butterfly. Endemic to the Island of Madagascar. Large, migratory, and day flying it is another example of Nature's breaking of the rules. The colors are not created by pigments but by the structure of the scales themselves (look it up...very cool).

One of the most common bees in the East...if only we could figure out how to identify it more easily. Here we have Lasioglossum trigeminum. Fits right in with A. admirandum, A. versatum, and A. callidum and I often struggle with dark second thoughts about the specimens Id, because of all the overlap.

A valentine from the USGS Bee Lab to all the people who have helped us develop our craft over the years. For all the specimens and opportunities you have given us.

Varroa destructor, the leading cause of beekeeper angst. This relatively large mite parasitizes honeybees from adults to larvae. Crab-like aren't they? Specimen provided by Krisztina Christmon from the University of Maryland where she studies the life history of these tricky beings. Oh, that is the tip of an insect pin you see in the picture.

Varroa destructor, the leading cause of beekeeper angst. This relatively large mite parasitizes honeybees from adults to larvae. Crab-like aren't they? Specimen provided by Krisztina Christmon from the University of Maryland where she studies the life history of these tricky beings. Oh, that is the tip of an insect pin you see in the picture.

Japanase Burrowing Cricket, Velarifictorus micado, Beltsville, Maryland, July 2012, A reporter from Wired Magazine commented that this specimen was remarkably similar to Rodin's "The Thinker"

Japanese Burrowing Cricket, Beltsville, MD, July 2012, A reporter from Wired Magazine commented that this specimen was remarkably similar to Rodin's "The Thinker"

More Velvet Ant pictures...who wouldn't want more shots of this Badass Cowkiller? This one from Arkansas sent live in the mail by our correspondent FT. Its good to have such friends. Photos by Wayne Boo.