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USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY
Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY
Melissodes rivalis,m,side,Lincoln Co, WY

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

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Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

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Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH
Melissodes subillatus, u, face, Cleveland, OH

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

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Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County
Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County
Melitta americana, M, Face, North Carolina, Moore County

A cranberry specialist. This bee is one of the few bees that specializes on bogs and bog plants and is found in scattered locations from Southern New England along the coastal plane to the Gulf Coast. This specimen was collected by Heather Campbell in the sandhills of North Carolina.

A cranberry specialist. This bee is one of the few bees that specializes on bogs and bog plants and is found in scattered locations from Southern New England along the coastal plane to the Gulf Coast. This specimen was collected by Heather Campbell in the sandhills of North Carolina.

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Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, back

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

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Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face
Melitta haemorrhoidalis, f, england, face

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

Melitta haemorrhoidalis, Red-butted Campanula Lover, specimen collected by R.C.L. Perkins in Wotton-under-Edge, EnglandMelitta is the Greek word for bee, and the name of the favorite activity indulged in by the authors "“ melittology "“ is based upon this. Melitta bees are specialists.

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Lasioglossum vierecki, f, side, ma, powerlines
Lasioglossum vierecki, f, side, ma, powerlines
Lasioglossum vierecki, f, side, ma, powerlines

Sand. The Golden Sand Loving Bee. When I think of bees that are sand loving I think of Lasioglossum vierecki. For one, how nice to have a golden orange bee to look at. For second it is common in sandy areas...so if you are going to find a sand specialist in a sand mine, dune, beach, barren, sandhill in the Northeast there you will find this little orange bee.

Sand. The Golden Sand Loving Bee. When I think of bees that are sand loving I think of Lasioglossum vierecki. For one, how nice to have a golden orange bee to look at. For second it is common in sandy areas...so if you are going to find a sand specialist in a sand mine, dune, beach, barren, sandhill in the Northeast there you will find this little orange bee.

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Lasioglossum vierecki, unknown, back
Lasioglossum vierecki, unknown, back
Lasioglossum vierecki, unknown, back

A little golden bee, this is an easy to identify Lasioglossum vierecki...and most Lasioglossum species are not easy to identify. Gold butt and golden hair boom you know the species. Often found in sandy areas...this one from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. Photo by Heagan Ahmed.

A little golden bee, this is an easy to identify Lasioglossum vierecki...and most Lasioglossum species are not easy to identify. Gold butt and golden hair boom you know the species. Often found in sandy areas...this one from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. Photo by Heagan Ahmed.

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Lasioglossum zonulum, M, Face, PA, Lackawanna County
Lasioglossum zonulum, M, Face, PA, Lackawanna County
Lasioglossum zonulum, M, Face, PA, Lackawanna County

Lasioglossum zonulum "“ A male of this large, single weakened vein, northern species, one often confused with the very similar Lasioglossum leucozonium. Captured in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and photographed by Brooke Alexander

Lasioglossum zonulum "“ A male of this large, single weakened vein, northern species, one often confused with the very similar Lasioglossum leucozonium. Captured in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and photographed by Brooke Alexander

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Lasioglossum-nr-puteulanum,-female,-back
Lasioglossum-nr-puteulanum,-female,-back
Lasioglossum-nr-puteulanum,-female,-back

Lasioglossum near puteulanum, female, A not previously known invasive bee for the Hawaiian Islands, March, 2012 Oahu

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Lasioglossum-pictum,-unknown,-back
Lasioglossum-pictum,-unknown,-back
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Lassioglossum microlepoides, female-back
Lassioglossum microlepoides, female-back
Lassioglossum microlepoides, female-back

Lasioglossum microlepoides, female - March 2012, Hawaii; An alien species from North America, Newly detected in Hawaii

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Latrodectus variolus, Underside
Latrodectus variolus, Underside
Latrodectus variolus, Underside

Female Northern Black Widow Spider, Beltsville, MD Prince George's County, Collected by Jessica Zelt

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Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, U, Front, MD, Upper Marlboro
Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, U, Front, MD, Upper Marlboro
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Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, U, Underneath, MD, Upper Marlboro
Leucauge venusta, Orchard Orb Weaver, U, Underneath, MD, Upper Marlboro
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Leucocelis amythystina, u, back, Krugar National Park, South Africa
Leucocelis amythystina, u, back, Krugar National Park, South Africa
Leucocelis amythystina, u, back, Krugar National Park, South Africa

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.

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.

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Lindera benzoin pistillate flower, 23 March 2017 spicebush
Lindera benzoin pistillate flower, 23 March 2017 spicebush
Lindera benzoin pistillate flower, 23 March 2017 spicebush

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.

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Melissodes bimaculata, M, side, Florida, Miami-Dade County
Melissodes bimaculata, M, side, Florida, Miami-Dade County
Melissodes bimaculata, M, side, Florida, Miami-Dade County

Seems similar to M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

Seems similar to M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

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Melissodes communis, male, side
Melissodes communis, male, side
Melissodes communis, male, side

Melissodes communis from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Perhaps the most common species of Melissodes in the deep south. Big and hits the yellow composites like most of the Melissodes. Fast flier. The group is known as summer long-horned bees. Picture by Brooke Alexander, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Melissodes communis from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Perhaps the most common species of Melissodes in the deep south. Big and hits the yellow composites like most of the Melissodes. Fast flier. The group is known as summer long-horned bees. Picture by Brooke Alexander, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Melissodes comptoides, m, side, Kent Co
Melissodes comptoides, m, side, Kent Co
Melissodes comptoides, m, side, Kent Co

Many Melissodes...and there are many look just about the same making them yet another difficult group to differentiate. Here is a common eastern one...a species that makes its way to the north of its near look alike. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs, photshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Many Melissodes...and there are many look just about the same making them yet another difficult group to differentiate. Here is a common eastern one...a species that makes its way to the north of its near look alike. Picture taken by Ashleigh Jacobs, photshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

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