Images

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

Andrena braccata

From a study of woodland bees in the mid-Atlantic area comes this small, somewhat obscure, Andrena found in a woodland in Caroline County, Maryland. For some reason, a number of males in the genus Andrena have yellow on their faces, while the females do not.

As its name implies, Andrena caerulae, is a bee with a deep blue shimmer to its skin. Unlike the plain black models of most of the other 500+ species of Andrena this species stands out, making identification a bit easier.

Hardy County, West Virginia

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the rare Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the rare Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

An Andrena bee that knows how to dress. Black hairs throughout with fluorescent orange pollen carrying hairs and a topmast of off-white. This is a northern / arctic species that occurs worldwide. Recent discoveries have shown its distribution extends to high elevations in West Virginia (thank you Jane).This specimen is from Maine (thank you Alison).

Jackson County, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

Jackson County, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

Leadplant lover. This bee species is a pollen specialist on Amorpha and was collected in Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Photographed by interns Joyce and ColbyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Leadplant lover. This bee species is a pollen specialist on Amorpha and was collected in Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Photographed by interns Joyce and ColbyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Andrena cragini, male, new species record for South Dakota from Badlands National Park as part of a park wide inventory, this small Andrena species appears to be a Leadplant pollen specialist Joyce, Colby, and Amber

Another shot of Andrena cressonii for the files..

This is a west coast Andrena....found, in this case, in Redwoods National Park right along the coast. I hope to get some more shots of the back and sides which have lovely patches of green hairs, an unusual color for bees in North America.