Images

what is your thinking on willows? Like most people, maybe not much. They make great wicker baskets. They also tolerate some pretty extreme conditions along rivers, streams, tundra, that other trees can handle. In the East they are the largest plant being that has "specialist" bees.

Andrena macra. One of almost 100 species of Andrena that occur in the State of Maryland.

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

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.

Andrena barbara, female

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.

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

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

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

For some reason I really like the lighting on the face of this specimen... eerie, the bee contemplating the decline of its own kind, that sort of thing. But I depart...Here is Andrena bradleyi, the Long-faced Mining Bee, a vaccinium (blueberry) specialist. If you hang out around blueberries then you might find this bee...the flowering plants that is.

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.

Of the woodland oriented bees this is regionally the most common one, Andrena carlni, this male is relatively easy tp tell because of the black hairs that line the edges of the eyes and the ocelli that are set back from the back of the head. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

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).

Andrena confederata - A male of this uncommon species found in Calvert County and photographed by Dejen Mengis.

Andrena confederata - A male of this uncommon species found in Calvert County and photographed by Dejen Mengis.

Go to the woods in the Eastern United States, find a blooming Rhododendron, look for this bee, it specializes Rhodos and Azalea pollen for its babies. Collected in Giles County (probably on a Rhododendron) by Barbara Abraham's students at Mountain Lake Biological Station.

Male Andrena cressonii from Dorchester County, Maryland

In the spring, this species (Andrena cressonii) can show up almost anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic and throughout much of the country. Common, but rarely abundant. The vibe on this male is: wide head, yellow on the clypeus and yellow in the parocular area (this is area between the central clypeus and compound eyes).

A somewhat odd position with its pollen covered (likely geranium pollen) leg out and its head cocked towards us. Photoshopping by Thistle Droege and photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena dunningi. A large dark Andrena. This lovely female, in fresh plumage, is relatively easy to identify simply by the orange brown color of its body hairs along with the nearly black hairs located on its hind legs which it uses to carry pollen to its nest.

A very early spring bee, covered in pollen, collected by a homeowner in Bowie, Maryland