Images

A parasite of other bumblebeeds, B. citrinus, is the most common parasitic species in the East, but, as a parasite this still means it is very uncommon. The tale is simple, this species invades a nest, eliminates queen, and makes workers raise its own young.

A somewhat bedraggled Bombus crotchii from Yolo County, California..."This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

The giant bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). A denizen of the southern Andes and widely believed to be in decline due to competition and perhaps spread of pathogens with two introduced European bumblebees that have invaded the region. You notice this bee when it flies by. Dramatically orange with yellow highlights on the traditional deep black integument of bumblebees.

The giant bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). A denizen of the southern Andes and widely believed to be in decline due to competition and perhaps spread of pathogens with two introduced European bumblebees that have invaded the region. You notice this bee when it flies by. Dramatically orange with yellow highlights on the traditional deep black integument of bumblebees.

The giant bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). A denizen of the southern Andes and widely believed to be in decline due to competition and perhaps spread of pathogens with two introduced European bumblebees that have invaded the region. You notice this bee when it flies by. Dramatically orange with yellow highlights on the traditional deep black integument of bumblebees.

A common northern Bumble bee, Bombus ternarius seems to be relatively unaffected by the pathogen Nosema bombi that has impacted many other species. While not very visible in this view (but visible elsewhere in our collection) this species show bright orange on its abdomen and often causes people to think they have B.

A common northern Bumble bee, Bombus ternarius seems to be relatively unaffected by the pathogen Nosema bombi that has impacted many other species. While not very visible in this view (but visible elsewhere in our collection) this species show bright orange on its abdomen and often causes people to think they have B.

A bumble bee with issues. This is the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee. Or, scientifically, we call it Bombus terricola. Its one of a number of Bumbles in North America that have been penalized by the introduction of Nosema bombi, an inadvertent import from Europe.

A series of pictures of a queen and a male of the northernish bumble bee Bombus vagans. Still a reasonable common component of northern Appalachian systems, its been retreating from its lower elevation and southern edges over the last century.

One of the common and strikingly dark western bumble bees. This species largely restricted to coastal and Sierra ranges. The current specimen comes from Claire Kremen's study of Yosemite National Park bees. Photographs by Anders Croft.

More black bumble bees from Yosemite National Park. Here is the male of Bombus vosnesenskii. This species was described by the relatively prolific Polish Taxonomist Oktawiusz Wincenty Bourmeister-Radoszkowski who pumped out a great many new descriptions of bees in many parts of the world.

Brachyhesma species, Australian Minute Bee, specimen collected in AustraliaLong: Until recently those who worked on the taxonomy of bees, or taxonomy in general for that matter, were men. Culturally that imbalance is now shifting, though we clearly still have a ways to go.

Dark Flower Scarab (Euphoria sepulcralis) collected in Wicomico County in a glycol trap on a farm by Brooke Alexander and photoshopped by wonderful interns Joyce and Amber

Unknown species, Fossil Butte, Wyoming National Monument

Unknown Beetle (Scarabidae?) from Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming, photographed in hand sanitizer in a quartz cuvette

More clean up of the Bee Lab's picture files.Is this an alien? Or is it a beetle. I don't know because it only mentions that it is a beetle from Carroll County, Maryland. Any guesses as to genus/species? Picture taken by Wayne Boo.

Unknown Cerambycid beetle, from Laurel Maryland collected in June by Francisco Posada

Agrotis ipsilon - Black Cutworm - Another major crop pest. This species moves into northern parts of North America after overwintering in Texas and Mexico and then pulls off a couple of generations in weedy fields and particularly impacting newly planted corn. Yet another pest that looks rather beautiful when viewed up close.

Agrotis ipsilon - Black Cutworm - Another major crop pest. This species moves into northern parts of North America after overwintering in Texas and Mexico and then pulls off a couple of generations in weedy fields and particularly impacting newly planted corn. Yet another pest that looks rather beautiful when viewed up close.

Black-throated blue warbler, female, collided with a building in Washington D.C. , experimental photo of a stack of 16 pictures....feather detail came out very well, but thumb is pixilly....hard to hold that still that long

Jessica Zelt found this small Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest from the previous season on the ground at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center a few days ago. How beautifully made of lichens, hair and spiderwebs. Photograph by Hannah Sutton. 100mm Canon used, with Zerene Stacking software.