Images

Notice, in particular the lobed tip of the tongue in this shot. A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

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Puerto Rico! What a snappy looking bee with its orange, yellow, and glinting blue patterns interspersed with the standard blacks and whites of most bees. How lovely to that this is a bee found in agricultural areas...a sort of Bumble Bee replacement in a land where Bumble Bees don't exist. Collected by Sara Prado in her investigations of agriculture and bees.

Puerto Rico! What a snappy looking bee with its orange, yellow, and glinting blue patterns interspersed with the standard blacks and whites of most bees. How lovely to that this is a bee found in agricultural areas...a sort of Bumble Bee replacement in a land where Bumble Bees don't exist. Collected by Sara Prado in her investigations of agriculture and bees.

Centris...the tropical western hemisphere's answer to the Bumblebee. Bumblebees are absent from the Caribbean but bees of the genus Centris are of the same size and shape and fill the same floral niche muscling their way into large tropical flowers.

Centris...the tropical western hemisphere's answer to the Bumblebee. Bumblebees are absent from the Caribbean but bees of the genus Centris are of the same size and shape and fill the same floral niche muscling their way into large tropical flowers.

Centris fasciata, male, Cuba, GTMO

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

A lovely Centris from Puerto Rico, collected by Sara Prado

A lovely Centris from Puerto Rico, collected by Sara Prado

Centris haemorrhoidalis - The red-butted bee of Puerto Rico. Another lovely bee from the tropics, sort of a fancy bumble bee in a way. Collected by queen bee of Puerto Rico, Sara Prado. Pictures by Brooke Alexander.

Centris haemorrhoidalis - The red-butted bee of Puerto Rico. Another lovely bee from the tropics, sort of a fancy bumble bee in a way. Collected by queen bee of Puerto Rico, Sara Prado. Pictures by Brooke Alexander.

Centris haemorrhoidalis - The red-butted bee of Puerto Rico. Another lovely bee from the tropics, sort of a fancy bumble bee in a way. Collected by queen bee of Puerto Rico, Sara Prado. Pictures by Brooke Alexander.

A small Centris species take by Sara Prado in Puerto Rico

A small Centris species take by Sara Prado in Puerto Rico

A small Centris species take by Sara Prado in Puerto Rico

A disjunct population of a western bee...or at least not intermediate populations have been found between Florida and the West. This specimen was caught almost in Georgia, so close as it might as well be recorded for the state.

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

The tail ends of Centris are often brightly colored...surely there is a function, and a reason, but why does it often appear to us to also be beatutiful?Another Caribbean bee collected from Puerto Rico by Sara Prado. A lovely male. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

Another Caribbean bee collected from Puerto Rico by Sara Prado. A lovely male. Photographed by Brooke Alexander. 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.