Images

sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

From Mount Washington in New Hampshire. A new species for New England this species has a boreal distribution and probably is a hold out from colder days, eking out a living in the White Mountains until global climate change turns it into a jungle.

Rare. This small little Lasioglossum sequoiae is all black. This particular specimen was collected in the San Juan Islands of Washington in the National Historic Park and identified by the fabulous Jason Gibbs. This represents a major range extension for all the previous specimens we are aware of are known from California.

Here is a little tiny nest parasite, Lasioglossum simplex, that parasitizes one of its sister taxa (likely L. trigeminum). While it retains the overall look and feel of its pollen carrying upright relatives, it has no pollen carrying hairs and its mandibles lack the tooth at the end and instead are simple sabres...

A rather lovely Lasioglossum from Bryce Canyon National Park (L. sisymbrii) als black and white stripes. Common in the West...leaking a bit into the plains, but not much.

Lasioglossum sopinci, male

A couple more shots of the mysterious female masked bee Hylaeus sparsus. These collected by Jessica Rykken in Shenandoah National Park. Rarely collected by found across hundreds of miles of North America. Makes you wonder what we are missing, my guess is we are missing a lot because no body is actually looking.

a lovely lady Hylaeus from Kenya, one of the specimens from the Packer lab that did not make it into the upcoming book. It was a very dirty specimen originally, lots of dust and pollen, thank goodness for photoshop. Also experimented with using the augmentation brush to pull light into dark spots, darken off excess eyeshine, and help with pin removal.

One of the native species of Maui, here unusually found at lower elevations on the island during surveys last spring. Normally this group is restricted to upper elevations that retain at least a large component of the native flora.

One of the native species of Maui, here unusually found at lower elevations on the island during surveys last spring. Normally this group is restricted to upper elevations that retain at least a large component of the native flora.

Here is a series of 6 shots of Hylaeus verticalis, 3 male, 3 female. A northern and mountain bee throughout North America. One of a bunch of different Masked Bees that lurk around the continent. Photos by Sue Boo and Brooke Alexander.

Hylaeus volatilis - A native species of Hawaiian bee found at mid elevations on East Maui. This species is particularly interesting in that it is a nest parasite of other native Hylaeus species

Larimer County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

Unknown Hylaeus species from Hawaii, Oahu, March 2012. Almost certainly an introduced species. Female

Unknown Hylaeus species from Hawaii, Oahu, March 2012. Almost certainly an introduced species. Female

This large Hylaeus related wasp mimic is found in Australia and New Zealand. Thanks to Bernhard Jacobi for the determination. Another specimen from the vaults of the Packer Lab. 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.

This large Hylaeus related wasp mimic is found in Australia and New Zealand. Thanks to Bernhard Jacobi for the determination. Another specimen from the vaults of the Packer Lab. 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.

Small resin nest building bees. Most of the genus hails from South America with one species making it up into southern Mexico. Another from the Packer lab!

Always a bit floppy, this is St. Andrew's Cross a small bushy thing with long odd petals.....I will admit to knowing little about the plant. Pictures and plant collection by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.