Images

The male of a relatively new introduced species from Japan. Likes to nest in adobe walls of buildings and underneath decks. Photoshopping by Thistle Droege and Photography by Brooke Alexander.

Anthophora porterae from the Badlands of South Dakota. This group of bees are the furry teddy bears of the bee world. Collected as part of a large study of the bees of the national park of the same name.

One of the common Anthophora species found in early spring in the olive groves of Greece. They're visiting many spring flowers that provide a lot of nectar and pollen, like Muscari and Asphodelus. This particular specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez who hunts bees in the Aegean islands.

A slightly disheveled Anthophora from the Carribbean collected by Sara Prado. This species is known from Hispaniola to the western part of the Lesser Antilles. Wouldn't it be interesting to figure out the ancient history of this species colonization/evolution in the island chain. Pictures taken by intern team Maggie Yuan and Sara Guerrieri.

A slightly disheveled Anthophora from the Carribbean collected by Sara Prado. This species is known from Hispaniola to the western part of the Lesser Antilles. Wouldn't it be interesting to figure out the ancient history of this species colonization/evolution in the island chain. Pictures taken by intern team Maggie Yuan and Sara Guerrieri.

A slightly disheveled Anthophora from the Carribbean collected by Sara Prado. This species is known from Hispaniola to the western part of the Lesser Antilles. Wouldn't it be interesting to figure out the ancient history of this species colonization/evolution in the island chain. Pictures taken by intern team Maggie Yuan and Sara Guerrieri.

Captured by the butterfly convert Don Harvey in the wilds of Hidalgo County, New Mexico, here is the hunky Anthophora urbana; captured, as you can see from the pollen covering it, after servicing the local flowers. This is one of the most common Anthophora in the West and unlike most bees who get up around 9 a.m. or so, our friend A.

Here is a series of males and females of Anthophora urbana 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.

Here is a series of males and females of Anthophora urbana 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.

Messy. This Anthophora is just not very common around the MidAtlantic and I can't quite figure out any particular patterns to where it is ...and where it is not. It is also distributionally interesting since it is found on both coasts, but not in the prairies. Very suspicious. There needs to be an investigation. Are these different species?

Here is Anthophora ursina...a male. It has populations in the West and the East but none in the middle of the continent. Which makes one wonder if there are two or one species involved. In the past at least they have been considered different Subspecies. This is not a common bee. I a have seen relatively few individuals, and those from West Virginia.

A Japanese Bee in America. This is Anthophora villosula. An Anthophora that was introduced in the 80s to Eastern U.S. for ag purposes, but its potential was never realized. Now, unfortunately, it is a common and spreading alien species dispersing from its original location in the Washington D.C. area and will likely occupy much of the country at some point.

A Japanese Bee in America. This is Anthophora villosula. An Anthophora that was introduced in the 80s to Eastern U.S. for ag purposes, but its potential was never realized. Now, unfortunately, it is a common and spreading alien species dispersing from its original location in the Washington D.C. area and will likely occupy much of the country at some point.

We go, once again, to one of my favorite parts of the world, the Badlands of South Dakota. Among several types of Anthophora exists a nicely woke-up white banded species called Anthophora walshii. This species has an interesting distribution, it is almost entirely found in the prairies bumping up to the western mountain ranges.

We go, once again, to one of my favorite parts of the world, the Badlands of South Dakota. Among several types of Anthophora exists a nicely woke-up white banded species called Anthophora walshii. This species has an interesting distribution, it is almost entirely found in the prairies bumping up to the western mountain ranges.

Anthophora abrupta, female, May, 2012, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge

Melitoma species. One of several species that are in the Melitoma clan, that also occurred in Costa Rica. This is collected by Tim McMahon while on an expedition to that lovely country. The species is currently unknown, at least to us, but note the very long tongue, super characteristic.

The Drone or male of the honeybee. Note the eyes, they actually meet on top of the head. It lives only do mate with a virgin queen and the expanded compount eyes help. Note the weak reflection of the female's heavily modified hind tibia, still expanded, but not really functionally, probably a molecularly cheap byproduct of being haploid.

Honey bee face, Apis mellifera, note the hairs coming off the compound eyes...a distinctive honey bee trait compared to native bees (other than Coelioxys)Beltsville Maryland

The Honey bee, Apis mellifera

Beltsville, Maryland Honey bee wing, Apis mellifera