Images

Note the expanded base of the mandibles...Collected by Tim McMahon and the first state record for Maryland, Photographed by Aaman Mengis.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

A thistle hugging giant of an Osmia..., who can't but love thistles and the several bee species that depend on them. Here is a specialist that depends on pollen from our native thistle plants to provision the cells of its young. Too often our native thistles also are taken out when people spray for introduced bull and Canada Thistles.

This is a bee most often associated with woodland blueberries in our studies. In this case the specimen came from Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.

Osmia bucephala female, Allegany County, Maryland, May, 2012

Osmia distincta, female, Maryland, May 2012, Allegany County

Osmia distincta, Allegany County, Maryland, May 2012

Fuzzy head of the Cinnamon Fern , Osmundastrum cinnamomeum. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Whoops, forgot to add this shot of Oxaea to the last set...nice shot of the big nose on this species.

Another ancient specimens form the National Collection at the Smithsonian. This is Ocaea

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

Cuba, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay

Cuba, GTMO, Guatntanamo Bay Naval Base

An unknown species of Oxybelus (a tiny little fly hunting wasp) from Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Duval county, Florida. Photograph 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.

A bee with great form. The shot of this from Africa from the back reminds me of sputnik. As in all the anthidiini it is a wonderful combination of deep pits and tastefully arrayed colors. I think such designs would look great as warrior outerwear.

A bee with great form. The shot of this from Africa from the back reminds me of sputnik. As in all the anthidiini it is a wonderful combination of deep pits and tastefully arrayed colors. I think such designs would look great as warrior outerwear.

An enormous bee from Madagascar, the largest members of the subfamily Anthophorini. At least some of these bees are hover pollinators of native plants in the mint family. Males have some slight modifications of the hind legs and an oddly projecting humanized face.

Pachyprosopis cornuta, f, australia, side

Golden ragwort, one of several species, now given the genus name of Packera...but formerly Senecio. Those taxonomists... This group hangs out in wet areas or moist roadsides, particularly in the Appalachians.

Golden ragwort, one of several species, now given the genus name of Packera...but formerly Senecio. Those taxonomists... This group hangs out in wet areas or moist roadsides, particularly in the Appalachians.

Palaeorhiza species, Badass Masked Bee, specimen collected in Papua New GuineaThin, relatively hairless, dangerous looking Masked Bees are waspish in aspect since they carry their pollen and nectar internally rather than trapped in external hairs.

Palaeorhiza species, Badass Masked Bee, specimen collected in Papua New GuineaThin, relatively hairless, dangerous looking Masked Bees are waspish in aspect since they carry their pollen and nectar internally rather than trapped in external hairs.