Images

unknown weevil species, Chino Farms, Maryland

Just a white oak leaf bud from several years ago. Botanists, at some point, realized that many plants go through a period of time where they have no leaves. So, being clever (and having no leaves to look at) they have devised alternative strategies to identifying plants using things like buds, leaf scars, patterns of pith, color of bark, and so forth.

Peromyscus leucopus, the white-footed mouse, this one dead from one of the many traps in our lab, where we fear the number of bees one mouse can eat in a day. Photo by Hannah Sutton.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Yellowroot. A long tradition in eastern North American of using this shrubby Ranunculus family plant for dyeing and medicine. Plant and specimen from Helen Lowe Metzman.

Prickly Ash - Xanthoxylum americanum. Photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A couple more prickly ash photos taken by Helen Low Metzman.

Xenoglossa strenua. People who know something about native bees often know about the "Squash Bee" Peponapis pruinosa. However, there are other native squash bees, and here is one. This is Xenoglossa strenua.

Xenoglossa strenua. People who know something about native bees often know about the "Squash Bee" Peponapis pruinosa. However, there are other native squash bees, and here is one. This is Xenoglossa strenua.

One of the most common bees in the East...if only we could figure out how to identify it more easily. Here we have Lasioglossum trigeminum. Fits right in with A. admirandum, A. versatum, and A. callidum and I often struggle with dark second thoughts about the specimens Id, because of all the overlap.

A common Carpenter Bee in Kruger National Park where they hang out in blooming trees (particularly legumes) once the trees start blooming with the austral spring rains. Looks a bit like the road stripers got a hold of her. Xylcopa caffra. Identified by Jonathan Mawdsley. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

A common Carpenter Bee in Kruger National Park where they hang out in blooming trees (particularly legumes) once the trees start blooming with the austral spring rains. Looks a bit like the road stripers got a hold of her. Xylcopa caffra. Identified by Jonathan Mawdsley. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

Another bee from Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is Xylocopa caffra...the male. Note how it is all yellow? Well the female is almost all black with some blocks of yellow on the abdomen. In a number of Carpenter bees on a number of continents this pattern repeats...while in other Carpenter bees the male and female are both dark.

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

100 years old and still blue .... ish. Google Xylocopa caerulea to see some knockout recent specimens. Capture in Singapore long ago. Interesting to think what legacy you will have in a 100 years...? Will people still use and find relevant something you did/found/created 100 years from now? Picture taken by Anders Croft.

A lovely reddish haired carpenter bee from Kruger National Park. Picture by Erick Hernandez.

Xylocopa inconstans, one of several species of Carpenter Bees that come from Kruger National Park. This white patch makes it relatively distinct. Part of expeditions led by Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

A lovely yellow yellow yellow Carpenter Bee from India. The brown wings and yellow hairs show extremely good taste. From 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.

Kruger National Park presents a native South African: Xylocopa lugubris. This carpenter bee was caught cruising around the park while along on Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison's expedition. Lots of fun avoiding poisonous snakes, lions, and leopards and other big things. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

Kruger National Park presents a native South African: Xylocopa lugubris. This carpenter bee was caught cruising around the park while along on Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison's expedition. Lots of fun avoiding poisonous snakes, lions, and leopards and other big things. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

Kruger National Park presents a native South African: Xylocopa lugubris. This carpenter bee was caught cruising around the park while along on Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison's expedition. Lots of fun avoiding poisonous snakes, lions, and leopards and other big things. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

Kruger National Park presents a native South African: Xylocopa lugubris. This carpenter bee was caught cruising around the park while along on Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison's expedition. Lots of fun avoiding poisonous snakes, lions, and leopards and other big things. Photo by Erick Hernandez.