Images

Lasioglossum leucozonium, female

One of what seem like one billion different kinds of small shiny slightly metallic Lasioglossum species. This one characterized by very sparse pitting on the top of the thorax and bit more glintyness on the abdomen (yep, not great characters).

A bee of the coastal dunes. Restricted almost entirely to dune systems or more precisely, deep sandy areas next to salt water, this is one of the few bees that seem to have a strong habitat component (rather than plant component) to their distribution. Too bad about that sea level rise thing for them, I suppose.

Now, this is an interesting bee. Obviously it has occurred in Michigan, and indeed until quite recently that was the only place it was known from and in fact, was known only from one single specimen. However, it was so unique that was described by Ted Mitchell over 50 years ago as a new species.

Now, this is an interesting bee. Obviously it has occurred in Michigan, and indeed until quite recently that was the only place it was known from and in fact, was known only from one single specimen. However, it was so unique that was described by Ted Mitchell over 50 years ago as a new species.

Wow, check out the expanded basal segments of this male Hylaeus basalis. Probably as big as they get in perhaps any bee in the world. Other Hylaeus have expanded segments (sexual selection?) but not like this. This bee is form Isle Royale a very large island in Superior with all sorts of interesting bees.

The female of the previous bee.

New State Record for Maryland, April 2012 Collected on Willow blooms in Somerset County....a very rarely collected bee east of the Mississippi. I don't know any recent records

Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, non-native species, collected by Stephanie Wilson

A lovely Hylaeus from Australia with some nice yellow pinstriping on the face and bold swaths on the scuttellum, pronotal lobe, and metanotum. From the Packer Bee Laboratory. 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.

Hylaeus ornatus is a masked bee, one that is always associated with wetlands. These wetlands can be freshwater marshy spots or they can be the backsides of salt marshes. Almost all have lovely red basal portions of the their abdomen. Some do not. We have series of these bees in a DNA lab to see if these two groups are different or the same.

A wetlands bee, usually with red on the basal segments of the abdomen but not always. The males with extensive yellow on their faces. Here from the marshes of Kent County, Maryland

Colors. You know, bees are so interesting sometimes. Here is Hylaeus pictipes. Jason Gibbs found this species up in Ontario, Canada where it did not belong since it is a bee of the Old World.

Colors. You know, bees are so interesting sometimes. Here is Hylaeus pictipes. Jason Gibbs found this species up in Ontario, Canada where it did not belong since it is a bee of the Old World.

Potentially new species of Hylaeus from Puerto Rico...certainly new to the island. Collected by Sara Prado. Pictures 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.

Potentially new species of Hylaeus from Puerto Rico...certainly new to the island. Collected by Sara Prado. Pictures 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.

The Endangered Karner Blue, Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Dominican Republic. A lovely metallic green Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group

Dominican Republic. A lovely metallic green Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group

Its just endless, the number of species of bees at Fossil Butte National Monument and the number of Lasioglossums Sweat Bees in the world. This one is L. prasinogaster. Pretty much looks like all the rest...mostly a Rocky Mountains thing...but a few found in the Pacific Northwest.

Lamium purpureum, Beltsville, Maryland .... a tiny mint that up close demonstrates so many hidden facets of beauty