Images

From Santa Rosa Island , one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California and part of the Channel Islands National Park come this tiny Ashmeadiella. 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.

Laphria thoracica, a Robber fly that mimics bees. The sit around waiting for a passing fly, attach, and then suck it dry. You should appreciate the fact that this species is measured in mm, captured by Tim McMahon and photographed by Wayne Boo

Laphria saffrana, a fly, a robberfly to be exact, but a lovely mimic of Yellowjackets. Collected at Hitchiti Experimental Forest, Georgia, in Glycol trap

This is picture 4 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian.

Hemipteran, found in my office today, Beltsville, Maryland. Identified as a nymphal Assassin but of the genus Zelus by Speech Path Girl.... In hand sanitizer with plastic knife in the base to decrease refractions that lighten the lower sections...seem to work, but am now thinking that I need to get some crystal cuvettes that may have better visual acuity....

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

A widespread western hemisphere group, this is one of many bright green Augochlora species (others can range in the black to purple/blue spectrums), this one is special because it occurs only on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, where it was collected by Sara Prado in agricultural fields...a local pollinator.

One of THE most common bees in Eastern North America and one of the most woodland oriented. This species nests in rotting wood and I have found them overwintering underneath the loose bark of logs on the ground.

One of THE most common bees in Eastern North America and one of the most woodland oriented. This species nests in rotting wood and I have found them overwintering underneath the loose bark of logs on the ground.

Augochlora regina, Dominican Republic, formerly A. elegans.Also have been dubbed the Blue Man bee

Augochlora regina, female, March 2012 Dominican Republic, formerly A. elegans

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

One of the most common bees in Eastern North America....a particular lover of open fields, this one from Boonesboro, Maryland

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, Dark Purple/Blue form of this species that often occurs in coastal and Deep South situations

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

The most commonly captured bee in the Eastern United States is Augochlorella aurata, however, in the Deep South you start seeing some A. gratiosa, which is very, very similar, so much so that for years I thought they might be the same thing...but thankfully April Hamblin brought in a few, including a male, that turned out to be this species.

A western Augochlorella species... this time from Zion National Park in Utah, known for its rock formations, but also protecting some darn nice bees. Kim Huntzinger identified this bad boy and Wayne Boo took the shot today and of course the staff of Zion did the bee catching.

Biscayne National Park, male Florida, A Southeaster Bee of the deepest iridescence