Images

Another nest parasite. Another Triepeolus. This time is is T. lunatus. A common species for a nest parasite in that it shows up regularly. The thought is that it is the nest parasite of Melissodes bimaculata which is perhaps the most abundant long-horned bee in the East, but probably is more generic in what Melissodes' nest it will invade.

A very rare bee. This one was on one of our lists of bees that have not been seen in the last 20 years until Sabrie Breland found one in southern Georgia in a old managed longleaf pine plantation. Once suspects that if as a society we were to protect and encourage more native plants and habitats more would be discovered.

Powerlines. Or more accurately transmission corridors. Now one of the few places that open country forb communities exist in many parts of the East. Often seen as a blight, they if not mown or sprayed to death, are places of refuge for many rare bees.

Sytyropha on white background. S. krigei to be specific from Kruger National Park in South Africa. This specimen was identified and photographed by Silas Bossert a bee researcher at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. They use similar systems to what we use, but prefer gray to white backgrounds, they are equally detailed.

Unknown Deer Fly form near Bowie Maryland

Tarsalia persica, Persian Asymmetric bee, collected in Iran. 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.

Thalestria spinosa..the only member of its genus and a nest parasite of the genus Oxaea. Note that both genera have glints of metallic integument just to make them more attractive to humans.

Spectacular in its glittering blue hairs, this humpbacked bee is another nest parasite, in this case it lays its eggs in the nests of Blue-banded bees (Amegilla). This particular baby was collected in the Philippines by C.F. Baker in the early part of the last century.

Thanks to Bill Hubic and Cathy Stragar for this ID!. Thanks. sam 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.

Oh look, a Tiger Beetle. This was collected on Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland along the beach where I was hunting bees on the leadplant that grows wherever sandy shores bloom. I believe this to me Cicindela hirticollis but can be disabused of that notion by a tiger expert.

The Cranefly Orchid - Pollinated by night flying moths who come for a snack and instead get an orchid pollinia (sack of pollen) glued to their eye. Tricky. A relatively common orchid and one that seems ok with relatively recent forests emerging from some man made disturbance.

Stelis lateralis - A nest parasite of Osmia...often seemingly associated with O. pumila. This one was found in the New York City area in Gateway National Recreation Area. Photographed by Kamren Jefferson and photo shopped by Elizabeth Garcia.

A nest parasite of Megachile...probably of M. campanulae or M. exilis...this bee was collected at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in the marshlands of Dorchester County, Maryland. Photograph by Claire Mudd.

Three pictures of Stelis nasuta from the Grecian Islands, collected by Jelle Devalez who has the honor of studying and interpreting for us all the bee faunaof these islands. How nice for us all. The species lays its eggs in the nest of the Osmia species that we have illustrated previously. Just doing its job, nothing personal.

Three pictures of Stelis nasuta from the Grecian Islands, collected by Jelle Devalez who has the honor of studying and interpreting for us all the bee faunaof these islands. How nice for us all. The species lays its eggs in the nest of the Osmia species that we have illustrated previously. Just doing its job, nothing personal.

Stelis subemarginata - An uncommon nest parasite of the genus Osmia. This one from Maine, where lots of Osmia hang out. Photo by Brooke Alexander.

Woof. Not great pictures of a bit of beat up bee, but it is a rare bee and I think the only one I have ever gotten. In this case these came from Shelby Wilson who did surveys of bees on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. A very cool place. Very canadian in bee aspect.

A small stilt bug in its thin glory from the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Collected by Chelcey Nordstrom and photographed by Sydney Price.

Here is a bee, Triepeolus remigatus, that is native to North America, but in much of the continent occurs only because of the crops we plant. In this case that crop is squash and pumpkins.

One of a few undescribed Triepeolus that Molly Rightmyer left undescribed after her revision of the group North of Mexico. She simply labeled it Sp. 101. This one was captured by Tim McMahon in Cochise County, Arizona.

A small Triopasites specimen from Cochise County, Arizona. Collected by Don Harvey on one of his expeditions to the area. This wee bee is a nest parasite of a group of similarly sized wee bees in the genus Anthophorula, mostly, but not entirely desert species. Lots to learn about this group. Photograph by Sydney Price.