Images

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

Lasioglossum pictum, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Lasioglossum rozeni, Female, Frederick County, Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Park, a nest parasite of other Lasioglossum species

Bryce Canyon, little tiny sweat bees, lots of different species. Not what people come to see, but what you now can see here because the National Park Service cares. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

Bryce Canyon, little tiny sweat bees, lots of different species. Not what people come to see, but what you now can see here because the National Park Service cares. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

Bryce Canyon, little tiny sweat bees, lots of different species. Not what people come to see, but what you now can see here because the National Park Service cares. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

From Mount Washington in New Hampshire. A new species for New England this species has a boreal distribution and probably is a hold out from colder days, eking out a living in the White Mountains until global climate change turns it into a jungle.

Rare. This small little Lasioglossum sequoiae is all black. This particular specimen was collected in the San Juan Islands of Washington in the National Historic Park and identified by the fabulous Jason Gibbs. This represents a major range extension for all the previous specimens we are aware of are known from California.

Here is a little tiny nest parasite, Lasioglossum simplex, that parasitizes one of its sister taxa (likely L. trigeminum). While it retains the overall look and feel of its pollen carrying upright relatives, it has no pollen carrying hairs and its mandibles lack the tooth at the end and instead are simple sabres...

Lasioglossum sopinci lives in sand deserts in Eastern North America.

Lasioglossum sopinci lives in sand deserts in Eastern North America.

We have had pictures of this sand lover before, but just got this one fresh from a study of a local sand mine where with the state mines division they created new bee habitat as a trial and this sand specialist was glad to show up.