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USGS Bee Lab at the Eastern Ecological Science Center images.

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Phyllophaga aemula, F, MD, Anne Arundel
Phyllophaga aemula, F, MD, Anne Arundel
Phyllophaga aemula, F, MD, Anne Arundel

The June Bug, whose babies are some of the white grubs you with you wouldn't find in your garden, but at least they are native and you should really share your world.....

The June Bug, whose babies are some of the white grubs you with you wouldn't find in your garden, but at least they are native and you should really share your world.....

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Phymata, right side face, Somerset Co., MD
Phymata, right side face, Somerset Co., MD
Phymata, right side face, Somerset Co., MD

Dragonette. My competitor. AKA the Jagged Ambush Bug. These flower dragons tuck into flowers and jump on the bees (an other insects) that I study, injects them, liquefies their insides, and sucks them out, just like some people do emotionally to others. Rugged.

Dragonette. My competitor. AKA the Jagged Ambush Bug. These flower dragons tuck into flowers and jump on the bees (an other insects) that I study, injects them, liquefies their insides, and sucks them out, just like some people do emotionally to others. Rugged.

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Physocephala tibialis, face, scarpulla, virginia
Physocephala tibialis, face, scarpulla, virginia
Physocephala tibialis, face, scarpulla, virginia

If you are a bumble bee (how fascinating if you were...) this fly would be your worst nightmare. You be flying along, warmed by the sun as you joyfully gathered pollen and nectar from flowers, then Wham, this fly, about half your size, would latch onto you and with the tip of its abdomen force itself between your abdominal segments and insert its egg.

If you are a bumble bee (how fascinating if you were...) this fly would be your worst nightmare. You be flying along, warmed by the sun as you joyfully gathered pollen and nectar from flowers, then Wham, this fly, about half your size, would latch onto you and with the tip of its abdomen force itself between your abdominal segments and insert its egg.

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Peponapis pruinosa, f, right side, Centre Co., PA
Peponapis pruinosa, f, right side, Centre Co., PA
Peponapis pruinosa, f, right side, Centre Co., PA

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

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Pepsis rubra, Female, back, GTMO, Cuba
Pepsis rubra, Female, back, GTMO, Cuba
Pepsis rubra, Female, back, GTMO, Cuba

One the spider wasps that are often called Tarantula Hawks, many often display various shades of red in their wings, perhaps as a warning to birds as their sting is notoriously painful. This one was collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba and photographed by Aaman Mengis

One the spider wasps that are often called Tarantula Hawks, many often display various shades of red in their wings, perhaps as a warning to birds as their sting is notoriously painful. This one was collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba and photographed by Aaman Mengis

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Pepsis ruficornis,U, side, Dominican Republic
Pepsis ruficornis,U, side, Dominican Republic
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Perdita bishoppi, female, face
Perdita bishoppi, female, face
Perdita bishoppi, female, face

Fort Mantanzas has more cool bees to share with use from a tiny coastal monument run by the park service along the upper coast of Florida. This time more junior bees in the genus Perdita. Photography by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Fort Mantanzas has more cool bees to share with use from a tiny coastal monument run by the park service along the upper coast of Florida. This time more junior bees in the genus Perdita. Photography by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Perdita halictoides, F, Back, VT, Chittenden County
Perdita halictoides, F, Back, VT, Chittenden County
Perdita halictoides, F, Back, VT, Chittenden County

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

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Perdita halictoides, F, Sidewith vibration, VT, Chittenden County
Perdita halictoides, F, Sidewith vibration, VT, Chittenden County
Perdita halictoides, F, Sidewith vibration, VT, Chittenden County

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

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Ruby Throated Hummingbird, F, side face, 430 ESt. NW, 8.22.12
Ruby Throated Hummingbird, F, side face, 430 ESt. NW, 8.22.12
Ruby Throated Hummingbird, F, side face, 430 ESt. NW, 8.22.12

Dead Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, after striking a building in the fall of 2012 in Washington D.C. Collected by Lights out DC

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Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). An early early spring flower. Named the blood red interior of its root. So red it was used by Native Americans to paint their faces and as a dye. No eating this baby though it is full of alkaloids. Interestingly, one of those alkaloids, sanguinarine is in some mouthwashes.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). An early early spring flower. Named the blood red interior of its root. So red it was used by Native Americans to paint their faces and as a dye. No eating this baby though it is full of alkaloids. Interestingly, one of those alkaloids, sanguinarine is in some mouthwashes.

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Sceliphron caementarium, U, side, Florida, Biscayne
Sceliphron caementarium, U, side, Florida, Biscayne
Sceliphron caementarium, U, side, Florida, Biscayne

This ubiquitous North American species can be found gathering mud for its nest almost anywhere. I have collected it in urban areas to remote villages in the center of Guyana. This specimen is from Key Biscayne National Park in Florida and was arrayed without a pin by Brooke in our lab and then photgraphed on a piece of glass by Ben

This ubiquitous North American species can be found gathering mud for its nest almost anywhere. I have collected it in urban areas to remote villages in the center of Guyana. This specimen is from Key Biscayne National Park in Florida and was arrayed without a pin by Brooke in our lab and then photgraphed on a piece of glass by Ben

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