Images

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the rare Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

This is a northern / arctic species that occurs worldwide. Recent discoveries have shown its distribution extends to high elevations in West Virginia (thank you Jane).This specimen is from Maine (thank you Alison).

Jackson County, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

An uncommon spring bee, this is Andrena confederata. This bee, occurs in low numbers throughout the region. There are relatively few records, but my impression is that it likely occurs regularly in the right situations. What those situations are and what the habitats they prefer might be, is unclear. Nothing new, so much to learn about bees.

Andrena confederata - A male of this uncommon species found in Calvert County and photographed by Dejen Mengis.

Go to the woods in the Eastern United States, find a blooming Rhododendron, look for this bee, it specializes Rhodos and Azalea pollen for its babies. Collected in Giles County (probably on a Rhododendron) by Barbara Abraham's students at Mountain Lake Biological Station.

Leadplant lover. This bee species is a pollen specialist on Amorpha and was collected in Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Photographed by interns Joyce and ColbyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Andrena cragini, male, new species record for South Dakota from Badlands National Park as part of a park wide inventory, this small Andrena species appears to be a Leadplant pollen specialist Joyce, Colby, and Amber

Andrena cragini, male, new species record for South Dakota from Badlands National Park as part of a park wide inventory, this small Andrena species appears to be a Leadplant pollen specialist, photgraphed by interns Joyce, Colby, and Amber

Another shot of Andrena cressonii for the files..

In the spring, this species (Andrena cressonii) can show up almost anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic and throughout much of the country. Common, but rarely abundant. The vibe on this male is: wide head, yellow on the clypeus and yellow in the parocular area (this is area between the central clypeus and compound eyes).

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The male of the previous shot, note the metallic blue overtones to the integument (skin) of this bee....an uncommon characteristic in the genus Andrena. Also note the stacking artifact where the antennae arches across the top of the head. This can be corrected for in the stacking process, but, frankly, we don't have the time and few people notice such things.

Andrena dunningi. A large dark Andrena. This lovely female, in fresh plumage, is relatively easy to identify simply by the orange brown color of its body hairs along with the nearly black hairs located on its hind legs which it uses to carry pollen to its nest.

A very early spring bee, covered in pollen, collected by a homeowner in Bowie, Maryland

The head of Andrena fenningeri. A wee spring black mining bee that favors the pollen of Maple. Just one of the many little black things that are out in the spring on flowers that people pay no attention to. Found in the heart of suburbia: Bowie, Maryland. Photo by Wayne Boo.

From the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee comes Andrena fenningeri, one of the very early spring bees, often associated with red maple bloom. In this case a male. Amber Reese took the picture and Elizabeth Garcia did the shopping.

Another member of the difficult to identify Trachandrena subgenus of Andrena. I think that I have the females sorted out (more or less) but the males...oi! This specimen from Maryland. Picture by Amanda Robinson.

Andrena forbesii from Maryland, thanks to Ann Simpkins for photoshopping