Images

A native Hawaiian. This species of Hawaiian bee, Hylaeus volatilis, is in the only group of truly native Hawaiian bees, all of which descended from perhaps a single colonization event of a long ago masked bee (Hylaeus) which evolved to become many different species across the island chain, forming partnerships with the native Hawaiian plants.

Hylaeus volatilis - A native species of Hawaiian bee found at mid elevations on East Maui. This species is particularly interesting in that it is a nest parasite of other native Hylaeus species

Larimer County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

Larimer County, Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park

Always a bit floppy, this is St. Andrew's Cross a small bushy thing with long odd petals.....I will admit to knowing little about the plant. Pictures and plant collection by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Key Biscayne National Park, Florida

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

A 100 year old specimen of a nest parasite of Colletes from Argentina. Those patterns on its abdomen are tiny, multibranched prone hairs. Nifty bee graphics. Picture by Samia Shell.

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

Yep, Black Walnuts have flowers....and here is a female one. Check out the fuzzy stigmas on top of what will be the nut later.

Another unknown jumping spider from Upper Marlboro, this one is only a few mm long, lots of wonderful things live complictated lives at the scale of a few mmCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Yesterday I captured this smallish (10mm) jumping spider. Not being a spider person I have not idea which genus it even is. So any help there would be wonderful. The closeup was done with a 10x nikon microscope lens on a 200mm used pentax. Beltsville, Maryland.

A series of shots of an unknown jumping spider from the Patuxent Bee Laboratory. Wish I knew more about spider id......

A series of shots of an unknown jumping spider from the Patuxent Bee Laboratory. Wish I knew more about spider id......

A July June Bug, Scarabaeid beetle, from my moth light, Upper Marlboro, MD

Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia. One of the last woodland bloomers in late May and early June in our part of the world.

Catterpillar of Endangered Karner Blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis, almost ready to pupate ...a.k.a. a fatty

Shed skin from captive reared Endangered Karner Blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Lasioglossum pectinatum, Maryland , Washington County. One very rare bee, this is the first one I have seen a specimen of from the state