Images

Lithurgus tibialis: a fascinating species in that it is much smaller and looks quiet different from other Lithurgus species occurring in Europe and has the peculiar preference for flowers of Chrozophora, a quite unusual pollen source.., but from studies in Greece it is clear that the females almost solely visit this plant and collect its pollen.

Look in the bottom right hand side of the seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) pod we opened up.

Square is not something Nature normally trucks in with plants. But here it is the seedbox (Ludwidia alternifolia). A plant that is a fan of wet areas and is related to Evening Primroses. This winter specimens was collected by Helen Lowe Metzman who also took the photographs. P.S.

Square is not something Nature normally trucks in with plants. But here it is the seedbox (Ludwidia alternifolia). A plant that is a fan of wet areas and is related to Evening Primroses. This winter specimen was collected by Helen Lowe Metzman who also took the photographs. P.S.

Ammobates muticus, Mediterranean Bee Stalker, specimen collected by E.L. Merim in Palermo, ItalyAnother red-abdomened cuckoo bee; why is it that so many cuckoo bees are more brightly colored than their hosts?

Probably a specialist on bindweed pollen, this group of bees runs from the Southwestern states down into southern South America. Note the expanded femurs of this male, interesting to speculate as to why. From the Packer Lab.

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

Andrena accepta, female, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Badlands national Park, South Dakota

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

A small bee, whose female is a gatherer of pollen from native mustard plants. However, this is the male as can be told by counting the number of antennal segments (13) and by the fact that it has a bright white clypeus. Which, with very very rare exceptions is something that only male Andrena have. This is Andrena arabis.

One of many small Andrenas out in the spring in Eastern North America. This one favors the pollen of brassicas. Photoshopping by Thistle Droege, photograph by Dejen Mengis.

Here is the male of the recently posted female Andrena arabis. The male illustrates what happens periodically with some of the males of this largely brown, dark group of mining bees which is that a few of them have a yellow, or in this case and off-white, clypeus. Surely this must be some sort of sexual signal as the females almost never have these markings.

Andrena asteroides, a late season aster specialist (thus the name). This species along with a number of other Andrena specialize on this group of plants, the rest of the Genus Andrena are primarily spring flower specialists. Note the very dense pollen carrying hairs on the hind femur. Wayne Boo took this picture.

Andrena asteroides, a late season aster specialist (thus the name). This species along with a number of other Andrena specialize on this group of plants, the rest of the Genus Andrena are primarily spring flower specialists. Note the very dense pollen carrying hairs on the hind femur. Wayne Boo took this picture.

Andrena asteroides "“ A male undoubtedly caught on one of the Frost Asters in Prince George's County, Maryland. Photographed by Wayne Boo

Andrena atlantica. One of over 100 Andrena species in the Mid-Atlantic area. The male of this species does not have a positive means of being identified from A. alleghaniensis. Some needs to figure this out along with many other things. Photo by Sydney Price.

Andrena banksi, female

Andrena banksi, male

Regionally common to sometimes even abundant, this is one of the larger Andrena of the spring. It can occur in almost any habitat, gathering pollen from a wide variety of the hugely abundant pollen and nectar sources that occur in Woodlands and surrounding scrub lands.