Images

From George Washington's Birthplace comes a fall Frost Aster specialist. One of about 6 or so species that specialize on the pollen of Asters and sometimes Goldenrods, these species are uncommonly collected but likely more because people are not looking that true uncommoness. Picture by Brooke Alexander.

Another uncommon woodland Andrena. Andrena thaspii also is largely unstudied. Kelly Graninger took the picture and Ellison Orcutt caught the bee in Virginia.

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

A very common bee in our region. It can be found in almost any spring habitat from woods to yards.

One of the most common Andrena in the East, as well as throughout the US and southern Canada. Here we have the male of Andrena cressonii. This species shows up across many habitats, weedy, wooded, agricultural, lawns, suburbs, and wildlands.

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.

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

An odd, dark Andrena bee of deep sandy areas that comes out in the middle of summer

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

Andrena fulvipennis "“ A very rare species this male was captured in an old sand pit in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This species is only found in deep, permanently sandy locations. Picture taken by Brooke Alexander.

A lovely little southern pea loving bee. Its so nice to know that these little flying jewels are out there and not everything is a honey bee. Collected by Sabrie Breland in the southern pinelands of Georgia and photographed by Sara Guerrieri.

Background fun. Note that in one picture in this series we put a background of grass in our mini-insect studio in front of the black velvet curtain. What do you think ...pro? con?This is Anthidium illustre a snappy looking beast from the Rocky Mountains west.

What a lovely female Anthidium manicatum from Massachusetts. This species is a non-native species that has successfully invaded much of the Eastern parts of North America, in particular it is fond of ornamental gardens containing furry leaved plants which it uses to line its nest.

Anthidium manicatum is an invasive bee that showed up sometime in the 19 eighties in North America. It is particularly fond of garden plants such as stachys and appears to largely be restricted to areas of human occupancy. The specimens come from Massachusetts, and I wish I could recall who gave them to me, but for now I have forgotten.

A gynandromorph is a bee that exhibits characteristics of both sexes. In the other two species (Lasioglossum and Bombus) the split was bilateral..one side male and the other, female. In this Anthidium oblongatum (an introduced species) almost the entire bee is female with the apparent exception of having a seventh abdominal segment and genitalia.

A gynandromorph is a bee that exhibits characteristics of both sexes. In the other two species (Lasioglossum and Bombus) the split was bilateral..one side male and the other, female. In this Anthidium oblongatum (an introduced species) almost the entire bee is female with the apparent exception of having a seventh abdominal segment and genitalia.

An odd and rare record of an Anthidium that normally occurs far to west in the dry part of the northern Great Plains, in this case it showed up on Isle Royale National Park where other northern prairie species also reside.

Of the woodland oriented bees this is regionally the most common one, Andrena carlni, this male is relatively easy to tell because of the black hairs that line the edges of the eyes and the ocelli that are set back from the back of the head. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Of the woodland oriented bees this is regionally the most common one, Andrena carlni, this male is relatively easy to tell because of the black hairs that line the edges of the eyes and the ocelli that are set back from the back of the head. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Various Andrena, adding to the catalog....most with bad hair. Sigh.