Anthophora bomboides, M, back, Lincoln Co, Wyoming

Anthophora bomboides a large bumblebee looking male from Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming. This species occurs throughout the U.S. but shows enough variation on plumage and markings that one has to suspect that more than one species is involved (see the male from Maryland elsewhere in this photostream). Fortunately, that group is currently under revision and we shall see what the outcome will be. This specimen is a little too bright for my taste as the flash was inadvertently pointed more directly on the specimen. Photograph by Wayne Boo Canon 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