Anthophora villosula, M, Back, MD, PG County

A Japanese Bee in America. This is Anthophora villosula. An Anthophora that was introduced in the 80s to Eastern U.S. for ag purposes, but its potential was never realized. Now, unfortunately, it is a common and spreading alien species dispersing from its original location in the Washington D.C. area and will likely occupy much of the country at some point. It can be found nesting in the dry dirt under decks, in upturned root masses and in the earthen plaster of strawbale houses such as mine, where it nests by the hundreds. It does favor the "alien" plant community over the natives so it will be another interesting story to watch how it integrates and competes with the local bee fauna. Another rock thrown into the quiet pool of native bees and their flowers. Photographs by Brooke Alexander. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 200mm Pentax-m with Nikon 10X infinity microscope objective lens mounted on front , Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.6, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200Love for Other ThingsIt 's easy to love a deerBut try to care about bugs and scrawny treesLove the puddle of lukewarm waterFrom last week 's rain.Leave the mountains alone for now.Also the clear lakes surrounded by pines.People are lined up to admire them. USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.