Triepeolus lunatus, f, back, Charleston Co., SC

Another nest parasite. Another Triepeolus. This time is is T. lunatus. A common species for a nest parasite in that it shows up regularly. The thought is that it is the nest parasite of Melissodes bimaculata which is perhaps the most abundant long-horned bee in the East, but probably is more generic in what Melissodes' nest it will invade. None of this nesting is absolutely confirmed, simply because not enough of you are looking, watching, and studying bees right in your yards. Also note, in the side few the long brushy things coming out of its butt below the sting. What are those? No one seems to know but all the Triepeolus have modified their sixth sternite in this way. This beauty was captured in Watermelon fields outside of Charleston, SC by Mimi Jenkins. Photo by the new intern Kelly Graninger (good job Kelly). Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200. 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.