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Melecta pacifica. A new state record for Maryland...captured right outside my Laboratory's front lawn! A few days ago I was watching and collecting bees out of a lovely clay filled bare patch of soil that refuses to grow any grass and is thus a lovely colony of all sorts of interesting nesting bees, wasps, and ants.

Fossil Butte National Monument, WyomingNote that friends at National Wildlife Federation have dubbed this species the Billy Idol Bee. Since it has no common name I hear-by declare this species' common name to be the Billy Idol MelectaNote, however, that all the bees in the genus Melecta are nest parasites

Meliplebeia beccarii. This is a tiny little stingless colonial bee from Kruger National Park. So small and ubiquitous on tree flowers that we called them "bee dust". Found on an expedition with Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison. One of the many creatures that make up the trillions and trillions of pollinators that work for free. We are so lucky.

Meliplebeia beccarii. This is a tiny little stingless colonial bee from Kruger National Park. So small and ubiquitous on tree flowers that we called them "bee dust". Found on an expedition with Jonathan Mawdsley and James Harrison. One of the many creatures that make up the trillions and trillions of pollinators that work for free. We are so lucky.

Melissodes apicata...this is a wetland species that spends its time in and around Pickerelweed and only Pickerelweed. How interesting. Photograph by Dejen Mengis. 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.

Melissodes apicata...this is a wetland species that spends its time in and around Pickerelweed and only Pickerelweed. How interesting. Photograph by Dejen Mengis. 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.

If all the Pickerelweed in the world would disappear...this species would too. This is Melissodes apicata; a male, as you can see form its longgggg antennae and its young can only be fed pickerelweed pollen.

If all the Pickerelweed in the world would disappear...this species would too. This is Melissodes apicata; a male, as you can see form its longgggg antennae and its young can only be fed pickerelweed pollen.

If all the Pickerelweed in the world would disappear...this species would too. This is Melissodes apicata; a male, as you can see form its longgggg antennae and its young can only be fed pickerelweed pollen.

The male of the Melissodes most likely to be encountered in a garden in the Mid-Atlantic...Melissodes bimaculata. Most Melissodes are hairier and have lighter hairs than this bad boy. The white hairs on the legs really stand out and, even by eye, this species is identifiable when it visits your flowers. Photography by the fab Amanda Robinson.

Seems similar to M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

The most common Melissodes in the Mid-Atlantic area is M. bimaculata. It occurs commonly in gardens and makes its way around many floral plants, unlike many of its cousins which are picky and may only take pollen from one species of plant. This one from Caroline County, MD and Photographed by Amanda Robinson.

While almost certainly M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

The male of the Melissodes most likely to be encountered in a garden in the Mid-Atlantic...Melissodes bimaculata. Most Melissodes are hairier and have lighter hairs than this bad boy. The white hairs on the legs really stand out and, even by eye, this species is identifiable when it visits your flowers. Photography by the fab Amanda Robinson.

Seems similar to M. bimaculata, this specimen from Key Biscayne National Park, does not conform to the description of South Florida specimens, which are given the subspecies name. M. b. nulla

White boots on this, our darkest Eastern Melissodes. The most common species, found in gardens as well as parklands. Uses quite a range of plants compared to the more composite oriented other species. Photography by Kelly Graninger.

White boots on this, our darkest Eastern Melissodes. The most common species, found in gardens as well as parklands. Uses quite a range of plants compared to the more composite oriented other species. Photography by Kelly Graninger.

Melissodes communis from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Perhaps the most common species of Melissodes in the deep south. Big and hits the yellow composites like most of the Melissodes. Fast flier. The group is known as summer long-horned bees. Picture by Brooke Alexander, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

From the tip of Florida comes Melissodes communis. As a whole, Melissodes is almost always a composite specialist of some kind. This species is found very commonly throughout the South and this particular specimen comes from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Picture by Sierra Williams and Shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Melissodes communis, Biscayne National Park, Florida

Melissodes communis from Biscayne National Park at the tip of Florida. Perhaps the most common species of Melissodes in the deep south. Big and hits the yellow composites like most of the Melissodes. Fast flier. The group is known as summer long-horned bees. Picture by Brooke Alexander, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.