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So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

From the obscure Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming comes the long-horned bee Melissodes rivalis. This is a male and the group, as a whole, is one of the many confusing bee groups with many tricky to identify members and secret new species to be found.

So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species.

A small Melissodes bee, in a difficult to identify subgenus....in this case this specimen is covered with pollen, which pollen from what type of plant...? Unclear. But it is from a study of agricultural field edges in Maine by Brianne Du Clos...that much we know. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

A small Melissodes bee, in a difficult to identify subgenus....in this case this specimen is covered with pollen, which pollen from what type of plant...? Unclear. But it is from a study of agricultural field edges in Maine by Brianne Du Clos...that much we know. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

A small Melissodes bee, in a difficult to identify subgenus....in this case this specimen is covered with pollen, which pollen from what type of plant...? Unclear. But it is from a study of agricultural field edges in Maine by Brianne Du Clos...that much we know. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure.

Jasper County, South Carolina, right across from Savannah Georgia sits Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. A refuge of dikes around huge old rice fields that now grow ducks and other marshlings. A few bees occur here, but diversity is pretty low as this is not so much a natural, but a managed habitat.

Jasper County, South Carolina, right across from Savannah Georgia sits Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. A refuge of dikes around huge old rice fields that now grow ducks and other marshlings. A few bees occur here, but diversity is pretty low as this is not so much a natural, but a managed habitat.

Jasper County, South Carolina, right across from Savannah Georgia sits Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. A refuge of dikes around huge old rice fields that now grow ducks and other marshlings. A few bees occur here, but diversity is pretty low as this is not so much a natural, but a managed habitat.

A bit of a mysterious species. Almost all of the records are ancient with almost no recent records. Here is a recent one though. This is from a study of Florida coastal dune bee communites by Anthony Abbate...who should be getting his Master's degree out of this any day. This one found in Broward County.

A bit of a mysterious species. Almost all of the records are ancient with almost no recent records. Here is a recent one though. This is from a study of Florida coastal dune bee communites by Anthony Abbate...who should be getting his Master's degree out of this any day. This one found in Broward County.

A bit of a mysterious species. Almost all of the records are ancient with almost no recent records. Here is a recent one though. This is from a study of Florida coastal dune bee communites by Anthony Abbate...who should be getting his Master's degree out of this any day. This one found in Broward County.

Long Horn. The males of all the genera within the Eucerini clan (at least all the ones I can think of) have very long antennae. These are fast flying lovers of perennials. This particular one (Melissodes trinodis) favors things in the sunflower arena, big, open, tall flowers.

Long Horn. The males of all the genera within the Eucerini clan (at least all the ones I can think of) have very long antennae. These are fast flying lovers of perennials. This particular one (Melissodes trinodis) favors things in the sunflower arena, big, open, tall flowers.

Long Horn. The males of all the genera within the Eucerini clan (at least all the ones I can think of) have very long antennae. These are fast flying lovers of perennials. This particular one (Melissodes trinodis) favors things in the sunflower arena, big, open, tall flowers.

One of the most common long-horned bees in the Mid-Atlantic. Often confused with M. agilis and it is not at all clear how to tell the males apart. Oh, this is Melissodes trinodis. A lover of composites. Photo by Erick Hernandez.

A hind foot of a Melissodes trinodis, but....what is on the end of that foot? I will tell you, Pilgrim, those are pollinia from Common Milkweed. Here are 3 paired sets, having glued themselves to the bee when it accidentally stuck its foot in one the 5-compartmented florets that comprise a milkweed flower.