All Multimedia

Pararhophites orobinus, Yellow Pollen Ball Bee, collected in Uzbekistan by Christophe Praz. This interesting little bee belongs to a genus of just three species from North Africa through Central Asia. They continue to confuse bee experts because of uncertainties about where they fit in the classificatory scheme. This is a work in progress.

Pararhophites orobinus, Yellow Pollen Ball Bee, collected in Uzbekistan by Christophe Praz. This interesting little bee belongs to a genus of just three species from North Africa through Central Asia. They continue to confuse bee experts because of uncertainties about where they fit in the classificatory scheme. This is a work in progress.

Feeds Baby Oil. Yes, a subcult of the many bees of the world are those who, in addition to feeding their young pollen, feed them oil from plants that produce oil for that very purpose. Here is such a bee, a Paratetrapedia collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica. It has special hairs to transport the oil to the nest.

Feeds Baby Oil. Yes, a subcult of the many bees of the world are those who, in addition to feeding their young pollen, feed them oil from plants that produce oil for that very purpose. Here is such a bee, a Paratetrapedia collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica. It has special hairs to transport the oil to the nest.

Feeds Baby Oil. Yes, a subcult of the many bees of the world are those who, in addition to feeding their young pollen, feed them oil from plants that produce oil for that very purpose. Here is such a bee, a Paratetrapedia collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica. It has special hairs to transport the oil to the nest.

The subtle and calmness that is the speckled sharpshooter, captured in grass in Upper Marlboro, MD

The subtle and calmness that is the speckled sharpshooter, captured in grass in Upper Marlboro, MD

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

Another nest parasite...as species that lays its eggs in the nest of other bees. In this case this species is known to lay its eggs in the group of bees in the genus Chalepogenus which occur south of the Amazonian region in South America. This specimens from the Packer Lab at York University.

This is picture 9 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Pasites maculatus, White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee, specimen collected by Ron McGinley in PakistanTaxonomists have given plenty of Red Cuckoo Bees names, 23 globally to be exact, but only the White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee has received much attention beyond the usual cataloging.

Pasites maculatus, White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee, specimen collected by Ron McGinley in PakistanTaxonomists have given plenty of Red Cuckoo Bees names, 23 globally to be exact, but only the White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee has received much attention beyond the usual cataloging.

Pasites maculatus, White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee, specimen collected by Ron McGinley in PakistanTaxonomists have given plenty of Red Cuckoo Bees names, 23 globally to be exact, but only the White-spotted Red Cuckoo Bee has received much attention beyond the usual cataloging.

The Carpenter bee flower. This is one of the passion flowers, Passiflora incarnata, designed to be pollinated by Carpenter bees which fit right in and are daubed by pollen (note the stigmas are those large white things ABOVE the stamens). Since each vine is self incompatible they have to get it right. Flower and photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

The Carpenter bee flower. This is one of the passion flowers, Passiflora incarnata, designed to be pollinated by Carpenter bees which fit right in and are daubed by pollen (note the stigmas are those large white things ABOVE the stamens). Since each vine is self incompatible they have to get it right. Flower and photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

The Carpenter bee flower. This is one of the passion flowers, Passiflora incarnata, designed to be pollinated by Carpenter bees which fit right in and are daubed by pollen (note the stigmas are those large white things ABOVE the stamens). Since each vine is self incompatible they have to get it right. Flower and photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

The Carpenter bee flower. This is one of the passion flowers, Passiflora incarnata, designed to be pollinated by Carpenter bees which fit right in and are daubed by pollen (note the stigmas are those large white things ABOVE the stamens). Since each vine is self incompatible they have to get it right. Flower and photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

This is Passiflora lutea. Lovely small, Yellow Passion Fruit. Worth planting this around your garden and watching to see if you can get a state bee record of Pseudopanurgus passiflorae...which, indeed, has been found in other states by gardeners. And besides, its pretty. Flower and photo from Helen Lowe Metzman.

This is Passiflora lutea. Lovely small, Yellow Passion Fruit. Worth planting this around your garden and watching to see if you can get a state bee record of Pseudopanurgus passiflorae...which, indeed, has been found in other states by gardeners. And besides, its pretty. Flower and photo from Helen Lowe Metzman.

This is Passiflora lutea. Lovely small, Yellow Passion Fruit. Worth planting this around your garden and watching to see if you can get a state bee record of Pseudopanurgus passiflorae...which, indeed, has been found in other states by gardeners. And besides, its pretty. Flower and photo from Helen Lowe Metzman.