All Multimedia

Phenacolletes mimus, Australian Shorthair, specimen collected by Laurence Packer in AustraliaIn the dry, sparsely populated portions of Western Australia one can find the Australian Shorthair. While it is a pollen collecting bee, it has very short hairs, making it similar to some of the short, thick bodied waspy relatives of bees.

Phenacolletes mimus, Australian Shorthair, specimen collected by Laurence Packer in AustraliaIn the dry, sparsely populated portions of Western Australia one can find the Australian Shorthair. While it is a pollen collecting bee, it has very short hairs, making it similar to some of the short, thick bodied waspy relatives of bees.

Philanthus gibbosus, female, Anne Arundel County, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Maryland, July 2012, Determination by Matthias Buck

Philanthus gibbosus, female, Anne Arundel County, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Maryland, July 2012 Determination by Matthias Buck

In real life this huge fulgorid (Phrictus diadema)is even more spectacular, this is an old to ancient specimen at the Smithsonian that I shot to test out my photography set up ...still rather magnificently scary looking, even if rather dirty and faded.

Another dragon fulgorid from the Smithsonian collection. All of these are old and covered with dust and lint from their years traveling to the museum, still a spectacular creature. 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.

Back to posting ancient fulgorid specimens from the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian. This one, Phrictus ocellatus, is similarly filthy, but cleaned up fairly well for its age...hope to one day take some fresh specimens.

The June Bug, whose babies are some of the white grubs you with you wouldn't find in your garden, but at least they are native and you should really share your world.....

Dragonette. My competitor. AKA the Jagged Ambush Bug. These flower dragons tuck into flowers and jump on the bees (an other insects) that I study, injects them, liquefies their insides, and sucks them out, just like some people do emotionally to others. Rugged.

Dragonette. My competitor. AKA the Jagged Ambush Bug. These flower dragons tuck into flowers and jump on the bees (an other insects) that I study, injects them, liquefies their insides, and sucks them out, just like some people do emotionally to others. Rugged.

Ninebark. A lovely native shrub, that should be planted more often where there is a need for a large shrub. Grows well, is tough, handles drought, and it attracts pollinators. Photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Ninebark. A lovely native shrub, that should be planted more often where there is a need for a large shrub. Grows well, is tough, handles drought, and it attracts pollinators. Photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

If you are a bumble bee (how fascinating if you were...) this fly would be your worst nightmare. You be flying along, warmed by the sun as you joyfully gathered pollen and nectar from flowers, then Wham, this fly, about half your size, would latch onto you and with the tip of its abdomen force itself between your abdominal segments and insert its egg.

If you are a bumble bee (how fascinating if you were...) this fly would be your worst nightmare. You be flying along, warmed by the sun as you joyfully gathered pollen and nectar from flowers, then Wham, this fly, about half your size, would latch onto you and with the tip of its abdomen force itself between your abdominal segments and insert its egg.

If you are a bumble bee (how fascinating if you were...) this fly would be your worst nightmare. You be flying along, warmed by the sun as you joyfully gathered pollen and nectar from flowers, then Wham, this fly, about half your size, would latch onto you and with the tip of its abdomen force itself between your abdominal segments and insert its egg.

Pokeweed. Spring greens to many southerners ... at least in the old days. I still eat some if I have my act together when they are growing (look up how to prep them). This is a beautiful plant, and should be a feature in any garden that has room.

Pokeweed. Spring greens to many southerners ... at least in the old days. I still eat some if I have my act together when they are growing (look up how to prep them). This is a beautiful plant, and should be a feature in any garden that has room.

Gall on Pin Oak, October, 2012, Prince George's County, Maryland

The MinimalI study the lives on a leaf: the littleSleepers, numb nudgers in cold dimensions,Beetles in caves, newts, stone-deaf fishes,Lice tethered to long limp subterranean weeds,Squirmers in bogs,And bacterial creepersWriggling through woundsLike elvers in ponds,Their wan mouths kissing the warm sutures,Cleaning and caressing,Creeping and healing.

Who doesn't like an orchid? This is green-fringed orchid, found at the edge of the USGS Bee Lab's grounds near some woods. Nice to see this uncommon species. Planathera lacera. Photo and specimen collected by Helen Lowe Metzman.

The bug that is everywhere. Lygus lineolaris - The bug that is everywhere. Hard to escape this tiny sap sucking bug, ubiquitous in the East, and pesty in many cases, not given much love, but like all insects it owns and wears its colors well. Here at 10x you can see right into the omatidia that make up the eyes and appreciate a good design when you see one.