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Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.

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Callonychium chilense, m, left, Maule Reservoir, Chile
Callonychium chilense, m, left, Maule Reservoir, Chile
Callonychium chilense, m, left, Maule Reservoir, Chile

Wayyyyyy up in the Andes spitting distance from Argentina, this wee Callonychium chilense was collected on an expedition with Laurence Packer to southern Chile. One of those one way dirt roads that hugs the mountains and gives one opportunity to fall into the valley in a truly spectacular way. Memorable.

Wayyyyyy up in the Andes spitting distance from Argentina, this wee Callonychium chilense was collected on an expedition with Laurence Packer to southern Chile. One of those one way dirt roads that hugs the mountains and gives one opportunity to fall into the valley in a truly spectacular way. Memorable.

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Callonychium species, m, side, peru
Callonychium species, m, side, peru
Callonychium species, m, side, peru

Southern South America is where you will find this as yet another group of relatively little studied bees. This one collected in Peru by the Packer lab and has some nice Wing Interference Pop.

Southern South America is where you will find this as yet another group of relatively little studied bees. This one collected in Peru by the Packer lab and has some nice Wing Interference Pop.

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Calosoma scrutator, back, AR
Calosoma scrutator, back, AR
Calosoma scrutator, back, AR

Fiery Searcher. Calosoma scrutator hunts caterpillars, is big, fast, and spectacular. Just exactly why it is spectacular is clear, when attached it exudes odor heavy on the bad smells and who would want to eat that. So, if you like to dress up in iridescence of any kinds, then just be sure to bring along some repellent to keep the predators at bay.

Fiery Searcher. Calosoma scrutator hunts caterpillars, is big, fast, and spectacular. Just exactly why it is spectacular is clear, when attached it exudes odor heavy on the bad smells and who would want to eat that. So, if you like to dress up in iridescence of any kinds, then just be sure to bring along some repellent to keep the predators at bay.

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Calosoma scrutator, side, AR
Calosoma scrutator, side, AR
Calosoma scrutator, side, AR

Fiery Searcher. Calosoma scrutator hunts caterpillars, is big, fast, and spectacular. Just exactly why it is spectacular is clear, when attached it exudes odor heavy on the bad smells and who would want to eat that. So, if you like to dress up in iridescence of any kinds, then just be sure to bring along some repellent to keep the predators at bay.

Fiery Searcher. Calosoma scrutator hunts caterpillars, is big, fast, and spectacular. Just exactly why it is spectacular is clear, when attached it exudes odor heavy on the bad smells and who would want to eat that. So, if you like to dress up in iridescence of any kinds, then just be sure to bring along some repellent to keep the predators at bay.

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Campylenchia latipes, side, Upper marlboro, md
Campylenchia latipes, side, Upper marlboro, md
Campylenchia latipes, side, Upper marlboro, md

Campylenchia latipes - Widefooted Treehopper or Eastern Thornhopper, found in the woods edge in Upper Marlboro, MD., Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Campylenchia latipes - Widefooted Treehopper or Eastern Thornhopper, found in the woods edge in Upper Marlboro, MD., Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

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Cassida rubiginosa, larvae, talbot, md, back
Cassida rubiginosa, larvae, talbot, md, back
Cassida rubiginosa, larvae, talbot, md, back

Hold Poo Over its Body - Yep, this is Cassida rubiginosa the Thistle Tortoise Beetle brought over here to fight the Canada Thistle, which is not actually from Canada, but just another example of how we try to bring Canada down by associating it with Alien Pests.

Hold Poo Over its Body - Yep, this is Cassida rubiginosa the Thistle Tortoise Beetle brought over here to fight the Canada Thistle, which is not actually from Canada, but just another example of how we try to bring Canada down by associating it with Alien Pests.

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Caulophyllum thalictroides 2, Blue Cohosh flower
Caulophyllum thalictroides 2, Blue Cohosh flower
Caulophyllum thalictroides 2, Blue Cohosh flower

I don't run into the Blue Cohosh often, but want to say that it is fly rather than bee pollinated...but could easily be wrong. Certainly a woodland understory plant that blooms after much of the bee activity is done with. Picture and specimen from Helen Lowe Metzman.

I don't run into the Blue Cohosh often, but want to say that it is fly rather than bee pollinated...but could easily be wrong. Certainly a woodland understory plant that blooms after much of the bee activity is done with. Picture and specimen from Helen Lowe Metzman.

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Caulophyllum thalictroides 3, Blue Cohosh flower
Caulophyllum thalictroides 3, Blue Cohosh flower
Caulophyllum thalictroides 3, Blue Cohosh flower

Blue Cohosh. A close up of one of the flowers of Caulophyllum thalictroides. A lovely spring perennial of rich deciduous woodlands. Picture and specimen taken by Helen Lowe Metzman. Howard County, Maryland.

Blue Cohosh. A close up of one of the flowers of Caulophyllum thalictroides. A lovely spring perennial of rich deciduous woodlands. Picture and specimen taken by Helen Lowe Metzman. Howard County, Maryland.

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Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, back
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, back
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, back

A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

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Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, face
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, face
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, face

Note the unique tongue shape, characteristic of this group of bees. A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

Note the unique tongue shape, characteristic of this group of bees. A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

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Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, side
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, side
Caupolicana electa, f, ga, baker, side

A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

A bee of the early morning. Matrinal. Restricted to the southeastern United States deep sand spots where it feeds only in the early morning hours. Very uncommonly recorded now but this one was collected by Sabrie Breland in residual burned longleaf pine lands of Southeastern Georgia.

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Caupolicana fulvicollis, back, u, Central chile
Caupolicana fulvicollis, back, u, Central chile
Caupolicana fulvicollis, back, u, Central chile

Collected by one "E.P. Reed" probably about 100 years ago in Central Chile this is from an orphaned collection of bees from the Smithsonian. While in the process of returning we are taking a few pictures of some of the more interesting bees. This is Caupolicana fulvicollis.

Collected by one "E.P. Reed" probably about 100 years ago in Central Chile this is from an orphaned collection of bees from the Smithsonian. While in the process of returning we are taking a few pictures of some of the more interesting bees. This is Caupolicana fulvicollis.

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Caupolicana fulvicollis, cool shot, u, Central chile
Caupolicana fulvicollis, cool shot, u, Central chile
Caupolicana fulvicollis, cool shot, u, Central chile

Collected by one "E.P. Reed" probably about 100 years ago in Central Chile this is from an orphaned collection of bees from the Smithsonian. While in the process of returning we are taking a few pictures of some of the more interesting bees. This is Caupolicana fulvicollis.

Collected by one "E.P. Reed" probably about 100 years ago in Central Chile this is from an orphaned collection of bees from the Smithsonian. While in the process of returning we are taking a few pictures of some of the more interesting bees. This is Caupolicana fulvicollis.

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Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, angle
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, angle
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, angle

A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

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Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, face
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, face
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, face

Notice, in particular the lobed tip of the tongue in this shot. A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

Notice, in particular the lobed tip of the tongue in this shot. A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

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Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, side
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, side
Caupolicana gaullei, m, brazil, side

A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

A Western Hemisphere group, with a good number of species. These are very fast fliers and, at least the North American species tend to be crepuscular and plant specialists, often associated with sandy/dune areas.

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centepede
centepede
centepede

More experiments. This is a small centipede found under a board in my yard in Upper Marlboro, MD. It is possibly and immature, but am unsure of how to tell. Taken at 10x with our new lens sytem while floating in a cuvette filled with hand sanitizer.

More experiments. This is a small centipede found under a board in my yard in Upper Marlboro, MD. It is possibly and immature, but am unsure of how to tell. Taken at 10x with our new lens sytem while floating in a cuvette filled with hand sanitizer.

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