Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

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.

Filter Total Items: 21357
close up of image
Lasioglossum forbesii, washed, F, face, VA, Warren County
Lasioglossum forbesii, washed, F, face, VA, Warren County
Lasioglossum forbesii, washed, F, face, VA, Warren County

Lasioglossum forbesii - A relatively uncommon sweat bee from near Front Royal, Virginia at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

close up of image
Lasioglossum georgeckworti, F, Face, NY, Queens
Lasioglossum georgeckworti, F, Face, NY, Queens
Lasioglossum georgeckworti, F, Face, NY, Queens

A dune specialist. You won't find this species anywhere except in the dunes immediately along the ocean. As such it is a poster child for vulnerability to coastal sea level change and global climate change.

A dune specialist. You won't find this species anywhere except in the dunes immediately along the ocean. As such it is a poster child for vulnerability to coastal sea level change and global climate change.

close up of image
Lasioglossum georgeickworti, F, Face, NY, Queens
Lasioglossum georgeickworti, F, Face, NY, Queens
Lasioglossum georgeickworti, F, Face, NY, Queens

Queens New York has rare bees. In this case this Lasioglossum georgeickworti was found at the very tip of breezy point, which for some reason has escaped development and remains a very high quality natural area, filled with dunes and rare bees. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Queens New York has rare bees. In this case this Lasioglossum georgeickworti was found at the very tip of breezy point, which for some reason has escaped development and remains a very high quality natural area, filled with dunes and rare bees. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

close up of image
Lasioglossum glabriventre, F, Face1, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum glabriventre, F, Face1, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum glabriventre, F, Face1, WY, Lincoln County

One of the tricky clade of a small black bees that occur throughout the West. In this case the species of Lasioglossum glabriventre was found at fossil Butte national Monument. You should visit because it is rich in bees and apparently fossils to. Picture taken by Sue Boo.

One of the tricky clade of a small black bees that occur throughout the West. In this case the species of Lasioglossum glabriventre was found at fossil Butte national Monument. You should visit because it is rich in bees and apparently fossils to. Picture taken by Sue Boo.

close up of image
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Back, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Back, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Back, MD, Cecil County

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East

close up of image
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Face, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Face, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Face, MD, Cecil County

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East

close up of image
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, Maryland
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, Maryland
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, Maryland

Lasioglossum gotham is a small sweat bee, that I find mostly in the early spring, mostly in Woodlands and I suspect it is very much keyed in to nesting in upturned root masses of trees in those woodlands.

Lasioglossum gotham is a small sweat bee, that I find mostly in the early spring, mostly in Woodlands and I suspect it is very much keyed in to nesting in upturned root masses of trees in those woodlands.

close up of image
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, MD, Cecil County
Lasioglossum gotham, F, Side, MD, Cecil County

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East. I particularly like the layout of this shot, the two pairs of wings are nicely symmetrical and the eye glints in just the way you want an eye to glint.

Of the many types of shiny little sweat bees, this is a large one, not that anyone would notice. Named after the Gotham of Gotham City this species occurs sparingly often in woodlands in the East. I particularly like the layout of this shot, the two pairs of wings are nicely symmetrical and the eye glints in just the way you want an eye to glint.

close up of image
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, back, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, back, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, back, Florida, St. Johns County

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

close up of image
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, face, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, face, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, face, Florida, St. Johns County

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

close up of image
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, side, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, side, Florida, St. Johns County
Lasioglossum halophitum, F, side, Florida, St. Johns County

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

Captured as part of a Global Climate Change investigation in National Park Dune systems, yet another tricky Dialictus is photographed here. As the name suggests it is a lover of salt, in this case, salt marshes.. Photograph taken by Kamren Jefferson, bee captured in Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve

close up of image
Lasioglossum heterognathus, f, underside head 2, Essex Co. NY
Lasioglossum heterognathus, f, underside head 2, Essex Co. NY
Lasioglossum heterognathus, f, underside head 2, Essex Co. NY

The underside of the head of Lasioglossum heterognathum. An uncommon species that has the feature that can be seen here, which is that the recessed area that holds the folded tongue (the hypostomal cavity) widens out towards the mandibles rather than stays as a parallel sided slot like other Lasioglossum species. Yawn, I know. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.

The underside of the head of Lasioglossum heterognathum. An uncommon species that has the feature that can be seen here, which is that the recessed area that holds the folded tongue (the hypostomal cavity) widens out towards the mandibles rather than stays as a parallel sided slot like other Lasioglossum species. Yawn, I know. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.

close up of image
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Back, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Back, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Back, UT, Garfield County

From Bryce Canyon National Park, comes one of the many many Lasioglossum that inhabit the continent. Often generalist pollination workhorses, they keep Bryce Canyon going without a lot of fanfare.

From Bryce Canyon National Park, comes one of the many many Lasioglossum that inhabit the continent. Often generalist pollination workhorses, they keep Bryce Canyon going without a lot of fanfare.

close up of image
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Face, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Face, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Face, UT, Garfield County

Bryce Canyon national Park in Utah has yet another small black bee, this could probably be said of any national Park but in this case it is Lasioglossum heterorhinum. Which has both a complicated and mellow name. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

Bryce Canyon national Park in Utah has yet another small black bee, this could probably be said of any national Park but in this case it is Lasioglossum heterorhinum. Which has both a complicated and mellow name. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

close up of image
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Side, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Side, UT, Garfield County
Lasioglossum heterorhinum, F, Side, UT, Garfield County

From Bryce Canyon National Park, comes one of the many many Lasioglossum that inhabit the continent. Often generalist pollination workhorses, they keep Bryce Canyon going without a lot of fanfare.

From Bryce Canyon National Park, comes one of the many many Lasioglossum that inhabit the continent. Often generalist pollination workhorses, they keep Bryce Canyon going without a lot of fanfare.

close up of image
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA

A common and rather plain sweat bee. Lasioglossum hitchensi. Decorated with pumpkin pollen...some of the largest pollen grains in the world. Collected by Laura Russo in Pennsylvania. Photo by Greta Forbes.

A common and rather plain sweat bee. Lasioglossum hitchensi. Decorated with pumpkin pollen...some of the largest pollen grains in the world. Collected by Laura Russo in Pennsylvania. Photo by Greta Forbes.

close up of image
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA
Lasioglossum hitchensi, f, right side, Columbia, PA

One of the most common and plain bees in the East. This is the very small Lasioglossum hitchensi. Its commoness did not prevent it from being undescribed scientifically. In only the last 10 years was it given a name by Jason Gibbs, who extracted it from many confusing and similar look alike species.

One of the most common and plain bees in the East. This is the very small Lasioglossum hitchensi. Its commoness did not prevent it from being undescribed scientifically. In only the last 10 years was it given a name by Jason Gibbs, who extracted it from many confusing and similar look alike species.

close up of image
Lasioglossum hitchensi,f, right side, PA, Columbia
Lasioglossum hitchensi,f, right side, PA, Columbia
Lasioglossum hitchensi,f, right side, PA, Columbia

A common and rather plain sweat bee. Lasioglossum hitchensi. Decorated with pumpkin pollen...some of the largest pollen grains in the world. Collected by Laura Russo in Pennsylvania. Photo by Greta Forbes.

A common and rather plain sweat bee. Lasioglossum hitchensi. Decorated with pumpkin pollen...some of the largest pollen grains in the world. Collected by Laura Russo in Pennsylvania. Photo by Greta Forbes.

close up of image
Lasioglossum incompletum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum incompletum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum incompletum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD

A common little bee of the Badlands. Lasioglossum incompletum is at the eastern edge of its range here at the Badlands. No one really realizes that the world is dominated by small bees. So much for bumble bees. Picture by Anders Croft.

A common little bee of the Badlands. Lasioglossum incompletum is at the eastern edge of its range here at the Badlands. No one really realizes that the world is dominated by small bees. So much for bumble bees. Picture by Anders Croft.

Was this page helpful?