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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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Lasioglossum perpunctatum, F, Side, MI, Alger County
Lasioglossum perpunctatum, F, Side, MI, Alger County
Lasioglossum perpunctatum, F, Side, MI, Alger County

One of many species of slightly metallic Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group. Lasioglossum perpunctatum is a northernly inclined species found in the Appalachians and up across northern North America.

One of many species of slightly metallic Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group. Lasioglossum perpunctatum is a northernly inclined species found in the Appalachians and up across northern North America.

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Lasioglossum pictum, f, back, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, back, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, back, Pennington Co., SD

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

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Lasioglossum pictum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, face, Pennington Co., SD

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

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Lasioglossum pictum, f, right, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, right, Pennington Co., SD
Lasioglossum pictum, f, right, Pennington Co., SD

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, f, back, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, back, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, back, Charles Co., MD

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Back, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Back, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Back, MD, PG County

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, f, face, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, face, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, face, Charles Co., MD

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County

Forgot to upload this one a while back. Just a friendly cleptoparasitic Lasioglossum, hanging out on a pin.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Face, MD, PG County

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, f, side, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, side, Charles Co., MD
Lasioglossum platyparium, f, side, Charles Co., MD

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

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Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Side, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Side, MD, PG County
Lasioglossum platyparium, F, Side, MD, PG County

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

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Lasioglossum prasinogaster test, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster test, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster test, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County

A rather ratty specimen of Lasioglossum prasinogaster. This one collected at Fossil Butte National Monument. One of hundreds of species of this genus...most of whose life histories are unknown but who are one of the mortared bricks of the earth's insect and plant spheres. Picture by Brooke Alexander.

A rather ratty specimen of Lasioglossum prasinogaster. This one collected at Fossil Butte National Monument. One of hundreds of species of this genus...most of whose life histories are unknown but who are one of the mortared bricks of the earth's insect and plant spheres. Picture by Brooke Alexander.

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Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Back, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Back, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Back, WY, Lincoln County

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

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Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

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Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum prasinogaster, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

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Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Face, WY, Lincoln County

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

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Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County
Lasioglossum pulveris, F, Side, WY, Lincoln County

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

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