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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.
Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.
Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.
Megachile mendica is a very common bee, but in this case it is founded on a very rare plant, Ruth's Golden Aster. Collected and photographed by Philip Moore as part of a survey of that plant species and its pollinators from Polk County Tennessee.
Megachile mendica is a very common bee, but in this case it is founded on a very rare plant, Ruth's Golden Aster. Collected and photographed by Philip Moore as part of a survey of that plant species and its pollinators from Polk County Tennessee.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.
Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.
Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.
Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, here even the male has a massive mandible, though it does not involve itself in making or tending nests....note the forelegs which are tucked under the front of the bee, these are widened greatly and are used to cover the eyes of the female when mating.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, here even the male has a massive mandible, though it does not involve itself in making or tending nests....note the forelegs which are tucked under the front of the bee, these are widened greatly and are used to cover the eyes of the female when mating.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.
The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County
Leaf cutting bees like this Megachile petulans are found around this world. Common and often nesting in holes in wood, some made by our wood boring beetle friends and some made by people (consciously or unconsciously). I am presuming that M.
Leaf cutting bees like this Megachile petulans are found around this world. Common and often nesting in holes in wood, some made by our wood boring beetle friends and some made by people (consciously or unconsciously). I am presuming that M.
Leaf cutters never seem to end. Here is Megachile petulans, southernish in distribution and with a lovely display of the complicated tongue architecture bees have. Tongue? This structure is so far removed from our tongues it is ridiculous. Really, think of bees and insects as coming from a different planet.
Leaf cutters never seem to end. Here is Megachile petulans, southernish in distribution and with a lovely display of the complicated tongue architecture bees have. Tongue? This structure is so far removed from our tongues it is ridiculous. Really, think of bees and insects as coming from a different planet.