Images

What a lovely bee. This is Nomada seneciophila. A bee that had not been seen for over 20 years until I netted a set on the Pomonkey DOD base in Charles County Maryland. The host for this rare bee is unknown, but now I think I know what it is because at that same site was Andrena gardineri another rare bee and a specialist on ragwort ...

What a lovely bee. This is Nomada seneciophila. A bee that had not been seen for over 20 years until I netted a set on the Pomonkey DOD base in Charles County Maryland. The host for this rare bee is unknown, but now I think I know what it is because at that same site was Andrena gardineri another rare bee and a specialist on ragwort ...

Here is the male of the very rare, Nomada seneciophila, found for the first time in Maryland, Charles County. As is often the case the males look quite different from the females. This is one of a handful of species that have modified antennae segments, with small spines, sculpting and elongations compared to other groups of Nomada.

Here is the male of the very rare, Nomada seneciophila, found for the first time in Maryland, Charles County. As is often the case the males look quite different from the females. This is one of a handful of species that have modified antennae segments, with small spines, sculpting and elongations compared to other groups of Nomada.

Here is the male of the very rare, Nomada seneciophila, found for the first time in Maryland, Charles County. As is often the case the males look quite different from the females. This is one of a handful of species that have modified antennae segments, with small spines, sculpting and elongations compared to other groups of Nomada.

A lovely Nomada from Kyrgyzstan. More odds and ends from the specimen chest of Laurence Packer. 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.

Another rare Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada superba, is not so rare as Nomada graenicheri but is quite uncommon. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Another rare Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada superba, is not so rare as Nomada graenicheri but is quite uncommon. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Second in a Series - Wasp or Bee?

Another rare Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada superba, is not so rare as Nomada graenicheri but is quite uncommon. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Wasp or Bee?

Nomada texana, male, North Carolina, USFS Experiment Station

Yet more uncommon Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada tiftonensis, is small, out in the summer and mostly passed over as a wasp, I suspect by most collectors of bees. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Yet more uncommon Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada tiftonensis, is small, out in the summer and mostly passed over as a wasp, I suspect by most collectors of bees. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Yet more uncommon Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada tiftonensis, is small, out in the summer and mostly passed over as a wasp, I suspect by most collectors of bees. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

Nomada vegana. A rare nest parasite. Comes out in mid-summer, its not clear to me which bees it targets. Most Andrena are done by then, Agapostemon are possibilities. Occurs in the East and out to Utah in the West, but not all the way to the West Coast. Caught by Miriam Jenkins during her studies of Watermelons on the outer Coastal Plain of South Carolina.

Nomada vegana. A rare nest parasite. Comes out in mid-summer, its not clear to me which bees it targets. Most Andrena are done by then, Agapostemon are possibilities. Occurs in the East and out to Utah in the West, but not all the way to the West Coast. Caught by Miriam Jenkins during her studies of Watermelons on the outer Coastal Plain of South Carolina.

Nomada vegana. A rare nest parasite. Comes out in mid-summer, its not clear to me which bees it targets. Most Andrena are done by then, Agapostemon are possibilities. Occurs in the East and out to Utah in the West, but not all the way to the West Coast. Caught by Miriam Jenkins during her studies of Watermelons on the outer Coastal Plain of South Carolina.

Another cool Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada vincta, is regular, but the color variant here is a bit different from specimens further to the West. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Another cool Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada vincta, is regular, but the color variant here is a bit different from specimens further to the West. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Another cool Nomada from Southern Minnesota. This one, Nomada vincta, is regular, but the color variant here is a bit different from specimens further to the West. This specimen was collected by Scott Leddy in his study of Prairie remnants in Southern Minnesota. Another new state record. Photography by Amanda Robinson.