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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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Meliturgula scriptifrons, f, left, Kruger NP, South Africa Mpumalanga
Meliturgula scriptifrons, f, left, Kruger NP, South Africa Mpumalanga
Meliturgula scriptifrons, f, left, Kruger NP, South Africa Mpumalanga

Hey now here is a common bee from Kruger National Park, Meliturgula scriptifrons. A smallish brown bee that are commonly caught in bowl traps. Part of the small number of genera in Andrenidae. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

Hey now here is a common bee from Kruger National Park, Meliturgula scriptifrons. A smallish brown bee that are commonly caught in bowl traps. Part of the small number of genera in Andrenidae. Photo by Kelly Graninger.

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Melospiza georgiana, face closeup
Melospiza georgiana, face closeup
Melospiza georgiana, face closeup

Swamp sparrow, Close up of Neck Feathers, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

Swamp sparrow, Close up of Neck Feathers, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

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Melospiza georgiana, foot
Melospiza georgiana, foot
Melospiza georgiana, foot

Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana foot from specimen that struck a building in Washington D.C. during migration, collected with permits by LightsOutDC

Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana foot from specimen that struck a building in Washington D.C. during migration, collected with permits by LightsOutDC

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Melospiza georgiana, front face
Melospiza georgiana, front face
Melospiza georgiana, front face

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

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Melospiza georgiana, side body
Melospiza georgiana, side body
Melospiza georgiana, side body

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

Swamp sparrow, Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

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Melospiza georgiana, side face
Melospiza georgiana, side face
Melospiza georgiana, side face

Swamp sparrow, , Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

Swamp sparrow, , Washington D.C., Fall or spring 2012, died striking building downtown, collected by lightsoutdc with permits

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Mertensia virginica 2, Virginia Bluebell, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Mertensia virginica 2, Virginia Bluebell, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Mertensia virginica 2, Virginia Bluebell, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Sad, Sad, Sad. This is Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica. Formerly common throughout the bottomlands of the Mid-Atlantic region. Now Bluebell land has more and more become Lesser Celandine land...and invader from the old world that simply wipes out the vernal communities of plants along streams and rivers.

Sad, Sad, Sad. This is Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica. Formerly common throughout the bottomlands of the Mid-Atlantic region. Now Bluebell land has more and more become Lesser Celandine land...and invader from the old world that simply wipes out the vernal communities of plants along streams and rivers.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Back, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Back, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Back, Puerto Rico, Boqueron

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Face, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Face, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Face, Puerto Rico, Boqueron

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Side, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Side, Puerto Rico, Boqueron
Mesoplia aff rufipes, F, Side, Puerto Rico, Boqueron

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, back, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, back, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, back, Puerto Rico, Yauco

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, face, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, face, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, face, Puerto Rico, Yauco

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, side, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, side, Puerto Rico, Yauco
Mesoplia aff rufipes, M, side, Puerto Rico, Yauco

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

Here we have the nest parasite of one of Puerto Rico's Centris bees. Its lays its eggs in the nests of the host, kills the hosts egg or young and eats the stores. Taxonomically its not clear what this species is but it appears to be close to (aff. = affiliated with) M. rufipes. Perhaps you, dear reader, will figure that out.

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Mesoplia rufipes, m, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

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Mesoplia rufipes, m, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

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Mesoplia rufipes, m, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Mesoplia rufipes, m, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

Collected by Tim McMahon in Costa Rica, this is a nest parasite of Centris species, this is Mesoplia rufipes. Nicely aglow with red legs and a blue abdomen. Photo by Anders Croft.

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Metopiinae, side, Anne Arundel County
Metopiinae, side, Anne Arundel County
Metopiinae, side, Anne Arundel County

Wasp species, It would appear to me to be a parasitic wasp, Anne Arundel County, MarylandIdentified as a probable Metopiinae by Bob Carlson of USDA

Wasp species, It would appear to me to be a parasitic wasp, Anne Arundel County, MarylandIdentified as a probable Metopiinae by Bob Carlson of USDA

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Micranthes virginiensis, Early saxifrage, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Micranthes virginiensis, Early saxifrage, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Micranthes virginiensis, Early saxifrage, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Early Saxifrage....this is not a flower I come across often or know anything about, but Helen Lowe Metzman found this flower in Howard County and took its picture in our lab. I am sure there are galaxies of stories and wonders about for this plant. I am just not privy to them.

Early Saxifrage....this is not a flower I come across often or know anything about, but Helen Lowe Metzman found this flower in Howard County and took its picture in our lab. I am sure there are galaxies of stories and wonders about for this plant. I am just not privy to them.

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Midge
Midge
Midge

Up close view of the head of a Chironomid Midge. What fun to see the magnificent antennae of something that is around us every day. Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Up close view of the head of a Chironomid Midge. What fun to see the magnificent antennae of something that is around us every day. Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

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Midge Black and White
Midge Black and White
Midge Black and White

Well, most of the time I don't think our pictures resonate as much when desaturated, however, the previous uploaded midge seems to want that, so here it is.

Well, most of the time I don't think our pictures resonate as much when desaturated, however, the previous uploaded midge seems to want that, so here it is.

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Mimulus ringens, Monkey-flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Mimulus ringens, Monkey-flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Mimulus ringens, Monkey-flower, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Our disguised snap dragon the Square-stemmed Monkey Flower. Edges of woods, particularly if damp seems to be where I mostly find it. Collected and photographed by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Our disguised snap dragon the Square-stemmed Monkey Flower. Edges of woods, particularly if damp seems to be where I mostly find it. Collected and photographed by Helen Lowe Metzman.