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: 21394
close up of image
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

close up of image
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

close up of image
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Icteranthidium grohmanni, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

Here is a common late summer species of the Grecian Isles. Often found on flowering brambles, asters and other summer flowers. This specimen was collected by Jelle Devalez as part of ongoing studies of the bees in this bee rich part of the world. Photographs by Brooke Alexander.

close up of image
Impatiens capensis 2, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis 2, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis 2, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

close up of image
Impatiens capensis 3, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis 3, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis 3, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

close up of image
Impatiens capensis, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Impatiens capensis, Jewelweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

Impatiens capensis, Common or spotted Jewelweed. A lover of wet spots, its vegetation is viscous, wet, and used as a wash when you may have been contacted by Poison Ivy. The flowers are total bumble bee bait ...just the right size and the spur at the back end is full of nectar. The orange color is also highly attractive to hummingbirds as a bonus.

close up of image
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back, washington, oh

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

close up of image
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back2, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back2, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, back2, washington, oh

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

close up of image
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, female, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, female, washington, oh
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, female, washington, oh

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

close up of image
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, male side, Washington, OH
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, male side, Washington, OH
Intersex Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, male side, Washington, OH

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

close up of image
Intersex, Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, face, washington, oh
Intersex, Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, face, washington, oh
Intersex, Bombus bimaculatus, gyn, face, washington, oh

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

As happens rarely in bees, this bee exhibits both characters of males and females, with bilateral asymmetry. Found by MaLisa Spring in Marietta, Ohio as part of her studies of the bees or the region, which in addition to this species discovered several new state records and rare bees.

close up of image
Iris versicolor, Blue flag Iris, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Iris versicolor, Blue flag Iris, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Iris versicolor, Blue flag Iris, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

One of our native Iris'. This is the Harlequin Blueflag (Iris versicolor), a reasonably widespread inhabitant of mucky freshwater marsh edges. Specimen and photograph from Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Ischnura posita, back
Ischnura posita, back
Ischnura posita, back

Ischnura posita, August 2012, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Determination by Richard Orr

close up of image
Ischnura posita, side
Ischnura posita, side
Ischnura posita, side

Ischnura posita, August 2012, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Bottomland Back pool, Determination by Richard Orr

Ischnura posita, August 2012, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Bottomland Back pool, Determination by Richard Orr

close up of image
Isepeolus albopictus, m, back, Buenos Aires Argentina
Isepeolus albopictus, m, back, Buenos Aires Argentina
Isepeolus albopictus, m, back, Buenos Aires Argentina

A 100 year old specimen of a nest parasite of Colletes from Argentina. Those patterns on its abdomen are tiny, multibranched prone hairs. Nifty bee graphics. Picture by Samia Shell.

A 100 year old specimen of a nest parasite of Colletes from Argentina. Those patterns on its abdomen are tiny, multibranched prone hairs. Nifty bee graphics. Picture by Samia Shell.

close up of image
Isepeolus viperinus, face, m, Buenos Aires
Isepeolus viperinus, face, m, Buenos Aires
Isepeolus viperinus, face, m, Buenos Aires

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

close up of image
Isepeolus viperinus, right, m, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Isepeolus viperinus, right, m, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Isepeolus viperinus, right, m, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

Here is an approximately 100 year old specimen from the Smithsonian that we recently obtained from old loans. A relatively obscure group from South America...this one come from South America. The only host record I can find is from Colletes. Picture by Samia Shell.

close up of image
Jumping Spider 1, M, face,
Jumping Spider 1, M, face,
Jumping Spider 1, M, face,

Jumping Spider, Salticidae, Grabbed this one from a batch of National Park specimens of bees. Likely this came from Fossil Butte National Monument. Floated in hand sanitizer, this time Ben moved specimen so that most of the hairs stayed behind, also positioned specimen high in cuvette to get more of a black look

Jumping Spider, Salticidae, Grabbed this one from a batch of National Park specimens of bees. Likely this came from Fossil Butte National Monument. Floated in hand sanitizer, this time Ben moved specimen so that most of the hairs stayed behind, also positioned specimen high in cuvette to get more of a black look

Was this page helpful?