Images

Male Lasioglossum can be tricky. Here is one of the dark ones from the highly bee productive Fossil Butte National Monument.

Male Lasioglossum can be tricky. Here is one of the dark ones from the highly bee productive Fossil Butte National Monument.

Male Lasioglossum can be tricky. Here is one of the dark ones from the highly bee productive Fossil Butte National Monument.

A pretty little Lasioglossum from the Dialictus group. This bee was collected in the San Juan Island national historic Park in Washington state. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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.

A pretty little Lasioglossum from the Dialictus group. This bee was collected in the San Juan Island national historic Park in Washington state. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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.

A pretty little Lasioglossum from the Dialictus group. This bee was collected in the San Juan Island national historic Park in Washington state. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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.

One of approximately 1 billions (actually it is nearly 2000) species of Lasioglossum in the world. This one is from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Interestingly, most of these species appear to be generalists so one wonders how they partition their tiny worlds.

Grand Tetons have the grand Lasioglossum lilliputense. Very cute. Photography by Brooke Alexander. 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.

Lasioglossum lineatulum is defined in my mind by having relatively few pits on its scutum, a shinyish abdomen, and long straitions on the propodeal triangle. Otherwise it looks similar to the 100 plus other species in the group. This one was captured on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

One of what seem like one billion different kinds of small shiny slightly metallic Lasioglossum species. This one characterized by very sparse pitting on the top of the thorax and bit more glintyness on the abdomen (yep, not great characters).

Lasioglossum lineatulum is defined in my mind by having relatively few pits on its scutum, a shinyish abdomen, and long straitions on the propodeal triangle. Otherwise it looks similar to the 100 plus other species in the group. This one was captured on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

Lasioglossum lineatulum is defined in my mind by having relatively few pits on its scutum, a shinyish abdomen, and long straitions on the propodeal triangle. Otherwise it looks similar to the 100 plus other species in the group. This one was captured on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

One of what seem like one billion different kinds of small shiny slightly metallic Lasioglossum species. This one characterized by very sparse pitting on the top of the thorax and bit more glintyness on the abdomen (yep, not great characters).

Here is a little tiny parasitic bee whose host is a little tiny Lasioglossum that is often very common in disturbed / lawn areas (L. imitatum). Note the big head...the long straight pointy jaws and you may have an idea about what they could be used for...but has anyone seen this? No...you should investigate instead of looking at your mobile screen all day.

Here is a little tiny parasitic bee whose host is a little tiny Lasioglossum that is often very common in disturbed / lawn areas (L. imitatum). Note the big head...the long straight pointy jaws and you may have an idea about what they could be used for...but has anyone seen this? No...you should investigate instead of looking at your mobile screen all day.

From Cumberland Island National Seashore another little Lasioglossum from the glossy metallic Dialictus group. As its name implies...it has an unusually long head.

From Cumberland Island National Seashore another little Lasioglossum from the glossy metallic Dialictus group. As its name implies...it has an unusually long head.

From Cumberland Island National Seashore another little Lasioglossum from the glossy metallic Dialictus group. As its name implies...it has an unusually long head.

Lasioglossum marinense, from the San Juan Islands National Historic Park, found in the eastern parts of the Pacific Northwest. Photograph by Dejen Mengis.

Lasioglossum marinense, from the San Juan Islands National Historic Park, found in the eastern parts of the Pacific Northwest. Photograph by Dejen Mengis.

Lasioglossum marinense, from the San Juan Islands National Historic Park, found in the eastern parts of the Pacific Northwest. Photograph by Dejen Mengis.