Images

In the Badlands of South Dakota comes a red-butted Lasioglossum. Most have dark posteriors, but not this one, which means that identification is simplified. But, one must still untangle this species from the handful of other species with red on the abdomen. Its still a mystery to me how all these Lasioglossums carve up the floral space.

Lasioglossum pictum, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

Forgot to upload this one a while back. Just a friendly cleptoparasitic Lasioglossum, hanging out on a pin.

The little metallic members of Lasioglossum all tend to look alike until you put them under the scope, once you do you see that some of them don't have pollen carrying hairs .... such as this L. platyparium. Those are members of the genus that are cleptoparasitic on other Lasioglossum.

A little parasitic Lasioglossum from Frederick County, Maryland. The female invades nests of other Lasioglossum species and lays her egg in their nest. The host egg/baby does not fair well after that. The most common of the parasitic Lasioglossum species.

A rather ratty specimen of Lasioglossum prasinogaster. This one collected at Fossil Butte National Monument. One of hundreds of species of this genus...most of whose life histories are unknown but who are one of the mortared bricks of the earth's insect and plant spheres. Picture by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the many small difficult to separate by species Lasioglossums. This one was identified by Jason Gibbs and found in Fossil Butte, Wyoming at the National Monument. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte National Monument continues to fascinate with all the many bees that are to be found there. This is Lasioglossum pulveris. One of the many dark Lasioglossum species. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Lasioglossum rozeni, Female, Frederick County, Maryland

Lasioglossum rozeni, Female, Frederick County, Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Park, a nest parasite of other Lasioglossum species

Lasioglossum rozeni, Female, Frederick County, Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Park, a nest parasite of other Lasioglossum species

Bryce Canyon, little tiny sweat bees, lots of different species. Not what people come to see, but what you now can see here because the National Park Service cares. Photography by Brooke Alexander.