Images

Lasioglossum nymphale, a bee of the coastal and interior sandhills of the Southeast

A small bee, a small sweat bee, a small difficult to identify sweat bee, Lasioglossum oblongum, collected in Wisconsin and photographed by Brooke Alexander. Characteristically, with very few hairs on its abdomen.

Lasioglossum oblongum. An interesting species that pops up here and there. One of the most interesting places for me has been to see it in large numbers along the edges of salt marshes on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where few other bees persist. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte Wyoming...has fossils and bees. Here is Lasioglossum occidentale, per normal...it looks like almost every other Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group). Some bee people have given up careers over these. Photo By Brooke Alexander.

Fossil Butte Wyoming...has fossils and bees. Here is Lasioglossum occidentale, per normal...it looks like almost every other Lasioglossum in the Dialictus group). Some bee people have given up careers over these. Photo By Brooke Alexander.

Bryce Canyon in Utah is not just magnificent canyons and spectacular scenery, it also has lots of very small bees such as this one, Lasioglossum pacatum.

Bryce Canyon in Utah is not just magnificent canyons and spectacular scenery, it also has lots of very small bees such as this one, Lasioglossum pacatum.

From the small San Juan Island National Historic park comes this bee: Lasioglossum pacificum. Historically, this species has nothing to do with this park being historical, but there just possibly might be an important backstory where this species played an important role in keeping the United States as the nation we know it rather than all of us being Canadian.

From the small San Juan Island National Historic park comes this bee: Lasioglossum pacificum. Historically, this species has nothing to do with this park being historical, but there just possibly might be an important backstory where this species played an important role in keeping the United States as the nation we know it rather than all of us being Canadian.

From the small San Juan Island National Historic park comes this bee: Lasioglossum pacificum. Historically, this species has nothing to do with this park being historical, but there just possibly might be an important backstory where this species played an important role in keeping the United States as the nation we know it rather than all of us being Canadian.

This Lasioglossum comes from Yellowstone National Park. If we actually had a good shot of its head you would see that it has an interesting and large one, but we don't, so you just have to be satisfied with the top of the abdomen, which is nice enough for a bee. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. Photoshopping by Wayne Boo.

From the Badlands of South Dakota...Lasioglossum paraforbesii. One of the large northern Lasioglossum species. This one found lurking about some of the prairie habitats in the National Park on our expedition there. Upon close inspection you can see that this bee has one rather than two weakened cross veins in the submarginal cells...but you knew that.

From the Badlands of South Dakota...Lasioglossum paraforbesii. One of the large northern Lasioglossum species. This one found lurking about some of the prairie habitats in the National Park on our expedition there. Upon close inspection you can see that this bee has one rather than two weakened cross veins in the submarginal cells...but you knew that.

From the Badlands of South Dakota...Lasioglossum paraforbesii. One of the large northern Lasioglossum species. This one found lurking about some of the prairie habitats in the National Park on our expedition there. Upon close inspection you can see that this bee has one rather than two weakened cross veins in the submarginal cells...but you knew that.

Lasioglossum parvum...collected in Puerto Rico agricultural areas by Sara Prado

Lasioglossum parvum...collected in Puerto Rico agricultural areas by Sara Prado

A Lasioglossum with its weakened wing veins exhibiting a lovely hybrid cerulean, sky, molten blue with metallic notes offset with bright white hairs. From Redwoods National Park in California as part of a study of bees in vulnerable areas in Parks. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

A Lasioglossum with its weakened wing veins exhibiting a lovely hybrid cerulean, sky, molten blue with metallic notes offset with bright white hairs. From Redwoods National Park in California as part of a study of bees in vulnerable areas in Parks. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

A Lasioglossum with its weakened wing veins exhibiting a lovely hybrid cerulean, sky, molten blue with metallic notes offset with bright white hairs. From Redwoods National Park in California as part of a study of bees in vulnerable areas in Parks. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

Ah, a dark Lasioglossum, small, all black, a bit of gloss on the thorax, sides rough, angulate, like crumpled tinfoil, except black. Small, common, and expected thoughout the East.

Ah, a dark Lasioglossum, small, all black, a bit of gloss on the thorax, sides rough, angulate, like crumpled tinfoil, except black. Small, common, and expected thoughout the East.