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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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Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, face, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Megachile coquilletti, f, left side, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, left side, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ
Megachile coquilletti, f, left side, Pima Co. Tucson, AZ

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

A sweet little leaf cutter from Tucson Arizona, Megachile coquilletti is a hole nester and I imagine like its sister taxi in the East probably is happy to nest in people's yards and benefits from rich plantings of desert and dry country native plants. Collected by Tim McMahon and picturated by Elizabeth Garcia.

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Megachile coquilletti, f, left,Yolo Co, CA
Megachile coquilletti, f, left,Yolo Co, CA
Megachile coquilletti, f, left,Yolo Co, CA

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

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Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA
Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA
Megachile coquilletti, m, left, Yolo Co., CA

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

This is Megachile coquilletti, a small bee from Yolo County in California. "This bee was collected in the California Central Valley in Yolo County for research on small-scale restoration in agricultural areas. Claire Kremen's 10-year study of hedgerows shows the benefits of planting native shrubs and forbs in agricultural areas for native bees.

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Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, back

Megachile exilis - Megs are most famous for being leaf cutters, but some are not (leaf cutters that is). M.

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Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Face
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Face
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Face

Megachile exilis - Megs are most famous for being leaf cutters, but some are not (leaf cutters that is). M.

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Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side
Megachile exilis, F, Talbot Co., MD, Side

Megachile exilis - Megs are most famous for being leaf cutters, but some are not (leaf cutters that is). M.

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Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, back, Pr. George's Co., MD

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

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Megachile exilis, m, face, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, face, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, face, Pr. George's Co., MD

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

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Megachile exilis, m, side, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, side, Pr. George's Co., MD
Megachile exilis, m, side, Pr. George's Co., MD

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

One of the resin collecting bees, they are in the leaf-cutting bee genus, but separate their walls with resin rather than leaves. They love it if you drill holes in your porch posts (personal observation). This Megachile exilis males has some expanded front leg segments that help in its id...how nice. Collected in Talbot County, Maryland.

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Megachile farinosa, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Back, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

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Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Face, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

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Megachile farinosa, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene
Megachile farinosa, M, Side, Greece, Aegean Islands, Lesvos, Mytilene

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

Megachile farinosa: a rather rare species and with conspicuous red legs, a feature which is very uncommon in European Megachile. This species flies in high summer and the female gathers pollen only on the flowers of Vitex agnus-castus.Some alternative or past names for the species include Chalicodoma farinosa or Pseudomegachile farinosa.

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Megachile frugalis, female, side
Megachile frugalis, female, side
Megachile frugalis, female, side

There are many Megachile in the world here is one captured in western Maryland and photographed by Heagan Ahmed. Photoshopping by Elizabeth Gardia. For some reason the species seems to be showing up more and more in Eastern North American collections.

There are many Megachile in the world here is one captured in western Maryland and photographed by Heagan Ahmed. Photoshopping by Elizabeth Gardia. For some reason the species seems to be showing up more and more in Eastern North American collections.

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Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Back, Pg County, MD

Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

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Megachile frugalis, M, Face, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Face, Pg County, MD
Megachile frugalis, M, Face, Pg County, MD

Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

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