Images

Here is a bee from Acadia National Park in Hancock County Maine. The park is one of the few places that has information about its historic bee populations., Resulting in one of the very very few instances of a historic record of any kind of bee populations in North America. An Illustration of How Poorly Known the bee fauna of the continent is currently.

Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.

Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.

Megachile melanopyga: This species has two generations in a year, with the 2nd generation being very abundant on autumn asters. Collected by the fabulous Jelle Devalez on the mysterious Lesvos Island in Greece. Photo taken by Sara Guerrieri.

Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.

Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.

Leaf-cutter. The most common leaf-cutter in most of Eastern North America. It carries pollen on the underside of its abdomen and those hairs are distinctly tinged with orange, something found in only a few other eastern Megachile. Photograph by Amanda Robinson.

Megachile mendica is a very common bee, but in this case it is founded on a very rare plant, Ruth's Golden Aster. Collected and photographed by Philip Moore as part of a survey of that plant species and its pollinators from Polk County Tennessee.

The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.

The most common eastern native Megachile, Megachile mendica. In this case a male, oft confused with M. brevis. Photography by Amanda Robinson.

Two shots of a male Megachile mendica I caught today in Green Ridge area in western Maryland.

Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

Many of the Megachile are pea lovers and this one is no exception. A spring member of the Chalicodoma subgenus. Collected by Jelle Devalez as part of his studies of the islands of Greece. Photography by Brooke Alexander.

The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.

The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, here even the male has a massive mandible, though it does not involve itself in making or tending nests....note the forelegs which are tucked under the front of the bee, these are widened greatly and are used to cover the eyes of the female when mating.

The male of Megachile mucida, this is one of the leafcutter bees, Collected by Heather Campbell in the Southern Pines area of North Carolina.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County