Images

Sassafrass....the trees are dioecious ... males and females on separate trees. While they do have plenty of flowers they are rarely visited by bees. Perhaps it is more of fly pollination system. Specimens and pictures by Helen Lowe Metzman from Howard County, Maryland.

Aegolius acadicus, the Norther Saw-whet owl. Look at the different feathers that occur around the eye and around the facial disk to increase their ability to hear, but not loose heat. This one unfortunately ran into a building in downtown DC at night while migrating.

Feet of death for small insects and mammals. Aegolius acadicus, the Norther Saw-whet owl. This one unfortunately ran into a building in downtown DC at night while migrating.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Unknown Scale insect on Amaryllis in my laboratory in Beltsville Maryland

Unknown Scale insect on Amaryllis in my laboratory in Beltsville Maryland

Eucanthus lazarus, Scarab beetle, Chino Farm, Queen Anne County, Maryland, Collector Dan Small - Determination kindly provided by Frank Guarnieri

Unknown Scarab, found in bowl trap in the high plateau of West Virginia by Jane Whitaker, specimen approximately 8mm and floating in hand sanitzer. You can see a couple of mites on the left side. This specimen has been designated as the Gilbert Godfrey Beetle by the NWF Staff.

Unknown Scarab, found in bowl trap in the high plateau of West Virginia by Jane Whitaker, specimen approximately 8mm and floating in hand sanitzer...notice the 4 mites!

Piranga olivacea - Sadly this particular bird collided with a building in downtown Washington D.C. and the Lights Out DC / City Wildlife found it on an early spring morning. This foot, while dirty, is just filled with lovely graceful curves and reptilian scutes. Photograph by Sue Boo.

Piranga olivacea - Sadly this particular bird collided with a building in downtown Washington D.C. and the Lights Out DC / City Wildlife found it on an early spring morning. Here is a closeup of the coverts on the wing area. Photograph by Sue Boo.

Piranga olivacea - Sadly this particular bird collided with a building in downtown Washington D.C. and the Lights Out DC / City Wildlife found it on an early spring morning. Despite the obvious damage, it is still a wonderful looking bird. Photograph by Sue Boo.

This ubiquitous North American species can be found gathering mud for its nest almost anywhere. I have collected it in urban areas to remote villages in the center of Guyana. This specimen is from Key Biscayne National Park in Florida and was arrayed without a pin by Brooke in our lab and then photgraphed on a piece of glass by Ben

This ubiquitous North American species can be found gathering mud for its nest almost anywhere. I have collected it in urban areas to remote villages in the center of Guyana. This specimen is from Key Biscayne National Park in Florida and was arrayed without a pin by Brooke in our lab and then photgraphed on a piece of glass by Ben

The flower of the Starvine. Schisandra glabra. Photograph by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Schizocosa avida, in hand sanitizer in a cuvette, unknown species, September, Maryland, identified by Lady Arachnophile

A wasp species. This specimen was collected as part of a bee survey of Cape Cod National Seashore and its larva are parasitoids of beetle grubs.

A wasp species. Note the lovely folds and ridges in the wing, a feature of the wasp family Scoliidae.

Scolia dubia, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

More scorpion shots...The Striped Bark Scorpion. A lovely specimen found on the floor of FT Eyre in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. It is always good to have friends who send you such lovely presents in the mail. This is the only scorpion in the state and over the next few days I will post more shots of this baby. Check out the hypodermic at the end of the sting.

The Striped Bark Scorpion. A lovely specimen found on the floor of FT Eyre in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. It is always good to have friends who send you such lovely presents in the mail. This is the only scorpion in the state and over the next few days I will post more shots of this baby. Check out the hypodermic at the end of the sting.