Images

A very very variable in color (polymorphic) species in the stinkbug family from South America. I have a couple of other examples, but there seems to be no limit to the color variations this species has. How lovely and mysterious. Not sure what the research is on this thing, but it must be an interesting story.

A very very variable in color (polymorphic) species in the stinkbug family from South America. I have a couple of other examples, but there seems to be no limit to the color variations this species has. How lovely and mysterious. Not sure what the research is on this thing, but it must be an interesting story.

A very very variable in color (polymorphic) species in the stinkbug family from South America. I have a couple of other examples, but there seems to be no limit to the color variations this species has. How lovely and mysterious. Not sure what the research is on this thing, but it must be an interesting story.

Another beautiful Stinkbug from South America...this time, Argentina. Insect taken from the Natural History collection of the Smithsonian. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200.

A fluorescent green Stratiomyid from the edges of the salt marshes of Somerset County in Maryland. One product of the Monie Bay BioBlitz a few days ago. So very green. Odontomyia cincta

A fluorescent green Stratiomyid from the edges of the salt marshes of Somerset County in Maryland. One product of the Monie Bay BioBlitz a few days ago. So very green.

This is picture 11 from a 12 picture invited series by Matt Buffington (matt.buffington@usda.gov) at the USDA Parastitic Hymentoptera group using specimens from the U.S. Natural History Museum Smithsonian. Matt uses a system very similar to ours to photograph and stack this super tiny wasp.

Yep, a starling egg...partially hidden by the clay holding it.

One of the southern Svastra species. Big Bee, uncommon and probably restricted to areas of relatively intact native flora, which are getting to be harder and harder to find.

One of the southern Svastra species. Big Bee, uncommon and probably restricted to areas of relatively intact native flora, which are getting to be harder and harder to find.

One of the southern Svastra species. Big Bee, uncommon and probably restricted to areas of relatively intact native flora, which are getting to be harder and harder to find.

One of the southern Svastra species. Big Bee, uncommon and probably restricted to areas of relatively intact native flora, which are getting to be harder and harder to find.

Another southern Svastra species, a relatively uncommon species, but on that regularly shows up in healthy, plant rich regions. As with most of the Svastra species, not much is known about its predilections...but likely it is using large late summer composites of some sort. A fair amount of goo on this girl, lots of photoshopping out of dirt.

Another southern Svastra species, a relatively uncommon species, but on that regularly shows up in healthy, plant rich regions. As with most of the Svastra species, not much is known about its predilections...but likely it is using large late summer composites of some sort. A fair amount of goo on this girl, lots of photoshopping out of dirt.

Another southern Svastra species, a relatively uncommon species, but on that regularly shows up in healthy, plant rich regions. As with most of the Svastra species, not much is known about its predilections...but likely it is using large late summer composites of some sort. A fair amount of goo on this girl, lots of photoshopping out of dirt.

Large bees, rivaling bumblebees, the presence of these bees are indicators of high quality natural habitats, this group does not do well in human environments and does not invade urban areas.

Svastra, a good name I think for this moody genus, I am not sure of the derivation, but these are large, mostly uncommon bees that inhabit high quality diverse open bioscapes. They do not occur in cities. This species is especially dark and is at the southern edge of its range at Canaveral National Seashore in Florida.

While most people would not necessarily think about this very much (beer, for example, is thought about a lot more), many bees are specialists on Cacti. Here is Svastra duplocincta collected in Pima County, Arizona...very likely on a cactus by either Tim McMahon or Don Harvey (my notes are not with me).

While most people would not necessarily think about this very much (beer, for example, is thought about a lot more), many bees are specialists on Cacti. Here is Svastra duplocincta collected in Pima County, Arizona...very likely on a cactus by either Tim McMahon or Don Harvey (my notes are not with me).

While most people would not necessarily think about this very much (beer, for example, is thought about a lot more), many bees are specialists on Cacti. Here is Svastra duplocincta collected in Pima County, Arizona...very likely on a cactus by either Tim McMahon or Don Harvey (my notes are not with me).

Another set of pictures of a different specimen of Svastra duplocincta. Below is a repeat of the previous verbage for the species.While most people would not necessarily think about this very much (beer, for example, is thought about a lot more), many bees are specialists on Cacti.