Images

what is your thinking on willows? Like most people, maybe not much. They make great wicker baskets. They also tolerate some pretty extreme conditions along rivers, streams, tundra, that other trees can handle. In the East they are the largest plant being that has "specialist" bees.

what is your thinking on willows? Like most people, maybe not much. They make great wicker baskets. They also tolerate some pretty extreme conditions along rivers, streams, tundra, that other trees can handle. In the East they are the largest plant being that has "specialist" bees.

Andrena macra. One of almost 100 species of Andrena that occur in the State of Maryland.

Andrena macra, a southern bee that just barely makes its way to Maryland. Seems to like to aggregate nests in sandy areas and create small colonies, although colonies are probably a poor word choice, perhaps more likely they just like to nest near one another.

Andrena macra. One of almost 100 species of Andrena that occur in the State of Maryland.

Andrena macra, a southern bee that just barely makes its way to Maryland. Seems to like to aggregate nests in sandy areas and create small colonies, although colonies are probably a poor word choice, perhaps more likely they just like to nest near one another.

Andrena macra. One of almost 100 species of Andrena that occur in the State of Maryland.

Andrena macra, a southern bee that just barely makes its way to Maryland. Seems to like to aggregate nests in sandy areas and create small colonies, although colonies are probably a poor word choice, perhaps more likely they just like to nest near one another.

Andrena mariae, female

A little tiny Andrena bee collected in the sandhills of North Carolina by Heather Campbell. Not much is know about this species, other than it appears to be uncommon and spotty in occurrence and runs from the West to the East coast with a fair amount of variation, which usually indicates that other species may be hidden within this one. So much work to do.

A little tiny Andrena bee collected in the sandhills of North Carolina by Heather Campbell. Not much is know about this species, other than it appears to be uncommon and spotty in occurrence and runs from the West to the East coast with a fair amount of variation, which usually indicates that other species may be hidden within this one. So much work to do.

A little tiny Andrena bee collected in the sandhills of North Carolina by Heather Campbell. Not much is know about this species, other than it appears to be uncommon and spotty in occurrence and runs from the West to the East coast with a fair amount of variation, which usually indicates that other species may be hidden within this one. So much work to do.

Andrena merriami, female Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Andrena merriami, female Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Andrena merriami, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

From the sand pits of Anne Arundel County Maryland comes this small Andrena, Andrena nubecula. Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

One of the relatively few fall Andrena bees (most occur on spring wildflowers). This dark species is associated with Goldenrods and Asters...but then again, that is the main nectar and pollen source of the Fall. They also have a tendency to show up in sandy areas and, indeed, this specimen is from the Carolina Sandhills collected by Heather Campbell.

One of the relatively few fall Andrena bees (most occur on spring wildflowers). This dark species is associated with Goldenrods and Asters...but then again, that is the main nectar and pollen source of the Fall. They also have a tendency to show up in sandy areas and, indeed, this specimen is from the Carolina Sandhills collected by Heather Campbell.

Andrena nuda, Somerset County, Maryland, April 2012, female

Andrena species, Black-tipped Andrena, specimen collected by Jason Gibbs in OmanEvolution has blessed the genus Andrena with over 1500 different species, making it the second richest of all bee genera (Hairy-tongue Bees, Lasioglossum, are first).

Andrena species, Black-tipped Andrena, specimen collected by Jason Gibbs in OmanEvolution has blessed the genus Andrena with over 1500 different species, making it the second richest of all bee genera (Hairy-tongue Bees, Lasioglossum, are first).