Images

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

Laura Russo collected these lovely squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) near State College, Pennsylvania. Aptly named, this bee only feeds its young on the pollen of Cucurbita (pumpkins, squash, gourds and the like). This genus is native to the hemisphere....peaking in numbers in the Mexican highlands, but do not occur naturally in Pennsylvania (too cold).

One the spider wasps that are often called Tarantula Hawks, many often display various shades of red in their wings, perhaps as a warning to birds as their sting is notoriously painful. This one was collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba and photographed by Aaman Mengis

One the spider wasps that are often called Tarantula Hawks, many often display various shades of red in their wings, perhaps as a warning to birds as their sting is notoriously painful. This one was collected on the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba and photographed by Aaman Mengis

Pompilid Spider Wasp, Central Highlands High Elevation Domincan RepublicPepsis ruficornis

Pompilid Spider Wasp, Central Highlands High Elevation Domincan RepublicPepsis ruficornis. Someone has suggested that this one be called the Woolly Mammoth Spider Wasp

Pompilid Spider Wasp, Central Highlands High Elevation Domincan RepublicPepsis ruficornis

This is picture 5 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.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, Perdita albihirta

Perdita albihirta geraeae, female, Petrified Forest National Park...note the lovely turned mandible

Perdita albihirta geraeae, female, Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Monument, AZ

Petrified Forest National Monument, AZ

Petrified Forest National Monument, AZ

petrified Forest national Park, Apache County, Arizona

petrified Forest national Park, Apache County, Arizona

Perdita asteris, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Perdita asteris, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Perdita asteris, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Perdita asteris, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona