Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.

Filter Total Items: 21558
close up of image
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, face
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, face
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, face

Mydrosoma serratum, Serrated Evening Bee, collected in Mexico by Sheila Dumesh 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.

Mydrosoma serratum, Serrated Evening Bee, collected in Mexico by Sheila Dumesh 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.

close up of image
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, side
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, side
bee species cutout antennae, m, mexico, side

Mydrosoma serratum, Serrated Evening Bee, collected in Mexico by Sheila Dumesh 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.

Mydrosoma serratum, Serrated Evening Bee, collected in Mexico by Sheila Dumesh 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.

close up of image
bee species wide face, m, brazil, face
bee species wide face, m, brazil, face
bee species wide face, m, brazil, face

More unknown species of bees from the Packer Lab at York University. Here collected in Brazil. 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.

More unknown species of bees from the Packer Lab at York University. Here collected in Brazil. 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.

close up of image
bee species wide face, m, brazil, side
bee species wide face, m, brazil, side
bee species wide face, m, brazil, side

More unknown species of bees from the Packer Lab at York University. Here collected in Brazil. 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.

More unknown species of bees from the Packer Lab at York University. Here collected in Brazil. 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.

close up of image
bee species, f, side, argentina
bee species, f, side, argentina
bee species, f, side, argentina

Another unknown bee species from Argentina form the Laurence Packer lab. Rather striking and buff looking in format and so the genus should be easy to pick out. 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.

Another unknown bee species from Argentina form the Laurence Packer lab. Rather striking and buff looking in format and so the genus should be easy to pick out. 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.

close up of image
bee, m, angle, south africa, wcp
bee, m, angle, south africa, wcp
bee, m, angle, south africa, wcp

Amegilla species, Unknown Banded Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence PackerBanded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the "Blue-banded" variety (see accountxxx) while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

Amegilla species, Unknown Banded Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence PackerBanded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the "Blue-banded" variety (see accountxxx) while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

close up of image
bee, m, face, south africa, wcp
bee, m, face, south africa, wcp
bee, m, face, south africa, wcp

Amegilla species, Unknown Banded Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence PackerBanded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the "Blue-banded" variety (see accountxxx) while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

Amegilla species, Unknown Banded Bee, collected in South Africa by Laurence PackerBanded Bees are a diverse group, occurring in lands all across the Old World and Australia. Asian and Australian groups tend to be more of the "Blue-banded" variety (see accountxxx) while in the Eastern part of their range they more often than not lack any blue reflections.

close up of image
bee15274, f, turkey, angle
bee15274, f, turkey, angle
bee15274, f, turkey, angle

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

close up of image
bee15274, f, turkey, face
bee15274, f, turkey, face
bee15274, f, turkey, face

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

close up of image
bee15274, f, turkey, side
bee15274, f, turkey, side
bee15274, f, turkey, side

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

Ancyla asiatica, Asiatic Enigma Bee collected in Turkey Nine species of Enigma Bees occur from the Western portion of the Mediterranean to Central Asia. They are called Enigma bees because it has been so difficult to decide which other bees they are closely related to. The reason for this confusion lies in their tongues.

close up of image
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, angle
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, angle
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, angle

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

close up of image
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, butt
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, butt
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, butt

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

close up of image
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, face
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, face
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, face

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

close up of image
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, side
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, side
bee19992 anthid red, m, kenya, side

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

Pachyanthidium species, Sawtooth Sputnik Bee, collected in KenyaAnother striking Sputnik Bee from Africa. This group of bees, and the Anthidiini tribe it nestles in taxonomically, are almost all characteristically striped and spotted with bright yellow, white, and red colors on a wide body, usually also with serious amounts of pitting cratering their exoskeleton.

close up of image
Beefsteak Plant, pod, upper marlboro, md
Beefsteak Plant, pod, upper marlboro, md
Beefsteak Plant, pod, upper marlboro, md

Perilla frutescens, or Beefsteak Plant, a much hated invasive plant, but does have the virtue of both being edible and having lovely remnant seeds pods even after a long winter. Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Perilla frutescens, or Beefsteak Plant, a much hated invasive plant, but does have the virtue of both being edible and having lovely remnant seeds pods even after a long winter. Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

close up of image
Bees Learn to Drive Small Cars
Bees Learn to Drive Small Cars
Bees Learn to Drive Small Cars

Bees Learn to Drive Very Small Cars.Scientists capitalized on recent revelations that bees are a lot smarter than previously thought. In addition to being able to count and solve simple puzzles USGS scientists at the Patuxent Native Bee Lab have taught bees to driver miniaturized automobiles.

Bees Learn to Drive Very Small Cars.Scientists capitalized on recent revelations that bees are a lot smarter than previously thought. In addition to being able to count and solve simple puzzles USGS scientists at the Patuxent Native Bee Lab have taught bees to driver miniaturized automobiles.

close up of image
Beetle 1,
Beetle 1,
Beetle 1,

Dark Flower Scarab (Euphoria sepulcralis) collected in Wicomico County in a glycol trap on a farm by Brooke Alexander and photoshopped by wonderful interns Joyce and Amber

Dark Flower Scarab (Euphoria sepulcralis) collected in Wicomico County in a glycol trap on a farm by Brooke Alexander and photoshopped by wonderful interns Joyce and Amber

close up of image
Beetle 2 black background, U, back, Dominican Republic
Beetle 2 black background, U, back, Dominican Republic
Beetle 2 black background, U, back, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic, possible leaf beetle, floating in hand sanitizer in a cuvette

close up of image
Beetle 2 with Whole Styrofoam Cup
Beetle 2 with Whole Styrofoam Cup
Beetle 2 with Whole Styrofoam Cup

Lighting Experiment: Agroiconota bivittata - Another tortoise beetle, this one from a glycol trap collected by Brooke Alexander and photographed by Amber Reese, in this case the trick was to increase the lighting on the lower edge, what worked was laying a portion of styrofoam cup slit lengthwise ala butternut squash which nicely reflect the bounced flash back up o

Lighting Experiment: Agroiconota bivittata - Another tortoise beetle, this one from a glycol trap collected by Brooke Alexander and photographed by Amber Reese, in this case the trick was to increase the lighting on the lower edge, what worked was laying a portion of styrofoam cup slit lengthwise ala butternut squash which nicely reflect the bounced flash back up o

close up of image
beetle 2, U, side, Fossil Butte NM, Wyoming
beetle 2, U, side, Fossil Butte NM, Wyoming
close up of image
Beetle 3, back
Beetle 3, back
Beetle 3, back

Clerid Beetle, Enoclerus ichneumoneus, Prince George's County, Maryland

Clerid Beetle, Enoclerus ichneumoneus, Prince George's County, Maryland