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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.

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Dasymutilla gloriosa, face2, Cochise Co., AZ
Dasymutilla gloriosa, face2, Cochise Co., AZ
Dasymutilla gloriosa, face2, Cochise Co., AZ

Dasymutilla gloriosa. Thistledown Velvet Ant. Elizabeth Garcia who took this picture claimed this one creeped her out. ... and she sees a lot of wasps and bees. Not an ant, but a wasp. This it the wingeless female collected by Tim McMahon in Cochise County in Arizona. Desert.

Dasymutilla gloriosa. Thistledown Velvet Ant. Elizabeth Garcia who took this picture claimed this one creeped her out. ... and she sees a lot of wasps and bees. Not an ant, but a wasp. This it the wingeless female collected by Tim McMahon in Cochise County in Arizona. Desert.

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Dasymutilla gloriosa, right side 2, Cochise Co., AZ
Dasymutilla gloriosa, right side 2, Cochise Co., AZ
Dasymutilla gloriosa, right side 2, Cochise Co., AZ

Dasymutilla gloriosa. Thistledown Velvet Ant. Elizabeth Garcia who took this picture claimed this one creeped her out. ... and she sees a lot of wasps and bees. Not an ant, but a wasp. This it the wingeless female collected by Tim McMahon in Cochise County in Arizona. Desert.

Dasymutilla gloriosa. Thistledown Velvet Ant. Elizabeth Garcia who took this picture claimed this one creeped her out. ... and she sees a lot of wasps and bees. Not an ant, but a wasp. This it the wingeless female collected by Tim McMahon in Cochise County in Arizona. Desert.

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Dasymutilla-species,-unknown,-back
Dasymutilla-species,-unknown,-back
Dasymutilla-species,-unknown,-back

Unknown species of Dasymutilla, Beltsville, Maryland 2012, July

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dasypoda,f, united kingdom, back
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, back
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, back

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

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dasypoda,f, united kingdom, face
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, face
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, face

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

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dasypoda,f, united kingdom, side
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, side
dasypoda,f, united kingdom, side

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

Dasypoda plumipes, Hairy-footed Hairy-legged Bee, collected in the United Kingdom.The common name of this species is an accurate description of the bushy pollen carrying hind legs of the female (male bees do not transport pollen back to a nest).

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Death Star Jimsonweed, pod, old, upper marlboro, md
Death Star Jimsonweed, pod, old, upper marlboro, md
Death Star Jimsonweed, pod, old, upper marlboro, md

Datura stramonium - Last year's pod of a Jimsonweed from the back edge of my property. Lovely mix of spines and the hardship and decline of a hard winter. Not a native species, but still lovely.

Datura stramonium - Last year's pod of a Jimsonweed from the back edge of my property. Lovely mix of spines and the hardship and decline of a hard winter. Not a native species, but still lovely.

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Deer Fly 1, U, Back, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 1, U, Back, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 1, U, Back, MD, PG County

Yet another deer fly that tried to bite me while running...note the lovely dark integument or skin on this one

Yet another deer fly that tried to bite me while running...note the lovely dark integument or skin on this one

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Deer Fly 1, U, Face, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 1, U, Face, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 1, U, Face, MD, PG County

Yet another deer fly that tried to bite me while running...note the lovely dark integument or skin on this one nicely contrasting its lovely purple flickr eyes

Yet another deer fly that tried to bite me while running...note the lovely dark integument or skin on this one nicely contrasting its lovely purple flickr eyes

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Deer Fly 2, U, Back, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 2, U, Back, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 2, U, Back, MD, PG County

Another unknown Chrysops species from Maryland, see assocaited back shot for possible id, collected from the resulting cloud of flies after a run through Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland

Another unknown Chrysops species from Maryland, see assocaited back shot for possible id, collected from the resulting cloud of flies after a run through Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland

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Deer Fly 2, U, Face, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 2, U, Face, MD, PG County
Deer Fly 2, U, Face, MD, PG County

Another unknown Chrysops species from Maryland, see assocaited back shot for possible id, collected from the resulting cloud of flies after a run through Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland

Another unknown Chrysops species from Maryland, see assocaited back shot for possible id, collected from the resulting cloud of flies after a run through Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland

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deer tongue grass, close up, md, upper marlboro
deer tongue grass, close up, md, upper marlboro
deer tongue grass, close up, md, upper marlboro

Green seed of one of my favorite grasses, I leave patches of this plant when I mow the "lawn." Presumably this is Dichanthelium clandestinum (formerly Panicum clandestinum), but am not sure if there are look alikes in my area.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,

Green seed of one of my favorite grasses, I leave patches of this plant when I mow the "lawn." Presumably this is Dichanthelium clandestinum (formerly Panicum clandestinum), but am not sure if there are look alikes in my area.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,

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deer tongue grass, md, upper marlboro
deer tongue grass, md, upper marlboro
deer tongue grass, md, upper marlboro

A bit of the green seed head of one of my favorite grasses, I leave patches of this plant when I mow the "lawn." Presumably this is Dichanthelium clandestinum (formerly Panicum clandestinum), but am not sure if there are look alikes in my area.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler,

A bit of the green seed head of one of my favorite grasses, I leave patches of this plant when I mow the "lawn." Presumably this is Dichanthelium clandestinum (formerly Panicum clandestinum), but am not sure if there are look alikes in my area.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler,

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Dermacentor variabilis, U, Back, MD, Beltsville
Dermacentor variabilis, U, Back, MD, Beltsville
Dermacentor variabilis, U, Back, MD, Beltsville

The Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis, in its splendor of beet overtones and resistance to vilification. Found crawling on me in Beltsville, Maryland

The Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis, in its splendor of beet overtones and resistance to vilification. Found crawling on me in Beltsville, Maryland

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Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA
Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA
Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury.

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury.

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Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA
Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA
Derodontus maculatus, u, dorsal shot, great fall Fairfax Co., VA

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury. Have to figure out what species this is Derodontus maculatus .

A series of 6 pictures of 3 species of very uncommon beetles that are new records for the region from George Washington Memorial Parkway unit of the National Park Service. Collected by Brent Steury. Have to figure out what species this is Derodontus maculatus .

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Diadasia australis, f, back, Jakcson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, back, Jakcson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, back, Jakcson Co., SD

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

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Diadasia australis, f, face, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, face, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, face, Jackson Co., SD

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

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Diadasia australis, f, right, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, right, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, f, right, Jackson Co., SD

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

Back to the Badlands of South Dakota. Here we get Diadasia....something that only shows up once you hit some of the isolated prairies in the MidWest until when you got to much of the West...they are everywhere. A common species, this one was found in a number of locations in the Badlands.

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Diadasia australis, m, back, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, m, back, Jackson Co., SD
Diadasia australis, m, back, Jackson Co., SD

Fuzzy, round-headed, and big are a pretty good short cut to the ID of Diadasia bees. Westerners, they, in a very casual pocket prairie sort of way make East of the Mississippi River. The bulk of the population is in dry natural areas from the middle prairies to the West. Here is a common one from our work in the Badlands of South Dakota.

Fuzzy, round-headed, and big are a pretty good short cut to the ID of Diadasia bees. Westerners, they, in a very casual pocket prairie sort of way make East of the Mississippi River. The bulk of the population is in dry natural areas from the middle prairies to the West. Here is a common one from our work in the Badlands of South Dakota.