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
Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County
Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County
Epeolus erigeronis, M, side, NC, Moore County

This very very rare bee invades the nests of bees in the genus Colletes. Captured by Heather Campbell in the Sandhills of North Carolina and photographed by Amber JoyceCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

This very very rare bee invades the nests of bees in the genus Colletes. Captured by Heather Campbell in the Sandhills of North Carolina and photographed by Amber JoyceCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Photographer: Sam Droege, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

close up of image
Epeolus howardi, back, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, back, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, back, Caroline Co., MD

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

close up of image
Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, face, Caroline Co., MD

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

close up of image
Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD
Epeolus howardi, right, Caroline Co., MD

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

Rare, Rare, Rare. This Epeolus howardi, a nest parasite of one of the Cellophane Bees in the genus Colletes. Which species of Colletes, you ask, as is more often the case than not ... we don't know. This bee has only been collected a handful of times in the Mid-Atlantic states and that is about all we know.

close up of image
Epeolus lectoides, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

close up of image
Epeolus lectoides, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

close up of image
Epeolus lectoides, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Epeolus lectoides, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

A nest parasite...an invader of other bees nest's ... eggs are laid and the host's young killed and food eaten. In this case the host if Colletes latitarsis. This rather beat up specimen comes from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge....paid for with lots of donations to the mosquito population on the refuge. Photography by Ashleigh Jacobs.

close up of image
Epeolus minimus, F, Back, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Back, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Back, Co., SD

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

close up of image
Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, Face, Co., SD

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

close up of image
Epeolus minimus, F, LSide, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, LSide, Co., SD
Epeolus minimus, F, LSide, Co., SD

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Collected in South Dakota in Badlands National Park, this tiny nest parasite of Colletes is the first record for the state. Amber Reese took the pictureCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

close up of image
Epeolus scutellaris, F, Side, ME, Steuben
Epeolus scutellaris, F, Side, ME, Steuben
Epeolus scutellaris, F, Side, ME, Steuben

A nest parasite of Colletes bees, this is perhaps the most common of the Epeolus species in eastern North America. This species main target is likely the common fall Cellophane Bee Colletes simulans. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

A nest parasite of Colletes bees, this is perhaps the most common of the Epeolus species in eastern North America. This species main target is likely the common fall Cellophane Bee Colletes simulans. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

close up of image
Epeolus species, 15282h3, f, kenya
Epeolus species, 15282h3, f, kenya
Epeolus species, 15282h3, f, kenya

A lovely study in coffee-colored integument, heavily branched thick bright white hairs and some nicely formed spines on the scutellum (the back part of the thorax). Members of this group are nest parasites on species in the genus Colletes. Another specimen from the Packer Lab.

A lovely study in coffee-colored integument, heavily branched thick bright white hairs and some nicely formed spines on the scutellum (the back part of the thorax). Members of this group are nest parasites on species in the genus Colletes. Another specimen from the Packer Lab.

close up of image
Epeolus zonatus, U, back, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, back, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, back, Georgia, Camden County

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia...A pretty little nest parasite of Colletes bees

close up of image
Epeolus zonatus, U, face, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, face, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, face, Georgia, Camden County

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia...A pretty little nest parasite of Colletes bees

close up of image
Epeolus zonatus, U, side, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, side, Georgia, Camden County
Epeolus zonatus, U, side, Georgia, Camden County

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia...A pretty little nest parasite of Colletes bees

close up of image
Epigaea repens 2, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens 2, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens 2, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Epigaea repens 3, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens 3, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens 3, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman
Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus, Howard County, Md, Helen Lowe Metzman

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

A small heath, the trailing arbutus. Often thought to be rare, but more often than not simply overlooked. Attracts pollinators like the rest of the grouip. Epigaea repens. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, ss and wd duckworth
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, ss and wd duckworth
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, ss and wd duckworth

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

close up of image
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

close up of image
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up side
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up side
Epitamyra thermalis, Pyralidae, jamaica, wing close up side

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.

Ahhhhhh, something new under the sun. Alma Solis a USDA entomologist showed me these specimens of the smallish moth Epitamyra thermalis. After finding essentially nothing about these moths and the super cool sound structure on these male's wings I wrote Alma and she replied: "Sam, you are venturing into scientific NEW information.