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
Hedychrum parvum Aaron, U, Face, MD, Baltimore County
Hedychrum parvum Aaron, U, Face, MD, Baltimore County
Hedychrum parvum Aaron, U, Face, MD, Baltimore County

Another Chrysidid wasp (cuckoo wasp) from the Hart-Miller Dredge Spoil site in Baltimore Harbor, collected by Eugene Scarpulla, photographed by Brooke Alexander Identification by Lynn KimseyCanon 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, link to a .pdf of o

Another Chrysidid wasp (cuckoo wasp) from the Hart-Miller Dredge Spoil site in Baltimore Harbor, collected by Eugene Scarpulla, photographed by Brooke Alexander Identification by Lynn KimseyCanon 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, link to a .pdf of o

close up of image
Helenium flexuosum, Purple Sneezeweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Helenium flexuosum, Purple Sneezeweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Helenium flexuosum, Purple Sneezeweed, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

The nicely arrayed Purple-headed Sneezeweed. Picture and collection by Helen Lowe Metzman. Helenium flexuosum.

close up of image
Helianthus angustifolius L. 2, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius L. 2, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius L. 2, Swamp Sunflower

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

close up of image
Helianthus angustifolius L. 3, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius L. 3, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius L. 3, Swamp Sunflower

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

close up of image
Helianthus angustifolius Linnaeus, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius Linnaeus, Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius Linnaeus, Swamp Sunflower

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

Kick butt pollinator plant. Put in your garden please. Helianthus angustifolius - Swamp sunflower. The perennial sunflowers are underappreciated, particularly compared to the way overused Susans. Specimen and photo by Helen Lowe metzman.

close up of image
Hemiptera, U, Dorsal, WV, Hardy County
Hemiptera, U, Dorsal, WV, Hardy County
Hemiptera, U, Dorsal, WV, Hardy County

Unknown Stinkbug from Hardy County, West Viginia. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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.

Unknown Stinkbug from Hardy County, West Viginia. Photograph by Brooke Alexander. 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
Hemitrichia, Lava Lamp Slime Mold
Hemitrichia, Lava Lamp Slime Mold
Hemitrichia, Lava Lamp Slime Mold

Glossy capped just emerged lava lampish sporangia of a Hemitrichia Red Slime mold of some sort. Note how some are conjoined and at this stage they have nifty transluscent stalks. Found during the Adirondack BioBlitz by the fungal hunting Susan Hopkins. Photo by the Dejen Mengis.

Glossy capped just emerged lava lampish sporangia of a Hemitrichia Red Slime mold of some sort. Note how some are conjoined and at this stage they have nifty transluscent stalks. Found during the Adirondack BioBlitz by the fungal hunting Susan Hopkins. Photo by the Dejen Mengis.

close up of image
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Hepatica, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Hepatica, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Hepatica, Howard County, MD, Helen Lowe Metzman

Hepatica nobilis - Roundlobe Hepatica. Delicate, an early marker of spring, understory species. Specimen collected by and picture taken by Helen Lowe Metzman.

Hepatica nobilis - Roundlobe Hepatica. Delicate, an early marker of spring, understory species. Specimen collected by and picture taken by Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Roundlobe Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Roundlobe Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Roundlobe Hepatica

One of the first woodland plants flowering in the spring....am looking forward to the plants waking up this year and the cycle starting anew. Specimen and photography by Helen Lowe Metzman.

One of the first woodland plants flowering in the spring....am looking forward to the plants waking up this year and the cycle starting anew. Specimen and photography by Helen Lowe Metzman.

close up of image
Heriades carinata, f, back, Prince George's Co, MD
Heriades carinata, f, back, Prince George's Co, MD
Heriades carinata, f, back, Prince George's Co, MD

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

close up of image
Heriades carinata, f, side, Prince George's Co, MD
Heriades carinata, f, side, Prince George's Co, MD
Heriades carinata, f, side, Prince George's Co, MD

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

Many of the bees of the world are small, here is yet another one, Heriades carinata. This species nests in tiny little holes, often those made by wood boring/powder post beetles. It carries its pollen underneath its abdomen and is long and slim, so that it can inhabit these tiny holes to lay a series of eggs in a series of cells filled with pollen and nectar.

close up of image
Heriades carinata, F, Side, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinata, F, Side, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinata, F, Side, VA, Wolftrap

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

close up of image
Heriades carinatus, F, Back, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinatus, F, Back, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinatus, F, Back, VA, Wolftrap

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

close up of image
Heriades carinatus, F, Face, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinatus, F, Face, VA, Wolftrap
Heriades carinatus, F, Face, VA, Wolftrap

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

A small hole nesting bee related to Osmia, beatifully arrayed in dark black pitting and short, prone, white bands of hair. Found at Wolf Trap National Park for the Perfoming Arts in Virginia

close up of image
Heriades carinatus, m, back, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, back, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, back, MD, Prince George's Co

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

close up of image
Heriades carinatus, m, face, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, face, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, face, MD, Prince George's Co

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

close up of image
Heriades carinatus, m, left side, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, left side, MD, Prince George's Co
Heriades carinatus, m, left side, MD, Prince George's Co

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

A small thin well armored bee. Just so to fit in the abandoned burrows of powder post beetles and the like. Obliquely related to Mason bees, the females carry pollen and are notable for their use of plant resins to plug their nest holes. This one from Prince George's County. Photograph by Elizabeth Garcia.

close up of image
Heriades leavitti, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, back, Dorchester Co, MD

A tiny be, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be essentially impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the mail form there very clear differences underneath the abdomen.

A tiny be, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be essentially impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the mail form there very clear differences underneath the abdomen.

close up of image
Heriades leavitti, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, face, Dorchester Co, MD

A tiny be, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be essentially impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the mail form there very clear differences underneath the abdomen.

A tiny be, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be essentially impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the mail form there very clear differences underneath the abdomen.

close up of image
Heriades leavitti, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD
Heriades leavitti, m, side, Dorchester Co, MD

A tiny bee, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the male form there are clear differences underneath the abdomen.

A tiny bee, this one found in the flat marshy landscape of Dorchester County, Maryland. There is a pair of the species Heriades leavitti and Heriades variolosa both appear to be impossible to tell apart in the female form, but in the male form there are clear differences underneath the abdomen.

close up of image
Heriades leavitti, male, side
Heriades leavitti, male, side
Heriades leavitti, male, side

A small bee very heavily armored, that nests in small wood boring beetle holes. The specimen came from Kent County Maryland and was photographed by Brooke Alexander and Photoshop by Elizabeth Garcia.

A small bee very heavily armored, that nests in small wood boring beetle holes. The specimen came from Kent County Maryland and was photographed by Brooke Alexander and Photoshop by Elizabeth Garcia.