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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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Hoplitis fulgida, f, face, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, f, face, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, f, face, Mariposa CA

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female.

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female.

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Hoplitis fulgida, f, right, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, f, right, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, f, right, Mariposa CA

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female, you can see its pollen carrying hairs under its abdomen.

More shots of a shiny bright blue/purple Hoplitis fulgida. This one from Yosemite National Park, collected by Claire Kremen's group. This one is a female, you can see its pollen carrying hairs under its abdomen.

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Hoplitis fulgida, female, back
Hoplitis fulgida, female, back
Hoplitis fulgida, female, back

Hoplitis fulgida, a female from Grand Tetons National Park, collected as part of a study of climate change. Most species in this genus are the normal black colored bee things, but a few, like this one are, as the Latin in name implies, glittering jewels. Sierra Williams took this stacked shot. Elizabeth Garcia Shopped it.

Hoplitis fulgida, a female from Grand Tetons National Park, collected as part of a study of climate change. Most species in this genus are the normal black colored bee things, but a few, like this one are, as the Latin in name implies, glittering jewels. Sierra Williams took this stacked shot. Elizabeth Garcia Shopped it.

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Hoplitis fulgida, female, face
Hoplitis fulgida, female, face
Hoplitis fulgida, female, face

Hoplitis fulgida, a female from Grand Tetons National Park, collected as part of a study of climate change. Most species in this genus are the normal black colored bee things, but a few, like this one are, as the Latin in name implies, glittering jewels.

Hoplitis fulgida, a female from Grand Tetons National Park, collected as part of a study of climate change. Most species in this genus are the normal black colored bee things, but a few, like this one are, as the Latin in name implies, glittering jewels.

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Hoplitis fulgida, highlights, male, back
Hoplitis fulgida, highlights, male, back
Hoplitis fulgida, highlights, male, back

Hoplitis fulgida (fulgid is Latin for bling). This is one of our early shots, taken of a bee from Grand Teton National Park. It is a terrible specimen in many ways, not symmetrically arrayed, a bit crumpled, probably why I had ignored it.

Hoplitis fulgida (fulgid is Latin for bling). This is one of our early shots, taken of a bee from Grand Teton National Park. It is a terrible specimen in many ways, not symmetrically arrayed, a bit crumpled, probably why I had ignored it.

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Hoplitis fulgida, m, back, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, back, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, back, Mariposa CA

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

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Hoplitis fulgida, m, face, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, face, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, face, Mariposa CA

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

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Hoplitis fulgida, m, right, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, right, Mariposa CA
Hoplitis fulgida, m, right, Mariposa CA

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

The equally bright but skinny version of Hoplitis fulgida. More bees from Yosemite National Park in California by Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Anders Croft.

close up of image
Hoplitis fulgida, male, back
Hoplitis fulgida, male, back
Hoplitis fulgida, male, back

Hoplitis fulgida (fulgid is Latin for bling). This is one of our early shots, taken of a bee from Grand Teton National Park. It is a terrible specimen in many ways, not symmetrically arrayed, a bit crumpled, probably why I had ignored it.

Hoplitis fulgida (fulgid is Latin for bling). This is one of our early shots, taken of a bee from Grand Teton National Park. It is a terrible specimen in many ways, not symmetrically arrayed, a bit crumpled, probably why I had ignored it.

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Hoplitis pilosifrons, eastern neck nwr, kent, md, back
Hoplitis pilosifrons, eastern neck nwr, kent, md, back
Hoplitis pilosifrons, eastern neck nwr, kent, md, back

The Blue-eyed Bee. Hoplitis pilosifrons. One of the Megachilidae...they tuck pollen under their abdomen to carry to their nests rather than on their legs like the classic honey bee model. Collected at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge ...a refuge not created for bees, but now embracing their bee communities with plantings and management.

The Blue-eyed Bee. Hoplitis pilosifrons. One of the Megachilidae...they tuck pollen under their abdomen to carry to their nests rather than on their legs like the classic honey bee model. Collected at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge ...a refuge not created for bees, but now embracing their bee communities with plantings and management.

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Hoplitis pilosifrons, f, md, eastern neck nwr, side
Hoplitis pilosifrons, f, md, eastern neck nwr, side
Hoplitis pilosifrons, f, md, eastern neck nwr, side

The Blue-eyed Bee. Hoplitis pilosifrons. One of the Megachilidae...they tuck pollen under their abdomen to carry to their nests rather than on their legs like the classic honey bee model. Collected at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge ...a refuge not created for bees, but now embracing their bee communities with plantings and management.

The Blue-eyed Bee. Hoplitis pilosifrons. One of the Megachilidae...they tuck pollen under their abdomen to carry to their nests rather than on their legs like the classic honey bee model. Collected at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge ...a refuge not created for bees, but now embracing their bee communities with plantings and management.

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Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, back
Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, back
Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, back

Hoplitis pilosifrons. Oft overlooked. This species is relatively common occurring in almost any substantive collection of bees from a region or location anywhere East of the Rockies. It has the bad habit of being bland in its characters and often leads to misidentifications.

Hoplitis pilosifrons. Oft overlooked. This species is relatively common occurring in almost any substantive collection of bees from a region or location anywhere East of the Rockies. It has the bad habit of being bland in its characters and often leads to misidentifications.

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Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, face
Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, face
Hoplitis pilosifrons, female, face

Hoplitis pilosifrons. Oft overlooked. This species is relatively common occurring in almost any substantive collection of bees from a region or location anywhere East of the Rockies. It has the bad habit of being bland in its characters and often leads to misidentifications.

Hoplitis pilosifrons. Oft overlooked. This species is relatively common occurring in almost any substantive collection of bees from a region or location anywhere East of the Rockies. It has the bad habit of being bland in its characters and often leads to misidentifications.

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Hoplitis sambuci, m, back, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, back, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, back, Bray 2, CA

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

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Hoplitis sambuci, m, face, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, face, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, face, Bray 2, CA

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

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Hoplitis sambuci, m, left, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, left, Bray 2, CA
Hoplitis sambuci, m, left, Bray 2, CA

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

A large Hoplitis from the West Coast. Specifically from Yosemite National Park. Am still mystified by this genus, they are always around in small numbers, but never seem to be a "player" like some of the other genera, if you know what I mean. The specimens were collected for a project done by Lauren Ponisio - Study led by L.

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Hoplitis simplex, m, back, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, back, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, back, Charles Co, MD

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

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Hoplitis simplex, m, face, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, face, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, face, Charles Co, MD

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

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Hoplitis simplex, m, side, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, side, Charles Co, MD
Hoplitis simplex, m, side, Charles Co, MD

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

A small, hole nesting bee, collected in Charles County Maryland, Hoplitis simplex is uncommonly found and is a specialist on the plant genus Phacelia. Bee specialists such as this little Hoplitis are fundamentally linked to the world's plant biodiversity...not Phacelia...no H. simplex. Photograph by Hannah Sutton.

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Hoplitis spoliata, f, back, Kent County MD
Hoplitis spoliata, f, back, Kent County MD
Hoplitis spoliata, f, back, Kent County MD

A large Hoplitis, that occurs throughout most of North America East of the Rockies. Occurs in low numbers at most locations, in the Mid-Atlantic is is a June bee and associated with what would appear to be mostly Woody blooming plants. Something to consider in your planting pollinator plans... don't forget the blooming shrubs and small trees.

A large Hoplitis, that occurs throughout most of North America East of the Rockies. Occurs in low numbers at most locations, in the Mid-Atlantic is is a June bee and associated with what would appear to be mostly Woody blooming plants. Something to consider in your planting pollinator plans... don't forget the blooming shrubs and small trees.

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Hoplitis spoliata, f, face, Kent County MD
Hoplitis spoliata, f, face, Kent County MD
Hoplitis spoliata, f, face, Kent County MD

A large Hoplitis, that occurs throughout most of North America East of the Rockies. Occurs in low numbers at most locations, in the Mid-Atlantic is is a June bee and associated with what would appear to be mostly Woody blooming plants. Something to consider in your planting pollinator plans... don't forget the blooming shrubs and small trees.

A large Hoplitis, that occurs throughout most of North America East of the Rockies. Occurs in low numbers at most locations, in the Mid-Atlantic is is a June bee and associated with what would appear to be mostly Woody blooming plants. Something to consider in your planting pollinator plans... don't forget the blooming shrubs and small trees.