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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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Agapostemon femoratus,M, Face White Pine Co,NV
Agapostemon femoratus,M, Face White Pine Co,NV
Agapostemon femoratus,M, Face White Pine Co,NV

This male was captured in the Great Basin National Park, Nevada as part of a survey of bees in high elevations vulnerable to climate change. Photo taken by Colby Francouer.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

This male was captured in the Great Basin National Park, Nevada as part of a survey of bees in high elevations vulnerable to climate change. Photo taken by Colby Francouer.Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

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Agapostemon femoratus,M, Side, White Pine Co,NV
Agapostemon femoratus,M, Side, White Pine Co,NV
Agapostemon femoratus,M, Side, White Pine Co,NV

Check this bee out! Anyone with an eye can tell how it got is name, This male was captured in the Great Basin National Park, Nevada as part of a survey of bees in high elevations vulnerable to climate change.

Check this bee out! Anyone with an eye can tell how it got is name, This male was captured in the Great Basin National Park, Nevada as part of a survey of bees in high elevations vulnerable to climate change.

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Agapostemon melliventris, F, back, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, back, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, back, Shannon Co., S. Dakota

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

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Agapostemon melliventris, F, face, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, face, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, face, Shannon Co., S. Dakota

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

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Agapostemon melliventris, F, side, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, side, Shannon Co., S. Dakota
Agapostemon melliventris, F, side, Shannon Co., S. Dakota

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Yet another Agapostemon, this one was collected in the southern remote portions of Badlands National Park in South Dakota within the Pineridge Indian ReservationCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

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Agapostemon nasutus, m, back, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, back, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, back, Bagaces, Costa Rica

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

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Agapostemon nasutus, m, face, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, face, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, face, Bagaces, Costa Rica

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

close up of image
Agapostemon nasutus, m, right, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, right, Bagaces, Costa Rica
Agapostemon nasutus, m, right, Bagaces, Costa Rica

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

Gliding in from Costa Rica comes a moderalely large, moderately green bee. An Agapostemon nasutus. There are a lot of the these bright green bees out there...Not just in C.R. but throughout the Americas. Beautiful, and once you start paying attention, quite common. But are there any songs written about them? No. Poems? Zero. Green Bee Secret Societies?

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Agapostemon sericeus, F, Back, MD, PG County
Agapostemon sericeus, F, Back, MD, PG County
Agapostemon sericeus, F, Back, MD, PG County

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

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Agapostemon sericeus, F, Face, MD, PG County
Agapostemon sericeus, F, Face, MD, PG County
Agapostemon sericeus, F, Face, MD, PG County

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

The least common of the Eastern Agapostemon bee species. It shows up regularly, but almost always in ones and twos rather in the numbers seen by at least A. virescens and in sandy areas A. splendens. Collected in P.G. County, Maryland and photographed by Wayne Boo.

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Agapostemon sericeus, f, face, Pr. George's Co., MD
Agapostemon sericeus, f, face, Pr. George's Co., MD
Agapostemon sericeus, f, face, Pr. George's Co., MD

East of the Mississippi River there are 4 species of Agapostemons. The largest of the metallic green Sweat Bees. In some places they can be extremely abundant. This species, however, is never abundant, but exists throughout its range in a here and there sort of way. Regularly occurring, but never dominating.

East of the Mississippi River there are 4 species of Agapostemons. The largest of the metallic green Sweat Bees. In some places they can be extremely abundant. This species, however, is never abundant, but exists throughout its range in a here and there sort of way. Regularly occurring, but never dominating.

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Agapostemon sericeus, M, back, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, back, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, back, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

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Agapostemon sericeus, M, face, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, face, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, face, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

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Agapostemon sericeus, M, side, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, side, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland
Agapostemon sericeus, M, side, Pr. Georges Co., Maryland

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families.

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Agapostemon species, U, back, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, back, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, back, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

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Agapostemon species, U, face, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, face, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, face, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

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Agapostemon species, U, side, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, side, Dominican Republic
Agapostemon species, U, side, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

Dominican Republic, The only described all black Agapostemon in the Caribbean is from Cuba. (A. obscuratus). Collected in November of 2012. This is either A. obscuratus and a new record for Hispaniola or a new species.

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Agapostemon splendens, f, faceside, anne arundel, md
Agapostemon splendens, f, faceside, anne arundel, md
Agapostemon splendens, f, faceside, anne arundel, md

Another bee associated with deep sandy soils. This one also found in a study sand pit reclamation in Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Amazing to think that such metallic green bees are all around us having done their business for millions of years.

Another bee associated with deep sandy soils. This one also found in a study sand pit reclamation in Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Amazing to think that such metallic green bees are all around us having done their business for millions of years.

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Agapostemon splendens, f, head, anne arundel county, md
Agapostemon splendens, f, head, anne arundel county, md
Agapostemon splendens, f, head, anne arundel county, md

Another bee associated with deep sandy soils. This one also found in a study sand pit reclamation in Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Amazing to think that such metallic green bees are all around us having done their business for millions of years.

Another bee associated with deep sandy soils. This one also found in a study sand pit reclamation in Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Amazing to think that such metallic green bees are all around us having done their business for millions of years.

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Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, back
Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, back
Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, back

Hermaphrodite! (aka a gynandromorph) This Agapostemon texanus or angelicus (species can't be determined here) is part male and part female. This happens in I think all animals and I have seen about 5 of these after looking at about 400,000 bee specimens. This one was brought in by Tim McMahon after he collected it in Arizona.

Hermaphrodite! (aka a gynandromorph) This Agapostemon texanus or angelicus (species can't be determined here) is part male and part female. This happens in I think all animals and I have seen about 5 of these after looking at about 400,000 bee specimens. This one was brought in by Tim McMahon after he collected it in Arizona.

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Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, face
Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, face
Agapostemon texanus.angelicus, gynandromorph, NM, Hidalgo co, face

Hermaphrodite! (aka a gynandromorph) This Agapostemon texanus or angelicus (species can't be determined here) is part male and part female. This happens in I think all animals and I have seen about 5 of these after looking at about 400,000 bee specimens. This one was brought in by Tim McMahon after he collected it in Arizona.

Hermaphrodite! (aka a gynandromorph) This Agapostemon texanus or angelicus (species can't be determined here) is part male and part female. This happens in I think all animals and I have seen about 5 of these after looking at about 400,000 bee specimens. This one was brought in by Tim McMahon after he collected it in Arizona.