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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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Anax junius, side, P.G. County
Anax junius, side, P.G. County
Anax junius, side, P.G. County

Cast skin, Prince George's County Maryland, collected by Richard Orr

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Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, angle
Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, angle
Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, angle

Probably a specialist on bindweed pollen, this group of bees runs from the Southwestern states down into southern South America. Note the expanded femurs of this male, interesting to speculate as to why. From the Packer Lab.

Probably a specialist on bindweed pollen, this group of bees runs from the Southwestern states down into southern South America. Note the expanded femurs of this male, interesting to speculate as to why. From the Packer Lab.

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Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, side
Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, side
Ancyloscelis apiformis, m, paraguay, side

Probably a specialist on bindweed pollen, this group of bees runs from the Southwestern states down into southern South America. Note the expanded femurs of this male, interesting to speculate as to why. From the Packer Lab.

Probably a specialist on bindweed pollen, this group of bees runs from the Southwestern states down into southern South America. Note the expanded femurs of this male, interesting to speculate as to why. From the Packer Lab.

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Ancyloscelis ursinus, f, side, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, f, side, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, f, side, paraguay

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

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Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, face, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, face, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, face, paraguay

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

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Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, side, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, side, paraguay
Ancyloscelis ursinus, m, side, paraguay

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

We have shots of both the male and the female of this Paraguayan species. The group occurs from the deserts of North America down into southern South America, the males have bulbous and rounded hind femurs, modifications seen in a number of bees species around the world.

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Ancyloscelis, f, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, back, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

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Ancyloscelis, f, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, face, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

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Ancyloscelis, f, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica
Ancyloscelis, f, left, La Cruz, Costa Rica

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

Tim McMahon hunted down this Ancyloscelis in Costa Rica. The long tongue on this relatively small bee is a thing. This group as a whole has an affinity for flowers with long carollas. In particular, the love morning glories. Which is interesting, because you don't really see morning glories in the seed mix for pollinator plots.

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Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, back, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, back, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, back, Middlesex Co, MA

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

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Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, face, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, face, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, face, Middlesex Co, MA

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

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Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, side, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, side, Middlesex Co, MA
Andrena (Parandrena) weilesleyana, f, side, Middlesex Co, MA

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

Andrena wellesleyana is one of the many Andrena species. It is also one of a number of species where the males have extensive yellow on their faces while the females are completely black. I the bulk of species both males and females have black faces.

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Andrena accepta, female, back
Andrena accepta, female, back
Andrena accepta, female, back

Andrena accepta, female, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

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Andrena accepta, female, face
Andrena accepta, female, face
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Andrena anograe, female, face
Andrena anograe, female, face
Andrena anograe, female, face

Andrena anograe, female, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

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Andrena arabis, f, back, beltsville, md
Andrena arabis, f, back, beltsville, md
Andrena arabis, f, back, beltsville, md

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

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Andrena arabis, f, back, Caroline Co., VA
Andrena arabis, f, back, Caroline Co., VA
Andrena arabis, f, back, Caroline Co., VA

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

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Andrena arabis, f, face, beltsville, md
Andrena arabis, f, face, beltsville, md
Andrena arabis, f, face, beltsville, md

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

A specialist on early spring blooming brassicas. This one was collected just a few days ago along a very urbanized and disturbed section of Indian Creek in Beltsville, Maryland. Other than an overstory of trees all the herbaceous material growing seem to be invasive plants.

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Andrena arabis, f, face, Caroline Co., VA
Andrena arabis, f, face, Caroline Co., VA
Andrena arabis, f, face, Caroline Co., VA

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.

Collected by Ellison Orcutt, in Caroline County Virginia this small spring Andrena is a fan girl of mustards, particularly the spring mustards that are native and occur in wooded and semi-shaded areas in the spring, often very early in the spring.