Images

Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida - only about 6mm in length, notice characteristic sharp bend in mandibles. Doug Inkley from National Wildlife Federation has given this one the common name Mr Miyagi.

Fort Mantanzas has more cool bees to share with use from a tiny coastal monument run by the park service along the upper coast of Florida. This time more junior bees in the genus Perdita. Photography by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Fort Mantanzas has more cool bees to share with use from a tiny coastal monument run by the park service along the upper coast of Florida. This time more junior bees in the genus Perdita. Photography by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Fort Mantanzas has more cool bees to share with use from a tiny coastal monument run by the park service along the upper coast of Florida. This time more junior bees in the genus Perdita. Photography by Sierra Williams, photoshopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

You never know what you are going to run into. This is Perdita bradleyi. A very uncommon bee and only the second record I know of for Maryland or any of the surrounding states. Found by Don Harvey and then Tim McMahon on Jug Bay Wetlands Reserve in Anne Arundel County.

You never know what you are going to run into. This is Perdita bradleyi. A very uncommon bee and only the second record I know of for Maryland or any of the surrounding states. Found by Don Harvey and then Tim McMahon on Jug Bay Wetlands Reserve in Anne Arundel County.

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida. A good place to find bees as well as forts. This long-tongued mini-bee was found there.

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

New Vermont Species Record. This little tiny bee is a specialist on a plant that most people pull out of their gardens, Physalis, or Ground Cherry, this plant has a number of specialists associated with it and, we should think about it as something to plant in our gardens!

Another Reason that Weeds Have Value: In this case the weed is Physalis, tomitillos or ground cherries. Native to North America they are usually considered weeds unless they are one of the edible varieties, yet, they host several native bees who can only live on Physalis pollen, moving this weed in my mind a bit more to the good side of the ledger book.

Another Reason that Weeds Have Value: In this case the weed is Physalis, tomitillos or ground cherries. Native to North America they are usually considered weeds unless they are one of the edible varieties, yet, they host several native bees who can only live on Physalis pollen, moving this weed in my mind a bit more to the good side of the ledger book.

Another Reason that Weeds Have Value: In this case the weed is Physalis, tomitillos or ground cherries. Native to North America they are usually considered weeds unless they are one of the edible varieties, yet, they host several native bees who can only live on Physalis pollen, moving this weed in my mind a bit more to the good side of the ledger book.

A lovely male Perdita from Fort Matanzas National Monument along the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Something so tiny that most would not call it a bee, but so very well designed in its geometries and colors. Picture by Sierra Williams, shopping by Elizabeth Garcia.

Little tiny bees from the Petrified Forest National Monument. Perdita are often, if not always, plant specialists and there are mannnnnnnnyyyyy of them, all small and often with enough quirks that putting a name on them can be difficult in the deserts of the Southwest.

Little tiny bees from the Petrified Forest National Monument. Perdita are often, if not always, plant specialists and there are mannnnnnnnyyyyy of them, all small and often with enough quirks that putting a name on them can be difficult in the deserts of the Southwest.

Little tiny bees from the Petrified Forest National Monument. Perdita are often, if not always, plant specialists and there are mannnnnnnnyyyyy of them, all small and often with enough quirks that putting a name on them can be difficult in the deserts of the Southwest.

Perdita luteola, Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park

Perdita luteola, Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park

Perdita luteola, female