Bluets, or Quaker Ladies. Their delicate loveliness does not quite shouw up in these pictures...forming little clumps in poor soils and a part of spring I wait for each year. Specimen and photos from Helen Low Metzman.
Images
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Houstonia%20caerulaea%2C%203%2C%20Common%20Bluets%2C%20Howard%20County%2C%20Md%2C%20_2018-05-17-17.08.17%20ZS.jpg?itok=YJFZZxLE)
Bluets, or Quaker Ladies. Their delicate loveliness does not quite shouw up in these pictures...forming little clumps in poor soils and a part of spring I wait for each year. Specimen and photos from Helen Low Metzman.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Houstonia%20caerulaea%2C%20Common%20Bluets%2C%20Howard%20County%2C%20Md%2C%20_2018-05-17-17.13.11%20ZS.jpg?itok=aFqLMILa)
Bluets, or Quaker Ladies. Their delicate loveliness does not quite shouw up in these pictures...forming little clumps in poor soils and a part of spring I wait for each year. Specimen and photos from Helen Low Metzman.
Bluets, or Quaker Ladies. Their delicate loveliness does not quite shouw up in these pictures...forming little clumps in poor soils and a part of spring I wait for each year. Specimen and photos from Helen Low Metzman.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Houstonia%20longifolia%2C%20long-leaved%20bluet%2C%20Howard%20County%2C%20MD%2C%20Helen%20Lowe%20Metzman_2017-07-25-14.15.jpg?itok=FnOE_4RA)
Houstonia longifolia, one of the bluets of the region. Tiny flowers have tiny bees going to them. Specimen and photographs by Helen Lowe Metzman.
Houstonia longifolia, one of the bluets of the region. Tiny flowers have tiny bees going to them. Specimen and photographs by Helen Lowe Metzman.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hydrastis%20canadensis%202%2C%20Goldenseal%20flower%2C%20Howard%20County%2C%20MD%2C%20Helen%20Lowe%20Metzman_2017-04-11-15.02.jpg?itok=K58lyrD5)
Goldenseal. Hydrastis canadensis. Another early spring bloomer. A long history as a native medicinal plant on the continent. Helen Low Metzman collected the specimen and took the picture.
Goldenseal. Hydrastis canadensis. Another early spring bloomer. A long history as a native medicinal plant on the continent. Helen Low Metzman collected the specimen and took the picture.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hydrastis%20canadensis%2C%20Goldenseal%20flower%2C%20Howard%20County%2C%20MD%2C%20Helen%20Lowe%20Metzman_2017-04-11-15.09.jpg?itok=1jhMHzo4)
Goldenseal. Hydrastis canadensis. Another early spring bloomer. A long history as a native medicinal plant on the continent. Helen Low Metzman collected the specimen and took the picture.
Goldenseal. Hydrastis canadensis. Another early spring bloomer. A long history as a native medicinal plant on the continent. Helen Low Metzman collected the specimen and took the picture.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20annulatus%2C%20F%2C%20%20Back%2C%20NY%2C%20Hawksnest%20Road%20Junction_2014-07-25-16.57.jpg?itok=1kAsndb0)
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20annulatus%2C%20F%2C%20Face%2C%20NY%2C%20Hawksnest%20Road%20Junction_2014-07-25-17.04.jpg?itok=d2Eox2ud)
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20annulatus%2C%20F%2C%20Side%2C%20NY%2C%20Hawksnest%20Road%20Junctuion_2014-07-25-17.34.jpg?itok=EQnEtYDU)
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
Another set of shots of a masked bee from the Adirondack Mountains. This is a northerish bee...it extends south, but only along the Appalachians. Most of the females (as in this one) have a bit of yellow on the tip of the clypeus. Not uncommon, look for them on flat topped flowers such as Queen Anne's lace. The look is more wasp than bee however.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
The genus Hylaeus is referred to as the Masked Bee group. Most species have yellow vaguely mask-like yellow/white markings on their face. Not this one. It is distinctive in the absence of yellow. Looks like a wasp, does it not? This is because is carries its pollen and nectar loads internally and so the normal hairiness of most bees can be dispensed with.
Hylaeus basalis, female, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Hylaeus basalis, female, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Wow, check out the expanded basal segments of this male Hylaeus basalis. Probably as big as they get in perhaps any bee in the world. Other Hylaeus have expanded segments (sexual selection?) but not like this. This bee is form Isle Royale a very large island in Superior with all sorts of interesting bees.
Wow, check out the expanded basal segments of this male Hylaeus basalis. Probably as big as they get in perhaps any bee in the world. Other Hylaeus have expanded segments (sexual selection?) but not like this. This bee is form Isle Royale a very large island in Superior with all sorts of interesting bees.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20F%2C%20back%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.11.43%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=ZSl-5e8v)
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20F%2C%20face%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.16.50%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=EJqubiWV)
The female of the previous bee.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20F%2C%20side%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.23.42%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=vJvABxcn)
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20M%2C%20back%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.35.21%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=5HKO_bqX)
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20M%2C%20face%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.47.42%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=EEK4ApJT)
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Hylaeus%20floridanus%2C%20M%2C%20side%2C%20Moore%20Co.%2C%20N.%20Carolina_2014-01-08-15.57.16%20ZS%20PMax.jpg?itok=ilr26d8N)
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
In rough translation this would be the "Florida Masked Bee." Tiny, grain of rice things, and usually mistaken for wasps as they carry their pollen internally rather than in their body hairs like other bees. Thus they have reverted to the wasp shape from whence bees came.
New State Record for Maryland, April 2012 Collected on Willow blooms in Somerset County....a very rarely collected bee east of the Mississippi. I don't know any recent records
New State Record for Maryland, April 2012 Collected on Willow blooms in Somerset County....a very rarely collected bee east of the Mississippi. I don't know any recent records
New State Record for Maryland, April 2012 Collected on Willow blooms in Dorchester County....a very rarely collected bee east of the Mississippi. I don't know any recent records
New State Record for Maryland, April 2012 Collected on Willow blooms in Dorchester County....a very rarely collected bee east of the Mississippi. I don't know any recent records