Images

Like islands in general, there are not many species of bees in New Zealand. John Ascher's species of the world lists only 49 and a BIG chunk of them are not native to the islands. This one is native. This is Nesocolletes fulvescens, one of 7 species in Nesocolletes all of whom are found only in New Zealand. Photo by Sydney Price.

New Zealand. A pretty big island group. It has roughly the land mass of Colorado. Bee-wise the comparison ends. Colorado probably has well over 1000 bee species where as New Zealand...but about 50. Here is one. Nesocolletes (an endemic New Zealand genus) fulvescens. This was collected by Mike Turell while visiting. I like the mood of these pictures.

Like islands in general, there are not many species of bees in New Zealand. John Ascher's species of the world lists only 49 and a BIG chunk of them are not native to the islands. This one is native. This is Nesocolletes fulvescens, one of 7 species in Nesocolletes all of whom are found only in New Zealand. Photo by Sydney Price.

Seeds from Nicotiana rustica, Super Glued to the point of a Number 2 insect pin. Note that some seeds were crushed during mailing.

Nomada maculata, Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park in Maine has plenty of bees and is one of the few areas of the country where some understanding of the past bee community has been published, by the Proctor of Proctor and Gamble on Mount Desert Island. Nomada maculata is a nest parasite...mostly likely on some of the larger spring Andrena species.

Nomada affabilis...a very large Nomada. I think this species is almost certainly a nest parasite of bees in the genus Eucera...which is quite a different path from most of the other Nomada which are primarily, though not exclusively, nest parasites of Andrena.

Nomada affabilis...a very large Nomada. I think this species is almost certainly a nest parasite of bees in the genus Eucera...which is quite a different path from most of the other Nomada which are primarily, though not exclusively, nest parasites of Andrena.

This Nomada is a nest parasites of spring Eucera species. It is one of the few groups of Nomada that have decided to parasitize something other than the genus Andrena. This one was found in the southeastern corner of Ohio by MaLisa Spring. photography by Brooke Alexander.

Nomada affabilis a likely nest parasite of Eucera bees, something people still need to determine for sure.

Nomada affabilis a likely nest parasite of Eucera bees, something people still need to determine for sure.

Nomada affabilis...a very large Nomada. I think this species is almost certainly a nest parasite of bees in the genus Eucera...which is quite a different path from most of the other Nomada which are primarily, though not exclusively, nest parasites of Andrena.

This Nomada is also from Washington County in southeastern Ohio. It was also collected by MaLisa Spring and is thought to be a nest parasites of Andrena macra a southern bee. Why are they all stripy and yellow? Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

This Nomada is also from Washington County in southeastern Ohio. It was also collected by MaLisa Spring and is thought to be a nest parasites of Andrena macra a southern bee. Why are they all stripy and yellow? Photographed by Brooke Alexander.

This bee lays its eggs in the nests of Andrena macra. Well not this one because it is a male....but you get the point. MaLisa Springs collected this specimen in Southeastern Ohio. Photograph by Brooke Alexander.

One of the western Nomada bee species, that just barely makes into the East. Unusual in how white some of the markings are on the abdomen. This nest parasite was collected by Elaine Evans in North Dakota.

One of the western Nomada bee species, that just barely makes into the East. Unusual in how white some of the markings are on the abdomen. This nest parasite was collected by Elaine Evans in North Dakota.

One of the western Nomada bee species, that just barely makes into the East. Unusual in how white some of the markings are on the abdomen. This nest parasite was collected by Elaine Evans in North Dakota.

Nomada articulata - A nest parasite of bright green Agapostemons. Most Nomada are nest parasites of Andrena. Not this species. The male is noted for its antenna mods. There is an odd sharp spine underneath the 3rd elongated flagellar segment. Why? Several other Nomada kin have the same thing, so it must be useful.

Nomada articulata - A nest parasite of bright green Agapostemons. Most Nomada are nest parasites of Andrena. Not this species. The male is noted for its antenna mods. There is an odd sharp spine underneath the 3rd elongated flagellar segment. Why? Several other Nomada kin have the same thing, so it must be useful.

Nomada articulata - A nest parasite of bright green Agapostemons. Most Nomada are nest parasites of Andrena. Not this species. The male is noted for its antenna mods. There is an odd sharp spine underneath the 3rd elongated flagellar segment. Why? Several other Nomada kin have the same thing, so it must be useful.