Melissodes subillatus, u, back, Cleveland, OH
![close up of image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/Melissodes%20subillatus%2C%20u%2C%20back%2C%20Cleveland%2C%20OH_2018-05-16-21.54.32%20ZS.jpg?itok=29Ilcxed)
Detailed Description
Asteracea is important. Here is Melissodes subillatus, which is fluffy, but basically about the size of a honey bee. It, like so many Melissodes, and so many bees in general, is an Asteraceae specialist. This species does not appear to be too picky and uses a range of fall composites, but a look inside the pollen loads would be interesting for sure. Also often misidentified as other species. This specimen comes from Cleveland where it was collected by MaLisa Spring. Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200. USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.