This male was collected from boneset in our bioswale. Unlike the previous specimen I posted this one has the sternites exposed so the two distinct tufts of hair on S6 are visible.
Small, maybe 7 mm. On Symphyotrichum pilosum. Doesn't seem to be Andrena but I think it might be in this family.
This male was collected on boneset in our bioswale next to one of our pollinator gardens. Confirmation or correction greatly appreciated, as I've never encountered this species before. We already have leptocephalus and hyalinatus on campus so it seems the introduced Hylaeus love Syracuse!
This specimen has contrasting ivory facial maculation with yellow markings on the rest of the body. There is ivory on the labrum and an ivory streak on the mandibles. The pits on the mesepisternum are medium in size, not tiny but not crater-large like leptocephalus. There is no carina on the mesepisternum like hyalinatus/punctatus. T1-2 are coarsely pitted. The propodeum is coarsely reticulate, with a central, shelf-like area devoid of texturing. Extensive yellow on hind legs. No swellings on S3.
I was invited to watch the process of banding owls last night with the state ornithologist who lives not far from me. It was pretty neat. We processed seven. I got to help hold and later release these cuties. So adorable. So precious.
There were several females foraging on a patch of goldenrod and many males patrolling. A male I captured appears to be compositarum:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/242419708
But this female clearly is not, lacking the dense hair on the scutum. I went through DiscoverLife with the features that were visible, being fairly conservative given it's hard to measure things like vertex from photos, and I don't have enough experience with specimens of this genus to confidently interpret some characters. It narrowed it down to andrenoides, parvus, and a few others whose seasonality or host plant did not line up. I would appreciate a second opinion on this. I observed this individual mating with a male just prior to the photos and while that photo wasn't in focus the male appeared to have a more regular andrenoides-type facial maculation pattern.
I tried to include photos here that showed the relevant characters - labral process, vertex, scutum pitting, scutellum, etc.
A bunch of these patrolling goldenrod - I did not realize at the time that at least some of them were not andrenoides, and had taken photos just as data vouchers. Upon review I was surprised to find the male I'd captured was something different! I was able to narrow this male down to compositarum or solidaginis on DiscoverLife, and Mitchell's description of coloration on the face and legs seems to match compositarum better. I couldn't find any photos of solidaginis for comparison but it seems to be somewhat more southern. Second opinion much appreciated!
I photographed a female on the same flower patch which is definitely not compositarum, and might be andrenoides but I could not be sure - see other post.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/242419707
Smallish Andrena that quickly visited a patch of asters on a woodland edge. Never saw it again the whole 3 hours I was there. Looks to have dark hair on thorax and perhaps dark foveae. Sadly these are all the angles I got, they don't show much.
About 3.7mm long. found on clover.
Special permission granted from Sheriff's Meadow to survey the pond
Female rainwater killifish from Sheriff's Pond
Rainwater killifish are native to Martha's Vineyard
Flitting around on sandy path, very blue wings.
(should I be seeing this in my area - not many observations listed ?)
Would never let me get close enough for really good photos, alas. Seen in mixed woods with Kalmia and blueberry understory, immediately adjacent to a pond & marsh.
Observed and released from a UV bucket trap (live trap) in a restored, fire-maintained sandplain barrens/oak woodland natural community. Host plant is present, but in small quantities.
Seems like a pathology present??? I could not get closer but those do not look like poison ivy flowers…
See previous observation for notes:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/222159680
Voucher specimen collected in 2024 from the same population as specimens taken in 2023, all on deerberry (no maleberry or blueberry flowering at the time either). Several other individuals were photographed in the hand and released to compare features, all seem consistent with each other and with 2023 specimens (though there was some slight variation in T2 pit size, density was about the same), except for pygidial plate internal area, which seems to vary in the extent of a triangular raised area vs an apical median line and basal raised area, with many individuals leaning more towards triangular or something in-between. Photo of the pygidial plate here was from the living specimen before it was collected. Wondering how this compares to other specimens you all might have.
Great find here yesterday by @nativeplantaddict and noticed by @dmantack. Northernmost confirmed modern record, although @mpelikan might change that soon...
Many males patrolling Kalmia angustifolia; 1 female present early on, but no more seen after that. Closely matches phenology at other known sites.
Good bee site in general. Trip list:
A. arabis? White clypeus, but I haven't seen this species before so I'd appreciate a second opinion. Unsure about facial proportions, and when I put it through DiscoverLife it eliminated arabis when I selected 'absent or obscure pitting' for the scutum, which is what it appears to be here (in any case the scutum and terga appear heavily tessellated). Also, it kind of looks like there's a tiny bit of white on the paraocular areas next to the clypeus on either side, so not sure what that's about. Average-sized, not small like a male ziziae or such. On Cardamine.
I thought that this pool had intricatus but this is bundyi.
MACBio20150430.6.42
Nomada composita, male
interrupta?? they were all over the place, mostly on Eschscholzia
Swollen cloaca
From inside a damp dark basement. It was living in the small gap between the mildewed cement wall and a metal sign
Six females collected from Castanea dentata in a chestnut orchard. All had pure Castanea pollen loads in the scopa & propodeal corbicula. Initial ID by me, verified via specimen by Sam Droege.
Present daily once swamp azalea flowers, no other bees visit these. Two females present 6/21.
On moist, slightly muddy sand on shore of estuary. 2mm body length
Mullet caught in freshwater seine netting up Blackwater Brook in West Tisbury, MA.
The fish was released shortly after the photo was taken.
Caught in early January.
Found on back porch (in January!!). Prob. S. brevicornis, not sure how to discern. Skunk cabbage a few hundred feet away.
Seen in Tiasquam River, near where it flows under Tiasquam Road in WT.
Vernal pool survey authorized by DCR (under Research permit)
Common in Hibiscus moscheutos flowers. This far north/east, suggests A. hibisci? Please correct if not.
Blackback from Happy x Oruzogo family.
I presume - metallic blue abdomen, no appressed hairs on tergites. Wouldn't normally post but it looks like no iNat records for NH yet for this species.