See details on previous post:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/213335239
Wondering if this is Nomada mr-1. This individual definitely seems to have just two submarginal cells - I lightened and cropped the last photo to better see this. Tiny - around 5mm, I added the photo with the Ceratina for scale. A few of these on Zizia aurea alongside many Andrena ziziae females.
I have other angles if needed.
1000++ nests over the entire base path on a town ballfield. Photo 1 shows the area around 1st base bag. Photo 2 is a closeup of a portion of this same area. Photo 3 is home plate.
Greater number of nests observed in the clay-colored substrate on the base paths compared with the grey substrate on home plate and the pitcher's mound.
A few individuals of Nomada lehighensis were observed parasitizing the nests. See observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/213534760
Huge Butternut on Lake St in St. Albans. Got invited back in the fall to gather nuts! Tons of shells on the ground, and has a resident squirrel :)
all over the place on Lyonia mariana. Usually see little or nothing on this plant aside from Xylocopa punching holes in all the flowers. Are the other Lyonia specialists ever on mariana, or just ligustrina?
Investigating Andrena asteris nest. Several dozen patrolling nesting aggregation in bare sand.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181612164
from specimens here - maybe even this individual? The only Lasioglossum s.s. that we picked up in the general area for the whole week
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.
Surprising for me. All over on Dasiphora fructicosa; rather late date. Flowering phenology of Dasiphora varies from place to place, can be as early as June (often August-September in fens around here). Wide vertex and apical areas of tergites, fairly dense punctures on scutum (vs. virginiana). Det confirmed with voucher specimens. Seems these guys and virginiana are probably most plausible Trachandrena in August-September in the northeast...
For the prey below
I think, will check - does this seem right @steverobinson97? Yellow pronotal lobes. Saw a couple females here on Helianthus decapetalus alongside Andrena aliciae
Eggs on Pear tree leaves
On lanceleaf coreopsis
Keyed cleanly through DL but seems much blacker than the limited references I can find. Yellow spots only present on T2. Simple mandibles.
In association with Andrena nigrihirta: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172270264
9.5 mm. ex Kalmia angustifolia. Collected by Nick Dorian @beesearcher and Max McCarthy @mmccarthy98 .
8 mm. ex Kalmia angustifolia. Collected by Nick Dorian @beesearcher and Max McCarthy @mmccarthy98 .
On Kalmia angustifolia.
ID from vouchers; field impression like miniature bucephala. On Kalmia angustifolia. Scopal hairs are dark, but she’s carrying a lot of pollen.
Finally tracked this one down! One female observed for many minutes collecting pollen from pinxter azalea in a swamp. No other Andrena visited these flowers, although several halictids did, including a few Dialictus that did collect pollen as well. This was a really cooperative individual and I have many more photos if other angles are needed.
I tried to find this species at this site last year but found the azalea was pollen-depleted in the afternoon. So I managed to get out there before noon this time!
The Empire State Native Pollinator Survey did not appear to have any records of this species in Onondaga Co.
NOTE THE BEE RIDING THE DRAGONFLY
One male collected off of willow. Broad gena with right angle margin, prominent basal mandible tooth, strongly decussate mandibles, mostly shiny almost flat clypeus, S6 not reflexed, tessellated scutum with indistinct but well-separated pits, F1 almost equal to F2.
Many females today, 1 male; a parasite of Andrena barbara at this aggregation.
Inside dried fig from Turkey. More details on my blog: https://colinpurrington.com/2023/01/some-insects-i-found-inside-dried-turkish-figs-from-trader-joes/.
very small; I suspect this is N. parva. Much Potentilla and various Ericaceae here - I imagine Panurginus and/or Andrena ziziaeformis is probably around here at this date. Very cloudy during my visit though and activity was generally crummy.
Yet another rubicundus from that day, for the screwy antenna. Not sure if this was a defect, injury, or ailment. (Not expecting anyone to ID this one, I just thought it was interesting.)
on the surface of the snow. 2.5 cm long
First of two just like this today
I think. The fine mesopleural hairs may be visible in the fourth picture. Otherwise, DiscoverLife narrowed me to this and cressonii, and the latter does not appear to have records in upstate NY.
Resting on a leaf of Physalis philadelphica.
On the left, with male L. coriaceum
Interesting behavior: appears to be attempted theft of pollen from the bumblebee worker by the honeybee. The honeybee was repeatedly landing on the bumblebee for at least a minute, and actually followed the bumblebee to a second flower on the bull thistle plant. On looking at the photos, it appears the honeybee worker was targeting the pollen clumps on the corbicula. She was not successful in removing an entire clump but did seem to be getting some of it off.
After looking through Triepeolus species on BugGuide, I'm wondering if this might be Triepeolus eliseae. I have additional photos if they'd be helpful, but unfortunately only the one (included here in this entry) that shows the bee from the rear - and it's somewhat blurry as the bee was spinning on the flower when I snapped that picture, and it flew away a few seconds later. Bee found on rudbeckia, back yard.
comptoides/communis, tbd; on Rhus copallinum
Came tumbling down out of the tree above me and landed in the grass!
So, this is a polyergus bilateral gynandromorph! ½ worker caste (red), ½ alate (black). The mandibles, eyes, single wing, and antennae are the more obvious caste traits reflected in each half of this individual. Found them shortly after leaving the colony possibly (I found one a few feet away).
See: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124878696
& https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124879042
known from specimens here. Did not notice Deerberry flowering (or at all); the Panurginus exclusively visited Gaylussacia bigeloviana, buzzing loudly to remove pollen.
9 mm. Netted hovering sand along with Andrena bradleyi.
9.5mm long, from abdomen to forehead, measured on 2nd photo. I went through all the available photos and descriptions on Discover Life, and this was the best match.
https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Nomada+bethunei
at porch light. i didn't set up any black lights because I thought it would rain.
@beeboy One of the Nomada males associated with Andrena geranii. Wish I'd spent a little more time on these guys, there were quite a few of them. About average size for a Nomada. From what I can see in my photos only T2-3 have yellow markings, the face is extensively black with perhaps some yellow in the paraocular area and a lot of silver pile (posted bad photo of face), pygidium notched. I have also posted another individual.
@beeboy The other Nomada individual associated with A. geranii. Can't say for certain if this is the same species, as extent of black on the face seems to be much less, colors bolder overall, but then again one can't often trust mere color patterns in this genus.
found on elderberry in mixed forest—based on Coccinellidae of N. America (Gordon), it seems more likely that it is this species than H. pratensis due to range (H. deludens range listed as New England to midwest, H. pratensis described as ‘known only to missouri and new jersey,’ but one record (https://eol.org/pages/1174576/media) did show this species in Maine) and body description: H. pratensis was noted to be elongate more like many Brachiacantha, while H. deludens described as ‘extremely convex, rounded’
Does anyone know what does this to beech?
Collected from Kalmia angustifolia, alongside Colletes bradleyi. Do these match a known Epeolus species? We have not been successful in keying them out.
Collected from Kalmia angustifolia, alongside Colletes bradleyi. Do these match a known Epeolus species? We have not been successful in keying them out.