The Originals

Photographs courtesy of the United States Geological Survey Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab.

North America boasts a stunning array of more than 4,000 native bees that play a quiet, integral role in our agricultural and native landscape. These powerhouse pollinators are often too quick or too small to see in detail, but a pause is needed to heed their diminishing numbers. The following is an up-close sampling of the native bees that share our home.

Spring 2017: The Originals — **THISTLE LONG-HORNED BEE** | *MELISSODES DESPONSA*

Pollen, pollen, pollen. This thistle-loving bee is found throughout North America, from North Dakota to Nova Scotia. Although bees carry loads of pollen on their legs, the pollen collected loosely all over the body helps pollinate most plants as well. This bee was collected in Maine during surveys of blueberry fields and surrounding habitat.

RUSTY-PATCHED BUMBLE BEE | BOMBUS AFFINIS
One of the most common species in North America only 20 years ago, this bee is now the newest addition to the Endangered Species List. In the past two decades the population declined by 87 percent. The once robust population, found in 28 states, is now scattered in just 13.

RUSTY-PATCHED BUMBLEBEE | BOMBUS AFFINIS
Queens like this one build nests in the fall before hibernating through the winter, usually underground but in one case in the 70s an intrepid queen built a nest in an abandoned armchair in Canada. With the dramatic habitat decline it is unlikely these bees will recolonize much of their historic Canadian habitat.

AUGOCHLORELLA GRATIOSA
An uncommon bee found in the deep South, this iridescent beauty can vary in hues between green and blue. Spotted in Raleigh, NC.

ANTHOPHORA CALIFORNICA
Digging for gold and treasure, this desert-dwelling bee was spotted pollinating flowers in the arid climate of Hidalgo County, New Mexico.