This is Zikanapis elegans. This beautiful bee is closely related to other genera like Ptiloglossa and Caupolicana, with which they share a tribe. I, as well as a few others, managed to collected a few individuals during the bee course! All on Asclepias, which I don’t think they would specialize on.

The beautiful Andrena brevipalpis. This bee was collected on Rhus, which makes sense considering the majority of the collecting events for this species have been from that genus. Thought this one was cool because it’s my second Rhacandrena! Found a few more hiding! Collected those on Amorpha!

What’s up Bluesky! During these dark times it’s best to remember the folks who didn’t get a vote… our native bees. This is Xenoglossa albata, a specialist on Dalea. These are fast, low flying bees that look like dashes of white. I’ve since lost the abdomen to this specimen, but plan on getting more.

A bee most people haven’t seen before. This is Epimelissodes (Brachymelissodes) minima. Until recently, this species on only know from Mexico, but records in Texas and Arizona (my own) have begun popping up. Be on here look out for these beautiful bees next August :)

I figured for my first post I’d start out strong! This the the rare Melissodes tuckeri. I collected a few last year and returned to the site. The coarse integument sculpturing really gives this species away, as well as the general different appearance from Eumelissodes.