Panurginus atramontensis, m, left, Prince George's Co, MD
Panurginus atramontensis, m, left, Prince George's Co, MD
An Uncommon (or is it?) Deerberry specialist. If you don't collect bees on Deerberry (Vaccinium staminium) you will never see this bee (Panurginus atramontensis). It only gathers pollen and probably almost all of its nectar from this plant. This plant is around, but often subsumed in the understory of acidic woodlands in the East and blooms only for a few weeks....and this bee is only out for a few weeks. While there are very few records, we have found locations where there are literally 100's of nests. So, plant a deerberry patch and then give it a watch...who knows, you may also get Melitta eickworti...another Deerberry specialist. Photos by Brooke Goggins.
We Are Made One with What We Touch and See
We are resolved into the supreme air,
We are made one with what we touch and see,
With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,
With our young lives each spring impassioned tree
Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.
- Oscar Wilde. Original public domain image from Flickr