Melissodes rivalis,m,back,Lincoln Co, WY
So many bees so little time. This is Melissodes rivalis. A male. See the long antennae? That makes it one of the long-horned bees....a clade of several bee genera, mostly summer time species, composite lovers. This is but one of about 4000 U.S. species. Each one with a complex life history, supporting pollination, but also supporting specific plant communities, supporting parasites, and playing into the unbelievable (really!) richness of life that we simply glaze over as scenery from our cars. I sometimes wish I could just Vulcan mind meld the excitement I feel about being part of scratching the surface of that landscape with everyone.....This baby from the underappreciated biodiversity hot spot called Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming.
Beauty is truth, truth beauty - that is all
Ye know on earth and all ye need to know
" Ode on a Grecian Urn"
John Keats. Original public domain image from Flickr