Megachile pugnata pomona, m, face, Mariposa, CA
A large hole nesting leaf cutter. This is a male Megachile pugnata (subspecies pomona) from Yosemite. Check out the greatly expanded pale segments of the front legs. These are used in mating and lain over the females eyes. People make up all sorts of stories with that information, but we really don't know that details about why that is a useful feature. A number of Megs have the same altered legs and many have just plain old legs, so different strategies are equally effective, if mysterious. From Claire Kremen's group. Photo by Sydney Price.
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