Halictus tectus, f, montgomery co, md
A relatively new invader to North America. Unlike most of the other invasive bees, this is a ground nester, most of the others nest in holes and likely come over as nest stowaways in shipping containers and dunnage. The first record for this species was downtown Philadelphia right at the rotary in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where Rocky ran up the steps. Halictus tectus is a bee of the most desparate of man-made environments. It loves construction sites, playgrounds, and human wastelands of all kinds. It lives in the Mid-Atlantic right now but will sure spread throughout the continent. Collected by Tim McMahon at a horse stables in Montgomery County, MD.
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