lovely insects

The American Bee Survey and Monitoring Program is a project run by biologists from the US Geological Society in Maryland. As part of their work, they create tools to identify the main bee species by recreating accurate and detailed images of the bees, plants and insects that the bees interact with. The biologists set up a mini-studio surrounded by a Styrofoam cooler with a black background to make their macro shots perfect. Here are some photos from this amazing collection.

(Total 20 photos)

1. Euglossa is a male bee from Florida. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

2. Leiobunum flavum is a species of arachnids known as reapers from Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

3. Exomalopsis analis - a bee from the Dominican Republic. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

4. Arrhenodes minutus, attracted by the flashlight of photographer Sam Droge. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

5. Synanthedon pyri moth from Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

6. Xylocopa cubaecola is a female Cuban carpenter bee. Found in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

7. Eggs of the cabbage bug Murgantia histrionica, a common cabbage pest. Found in Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

8. An unknown jumping spider from Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

9. Augochloropsis metallica is a bee from Laurel, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

10. Unidentified species of wasp, Yellowstone National Park. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

11. Buffalo humpback, an unknown species from the genus Ceresa. Picked up in Beltsville, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

12. Chlorion aerarium - blue grasshopper hunter. A wasp found in Cumberland, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

13. Weevil. Unknown species from Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

14. Leucauge venusta, garden spider, Upper Marlborough, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

15. Beetle Gratiana pallidula, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

16. Staphylinidae, an unknown species, found in Upper Marlborough, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

17. Trichiotinus assimilis, common bronze. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

18. Horsefly, an unknown species from Bowie, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

19. An unidentified spider found on March 21, 2013 in a steaming tunnel under the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)

20. Tabanus atratus, black horsefly, Upper Marlborough, Maryland. (CC BY USGS/Sam Droege)