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Photo#24342
Osmia - female
Copyright © 2005 Hartmut Wisch

Osmia - Female
Angeles Crest, ~7000 ft., San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California, USA
July 11, 2005
Size: ~12mm
Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon trichocalyx) is in full flower and lots of insects come shopping. Here I think I caught a Megachilid, an Osmia? Gender?

Images of this individual: tag all
Osmia - female Osmia - female Osmia - female Osmia - female
Contributed by Hartmut Wisch on 16 July, 2005 - 10:57am
Last updated 4 February, 2007 - 7:30pm

I suspect this is subgenus Melanosmia
but am not certain
… John S. Ascher, 11 March, 2009 - 3:22pm

 
Thanks, John,
for the update.
… Hartmut Wisch, 11 March, 2009 - 6:00pm

Osmia or Hoplitis.
I'm pretty sure that both Osmia and Hoplitis have metallic members in those genera. Osmia for sure. Nice images!
… Eric R. Eaton, 18 July, 2005 - 3:31pm

 
Osmia female
There are metallic Hoplitis (Monumetha) in CA, but these are bright metallic, and very slender; the common species is H. fulgida, subspecies playtura. Other far less common species occur at high elevations.

There are also blue metallic Stelis s.str. in CA
… John S. Ascher, 4 February, 2007 - 6:22pm

 
Thanks John,
for your information. This bee is from >7000 ft, so I'll try to get a sample this summer.
… Hartmut Wisch, 4 February, 2007 - 7:59pm

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