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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr1 of 13
The U.S. Geological Survey's Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program, based in Beltsville, Md., has shared a series of incredible close-up photographs of bees and the insects with which they interact. The detailed images are freaky, beautiful and intriguing all at the same time.
Click through to see more.
Above, a spider wasp of the genus Pepsis, also known as a tarantula hawk, found in the central highlands of the Dominican Republic. As its name suggests, the spider wasp preys on spiders. The tarantula hawk has one of the most painful stings in the insect world. Entomologist Dr. Justin Schmidt created the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, which rates the severity of insect stings. Schmidt describes the tarantula hawk's sting as "Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped into your bubble bath."
The female wasp will sting and paralyze a spider, carry it back to her burrow and lay a single egg on the spider's abdomen. After the egg hatches, the larva feeds on the spider, preserving the spider's vital organs. In this way, the larva keeps the spider alive as long as possible, so that the spider does not decompose before the larva is fully developed.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr2 of 13
An Orchard Spider found in Upper Marlboro, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr3 of 13
An unknown variety of horsefly found in Upper Marlboro, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr4 of 13A bee common in Eastern North America found in Boonesboro, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr5 of 13An eggplant tortoise beetle. Living specimens are green.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr6 of 13The endangered Lycaeides melissa samuelis, or Karner Blue butterfly.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr7 of 13
An unknown deer fly found near Bowie, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr8 of 13A jumping spider of unknown species with fluorescent scales.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr9 of 13An Apple Bark Borer moth, Synanthedon pyri, found in Beltsville, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr10 of 13Laphria saffrana, a robberfly, found at Hitchiti Experimental Forest, Ga.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr11 of 13An unknown spider found in a steam tunnel underneath the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Md.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr12 of 13
A pollen-covered bee, species Halictus ligatus, found in Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum.
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Sam Droege/USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab via Flickr13 of 13Next: 13 Incredible Widescreen Animal Photos
A bee, species Megachile fortis, found at Badlands National Park, S.D.