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Apidae (Bees)
The bee.
Carpenter bee nest
Blooming palo verde tree with honeybee
A native bee
Bee in flower
A leafcutter bee (Megachile) bee making a nest
Megachile resin nest cap
Megachile leaf cap, in progress.
Megachile rock cap
Megachile flat mud cap
Megachile round mud cap
My bee house
An incomplete Megachile cell
Megachile bee looking out after laying eggs.
Megachile capping a cell
Megachile bee building a nest cap
Giant resin glob!
Honey Bee on Fairy Duster
Leaf cutter bee, Megachile sp
Honey bee on palo verde blossoms
Carpenter bee flying
Formicidae (Ants)
Brachymyrmex ants
Brachymyrmex ants, full of root beer
Acromyrmex versicolor female
Ants on my kitchen counter.
Ant invasion!
Ant's geniculate antennae (Acromyrmex versicolor)
Ant tending aphids
Army ant raid
Leafcutter Ants Acromyrmex versicolor
Ants Tending the Herd
Comatose Ants
Ants on Fairy Duster
Mutilidae (Velvet Ants)
Velvet ant, a type of wasp
Pompilidae (Spider Hunting Wasps)
Spider hunting wasp
Dead tarantula hawk
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The Dragonfly Woman 
I just saw the pic of the dead Tarantula hawk. I am saddened. They are one of my favorites. I live in AZ and have a lot of them around my yard. They hang out in the blooming Mexican palo verde trees early mornings in cooler weather. They sound like little air planes flying by. I have had them land on me to rest. Then they fly on their way. They tickle when they walk on my arm. Not too thrilled when they land on my face. I have looked closely and can’t see a stinger so am guessing it is retractable. When the sun hits them just right they are the most beautiful electric dark blue black. They love the prickly pear fruits. Frequently I see only their little rumps sticking out of a ripe fruit. They are so busy chowing down that I can get close and watch and photograph them.
This year 2014 summer is strange not seeing as many “bugs” as usual. Odd Monsoon season this year.
I love the tarantula hawks! They’re spectacular insects. Interesting to hear that the insect population is down this year during the monsoon though. I’ve heard from friends there that the monsoon started early and then stopped for a little while, so maybe that had something to do with it?