#bluegun

Osmia grindeliae.  One of many Osmia in North America, most of which are metallic blue, others run bright metallic green, and a few far northern ones are completely black.  This species occupies the landscape from the Rockies to the Coast Ranges of the West.  The group as a whole, is northern in its proclivities with none making it into South America for example.  This picture is the cause of some minor anxiety as Claire Kremen's lab loaned this and other lovely specimens to me and I haven't finished taking all their pictures nor have I returned them, and they have asked, people generally dislike that sort of behavior, but confession allows me to sleep at  night and keep them just a little bit longer.  Photo by Samia Shell.