Happy New Year from Megalopta genalis!

[AdamWargon]

Last year, for New Year 2025, @justyna_kierat posted this cartoon that she created.

I think it’s great, so I used my non-existent photo editing skills to turn the 5 (from 2025) into a 6:

Justyna’s original cartoon is here: https://nonhoneybees.com/2024/12/18/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year-2/

Megalopta genalis is a very interesting species of sweat bee. It is nocturnal, which is what Justyna was talking about in her caption, when she said that it “stays up late”. The “nocturnal” idea is also right in the common name on iNat, which is (as of 2025 Dec 31) “Broad-cheeked Nocturnal-Sweat Bee”.

iNat page here: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/486395-Megalopta-genalis

This bee has an extensive article on Wikipedia, which you can read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopta_genalis

Beest wishes for 2026, everyone!

[spiphany]

However much you like the cartoons, I don’t believe they are CC licensed, so it would be considerate to ask the creator before modifying and reposting them.

Why not share your own thoughts and wishes for the New Year instead of ventriloquizing someone else’s?

[Clip]

Happy New Year!!!

[justyna_kierat]

Haha, what a surprise to see my Megalopta here All the best in 2026 to you and all iNatters :)

I think the issue @spiphany deserves my additional comment (thank you, spiphany, for bringing it up!). First of all I want to say that I’m absolutely OK with what you did in this particular case, even the change of the year looks cute In general, though, spiphany raised very important and overlooked topic that when one wants to publish others’ work (photos, drawings, and similar stuff) they should first ask for permission. It is not necessary when the work is explicitely CC licensed (if there is no info about license, we have to assume there is “full” copyright) or when you share it on social media, using the tools existing for this purpose (so, for example, clicking “share” button on fb is ok and very desirable but downloading a picture and posting it from your account without asking is not, even if you tag the author). Even more problematic is any modification of the illustration, and whereas, as I said, your @AdamWargon update to my cartoon was cute and OK to me, in most cases I would be mad if someone modified my illustration I think that the best advice when using others’ (art)work is - ask first In that way nothing should go wrong. I personally get such requests from time to time and usually I’m happy to agree, sometimes I even provide better-quality versions of a picture someone wants for e.g. educational presentation

Sorry for this lengthy post, I just thought that these issues are not always clear and wtiring more about it helps in better communication between artists and recipients of their work :)