Osiris, Atlatl Godbee, Collected in Colombia
The ancient Egyptian God Osiris was associated with both the afterlife and a greenish skin, and at least indirectly with Honey Bees. While early entomologists liked to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge naming genera according to classical Roman, Greek or, in this case Egyptian deities, the name in this case might be less inaccurate. This is because some Osiris species have a rather afterlifely pallid coloration sometimes verging on yellow-green.
While there are 32 different species of Osiris, distributed from Mexico south to Argentina, almost nothing is known about the biologies of these nest parasites. There is one record of a young Godbee emerging from the nest of pollen carrying bees of the genus Paratetrapedia.
Morphologically, the genus is notable for the length of its sting. It is not just the sting shaft that is elongate. The ventral part of the apical abdominal segment is developed into a long, almost tubular structure through which the sting can project. An interesting additional feature is the enormous development of what is, in almost all other bees, a tiny strut at the base of the sting shaft. In Osiris this forms a very elongate structure that looks like an atlatl or spear-thrower. Perhaps these remarkable embellishments serve to drive the sting home if the cuckoo should invade a nest while the rightful occupant is inside, or be caught in flagrante delicto by the returning mother.
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All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.
Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200
Further in Summer than the Birds
Pathetic from the Grass
A minor Nation celebrates
Its unobtrusive Mass.
No Ordinance be seen
So gradual the Grace
A pensive Custom it becomes
Enlarging Loneliness.
Antiquest felt at Noon
When August burning low
Arise this spectral Canticle
Repose to typify
Remit as yet no Grace
No Furrow on the Glow
Yet a Druidic Difference
Enhances Nature now
-- Emily Dickinson
Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:
Basic USGSBIML set up:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY
USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:
ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf
Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo
or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU
Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
www.photomacrography.net/
Contact information:
Sam Droege
sdroege@usgs.gov
301 497 5840
