A large bear of an Andrena (A. obscuripennis). This one from a canopy trap in Georgia by one of the US Forest Service's finest, Mike Ulyshen. This is a super distinctive bee, much larger than almost all the other Andrena, dark (nearly black) wings, densely pitted, orange hair, orange legs. Yet it is only in the last 10 years or so that specimens have popped up beyond Georgia and North Carolina. We now have records from Mississippi, Missouri, Maryland (sadly not Michigan, Minnesota or Montana) and parts in between. Despite its rarity (at least in past collections) it was described over 100 years ago by F. Smith in 1853. Apparently Smith (he was always referred to as simply "Smith") was a bit sparse on his descriptions and later Cockerell (everyone knows who Cockerell was) mentions in a publication that transcribes the notes of a post-Smith Englishman (no one knows (in the U.S.) who this Englishman was so I won't complicate the story with his name) was sent to get better descriptions of Smith's original specimens writes: " ...but it is nevertheless true that the determination of Smithian (scientific publications back then were less uptight than they are now...and at times even included poetry...sadly, now forbidden) Andrenae from the description alone is often a matter of great uncertainty." Said Englishman was noted in that publication to complain: "Some specimens are very dirty, and the light in the insect room is not good for minute investigations." Under the additional notes found in this paper investigating Smithian Andrenae are some regarding A. obscuripennis, our Englishman writes: "...wings beautiful violet; pilosity rich red (large grand species)." If one were to compile a current citation index for early scientists who published >100 years ago I think taxonomists would win as we still to this day discuss Smith, Cockerell etc while for other scientists ... the moss has long covered their tombs. Is the long-term importance of taxonomy reflected in current funding priorities...no people it is not.
~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{0}}}}}}~~~~~~~~~~
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
We Are Made One with What We Touch and See
We are resolved into the supreme air,
We are made one with what we touch and see,
With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,
With our young lives each spring impassioned tree
Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.
- Oscar Wilde
You can also follow us on Instagram - account = USGSBIML
Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:
Best over all technical resource for photo stacking:
www.extreme-macro.co.uk/
Art Photo Book: Bees: An Up-Close Look at Pollinators Around the World:
www.amazon.com/Bees-Up-Close-Pollinators-Around-World/dp/...
Free Field Guide to Bee Genera of Maryland:
bio2.elmira.edu/fieldbio/beesofmarylandbookversion1.pdf
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
Bees of Maryland Organized by Taxa with information on each Genus
www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/collections
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:
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