Check out the base of the antennae on this bad boy. Technically this segment is called the scape (hmmm, so close to "Snape" but, well, ...nevermind). Under most North American bee models this segment is about the same width as the flagellar segments (some departures in Nomada mostly because the pedicel (the small ball joint segment after the scape) is sometimes recessed into the top of the scape (this is probably too much information, so am stopping here on that super interesting topic)). Across all the bees (that at least come to my mind) scape dimensions are pretty darn similar, even if the flagellar segments are super long (like male Eucera) scapes are scapes and conform in mathematical regular proportion to the bee's head across beedom (males almost always with relatively shorter scapes from some reason (why would this bee given that they have wave around an extra antennal segment and often have long antennae...or, is that the point, short antennae are stronger?). Now that I am thinking about scapes I am thinking that they must mostly be structural, holding up and perhaps containing muscles that control the flagellar segments which are full of bee sensors (Aside: isn't its amazing what you can think of in the absence of evidence?). OK back they Hylaeus, the females all have the basic bee scape shape and size, but the males can vary from regular size to what you see here: something grossly monstrous in size that it just seem wrong. Is this really all about selection by lady Hylaues basalis or is there something else? Unclear. Anyway, as I write this a vision of an entire PhD arises, awaiting the proper person on the spectrum who can sit and measure bee dimensions all day. Photo by Anders Croft. ~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{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:
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
