Andrena obscuripennis, female, back, Clarke, GA
Andrena obscuripennis, female, back, Clarke, GA
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.
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. Original public domain image from Flickr