Anthidium scudderi
Encyclopedia
Anthidium scudderi is an extinct species
of mason bee
in the Megachilidae
genus Anthidium
. The species is solely known from the late Eocene, Chadronian
stage, Florissant Formation
deposits in Florissant, Colorado
, USA. Anthidium exhumatum is one of only four extinct species of mason bees known from the fossil record, and with Anthidium exhumatum
, one of two species from the Florissant Formation.
collection as specimen "No. 11381". The additional specimen, along with the three A. exhumatum fossils are currently residing in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
paleoentomology collections at Harvard University
. A. scudderi was first studied by Theodore Cockerell
with his 1906 type description being published in the journal Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The specific epithet "scudderi" was coined by Theodore Cockerell in honor of Samuel Scudder who collected the specimens at Florissant.
with two possible light stripes. Though not definitive the light stripes may have been a reddish. The abdomen in contrast is light in tone, possibly yellow in life, with the posterior edges of each segment darkening into a distinct stripe. There are indications of a possible subbasal band running along the abdomen in the subdorsal region. Due to preservation the antennae and legs are not visible in the specimen. The general coloration is similar to the modern Anthidium bernardinum, now a jr synonym of Anthidium placitum
. The dark colored forewings of A. scudderi are 8 millimetre (0.31496062992126 in) in length and notably hairy in the basal region. The marginal cell of the wing is larger than in the related Anthidium exhumatum. Given the overall the coloration and structure of the wings, both A. scudderi and A. exhumatum have been placed in the genus Anthidium.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of mason bee
Mason bee
Mason bee is a common name for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. They are named from their habit of making compartments of mud in their nests, which are made in hollow reeds or holes in wood made by wood boring insects....
in the Megachilidae
Megachilidae
The Megachilidae are a cosmopolitan family of solitary bees whose pollen-carrying structure is restricted to the ventral surface of the abdomen...
genus Anthidium
Anthidium
Anthidium is a genus of bees often called mason or potter bees, who use conifer resin, plant hairs, mud, or a mix of them to build nests. They are in the family Megachilidae which is cosmopolitan in distribution and made up of species that are mostly solitary bees with pollen-carrying scopea that...
. The species is solely known from the late Eocene, Chadronian
Chadronian
The Chadronian age within the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology is the North American faunal stage typically set from 38,000,000 to 33,900,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to fall within the Eocene epoch...
stage, Florissant Formation
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a United States National Monument in Teller County, Colorado, that is noted for its fossils. It is located in a mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak and holds spectacular remnants of prehistoric life...
deposits in Florissant, Colorado
Florissant, Colorado
Florissant is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Teller County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 104.Florissant, Colorado, was named after Florissant, Missouri, the hometown of the founding family...
, USA. Anthidium exhumatum is one of only four extinct species of mason bees known from the fossil record, and with Anthidium exhumatum
Anthidium exhumatum
Anthidium exhumatum is an extinct species of mason bee in the Megachilidae genus Anthidium. The species is solely known from the late Eocene, Chadronian stage, Florissant Formation deposits in Florissant, Colorado, USA...
, one of two species from the Florissant Formation.
History and classification
The species is known only a single fossil, the holotype, number "No. 2002", is a single specimen of indeterminate genus, originally part of the Samuel Hubbard ScudderSamuel Hubbard Scudder
Samuel Hubbard Scudder was an American entomologist and palaeontologist.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Scudder may be most widely known for his essay on the importance of first-hand, careful observation in the natural sciences...
collection as specimen "No. 11381". The additional specimen, along with the three A. exhumatum fossils are currently residing in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
The Museum of Comparative Zoology, full name "The Louis Agassiz Museum of Comparative Zoology", often abbreviated simply to "MCZ", is a zoology museum located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of three museums which collectively comprise the Harvard Museum...
paleoentomology collections at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. A. scudderi was first studied by Theodore Cockerell
Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell
Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell was an American zoologist, born at Norwood, England, and brother of Sydney Cockerell. He was educated at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, and then studied botany in the field in Colorado in 1887-90...
with his 1906 type description being published in the journal Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The specific epithet "scudderi" was coined by Theodore Cockerell in honor of Samuel Scudder who collected the specimens at Florissant.
Description
The holotype of Anthidium scudderi, while incomplete, is approximately 15 millimetre (0.590551181102362 in) in length but is missing up to 5 millimetre (0.196850393700787 in) of the abdomen tip. The body length and width is noted to probably be larger than in life due to crushing during fossilization. Both the head and thorax are black with possible light patterning, with a large lighter patch on the vertex, the clypeus mostly light, and the mesothoraxMesothorax
The mesothorax is the middle of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the second pair of legs. Its principal sclerites are the mesonotum , the mesosternum , and the mesopleuron on each side...
with two possible light stripes. Though not definitive the light stripes may have been a reddish. The abdomen in contrast is light in tone, possibly yellow in life, with the posterior edges of each segment darkening into a distinct stripe. There are indications of a possible subbasal band running along the abdomen in the subdorsal region. Due to preservation the antennae and legs are not visible in the specimen. The general coloration is similar to the modern Anthidium bernardinum, now a jr synonym of Anthidium placitum
Anthidium placitum
Anthidium placitum is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter, carder, or mason bees.-Synonyms:Synonyms for this species include:*Anthidium bernardinum Cockerell, 1904*Anthidium herperium dentipygum Swenk, 1914...
. The dark colored forewings of A. scudderi are 8 millimetre (0.31496062992126 in) in length and notably hairy in the basal region. The marginal cell of the wing is larger than in the related Anthidium exhumatum. Given the overall the coloration and structure of the wings, both A. scudderi and A. exhumatum have been placed in the genus Anthidium.