Dear Ecolog, Margarita Lopez-Uribe and I (Bryan Danforth) are conducting a population genetic study of the squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, across its current range in North America (US, Mexico and Canada). Peponapis is specialist squash and pumpkin pollinator that is commonly collected in squash and pumpkin fields. For this project we are seeking samples of as many populations of Peponapis pruinosa as we can get across the entire range of the species. We currently have a good sample of microsatellite loci for the study and our initial results are indicating some very interesting population genetic patterns.
We would like to know if any of the readers of ecolog would be willing to collaborate with us on the sampling of squash bee populations. If so, we would need specimens of bees preserved in 70-95% EtOH for the genetic analysis. Both males and females (between 30-50 specimens per site, if possible) would be ideal. If you are willing to help, please send either myself or Margarita an email (see below). We will ship vials of ethanol for collecting bees and of course I will cover the cost of return postage. We thank you in advance for you time and help. Sincerely, Bryan Danforth ([email protected]) Margarita Lopez-Uribe ([email protected]) --------------------------------------- Bryan N. Danforth, Professor Department of Entomology 3124 Comstock Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-0901 phone: 607-255-3563/FAX: 607-255-0939 email: [email protected] NEW lab website: http://www.danforthlab.entomology.cornell.edu/ NEW CU Insect Collection website: http://cuic.entomology.cornell.edu/ ---------------------------------------
