SWRS Trip, Days 6-7: Rattlers & Puppies 

Our last morning at SWRS. Corey & Jerry struck out on getting some larvae of Sphecodosoma and Calliopsis yesterday, so we opted to check out the site on our way out and hope for some nest-digging luck. We drove out to Animas and, following directions, parked near Sock and Shoe Road just past the upturned beer bottle as a roadside site marker. We found the site fine, complete with Sphaeralcea and Nama flowering and a few bees flying around. We had barely started looking for the nests Jerry found (marked with large rocks - nest relocation is like a treasure hunt!) when Hollis and a Mojave green rattlesnake mutually startled each other. After a couple minutes of racing hearts accompanied by intermittent rattles, our snake friend settled into hiding under a shrub and we happily gave it space. We found the bee nests, but unfortunately the Pogonomyrmex ant colony nearby was no more forgiving of our excavation attempts than they were the day before, trying to attack any soil-disturbing entity nearby. 

Between the ants and the rattlesnake we decided the bee babies weren’t going to come easily, so we hit the road. We made a small stop outside Willcox to collect an early-instar canine to join the Woodard pack. Stripe settled in and napped many many hours on my arm. Thus the trip came to an end, complete with one final stop for Tucson Tamales before coming home. 

In all, it was a very successful trip with larvae collected, collaborations made, selfies taken, and a new lab member. 

Stay tuned for continued nest-finding, and the initiation of Hollis’ new house-turned-bee preserve.

                                                                                                              - Kristal ​