Sphecos - the last gasp (?)

[Stuart Fullerton]

Time marches relentlessly on. Yesterday brough yet another "death" to my
mail box. The last (and final?) edition of Sphecos ( A formum for aculeate
wasp researchers) started by Dr. Arnold S Menke 17 years ago, and
"assistant edited" by Dr. Terry Nuhn (for the last 12 years), both at the
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA,
Washington D.C. It seems that the Mud D'aub (Arnold) retires in a few
short weeks and moves to "Ammophila Acres" just outside Bisbee, Arizona.

Due to time restraints, budget, and "downsizing"(how I hate progress) and
the like at the USDA, Terry finds that he will be unable to go it alone.
This is a publication which I in particular will sorely miss. Even as a
rank of the rankest amateur I have enjoyed keeping up with the news,
learning the latest,and have an almost a complete set (missing i think
about 4 issues) of this publication. It is due to the likes of this,
Mellissa, and many other like publications that I was able to relight the
fire of my love for the study of insects, and get started on my current
project of the development of a collection, and the bug closet here at the
university of central florida and providing a source to students where a
source of enticement did not exist. Every day as I get older I mourn
the passing of the old.

I do truely hope that somewhere out there, there is someone willing, and
able to step into the traces of the Mud D'aub and keep Sphecos going. If
any of you are interested you should contact Arnold and Terry through
snail mail or via e-mail tnuhn at assr.arsusda.gov for further information.

Arnold, Terry (and Nancy the power behind the nest?) I salute you. Sorry I
was unable to get up for a visit while the colony was still strong.

I wish you the best.

Cheers!!, rof

Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Biology Dept. University of Central Florida, Orlando,
Florida, 32816, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu