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Painting by Taina Litwak of a new species of tiny parasitic wasp in the genus Perischus. Done in 2011 for Dr. Matt Buffington. The painting starts with a pencil drawing done through the microscope of a dead pinned specimen. Details for this painting were included which only are visible in scanning electron microphotographs, as the species is so very small. The painting itself is done digitally in Adobe Photoshop. The species was first collected in South America in 2010 and is involved with parasitizing a species complex of flies which lay eggs in cucurbit plants (melon, cucumber and squash family).
I am a scientific illustrator on staff with the Systematic Entomology Lab, in the Plant Sciences Institute, ARS, located in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Secretary Vilsack, who was interested in several of my paintings of newly described species of insects that I entered in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2012 Employee Art Exhibit. As I answered his questions, it occurred to me that people may not associate USDA with artistry or illustration and that my job as “Scientific Illustrator” may in fact seem unusual to many.
New species of insects are introduced into the US with alarming regularity. Some have become devastatingly serious agricultural and forest problems. As modern travel and commerce moves species around the globe, it is more important than ever that we know what species occur outside the United States. Three newly named species of bark beetles from the Dominican Republic could be our next destructive invasive species, and we know so little about their biology.
Two paintings by Taina Litwak. Top image is the lateral view of a tiny golden parasitic wasp (Sycophila new species) done for Dr. Michael Gates. The lower image is a newly described species if bark beetle (Licracantha formicaria) done for Dr. Steve Lingafelter. The golden wasp was done to illustrate a publication, a study (being done in Florida) of a complex of wasps and their parasites, which produce of galls on a native species of vine plants. The beetle painting is a lateral view of one of a series of 3 newly discovered species of ant mimic bark beetles from the Dominican Republic.
When I was studying art and biology at university, I had no idea that I would turn my fascination with the natural world and my passion for drawing into a career. I began working as a full-time scientific illustrator in 1983 for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (Department of Defense), working with specimens, microscopes, pen and ink, paints and brushes. The specimens keep coming, the microscopes have gotten better, and now all of my finished work is inked and painted digitally.
Currently, I provide illustration services for 15 research scientists; taxonomic specialists in numerous groups of insects and mites. I support their work describing new species and reclassifying complex groups with my drawings, paintings and photographs, which they publish in peer-reviewed journals, books, and on the web. When a scientist describes a new species he or she also names it. I have the honor of having two species named after me. Being part of the human effort to investigate and document the incredible diversity of life is very satisfying work.
Painting by Taina Litwak of a new species of Soldier fly in the genus Parastratiosphecomyia. This species is from India and it’s a wasp mimic. The larvae are scavengers, nutrient recyclers, which feed under bark. It was done in 2011 for Dr. Norman Woodley. The illustration process starts with a pencil drawing done through the microscope of a dead pinned specimen. The sketches are scanned and the painting itself is done in a fairly traditional manor, but digitally, using Adobe Photoshop. Painting by Taina Litwak of a new species of tiny parasitic wasp in the genus Perischus. Done in 2011 for Dr. Matt Buffington. The painting starts with a pencil drawing done through the microscope of a dead pinned specimen. Details for this painting were included which only are visible in scanning electron microphotographs, as the species is so very small. The painting itself is done digitally in Adobe Photoshop. The species was first collected in South America in 2010 and is involved with parasitizing a species complex of flies which lay eggs in cucurbit plants (melon, cucumber and squash family).
