[Entomology • 2016] Taxonomic Revision of Perdita subgenus Heteroperdita Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), with Descriptions of Two Ant-like Males

[A-B] Perdita (Heteroperdita) pilonotata Timberlake
[C-E]  Perdita (Heteroperdita) prodigiosa Portman & Griswold, 2016

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4214.1.1

Utah State University entomologist Zach Portman reports nine, newly identified species of desert bees of the genus Perdita, including two species of ant-like males (pictured), which are completely different in appearance from their mates. 

photo: Zach Portman 

Abstract

Perdita subgenus Heteroperdita Timberlake, a distinctive subgenus of 22 species from the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, all specialists on Tiquilia (Boraginaceae), is revised. Nine new species are described: Perdita (Heteroperdita) desdemona Portman, sp. n., P. (H.) exusta Portman & Griswold, sp. n., P. (H.) hippolyta Portman & Griswold, sp. n. (male previously incorrectly described as P. pilonotata Timberlake), P. (H.) hooki Portman & Neff, sp. n., P. (H.) nuttalliae Portman, sp. n., P. (H.) prodigiosa Portman & Griswold, sp. n., P. (H.) sycorax Portman, sp. n., P. (H.) titania Portman & Griswold, sp. n., and P. (H.) yanegai Portman, sp. n. The following sexes are associated and described for the first time: the male of P. (H.) frontalis Timberlake, 1968, the female of P. (H.) optiva Timberlake, 1954, and the true male of P. (H.) pilonotata Timberlake, 1980. Perdita (H.) fasciatella Timberlake, 1980 is proposed as a junior synonym of P. (H.) sexfasciata Timberlake, 1954. A neotype is designated for P. (H.) pilonotata Timberlake, 1980. Two species in particular, P. prodigiosa and P. pilonotata, are sexually dimorphic with distinctive ant-like males. Information is presented on floral relationships, phenology, and geographic distribution. Identification keys for males and females are provided.

Keywords: Hymenoptera, Apoidea, new species, Tiquilia, synonymy, identification

Perdita pilonotata Timberlake 

Perdita prodigiosa Portman & Griswold, sp. n. 

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Latin prodigiosus, meaning “unnatural,” “wonderful,” or “prodigious” due to the bizarre features of the male

Perdita rhodogastra is gathering pollen from Tiquilia latior. Desert bee of the Perdita genus collecting pollen from a matted crinklemat plant near southern California's Salton Sea. Utah State University entomologist Zach Portman reports new, newly identified species of the bee genus in the Dec. 23, 2016, issue of  Zootaxa.

photo: Zach Portman/Utah State University 

Perdita rhodogastra Timberlake

Portman, Zachary M., John L. Neff and Terry Griswold. 2016. Taxonomic Revision of Perdita subgenus Heteroperdita Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), with Descriptions of Two Ant-like Males.
Zootaxa. 4214(1); 1–97.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4214.1.1

'Ant-like' bees among new desert species identified by USU entomologist http://phy.so/401705817 via @physorg_com

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161227110229.htm