Dune Bee - Perdita - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Perdita.

… Aaron Schusteff, 28 November, 2014 - 11:34am

Moved

Moved from Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies.

… John S. Ascher, 15 October, 2012 - 8:55pm

Beautiful photos, Aaron!

I'm certain this bee is a Perdita (note 2 submarginals and truncated marginal cell), and most likely in nominate subgenus, perhaps in zonalis group. If so, except for cleomellae and thelepodii they use Asteraceae.

I noticed that you joined Tom Chester & company exploring the post-monsoonal flower bounty in the Mojave. Must have been amazing! Would have loved to be there, but had grandfatherly family duties. Last week I got as far as Granite Pass finding quite a number of insects in rabbitbrush.

… Hartmut Wisch, 15 October, 2012 - 1:58am

Thanks for the info, Hartmut

And glad you enjoyed the photos. Can't tell you how many times I've enjoyed and admired your many interesting and beautiful images :-)

The trip with Tom & company was wonderful...wish you could have been there. Here's some plant photos from the 2nd day.

… Aaron Schusteff, 16 October, 2012 - 9:13am

Thanks much

for the link to the plant photos!!!
Will get back to your Perdita photos from the Santa Monica Mtns., think from the Circle X Ranch. Would make an interesting spring project, especially if you'd come down to help.
Have to still post my pics of the P. calochorti...

… Hartmut Wisch, 16 October, 2012 - 12:30pm

Interesting post and comments

Hope to see more photos of fall CA bees from both of you

… John S. Ascher, 15 October, 2012 - 8:56pm

Thanks, John

I do have a number of bee (and other hymenoptera) images in the pipeline. Can't wait to post them...when I get the chance.

… Aaron Schusteff, 16 October, 2012 - 9:15am

Good to see your visit, John!

Do you think Perdita sensu stricto is correct? Or too difficult to tell from the photos?
I do have a number of things, including Perdita (Pygoperdita) calochorti Timberlake.
Doug Yanega has seen the specimens.
Aaron has some photos from the Santa Monica Mtns. on BG that may be either male calochorti or something very close. I'd like to get specimens coming spring from that area.

… Hartmut Wisch, 15 October, 2012 - 9:06pm

Cockerellia

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party. The bee is a female in the subgenus Cockerellia. In the third photo you can see the dense scopal hairs on the hind leg as well as the dense, short hairs on the scutum.

The species is likely P. perpulchra, though I would need to double check some reference specimens to be certain.

… Zach Portman, 24 November, 2014 - 4:29pm

Welcome to the party :-)

Glad to have your input here Zach. It's never too late to refine and/or correct info for posts on BugGuide.

I'll move the post to subgenus Cockerellia.

… Aaron Schusteff, 28 November, 2014 - 11:33am