but in the course of making a new page for the species I found that Urban Entomology says the dorsum of the thorax of P. propinqua is black, whereas this one is golden brown (unless the term dorsum does not refer to the entire upper surface of the thorax). Is there that much variation, and if so, what characteristics shown here distinguish this specimen as P. propinqua?

The defining characteristics of this species have to do mostly with thocracic shape and sculpturing on various parts of the body. It is quite possible that this could be a different species, maybe P. paludata. But there are very few records of P. paludata from Utah. Pseudomethoca propinqua is one of the most widespread and diverse species in the western United States. Of the specimens in our insect museum, the thorax coloration ranges from entirely black with orange hair, to black laterally and orange dorsally, to entirely orange. At this point, I would say I am about 90% confident that this is P. propinqua, but it is probably best to keep it at just the genus level.

Thanks Kevin!

:)