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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343217
Title: Review of Perdita subgenus Procockerellia Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) and the first Perdita gynandromorph

Author
item PORTMAN, ZACHARY - Utah State University
item Griswold, Terry

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/2017
Publication Date: 10/31/2017
Citation: Portman, Z.M., Griswold, T.L. 2017. Review of Perdita subgenus Procockerellia Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) and the first Perdita gynandromorph. ZooKeys. 712:87-111.

Interpretive Summary: Among the 176 genera of bees found in North America from the Arctic through Central America, the genus Perdita is the largest, with 636 species currently known. Many Perdita are still poorly known. Here we studied a group of six species that have been placed in two different subgenera, Allomacrotera and Procockerellia, within Perdita, in order to determine if they were true species, and to understand their evolutionary relationships. This group of species are found in arid parts of the western United States where they nest in the ground and pollinate wirelettuce. Two species were found to be duplicates and were combined with existing species. In addition, Allomacrotera and Procockerellia were found to be so closely related that Allomacrotera was combined with Procockerellia. Pictures and identification resources are provided in order to allow the accurate identification of these species. Finally, a specimen was discovered to be a gynandromorph, or a specimen with both male and female characteristics. This unique specimen is s divided down the middle into male and female halves and is the first gynandromorph found in the genus Perdita.

Technical Abstract: A systematic study of Perdita subgenus Procockerellia Timberlake and the related subgenus Allomacrotera Timberlake results in the synonymy of Allomacrotera with Procockerellia and two specific synonymies: Perdita (Hexaperdita) glamis Timberlake is a junior synonym of Perdita (Procockerellia) stephanomeriae Timberlake, while Perdita (Procockerellia) brachyglossa Timberlake is a junior synonym of Perdita (Cockerellia) imbellis Timberlake. Perdita (Prockerellia) moldenkei Timberlake is moved to subgenus Cockerellia Ashmead. A revised subgeneric diagnosis and key to the three included species is provided. Diagnoses of species are updated with novel characters; distributions and biological data are expanded. A gynandromorph of P. moabensis, the first known in the genus Perdita, is reported.