Perdita maculosa Timberlake

Perdita maculosa Timberlake

Figs. 6 C, 7D, 8C, 9D, 23H, 24I, 37, 39, 56H, 59A–B

Perdita (Heteroperdita) maculosa Timberlake, 1958: 378, ♂♀. Holotype ♀ (CAS type no. 14594), Oasis, Riverside Co., California, USA.

Diagnosis. Both sexes have the metasoma yellow with brown spots (Figs. 6 C, 7D). They can be distinguished from similar species by the lack of a yellow band on the metapleuron and contiguous area of the anterior propodeum (Fig. 37), though rarely with metapleuron partly yellow. Some related species often have a reduced yellow band; in these cases the metapleural area is generally brown and lacks the metallic sheen that is present in P. maculosa in this area. Both sexes of P. maculosa also lack a yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly on the propodeum, the scutum and scutellum are dark, and the lateral face marks are generally transverse.

The male can be further distinguished by the face with dark marks below the level of the antennae, head wider than long (Fig. 8 C), facial markings creamy white, and fore and mid tibiae with prominent dark marks. The female can be further distinguished by the head broader than long (Fig. 9 D) and pygidial plate with apex pointed (Fig. 24 I).

Redescription of female. Length: 3.2 mm. Forewing length: 1.9 mm.

Coloration. Head (Fig. 9 D) and mesosoma base color black with bluish or greenish metallic luster; clypeus white; supraclypeal mark white, large, transverse; paraocular mark white, transverse, not going above level of summit of clypeus except in thin line along margin of eye to level of top of antennal socket; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; scape tan; antenna light brown dorsally, tan ventrally; pronotal collar black or brown with pair of large, narrowly separated yellow transverse marks dorsoanteriorly; pronotal lobe yellowish-white; metapleuron and anterior propodeum metallic, matching coloration of rest of mesosoma (Fig. 37 A); propodeum lacking yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly; legs yellow except more or less marked with brown dorsally on all femora, medially on hind femur, and distal hind tarsi; wing veins ranging from tan to brown; metasoma yellowish-white with multiple lateral and medial brown spots; T1 marked with brown on anterior face, posterior face with two large apico-sublateral spots (Fig. 7 C); T2–T5 with five spots: one medial large triangular mark, two small baso-lateral spots (spots on T2 more transverse with basal spots often merging into continuous band), and two relatively large, prominent apico-sublateral spots; T2 fovea dark brown; pygidial plate tan.

Structure and vestiture. Head broader than long (Fig. 9 D); face except for clypeus, lower supraclypeal area, and frons covered by dense recumbent white pubescence; eyes subparallel, slightly converging ventrally; facial fovea diverging dorsally, oval, extending from top of antennal socket 2/3 distance to apex of eye, generally more or less obscured by pubescence; mandible simple; labrum quadrate, 1.5X broader than long; disc of clypeus broader than high, convex, apically protruding slightly less than 1 OD from face; lateral extension reaching 2/3 distance to base of mandible; venter of head with abundant inward-facing broadly hooked hairs; mesosoma strongly tessellate, impunctate, slightly shiny; pronotal collar slightly impressed, humeral angle weak; mesepisternum and margins of scutum mostly covered by combination of recumbent and erect white pubescence; fore coxa with abundant, broadly hooked hairs; apex of mid tibia with some short, thick, curved setae; forewing with second medial cell present; metasoma oval, wide basally, tapering apically, widest at T3 (Fig. 7 C); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea linear, moderately thickened, 2/3 length of T2; pygidial plate narrowly triangular, apex sharply pointed (Fig. 24 I); hairs of prepygidial fimbria thin, sparse.

Redescription of male. Length: 2.5 mm. Forewing length: 1.7 mm.

Coloration. Head (Fig. 8 C) and mesosoma base color black with greenish or bluish metallic luster; clypeus yellowish-white; supraclypeal mark white or yellowish white, large, slightly broader than long; paraocular mark white, transverse to subtriangular, often continuing in thin line along eye to level of top of antennal socket; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; scape yellow anteriorly, more or less brown posteriorly; antenna light brown dorsally, tan ventrally; pronotal collar with pair of prominent, narrowly-separated white or yellowish-white transverse marks dorso-posteriorly; pronotal lobe white or yellowishwhite; metapleuron and anterior propodeum metallic, matching coloration of rest of mesosoma (Fig. 37 B); propodeum lacking yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly; legs yellow except dark brown basally on all coxae, all femora except for joints and ventral margin, medioanteriorly on mid and hind tibiae, and distal hind tarsi; wing veins light brown; metasoma yellowish-white with multiple large dark brown spots (Fig. 6 C); T1 with pair of spots laterally on anterior face and pair of spots sublaterally on posterior face, posterior spots sometimes merged together medially; T2–T6 with five spots: one large triangular medial spot, two small baso-lateral spots (spots on T2 more transverse), and two prominent apico-sublateral spots, medial spots and spots on apical terga often reduced or absent; T2 fovea dark brown, merging with baso-lateral spots; pygidial plate transparent yellow.

Structure and vestiture. Head oval, broader than long (Fig. 8 C); face except for clypeus and lower supraclypeal area covered by dense recumbent white pubescence; eyes converging ventrally; mandible simple, not quite extending to opposite side of labrum in repose; labrum quadrate, 1.5X broader than long; disc of clypeus broader than high, convex, apically protruding less than 1 OD from face; lateral extension reaching 1/2 distance to base of mandible; head with moderately dense pubescence ventrally; mesosoma strongly tessellate, impunctate, slightly shiny; pronotal collar slightly impressed, humeral angle weak; mesepisternum and margins of scutum mostly covered by combination of recumbent and erect white pubescence; hind tibia with sparse, short, slightly thickened hairs; metasoma narrower or equal in width to mesosoma, oval, wide basally, tapering apically, widest at T3 (Fig. 6 C); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea linear, slightly thickened, 1/3 length of T2; pygidial plate narrowly triangular, apex bluntly pointed (Fig. 23 H); hairs of prepygidial fimbria slightly thickened, sparse.

Terminalia. S8 (Fig. 56 H) with spiculum bifurcate, lateral apodemes not prominent; apical portion slightly convex, longer than broad, sides parallel, apex strongly truncate; sparse short hairs ventrally; cuticle very slightly thinned in subapical circle. Genital capsule as in Figs. 59 A–B. Gonostyli separated dorsally by narrow V-shape; ventral lobe longer than dorsal lobe, extending beyond level of rest of genitalia with few short hairs on apex; dorsal lobe shorter and wider, extending slightly beyond level of penis valve; volsella extending below level of penis valve; cuspis with multiple spicules on apex; digitus shorter and slightly thicker than cuspis, lacking spicules; penis valve parallel, slightly turned outward at apex; endophallus extending slightly below level of penis valve.

Floral records. Boraginaceae (25 ♂ 19 ♀): Tiquilia plicata 25 ♂ 18 ♀, T. sp. 1 ♀, Zygophyllaceae (1 ♂): Larrea tridentata 1 ♂.

Phenology. Active in the spring (March to May).

Distribution. Mojave and Sonoran Deserts (Fig. 39), USA (and likely Mexico).

Type material examined. Holotype data: ♀, CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co.: Oasis, 29 March 1957, E.J. Schlinger, on Coldenia plicata [= Tiquilia plicata] (CAS type no. 14594). Allotype data: ♂, same data as holotype (CAS). Paratype data: 3 ♂ 1 ♀, same data as holotype.

Additional material examined. Total specimens: 27 ♂ 26 ♀. ARIZONA: Maricopa Co.: Mesa, 8 km NE; Gilbert Bridge (33.48595 -111.7863): 1 ♂, 10 Apr 2014, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Yuma Co.: Yuma, 15 mi NE (32.8637 -114.4773): 1 ♂, 12 Apr 1961, R.&E. Painter. CALIFORNIA: Imperial Co.: Ocotillo, 5.4 km ENE; Coyote Wash (32.75793 -115.94101): 1 ♀, 2 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Riverside Co.: 1.8 km W Wiley’s Well Road, 15 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60277 -114.92055): 1 ♀, 7 Apr 2000, D. Yanega, T. sp.; 18 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60 638 -114.97361): 1 ♂, 15 Apr 1958, P.D. Hurd, T. plicata; 6 ♂ 7 ♀, 15 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. plicata; 2 ♂ 3 ♀, 17 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. plicata; 8 ♂ 1 ♀, 18 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. plicata; Blythe, 18 mi W (33.5642 -114.5633): 1 ♂, 2 Apr 1963, R.M. Bohart; Chuckwalla Valley (33.60835 -115.1258): 1 ♂, 7 Apr 2000, T.L. Griswold, L. tridentata; Hopkins Well (33.6104 -114.995): 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 16 Apr 1958, P.D. Hurd, T. plicata; San Diego Co.: Anza Borrego State Park (33.26051 -116.299): 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 21 Apr 2012, K.J. Hung. NEVADA: Clark Co.: 1.5 mi SSE Jean (35.7611 -115.32): 1 ♂ 7 ♀, 10 May 2005, E. Ahlstrom, S.M. Higbee; Mud Wash (36.463 -115.2507): 2 ♂, 7 May 1998, T.L. Griswold, T. plicata; Red Bluff Spring (36.4633 -114.252): 1 ♀, 25 May 1998, M. Andres, K. Keen, K. Receveur, C. Schultz, T. plicata; Weiser Ridge, 1.89 mi E (36.589 -114.5295): 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 17 May 2005, R. Andrus, T. plicata.

Remarks. There is one female specimen from Clark County, Nevada which is abnormally light and has a light triangle on the propodeum and a light band on the metapleuron and contiguous propodeum, as well as a male and female from Anza-Borrego State Park that have a reduced light triangle and light marks on the metapleuron below the wing bases. However, all of these specimens match P. maculosa in morphological characters.