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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320924
Title: An anomalous specimen of Perdita wasbaueri Timberlake with only one antenna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

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

Submitted to: Journal of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2016
Publication Date: 7/16/2016
Citation: Portman, Z.M., Griswold, T.L. 2016. An anomalous specimen of Perdita wasbaueri Timberlake with only one antenna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Journal of Kansas Entomological Society. 89(3):267-269.

Interpretive Summary: Bees with deformities are rarely found in nature. It is therefore surprising that a bee (Perdita wasbaueri) with only one antenna has been found visiting flowers. The absence of a second antenna is not the result of an injury but of a problem in the development of the bee. The presence of the bee on a flower suggests that bees may be able to find and use flowers enough when lacking this important sensory structure.

Technical Abstract: Aberrant bees have long held a fascination to biologists due to their rarity and the insights they offer into development. Here, we report on a specimen of Perdita wasbaueri with only one antenna that has solid cuticle where the other antenna should be. The bee is normal in most other respects and demonstrates that this specimen was able to develop to adulthood and find floral resources with only a single antenna. Other studies documenting morphological anomalies in bees are compared and discussed.