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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322149
Title: Association of the female of Perdita (Xeromacrotera) cephalotes (Cresson), and a replacement name for Perdita bohartorum Parker, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

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

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2016
Publication Date: 4/4/2016
Citation: Portman, Z.M., Griswold, T.L., Pitts, J.P. 2016. Association of the female of Perdita (Xeromacrotera) cephalotes (Cresson), and a replacement name for Perdita bohartorum Parker, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Zootaxa. 4097:567-574.

Interpretive Summary: The bee genus Perdita is one of the largest genera of bees, containing 630 species, 127 additional subspecies, and many undescribed species. The genus requires substantial reorganization and review. For example, 250 of the species and subspecies known from only one sex. We focus on cleaning up the subgenus Xeromacrotera, which contains a single species, Perdita cephalotes (Cresson, 1878). Even though P. cephalotes was described over 130 years ago, the female sex has remained unknown. Here, we show that two existing species, known from only the female sex, are actually both females of P. cephalotes. In addition, we remove a duplicate name in Perdita by changing P. bohartorum Parker, 1983 to P. boharti Portman & Griswold, new name.

Technical Abstract: The monotypic Perdita subgenus Xeromacrotera Timberlake is currently known only from the male sex. Here, the female of Perdita (Xeromacrotera) cephalotes (Cresson, 1878) is associated and a diagnosis provided, resulting in two new junior synonyms of P. (X.) cephalotes: Perdita (Procockerellia) excellens Timberlake, 1958, new synonym and Perdita (Cockerellia) autumnalis Timberlake, 1977, new synonym. The true number of maxillary palpi are reported, and updated subgeneric and species diagnoses are provided. In addition, Perdita boharti Portman & Griswold, new name, is designated as a replacement name for the primary junior homonym P. bohartorum Parker, 1983 (not P. bohartorum Timberlake, 1956) and is assigned to the related subgenus Cockerellia Ashmead.