Anthophora (Micranthophora) estebana Cockerell 1923
Creators: name: Orr, Michael C.
name: Pitts, James P.
name: Griswold, Terry
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apidae
Anthophora
Anthophora estebana

description: Anthophora (Micranthophora) estebana Cockerell, 1923
(Figs. 34B, 35A, 36B, 38A, 40D, 45D, 50D, 55D, 60D, 65D, 70D, 75D)
Anthophora estebana Cockerell, 1923: 81 (holotype: ♂; San Esteban Island, Gulf of California, Mexico; coll. E.P. Van Duzee, 19 Apr. 1921; CASENT, type 940).
Diagnosis. Males may be determined by the following character combination: galea clearly extending past rear of foretrochanter in repose; scape with at least partial yellow maculation, usually fully maculated; scutum shiny but punctured throughout, only rarely with small posteromedial impunctate areas, usually covered by flattened setae; basitibial plate present, distinct; T1–T4 with thin apical appressed setal bands; T5 and T6 with less appressed setae, bands weaker but appressed setae still present; and T7 with clear medial longitudinal carina, with sharp lateral projections, and medial projections long and apically rounded with their texture and thickness abruptly changing near base (Fig. 60D). Females may be determined by the following character combination: galea clearly extending past rear of foretrochanter in repose and only very weakly tessellate if at all, with strong reflections; scutum shiny, but usually appearing dull when setae are present because the punctation is only slightly sparser posteromedially, with exceedingly small impunctate areas if any (Fig. 35A); T1–T4 with appressed setal bands, often interrupted on T4; T4 rim transparent to tan or uncommonly brown, broadly triangular; T5 with appressed setae; anal fimbria brown to black.
Male description. Head: Facial maculations richly yellow. Galea reaching well past foretrochanter in repose, but still clearly closer to foretrochanter than midtrochanter; dark to medium brown; smooth or only very weakly tessellate, with strong reflections. Mandible with inferior tooth unusually expanded and broadly ovular, running about parallel to main blade; maculated from base to start or middle of inferior tooth (Fig. 50D). Labral rim tridentate; fully maculated. Clypeal maculation a low band, not reaching lateral sides though sometimes nearly so, typically filling less than a third the height of the clypeus (Fig. 50D); punctation significantly to moderately sparser within maculation than without. Paraocular area immaculate. Supraclypeal area immaculate. Scape maculated; highly variable, sometimes fully so along length below, but often reduced. Mesosoma: Scutum somewhat tessellate; rarely with impunctate areas, typically weak or obscured by flattened setae if so. Tegula translucent to somewhat transparent, medium brown to tan. Basitibial plate present; strong, distinct. Metasoma: T1–T6 with thin apical appressed setal bands, often weaker on T5–T6 due to thinner appressed setae. Terga strongly tessellate between punctures, dull, only weakly reflective if at all; not apparent through appressed setae. Tergal rims transparent to somewhat translucent, tan to medium brown. Male T7 (Fig. 60D) with distinct but low medial longitudinal carina, often somewhat obscured by roughened surface; lateral projections strongly recurved, sharp; medial projections long, broadly rounded at tips, sides of each parallel. Male S5 (Figs. 38A, 38C) setal arrangement unremarkable, without large, distinctive patches, at most longer along rim. Male S6 (Fig. 38A) clearly medially emarginate. Male S7 (Fig. 65D) with setae absent or nearly so around midpoint of length; widening from midpoint to tip, apical half widest near rounded lateral tips; apical half vaguely resembling owl head, rim roughly flat or slightly rounded outwards. Male S8 (Fig. 70D) lateral projections distinct; medial projection nearly parallel-sided, apically emarginate. Male genital capsule (Fig. 75D) with outer corners, where gonocoxite tips curve inward, marked by obvious flange of about 90 degrees or greater, best seen in profile; from corner to apex, in profile, gonocoxite relatively unmodified, concave or straight; tip, in profile, pointed and weakly curved ventrally, with minor dorsal projection clearly pointed; gonostylus tip position significantly exceeding that of gonocoxite, measured from above along primary axis of latter. Pubescence: See Fig. 55D. Appears medium to dark gray overall. Setae white, except as follows: vertex variable, often without and dark; scutum more often with some intermixed dark; leg inner faces orangish; tergal basal zones dark.
Female similar to male, except: Head: Mandible with inferior tooth ridge-like, usually clearly angled off main blade (Fig. 40D). Labral rim rounded. Clypeal maculation thicker, typically medially pointed upward and filling over half of clypeal height (Fig. 40D). Paraocular area rarely with small maculation. Scape immaculate. Mesosoma: Scutal punctation denser, almost never with even minute impunctate areas, that area usually covered with flattened simple setae. Tegula more often translucent, medium to dark brown. Midtibial spur apically curved; tan to orange. Basitibial plate circular distally, teardropped overall. Metasoma: T1 with slightly more appressed setae throughout; T2–T4 appressed setal bands slightly thicker, often somewhat undulate and sometimes interrupted on T4; T5 with variable amounts of appressed setae, only very rarely absent. T4 impunctate rim of extended length medially, strongly triangular. Anal fimbria strongly triangular, often but not always filling over half of T5 length medially. Pubescence: See Fig. 45D. Vertex typically darker; scutum often with more dark; hindbasitarsal brush orangish light to medium brown; anal fimbria black to dark brown; S5 with limited apicomedial dark, most often hidden beneath light.
Distribution. See Fig. 15. Present in USA: California, Nevada, Arizona; Mexico: Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Sonora. Found most commonly in Californian Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Ecoregional habitance is as follows, based on 229 specimen records: 6 ecoregions total: Mojave Desert (120=52.4%), Sonoran Desert (101=44.1%), California montane chaparral and woodlands (2≤1%), California coastal sage and chaparral (2≤1%), Baja California desert (2≤1%), Great Basin shrub steppe (2≤1%).
Phenology. Recorded from February–November, primarily April–May, far fewer in July–August. Likely bivoltine.
Nesting biology. Unknown.
Floral specialization. Specialist on Asteraceae, plausibly narrowly specialized on Bebbia juncea. Primary recorded visits by 71 females include: Family Asteraceae (96%); Genus Bebbia (76%); Species Bebbia juncea (75%). 112 total floral records from four families include: Asteraceae (37 ♂ 68 ♀): Adenophyllum cooperi 5 ♀, Bebbia juncea 29 ♂ 53 ♀, Bebbia sp. 2 ♂ 1 ♀, Chaenactis sp. 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Encelia virginensis 1 ♂, Gutierrezia sarothrae 1 ♀, Nicolletia sp. 1 ♂, Peucephyllum schottii 1 ♂ 5 ♀, Stephanomeria sp. 2 ♂, Viguiera deltoidea 1 ♀, Viguiera sp. 1 ♀, Fabaceae (3 ♂ 2 ♀): Dalea sp. 1 ♂, Lotus sp. 1 ♀, Prosopis glandulosa 1 ♀, Psorothamnus sp. 2 ♂, Lamiaceae (1 ♂): Salvia dorrii 1 ♂, Loasaceae (1 ♀): Eucnide urens 1 ♀.
Comments. Although Anthophora estebana is considerably more common than the alternatives (A. chihuahua, A. rara), determinations made prior to 2015 should be verified.
Specimens examined: MEXICO: Baja California Norte: 4 mi S of Las Arrastras: 1 ♂, 9 Jun 1967, collector unknown; 52 mi S of San Felipe: 1 ♀, 12 Apr 1960, R.D. Gehring; San Felipe, 25 mi S: 1 ♀, 10 Apr 1960, collector unknown; Baja California Sur: Sierra Placeres, E edge: 1 ♂, 24 Mar 1984, W.J. Pulawski; Sonora: 8 km NW San Carlos, SW side Sierra Aguaje: 2 ♀, 30 Mar–5 Apr 2008, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker; 9 km NW San Carlos, SW side Sierra Aguaje: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 30 Mar–5 Apr 2008, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker; San Esteban Island: 1 ♂, 19 Apr 1921, E.P. VanDuzee. USA: ARIZONA: La Paz County: Quartzsite, 7 mi S: 1 ♀, 24 May 1983, W.J. Pulawski; Mohave County: Bill Williams River Wildlife Refuge: 1 ♀, 23 Jun 2013, M.C. Miner; Boulder Dam: 1 ♂, 28 Apr 1972, F.D. Parker, G.E. Bohart, P.F. Torchio; Pima County: Cabeza Prieta, nr Ajo: 1 ♂, 5 Apr 1988, K.W. Cooper; CALIFORNIA: Imperial County: lower Gavilan Wash: 1 ♀, 7 May 1978, collector unknown; Inyo County: DEVA; Emigrant CG, in wash: 3 ♀, 28 Apr 2013, M.C. Orr; DEVA; Jubilee Pass; hwy 178: 4 ♀, 26 Apr 2013, M.C. Orr; DEVA; Last Chance Mountain, 7.8 air km SE; roadside: 1 ♂, 27 Apr 2013, M.C. Orr; DEVA; Panamint Springs, 9.4 air km E; hwy 190: 1 ♂, 12 Apr 2014, M.C. Orr; Darwin Falls: 1 ♂, 17 May 1970, E.E. Grissell; 1 ♂, 9 Apr 1972, G.E. Bohart; Darwin Falls, Darwin Hills: 1 ♂, 24 Apr 1955, C.L. Hogue; Death Valley National Park; Emigrant Ranger Station, near: 2 ♂, 14 Apr 2014, T.L. Griswold; Death Valley National Park; Jubilee Pass: 1 ♀, 13 Apr 2014, T.L. Griswold; Death Valley National Park; Nevares Spring: 3 ♂, 17 Apr 1965, A.R. Gittins; Keane Wonder Springs: 2 ♀, 25 Apr 2003, T.L. Griswold; Mesquite Spring, 1.5 mi S: 1 ♂, 16 Apr 1993, T.L. Griswold; Panamint Mountains, Surprise Canyon: 1 ♀, 24 Apr 1957, collector unknown; Surprise Canyon: 1 ♂ 1 ♂, 29 Apr 1953, P.D. Hurd; 2 ♂, 9 May 1958, L.A. Stange; 1 ♂, 9 May 1958, R.M. Bohart; 1 ♂, 5 May 1961, F.D. Parker; 1 ♂, 5 May 1961, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♀, 6 May 1961, D.Q. Cavagnaro; Surprise Canyon, Panamint Mountains: 4 ♂ 1 ♀, 29 Apr 1953, P.H. Timberlake; 3 ♂, 22 Apr 1957, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 23 Apr 1957, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♂ 1 ♂, 25 Apr 1957, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♂, date unknown, collector unknown; Titus Canyon: 1 ♂, 16 Apr 1966, F.G. Andrews; Titus Canyon, Death Valley NP: 1 ♂, 22 Oct 2001, T.L. Griswold; Titus Canyon, mouth: 1 ♀, 18 Apr 1993, T.L. Griswold; White Mountains, Batchelder Springs: 1 ♀, 14 Sep 2013, M.C. Orr; Riverside County: Berdoo Canyon: 1 ♀, 14 Jun 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♀, 29 Oct 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♂, date unknown, collector unknown; Big Morongo Canyon: 2 ♀, date unknown, collector unknown; Black Mountain: 1 ♂, 27 Apr 1992, D.K. Faulkner; Box Canyon: 1 ♂, 26 Apr 1952, J.G. Rozen; Carrizo Creek, Santa Rosa Mountains: 1 ♀, 31 May 1963, E.I. Schlinger; Corn Springs Campground, 0.4 km ESE; Corn Springs Wash: 1 ♂ 6 ♀, 9 Apr 2014, M.C. Orr; Coyote Creek, Deep Canyon, Santa Rosa Mountains: 1 ♀, 15 Oct 1963, E.I. Schlinger; Deep Canyon: 1 ♂, 9 Oct 1963, E.L. Schlinger; Deep Canyon, Santa Rosa Mountains: 1 ♂, 28 Mar 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♂, 30 May 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♂, 31 May 1963, collector unknown; 1 ♀, 17 Jul 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 9 Oct 1963, M.E. Irwin; 2 ♂ 6 ♀, 13 Oct 1963, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♀, 15 Oct 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 3 ♀, 15 Oct 1963, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♀ 1 ♀, 28 Oct 1963, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♀ 3 ♀, 12 Nov 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♂ 3 ♀, 12 Nov 1963, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♂, 19 Nov 1963, E.I. Schlinger; 1 ♀, 19 Nov 1963, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♀, 24 Feb 1964, M.E. Irwin; 1 ♂, 24 Jun 1964, E.I. Schlinger; 2 ♀, 1 Jul 1964, collector unknown; Desert Center, 19.7 km NE; hwy 177: 1 ♀, 9 Apr 2014, M.C. Orr; Hayfield: 1 ♀, 4 Jun 1960, R.C. Dickson; Joshua Tree National Park; Pinto Basin; Porcupine Wash: 1 ♀, 24 Aug 2015, M.C. Orr; Mecca, 15.5 km E; Box Canyon: 1 ♀, 27 Oct 2012, Z.M. Portman; Palm Springs: 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 24 Jun 1952, collector unknown; 7 ♂, 11–26 Apr 2011, F.D. Parker, T. McIntyre; 2 ♂, 2 May 2013, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 1 ♀, 2–13 Mar 2014, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 1 ♀, 14 Mar–4 Apr 2014, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 1 ♀, 4–9 Apr 2014, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; Palm Springs, Araby Wash: 1 ♀, 21–28 Apr 2015, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 3 ♂ 1 ♀, 28 Apr–5 May 2015, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 1 ♀, 5–14 May 2015, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; 1 ♂, 17–21 May 2016, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; Palm Springs, Hillside: 1 ♂, 7 Apr 2015, F.D. Parker, T.D. McIntyre; Rt 10, 16 mi E of Indio: 1 ♂, 3 May 1991, K.W. Cooper; S Palm Springs, Palm Canyon Drive at Bogert Trail: 1 ♂, date unknown, collector unknown; Tahquitz Canyon, near Palm Springs: 2 ♂, 22 Apr 1963, F.D. Parker, L.A. Stange; 1 ♂, 22 Sep 1963, F.D. Parker, L.A. Stange; San Bernardino County: 49 Palms Oasis trail, Joshua Tree National Park: 1 ♂, 27–28 Apr 2012, collector unknown; Big Morongo Canyon, San Bernardino Mountains: 1 ♂, 3 May 1969, M.E. Irwin; Fort Piute: 1 ♂, 29 May 1980, T.L. Griswold; Granite Cove, SE: 1 ♂, 24 May 1995, T.L. Griswold; Granite Mountains, Cove Spring: 1 ♂, 31 May 1981, T.L. Griswold; Hole-in-the-Wall: 1 ♂, 8 Jun 1980, T.L. Griswold; Joshua Tree National Park, Fortynine Palms Oasis: 3 ♂, 28 Apr 2012, M.C. Orr; 1 ♂, 28 Apr 2012, Z.M. Portman; Morongo [= Morongo Valley], San Bernardino Mountains: 1 ♀, 26 Apr 1957, R.R. Snelling; Needles: 1 ♂, 3 Apr 1951, P.D. Hurd; Piute Spring: 1 ♀, 29 May 1980, T.L. Griswold; SE corner of Rodman Mountains in canyon: 1 ♀, 14 Sep 2010, G. Pratt; Sheep Corral: 1 ♀, 10 Apr 1995, R. & T. Donotuse Griswold; San Diego County: Banner, 6 mi E: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 26 Jun 1963, W.C. Reische; Borego: 1 ♂, 24 Apr 1955, R.C. Schuster; Box Cun, Anza State Park: 1 ♂, 8 Sep 1955, J.C. Hall; Laguna Mountains: 1 ♀, 11 Jun 1993, R. Parks; San Felipe Rd.: 1 ♀, 15 Apr 1974, collector unknown; Scissors Crossing: 2 ♂, 22 Apr 1981, K.W. Cooper; Tubb Canyon [= Tub Canyon]: 1 ♀, 16 May 1948, N. Crickmer; Yaqui Pass: 1 ♀, 25 Apr 1955, P.H. Timberlake; NEVADA: Clark County: 0.2 mi W Hiko Spr.: 1 ♂ 2 ♀, 27 Apr 2004, E. Ahlstrom; 0.4 mi E Grapevine Spr.: 2 ♀, 22 Jun 2004, D. Skandilis; 13 mi NW Las Vegas: 1 ♀, 17 May 1980, J.G. Rozen, B.L. Rozen; Callville Bay, 2.5 km NW, A: 1 ♂, 12 Mar 1998, T.L. Griswold; Christmas Tree Pass, W: 2 ♂, 6 Jun 1998, F.D. Parker; Deadman Cyn, 2.65 mi W: 1 ♂, 8 Jun 2005, R. Andrus; Eldorado Cyn, 0.39 mi N: 1 ♂, 2 May 2005, R. Andrus; Eldorado Mountains, SW: 4 ♀, 9 Jun 1998, M. Andres, K. Keen; Grapevine Canyon: 4 ♂ 1 ♀, 29 May 1998, T.L. Griswold; Highland Spr, 1.73 mi SW: 1 ♂, 26 May 2005, R. Andrus; Hoover Dam: 1 ♀, 18 May 1970, P.F. Torchio; Juanita Springs Ranch: 1 ♀, 12–14 May 1984, F.D. Parker; Mesquite, 29.1 mi SW: 1 ♀, 2 May 1986, P.F. & D.M. Torchio; Mica Peak, NE: 2 ♂, 7 Jun 1998, T.L. Griswold; Monocline Valley, 2.69 mi SW: 1 ♂, 3 May 2005, D. Allen; Mud Wash: 1 ♂, 27 May 1998, F.D. Parker; Nelson Landing: 6 ♂, 14 Apr 1998, M. Andres, K. Receveur, K. Keen, C. Schultz, T.L. Griswold; Nelsons Landing: 1 ♂, 31 Mar 2005, R. Andrus; 4 ♂, 13 Apr 2005, R. Andrus; 1 ♂, 2 May 2005, E. Ahlstrom; Piute Valley: 1 ♀, 11 Jun 1998, M. Andres, K. Receveur; Riverside, 10.9 km SSW; New Gold Butte Rd: 2 ♀, 16 May 2012, M.C. Orr; Riverside, 11.0 km SSW; New Gold Butte Rd: 1 ♀, 12 May 2014, M.C. Orr; Riverside, 17.3 km S; New Gold Butte Rd.: 4 ♀, 17 May 2012, M.C. Orr; Roman Wash, 4.21 mi SW: 1 ♀, 21 Sep 2005, A. Portoluri; Sacatone Wash: 1 ♀, 29 May 1998, F.D. Parker; 2 ♀, 29 May 1998, T.L. Griswold; 1 ♀, 11 May 2004, T.L. Griswold; 1 ♂, 9 Jun 2005, R. Andrus; Saddle Island, 2.17 mi NE: 1 ♂, 18 Apr 2005, R. Andrus; Spirit Mtn, 1.70 mi SE: 1 ♂, 11 May 2005, D. Allen.
description: Published as part of Orr, Michael C., Pitts, James P. & Griswold, Terry, 2018, Revision of the bee group Anthophora (Micranthophora) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with notes on potential conservation concerns and a molecular phylogeny of the genus, pp. 1-193 in Zootaxa 4511 (1) on pages 61-63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4511.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3770979