Perdita frontalis Timberlake
Creators: name: Portman, Zachary M.
name: Neff, John L.
name: Griswold, Terry
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Andrenidae
Perdita
Perdita frontalis

description: Perdita frontalis Timberlake
Figs. 6 B, 7B, 8B, 9B–C, 23E, 24F, 31B, 33, 56E, 58I –J
Perdita (Heteroperdita) frontalis Timberlake, 1968: 12, ♀. Holotype ♀ (CAS type no. 14701), sand dunes, 5.7 miles west of Glamis, Imperial Co., California, USA.
Diagnosis. Both sexes of P. frontalis have the metasoma yellow with dark spots (Figs. 6 B, 7B). They can be distinguished from similar species by the face completely yellow below the level of the antennae (Fig. 8 B), the scutum and scutellum entirely dark, and the lack of a dorso-anterior yellow triangle on the propodeum. The female is unique in having lollipop-shaped yellow maculations on the face behind the antennal scape (Fig. 9 B). However, these maculations are reduced or even absent in many specimens (Fig. 9 C).
The female can be further distinguished by the head only slightly broader than long and the pygidial plate triangular with the apex narrowly truncate (Fig. 24 F). The male can be further distinguished by the pygidial plate narrowly triangular (Fig. 23 E) and the eyes only slightly converging ventrally.
Redescription of female. Length: 3.2 mm. Forewing length: 2.2 mm.
Coloration. Head (Figs. 9 B–C) and mesosoma base color black with metallic greenish-bronze luster; clypeus white with two faint lateral yellow bands; supraclypeal mark yellowish-white, large, transverse; paraocular mark white below, yellow above, completely covering lateral areas below level of facial fovea, continuing up and encircling eye in thin line; subantennal mark yellowish-white; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; frons generally with yellow lollipop-shaped mark behind antennal scape (Fig. 9 B), though these marks may be reduced or entirely absent (Fig. 9 C); scape yellow; antenna yellow, brownish ventrally; pronotal collar and pronotal lobe yellow; metapleuron and anterior propodeum yellow (Fig. 33 A); propodeum yellow laterally and basally on posterior face; ventral surface of mesepisternum yellow medially and posteriorly; legs yellow except brownish on dorsoapical spot on hind femur and basally on anterior face of hind tibia, distal hind tarsi more or less darkened; wing veins tan or light brown; metasoma yellow with multiple lateral and medial dark brown spots and with faint white bands apically on the terga (Fig. 7 B); T1 with pair of sublateral splotches on anterior face and pair of sublateral spots on dorsal face, T2–T5 with five more or less round spots: one small medial spot, two small baso-lateral spots, and two small apico-sublateral spots, medial spot often reduced or absent on basal and apical terga, T2 fovea dark brown, merging with baso-lateral spots; pygidial plate transparent yellow.
Structure and vestiture. Head slightly broader than long (Figs. 9 B–C); face except for clypeus and lower supraclypeal area densely covered by recumbent white pubescence; eyes subparallel, slightly converging ventrally; facial fovea diverging dorsally, oval, extending from slightly above level of antennal socket 2/3 distance to apex of eye, generally obscured by pubescence; mandible simple; labrum quadrate, slightly less than 2X broader than long; disc of clypeus broader than high, convex, apically protruding less than 1 OD from face; lateral extension reaching 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 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 B); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea linear, slightly thickened, 1/2 length of T2; pygidial plate triangular, apex slightly truncate (Fig. 24 F); hairs of prepygidial fimbria slightly thickened, dense.
Description of male. Length: 3.0 mm. Forewing length: 2.1 mm.
Coloration. Head (Fig. 8 B) and mesosoma base color metallic greenish-bronze; clypeus white, yellow on dorsal and lateral margins; supraclypeal mark yellowish-white, large, transverse; paraocular mark white below, yellow above, completely covering lateral areas below level of facial fovea, continuing up and encircling eye in thin line; subantennal area yellow; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; scape yellow; antenna yellow except brownish dorsally; pronotal collar and pronotal lobe yellow; metapleuron and anterior propodeum yellow (Fig. 33 B); ventral surface of mesepisternum yellow medially and posteriorly; legs yellow except slightly darkened on distal hind tarsi; wing veins transparent tan or light brown; metasoma yellow or white with multiple brown spots (Fig. 6 B); T1 with pair of sublateral splotches on anterior and pair of sublateral spots on dorsal face, T2–T6 with five spots: one medial irregular spot, two baso-lateral small spots (spot 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 subquadrate, width and length equal or slightly broader than long (Fig. 8 B); face except for clypeus and lower supraclypeal area densely covered by recumbent white pubescence; eyes subparallel, slightly converging ventrally; mandible simple, extending to far side of labrum in repose; labrum quadrate, nearly 2X broader than long; disc of clypeus broader than high, convex, apically protruding less than 1 OD from face; lateral extension reaching 2/3 distance to base of mandible; head with dense long thickened pubescence ventrally; mesosoma strongly tessellate, impunctate, slightly shiny; pronotal collar slightly impressed, humeral angle weak; mesepisternum and scutum densely covered by combination of recumbent and erect white pubescence; hind tibia with sparse, short, thickened hairs; metasoma equal in width or very slightly wider than mesosoma, suboval, wide basally, tapering apically, widest at T3 (Fig. 6 B); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea narrowly oval, 1/4 length of T2; pygidial plate narrowly triangular, apex rounded, approaching truncate (Fig. 23 E); hairs of prepygidial fimbria slightly thickened, sparse.
Terminalia. S8 (Fig. 56 E) with spiculum short, bifurcate into two thick arms, lateral apodemes not prominent; apical portion slightly convex, quadrate, sides parallel, converging sharply just before apex; dense short hairs ventrally; large circle of thinned cuticle apically. Genital capsule as in Figs. 58 I–J. Gonostyli separated dorsally by shallow U-shape; dorsal lobe of gonostylus reduced, short and broad; ventral lobe of gonostylus short and broad, extending from apex of reduced dorsal lobe with long minute hairs on apical margin; volsella reduced, extending less than half length of penis valve; cuspis short and broad, approaching transverse, lacking spicules; digitus slightly larger than cuspis, broad, evenly rounded on inner margin, lacking spicules; penis valve greatly expanded, broad, fused basally, minutely and evenly spotted dorsally, extending beyond other parts of genitalia, turned sharply outwards at apex; endophallus also expanded with minute spots, extending to level of penis valve, combining with them to form broad, truncate apex.
Floral records. Boraginaceae (12 ♂ 41 ♀): Tiquilia plicata 12 ♂ 41 ♀, Polygonaceae (1 ♀): Eriogonum deserticola 1 ♀.
Phenology. Collected in May, July, and September.
Distribution. Mojave and Sonoran Deserts (Fig. 31 B), USA (and likely Mexico). Dune specialist, currently known only from the Ibex and Algodones Dunes.
Type material examined. Holotype data: ♀, CALIFORNIA: Imperial Co.: sand dunes, 5.7 miles west of Glamis, 25 July 1960, Dickson, on flowers of Eriogonum deserticola (CAS type no. 14701). Paratype data: (2 ♀) CALIFORNIA: Imperial Co.: west of Glamis, 22 June 1960, Dickson, 1 ♀ on Eriogonum deserticola, 1 ♀ on Coldenia plicata [= Tiquilia plicata] (UCRC).
Additional material examined. Total specimens: 12 ♂ 41 ♀. CALIFORNIA: Imperial Co.: Glamis, 5.7 km W (32.98677 -115.13171): 1 ♀, 6 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Glamis, 5.8 km W (32.98662 -115.13252): 2 ♀, 6 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Glamis, 6 km W (32.98619 -115.13394): 2 ♂ 2 ♀, 6 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Glamis, 6.2 km W, sand dunes North of Osborne Overlook (32.98662 -115.13578): 1 ♀, 6 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Glamis, 6.4 km W; Osborne Overlook, N; sand dunes (32.98784 -115.13862): 4 ♂ 17 ♀, 6 May 2012, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; Yuma, 32 km W; sand dunes (32.73256 -114.89861): 1 ♂ 5 ♀, 26 Sep 2013, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; 5 ♂ 12 ♀, 10 May 2014, Z.M. Portman, T. plicata; San Bernardino Co.: Ibex Dune (35.7058 -116.3719): 1 ♀, 1 May 1982, R.W. Rust.
Remarks. While most specimens are from the Algodones Dunes, there is a single female specimen from the Ibex Dunes in Death Valley National Park. Despite relatively intensive collecting at that locality, no other specimens have been collected. The lone female has a relatively dark face, lacking the lollipop-shaped yellow facial markings. It is tentatively assigned to P. frontalis pending additional material, especially males. Nevertheless, the absence of P. frontalis specimens anywhere other than at the Ibex and Algodones dunes, combined with the distance between the dune systems, suggests that at the very least these two populations are genetically isolated.
description: Published as part of Portman, Zachary M., Neff, John L. & Griswold, Terry, 2016, Taxonomic revision of Perdita subgenus Heteroperdita Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae), with descriptions of two ant-like males, pp. 1-97 in Zootaxa 4214 (1) on pages 46-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4214.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/253086