Perdita yanegai Portman, sp. n.

Perdita yanegai Portman, sp. n.

Figs. 6 H, 7H, 8H, 9I, 32U, 24W, 26B, 55, 57H, 60K–L

Diagnosis. Both sexes of P. yanegai have the metasoma white or yellow with dark spots (Figs. 6 H, 7H). They can be separated from similar species by the following combination of characters: face distinctly broader than long, scutum and scutellum dark, face not entirely yellow below the level of the antenna, metapleuron and anterior propodeum yellow with the light marks largely reduced in the male (Fig. 55 B), and propodeum with yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly.

Perdita yanegai is very similar to P. arenaria; to distinguish these species, refer to the remarks of P. arenaria. Description of female. Length: 3.2 mm. Forewing length: 2.0 mm.

Coloration. Head (Fig. 9 I) and mesosoma base color black with greenish metallic luster; clypeus white; supraclypeal mark white, large, transverse; paraocular mark white, transverse to subtriangular, extending to level of summit of clypeus, sometimes with thin line travelling along eye to level of top of antennal socket; subantennal mark sometimes lightened along margin of antennal socket; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; frons generally with metallic tints throughout; scape white or yellowish-white; antenna more or less brown dorsally, white or tan ventrally; pronotal collar pale yellow, more or less marked with brown along medial suture; pronotal lobe white; metapleuron and anterior propodeum pale yellow (Fig. 55 A); propodeum with narrow white or yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly; ventral surface of mesepisternum pale yellow along posterior margin, yellow sometimes expanded medially; legs pale yellow except distal hind tarsi more or less darkened to brown; wing veins tan or light brown; metasoma white or yellowish-white with multiple lateral and medial dark brown spots (Fig. 7 H); T1 with pair of sublateral splotches on anterior face (splotches often split into two distinct spots) and pair of sublateral spots on dorsal face; T2–T5 with five spots: one large basomedial triangle, two small baso-lateral spots, and two apico-sublateral spots, basal spots on T2 sometimes merging into continuous basal line, T2 fovea dark brown, lateral spots on T4–T5 generally reduced or absent; pygidial plate transparent white.

Structure and vestiture. Head broader than long (Fig. 9 I); face, except for clypeus, lower supraclypeal area, and frons covered by dense recumbent white pubescence; eyes subparallel, slightly converging ventrally; facial fovea diverging dorsally, narrowly 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, 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 1/3 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 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 H); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea linear, slightly thickened, slightly more than 1/2 length of T2; pygidial plate triangular, apex pointed (Fig. 24 W); hairs of prepygidial fimbria thin, sparse.

Description of male. Length: 2.6 mm. Forewing length: 1.8 mm.

Coloration. Head (Fig. 8 H) and mesosoma base color black with greenish or bluish metallic luster; clypeus white; supraclypeal mark white, large, slightly longer than broad; paraocular mark white, ranging from transverse to triangular, generally extending in thin line to level of top of antennal socket; subantennal area typically with yellow along margin of antennal socket, sometimes entirely dark; mandible white, tip reddish; labrum white, sometimes with basomedial dark spot; scape white or yellow; antenna yellow, more or less brownish dorsally; pronotal collar yellow, more or less brown along medial suture, particularly laterally; pronotal lobe yellow or white; metapleuron and anterior propodeum with yellow band reduced, generally only yellow immediately below wing base (Fig. 55 B); propodeum with yellow triangle dorso-anteriorly, triangle rarely reduced or absent; ventral surface of mesepisternum yellow along base of mid and hind coxae; legs entirely yellow except occasionally with faint vestigial dark mark medially on hind tibia (Fig. 55 B); wing veins ranging from tan to brown; metasoma yellowish-white with multiple large dark brown spots (Fig. 6 H); T1 with pair of sublateral splotches on anterior face and pair of sublateral spots on dorsal face; T2–T6 with five spots: one medial spot, two apico-sublateral spots, and two baso-lateral, medial spot often broad or subtriangular, 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 H); face, except for clypeus, lower supraclypeal area, and frons covered by dense recumbent white pubescence; eyes converging ventrally; mandible simple, extending to far 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 1/3 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 and middle of scutum densely 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, suboval, wide basally, tapering apically, widest at T3 (Fig. 6 H); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea linear, slightly thickened, 1/3 length of T2; pygidial plate narrowly triangular, apex narrowly rounded (Fig. 23 U); hairs of prepygidial fimbria slightly thickened, sparse.

Terminalia. S8 (Fig. 57 H) with spiculum bifurcate; lateral apodemes not prominent; apical portion slightly convex; much longer than broad, sides weakly converging to strongly folded over apex, apex flattened on top, forming rough C-shape (with back margin of “C” flattened rather than curved); short hairs ventrally; cuticle thinned in small circle subapically. Genital capsule as in Figs. 60 K–L. Gonostyli separated dorsally by narrow Vshape; gonostylus extending slightly beyond level of penis valve; dorsal lobe of gonostylus relatively short and broad; ventral lobe longer than dorsal lobe with minute hairs on apex; volsella narrow, shorter than gonostylus; cuspis with two spicules on dorsal margin of apex; digitus smaller than cuspis with single spicule on inner margin of apex; penis valve narrow, parallel, slightly expanded and turned outwards at apex; endophallus extending to level of apex of penis valve.

Floral records. Boraginaceae (59 ♂ 24 ♀): Cryptantha sp. 4 ♂, Tiquilia latior 1 ♂, T. nuttallii 6 ♂ 6 ♀, T. palmeri 13 ♂ 5 ♀, T. plicata 25 ♂ 12 ♀, T. sp. 10 ♂ 1 ♀, Zygophyllaceae (1 ♂): Larrea tridentata 1 ♂.

Phenology. Active from March to June.

Distribution. Mojave and Sonoran Deserts (Fig. 26 B), USA (and likely Mexico).

Type material. Holotype data: ♂, CALIFORNIA: San Bernardino Co.: Devils Playground 1850’ Sec 1 T11N R10E, 4 June 1980, T. Griswold (BBSL, accession no. 120002). Paratype data: (19 ♂) CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co.: 1.8 km W Wileys Well Road, 15 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60277 -114.92055): 2 ♂, 7 Apr 2000, D. Yanega, Tiquilia sp. (UCRC); 18 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60638 -114.97361): 1 ♂, 15 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. palmeri (UCRC); Chuckwalla Valley (33.60835 -115.1258): 1 ♂, 7 Apr 2000, T.L. Griswold, Larrea tridentata; Tipton Road, near Windy Point, ~ 1 mi E Snow Creek Rd (33.90833 -116.65222): 3 ♂, 23 Apr 1933, P.H. Timberlake, T. sp. (UCRC); San Bernardino Co.: Kelso Dunes, Devils Playground Wash, Kelso Dunes Road, 4.1 mi E Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve (34.88888 -115.71722): 1 ♂, 19 Jun 1999, D. Yanega, T. plicata (UCRC); 2 ♂, 19 May 2001, D. Yanega (UCRC); 3 ♂, 18 May 2003, D. Yanega, T. plicata (UCRC); Kelso Dunes (34.9768 -115.648): 1 ♂, 20 May 1980, T.L. Griswold; 1 ♂, 26 May 1980, T.L. Griswold. NEVADA: Clark Co.: Bowman Reservoir, E (36.6297 -114.4755): 2 ♂, 21 May 1998, M. Andres, C. Schultz, T. plicata; Hidden Valley (35.8053 -115.2052): 1 ♂, 15 May 1998, M. Andres, K. Keen, K. Receveur, C. Schultz; Laughlin, W (35.1833 -114.6167): 1 ♂, 13 May 1998, K. Receveur, C. Schultz, T. palmeri.

Additional material examined. Total specimens: 65 ♂ 64 ♀. ARIZONA: Yuma Co.: Ligurta (32.6744 - 114.2942): 4 ♂, 13 Apr 1963, G.I. Stage, Cryptantha sp.; Yuma, 10 mi E (32.6691 -114.4682): 1 ♂, 8 Apr 1963, G.I. Stage; Yuma (32.72 -114.62): 2 ♂, 8 Apr 1963, G.I. Stage; 6 ♂, 8 Apr 1963, G.I. Stage, Tiquilia palmeri. CALIFORNIA: Inyo Co.: Marble Canyon Dunes, E skirt (37.1507 -117.8302): 1 ♀, 19 May 1999, R. Andrus, S. Messinger; Marble Canyon Dunes, NE side (37.1507 -117.8302): 3 ♂ 1 ♀, 19 May 1999, R. Andrus, S. Messinger, T. plicata; Marble Canyon Dunes, NE slope (37.1506 -117.8334): 2 ♀, 19 May 1999, R. Andrus, S. Messinger; Riverside Co.: 18 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60638 -114.97361): 1 ♂, 15 Apr 1958, P.D. Hurd, T. palmeri; 1 ♂ 4 ♀, 15 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. palmeri; 19 mi W Blythe, Hopkins Well, Chuckwalla Valley (33.61222 -114.99527): 2 ♂, 15 Apr 1958, P.H. Timberlake, T. plicata; Blythe, 18 mi W (33.5642 -114.5633): 1 ♀, 30 Apr 1972, F.D. Parker, P.F. Torchio, G.E. Bohart; Hopkins Well (33.6104 -114.995): 2 ♀, 16 Apr 1958, P.D. Hurd, T. plicata; Indio (33.7188 -116.2147): 1 ♂, 27 Mar 1960, M. Wasbauer, T. plicata; Thousand Palms (33.8167 -116.3884): 4 ♂, 28 Mar 1967, G.I. Stage, T. sp.; W side Wileys Well Road at I-10, 14 mi W Blythe, Chuckwalla Valley (33.60611 -114.90833): 1 ♂, 11 Apr 2001, D. Yanega; 4 ♂ 3 ♀, 11 Apr 2001, J.- W. Kim; San Bernardino Co.: Ibex Dunes, N dune (35.719 -116.381): 1 ♂, 6 Mar 1999, R. Andrus; Ibex Dunes, S tip (35.6878 -116.3726): 3 ♀, 4 May 1999, R. Andrus; Ibex Dunes (35.7093 -116.3752): 4 ♀, 4 May 1999, R. Andrus; Kelso Dunes Rd. (34.8897 -115.7181): 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 25 May 2009, D. Yanega, T. plicata; Kelso Dunes, Devils Playground Wash, Kelso Dunes Road, 4.1 mi E Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve (34.88888 -115.71722): 7 ♂ 26 ♀, 19 May 2001, D. Yanega; 1 ♀, 18 May 2003, D. Yanega, T. plicata; 4 ♀, 25 May 2009, D. Yanega, T. plicata; Kelso Dunes (34.9768 -115.648): 3 ♂, 20 May 1980, T.L. Griswold; 1 ♀, 1 Jun 1980, T.L. Griswold, T. sp.. NEVADA: Clark Co.: Bowman Reservoir, E (36.6297 -114.4755): 3 ♀, 21 May 1998, M. Andres, C. Schultz, T. plicata; Cottonwood Cove (35.4875 -114.6944): 1 ♂, 4 May 1998, K. Receveur, C. Schultz, T. latior; Glendale, 20 mi W (36.7919 -114.8676): 1 ♂, 29 Apr 1973, F.D. Parker, P.F. Torchio; Laughlin, W (35.1833 -114.6167): 3 ♂ 1 ♀, 13 May 1998, K. Receveur, C. Schultz, T. palmeri; Nye Co.: Big Dune, 1.2 km NW (36.66179 -116.60863): 6 ♂ 6 ♀, 29 Apr 2013, M. C. Orr, T. nuttallii; Big Dune, NW tip (36.65679 -116.59651): 12 ♂, 29 Apr 2013, M. C. Orr, T. plicata.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Doug Yanega, who first recognized this species as undescribed.

Remarks. While this species can be separated from P. arenaria in some instances, in others, it is impossible to tell them apart. Both P. yanegai and P. arenaria are so variable in the extent of their light maculations, body size, and relative dimensions of the head that it is difficult to tease apart between-species variation from within-species variation. Additional specimens of both species may help resolve these issues, but it seems clear that there will always be some level of uncertainty when identifying the females.