Perdita pilonotata Timberlake

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, Zootaxa 4214 (1), pp. 1-97 : 62-65

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4214.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9FAD41E4-36F3-4AE0-B626-6A372E894A59
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6066802
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DA5156-6E37-3802-FF43-FE17FDF86871
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Perdita pilonotata Timberlake
status

Treatment

Perdita pilonotata Timberlake View in CoL

Figs. 14 View FIGURE 14 A–C, 16E, 18F, 23K, 24L, 42, 43A, 56K, 59G–H

Perdita (Macroterella) pilonotata Timberlake, 1980: 6 View in CoL , ♀ (not ♂), 35 miles northeast of Las Cruces , Otero Co., New Mexico, USA . Neotype ♀ ( UCRC 182770 View Materials ). Designation of neotype .

Perdita (Heteroperdita) pilonotata View in CoL ; Danforth, 1996: 691 (change of subgenus).

Diagnosis. The female of P. pilonotata has the metasoma tan with a faint amber cast ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 E). It is very similar to P. hippolyta from which is can be definitively separated by the position of the paraocular lobes: in P. pilonotata they extend parallel to the apical margin of the clypeus ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 E), whereas in P. hippolyta the paraocular lobes are angled down towards the apical margin of the clypeus ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 F). Additionally, P. pilonotata has the face always dark and the metasoma more tan-colored, whereas P. hippolyta can have the face either light or dark ( Figs. 18 View FIGURE 18 D–E) and the metasoma is more orange-colored ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 D). Perdita hippolyta is also similar to P. hooki , but P. hooki has the head much wider head, the white facial markings more well-defined, and the metasoma tesselate and orange.

The male of P. pilonotata can be recognized by its brown or black coloration ( Fig. 42 View FIGURE 42 B) and the deeply impressed pronotal collar which is unique among Heteroperdita. The face lacks a metallic luster, but one is sometimes present on the mesosoma. The head size is variable ( Figs. 14 View FIGURE 14 A–B), but it typically has a quadrate head with small compound eyes, giving it an ant-like appearance. It can be distinguished from P. prodigiosa —the only similar species—by distribution (Chihuahuan Desert, not Mojave Desert), as well as by the shape of the metasoma, which is extremely narrow, almost tubular ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 C), the pygidial plate narrow and squared-off apically ( Fig. 23 View FIGURE 23 K), and in larger males by the distinct, squarish tooth medially on the inner margin of the mandible.

Redescription of female. Length: 2.9 mm. Forewing length: 1.6 mm.

Coloration. Head ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 F) and mesosoma base color black with faint bluish or greenish metallic luster; clypeus, triangular paraocular mark, subantennal mark, and supraclypeal area dark brown, lacking any light maculations; mandible tan, tip reddish; labrum tan or brown; scape brown; antenna brown, more or less lightened ventrally; pronotal collar brown with slight metallic tints dorsally, lacking transverse marks; pronotal lobe brown; metapleuron and anterior propodeum brown, lacking metallic sheen; legs dark brown except lightened to tan on distal tarsi; wing veins dark brown; metasoma base color tan, often with amber cast, T1 with pair of lateral brown splotches, apical terga sometimes darkened apically ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 E); T2 fovea black; pygidial plate brown.

Structure and vestiture. Head broader than long; lateral areas of face covered in dense recumbent white pubescence extending over antennal socket up to top of facial fovea ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 F); eyes subparallel, slightly converging ventrally; facial fovea parallel to eye, narrowly oval, extending from level of tops of antennal socket half distance to apex of eye, generally obscured by pubescence; mandible with small blunt subapical tooth; labrum quadrate, slightly less than 2X broader than long; disc of clypeus broader than high, convex, apically protruding 1 OD from face; lateral extension reaching 1/3 distance to base of mandible; venter of head with abundant inwardfacing broadly hooked hairs; mesosoma strongly tessellate, impunctate, slightly shiny; pronotal collar slightly impressed, humeral angle weak; mesepisternum and margins of scutum sparsely covered with combination of recumbent and erect white pubescence; fore coxa and anterior margin of venter of mesepisternum with abundant, broadly hooked hairs; apex of mid tibia with some short, thick, curved setae; forewing with second medial cell present; metasoma oval, narrow basally, tapering apically, widest at T3 ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 E); terga tessellate and impunctate; T2 fovea short, linear, slightly thickened, 1/2 to 1/3 length of T2; pygidial plate triangular, apex narrow, bluntly pointed ( Fig. 24 View FIGURE 24 L); hairs of prepygidial fimbria thickened, sparse.

Description of male. Length: 2.5 mm. Forewing length: 1.6 mm.

Coloration. Head ( Figs. 14 View FIGURE 14 A–B) and mesosoma base color ranging from light to dark brown, occasionally blackish; metallic luster absent or faint; face lightened to tan below level of antenna, light coloration sometimes extending up to level of medial ocellus in large-headed specimens; mandible tan, tip reddish or brown; labrum tan; scape and antenna uniformly light or dark brown; pronotal collar generally slightly lightened laterally; pronotal lobe tan; scutum, mesepisternum, and propodeum sometimes with metallic tints; legs brown or dark brown, generally somewhat lighter apically; wing veins dark brown; metasoma uniformly light or dark brown, terga somewhat lightened basally ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 C); T2 fovea black; pygidial plate ranging from tan to dark brown.

Structure and vestiture. Head quadrate to subquadrate, slightly broader than long, antenna relatively low on face, vertex prominent ( Figs. 14 View FIGURE 14 A–B); face nearly nude, pubescence well-spaced, minute; frons with scattered minute punctures, tessellation reduced or absent in large-headed specimens; eyes parallel, relatively reduced in size; mandible with broad medial tooth on the inner margin, only prominent in large-headed specimens, mandible length variable, ranging from reaching slightly beyond labrum to nearly base of mandible in large-headed specimens; labrum quadrate, 2X broader than long; disc of clypeus short, broader than high, slightly convex, only slighting protruding apically from face; lateral extension completely folded over in large-headed specimens, extending up to 1/3 distance to base of mandible in small-headed specimens; head with fine, sparse pubescence ventrally; mesosoma strongly tessellate, impunctate, slightly shiny; pronotal collar more or less strongly impressed, humeral angle pointed and prominent; mesepisternum and anterior scutum with very sparse, erect pubescence; hind tibia with sparse, short, thickened hairs; metasoma extremely narrow, almost tubular, narrow at both apices, widest at T3 ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 C); terga faintly tessellate, impunctate, shiny; T2 fovea oval, length two times width, 1/5 length of T2; pygidial plate small, narrow, squared off apically, sometimes shallowly emarginate medially ( Fig. 23 View FIGURE 23 K); hairs of prepygidial fimbria thickened, sparse.

Terminalia . S8 ( Fig. 56 View FIGURE 56 K) with spiculum rounded triangular, lateral apodemes large and blunt, barely protruding; apical portion relatively small with internal medial carina which splits apically forming inflated sphere apically; cuticle noticeably thinned on either side of internal median carina; sides of apical portion strongly convex, appearing short and parallel, ending in acute corners apically; ring of minute hairs ventrally lining apical sphere. Genital capsule as in Figs. 59 View FIGURE 59 G–H. Gonostyli separated dorsally by very deep, narrow U-shape; dorsal lobe of gonostylus large and broad, extending slightly beyond level of rest of genitalia; ventral lobe small, narrow with extremely minute hairs apically; volsella extending to level of ventral lobe of gonostylus; cuspis with multiple spicules on outer margin; digitus slightly shorter than cuspis with single spicule on inner margin of apex; penis valve short, thick, gradually diverging and narrowing apically before sharply diverging at apex; endophallus extending to level of apex of penis valve with pair of slightly sclerotized vertical areas basally.

Floral records. Boraginaceae (6 ♂ 8 ♀): Tiquilia canescens 1 ♂, T. gossypina 2 ♂ 2 ♀, T. hispidissima 1 ♂ 1 ♀, T. mexicana 2 ♂ 5 ♀.

Phenology. June, August, and September.

Distribution. Chihuahuan Desert ( Fig. 43 View FIGURE 43 A), USA and Mexico.

Type material examined. Paratype data: ♀, NEW MEXICO: Otero Co.: 35 miles northeast of Las Cruces , 3,900 ft, 21 August 1962, H.A. Scullen (here designated as neotype, UCRC 182770 View Materials ) . ♂, NEW MEXICO: Valencia Co.: Correo , 15 June 1958, H. & K. Dreisbach ( UCRC 182771 View Materials ) .

Additional material examined. Total specimens: 8 ♂ 11 ♀. MEXICO : Chihuahua: Ojinaga, 52 km W (29.5567 -104.9558): 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 28 Aug 1991, J.L. Neff, Tiquilia hispidissima ; 2 ♂ 2 ♀, 28 Aug 1991, T.L. Griswold, T. gossypina . NEW MEXICO: Eddy Co.: Longview Spring, 0.7km E (32.1007 -104.6137) : 1 ♂, 9 Jun 2010, J.D. Herndon, A. Druk. TEXAS: Brewster Co.: Big Bend National Park, Carlota Tinaja (29.2792 - 103.0347) : 1 ♀, 23 Aug 1999, S.E. Wallace; Lajitas, 2 mi E (29.276 -103.745): 1 ♀, 29 Sep 1999, collector unknown; 1 ♂ 4 ♀, 14 Sep 2004, J.L. Neff, T. mexicana ; Lajitas, 3 mi E (29.2836 -103.7315): 1 ♂, 29 Sep 1999, J.L. Neff, T. canescens ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 14 Sep 2004, J.L. Neff, T. mexicana ; Hudspeth Co.: Indio Mountains Research Station , 25 km S Van Horn (30.77699 -105.01623) : 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 25 Aug 1992, W.P. Mackay.

Remarks. Perdita pilonotata was originally described in the subgenus Macroterella Timberlake (at that time a subgenus of Perdita , but now a subgenus of Macrotera ). Danforth (1996) correctly placed P. pilonotata in the subgenus Heteroperdita. The female and male of P. pilonotata , as originally described by Timberlake (1980) are not conspecific. There female is retained as P. pilonotata while the incorrectly associated male is described in this paper as P. hippolyta , sp. n.

Unfortunately the types of this species are plagued with multiple issues. Timberlake (1980) described P. pilonotata from four specimens: a female holotype, male allotype, male paratype, and female paratype. The holotype female and male allotype have been lost—the holotype has been missing since at least 1996 ( Danforth 1996). The two remaining paratypes are deposited at UCRC; the other museums designated as type repositories for this species (CAS, Michigan State University, and Oregon State University) do not have any specimens. It appears that the missing types issue is not limited to P. pilonotata ; all the types from Timberlake (1980) that were designated to be deposited at CAS were likely lost as well. This includes the following species: P. (Epimacrotera) albomarginata Timberlake, 1980 , P. (E.) pauxilla Timberlake, 1980 , P. (Perdita) brevicornis Timberlake, 1980 , and P. (P.) janzeni Timberlake, 1980 .

The two available paratypes of P. pilonotata —a female and a male—are different species, necessitating the designation of a neotype. The male and female paratypes, while both from New Mexico, were collected at different dates and localities. The female paratype was chosen for the neotype because it was collected at the same collection event as the missing female holotype.