Perdita californica

(Cresson, 1878)

California Fairy Bee

Perdita californica is a small mining bee in the Andrenidae, commonly known as the California Fairy . The is native to California and Baja California, with two recognized : P. c. californica and P. c. inopina. Like other members of the Perdita, it is a solitary bee. The genus Perdita contains over 700 species, many of which are with narrow plant associations.

Perdita californica ssp. californica by Tom Barnes. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Perdita californica: //pɛrˈdɪtə ˌkæləˈfɔrnɪkə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of the Perdita are among the smallest bees in North America, typically measuring 2-10 mm in length. P. californica can be distinguished from other Perdita by geographic range and subtle morphological features, though precise diagnostic characters require examination. The species lacks the dense hairiness of larger bees such as honey bees or bumble bees.

Images

Distribution

Found in California and Baja California. GBIF records indicate presence in North America and Middle America.

Ecological Role

As a member of the Perdita, this likely functions as a , though specific ecological roles have not been documented for this species.

Similar Taxa

  • Perdita minimaAnother very small Perdita ; P. minima is the smallest known in North America at approximately 2 mm, smaller than P. californica
  • Other Perdita speciesOver 700 exist in the , many with overlapping ranges in California; precise identification requires examination of subtle morphological characters

More Details

Subspecies

Two are recognized: Perdita californica californica (Cresson, 1878) and Perdita californica inopina Timberlake, 1968

Nomenclatural history

Originally described as Macrotera californica by Cresson in 1878; later transferred to Perdita

Tags

Sources and further reading