Perdita fallugiae

Timberlake, 1956

Apache Plume Fairy Bee

Perdita fallugiae is a small solitary in the Andrenidae, commonly known as the Apache Plume Fairy Bee. The was described by Timberlake in 1956. It is found in North America and is associated with Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa), a flowering shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the Perdita, it is likely a with a narrow -plant range.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Perdita fallugiae: //pɛrˈdiːtə fæˈluːdʒiˌeɪ//

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Distribution

North America. Specific records indicate presence in the southwestern United States, where its plant Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) occurs.

Host Associations

Fallugia paradoxa - Associated with Apache plume, the plant for which the is named

Ecological Role

Likely functions as a of Fallugia paradoxa, contributing to the reproductive success of this native shrub.

Similar Taxa

Perdita meconisBoth are small Perdita with pollination , but P. meconis is restricted to the eastern Mojave Desert and associated with Arctomecon poppies rather than Fallugia
Other Perdita speciesThe Perdita contains over 800 of small, often -specific mining bees; identification to species level requires examination of morphological characters and knowledge of host plant associations

More Details

Nomenclature

The specific epithet 'fallugiae' derives from Fallugia, the of its plant Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa), indicating a close ecological association.