Reprinted from: Snelling, R. 1970. STUDIES ON NORTH AMERICAN BEES OF THE GENUS
HYLAEUS. 5. THE SUBGENERA HYLAEUS. S. STR. AND
PARAPROSOPIS (HYMENOPTERA: COLLETIDAE) Contributions in Science, No. 180.
This is one of the more widely distributed species of the subgenus
Paraprosopis. Throughout its range it varies considerably in both size and
structure; one of these variants was named by Cockerell (H. divergens). Metz
reduced the name to the synonymy of H. wootoni, but twenty years later
Cockerell and Sumner resurrected it on the basis of supposed genitalic differences
as well as a slight difference in the shape of the lateral face marks. These
claimed differences will not hold up when one considers the range of variation
in a long series of specimens from many localities. Thus, one finds specimens
with the genitalic characters of H. wootoni and the face marks of H. divergens,
and vice verse. Furthermore, these varying combinations are usually
found to occur together in a single area. The differences noted are therefore
considered merely to be due to variation in the range exhibited by a single
species, H. wootoni. Unless there are other, more stable, characters which 1
have not discovered, there seems to be no reason for the continued recognition
of H. divergens.
I have examined the types of H. cooki, which are in the collection of P. H. Timberlake, and find that the female allotype cannot be separated from
that sex of H. woo toni, although the type male represents a valid species (see
below).
The holotype male of H. perparvus Cockerell and Sumner has been examined.
This specimen is a typical male of H. woo toni. The supposed differences
in the genitalia are due to distortion which resulted from extreme flattening
during the preparation of the slide. The .distal portions of the lateral
wings of the eighth ventrite are curled upward on the mount; this segment is
at the edge of the balsam and difficult to see clearly. The ninth ventrite falls
well within the range of variation attributed to H. woo toni.
Specimens have been examined from the following localities: UNITED
STATES. Nebraska (Monroe Can. in Sioux Co.; UN), Colorado, New Mexico,
Arizona, Utah (Emigration Can. and Big Cottonwood Can. in Salt Lake
Co., Ogden; UCD), Nevada, California, Oregon (Tumalo Res. and Sisters in
Deschutes Co.; UCD, CIS), Idaho (Craters of the Moon, Moscow Mts.,
Starkey, Ahsahke, 8 mi. E., Whitebird, 7 mi. N., Rock Cr., 12 mi. S., in Twin
FaUs Co., Twin Spr., 2.5 mi. W., Emery Can. in Cassia Co.; UCD, UI),
Wyoming (Little Goose Can. near Sheridan; AMNH, CU). MEXICO. Chihuahua
(Madera, San Jose de Babicora; AMNH). CANADA. British Columbia
(Revelstoke; CU).
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