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Dianthidium ulkei (Cresson, 1878) Anthidium ulkei Cresson, 1878; Dianthidium davidsoni Cockerell, 1904; Dianthidium ulkei reductum Timberlake, 1943; Dianthidium ulkei var cooleyi Schwarz, 1927; Dianthidium ulkei perterritum Cockerell, 1913; Dianthidium (Dianthidium) ulkei cooleyi Schwarz, 1927, valid subspecies; Dianthidium (Dianthidium) ulkei perterritum Cockerell, 1913, valid subspecies
Life
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Apoidea
Megachilidae
Dianthidium
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| IDnature guides | Identification |
Extracted from THE POLLEN-COLLECTING BEES OF THE ANTHIDIINI OF CALIFORNIA (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) by Grigarick A., A. (1968). | D. ulkei ulkei is a yellow and black subspecies with the extent of yellow maculations varying considerably. These variations were formerly distinguished as subspecies, and the form with the most reduced yellow marking was named reductum. The most highly maculated specimens occur in southern California and were named davidsoni. A clinal effect of increased maculation can be observed from north to south. The color pattern also increases in the Coast Range and Central Valley, but intergradation is so complete that a geographical separation is not possible. D. ulkei perterritum Cockerell (1913b) is found in the southwestern United States and is readily dis-tinguished from ulkei ulkei by having cream or white markings, being somewhat larger than ulkei, and exhibiting slight morphological differences in the male genitalia and tergum VI in the female. D. ulkei cooleyi Schwarz (1927c), was described as a variation of ulkei having reddish-brown legs. An observation of the type female showed that it did not belong to ulkei, but its aged and worn condition precluded a positive assignment to another species. D. ulkei is closely related to the species cfeserforum and platyurum. The male is distinguished from deser-torum by the setation of the genitalia and punctation of tergum VII and from platyurum by sternum VI (fig. 163) and the angle of the gonostylus of the genitalia. The female of ulkei has a frons and meso-scutum that is so sculptured as to appear dull, whereas these areas of platyurum appear polished. D. ulkei is one of the most frequently collected species in California, and one may expect to find it in most of California except the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Collections totaling 274 males and 283 females have been observed from California, with the majority being from the Sierra Nevada and the mountains of southern California. Hicks (1926a) reported ulkei nesting in an old cell of Anthophora neomexicana Cockerell and natural (?) cavities or short tunnels in the soil (1933). Specimens of u. ulkei and u. perterritum have been reared from domicile-type, trap nests, and elderberry stems (similar to those of Medler and Fye, 1956) by Parker and Bohart (1966). These trap nests were placed approximately four feet off the ground in bushes. Hicks presented a detailed description of nest construction and contents in 1926a and 1933. Various combinations of resin alone or in combination with pebbles and bits of vegetation were used. The nests were single or double celled, with one above the other. Cells three deep have been observed in a single tunnel of the trap nests. Hicks estimated the building, provisioning, and attempted concealment of the nest required about 1,000 trips based on the number of articles used in construction. The plant records California Insect Survey taken in this survey show ulkei to be found on members of the family Compositae about three-fourths of the time, but they have also been collected on plants of five other families.
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