California Poppy Fairy Bee
Perdita interrupta
Andrenidae
Perdita
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Description
Perdita interrupta is a very small (4-5 mm), deep metallic bluish bee with incomplete ivory bands on the second through fifth tergal segments of the abdomen. The abdomen does have a brown background, but often the abdomen appears to be black and ivory. Base of mandibles, clypeus (lower face), labrum (large plate that folds up under the clypeus) and surrounding area is ivory white. Wing has abruptly-ending marginal cell, 2 submarginal cells and a large stigma.
Nectar/
Pollen Plants
A specialist on California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) as a pollen collector. May visit other flowers, including Cryptantha, for nectar.
Habits
Ground nesters, but details not known.
Season
April - June, timed to blooming of California Poppy
