Anthophora (Micranthophora) cockerelli Timberlake, 1937

(Figs. 39E, 44E, 49E, 54E, 59E, 64E, 69E, 74E)

Anthophora cockerelli Timberlake, 1937: 4 (holotype: ♂; Barstow, CA, USA; coll. Timberlake, 6 Oct. 1928, at Cleomella obtusifolia; AMNH, accession 35342).

Diagnosis. This species is unusually distinctive. It is immediately identifiable in males by their yellow facial maculations extending at least up to the antennal sockets (Fig. 49E), and females may be similarly recognized by their facial maculations: clypeus fully maculated or rarely only nearly so, paraocular areas typically maculated up along clypeus to meet with supraclypeus, and supraclypeus fully maculated (Fig. 39E). Males may be otherwise determined by the following character combination: foreleg slightly elongate, especially in femur and basitarsus (Fig. 54E); midleg longer, primarily due to exceptionally elongate basitarsus (Fig. 54E); T3 with or without appressed setae, and T4 onward typically with all dark setae (Fig. 54E); T7 without medial longitudinal carina, lateral projections very reduced and often obscured by setae, and medial projections flattened into broad and weakly concave platform (Fig. 59E). Females may be otherwise determined by the following character combination: galea tessellate, dull; mandible with inferior tooth unusually large, nearing size of main blade tip and clearly angled off it (Fig. 39E); scape strongly maculated along underside; F2 onward yellow to orange below (Fig. 39E); and anal fimbria light, yellowish.

Male description. Head: Facial maculations richly yellow. Galea reaching middle or rear of foretrochanter in repose; light to medium brown; moderately tessellate but less so near base, usually with weak reflections. Mandible with inferior tooth large and clearly triangular, strongly angled off main blade; maculated from base to around middle of inferior tooth (Fig. 49E). Labral rim tridentate; fully maculated. Clypeal maculation complete (Fig. 49E); punctation somewhat sparser apicomedially. Paraocular area maculated; usually complete. Supraclypeal area maculated; complete. Scape maculated; fully along length and width below. Mesosoma: Scutum shiny; with impunctate areas. Tegula transparent, yellow to orange. Male foreleg with femur, tibia, and basitarsus elongate; with unusually long, sparse, simple setae along posterior edge (Figs. 49E, 54E). Male midleg with basitarsus and tarsi longer than in foreleg (Fig. 54E). Male hindleg relatively unmodified, only slightly longer throughout; inner faces with unusually long setal tufts (Fig. 54E). Basitibial plate present but reduced; small and circular, often negligible or obscured by setae. Metasoma: T1 covered in appressed setae; T2 always with some appressed setae; T3 with or without appressed setae; T4 onward typically without appressed setae. Terga moderately tessellate to smooth between punctures, with strong reflections; usually apparent through appressed setae. Tergal rims translucent, medium to dark brown. Male T7 (Fig. 59E) without or with weak medial longitudinal carina, often obscured by setae or punctation; lateral projections reduced to small nubs, typically obscured by setae; medial projections flattened, rim nearly straight but slightly concave to middle. Male S5 resembling Fig. 38D, with dense and dark erect setal patches, but somewhat longer laterally. Male S6 resembling Fig 38A, clearly medially emarginate to a rounded or pointed middle, but shallower overall. Male S7 (Fig. 64E) with setae absent or restricted to sides around midpoint of length; widening from midpoint to tip, apical half widest clearly before rounded lateral tips; apical half vaguely heart-shaped, rim rounded outward, with shallow medial emargination. Male S8 (Fig. 69E) lateral projections absent; medial projection narrowing to tip, apically entire. Male genital capsule (Fig. 74E) with outer corners, where gonocoxite tips curve inward, marked by small bump, best seen in profile; from corner to apex, in profile, gonocoxite with distinct bump in apical half; tip, in profile, minute and rounded, often negligible; gonostylus tip position inferior to that of gonocoxite, measured from above along primary axis of latter. Pubescence: Appears yellow to orange overall, with some black on metasoma. Light setae generally yellow, except white on tibial outer faces, with some dark in following areas: legs dark from femur onward, exclusive of tibial outer faces; terga almost entirely dark where appressed setae absent; sterna primarily dark.

Female similar to male, except: Head: Galea more tessellate, duller. Labral rim rounded. Clypeal maculation rarely absent near tentorial punctures (Fig. 39E). Paraocular area typically immaculate laterally, but reaching supraclypeus along side of clypeus. Mesosoma: Legs unmodified in length (Fig. 44E). Midtibial spur apically curved; orange to near brown. Basitibial plate circular distally, teardropped overall. Metasoma: T1–T4 covered in appressed setae; T5 with extensive appressed setae. T4 impunctate rim of short length medially, often barely visible. Anal fimbria triangular to mound-like, covering third of T5 length medially or nearly sometimes nearing half. Pubescence: See Fig. 44E. Appears yellow to tan overall. Setae yellow to whitish, except as follows: leg inner faces orangish; hindbasitarsal brush light to medium brown; anal fimbria white to orangish; sterna often orangish.

Distribution. See Fig. 10. Present in USA: California, Nevada, likely Arizona. Found almost exclusively in Mojave Desert, especially northern and western portions thereof. Ecoregional habitance is as follows, based on 309 specimen records: 3 ecoregions total: Mojave Desert (307=97.8%), Great Basin shrub steppe (6=1.9%), California montane chaparral and woodlands (1≤1%).

Phenology. Recorded from April–October, primarily summer and fall, most common in August–September. Either bivoltine or emerges quite opportunistically.

Nesting biology. Unknown.

Floral specialization. Reported as a potential specialist on “capers” ( Capparaceae and Cleomaceae) (Moldenke & Neff 1974). Appears true based on known records, primarily visits Cleomella obtusifolia and Oxystylis lutea, and its distribution is apparently linked to these hosts. Primary recorded visits by 110 females include: Family Cleomaceae (69%), Capparaceae (22%); Genus Cleomella (69%), Oxystylis (18%); Species Cleomella obtusifolia (66%), Oxystylis lutea (18%). 164 total floral records from eight families include: Boraginaceae (3 ♂ 4 ♀): Heliotropium curassavicum 3 ♂ 4 ♀, Capparaceae (10 ♂ 24 ♀): Oxystylis lutea 8 ♂ 20

♀, Wislizenia refracta 1 ♂ 4 ♀, Wislizenia sp. 1 ♂, Cleomaceae (37 ♂ 76 ♀): Cleome sp. 1 ♀, Cleomella obtusifolia 34 ♂ 73 ♀, Cleomella oocarpa 3 ♂, Cleomella sp. 2 ♀, Euphorbiaceae (1 ♀): Croton californicus 1 ♀, Fabaceae (2 ♀): Dalea sp. 1 ♀, Prosopis sp. 1 ♀, Loasaceae (2 ♂ 1 ♀): Petalonyx thurberi 2 ♂ 1 ♀, Onagraceae (2 ♂ 1 ♀): Camissonia boothii 2 ♂ 1 ♀, Plantaginaceae (1 ♀): Penstemon fruticiformis 1 ♀.

Specimens examined: USA: CALIFORNIA: Inyo County: Big Pine: 3 ♂, 8 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; 1 ♂, 8 Jun 1937, E.C. VanDyke; Big Pine, 14 mi S: 1 ♂, 21 Jul 1956, J.I. Stage; Big Pine, 3 mi E: 1 ♀, 23 Jun 1971, R.M. Bohart; China Lake, G1 rd: 5 ♂, 25 May 1996, G. Pratt, G.R. Ballmer; China Lake, SE margin: 2 ♀, 13 Oct 1995, G.R. Ballmer; Death Valley Junction: 2 ♀, 24 Sep 1987, T.L. Griswold; 1 ♀, 17 Sep 1993, T.L. Griswold; 8 ♂ 19 ♀, 20 Sep 1993, T.L. Griswold; 3 ♀, 19 Sep 2013, M.C. Orr; Emigrant Canyon: 5 ♀, 28 Aug 1979, collector unknown; Grapevine Canyon: 2 ♂ 3 ♀, 16 Sep 1993, T.L. Griswold; Grapevine Ranger Station: 1 ♀, 21 Oct 1978, collector unknown; Jct Saline Valley Road [= Grapevine Canyon Road] and Hunter Mountain Road: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 14 May 1987, R.R. Snelling; Keeler: 1 ♀, 23 Sep 1987, T.L. Griswold; Little Lake: 1 ♂, 3 Sep 1956, R.M. Bohart; Lone Pine: 1 ♀, 14 Jun 1934, E.C. VanDyke; 1 ♂, 24 May 1937, E.C. VanDyke; 1 ♂, 7 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; 1 ♂, 9 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; 1 ♂, 13 Jun 1937, collector unknown; 5 ♂ 4 ♀, 14 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, 14 Jun 1937, E. VanDyke; 5 ♂ 6 ♀, 14 Jun 1937, E.C. VanDyke; 1 ♀, 14 Jun 1937, collector unknown; 3 ♂ 2 ♀, 15 Jun 1937, collector unknown; 2 ♂ 3 ♀, 16 Jun 1937, E.C. VanDyke; 1 ♀, Jun 1937, collector unknown; 1 ♂, 28 Jul 1940, E.E. Kenaga; 1 ♂, 28 Jul 1940, R. Beamer; Lone Pine, 2 mi E: 1 ♂, 19 May 1970, E.E. Grissell; Lone Pine, Owens Valley: 1 ♂, 14 Jun 1937, collector unknown; Lone Pine, Whitney Road: 1 ♂, 19 May 1937, W.C. Reeves; North Haiwee Rervoir, 4 mi S Olancha: 2 ♂, 24 Jun 2005, E.E. Williams, K.A. Williams; Olancha, Owens Valley: 1 ♀, 18 May 1954, collector unknown; Owens Lake: 1 ♂ 1 ♂, 2 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; Owens Lake, N end: 1 ♂, 2 Jun 1937, C.D. Michener; Owens Valley; Dolomite, nr: 1 ♂, 16 Apr 2014, T.L. Griswold; Tecopa: 1 ♀, 15 May 1995, P.F. Torchio; dunes 1 mi E of Olancha, Owens Valley: 2 ♂, 30 May 2004, D. Yanega; 3 ♂ 2 ♀, 30 May 2004, G.R. Ballmer; dunes 1 mi E of Olancha, south end of Owens Lake, Owens Valley: 4 ♂, 26 May 1974, collector unknown; 3 ♂ 1 ♀, 12 Sep 1974, collector unknown; 4 ♂ 1 ♀, 17 Sep 1974, collector unknown; Kern County: China Lake, Pole Line rd: 1 ♂, 7 Jun 1996, G. Pratt, G.R. Ballmer; Edwards AFB, Branch Memorial Park: 1 ♂, 25 Sep 1996, G. Pratt, C. Pierce; Last Chance Canyon, Red Rock State Park, El Paso Mountains: 2 ♀, 16 Sep 1978, collector unknown; Rogers Dry Lake, SE: 1 ♂, 26 Jun 1996, G. Pratt, B. Deyhers; Walker Pass: 1 ♀, 13 Jun 1953, G.D. Butler; Los Angeles County: 0.5 mi W of 30th St on Ave E, near Lancaster: 1 ♂ 4 ♀, 28 Sep 1960, collector unknown; Edwards AFB, 140th st, W: 4 ♂, 29 Aug 1997, G. Pratt, C. Pierce; Lancaster: 1 ♂, 12 Aug 1954, R.R. Snelling; 4 ♀, 17 Aug 1954, R.R. Snelling; 2 ♂ 1 ♀, 18 Aug 1954, R.R. Not not Use Snelling; 1 ♂ 4 ♂, 18 Aug 1954, R.R. Snelling; 1 ♀, 20 Aug 1954, R.R. Not not Use Snelling; None County: Tehachapi: 1 ♀, 17 Jun 1947, J.W. MacSwain; San Bernardino County: 1 mi E of Newberry Springs: 9 ♂ 8 ♀, 18 Aug 1966, collector unknown; 1 mi N of Helendale: 1 ♂, 13 Jun 1979, J.C. Hall; 4 mi NW of Adelanto: 1 ♀, 12 Jul 1995, R.R. Snelling; 4.4 mi S of Trona: 1 ♂ 5 ♀, 13 Oct 1985, R.R. Snelling; 2 ♂ 3 ♀, 16 Oct 1985, R.R. Snelling; Afton Canyon, 3 mi S I-15,: 1 ♂, 4 May 1957, A.S. Menke; 1 ♀, 31 May 1993, R.R. Snelling; Baker, 23 mi S: 1 ♀, 10 May 1988, K.W. Cooper; Barstow: 7 ♀, 12 Sep 1924, P.H. Timberlake; 4 ♀, 14 Sep 1935, P.H. Timberlake; 2 ♂ 1 ♂, 9 Jul 1938, C.M. Dammers; 1 ♂, 14 Sep 1951, J. Rozen; 6 ♀, 14 Sep 1951, J.G. Rozen; 1 ♂, 7 Sep 1952, R.R. Not not Use Snelling; Bitter Spring: 2 ♂, 25 Jun 1995, G. Pratt, C. Pierce; Cronise Valley: 1 ♀, 29 Apr 1956, J. Powell; 1 ♀, 29 Apr 1956, P.D. Hurd; 1 ♀, 5 May 1960, A.E. Menke; 2 ♂, 5 May 1960, F.D. Parker; Cronise [= Cronese Valley]: 1 ♂, 23 Apr 1956, P.H. Timberlake; Crucero: 1 ♀, 11 Jul 1979, K.W. Cooper; Essex: 1 ♀, 2 Jul 1953, E.S. Ross; Hodge: 1 ♂, 14 Sep 1935, P.H. Timberlake; Ibex Dunes, W margin: 1 ♀, 8 May 2014, Z.M. Portman; Newberry Springs [= Newberry]: 1 ♂ 7 ♀, 19 Sep 1964, R.R. Snelling; Oro Grande: 1 ♀, 7 Oct 1928, P.H. Timberlake; Sandy Valley: 1 ♀, 5 Jun 1998, F.D. Parker; Saratoga Springs, Death Valley National Park: 1 ♀, 30 May 1953, A. Fukushima; Victorville: 1 ♀ 1 ♀, 14 Sep 1935, C.D. Michener; 3 ♀, 28 Sep 1938, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♀, 25 Jun 1949, H.E. Cott; 2 ♂ 2 ♂, 7 Jul 1951, J.C. Hall; 1 ♀, Sep year unknown, C.D. Michener; Yermo: 1 ♂ 12 ♀, 9 Jul 1938, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♀, 19 Jun 1939, P.H. Timberlake; 1 ♀, 7 Sep 1952, R.R. Not not Use Snelling; 1 ♂ 1 ♂, 7 Sep 1952, R.R. Snelling; NEVADA: Clark County: Mesquite Valley, E: 1 ♀, 10 Aug 1998, M. Andres, T.L. Griswold, C. Schultz; Wechech Basin, 1.5 mi SW: 1 ♀, 7 Sep 2005, A. Portoluri; Nye County: Ash Meadows NWR, Crystal Reservoir: 3 ♀, 25 Jun 2008, D.A. Tanner, J. Pitts, N. Boehme; Ash Meadows NWR, Crystal dunes, BT: 2 ♀, 28 May 2008, D.A. Tanner; 1 ♀, 29 May 2008, D.A. Tanner; Ash Meadows NWR, Mesquite dunes S of Spring Meadows Rd., Mequite: 1 ♀, 11 Jun 2008, D.A. Tanner; Ash Meadows NWR, Peterson dunes: 1 ♂, 14 May 2008, D.A. Tanner; Ash Meadows NWR, S. Spring Meadows Rd dune, BT: 3 ♂ 3 ♀, 25 Jun 2009, N. Boehme; Ash Meadows, School Spring dune: 1 ♀, 25 Jun 2008, D.A. Tanner, J. Pitts, N. Boehme; 1 ♂, 25 Jun 2008, No collector.