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Perdita
The genus Perdita consists of over 600 species of small bees which are common in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Most of the bee species are narrow specialists, collecting pollen from one genus or species of flowering plants.

Nesting
P. H. Timberlake (you can simply cite at the end of the sentence) Female Perdita portalis are ground-nesting, partially bivoltine, communal bees that inhabit the deserts and arid grasslands of Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. Nests are commonly reused each year and may become very large. Bees overwinter as larvae, in which most of them are in larger cells.

The typical nest of P. portalis is quite shallow, no deeper that 15 centimeters. With over 200 cells occupying an area 20 centimeters in diameter. About 2 to 29 adult females occupy a single nest, according to research conducted by J. G.Rozen (again, just cite). During development, larvae are fed pollen through the top of the cell. When the pollen ball is nearly consumed, the larvae rests on its back with the remaining pollen cradling on their venter, or the front of their abdoment. After the pollen is consumed, the larvae will rotate eight times while inside of the cell.

According to B. N. Danforth (again, cite at end of sentence), inside the nests, cells were coated with a waterproof lining, however, the pollen balls lacked the shiny hydrophobic coating present in certain species of Perdita.

Behavior
The behavior pattern of the female P. portalis was discovered by J. G. Rozen (cite at end of sentence), which involves cell construction, provisioning, oviposition, and cell closure. (This section is interesting, but try to make sure the words belong to you! It will help you make sure you understand what's going on, and help you communicate more clearly. This has lots of really really technical language, whereas wikipedia prefers plain and simple. You can probably cut some detail, and you can definitely write in a more conversational, approachable tone! Great research!!!!)

(Remember to italicize all genus and species names)
 * Cell construction among female P. portalis began in the morning. Each female in a communal nest constructs one cell per evening, however, when two or more females share a common lateral, they equally share the general maintenance of that tunnel. During cell construction, females shape the cell wall by repeatedly packing it with the pygidial plate and adding soil when necessary. When the hydrophobic lining is added the females brush the walls of the cell beginning at the intersection of the cell and ending in the middle of the

The behavior and morphology of female P. portalis are similar of its close relatives, the males of this species are highly different. One morph is capable of flight, has a small head, and is found regularly on Spaeralcea, where they mate with foraging females, discovered by J. G.Rozen. The other morph possess an enlarged facial foveae, enlarged head, elongate pointed jawbones, a three-pronged clypeus,reduced throracic musculature which left them flightless and restricted to a life within the range of the natal nest.
 * Cells are completely provisioned between four and eight foraging trips. Females work alone when provisioning cells, however, there weren't conflicting behaviors between any others. Female foraging began in early morning hours. When they return from their foraging trips, they enter they cells and deposit the pollen by rubbing the two back legs together and remained as separate clumps in the cell. cell.
 * Oviposition occurs when if a macrocephalic male is present and the female exits her cell, and they begin to mate. They unite themselves one or two more times before the eggs are laid. If a macrocephalic male is not present, the female will groom and return to her cell to continue the pollen ball formations.
 * Closure of the cell begins immediately after the eggs are laid. The female simply packs the cell, using the apex of her metasoma.

= Perdita Bees[edit] = Perdita is a large genus of bees native to North America, particularly diverse in the desert regions of the United States and Mexico. There are ove