Perdita rhois
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Perdita rhois is a species of bee in the family Andrenidae (mining bees), commonly known as the Rhus fairy bee. Like other members of genus Perdita, Rhus fairy bees are very small and often mistaken for gnats. Adult bees range from 2–10 mm (0.08–0.39 in) in body length. Male and female adult bees differ in coloration: female bees are mostly black with black eyes, while males are yellow with black markings and green eyes. Both have translucent white wings.
P. rhois was named by Theodore D. A. Cockerell in 1901. The species name "rhois" refers to the laurel sumac plant (Malosma laurina) whose scientific name in 1901 was Rhus laurina. Laurel sumac flowers are a favorite nectar and pollen source for the Rhus fairy bee.
The Rhus fairy bee is found in Central America and North America. Unlike a substantial proportion of fairy bees, P. rhois visits flowers of many plant species. Preferred inflorescences often resemble those of laurel sumac, bearing clusters of small, white flowers.
P. rhois builds nests in the soil as is typical of mining bees. In a 2015 interview with the journal Nature... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rhus Fairy Bee sighting in Los Angeles on a given day, based on 80 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 221st most-seen of the 851 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June and July
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rhus Fairy Bee in Los Angeles on a given day, against under 5% in August to May, the lowest months. Those are among Los Angeles's driest months, with almost no rain against 75 mm in February.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Rhus Fairy Bee sightings, Los Angeles ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in San Diego (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rhus Fairy Bee is recorded against all the insects logged in Los Angeles (80 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
