Ashmeadiella breviceps Michener 1939

Ashmeadiella (Arogochila) breviceps Michener

This is an exceptionally small species of the genus Ashmeadiella, which flies during the spring months of March, April, and May on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, ranging from near Tucson, Arizona, and adjacent northern Mexico (Sonora and Baja California Norte) to southern Nevada and the desert areas of southern California (Hurd and Michener, 1955). Even though the females of this species have been frequently taken at the flowers of Larrea while usually collecting pollen, they have also been collected with pollen in their scopae at several other desert plants, including Dipetalia linifolia, Hyptis emoryi, Prosopis chilensis glandulosa, and Stephanomeria.