These are all small bees, with distinctive wing venation patterns. They usually have brightly colored bodies with colored integumental markings. The genus is associated with xerophytic vegetation and found mostly in the coastal plain areas of the southeastern United States. Florida and North Carolina are the states with the greatest number of known species. Bees of this genus nest in the soil. Nesting sites are primarily in well-drained sandy soils that are abundant in these states. Michener notes that species are nearly all oligolectic on a wide variety of plants. In the FSCA, there are 16 taxa of Perdita, while Mitchell lists 4 others as occurring in Florida. Of these 20 taxa, there are five endemic taxa, including four species (P. krombeini, P. graenicheri, P. blatchleyi, and P. nubila) and one subspecies (P. consobrina lepida). New state records for Florida since Mitchell (1960) include P. consobrina consobrina (furthest south was S. Carolina) and P. octomaculata (furthest south was Georgia). Mitchell’s key to the species of the eastern U.S. may be sufficient for identification. With the exception of P. townesi, which was described in Timberlake (19xx). Several subgenera are found in Florida including Alloperdita, Cockerellia, Hexaperdita, and Perdita.
1. Scopa of hind tibia copious, hairs long, often more or less crinkly or branched, seemingly adapted for carrying pollen at least partly dry; claws of female simple; side of pronotum of male more ore less deeply furrowed; S8 of male with bilobate base…………..2
--Scopa of hind tibia composed of long, curved, simple, widely spaced hairs, seemingly adapted for carrying agglutinated pollen; claws of female more or less distinctly dentate within; side of pronotum of male usually not grooved; s8 of male with simple, medium spiculum at base…3
2. Usually large species, 5 to 9 mm long; mandible of female dilated on inner margin and abruptly bent inward before apex, incurved part tapering and simple; metasoma of male no wider than thorax; claws of male hind leg simple…………………………..Cockerellia
--Smaller species, rarely exceeding 6 mm in length; mandible of female ordinary or only moderately expanded within, and but little incurved at apex; metasoma of male usually moderately broad and depressed; claws of male hind leg cleft…….Hexaperdita
3. Small intercalary cell usually present between first and second submarginal cells; mandible of male with small subapical tooth on inner margin…………..Alloperdita
--Intercalary cell never present; mandible of male usually simple and acute at apex…Perdita
