Colletes askhabadoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin sp. nov.

(Figs 4 a–d)

Diagnosis. Colletes askhabadoides is closely related to the Central Asian C. askhabadensis and the shape of S 7 in both species is very similar (Fig. 4 c). The male of C. askhabadoides can be easily recognized by the shape of its S7 (Fig. 4 c) in combination with the abundant thick and appressed hairs on T1 (Fig. 4 b) (much shorter in C. askhabadensis).

Description. Female. Unknown.

Male. Bl = 6.0–7.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible partly dark reddishbrown. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hairs. Malar area medially about 1/3 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally yellowish-brown (Fig. 4 a). Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc almost impunctate, smooth and shiny. Scutellum nearly impunctate with a few punctures apically, surface smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, greyish to yellowish-white erect hairs (Fig. 4 a). Wings. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma yellowish-brown. Legs. Integument mostly dark reddish-brown, tarsi yellowish-brown. Vestiture white (Fig. 4 a). Metasoma. Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins whitish to yellowish or reddish translucent (Fig. 4 b). Disc of T1 densely covered with long, appressed hairs and few erect yellowish-white hairs (Fig. 4 b); apical tergal depression and hair bands of T2 – T5 very broad, much broader than the respective discs and densely covered with long, appressed white hairs; apical tergal depression and hair band of T1 only about half the width of the other ones (Fig. 4 a, b). Terga scattered and finely punctate (i = 1–1.5d), between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 4 b). Terminalia. Genitalia and S7 as illustrated (Figs 4 c–d).

Type material (5 specimens). Holotype, male, Kazakhstan: Karaganda Prov., Koksengir, S Zhana-Arka [65º82'E 44º35'N], 12.VII.1959, AAP (ZISP).

Paratypes: 2 ♂, same dates and locality as holotype (ZISP/RCMK); 2 ♂, Kazakhstan: Akmolinskaya Province, Kokshetay Mt., Tersakkan River [70°12'E 53°05'N], 29.V.1957, VRR (ZISP/RCMK).

Etymology. This species is named for its similarity with C. askhabadensis .

General distribution. Only known from the type localities in Kazakhstan.

Floral hosts. unknown.

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). V–VII.