Colletes microdontus Cockerell 1937

Kuhlmann, Michael & Pauly, Alain, 2013, The bee genus Colletes Latreille 1802 in Ethiopia (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae), Zootaxa 3693 (2), pp. 267-292 : 287-289

Colletes microdontus Cockerell 1937

( Figs 16 , 17 , 18 )

Colletes microdontus Cockerell 1937: 140 –141, 3 lectotype [designated by Kuhlmann 1998] (type locality: “S.W. Africa, Seeheim”).

The female of C. microdontus is here described for the first time.

Diagnosis. Colletes microdontus is morphologically isolated among the Afrotropical Colletes species. The only apparently related species is C. rufotibialis Friese , that is almost double its size. The male is distinctive due to the shape of S7 ( Fig. 18 c) while the female is characterized by the combination of the following characters: small size, propodeum laterally without short appressed white hairs while T1–2 and the base of T3 are densely covered with white to orange pilosity, T1–2 with bright orange apical tergal hair bands ( Figs 17 a, d).

Description. Female. Bl = 8.0–9.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible and apical margin of clypeus partly dark reddish-brown. Face except clypeus densely covered with long, whitish to yellowish, erect hairs. Clypeus apically with a small shallow longitudinal median depression, supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus finely and relatively sparsely punctate (i = 1.0d); surface between punctures shiny ( Fig. 17 b). Malar area medially about ¼ as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally dark yellowish-brown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc impunctate, smooth and shiny. Scutellum almost comletely impunctate, few punctures apically, surface smooth and shiny ( Fig. 17 c). Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with bright orange-brown hair, colour on scutellum slightly more intense ( Fig. 17 a, c). Wings. Very slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation brown, stigma yellowish. Legs. Integument light to dark reddish-brown. Vestiture whitish, scopa white. Metasoma. Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins reddish translucent. T1–T2 completely and T3 except for a narrow apical strip of disc densely covered with short, appressed yellowish hairs, on T1 additionally densely covered with long, erect, white hairs ( Fig. 17 d); apical tergal hair bands broad, T1 bright orange, T2 yellowish-orange and the others yellowish-white to white ( Fig. 17 a, d). Terga densely and finely punctate (i = 0.5–1.0d), between punctures smooth and shiny.

Male. Bl = 8.0–9.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible, labrum and anterior margin of clypeus partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hairs. Malar area medially about 2/3 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc impunctate, smooth and shiny. Scutellum anteriorly impunctate with dense punctation apically, surface smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long white, erect hairs ( Fig. 18 a). Wings. Very slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation brown. Legs. Integument dark reddish-brown, tarsi yellowish-brown. Vestiture white. Metasoma. Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins reddish translucent. T1 sparsely covered with short, appressed, white hairs and long, erect, white hairs; T2 with a basal hair band; apical tergal hair bands broad ( Fig. 18 a, b). Terga densely and finely punctate (i <d), between punctures smoth and shiny ( Fig. 18 b). Terminalia. Genitalia and S7 as illustrated ( Figs. 18 c, d).

Material examined (174 specimens). Lectotype, male, NAMIBIA: Seeheim [E17.47 S26.48], 16.ii.1934, J. Ogilvie (BMNH).

Additional material: SENEGAL : 1 3, Louga [W16.14 N15.36], 2.viii.1979, A. Pauly, Tribulus terrestris L. ( Zygophyllaceae ) (RBINS). ETHIOPIA: 1 Ƥ, Sidamo, 120 km N Moyale [E38.16 N04.09], 16.viii.1997, V. Ahrens, W.J. Pulawski, E. Seyoum (CASC). KENYA: 1 3, Laikipia, Mpala Res. Centre [E36.30 N00.17], 13.vii.2004, P. Lenguya, at Acacia nilotica (PCKB); 1 Ƥ, Laikipia, Mpala Res. Centre [E36.30 N00.17], 13.i.2005, K. Baldock, on Acacia ethaica (PCKB); 1 3, Laikipia, Mpala Res. Centre [E36.30 N00.17], 29.vii.2004, P. Lenguya, at Acacia brevispica (RCMK); 1 3, Voi (Tsavo) env. [E38.34 S03.22], 22.xi.-2.xii.1996, M. Halada (OÖLM). ANGOLA: 1 3, R. Giraul, 10 mls. NE Mocamedes [E12.09 S15.03], 27.-29.ii.1972, Southern African Exp. (BMNH); 1 3, Hulla District, Pediva, ca. 30 mi. E of Porto Alexandre [E12.33 S16.16], 24.-27.v.1954, J. Balfour-Browne (BMNH). NAMIBIA: 1 3, Swakopmund, Swakop Rivier [E14.32 S22.42], 28.xi.1994, M. Kuhlmann (RCMK); 1 3, Swakopmund [E14.32 S22.42], 21.xii.1977, H.N. Empey (SANC); 1 Ƥ, Swakopmund [E14.32 S22.42], 12.ii.1993, J. Gusenleitner (PCMS); 1 Ƥ, Swakopmund [E14.32 S22.42], 1.ii.1926, R.W. Tucker (SAMC); 10 Ƥ, 26 3, E Swakopmund [E14.33 S22.40], 4.ii.1993, M. Schwarz (PCMS, RCMK); 5 Ƥ, 3 3, E Swakopmund [E14.33 S22.40], 5.ii.1993, M. Schwarz (PCMS, RCMK); 2 Ƥ, 21 3, E Swakopmund [E14.33 S22.40], 8.ii.1993, M. Schwarz (PCMS, RCMK); 2 Ƥ, 3 3, 15 km E Swakopmund [E14.38 S22.37], 8.ii.1993, J. Gusenleitner (PCMS, RCMK); 5 Ƥ, 8 3, 15 km E Swakopmund [E14.38 S22.37], 4.ii.1993, J. Gusenleitner (PCMS, RCMK); 5 Ƥ, 2 3, Rooibank, Desert Park [E14.38 S23.10], 15.xii.1977, H.N. Empey (SANC, AMGS); 3 Ƥ, 4 3, Goanikontes, 21 mls. E Swakopmund [E14.49 S22.39], 30.i.1972, Southern African Exp. (BMNH, RCMK); 1 Ƥ, Karibib District: 15km W Karibib [E15.42 S21.56], 28.ii.1990, W.J. Pulawski (CASC); 1 Ƥ, 15 km W Karibib [E15.44 S21.56], 28.ii.1990, M. Schwarz (RCMK); 1 Ƥ, 2 3, 18 km S of Omaruru [E15.59 S21.32], 24.ii.1977, J.G. & B.L. Rozen (AMNH, RCMK); 1 3, between Omaruru and Wilhelmstal [E16.03 S21.31], 3.iv.1998, F.W. and S.K. Gess, deep pink fls. Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke , Amaranthaceae (AMGS); 1 3, 53 km SE Omaruru [E16.15 S21.38], 13.iii.1979, J.G. & B.L. Rozen (AMNH); 2 3, Wasservallei 382, Windhoek, SE 2216 Dc [E16.22 S22.55], 21.-23.xii.1973, State Museum of Namibia, Windhoek (SMWN); 4 3, 15 km NW Otjiwarongo [E16.30 S20.24], 3.iii.1990, M. Schwarz (PCMS, RCMK); 1 Ƥ, 20 km frm. Gross Barmen on road to Okahandja [E16.54 S22.03], 1.iv.1998, F.W. and S.K. Gess (AMGS); 1 Ƥ, 1 3, Windhoek [E17.05 S22.34], 5420 ft., 11.iii.1966, F. Herbst (AMNH); 1 Ƥ, Windhoek [E17.05 S22.34], 5420 ft., 8.iii.1966, F. Herbst (AMNH); 4 3, Popa Falls, Kavango [E21.33 S18.07], 26.-31.viii.1971, State Museum of Namibia, Windhoek (SMWN). SOUTH AFRICA: 1 Ƥ, Rooinek, Laingsburg Distr. [E20.55 S33.18], 1.i.1949, Mus. Exped. (SAMC); 3 Ƥ, 15 3, Dikbome, Merweville, Koup, C.P. [E21.30 S32.40], 1.i.1953, H. Zinn (SAMC); 11 Ƥ, 22 3, Merweville, Laingsburg Distr. [E21.30 S32.40], 1.i.1959, H. Zinn (SAMC); 1 Ƥ, CP, Vanzylsrus [E22.03 S26.53], 13.ii.1988, G.D. Butler, visiting flowers of Tribulus sp. (SANC).

General distribution. This species is widespread in deserts of the Afrotropical region and has been recorded from Senegal in West Africa, Ethiopia and East Africa down to Namibia and South Africa ( Fig. 16 ).

Floral hosts. Hermbstaedtia odorata (Amaranthaceae) , Acacia nilotica , A. ethaica , A. brevispica (Fabaceae) , Tribulus sp., T. terrestris (Zygophyllaceae) .

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). I–XII.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Distribution of Colletes langano Kuhlmann sp. n., C. latipes Friese and C. microdontus Cockerell.

FIGURE 17. Colletes microdontus Cockerell, female: a. specimen, lateral view; b. head; c. scutum and scutellum; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 18. Colletes microdontus Cockerell, male: a. specimen, lateral view; b. metasomal terga 1 and 2; c. metasomal sternum 7 (dorsal view); d. gonostylus (lateral view). Scale bar: 1 mm.