Colletes infracognitus Cockerell, 1937

Kuhlmann, Michael, 2007, Revision of the bees of the Colletes fasciatus-group in southern Africa (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), African Invertebrates 48 (2), pp. 121-166 : 147-148

Colletes infracognitus Cockerell, 1937

Fig. 41

Colletes infracognitus: Cockerell 1937: 137–138 . Type locality: South Africa, Worcester .

Diagnosis: Female very similar to other species with a reduced scopa but readily identifiable by the femora of all legs being at least partly orange-red.

Description:

Female.

Length 11–12 mm.

Vestiture: Face short greyish white with long, dark brown hairs on vertex; mesonotum with short, greyish white to yellowish brown hairs intermixed with numerous longer blackish hairs; yellowish white hairs on mesosomal sides and vestiture on legs shorter than on mesonotum, scutellum with short, yellowish white hairs intermixed with longer, blackish hairs, metanotum with short, yellowish white hairs; hairs shorter and partly plumose medially; T1 sparsely covered with moderately long, erect, yellowish white hairs that are shorter posteriorly; disc of T2 densely covered with very short, erect, whitish hairs; discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, erect, blackish hairs; relatively broad white posterior tergal hair bands occur on T1–T5, slightly narrowed medially on T1, narrow on T5; T2 with weakly developed, very narrow basal tomentum; S2–S5 with very short, thin, white fringes, a bit broader laterally; discs of sterna sparsely covered with short hairs.

Integument: Mainly black, antenna dark brown ventrally, femora at least medially on anterior side orange-red, tibiae and tarsi at least partly orange to dark-reddish brown, terga broad translucent yellowish to reddish brown posteriorly, discs of terga with narrow, red, transverse stripe along posterior margin; T1–T3 with slight bluish shine; malar area short, length about 1/3 width of mandibular base; clypeus convex medially, with dense (0.2 pd) small punctures that are slightly elongate; integument between punctures glabrous; facial fovea relatively broad, maximum width about 1.5× antennal diameter; disc of mesonotum relatively dense (0.5–1 pd), fine punctation, surrounded by dense (<0.5 pd) punctation, integument between punctures glabrous; upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with indistinct, short, longitudinal, carinae, vertical part superficially shagreened and shiny, anteriorly with a few indistinct more or less transverse carinae; disc of T1 with distinct, fine, very dense (<0.5 pd) punctation, punctures disappearing on posterior tergal depression; disc of T2 with very fine, dense (<0.5 pd) punctation; integument between punctures shagreened and dull.

Male. Unknown.

Type material examined: Colletes infracognitus , ^holotype: ‘B.M. Type Hym. 17.a.347, Colletes infracognitus Ckll. Type, Worcester: Cape Province. Sept. 1928, S. Africa, R.E. Turner, Brit. Mus. 1928- 457’ (BMNH).

Additional material examined: 16^. SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 1^Engelsepunt, 15 km NW Nieuwoudtville, 830 m, 24.ix.2003, K. Timmermann (CMK); 1^Engelsepunt, 15 km NW Nieuwoudtville, 830 m, 6.viii.2003, K.Timmermann (CMK); Western Cape: 2^Clanwilliam, Ramskop Camp, 21.viii.1984, V.B. Whitehead, on Trachyandra muricata (SAMC, CMK) ; 2^Clanwilliam, Ramskop Camp, 20.viii.1984, V.B. Whitehead, on Homeria miniata (SAMC, CMK) ; 1^Joostenbergkloof, 31.vii.1981, V.B. Whitehead, on Dorotheanthus sp. (SAMC); 1^Citrusdal, 8.ix.1966, C.D. Michener (CMK); 2^Kunje Farm, 28 km SE Citrusdal, 23.ix.2001, C.D. Eardley (SANC, CMK); 1^Worcester, 8.x.1966, C.D. Michener (SEMC); 3^Worcester, 30.ix.1966, C.D. Michener (SEMC, CMK); 1^Vanrhynsdorp, 30 km N, 146 m, 27.vii.2003, K. Timmermann, on Augea capensis (CMK) ; Eastern Cape: 1^Willowmore, 3.x.1971, C. Jacot-Guillarmod (CMK).

Distribution: From southern Namaqualand eastwards to Willowmore ( Fig. 41 ).

Flower visiting: Dorotheanthus sp. (Aizoaceae) , Trachyandra muricata (Asphodelaceae) , Homeria miniata (= Moraea miniata ) ( Iridaceae ), Augea capensis (Zygophyllaceae) . Phenology: First record 31st July, last record 8th October.

Figures

Fig. 41. Distribution of C. denudatus, C. eardleyi, C. fasciatus, C. genalis, C. gessi and C. infracognitus.