Colletes littoralis, Zabel & Kuhlmann, 2023

Zabel, Tina & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the southern African Colletes fasciatus species group (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 899, pp. 1-96 : 57-62

Colletes littoralis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D8210C78-AEF3-4166-BDCB-A49E378BBFF0

Figs 44–45

Diagnosis

Among the species with a normal scopa the following combination of characters is unique for the female: apical hair band of T2 about ⅔ width of disc ( Fig. 44D–E ), malar area elongate, length about width of mandibular base and maximum width of facial fovea about 1–1.2 × antennal diameter.

Etymology

This species was named for the fact that some specimens were collected near the coast.

Material examined

Holotype NAMIBIA – Karas • ♀; Aurusberg, Diamond Area No. 1; 27°40′ S, 16°23′ E; 23 Oct. 1974; R.H. Watmough leg.; on orange Mesembryanthemum sp. ; SAMC.

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province • 2 ♀♀; Groenriviersmond coast; 30°51′ S, 17°34′ E; 15 Oct. 1999; M. Halada leg.; CMK • 1 ♀; 17 km NE Springbok; 29°34′ S, 17°01′ E; 19 Sep. 2007; C.D. Eardley leg.; CMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 9–10 mm.

HEAD. Integument black, antenna brown ventrally. Face with relatively long, grayish white hairs, with light brown hairs on vertex ( Fig. 44B ). Clypeus with dense, small punctation (0.2 pd), slightly elongate, interspaces glabrous ( Fig. 44B ). Malar area elongate, length about width of mandibular base. Facial fovea slightly broadened, maximum width about 1–1.2 × antennal diameter.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tarsi often reddish brown ( Fig. 44A ). Scutum with relatively long, yellowish white hairs, intermixed with longer brown hairs ( Fig. 44C ). Mesosomal sides and legs yellowish to grayish white hairs, intermixed with some brown hairs on mid tibiae. Disc of scutum with medium-sized, scattered punctures (1–3 pd), integument glabrous, surrounded by dense, small (<0.5 pd) punctation ( Fig. 44C ). Scutellum and metanotum with long, yellowish brown hairs, on scutellum intermixed with brown hairs. Upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short, longitudinal carinae. Vertical part superficially shagreened and slightly dull, with some indistinct, short transverse carinae anteriorly. Scopa dorsal light brown, ventrally yellowish ( Fig. 44F ).

METASOMA. Integument black, terga narrowly translucent posteriorly. Disc of T1 covered with moderately long, erect yellowish white hairs, shorter posterior, medio-anteriorly with short yellowish white hairs interspersed ( Fig. 44D ). Disc of T2 covered with short erect, yellowish white hairs. T2 with weakly developed, narrow basal tomentum. Discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, erect dark brown hairs. T1–T5 with relatively broad white posterior tergal hair bands ( Fig. 44E ). Disc of T1 with very fine, dense and shallow punctation (0.5–1 pd), punctures becoming slightly finer and shallower on posterior tergal depression. Disc of T2 with fine, dense (<0.5 pd) punctation; interspaces glabrous. S2–S5 with white hair fringes, a bit longer laterally. Discs of sterna loosely covered with apically directed, short white hairs.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Namaqualand to SW Namibia ( Fig. 45 ).

Phenology

Found from September to October.

Floral hosts

On Mesembryanthemum sp. (Aizoaceae) .

Figures

Fig. 44. Colletes littoralis sp. nov., ♀, paratype (CMK). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head. C. Scutum, dorsal view. D. Metasomal terga 1 and 2, dorsal view. E. Metasoma, dorsal view. F. Hind tibia, lateral view.

Fig. 45. Distribution of C. khoisanorum sp. nov., C. knersvlaktei Kuhlmann, 2007, C. kogelbergensis sp. nov., C. latefasciatus Cockerell, 1946, C. laticaudus Cockerell, 1946 and C. littoralis sp. nov.