Colletes zygophyllum, Kuhlmann, 2007

Kuhlmann, Michael, 2007, Revision of the bees of the Colletes fasciatus-group in southern Africa (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), African Invertebrates 48 (2), pp. 121-166 : 163-164

Colletes zygophyllum sp. n.

Fig. 43

Etymology: Named for the plant genus Zygophyllum (Zygophyllaceae) that is the preferred pollen source of this species.

Diagnosis:The species is well characterised by the broad white to whitish brown posterior tergal bands.

Description:

Female.

Length 12–13 mm.

Vestiture: Face yellowish brown with blackish hairs intermixed along inner eye margins and on vertex; mesonotum with short, yellowish brown hairs intermixed with numerous longer, blackish hairs; mesosomal sides and legs yellowish to yellowish brown, scutellum and metanotum with short orange-brown hairs, scutellum with orange-brown intermixed with longer blackish hairs; scopa dark brown dorsally and yellowish brown ventrally; T1 densely covered with long, erect, yellowish brown hairs; disc of T2 very densely covered with very short, brownish hairs; discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, short, erect, blackish hairs; very broad whitish to whitish brown posterior tergal hair bands on T2–T4, distinctively narrower on T1 (narrowed medially) and T5; T2 with very narrow, indistinct basal tomentum; S2–S4 with sparse fringe of longer, yellowish white hairs, discs covered with long hairs.

Integument: Completely black, except tarsi sometimes slightly brownish and T1 narrowly translucent posteriorly; malar area short, length about 1/2 width of mandibular base; clypeus with dense (0.2 pd), medium-sized punctures, punctures slightly elongate but with straight orientation;integument between punctures smooth and shiny; facial fovea narrow,maximum width about 3/4 of antennal diameter; disc of mesonotum without or with very scattered (2–3 pd), coarse punctation, integument smooth and shiny, surrounded by dense (<0.5 pd) punctation; upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short, longitudinal carinae, vertical part superficially shagreened and slightly dull; disc of T1 with distinct, fine, dense (0.5–1 pd) punctation, punctures becoming finer, more shallow and denser towards posterior tergal depression, nearly disappearing at margin; disc of T2 with fine, dense (<0.5 pd) punctation; integument between punctures smooth and shiny.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype: ^SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Nieuwoudtville, Wild Flower Reserve , 27.viii.1984, V. B. Whitehead & M. Macpherson, on Zygophyllum (SAMC) .

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 2^same data as holotype ( SAMC); 1^Nieuwoudtville, Wild Flower Reserve , 29.viii.1984 , V.B. Whitehead & M. Macpherson, on Zygophyllum (CMK) ; 1^Sutherland , 29.7 km NW, 22.ix.1985 , V. B.Whitehead ( SAMC); 1^Nieuwoudtville, Wild Flower Reserve , 730 m, 1.ix.2002 , M. Kuhlmann ( CMK); 2^5.ix.2002 , 2^12.ix.2002, 3^13.ix.2002, 1^16.ix.2002, idem; 1^Nieuwoudtville, Wild Flower Reserve East, 735 m, 12.viii.2004 , M. Kuhlmann ( CMK); 1^21.viii.2004 , idem .

Distribution: This species is only known from the south-central part of the winter rainfall area ( Fig. 43 ).

Flower visiting: Zygophyllum sp. ( Zygophyllaceae ).

Phenology: First record 12 th August, last record 22 nd September.

Remarks: This species is treated as Colletes sp. G in Kuhlmann (2006).

Figures

Fig. 43. Distribution of C. nieuwoudtvillei, C. obscurus, C. schultzei, C. stellatus, C. testaceipes, C. wathmoughi and C. zygophyllum.