Cactocolletes Engel, 2020

Engel, Michael S., 2020, Genera of the bee tribe Reedapini (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Journal of Melittology 2020 (95), pp. 1-16 : 12-15

Cactocolletes Engel , new genus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:ECF6E64B-3DC6-49D5-A115-610D40130950

( Figs. 18–23 )

TYPE SPECIES: Cephalocolletes isabelae Urban, 1995 .

DIAGNOSIS: This is a genus of modest-sized bees, with a total body length of approximately 9–11 mm. The integument is black, without metallic highlights, and the pubescence is principally white to off white, although tawny on vertex, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum, and fuscous on pygidial and prepygidial fimbriae, slightly fuscous on outer metatibia, and lightly fuscous on sterna III– V, also with thin apical bands of white to off-shite setae on metasomal terga II–IV, sometimes medially interrupted ( Fig. 18 ). The head is broader than long, with the compound eye length subequal to or slightly less than the distance between the lower inner orbits of the compound eyes, and the inner orbits of the compound eyes are faintly to slightly convergent below ( Figs. 19 , 23 ). The lateral ocelli are situated just above the upper tangent of the compound eyes, with the scape extending to the level of the median ocellus ( Figs. 19 , 23 ). The first flagellomere of females is shorter than the combined lengths of the second and third flagellomeres, while its medial length is approximately equal to the apical width of the scape. The integument of the face is not obscured by pubescence, and the supraclypeal area has a large, subtriangular, impunctate or sparsely punctate, glabrous area ( Figs. 19 , 23 ) (subtriangular area convex in C. rugatus , flat to slightly concave in C. isabelae ). The male mandible, like the female mandible, has a preapical tooth. The maxillary palpus is moderately long, with at least the apical two palpomeres extending beyond the galeal apex. The mesoscutum and mesoscutellum have short to moderate-length, tawny, pile that may or may not obscure the integumental surface ( Figs. 20–22 ). The basal area of propodeum is subequal in length to the metanotum and is transversely striate ( Fig. 21 ), and the lateral surface of the propodeum has strong, longitudinal-oblique striae or rugae. The probasitarsus has a distinct outer longitudinal comb. The meso- and metatibial spurs are straight, with the mesotibial spur minutely ciliate, the outer metatibial spur simple, and the inner metatibial spur pectinate. The metafemoral fiscina, metatibial scopa, and metasomal scopa are like that described for Lonchopriscus (vide supra). The metasomal scopa is like that of Lonchopriscus .

ETYMOLOGY: The new generic name is a combination of the Greek words káktos (ΚᾸ́Κτος, today the name for cacti but originally for a spiny plant of uncertain identity) and kollitís (Κολλητής, meaning, “gluer”, and origin of the generic name Colletes Latreille ). The name references the apparent preference of these bees to visit cactus flowers ( Lenzi & Orth, 2011; C. Schlindwein, pers. comm.). The gender of the name is masculine.

INCLUDED SPECIES: The genus presently includes the type species, Cactocolletes isabelae (Urban) , new combination, of southeastern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina), and C. rugatus (Urban) , new combination, from southeastern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and northeastern Argentina (Entre Ríos). According to C. Schlindwein (pers. comm.) the species do not overlap, with the former occurring closer to the coasts, and the later more centrally and southerly. It is almost assured that the genus will be found in Uruguay as the known distribution of C. rugatus spans each side of the country (and the species may also be found in Corrientes Province, Argentina).

Key to Species of Cactocolletes

(females only; male unknown for C. rugatus )

1. Mesoscutal pile largely absent on disc ( Figs. 20, 21 ); supraclypeal area with subtriangular area flat to slightly concave ( Fig. 19 ) ................. C. isabelae (Urban)

—. Mesoscutal pile dense throughout disc ( Fig. 22 ); supraclypeal area with subtriangular area convex ................................................................. C. rugatus (Urban)

Figures

Figures 18–19. Female of Cactocolletes isabelae (Urban) (photographs courtesy of Clemens Schlindwein, reproduced with permission). 18. Lateral habitus. 19. Facial view.

Figures 20–23. Females of species of Cactocolletes, new genus (photographs courtesy of Clemens Schlindwein, reproduced with permission). 20. Dorsal habitus of Cactocolletes isabelae (Urban), new combination. 21. Detail of mesosomal dorsum of C. isabelae, note transverse striae on basal area of propodeum. 22. Dorsal habitus of Cactocolletes rugatus (Urban), new combination. 23. Facial view of C. rugatus.