Colletes abnormis, 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 : 127-130

Colletes abnormis sp. n.

Figs 6, 7, 40

Etymology: Named after the unusual form of the male S7.

Diagnosis: Among the species with a normal scopa the following combination of characters is unique for the female: width of apical tergal hair bands about 1/2 width of scutellum, scutellum without black hairs, short malar area (less than half as long as width of mandibular base). Male can be most easily identified by the unique shape of S7 ( Fig. 6).

Description:

Female.

Length 12–13 mm.

Vestiture: Face greyish to yellowish white with dark brown hairs intermixed especially along inner eye margins and on vertex; mesonotum with long yellowish white hairs intermixed with numerous longer, dark brown hairs; mesosomal sides and legs yellowish to orange-white, scutellum and metanotum with long brownish orange hairs; scopa dark brown dorsally and yellowish white ventrally; T1 densely covered with long, erect yellowish white hairs, medio-anteriorly with short, white hairs interspersed; disc of T2 with very short erect whitish hairs; discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, erect blackish hairs; broad, white posterior tergal hair bands on T1–T4, very narrow on T5; T2 with weak, narrow basal tomentum; S2–S5 with long, white hair fringes; discs of sterna densely covered with long, apically directed hairs.

Integument: Completely black, except tarsi often brownish and terga narrowly translucent posteriorly; T1–T3 with slight bluish shine; malar area narrow, length about 1/3 width of mandibular base; clypeus with dense (0.2 pd) medium-sized, slightly elongate punctures; integument between punctures smooth and shiny; facial fovea narrow, maximum width about 2/3 antenna diameter; disc of mesonotum without punctation, glabrous, surrounded by dense (<0.5 pd) punctation; upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short, longitudinal carinae anteriorly, scabriculous posteriorly, vertical part glabrous, anteriorly with short, weakly developed more or less transverse carinae; disc of T1 with shallow, fine and dense (0.5–1 pd) punctures, punctures much finer and denser on posterior tergal depression; disc of T2 with very fine and dense (<0.5 pd) punctures; glabrous between punctures.

Male.

Length 11–12 mm.

Vestiture: Face greyish white intermixed with very few dark brown hairs along inner eye margins and vertex; mesonotum with long, yellowish white hairs intermixed with numerous longer, dark brown hairs; mesosomal sides and legs yellowish white, scutellum and metanotum with long, yellowish brown hairs intermixed with few dark brown hairs; T1 densely covered with long, erect, greyish white hairs; disc of T2 similar to T1 but with shorter hairs and a few depressed, long, white hairs medially; discs of T3–T6 with long, erect, blackish hairs; moderately broad, white, posterior tergal hair bands on T1– T5; S1–S5 with dense, very long fringes, longer laterally than medially.

Integument: Completely black, except tarsi often yellowish brown and terga posteriorly narrowly translucent; T1–T3 with slight bluish shine; malar area narrow, length about 1/2 width of mandibular base; clypeus with very dense small punctures (<0.2 pd); facial fovea narrow, maximum width about 3/4 antenna diameter; disc of mesonotum with dense (1 pd), medium-sized punctures, surrounded by dense (<0.2 pd) punctation, integument between punctures glabrous; upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short, longitudinal carinae anteriorly, scabriculous posteriorly, vertical part smooth and shiny, anteriorly with 2 or 3 more or less transverse carinae; discs of T1 and T2 with distinct, fine, dense (<0.5 pd) punctation, punctures becoming much finer and indistinctly shallow towards posterior tergal depression; integument between punctures smooth and shiny. Shape of S7 as in Fig. 6 and shape of gonostylus as in Fig. 7.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Citrusdal , 8.ix.1966, C.D. Michener ( SEMC).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 1ơ road to Hondeklipbaai , 9.viii.1991, K. Steiner, on Trachyandra sp. ( SAMC) ; Western Cape: 3ơ 4^same data as holotype ( SEMC, CMK) ; 1^Klein Alexandershoek to Het Kruis, 26.ix.1985, F.W. & S.K. Gess ( CMK) ; 9ơ 4^Biedouw Valley , 5–7.ix.1987, C.D. Eardley ( SANC, CMK) ; 1ơ Seven Weeks Poort , 10.ix.1985, V. B. Whitehead ( SAMC) ; 1^Atlantis , 16.ix.1985, V. B. Whitehead ( SAMC) ; 2ơ Clanwilliam , 8.ix.1966, M. & C.D. Michener ( SEMC) .

Distribution: Known from different locations of the winter rainfall area. Eastwards to Seven Weeks Poort ( Fig. 40 ).

Flower visiting: Trachyandra sp. (Asphodelaceae) .

Phenology: First record 9 th August, last record 26 th September.

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

Figures

Fig. 40. Distribution of C. abnormis, C. albohirtus, C. aureocinctus, C. bokkeveldi, C. cardiurus and C. cyanonitidus.