Colletes nigerrima Balboa & Ayala, 2017

Ayala, Ricardo, 2017, New dark species of the bee genus Colletes (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) from Mexico and Guatemala, Zootaxa 4320 (3), pp. 401-425 : 413-416

Colletes nigerrima Balboa & Ayala new species

Figs. 36–42

Diagnosis. This species differs from C. bombiformis by having most of the striae on the clypeus mainly longitudinal, like in C. guatemalensis ( Fig. 17 ) except that lower diagonal striae are less strong. It differs from C.

bombiformis and C. jaliscoensis by having long and abundant hairs on T1. The females of C. nigerrima differ from those species by having a longer prothoracic spine, acute, and less wide. Colletes nigerrima is the only species from this work that lacks punctures on the marginal zones of terga on both sexes; all other species possess variable punctures. Males of C. nigerrima can be easily separated from other species by having T1 with long light brown hairs, denser on sides; T1–T6 with shiny black integument. Colletes nigerrima is easily separated from C. isabelae by having labrum with a median sulcus on discal area and clypeus projected and slightly bilobulated on distal margin; It differs from C. solari by having compound eyes less emarginated, femora not dilated, and no apical bands on terga.

Description. Holotype ♀: Bee with shiny black integument. Pubescence dark brown; light brown on face ( Fig. 36 ). Body length 11.15 mm (10.87 – 11.63 mm, n=11), forewing length 8.65 mm (7.93 – 9.1 mm, n=11). Head: Mandible with reddish apex. Malar area two times wider than long, with few thin striae. Labrum shiny black, almost three times wider than long; with a longitudinal sulcus on median part. Clypeus shiny black and strongly projected; with flat discal area and longitudinal thin striae; punctures shallow, less dense on discal area, smaller and more abundant toward supraclypeal area and epistomal suture; pubescence light brown, sparse with few black hairs; proximal margin slightly concave; distal margin with a central notch. Supraclypeal area with large and deep punctures and thin striae. Paraocular area with small and dense punctures, larger on interocellar area. Facial fovea thin at the middle of compound eye and very broadened towards upper paraocular area; with smooth and dull integument; superficial and sparse punctures. Ocelli slightly above upper margin of eyes. Vertex with small and dense punctures, some of them large. Genal area with shiny black integument and uniform, small, shallow punctures. Mesosoma: Pronotum with shiny black integument, small punctures, more separated on prothoracic spine. Prothoracic spine thin and acute ( Fig. 38 ). Scutum with shiny black integument, light brown and black hairs, and small, dense, and deep punctures; discal area without punctures. Anterior margin of scutellum with slight central elevation; pubescence dark and abundant; punctures smaller and denser than in scutum. Metanotum with opaque and black integument, long black hairs; punctures small, coarse, shallow, and contiguous. Basal area of propodeum with longitudinal striae, denser on sides. Anterior area of propodeal triangle with lateral diagonal striae; smooth and shiny anteromedially; posterior area smooth. Rest of propodeum with irregular striae, long, sparse black hairs, large and shallow punctures. Lateral area of mesosoma with shiny black integument, long black hairs, and large, dense and deep punctures. Upper part of mesepisternum without punctures. Wings: Tegula dark brown with sparse and shallow punctures; posteriorly rounded; anteriorly angled. Wings hyaline and smoky; veins black ( Fig. 36 ). First, second and third submarginal cell lengths 1.15 mm, 0.69 mm and 0.57 mm (1.07 – 1.26 mm; 0.59 – 0.72 mm; 0.51 – 0.62 mm, n=11), respectively. Marginal cell length 2 mm (1.87 – 2.13 mm, n=11). Legs: Integument dark brown; dark hairs longer on middle femur. Malus dark brown and pectinate; velum translucent. Middle and posterior tibial spurs simple with dark brown integument. Posterior tibia 4.5 times longer than wide. Claws bifurcate distally with integument light brown basally and reddish brown distally. Metasoma: T1–T6 with shiny black integument; all terga without punctures on marginal zone ( Fig. 39 ). T1 with long light brown hairs, denser on sides; punctures small and shallow, more separated than in other terga ( Fig. 39 ). T2 and T3 with punctures smaller than in T5 and T6 ( Fig. 39 ). T5 and T6 with long and dense hairs. S1–S6 with dark brown hairs and dense shallow punctures. S4–S6 with longer hairs on marginal zone.

Allotype ♂: Coloration and pubescence similar to female ( Fig. 37 ). Body length 9.67 mm (9.67 – 10.1 mm, n=3), forewing length 8.83 mm (8.83 – 9.15 mm, n=3). Head: Mandible with red apex. Malar area one and half times longer than wider. Labrum with black and polished integument; with a median sulcus on discal area. Clypeus projected and slightly bilobulated on distal margin; longer than wider; with a sulcus dividing discal area; punctures of clypeus small and separated by half of its diameter; striae of clypeus shiny and with eroded appearance. Facial fovea similar to female but smaller; with shiny integument and sparse punctures close to the upper paraocular area. Supraclypeal area with a conic elevation; punctures smaller and denser when compared to those on clypeus. Frons and paraocular area with punctures similar to supraclypeal area. Genal area with punctures less dense and smaller than any other structure of head. Vertex above internal upper margin of compound eye. Mesosoma: Pubescence similar to female. Pronotum with shiny black integument. Prothoracic spine acute and underdeveloped. Lateral sides of mesosoma with shiny black integument and uniformly arranged punctures of same size. Scutum shiny black; with small and uniform punctures, less dense on discal area. Scutellum shiny black; with anterior margin, smooth and posterior margin with punctures smaller than in scutum, becoming striate toward posterior margin. Metanotum with microsculpture similar to scutellum. Basal area and propodeal triangle of propodeum similar to female. Sides of mesosoma with shiny black integument and long black hairs, mixed with white hairs on episternum; punctures slightly bigger than those on scutum, but shallower. Wings: Tegula dark brownish; with small and sparse punctures; anteriorly angled whilst posteriorly rounded. Wings smoky with translucid apex; veins black. First, second and third submarginal cell lengths 1.12 mm, 0.57 mm and 0.53 mm (1.12 – 1.17 mm; 0.57 – 0.61 mm; 0.53 – 0.60 mm, n=3), respectively. Marginal cell length 1.91 mm (1.91 – 1.95 mm, n=3). Legs: Integument dark brown. Malus dark brown and pectinate; velum translucent. Middle and posterior tibial spurs simple with dark brown integument. Claws bifurcate distally with integument light brown basally and reddish brown distally. Metasoma: T1–T6 with shiny black integument; all terga without punctures on marginal zone. T1 with long light brown hairs, denser on sides; microsculpture of terga similar to female. S7, S8, and genital capsule as in Figures 40–42 .

Type material. Holotype ♀: Mexico: Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas; Huitepec. 16.440, -92.4106 ; 16- VI-2012; 2540 m; P. Sagot. Paratypes: 1♀: Oxchuc, El Retiro. 16.78602, -92.36720 ; 13-VII-2013; 2231 m; J. López. 3♀: Col. M. Santiz. 1♀: Naj til Wits. 16.8051, -92.3606 ; 11-VII-2013; 1980 m; J. López. 1♀: Mukulwitz. 16.4832, -92.1625 ; 10-V-2011; 1800 m; P. Sagot. 2♀: Jitotol, Ocotal. 17.0585, -92.8567; 08-V-2009; 1692 m; J. Mérida, J. Flores, and P. Sagot. Yajalon; Arroyo Carrizal. 17.14926, -92.34991; 28-VIII-2012; 1598 m; J. Mérida. 1♀: Coapilla, Carr. Coapilla-Ocotepec, 17.1463, -93.1474; 10-VII-2012; 1709 m; E. Pineda. 1♀: Guerrero : Ajuchitlán del Progreso, Ejido El Balcón. 17.66964, -100.54417; 22-XI-2012; 2851 m; E. Esquivel. Holotype and allotype deposited at CNIN, paratypes at ECO–TAP–E.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the black coloration on this bee.

Distribution. This species is distributed in pine-oak forests from the Altos de Chiapas region, indicating it may also be present in the mountains of Chiapas. Moreover, a record from Guerrero indicates this species may exist in other parts of the Sierra Madre del Sur, including Oaxaca ( Fig. 57 ).

Remarks. Some females have punctures on posterior margin of terga, but in most of the specimens the punctures are absent. Some females may have reddish brown integument on anterior margins of S4–S6.

Figures

FIGURES 36 – 42. Colletes nigerrima Balboa & Ayala sp. n. 36 — female holotype: habitus, lateral view; 37 — male allotype: habitus, lateral view; 38 — female paratype: prothoracic spine; 39 — female holotype: T 1 and T 2; 40 — male allotype: S 7; 41 — male allotype: S 8; 42 — male allotype: genital capsule.

FIGURES 15 – 21. Colletes guatemalensis Balboa & Ayala sp. n. 15 — female holotype: habitus, lateral view; 16 — male allotype: habitus, lateral view; 17 — Female paratype: Clypeus; 18 — female holotype: dorsal view of metasoma; 19 — male allotype: S 7; 20 — male allotype: S 8; 21 — male allotype: genital capsule.

FIGURES 57 – 58. 57 — Map of collecting localities for Colletes jobeli, C. isabelae, C. jaliscoensis and C. nigerrima. 58 — Map of collecting localities for C. solari, C. tzotzilis, C. chiaPensis, and C. guatemalensis.