Colletes xuechengensis Kuhlmann, 2007

Ferrari, Rafael R., Niu, Ze-Qing, Kuhlmann, Michael, Zhang, Dan & Zhu, Chao- Dong, 2021, The cellophane bees of Colletes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from Xizang (Tibet), China, Zootaxa 5022 (1), pp. 1-72 : 36-39

Colletes xuechengensis Kuhlmann, 2007

( Figs 23A–F , 24A )

Colletes xuechengensis Kuhlmann, 2007: 465 (holotype ♂: China, Sichuan [USNM]).

Colletes xuechengensis ; Niu et al. 2014b: 463 ; Ascher & Pickering 2021.

unique in having the anterolateral angle of pronotum produced as a long spine and the hind basitarsus 4× as long as broad. Colletes xuechengensis is most similar to C. tuberculatus , however, the former is comparatively larger (9.0– 10.0 mm (♀), 7.0–8.0 mm (♂ )) than the latter (8.0–9.0 mm (♀), 6.0–7.0 mm (♂ )) and has wings with yellowish membranes (wing membrane subhyaline in both sexes of C. tuberculatus ). Females of the two species can be further differentiated by the T2–T3 apical bands 1.5× MOD in C. xuechengensis (T2–T3 apical bands 2.0× MOD in C. tuberculatus ) and their males by the face and mesosoma with pale-orange pubescence in C. xuechengensis (face and mesosoma with off-white to pale-yellow pubescence in C. tuberculatus ).

mm.

Material examined. Published records — CHINA, Sichuan: 15mi NE of Li Fan , 8500 ft, 31.vii.1933, D Graham, 1 ♂, [ USNM]. 26mi N of Li Fan, 9000 ft, 6.viii.1916, D Graham, 1 ♀, [ USNM]. Xiangcheng Xian, 28.90 99.90, 2900 m, 28.vi.1968, XZ Zhang, 1 ♂ . Xizang: Qamdo Xian , 31.10 97.10, 3300 m, 13.viii.1976, YH Han, 1 ♂ . Zhag’yab Xian, Gyitang , 30.70 97.30, 3200 m, 16.ix.1976, YH Han, 1 ♂ .

DNA barcode. Unavailable.

Floral hosts. Unknown.

Remarks. Colletes xuechengensis is likely the most uncommon between the two species of the C. fodiens group found in Xizang, a group that is relatively well-represented in China (10 species) but little diverse in high-elevation regions.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Colletes xuechengensis Kuhlmann, 2007. Female: (A) habitus, lateral view; (C) face, frontal view. Male: (B) habitus, lateral view; (D) face, frontal view; (E) genital capsule, lateral view; (F) S7, ventral view. Scale bars: (A–D) 2 mm; (E, F) 1 mm.

FIGURE 24. Confirmed geographic records of the Colletes species found in Xizang based on the examined material. (A) C. xuechengensis; (B) C. annapurnensis; (C) C. laevigena; (D) C. linzhiensis.