Colletes lutensis KUHLMANN, 2023

Kuhlmann, Michael, Schmid, Christian & Wolf-H, 2023, Three new Colletes species from Iran (Hymenoptera, Colletidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 37-45 : 38-39

Colletes lutensis KUHLMANN nov.sp. ( Figs 1-6 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: (6 specimens). Holotype: ♁ " Iran, IR-c25, Kerman, Shahdad 7, 5 km NE, KF, Wüste, 354m, 30°30´04´´N 57°45´06´´E, 08.05.2019, W.H. Liebig " (Coll. Kuhlmann, Zoological Museum of Kiel University ) . Paratypes: 4♁♁, same label data as holotype (2♁♁ Coll. Kuhlmann, Zoological Museum of Kiel University , 2♁♁ Coll. Liebig, Bad Muskau) ; 1♁ " Iran, Kerman prov., 7, 5 km NE Shahdad , 30.5011N 57.7518E, 354m, Schmid-Egger lg., 08.05.2019, IR-c25" (Coll. Schmid-Egger, Berlin) .

D i a g n o s i s: The male of C. lutensis is best identified by the specific and characteristic form of S7. It is unique among its relatives by the overall small size and the almost spatulate shape. Here, the apical end of S7 is only slightly wider than its narrowest section near the base ( Fig. 6 ). In all other closely related species S7 is at least slightly larger and its apical end is at least 1.5 times wider than the narrowest section (e.g. Fig. 12 ).

D e s c r i p t i o n

M a l e: Body length: 7–8 mm. Head: Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hairs. Malar area medially about 1/3 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally yellowish-brown ( Fig. 1 ). Mesosoma: Integument black. Mesoscutal disc sparsely (i = 1–2d) and finely punctate, between punctures smooth and shiny. Scutellum anteriorly almost impunctate with successively denser punctation posteriorly, surface between punctures smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, greyish-white erect hair ( Figs 1, 2 ). Wings slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma yellowish-brown, apically dark brown. Integument of legs mostly dark brown, base and end of tibiae mostly reddish-brown, tarsi yellowish-brown. Vestiture white ( Fig. 1 ). Metasoma: Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins whitish to yellowish translucent; end of T7 yellowish-brown ( Fig. 3 ). T1 densely covered with long, appressed hairs and few erect slightly yellowish to white hairs, discs of following terga glabrous ( Fig. 4 ). Apical tergal depression and hair bands of T2–3 very broad, much broader than the respective discs and densely covered with long, appressed white hairs, on T4–6 successively narrower; apical tergal depression and hair band of T1 less than half the width of that of T2 ( Fig. 4 ). T1–2 with very fine and dense punctation (i = 0.5–1d), between punctures smooth and shiny, punctation on following terga indistinct. T7 apically narrowly emarginate ( Fig. 3 ). Gonostylus and S7 as illustrated ( Figs 5, 6 ).

F e m a l e: Unknown.

E t y m o l o g y: The species is named after the Lut Desert (Dasht-e Lut) as it was discovered at the western margin of this region.

G e n e r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Only known from the north of Kerman Province in the southeast of Iran ( Fig. 19 ).

F l o r a l h o s t s: Unknown.

Figures

Figs 1-6: Colletes lutensis KUHLMANN nov.sp., Holotype male (1) lateral view; (2) dorsal view; (3) metasomal tergum T7; (4) metasoma; (5) gonostylus; (6) metasomal sternum S7.

Figs 7-12: Colletes rayensis KUHLMANN nov.sp., Holotype male (7) lateral view; (8) metasoma; (9) metasomal terga T1-T2; (10) metasomal tergum T7; (11) gonostylus; (12) metasomal sternum S7.

Figs 19-20: Habitats of new Colletes species. (19) Collecting site of C. lutensis nov.sp. in desert 7.5 km NE Shahdad (30°30´04´´N 57°45´06´´E, 8 May 2019); (20) Collecting site of C. sirjanensis nov.sp. 40 km NW Bam (29°23´49´´N 57°51´02´´E, 13 May 2019) (Photos W.-H. Liebig).