Colletes comatoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin

Kuhlmann, Michael & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2013, The genus Colletes (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in Central Asia, Zootaxa 3750 (5), pp. 401-449 : 440-444

Colletes comatoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin sp. nov.

( Figs 10 b, d, 11b, d, f, 12c–d)

Diagnosis. Colletes comatoides ( Fig. 10 b, 11b) is closely related to C. bernadettae Kuhlmann ( Fig. 10 a, 11a) and C. comatus Noskiewicz. Both species are well characterized (Noskiewicz 1936; Kuhlmann 2000) so the diagnosis focuses on the differences between them.

In the females of the three species the best characters for identification are morphology and pilosity of metasomal terga. In C. bernadettae the discs of terga are at least partially without short appressed hairs and medially the apical depression of T2 is almost truncate and clearly separated from the disc ( Fig. 10 c) (less pronounced in the other terga) while in C. comatus and C. comatoides all terga are completely covered with pilosity and the apical depressions are less distinct ( Figs 10 d, 10e). The females of C. comatoides and C. comatus are almost identical and differences are subtle. In C. comatoides the apical tergal hair bands of T1 and T2 are slightly wider ( Fig. 10 d) than in C. comatus ( Fig. 10 e). In the males of C. bernadettae ( Fig. 11 a), C. comatoides ( Fig. 11 b) and C. comatus differences in the morphology and pilosity of metasomal terga are as described for the females ( Figs. 11 c, d). In C. comatus apical spines of T7 are short and close together like in C. bernadettae ( Fig. 11 c) while in C. comatoides the spines are more prominent and further apart ( Fig. 11 f). In C. bernadettae ( Fig. 12 a) and C. comatoides ( Fig. 12 c) S7 is almost identical while in C. comatus ( Fig. 12 e) it is apically much narrower. The shape of the gonostylus and the dorsal wings of penisvalves are identical in all three species ( Figs. 12 b, d, f).

Description. Female. Bl = 9.0–10.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except part of mandible dark reddish-brown. Face except clypeus densely covered with long, greyish to yellowish-white, erect hairs. Clypeus with a shallow longitudinal median depression, supraclypeal area convex in profile. Clypeus above finely and very densely punctate (i <0.5d), in median depression even finer, punctation in the lower part becoming coarser and more scattered, punctures more elongate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny. Malar area medially about ¼ as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally dark yellowish-brown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures smooth and shiny; disc coarsely and densely punctate (i = 1.0–1.5d). Scutellum anteriorly impunctate with more dense punctation apically, surface smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, mesepisternum and propodeum densely covered with yellowish-white, erect hairs ( Fig. 10 b). Wings. Slightly yellowish; wing venation light brown. Legs. Integument blackish to dark reddish-brown. Vestiture whitish, scopa white. Metasoma. Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins reddish to bright yellowish translucent ( Fig. 10 d). Terga densely covered with short appressed hairs, T1 anteriorly also with sparse long, erect white hairs; apical tergal hair bands very broad but hardly distinguishable from pilosity of discs ( Fig. 10 b, d). Terga very densely and finely punctate (i <d), between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 10 d).

Male. Bl = 7.5–9.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible and labrum partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hairs. Malar area medially about 1/2 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally dark brown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures smooth and shiny; disc densely punctate (i = 0.5–1.0d). Scutellum anteriorly impunctate with dense punctation apically, surface smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, yellowish-white, erect hairs ( Fig. 11 b). Wings. Slightly yellowish; wing venation brown. Legs. Integument black, tarsi partly or entirely reddish-brown. Vestiture white. Metasoma. Integument black except depressed apical tergal margins yellowish translucent and sometimes disc of T1 – T2 apicomedially dark red ( Fig. 11 d). T1 densely covered with short appressed white hairs; T1 and disc of T2 also sparsely covered with long, erect white hairs and T2 with a broad basal hair band ( Fig. 11 d); apical tergal hair bands broad ( Fig. 11 b, d, f). Terga densely and finely punctate (i <d), between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 11 d); T7 apically with a pair of protruding teeth ( Fig. 11 f). Terminalia. Genitalia and S7 as illustrated ( Figs. 12 c–d).

Type material (24 specimens). Holotype, male, Turkey, Van, Ahtamar [E 43°02´N 38°20´], 1650 m, 9.VIII.1986, K. Warncke (OÖLM).

Paratypes: 8 ♂, 10 ♀, same dates as holotype (OÖLM, RCMK); 1 ♀, Turkey, Ercek – Gölü, Van [E 43°38´N 38°39´], 1900 m, 3.VIII.1983, Warncke (OÖLM); 1 ♂, Turkey, Ihlara, Nigde [E 34°17´N 38°13´], 1300 m, 9.VIII.1991, Warncke (OÖLM); 1 ♂, Turkey, Gürün, Sugul-Tal [E 37°16´N 38°43´], 1400 m, 31.VII.1986, A. Ebmer (RCMK); 1 ♀, Iran, Kermanshahan, Hamadan Exper. Sta. [E 48°31´N 34°48´], 11.VII.1966 (OÖLM); 1 ♂, Iran, 15 km SO Karaj [E 51°05´N 35°45´], 21.VII.1975, P.F. Torchio (OÖLM).

Etymology. This species is named for its similarity with C. comatus .

General distribution. Only known from the type localities in eastern Turkey and Iran. Floral hosts. A single female was collected on Medicago sativa (Fabaceae) . Seasonal activity (first–last observations). VII–VIII.

Species Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Tajikistan Number of collecting sites 114 22 32 27 49 Number of bees examined 1442 872 114 226 684 albomaculatus + + alicularis + + + ......continued on the next page

Figures

FIGURE 10. Colletes bernadettae Kuhlmann, female: a. specimen, lateral view; c. metasomal terga 1 and 2; Colletes comatoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin sp. nov., female: b. specimen, lateral view; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2; Colletes comatus Noskiewicz, female: e. metasomal terga 1 and 2. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Colletes bernadettae Kuhlmann, male: a. specimen, lateral view; c. metasomal terga 1 and 2; e. metasomal tergum 7; Colletes comatoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin sp. nov., male: b. specimen, lateral view; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2; f. metasomal tergum 7. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 12. Colletes bernadettae Kuhlmann, male: a. Metasomal sternum 7 (dorsal view); b. penisvalves; Colletes comatoides Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin sp. nov., male: c. metasomal sternum 7 (dorsal view); d. penisvalves; Colletes comatus Noskiewicz, male: e. metasomal sternum 7 (dorsal view) (after Noskiewicz 1936); f. penisvalves (after Noskiewicz 1936). Scale bar: 1 mm.