Colletes ascopalis, Zabel & Kuhlmann, 2023

Zabel, Tina & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the southern African Colletes fasciatus species group (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 899, pp. 1-96 : 11-13

Colletes ascopalis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:67E88DE7-EBA7-404B-B8BC-6FE083727252

Figs 8 , 14

Diagnosis

Among the species with reduced scopa the female of Colletes ascopalis is characterized by a combination of legs completely red ( Fig. 8A ), facial fovea relatively broad (width about 1.5 × antennal diameter),

apical hair bands of terga 1–2 broad ( Fig. 8D–E ), medially nearly completely covering tergal depression ( Fig. 8D–E ) and upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short longitudinal carinae.

Etymology

This species is named for its reduced scopa.

Material examined

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA – Western Cape Province • ♀; Ysterfontein; 33°21′ S, 18°09′ E; Sep. 1960; South African Museum leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province • 1 ♀; Leliefontein , slope; 30°13′58″ S, 18°09′ 52″ E; 31 Aug. 2003; C. Mayer leg.; white trap; CMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2003; CMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Sep. 2003; CMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; slope 402/1; 5 Sep. 2003; pink trap; CMK • 1 ♀; Remhoogte , plain; 30°14′07″ S, 18°09′56″ E; 31 Aug. 2003; C. Mayer leg.; pink trap; CMK • 1 ♀; Leliefontein , plain; 30°13′54″ S, 18°09′45″ E; 11 Sep. 2003; C. Mayer leg.; white trap; CMK . – Western Cape Province • 2 ♀♀; Ysterfontein ; 33°21′ S, 18°09′ E; Sep. 1960; South African Museum leg.; CMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 11–12 mm.

HEAD. Integument black, antenna brown ventrally. Face with short grayish white hairs ( Fig. 8B ), brown on vertex. Clypeus with fine, dense (<0.2 pd) medium-sized, slightly elongate punctures. Malar area very narrow, about ⅓ width of mandibular base. Facial fovea relatively broad, maximum width about 1.5 × antennal diameter.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, coxa and trochanter brown, femur, tibia and tarsi red ( Fig. 8A ). Scutum with short yellowish brown hairs with numerous slightly longer dark brown hairs intermixed. Mesosomal sides grayish white, few light brown hairs on mesepisternum, legs with yellowish white hairs. Disc of scutum with relative dense (0.5–1 pd) punctation, surrounded by dense (<0.5 pd) punctation, interspaces glabrous ( Fig. 8C ). Scutellum and metanotum with short yellowish brown hairs, intermixed with longer dark brown hairs on scutellum, plumose on scutellum and medially on metanotum. Upper sloping part of propodeal triangle with short, longitudinal carinae. Vertical part superficially shagreened and shiny, anterior with a few more or less transverse well-developed carinae. Scopa partly reduced, dorsal dark brown and ventral yellowish white ( Fig. 8F ).

METASOMA. Integument black, terga broadly yellowish to reddish translucent posteriorly. T1–T2 with slight bluish shine. Disc of T1 covered with moderately long, erect white hairs, medio-anteriorly with short hairs interspersed ( Fig. 8D ). Disc of T2 with very short, erect yellowish hairs. T2 with well-developed, relatively broad white basal tomentum ( Fig. 8D ). Discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, short erect blackish hairs. T1–T5 with white relatively broad posterior tergal hair bands, medially narrower on T1 ( Fig. 8E ). Disc of T1 with fine and dense punctation (0.5–1 pd), punctures becoming slightly finer and denser on posterior tergal depression, interspaces glabrous ( Fig. 8D ). Disc of T2 with very fine, dense punctation (<0.5 pd). S2–S5 short white hair fringes, medially very small. Disc of sterna sparsely covered with anterior directed hairs, longer laterally.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Found from the Kamiesberg Mountains in the north down to Ysterfontein in the south ( Fig. 14 ).

Phenology

Recorded in August and September.

Figures

Fig. 8. Colletes ascopalis sp. nov., ♀, paratype (CMK). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head. C. Scutum, dorsal view. D. Metasomal terga 1 and 2, dorsal view. E. Metasoma, dorsal view. F. Hind tibia, lateral view.

Fig. 14. Distribution of C. abnormis Kuhlmann, 2007, C. albohirtus Cockerell, 1946, C. ascopalis sp. nov., C. aureocintus Cockerell, 1946, C. cardiurus Cockerell, 1946 and C. carolinae sp. nov.