identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
F23E87B0FF89FFF03EDFFB70FABAF969.text	F23E87B0FF89FFF03EDFFB70FABAF969.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Colletes aragorn Kuhlmann & Goergen 2025	<div><p>Colletes aragorn Kuhlmann sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs 1, 2)</p><p>Diagnosis. Colletes aragorn belongs to the taxonomically challenging and species-rich C. rufitarsis species-group. As defined by Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly (2013) and Kuhlmann (2020), the group comprises nine described species, namely (in alphabetical order) C. abessinicus Friese, C. aethiopicus Kuhlmann, C. fascicularis Cockerell, C. gorillarum Cockerell, C. marleyi Cockerell, C. michaelis Cockerell, C. opacus Friese, C. rufitarsis Friese and C. senkelensis Kuhlmann. Species of this group are mainly found in tropical to subtropical regions.</p><p>Females and males in the C. rufitarsis species-group are predominantly dark orange-brown and densely hairy. Apical tergal hair bands are broad and relatively dark yellowish-white to orange-brown. Terga, especially T1, are densely (i &lt;d) and finely to very finely punctate (in females of C. abessinicus and C. fascicularis punctation very shallow and indistinct, terga with oily bluish shine). Additional features of the males are as follows: T1 completely and T2 at least anteriorly on the disc covered with long erect hairs; S7 mostly roundish (e.g. Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly, Fig. 2c), in some species very large and membranous (Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly, Fig. 5c), or partially shortened and apically with curved / wavy end margin (e.g. Kuhlmann 2020, Fig 2c); gonostylus slightly longer to about twice as long as wide.</p><p>The male of C. aragorn differs from the other described species of the group by the following character combination: unique shape of S7 (Figs 2C–D), gonostylus as in Figs 2A–B (most similar with C. opacus, C. marleyi), mesoscutum with orange-brown hair (intermixed with dark blackish hairs in C. rufitarsis, C. gorillarum), lack of an oily bluish shine on the metasomal terga (Figs 1B–D).</p><p>Description.</p><p>Female. Unknown.</p><p>Male. Body length = 9.0–11.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long (width to length ratio: 1.3–1.4: 1). Integument black except tip of mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, yellowish-brown, erect hairs; on vertex partly darker brown (Fig. 1A). Malar area medially about half as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna dorsally dark blackish-brown to black, ventrally slightly lighter; F1 shorter than wide (length to width ratio: 0.9: 1). Mesosoma. Integument black. Dorsolateral angle of pronotum with a short, sharp point. Mesoscutal disc densely punctate (i = 0.5–1d), interspace smooth and shiny. Scutellum anteriorly almost impunctate, smooth and shiny, posteriorly densely punctate. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, yellowish-brown, erect hair (Fig. 1A). Wings. Transparent, membrane light yellow; wing venation brown to blackish. Legs. Integument dark reddish-brown; tarsi yellowish-brown. Hind basitarsus about four times as long as wide. Vestiture yellowish-white (Fig. 1A). Metasoma. Integument black; depressed apical tergal margins yellowish to dark reddish translucent (Figs 1B–D). T1 and T2 anteriorly sparsely covered with long, erect yellowish-brown hairs; apical tergal hair bands dense and broad (Figs 1B–D). Terga dense and finely punctate (i ≤ 0.5d), interspace smooth and shiny (Figs 1C, D). Terminalia . Genitalia and S7 as illustrated (Figs 2A–D).</p><p>Type material (19 specimens).</p><p>HOLOTYPE: ♂. NIGERIA: “ <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=8.5&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=9.44" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 8.5/lat 9.44)">Nigeria</a>: 13 mi. SW Bukuru [E08.50 N09.44], 925 m, 16-IX-1966, E.S. Ross &amp; K. Lorenzen ” (RCMK).</p><p>PARATYPES: TOGO: 9♂ “TOGO / Kloto [E00.34 N06.57], sweep netting: forest, Sep. 2008, Col.: G. Goergen ” (3♂ IITA, 6♂ RCMK); 9♂ “ TOGO / Kloto, forest area [E00.34 N06.57], Sep. 2008, Col.: G. Goergen ” (2♂ IITA, 7♂ RCMK).</p><p>Etymology. The species is dedicated to the Ranger of the North, Aragorn II, a fictional character and protagonist in J.J.R. Tolkien´s novel The Lord of the Rings. Noun in apposition.</p><p>General distribution. Only known from the type locality in Nigeria and in the Kloto-Missahohe area of Togo, both of which are located in the highlands (Fig. 7).</p><p>Floral hosts. Unknown.</p><p>Seasonal activity. September.</p><p>Morphological variation. The male from Nigeria and those from Togo show some slight morphological variation in outer morphology, while S7 (Figs 2A, B) and genitalia (Figs 2C, D) are identical. The specimen from the Jos Plateau (Nigeria) has a denser punctation on the metasomal terga (Figs 1B, C) than any of the males from Togo (Fig. 1D) and its apical sternal hair fringes are slightly longer and denser. However, on the basis of a single Nigerian specimen, it is not possible to assess whether the deviations are due to individual or geographical variation.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F23E87B0FF89FFF03EDFFB70FABAF969	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Kuhlmann, Michael;Goergen, Georg	Kuhlmann, Michael, Goergen, Georg (2025): The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa. Zootaxa 5661 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6
F23E87B0FF8BFFF73EDFF947FE07FE62.text	F23E87B0FF8BFFF73EDFF947FE07FE62.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz 1955	<div><p>Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz, 1955</p><p>(Figs 3A–B, 4A–B, 5A–B)</p><p>Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz, 1955: 81–87,</p><p>♂ Holotype (type locality: Israel, Bat Jam (as Bal-Jam)) (SMNH) , not examined.</p><p>This rarely collected and little-known bee belongs to the species-rich C. squamosus group, which is widespread in desert areas of Asia and Africa.</p><p>Material examined (9 specimens). MALI: 1♀, 1♂, 25 km E <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-1.33&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=15.16" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -1.33/lat 15.16)">Hombori</a> [W01.33 N15.16], 18.viii.1991, leg. W.J. Pulawski (CASC); 2♀, 2♂, 30 km NE <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-1.33&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=15.22" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -1.33/lat 15.22)">Hombori</a> [W01.33 N15.22], 18.viii.1991, leg. M. Schwarz (1♀, 1♂ PCMS, 1♀, 1♂ RCMK); NIGER: 2♀, 20 km S Tahoua [E05.20 N14.45], 13.viii.1987, leg. A. Pauly, on Sterculiaceae (1♀ A. Pauly / RBINS, 1♀ RCMK); 1♀, Tsernaoua [E05.20 N13.53], 13.viii.1987, leg. A. Pauly, on Sesamum (A. Pauly / RBINS).</p><p>General distribution. The species is only known from Israel, Mali and Niger (Fig. 7).</p><p>Floral hosts. Sterculiaceae gen. sp., Sesamum sp. ( Pedaliaceae).</p><p>Seasonal activity. August.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F23E87B0FF8BFFF73EDFF947FE07FE62	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Kuhlmann, Michael;Goergen, Georg	Kuhlmann, Michael, Goergen, Georg (2025): The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa. Zootaxa 5661 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6
F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFE41FE1DFC0C.text	F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFE41FE1DFC0C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Colletes diodontus Benoist 1958	<div><p>Colletes diodontus Benoist, 1958</p><p>(Figs 3C–D, 4C–D, 5C–D)</p><p>Colletes diodontus Benoist, 1958: 164–165,</p><p>♂ Holotype (type locality: Morocco, Boumalne) (MZLS), not examined.</p><p>The species belongs to the recently defined C. diodontus group that comprises three small species that are densely covered with white appressed pilosity. They are only known from desert regions of Morocco, Mauritania and the Arabian Peninsula (Kuhlmann 2014).</p><p>Material examined (1 specimen). MAURITANIA: 1♀, Nouakchott [W15.58 N18.05], bac jaune, iii.1991, leg. F. Borgato (RCMK) .</p><p>General distribution. Endemic to desert regions of Morocco and Mauritania (Fig. 7).</p><p>Floral hosts. Unknown.</p><p>Seasonal activity. March.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFE41FE1DFC0C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Kuhlmann, Michael;Goergen, Georg	Kuhlmann, Michael, Goergen, Georg (2025): The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa. Zootaxa 5661 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6
F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFBAAFE07F9AA.text	F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFBAAFE07F9AA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Colletes microdontus Cockerell 1937	<div><p>Colletes microdontus Cockerell, 1937</p><p>(Figs 3E–F, 4E–F, 5E–F)</p><p>Colletes microdontus Cockerell, 1937: 140–141,</p><p>♂ Lectotype [designated by Kuhlmann 1998] (type locality: Namibia, Seeheim) (NHML) , examined.</p><p>The species belongs to the morphologically isolated C. microdontus group. The only other closely related species is C. microdontoides Kuhlmann, 2003 from Saudi Arabia (Kuhlmann 2003). The female was described for the first time and the male redescribed by Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly (2013) who also already published the only known record of the species from West Africa: 1 ♂, Senegal, Louga [W16.14 N15.36], 2.viii.1979, A. Pauly, Tribulus terrestris L. (RBINS) (Fig. 7).</p><p>General distribution. This species is widespread in deserts of the Afrotropical region and has been recorded from Senegal in West Africa, Ethiopia and East Africa down south to Namibia and South Africa (Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly 2013).</p><p>Floral hosts. Hermbstaedtia odorata ( Amaranthaceae), Acacia nilotica, A. ethaica, A. brevispica ( Fabaceae), Tribulus sp., T. terrestris ( Zygophyllaceae) (Kuhlmann &amp; Pauly 2013).</p><p>Seasonal activity. August.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F23E87B0FF8CFFF73EDFFBAAFE07F9AA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Kuhlmann, Michael;Goergen, Georg	Kuhlmann, Michael, Goergen, Georg (2025): The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa. Zootaxa 5661 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6
F23E87B0FF8CFFF43EDFF908FA6FFE7A.text	F23E87B0FF8CFFF43EDFF908FA6FFE7A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Colletes Latreille 1802	<div><p>Key to the Colletes species of West Africa</p><p>Females</p><p>The female of C. aragorn sp. nov. is unknown.</p><p>1 Antennal flagellum ventrally brown to blackish (Fig. 4E); T2 medioapically distinctly depressed with clearly defined, truncated premarginal line (Fig. 4F); T1 and T2 apically with conspicuous transverse band of orange appressed hairs, contrasting with the lighter hair of the rest of the metasoma (Fig. 3E, 4F)...................................... C. microdontus Cockerell</p><p>- Antennal flagellum ventrally bright yellowish (Figs 4A, C); T2 medioapically either not or only slightly depressed, without or only with weakly defined premarginal line (Figs 4B, D); T1 and T2 without conspicuous transverse band of orange appressed hairs, not contrasting with white to cream-colored pilosity of the rest of the metasoma (Figs 3A, C, 4B, D).............. 2</p><p>2 Malar area longer than width of the base of the mandible; clypeus densely and finely punctate (Fig. 4C).................................................................................................... C. diodontus Benoist</p><p>- Malar area about ½ as long as width of the base of the mandible; clypeus sparsely and coarsely punctate (Fig. 4A).......................................................................................... C. bytinskii Noskiewicz</p><p>Males</p><p>For a reliable identification of males, it is essential to dissect genitalia and S7.</p><p>1 Antennal flagellum ventrally brown to blackish (Figs 1A, 3F); discs of T1 and T2 either without short appressed hair (Figs 1–D) or only partially covered so that the surface sculpture remains visible (Fig. 5E).................................... 2</p><p>- Antennal flagellum ventrally bright yellowish (Figs 3B, 3D); discs of T1 and T2 at least partly densely covered with short appressed hair hiding the surface sculpture (Figs 5A, C)....................................................... 3</p><p>2 Body hair yellowish to orangish brown (Fig. 1A); T1 and T2 apically slightly depressed, premarginal line not truncated (Figs 1C, D); S7 as in Figs 2A, B..................................................... C . aragorn Kuhlmann sp. nov.</p><p>- Body hair whitish to cream-colored (Fig. 3F); T1 and T2 apically deeply depressed with clearly defined, truncated premarginal line (Fig. 5E); S7 as in Fig. 5F. ....................................................... C . microdontus Cockerell</p><p>3 Malar area about twice as long as width of the base of the mandible; T7 apically narrowly rounded, with a pair of short, backward-facing spines, which may be partially covered by hair; S7 as in Fig. 5D.................. C . diodontus Benoist</p><p>- Malar area about as long as width of the base of the mandible; T7 apically broadly rounded, without spines; S7 as in Fig. 5B.................................................................................. C . bytinskii Noskiewicz</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F23E87B0FF8CFFF43EDFF908FA6FFE7A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Kuhlmann, Michael;Goergen, Georg	Kuhlmann, Michael, Goergen, Georg (2025): The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa. Zootaxa 5661 (2): 249-260, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5661.2.6
