Colletes richtersveldensis, 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 : 69-70

Colletes richtersveldensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B9BD11A4-51AD-422C-B61A-31D81BF44A10

Figs 50 , 53

Diagnosis

The female can be separated from that of all other species with a normal scopa by the combination of the following characters: apical hair band of T2 about ½ width of disc ( Fig. 50D–E ), malar area long

(¾ width of mandibular base), facial fovea elongate (about 1.5 x width of antennal flagellum), T2 with basal tomentum ( Fig. 50D–E ).

Etymology

Named after the Richtersveld National Park where this species was discovered.

Material examined

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province • ♀; Richtersveld National Park, near Oena Mine; 28°03′ S, 17°03′ E; 23–24 Aug. 2006; C.D. Eardley leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA – Northern Cape Province • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 10–11 mm.

HEAD. Integument black, antenna reddish brown ventrally. Face grayish to yellowish white, intermixed with brown hairs especially on vertex and along inner eye margins ( Fig. 50B ). Clypeus with fine and dense punctation (0.2 pd), punctures slightly elongate, interspaces glabrous. Malar area narrow, length about ¾ width of mandibular base. Facial fovea elongate, maximum width about 1.5 × antennal diameter.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tarsi partly brownish ( Fig. 50A ). Scutum with relatively long, grayish to yellowish white hairs, intermixed with brown hairs ( Fig. 50C ). Mesosomal sides yellowish white, intermixed with brown hairs on mesepisternum, hairs on legs yellowish with brown hairs on tibiae and tarsi interspersed. Disc of scutum dense, fine (1–2 pd) punctured, integument glabrous, surrounded by dense (<0.5 pd) punctation, integument glabrous. Scutellum and metanotum with long, yellowish white hairs, intermixed with brown hairs. Upper sloping part of propodeal triangle scabriculous, vertical part with some transverse carinae anteriorly. Scopa dark brown dorsally, yellowish white ventrally ( Fig. 50F ). Mid femora with distinct edge, stout ridge ventrally and brush of hairs basally.

METASOMA. Integument black, terga broadly translucent posteriorly. T1 densely covered with long, erect yellowish white hairs, medio-anteriorly with short hairs interspersed ( Fig. 50D ). Disc of T2 densely covered with shorter, concolorous hairs. T2 with well developed, relatively broad basal tomentum. Discs of T3–T5 with successively longer, short erect blackish hairs.T1–T4 with relatively broad yellowish white posterior tergal hair bands ( Fig. 50E ). Disc of T1 with fine and dense punctation (0.5–1 pd), punctures much finer and denser on posterior tergal depression. Disc of T2 with fine and dense punctation (0.5 pd); glabrous between punctures. S2–S4 with yellowish white hair fringes, longer laterally, intermixed with brown hairs, S5 long brown hairs. Discs of sterna sparsely covered with short hairs, S2 long yellowish white hairs, S3–S5 shorter.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the Richtersveld National Park ( Fig. 53 ).

Phenology

Only recorded in August.

Figures

Fig. 50. Colletes richtersveldensis 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. 53. Distribution of C. longitarsus sp. nov., C. nieuwoudtvillei Kuhlmann, 2007, C. obscurus Friese, 1925, C. peerboomi sp. nov., C. richtersveldensis sp. nov. and C. ruschia sp. nov.