Colletes linzhiensis Niu, Zhu & Kuhlmann, 2014

Ferrari, Rafael R., Niu, Ze-Qing, Kuhlmann, Michael, Zhang, Dan & Zhu, Chao- Dong, 2021, The cellophane bees of Colletes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) from Xizang (Tibet), China, Zootaxa 5022 (1), pp. 1-72 : 41-44

Colletes linzhiensis Niu, Zhu & Kuhlmann, 2014

( Figs 24D, 27A–F, 38B, 41D, 42B, 47D)

Colletes linzhiensis Niu, Zhu & Kuhlmann, 2014b: 463 ( holotype ♀: China, Xizang, Bank of Niyang River [IZCAS]). Colletes linzhiensis ; Ascher & Pickering 2021.

Diagnosis. The combination of mesoscutum with mostly black hairs, hind basitarsus with dark setae and T2–T3 apical bands narrower than MOD (in lateral view) is sufficient to tell females of C. linzhiensis apart from those of the other Colletes species of Xizang, except C. luzhouensis , but they unfortunately are morphologically indistinguishable. Males of C. linzhiensis can be diagnosed by having the malar area as long as basal width of mandible, paraocular

Material examined. Published records — CHINA, Xizang: Bank of Niyang River , 29.66 94.35, 2997 m, 11.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 2 ♀ 2 ♂ ; 13.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 17 ♀ 5 ♂; 15.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 5 ♀ 2 ♂; 27.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 1 ♂. Bank of Niyang River , 29.65 94.35, 2995 m, 20.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 18 ♀ 1 ♂ . Bank of Niyang River , 29.63 94.36, 2985 m, 26.viii.2012, ZQ Niu, 5 ♀ .

New records — CHINA, Xizang: Changdu, Mangkang, G 318 Road km3412, 29.7432 95.6753, 3565 m, 2.ix.2015, QT Wu, 8 ♂ . Chayu County, Zhowagoin Town, Sangjiu Village , Mingqi , 28.4853 97.3633, 3647 m, 30.viii.2014, QT Wu, 2 ♂ . Linzhi, Milin, Paizhen , Paimo Road km5.5, 29.5031 95.8979, 3320 m, 6.viii.2015, QT Wu, 1 ♂ ; 7.viii.2015, QT Wu, 7 ♂; 8.viii.2015, QT Wu, 54 ♂; 10.viii.2015, QT Wu, 28 ♂. Linzhi, Milin, Paizhen , Songlinkou , 29.4920 95.9272, 3730 m, 8.viii.2015, QT Wu, 6 ♂ .

Distribution. Western China ( Xizang).

DNA barcode. Unavailable.

Floral hosts. Tamaricaceae : Tamarix chinensis Lour.

and S7 of males of the two species, but they did not explicitly indicate how their females could be distinguished from each other. In fact, the comparative study performed by us revealed that the differential diagnosis for the female C. linzhiensis provided by Niu et al (2014: 464) also matches the female C. luzhouensis . Moreover, no solid morphological difference to allow for their distinction could be found. For this reason, we were unable to confirm the identity of the females deposited in IZCAS, although all previously published records associated with them are replicated herein. This is, to our knowledge, the first case where females of two seemingly distinct Palaearctic species of Colletes are morphologically indistinguishable. This coupled with the fact that DNA barcodes were unavailable for both species makes it clear that further research on this taxonomic issue is needed.