Colletes somereni Cockerell 1947

Kuhlmann, Michael & Pauly, Alain, 2013, The bee genus Colletes Latreille 1802 in Ethiopia (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae), Zootaxa 3693 (2), pp. 267-292 : 280-283

Colletes somereni Cockerell 1947

( Figs 7 , 12 , 13 )

Colletes somereni Cockerell 1947: 199 –200, Ƥ holotype (type locality: “Nairobi”).

The male of C. somereni is here described for the first time.

Diagnosis. Colletes somereni belongs to the same species-group as C. langano (see above).

The female of C. somereni is characterized by a combination of the following: disc of T1 without dense cover of short appressed hairs ( Fig. 12 d) (in C. rothschildi completely and densely covered with yellowish to orange short appressed hairs ( Fig. 10 d)); mesoscutal disc only with a few black hairs ( Fig. 12 c) (in C. rothschildi and C. missionum and sometimes C. ruficollis no black hairs; in C. langano entire mesonotum covered with a mix of yellowish-brown and black hairs ( Fig. 8 c)); clypeus densely punctate (i <0.5d) ( Fig. 12 b) as in C. langano ( Fig. 8 b) and C. missionum (in C. ruficollis punctation on disc much more scattered (i = 1d)).

The male has a slightly curved and broadened hind basitarsus with a dense crest of long yellowish-brown hairs posteriorly ( Fig. 13 c) which is unique among the Afrotropical Colletes species.

Description. Female. Bl = 10.0–11.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible, apical part of malar area, labrum and apical margin of clypeus dark reddish-brown. Face except clypeus densely covered with long, whitish to yellowish-grey, erect hairs, vertex with brown hairs ( Fig. 12 b). Clypeus with a shallow longitudinal median depression, supraclypeal area almost triangular and convex in profile. Clypeus relatively finely and densely punctate (i = 0.5d), in median depression much finer and denser (i <0.5d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 12 b). Malar area medially about 1/3 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna black, ventrally yellowish to reddish-brown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures smooth and shiny; disc sparsely punctate (i = 1.0–2.0d). Scutellum anteriorly with isolated punctures but with denser punctation apically, surface smooth and shiny ( Fig. 12 c). Mesoscutum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with yellowish-white to brownish-grey, erect hairs, on mesoscutum intermixed with black hairs; scutellum and metanotum with bright orange hair ( Fig. 12 a, c). Wings. Slightly yellowish; wing venation dark brown. Legs. Integument light to dark reddish-brown. Vestiture whitish to greyish, scopa yellowish-white with a few black hairs dorsally. Metasoma. Integument black except elevated apical margin of T1 yellowish translucent and disc of T1 apicomedially sometimes dark red; depressed apical tergal margins yellowish to reddish translucent ( Fig. 12 d). T1 anteriorly sparsely covered with long, erect white hairs; discs of T3–T5 with short but successively longer black hairs; apical tergal hair band of T1 narrow, on following terga much broader ( Fig. 12 a, d). Terga densely and finely punctate (i <d), between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 12 d).

Male. Bl = 9.0–10.0 mm. Head. Head wider than long. Integument black except mandible and sometimes apical margin of malar area and clypeus partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, yellowishbrown, erect hairs; from base of antennae to vertex dark brown hairs intermixed. Malar area medially about as long as width of mandible base, finely punctate. Antenna black, ventrally dark brown. Mesosoma. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures smooth and shiny; disc sparsely punctate (i = 1.0–2.0d). Scutellum anteriorly impunctate with denser punctation apically, surface smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with yellowish-white to brownish-grey, erect hairs, on mesoscutum intermixed with black hairs; scutellum and metanotum with bright orange hair ( Fig. 13 a). Wings. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation dark brown. Legs. Integument light to dark reddish-brown. Vestiture yellowish-brown. Hind basitarsus slightly curved and broadened with a dense crest of long yellowish-brown hairs posteriorly ( Fig. 13 c). Metasoma. Integument black except elevated apical margin of T1 yellowish translucent and disc of T1 sometimes apicomedially dark red; depressed apical tergal margins yellowish to reddish translucent ( Fig. 13 b); T1–T3 with slight oily-bluish sheen. T1 and disc of T2 densely covered with long, erect yellowish to brownish hairs ( Fig. 13 b); apical tergal hair band of T1 narrow, the following ones much broader ( Fig. 13 a, b). Terga densely and finely punctate (i <d), between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 13 b). Terminalia. Genitalia and S7 as illustrated ( Figs. 13 d–f).

Material examined (60 specimens). Holotype, female, KENYA: Nairobi [E36.47 S01.16], March 1930, Dr. van Someren (BMNH).

Additional material: ETHIOPIA: 1 3, Oromia, Abijata Shala Nat. Park [E38.39 N07.28], 1635m, 15.ix.2012, A. Pauly, Brassica (RBINS). KENYA: 1 3, Laikipia, Mpala Res. Centre [E36.30 N00.17], 10.vi.1999, G.N. Stone, at Acacia brevispica (PCKB); 1 3, idem., 7.xi.2003, K. Baldock, on Acacia drepanolobium (PCKB); 3 3, idem., 12./ 13.vii.2004, P. Lenguya, at Acacia nilotica (PCKB); 3 3, idem., 27.-29.vii.2004, P. Lenguya, at Acacia brevispica (PCKB); 1 3, idem., 29.vii.2004, K. Baldock, on Acacia gerrardii (RCMK); 2 Ƥ, idem., 6.ix.2004, K. Baldock, on Acacia drepanolobium & A. ethaica (PCKB, RCMK); 1 3, idem., 13.ix.2004, K. Baldock, on Acacia drepanolobium (PCKB); 1 Ƥ, idem., 28.v.2005, K. Baldock, at Acacia brevispica (PCKB); 1 Ƥ, 1 3, idem., 10.vi.2005, K. Baldock, at Acacia brevispica (RCMK); 1 3, idem., 17.vi.2005, K. Baldock, at Acacia brevispica (PCKB); 2 3, Nakuru [E36.04 S00.16], 6.xii.1982, T.L. & T.R. Griswold (BLCU, RCMK); 2 3, Narok, 75 mi WSW [E35.17 S01.38], 3.ii.1948, Cent. African Exp. Neal A. Weber (AMNH); 1 3, Rift Valley, Kaijado [E36.48 S01.50], 31.iii.2008, Dino J. Martins (PCLP); 1 3, Eastern Tsava [E36.41 S02.56], 27.vi.2001, Dino J. Martins (PCLP). NAMIBIA: 1 3, Rundu [E19.45 S17.55], 22.i.1993, M. Schwarz (RCMK); 2 3, Kombat [E17.43 S19.43], 16.-17.ii.1972, Southern African Exp. (BMNH); 1 3, 30 km E Windhoek [E17.20 S22.33], 4.ii.1990, M. Schwarz (RCMK). ZIMBABWE: 1 Ƥ, Hopefountain [E20.10 S28.35], 29.x.1922, Swinburne, Stevenson (TMSA); 1 3, 100km S Bulawayo, Antilope [E28.26 S21.03], 6.xii.1998, J. Halada (ÖOLM); 1 3, Bulawayo [E28.34 S20.10], 21.xii.1919, Rhodesia Museum (SAMC); 1 3, 140km NW Breitbridge, West Nicholson [E29.21 S21.03], 7.xii.1998, M. Halada (RCMK); 1 Ƥ, Bubi, Bubi river, 80km NE Breitbridge [E30.29 S21.42], 8.xii.1998, J. Halada (OÖLM); 9 3, Mushandike NP, Masvingo [E30.49 S20.03], 10.xii.1998, J. Halada (OÖLM); 5 3, Mushandike Sanctuary, Masvingo [E30.49 S20.03], 9.-11.xii.1998, M. Halada (OÖLM). SOUTH AFRICA: 1 Ƥ, 30km N Colesberg, Orange River [E25.12 S30.29], 25.xi.2002, M. Halada (RCMK); 1 3, SE of Cradock [E25.38.04 S32.11.51], 3.iii.2010, L. Packer (PCLP); 1 3, Mogoto Nature Reserve, Zebediela [E27.45 S23.58], 19.-23.xi.1979, G.L. Prinsloo (SANC); 1 #, D´Nyala Nature Reserve, Ellisras district [E27.49 S23.45], 8.- 12.xii.1989, C.D. Eardley (SANC); 2 Ƥ, idem, 19.xii.1987, M.W. Mansell (RCMK); 1 3, idem, 8.-12.xii.1989, C.D. Eardley (SANC); 1 Ƥ, Schoemanville, H.-B. Dam [E27.52 S25.43], 16.ii.1963, H.N. Empey (SANC); 3 3, Nylsvlei Nature Reserve [E28.42 S24.39], 20.ix.1986, O. Neser (SANC, RCMK); 1 3, Weenen [E30.05 S28.51], 1.ii.1926, H.P. Thomasset (BMNH); 1 3, Skukuza [E31.35 S24.58], 24.iv.1966, A.N. Braack, V. Pienar (SANC); 1 3, Hoedspruit [E31.57 S24.20], 26.xi.1981, M.W. Mansell (SANC).

General distribution. Found in arid and semi-arid regions of eastern and southern Africa ( Fig. 7 ).

Floral hosts. Acacia brevispica , A. drepanolobium , A. ethaica , A. gerrardii , A. nilotica , A. senegal (Fabaceae) .

Seasonal activity (first–last observations). I–XII.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Distribution of Colletes aethiopicus Kuhlmann sp. n. and C. somereni Cockerell.

FIGURE 8. Colletes langano Kuhlmann sp. n., female: a. specimen, lateral view; b. head; c. scutum and scutellum; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Colletes rothschildi Vachal, female: a. specimen, lateral view; b. head; c. scutum and scutellum; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 12. Colletes somereni Cockerell, female: a. specimen, lateral view; b. head; c. scutum and scutellum; d. metasomal terga 1 and 2. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Colletes somereni Cockerell, male: a. specimen, lateral view; b. metasomal terga 1 and 2; c. hind basitarsus; d. metasomal sternum 7 (dorsal view); e. genitalia (dorsal view); f. gonostylus (lateral view). Scale bar: 1 mm.