Trichocolletes centralis, Batley, 2012

Batley, Michael, 2012, Revision of the Australian Bee Genus Trichocolletes Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Paracolletini), Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 64 (1), pp. 1-50 : 14-16

Trichocolletes centralis n.sp.

Figs 52, 88

Type. Holotype ♂, 30 km W Sandstone [27.59S, 119.18E], Western Australia, 7 Sep. 1981, T. F. Houston, on flowers of Daviesia grahami , in WAM 13563. Co-ordinates on the label refer to the location of Sandstone at 27°59'S 119°18'E.

Specimens examined. The holotype and the following. New South Wales: 3♂, Dolo Creek (31.6933°S 142.8697°E), 7 Sep. 2007, M. Batley, AM (K.334669–71). Queensland: ♂, 34 km E Cunnamulla (28.0456°S 146.0658°E), 24Aug. 2007, M. Batley, AM (K.334668); 7♂, 2♀, 70 mi NW Quilpie, 17 Aug. 1968, J. C. & T. F. Houston, on Crotolaria eremaea, SAM (32-024508,10,11) & UQIC; 2♂, 4♀, 8 mi NE Windorah, 16 Aug. 1968, J. C. & T. F. Houston, on Kennedia prorepens, UQIC & SAM (32-024509). South Australia: ♂, ♀, 70 mi N Marree, 13 Aug. 1969, E. M. Exley, UQIC; 3♂, 9♀, Simpson Desert, 15–18 Sep. 1971, T. F. Houston, on Swainsona , Crotalaria , Goodenia & Helipterum, SAM (32-024645–56). Western Australia: 3♂, 2♀, 24–25 km ENE Beyondie HS, 17–20 Aug. 1984, T. F. Houston & B. P.Hanich,on flowers of Thryptomene maisonneuvei & Scaevola spinescens, WAM (13540–44); ♀, Beyondie Little Sandy Desert (24.5833°S 120.2833°E), 28 Aug. 1997, D. Knowles & A. Start, visiting Swainsona, WAM (21021); ♂, ♀, Cardabia, K. T.Richards, WAA (45286–87); ♂, 36 km N Charlies Knob, 1 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Swainsona, WAM (13558); ♂, 28 km N Charlies Knob, 6 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Dicrastylis exsuccosa, WAM (13557); 6♂, 37 km SW Glenayle HS, 6–9 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Swainsona, WAM (13547–52); 3♂, ♀, Karijini National Park (22.5250°S 118.7833°E), 20 Aug. 2001, T. F. Houston, on flowers of Gompholobium polyzygum, WAM (29092–95); 8♂, 2♀, 15 km N Kumarina Hotel, 21 Aug. 1984, T. F. Houston & B. P. Hanich, on flowers of Thryptomene maisonneuvei & Swainsona, WAM (13530–39); ♀, 28 km WSW Lenister, 11 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P.McMillan, on flowers of Baeckea stowardii, WAM (13556); ♂, 33 km WSW Lenister, 11 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Dicrastylis brunnea, WAM (13555); ♂, ♀, 30 km NW Lorna Glen HS, 10 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Ptilotus obovatus, WAM (13553–54); 2♂, 17 km E Mt Nossiter, 7 Aug. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, on flowers of Dicrastylis exsuccosa, WAM (13559–60); 4♂, 30 km W Sandstone, 7 Sep. 1981, T.F. Houston, on flowers of Daviesia grahami, WAM (13563–67); 2♀, 8 km NE Tamala HS (26.70°S 113.71°E), 21–23 Aug. 1980, C.A.Howard & T. F. Houston, on flowers of Mirbelia ramulosa, WAM (13835, 14422); 3♂, 7♀, 16 km SW Tangadee HS, 22Aug.1984, T. F.Houston & B. P.Hanich, on flowers of Swainsona, WAM (13520–29); 2♂, ♀, 25 km SW Tangadee HS, 22 Aug. 1984, T. F. Houston & B. P. Hanich, on flowers of Swainsona, WAM (13523,45,46); ♂, 7 km N Wongawol HS, 29–30 Jul. 1983, T. F. Houston & R. P. McMillan, WAM (13561); ♀, Woomera, 15 Sep. 1968, H. Mincham, on flowering legume shrub, SAM (32-024507).

Diagnosis

Length 11–13 mm; eyes not hairy; malar space short; metasoma sericeous with broad bands. Male metasoma slender; legs slender; tibiae, tarsi and antenna ventrally orange-brown. Female pubescence of scutum short, dense; only hind tarsal claw with small inner ramus.

Variation

The colour of the metasomal bands varies from silver to moderately bright gold and that of the scutal hair ranges from orange-brown to almost white. No correlation was found between colour and geographic location. The apical half of the flagellum is darkened ventrally in some males.

Descriptions

Male (holotype).— Head width 3.80 mm, body length 11.8 mm. Relative dimensions: HW 50, HL 39, UID 30, UFW 32, LID 31, DMA 30, HVO 5, WOC 14, MOD 4, OOD 8, IAD 9, ASD 3, AOD 8, ML 20, BMW 7, MSL 1.0, SL 12, SW 3, FL c. 53.— Eyes not hairy; face narrow; malar space short (length c. 0.1× basal mandibular width); length flagellomeres c. 1.5× width. Legs slender; hind tarsus 1.2× as long as hind tibia; hind basitarsus 3.5× as long as wide; posterior carina of basitibial area reaches apex. Genital capsule similar to that for T. orientalis n.sp. (Fig. 37); S7 with long, thin posterior projections and ligulate processes, rectangular lateral lobes with sinuate posterior margin (Fig. 52).— Labrum cream; ventral rim clypeus amber; scape, pedicel, flagellum ventrally, tarsi, tibiae and femora orange-brown, with medial brown areas on fore and mid femora; flagellum dorsally, coxae, trochanters dark brown. T 1–5 with broad, pale gold bands (see variation); T 7 and large part of S6 orange-brown.— Scutum with dull sheen, weak pit-reticulation and dense, small punctures.— Face with dense orange hair, erect on clypeus. Scutum with close, long, plumose, orange hair; fore basitarsus with tapered golden plume; hind femur with fringe of long hair on anterior margin; metasoma sericeus with semi-adpressed simple hair.

Female ( WAM 13523).— Head width 4.00 mm, body length 12.6 mm. Relative dimensions: HW 50, HL 39, UID 30, UFW 32, LID 32, DMA 30, HVO 4, WOC 13, MOD 3, OOD 8, IAD 7, ASD 4, AOD 9, ML 20, BMW 6, MSL 0.5, SL 15, SW 3, FL c. 32.— Eyes not hairy; face quadrate; malar space short (length c. 0.1× basal mandibular width); clypeus transversely convex; middle flagellomeres as long as wide; inner hind tibial spur with c. 7 long, well-spaced teeth; fore tibial calcar with c. 5–6 strong teeth; hind tarsal claw only with small inner ramus; pygidial plate apically entire with broad medial elevation.— Labrum, mandibles medially, apical rim clypeus amber; anterior margins of fore and mid tibia orange-brown; remainder of legs dark brown. T 1–4 with broad pale gold bands, narrowly ferruginous across anterior margin.— Clypeus reticulate basally, with large punctures, becoming polished and sparsely punctate apically. Scutal sculpture as for male.— Face with long white, plumose hair, becoming dark brown near ocelli, dense in apicolateral corners of clypeus, paraocular areas and on frons, sparse on clypeus and supraclypeal area. Scutum densely covered with short, finely-branched, pale brown or orange-brown hair; tibial scopa white or pale orange except near basitibial area; prepygidial fimbria gold.

Remarks. This species is referred to as F246 (part), M219, F273 and M 228 in Houston (2000).

Etymology. The specific name, used as a Latin adjective, refers to the regions where the species has been found.

Distribution. Central, arid areas of Australia (BHC, CHC, GAS, GAW, GD, GS, LSD, ML, MUR, PIL, SSD, STP) ( Fig. 88 ).

T. pulcherrimus (dorsal view)

the following. South Australia: 6♂, Hincks Nat. Pk (33.50°S 136.90°E), 12 Oct. 1972, C. A. & T . F. Houston , on Dillwynia uncinata, SAM (32- 024627 to 32) ; ♀, Kimba-Wudinna Road , 8 Oct. 1974, T . F. Houston , SAM (32-024633) ; ♂, 35 km E Wudinna (33.1581°S 135.8219°E), 15 Sep. 2004, M. Batley, AM (K.316503) . Western Australia: ♂, 3♀, Badgingarra National Park , 1–3 Oct. 1980, T .F. Houston, on flowers of Jacksonia, WAM (13568–71); ♂, ♀, Badgingarra Natl Park (30.5306°S 115.4306°E), 15 Sep. 1995, J. Cane & L. Kervin, ex Daviesia ?, WAM (32095–96) ; ♂, ♀, 18 km NW Eneabba , 9–12 Sep. 1987, T . F. Houston, on flowers of Jacksonia ulicina, WAM (13578, 13858); ♂, 31 km 9° W of N Eneabba , 28 Aug. 1999, T . F. Houston, on flowers of Daviesia incrassata ssp. teres, WAM (27522); ♂, c. 5 km W Eurardy HS (27.6611°S 114.6944°E), 24 Aug. 1999, T . F. Houston, on flowers of Jacksonia cupulifera, WAM (27505); ♂, 13 mi N Geraldton , 19 Aug. 1971, T . F. Houston , SAM (32-024626) ; ♂, Kenwick , 14 km SE Perth, 10 Sep. 1980, J. Lewis, on Bossaeia, WAM (13600) ; 6♀, Watheroo National Park (30.20°S 115.83°E), 3–5 Oct. 1980, T .F. Houston, on flowers of Daviesia brevifolia, WAM (13572–77).

Diagnosis

Length male c. 12 mm, female c. 13 mm; eyes not hairy; metasomal bands moderately wide; prominent supraclypeal area inclined to clypeus, viewed laterally. Male scapes swollen; supraclypeal area bare, polished, impunctate on anterior surface; female clypeus with open, large punctures.

Descriptions

Male (AM K.316503).— Head width 3.6 mm, body length 11.9 mm. Relative dimensions: HW 50, HL 41, UID 33, UFW 32, LID 30, DMA 30, HVO 4, WOC 15, MOD 5, OOD 9, IAD 8, ASD 3, AOD 8, ML 19, BMW 6, MSL 1.5, SL 12, SW 6, FL c.44.— Eyes not hairy; face narrow, inner orbits subparallel; malar space c. 0.3× basal width mandible; scape swollen (width 0.48× length); anterior face supraclypeal area pentagonal, weakly depressed medially, inclined relative to clypeus viewed laterally; flagellomeres F1–6 flattened ventrally and conspicuously hirsute; middle flagellomeres slightly longer than wide. Legs robust; mid basitarsus short (length 2.3× width); hind tarsus 1.1× as long as hind tibia; hind basitarsus 4.3× as long as wide; basitibial area flattened but acarinate. Genital capsule similar to that for T. sericeus (Fig. 40); S7 with triangular lateral lobes, basal teeth obsolete, posterior projections small (Fig. 53).— Labrum, mandible medially, scape, mid and hind tarsi, distal ends femora, proximal ends tibiae, ventral surfaces flagellomeres F1–6, distal half F11 orangebrown; legs and remainder of flagellum brown. T1–5 with broad, orange-gold bands, ferruginous across anterior margin.—Anterior face of supraclypeal area polished and impunctate, clypeus densely punctate, except apical margin; scutum dull with strong pit-reticulation obscuring punctures.— Face, except supraclypeal area, with dense, long, minutely-branched, bright orange hair. Scutum with close, long, plumose, orange hair; fore basitarsi without distinct plume; posterior margin of mid basitarsus with dense fringe of long, golden hair; trochanters and hind femur with copious, long, golden hair.

Female (WAM 13568).— Head width 4.2 mm, body length 13.0 mm. Relative dimensions: HW 50, HL 39, UID 31, UFW 33, LID 32, DMA 30, HVO 3, WOC 15, MOD 4, OOD 8, IAD 8, ASD 4, AOD 9, ML 19, BMW 7, MSL 2, SL 15, SW 3, FL c. 28.— Eyes not hairy; face approximately quadrate, inner orbits parallel; length malar space c. 0.3× basal width mandible; basal suture clypeus straight; supraclypeal area with triangular anterior face at distinct angle to clypeus viewed laterally; flagellum moderately short; middle flagellomeres approximately as long as wide; inner hind tibial spur with c. 12 long teeth; hind basitibial area large, c. 0.3× as long as hind tibia; tarsal claws with large, triangular inner ramus; pygidial plate emarginate, strongly sculptured.— Labrum, mandible medially, ventral rim of clypeus, f3–10 ventrally, orange-brown; scape, remainder of flagellum and legs dark brown, with dull orange-brown on anterior surface of fore tibia. T1–4 with moderately wide silver-white bands.— Clypeus reticulate with open, large punctures; anterior face of supraclypeal area with sparse punctures; remainder of face densely punctured; scutum dull with strong pit-reticulation.— Face with long, white, plumose hair becoming pale orange-brown near ocelli, dense in paraocular areas and on frons, sparse on clypeus and supraclypeal area. Scutum with close, short, plumose, dark-tipped brown hair; hind tibial scopa orange-brown except dark brown near basitibial area; prepygidial fimbria golden-brown.

Remarks. The holotypes of T. chrysostomus and T. lucidus both carry labels with the word “TYPE” in Cockerell’s hand.

This species is similar to T. sericeus , which is found in the eastern half of the continent. Both sexes have a shorter head length than T. sericeus and males may be distinguished by the bare, sparsely punctate supraclypeal area and females by the less dense punctures of the clypeus. The female specimens examined were less brightly coloured than many of the males, which may be a result of their collection later in the season.

This species is referred to as F248/M221 and M 222 in Houston (2000).

Distribution. Coastal Western Australia and southern South Australia (EYB, GS, MAL, SWA) ( Fig. 89 ).

Figures

Figs 80–91. Known distribution of Trichocolletes species.