Colletes alocochila Moure, 1956

Ferrari, Rafael R., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the species of Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Colletinae) found in Chile, Zootaxa 4364 (1), pp. 1-137 : 14-17

Colletes alocochila Moure, 1956

( Figs. 1A–F )

Colletes alocochila Moure, 1956: 208 ; Toro 1986: 122, 1999: 26; Moure & Urban 2002: 3; Moure et al. 2007: 678; Kuhlmann et al. 2009: 295; Montalva & Ruz 2010: 21; Ascher & Pickering 2017.

Holotype ♀ (examined). {DZUP}.

Diagnosis. The combination of labral median area depressed and margined by ridges, mesoscutal pubescence with off-white and black hairs intermixed, metasoma black and not covered with appressed hairs is sufficient to distinguish C. alocochila from all Chilean species, except the male of C. murinus . Male C. alocochila differs from that of C. murinus by its relatively longer F1, ~1.2x as long as its apical width (F1 as long as its apical width in C. murinus ); and discs of T2–T5 without appressed hairs, with erect hairs only (discs of T2–T5 with appressed hairs intermingled with erect ones, in C. murinus ).

Colletes alocochila is very similar to two other species found in northern Chile, C. nigropilosus n. sp. and C. mastochila . However, it can be differentiated from the former by the mesoscutal anterior 1/3 only moderately densely punctate (i=d) (mesoscutal anterior 1/3 comparatively more densely punctate (i<0.5d) in C. nigropilosus n. sp.); and T1 with off-white pubescence (T1 with black pubescence in C. nigropilosus n. sp.). Colletes alocochila differs from C. mastochila in the following features: comparatively short body, about 9.5/9.0mm (♀ / ♂) in length ( C. mastochila is about 12/ 11.5mm in length); and lateral surface of propodeum with rugulose interspaces (interspaces imbricate in C. mastochila ).

Redescription. FEMALE ( Figs. 1A, 1C, 1E ): Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 9.2–10.1; head width 3.4–3.6; head length 2.7–2.8; intertegular distance 2.4–2.7; forewing length 7.6–8.1.

Colouration: Black except reddish-brown on distitarsi, distal half of tarsal claws; marked on distal 2/3 of mandible. Dark-brown on tegula, wing veins, stigma, marginal zones of metasomal terga and sterna. Dark-orange on proximal 1/3 of tarsal claws.

Structure: Labrum medially concave; concavity margined by lateral ridges. Clypeal mid-longitudinal area deeply and narrowly (0.4x MOD) depressed on upper half; depression progressively shallower towards lower margin; adjacent lateral area convex; apicomedial ridge absent. Malar area ~1.6x as long as basal depth of mandible (42:26). F1 ~1.3x as long as its apical width (57:42). UID:LID (76:72). Genal area concave behind upper summit of compound eyes in lateral view. Dorsolateral angle of pronotum triangular acute. Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.6x as long as metanotum (23:40); metapostnotal pits well-delimited; posterior transverse carina straight and complete. Posteromedial surface of front coxa without spine. Posterior hind tibial spur ciliate. Hind basitarsus ~ 3x longer than broad (64:21). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws 2x as long as inner rami (32:16). Posterolateral area of S6 flat and lacking carina; marginal zone depressed.

Pubescence: Black, plumose, erect, long on lateral slopes of clypeus and supraclypeal area, lower paraocular and frontal areas, mesepisternum, metepisternum, ventral surface of coxae and trochanters, posteroventral surface of front femur, ventral margin of mid femur, S1; such hairs very long on vertexal area, upper margin of lateral surface of propodeum. Mixed black and off-white long hairs on upper paraocular and interantennal areas, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum. Black, erect, moderately long setae on mandible, posterior surfaces of front tibia and basitarsus, dorsal surface of mid tibia and basitarsus; such hairs very long on posterior margin of mid and hind basitarsi. Fulvous, suberect, moderately short setae on ventral surface of tarsi; such setae dark-orange and thick towards distal margin. Black, suberect, very long hairs, which are branched only apically on anterior surface of hind femur and tibia. T1 with off-white, plumose, erect, long hairs; such hairs only moderately long on T2. Disc of T3–T5 and S3–S6 with black, erect, moderately short setae; such setae long on T3–T5 laterally. Marginal zones of T1–T4 with off-white appressed hairs. S2 with black, suberect, long hairs, which are branched only apically.

Surface sculpture: Clypeal mid-longitudinal depression densely and finely punctate; adjacent convex area with very sparse, moderately coarse punctures; lower 1/3 longitudinally striate. Malar area with moderately coarse and fine punctures intermingled; integument striate (except smooth near mandible and eye). Supraclypeal with very sparse moderately coarse punctures on disc (interspaces imbricate below, smooth above); crowded punctate on lateral slopes. Paraocular area punctures crowded and moderately fine; coarser towards upper clypeal margin. Frontal area punctures crowded. Vertexal area densely punctate; finely anteriorly; coarser towards occipital area. Mesoscutum, scutellum and mesepisternum moderately coarsely and densely punctate (except sparsely punctate on disc of mesoscutum and anterior 1/6 of scutellum); interspaces smooth. Metanotum densely and moderately finely punctate; interspaces rugulose. Metepisternum obliquely striate medially; rugose above and below. Lateral surface of propodeum sparsely punctate; interspaces rugulose but somewhat shiny. Upper area of vertical surface of metapostnotum transversely striate medially. Metasomal terga with fine punctures intermingled with minute ones; T1 sparsely punctate; moderately densely punctate on remaining terga. Metasomal sterna finely punctate; densest on S2; sparsest on S6; interspaces imbricate throughout.

MALE ( Figs. 1B, 1D, 1F ). As in female, except for usual secondary sexual characteristics and as follows:

Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 8.6–9.3; head width 3.1–3.3; head length 2.7–2.9; intertegular distance 2.2–2.5; forewing length 7.2–7.6.

Colouration: Tegula blackish. Tibial spurs pale-orange. Marginal zones of S1–S5 dark-brown.

Structure: Clypeal mid-longitudinal depression slightly broader (0.5xMOD) on upper half. Malar area ~ 2x as long as basal depth of mandible (50:24). F1 ~1.2x as long as its apical width (45:38). UID:LID (97:82). Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.35x as long as metanotum (23:68). Hind basitarsus ~3.5x longer than broad (82:24). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws ~ 2x as long as inner rami (26:14). Marginal zone of S6 not depressed. S7, S8 and genital capsule as in Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C , respectively.

Pubescence: Off-white on lateral slopes of clypeus and supraclypeal area, interantennal area, pronotal lobe, mesepisternum ventrally, legs (except ventral surface of tarsi pale-yellow), metasoma. Off-white and black hairs intermixed on genal area, mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum.

Surface sculpture: Clypeal mid-longitudinal depression moderately coarsely punctate; convex area smooth throughout. Supraclypeal area densely and coarsely punctate; interspaces smooth and shiny throughout. Vertexal area punctures evenly crowded. Mesoscutum, scutellum and mesepisternum densely punctate. Metasomal terga evenly moderately finely punctate; T1 moderately densely punctate, T2-T5 densely punctate.

Material studied. Primary type specimen: Holotype ♀ —“ Antofagasta; S. Pedro Ataca.; 16.11.46 ”. “HOLOTIPO”. “ Colletes ♀; alocochilus; P. Moure det 1948”. { DZUP}.

Secondary type specimen: Paratype ♀— CHILE—Region XV: Putre, ii/1948, [G.Kuschel], 1♀, {DZUP}.

Additional specimens: CHILE—Region XV: 10km SE of Zapahuira , (-18.410, -69.537), 3435m, 8/iv/2000, [L.Packer], 2♀♀, { PCYU} . 50km S of Surire, (-19.362, -69.059), 4005m, 31/i/1998, [A.Ugarte], 1♂, { AMNH}. Belén, (-18.490, -69.527), 3231m, 21/x/1952, [L.Peña], 1♀, { KUNHM}; idem, except 25/x/1952, 1♀, { DZUP}. Coronel Alcerreca, (-17.995, -69.666), 3927m, 7/ii/1998, [A.Ugarte], 1♀, { AMNH}. Mirador de Socoroma , (- 18.279, -69.584), 3414m, 7/iv/2000, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU}. Putre, (-18.193, -69.578), 3433m, 16/xi/1997, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU}; idem, except 4/iii/1984, [M.Kalin], 1♀, { KUNHM}. NE of Putre, (-18.180, -69.524), 4040m, 2/xi/2013, [S.Monckton], 3♀♀, { PCYU}. Region I: Chiu-Chiu, (-22.337, -68.615), 2555m, 24/i/1972, [L.Ruz], 1♀, { PUCV}. Chusmiza, (-19.682, -69.188), 3419m, 26/xi/2013, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♀, { PCYU}. Highway 687 km 83, (-20.299, -69.057), 3843m, 4/xi/2013, [S.Monckton], 6♀♀ 2♂♂, { PCYU}; idem, except km 86, (-20.303, -69.039), 3983m, 1♀. Region II: 20km N of San Pedro de Atacama, (-22.731, -68.215), 2920m, 29/iii/2000, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU} . 23km NW of San Pedro de Atacama, (-22.773, -68.371), 3210m, 15/x/2001, [Packer & Fraser], 1♂, { PCYU} . 29km E of San Pedro de Atacama, (-22.930, -68.490), 2483m, 11/x/ 2001, [Packer & Fraser], 1♀, { PCYU} . 70km SE of Calama , (-22.665, -68.230), 3078m, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♀, { PCYU}. Road to Machuca km 5, (-22.724, -68.054), 3511m, 27/x/2013, [S.Monckton], 1♂, { PCYU}. San Pedro de Atacama, (-22.910, -68.211), 2422m, iv/1952, [L.Peña], 1♀, { DZUP}; idem, except 20/ii/ 1960, 2♂♂, { AMNH}; idem, except 7/i/1971, 1♂, { PUCV}. PERU—Puno: Puno, (-15.847, -70.046), 4201m, iii/ 1935, 1♀, { DZUP}.

Range. Chile (Regions XV, I, II), Peru (Puno, Tacna). See also Fig. 3A .

Biogeographic distribution. South American transition zone: Desert, Puna and Atacama provinces. Northern Chilean and southern Peruvian species distributed in the summer rainfall area at altitudes of 2400–4300m a.s.l.

DNA barcode. Available. BOLD: ACW1920 (5♀♀3♂♂), BOLD: ACW1921 (1♀). Representatives of both BINs occur sympatrically (see Table 1). Distance between BINs: 4.67–6.17%. Distance from the nearest neighbour ( C. nigropilosus n. sp.): 8.59–9.62%.

Floral hosts. Leguminosae— Medicago sativa L. ( Toro 1999).

Comments. In Chile, C. alocochila is only found at high altitudes in the northernmost regions, although the species is also distributed in southern Peru, also at high altitudes. As far as is known, a single floral record— M. sativa (Leguminosae) —is available for the species, but this is an introduced plant.

The type series of C. alocochila consists of four specimens: the female holotype, the male allotype, one male paratype, and one female paratype. The two males in this type series, however, actually belong to an undescribed species that is here being described as C. nigropilosus n. sp. (see below). Nevertheless, they must still be considered as valid paratypes of C. alocochila .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Colletes alocochila Moure, 1956. Female: (A) habitus, lateral view; (C) face, frontal view; (E) habitus, dorsal view.Male:(B) habitus, lateral view; (D) face, frontalview; (F) habitus, dorsal view.Scale bars = 2mm.

FIGURE 2. Dorsal view of the male terminalia of C. alocochila. (A) S7; (B) S8; (C) genital capsule.Scale bars = 1mm.

FIGURE 3. Geographic distribution by Colletes species. (A) C. alocochila and C. cyaniventris; (B) C. arthuri n. sp. and C. guanta; (C) C. atacamensis and C. cognatus. Scale bars approximately 300 km.