Colletes atripes Smith, 1854

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 : 25-30

Colletes atripes Smith, 1854

( Figs. 8A–F )

Colletes dimidiata Spinola, 1851: 225 (junior homonym of Colletes dimidiata Brullé, 1840 ). Lectotype ♀ (not examined) designated by Moure & Urban (2002: 4). {MRSN}.

Colletes atripes Smith, 1854: 418 [new name for Colletes dimidiata Spinola (not Brullé)]; Dalla Torre 1896: 37; Jafuel & Pirion 1926: 364; Toro 1986: 122, 1999: 26; Moure & Urban 2002: 4; Moure et al. 2007: 678; Kuhlmann et al. 2009: 296; Montalva & Ruz 2010: 21; Ascher & Pickering 2017.

Diagnosis. The combination of mesosomal dorsum and T1 with ferruginous pubescence, metasoma black, and marginal zones of metasomal terga not covered with appressed hairs is sufficient to distinguish C. atripes from all congeneric species found in Chile.

Colletes atripes is similar to C. bicolor , C. flaminii , and C. fulvipes , from which it can be differentiated by the dull, black metasoma (the other three species have a metallic blue metasoma).

Redescription. FEMALE ( Figs. 8A, 8C, 8E ): Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 10.8–11.9; head width 3.5–3.9; head length 2.8–3.0; intertegular distance 3.2–3.5; forewing length 7.5–8.2.

Colouration: Black except reddish-brown on distal 2/3 of tarsal claws; marked on distal half of mandible. Paleorange on tegula, proximal 1/3 of tarsal claws. Pale-brown on ventrally reflexed lateral areas of T1–T2. Darkbrown on tibial spurs, anterior surface of front and mid femora, ventral surface of hind femur, tarsi (except basitarsi black), wing veins (except vein R of forewing black), marginal zone of T1, disc of S6.

Structure: Labrum medially convex; convexity not margined by ridges. Clypeal mid-longitudinal area neither depressed nor carinate; adjacent lateral area convex; apicomedial ridge present. Malar area ~1.2x as long as basal depth of mandible (38:32). F1 ~1.3x as long as its apical width (48:36). UID:LID (70:63). Genal area concave behind upper summit of compound eyes in lateral view. Dorsolateral angle of pronotum triangular acute. Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.35x as long as metanotum (22:60); metapostnotal pits well-delimited; posterior transverse carina sinuous and narrowly interrupted medially. Posteromedial surface of front coxa bearing long spine (0.65x MOD). Posterior hind tibial spur ciliate. Hind basitarsus ~3.2x longer than broad (52:16). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws ~1.8x as long as inner rami (37:20). Posterolateral area of S6 flat and lacking carina; marginal zone depressed.

Pubescence: Black, plumose, erect, long on lateral slopes of clypeus and supraclypeal area, interantennal, paraocular, frontal, vertexal and genal areas, mesepisternum, metepisternum, posteroventral surface of front femur; such hairs moderately long on ventral surface of mid and hind coxae and trochanters, ventral margin of mid femur, S1. Ferruginous, plumose, erect, moderately long on pronotal lobe, mesoscutum, scutellum; such hairs long on metanotum, T1 (except suberect, moderately long laterally); very long on upper margin of lateral surface of propodeum. Lateral surface of propodeum with off-white, sparse appressed hairs. Black, suberect, very long hairs, which are branched only apically on anterior surface of hind femur and tibia; such hairs erect, moderately long on ventral surface of hind coxa and trochanter. Fulvous, suberect, thick setae on ventral surface of mid and hind tarsi; thickest towards distal margin. Black, erect, short setae on discs of T2–T3; moderately short on T3 laterally, discs of T4–T5, S3–S6; moderately long on mandible, ventral surface of front coxa and trochanter, dorsal surface of tarsi and mid and hind tibiae, T4–T5 laterally; very long on posterior margin of mid and hind basitarsi. S2 with black, suberect, moderately short hairs, which are branched only apically.

Surface sculpture: Clypeal mid-longitudinal depression densely and moderately finely punctate; coarser on adjacent convex area; lower 1/3 longitudinally striate. Malar area longitudinally striate (except substrigulate below). Supraclypeal area imbricate on disc; lateral slopes with crowded punctures. Paraocular area punctures crowded; moderately coarse below; slightly finer above; interspaces rugulose throughout. Frontal area densely and coarsely punctate; interspaces rugulose and dull. Vertexal area minutely punctate; interspaces smooth. Mesoscutum densely and moderately coarsely punctate on anterior 1/3, interspaces imbricate; sparser and coarser on posterior 2/ 3, interspaces smooth. Scutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum moderately coarsely and densely punctate (except metanotum punctures crowded); interspaces imbricate and dull. Metepisternum obliquely striate medially; rugulose above and below. Lateral surface of propodeum imbricate (except rugose on anterior 1/4) but somewhat shiny. Upper area of vertical surface of metapostnotum rugulose medially. Metasomal terga minutely punctate; T1 sparsely punctate; T2–T5 moderately densely punctate; interspaces smooth throughout. Metasomal sterna minutely (except moderately finely on S6) and moderately densely punctate (except sparsely punctate on mid-longitudinal bands), interspaces imbricate throughout.

MALE ( Figs. 8B, 8D, 8F ). As in female, except for usual secondary sexual characteristics and as follows:

Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 8.8–9.4; head width 2.9–3.2; head length 2.5–2.7; intertegular distance 2.4–2.7; forewing length 6.5–6.8.

Colouration: Tibial spurs, tarsi, wing veins pale-brown. Tibiae, marginal zones of T2–T5, posterior 1/5 of S2– S5 dark-brown.

Structure: Labrum medially flat. Clypeal mid-longitudinal area evenly shallowly and broadly (= MOD) depressed; apicomedial ridge absent. Malar area ~2.4x as long as basal depth of mandible (39:16). UID:LID (68:59). Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.45x as long as metanotum (21:45). Posteromedial surface of front coxa without spine. Posterior hind tibial spur ciliate. Hind basitarsus 3.75x longer than broad (60:16). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws ~1.3x as long as inner rami (23:18). Marginal zone of S6 not depressed. S7, S8 and genital capsule as in Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C , respectively.

Pubescence: Pale-yellow on clypeus, supraclypeal and frontal areas, mid and hind tarsi. Vertexal and genal areas, mesepisternum, metepisternum, coxae, trochanters, femora with pale-yellow hairs intermingled with black ones. Lateral surface of propodeum without off-white appressed hairs. Ventral surface of hind coxa and trochanter with plumose, long hairs. S2 with moderately long setae. Marginal zones of S2–S5 with a line of off-white, plumose, erect, moderately short hairs.

Surface sculpture: Clypeus without irregular sulci; mid-longitudinal depression punctures crowded; adjacent convex area with very sparse punctures. Supraclypeal area smooth. Paraocular area densely punctate. Vertexal area moderately finely punctate. Clypeal anterior 1/3, scutellum and mesepisternum with smooth interspaces. Metepisternum rugose above. Lateral surface of propodeum rugulose. Metasomal terga moderately finely punctate; T1 moderately densely punctate. T2–T5 and metasomal sterna densely punctate.

Material studied. CHILE — Region II: 5km N of Paposo , (-24.958, -70.468), 342m, 25/x/2000, [L.Packer], 1♂, { PCYU} . 6km N of Taltal, (-25.375, -70.450), 9m, 20/xi/2002, [Grixti & Zayed], 1♀, { PCYU}; idem, except 15km SE of Taltal, (-25.480, -70.391), 854m, 21/xi/2002; idem, except 16km N of Taltal , (-25.264, -70.437), 41m, 4/x/2002, 8♀♀; idem, except 16km N of Taltal, (-25.264, -70.437), 41m, 20/xi/2002, [Grixti & Zayed], 1♂ . Region III: 1km N of Caldera , (-27.057, -70.802), 17m, 14/x/2009, [J.Gibbs], 6♀♀, { PCYU}; idem, except 16/x/ 2009, 1♀; idem, except 18/x/2009, 2♀♀ . 8km W of Domeyko , (-28.979, -70.972), 646m, 15/x/2014, [J.Postlethwaite], 1♂, { PCYU} . 9km N of Chañaral , (-26.278, -70.659), 30m, 16/x/2010, [Almeida & Packer], 1♂, { RPSP} . 10km N of Caldera , (-26.977, -70.786), 36m, 14/x/2010, [Almeida & Packer], 1♀, { RPSP} . 10km N of Huasco Bajo , (-28.380, -71.166), 76m, 13/x/2001, [L.Packer], 1♂, { PCYU} . 10km W of Domeyko , (-28.978, - 70.984), 634m, 13/x/2010, [Almeida & Packer], 2♂♂, { RPSP} . 37km W of Copiapó , (-27.350, -70.000), 1050m, 16/xi/2003, [M.Irwin], 1♀, { BBSL} . 51km N of Vallemar , (-28.113, -70.596), 533m, 6/xi/1992, [Rozen, Sharkov & Snider], 2♀♀, { AMNH} . 53km NNE of Vallenar, (-28.161, -70.643), 480m, 15/ix/2013, [Almeida & Packer], 1♀, { RPSP}; idem, except 17km N Vallenar , (-28.433, -70.720), 659m, 13/x/2010, 1♂; idem, except 19km N of Vallemar, (-28.419, -70.714), 672m, 13/x/2010, 2♂♂ . Caldera, (-27.075, -70.832), 43m, 17/x/2014, [J.Postlethwaite], 1♀, {PCYU}. Caleta Chañaral de Aceituna , (-29.090, -70.467), 1664m, 5/v/2010, [Packer & Fraser], 3♂♂, { PCYU} . Caleta Pan de Azucar, 13/iv/2000, [L.Packer], 2♀♀ 1♂, { PCYU}. Camping Tres Playitas , (-28.399, -71.188), 13m, 17/xi/2002, [Grixti & Zayed], 1♀, { PCYU}. Copiapó bypass km 16, (-27.410, -70.444), 505m, 19/v/2010, [L.Packer], 1♂, { PCYU}. Cuesta Portezuelo Blanco, (-26.324, -70.431), 408m, 17/x/2010, [Almeida & Packer], 1♂, { RPSP}. E of Chañaral, (-26.341, -70.449), 342m, 16/x/2010, [Packer & Almeida], 1♂, { PCYU}. Highway 5 km 848, (-27.344, -70.693), 192m, 16/x/2009, [J.Gibbs], 6♀♀ 6♂♂, { PCYU}; idem, except km 908, 14/x/2009, 1♀; idem, except km 915, 14/x/2009, 1♀ . Los Medanos, (-26.474, -70.685), 38m, [L.Packer], 1♀1♂, {PCYU}. N of Huasco, (-28.440, -71.188), 17m, 19/x/2013, [S.Monckton], 7♀♀, {PCYU}; idem, except 1/ x/2013, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♀; idem, except 14/x/2013, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♂. N of Vallenar, (-28.500, -70.750), 568m, 11/x/2000, [L. Packer], 2♀♀4♂♂, {PCYU}; idem, except 17/x/2000, 1♀2♂♂. NE Aguada de Tongoy, (-28.512, -71.166), 120m, 14/ix/2010, [L.Packer], 1♀1♂, {PCYU}. NW of Copiapó, (-27.277, 70.764), 226m, 23/x/2000, [L.Packer], 2♀♀, {PCYU}. Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe , (-28.150, -70.940), 237m, 6/x/2002, [L.Packer], 4♀♀, { PCYU}; idem, except 13/x/2000, 2♀♀ . Pesquera Bahia Caldera, (-27.054, - 70.804), 14m, 15/xi/2013, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♂, { PCYU}. Quebrada los Leones, (-26.977, -70.786), 36m, 1/v/2010, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU}. Quebrada Salada, (-26.730, -70.736), 27m, 22/x/2013, [S.Monckton], 2♀♀, { PCYU}; idem, except 15/xi/2013, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♂ . Region IV: 1km W of Lorenzo Peralta, (-30.581, -71.650), 396m, 7/xi/2015, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU}. Chañar, (-30.286, -70.633), 1384m, 22/x/ 2009, [J.Gibbs], 3♀♀, { PCYU}. Choros Bajos, (-29.285, -71.316), 48m, 16/x/2000, [L.Packer], 2♀♀, { PCYU}. Los Choros, (-29.313, -71.293), 150m, 13/ix/2010, [L.Packer], 1♂, { PCYU}. N of Punta de Choros , (-29.220, - 71.462), 24m, 8/xi/2013, [L.Packer], 1♀, [Postlethwaite & Monckton], 1♀, { PCYU}. Parque Nacional Fray Jorge, (-30.637, -71.597), 259m, 14/x/2000, [L.Packer], 1♀, { PCYU} . Playa la Despensa , (-29.620, -71.287), 4m, 11/xi/ 1997, [L.Packer], 2♀♀ 1♂, { PCYU}. S of Vicuña, (-30.072, -70.727), 748m, 14/x/2014, [J.Postlethwaite], 1♀, { PCYU}. SE of Los Choros, (-29.305, -71.283), 136m, 13/ix/2010, [L.Packer], 3♂♂, { PCYU}. Tongoy Arda Costanera, (-30.272, -71.498), 4m, 26/x/2001, [Packer & Fraser], 1♀, { PCYU}.

Range. Chile (Regions II–IV). See also Fig. 10A .

Biogeographic distribution. South American transition zone: Atacama province. Andean region: Chilean sub-region (Coquimban province). Central Chilean species distributed in the winter rainfall area at altitudes of 0– 1700m a.s.l.

DNA barcode. Available. BOLD: ACF589 (5♀♀2♂♂), BOLD: AAF4094 (6♂♂). Representatives of both BINs are distributed throughout the species’ geographical range (see Table 1). Distance between BINs: 1.65– 2.79%. Distance from the nearest neighbour ( C. cognatus ): 5.56–8.18%.

Floral hosts. Leguminosae— Adesmia confusa Ulibarri [ Jaffuel & Pirion 1926 (as A. arborea Clos )]. Loasaceae— Nasa triphylla (Juss.) Weigend (this paper). Malvaceae— Cristaria sp. ( Toro 1999). Portulacaceae— Calandrinia sp. ( Toro 1999). Solanaceae— Nolana sp. (this paper).

Comments. Although C. atripes has a reasonably restricted geographic range within Chile (Regions II–IV), the species is very common where it is found.

Determination of the actual identity of C. atripes was straightforward, as the female is unique in having the combination of mesosomal dorsum and T1 covered with ferruginous pubescence and black metasoma, as indicated in the original description by Spinola (as C. dimidiata ). DNA barcoding allowed for easy sexual association.

Even though two different BINs have been assigned to specimens identified as C. atripes , which could suggest the existence of an additional cryptic undescribed species, no consistent morphological support has been found (including comparison between the terminalia of potentially distinct males from each BIN). Therefore, a scenario of high level of intraspecific variation in COI seems to be more likely than two sibling species evolving sympatrically (see Table 1).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Colletes atripes Smith, 1854. Female: (A) habitus, lateral view; (C) face, frontal view; (E) habitus, dorsal view. Male:(B) habitus, lateral view; (D)face, frontal view; (F) habitus, dorsal view.Scale bars = 2mm.

FIGURE 9. Dorsal view of the male terminalia of C. atripes. (A) S7; (B) S8; (C) genital capsule. Scale bars = 1mm.

FIGURE 10. Geographic distribution by Colletes species. (A) C. atripes and C. patagonicus; (B) C. rutilans and C. bicolor; (C) C. chusmiza and C. flavipilosus n. sp. The records of C. rutilans out of Chile have not been plotted. Scale bars approximately 300 km.