|
Excerpted from Hall et al. 2016. A new species of Colletes (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) from northern Florida and Georgia, with notes on the Colletes of those states.
Diagnosis: Both female and male of C. ultravalidus are distinguished from those
of all other eastern North American species of the genus by their exceptionally long
malar area, especially the male. This is a large bee with dense fulvous mesosomal
pubescence, dark metasomal terga with apical fasciae absent or weak, and strongly
infuscated wings. Color varies, and some specimens have paler pubescence. Colletes
ultravalidus is most similar to, but somewhat larger than, C. validus Cresson (Figs. 2, 3).
The malar area exceeds in length that of C. validus, previously considered the Nearctic
species with the longest malar area within the genus. The proportionately longer
malar area comes at the expense of a proportionately shorter compound eye (Figs.
4–11; Table 1). In contrast to C. ultravalidus, C. validus has pronounced apical fasciae on
the metasomal terga, ochraceous rather than fulvous pubescence, most notable on the
mesosoma, and lighter wings. Colletes ultravalidus tends to have more fuscous hairs
intermixed with light hairs, for example on the legs of females. Colletes ultravalidus
resembles C. thoracicus Smith, as both have abundant mesosomal fulvous pubescence,
strongly infuscated wings, and lack metasomal fascia in females. However, both sexes
of C. thoracicus are easily distinguished from C. ultravalidus by their much shorter malar
area (less than half the width of the mandible base in females, subequal in males) and
shorter clypeus. Females of C. thoracicus are slightly smaller and more slender, males
more so. Three other species of Colletes in the eastern United States have notably long
malar areas, C. longifacies Stephen, C. productus Robertson, and C. compactus Cresson.
All have conspicuous tergal fascia, an average smaller body size than C. ultravalidus,
and malar area not exceeding the width of the mandible at its base, thus much shorter
than the malar area of either C. ultravalidus or C. validus. The S7 of C. ultravalidus and C.
validus males have a nearly identical shape which separates them from other species of
Colletes (Figs. 12, 13). Genital armatures of the two species differ subtly in the position
of the dorsal wings (Figs. 14, 15).
Description: ♀: Structure. Body length 14.27±0.98 mm, inter-tegular distance
3.62±0.05 mm (n=7) [13.37±0.55 mm and 3.17±0.17 mm (n=6), respectively, for C. validus].
Head 3.78± 0.18 mm long (n=7), length about 0.9x head width. Mandibles strongly
crossed in ventral view, one extending nearly one-fifth its length beyond side of
other. Clypeus, 0.44x head length, extends below mandible articulation by 0.5x length
of malar area, strongly protuberant, with moderately deep median sulcus; apical margin
with paired, variably shaped, depressions. Supraclypeal area strongly protuberant.
Malar area about 0.31x length of head, 0.49x length of compound eye, almost 1.9x
width of mandible base [0.25x, 0.37x, and 1.66x respectively for C. validus]. Vertex
excavated lateral to ocelli. Antenna F2 about 0.8x length of F1, F2–F9 subequal in
length, length subequal to width, F10 about 1.1x length of F1. Compound eye about
0.57x length of head [0.63x for C. validus], inner margin subparallel (UOD/LOD ratio =
0.99). Lateral ocelli slightly closer to each other than to compound eyes. Facial fovea
short, wide, and shallow, lower margin about one-third distance from antenna to lateral
ocellus, upper margin nearly level with lower margin of lateral ocellus. Facial fovea
curves from inner orbital margin toward lateral ocellus, ending about half distance
between these two. Genal area about 1.2x width of eye. Pronotal ridge with short,
lateral angle, with wide base. Metapleural protuberance acarinate. Fore coxal spine
lacking. First recurrent vein of forewing meets center of second submarginal cell. Pos-
terior basitarsus 3.9x as long as broad. T1 slightly impressed narrow apical rim; T2–T5
apical impressed area widens from about one fourth to one third of exposed surface
of segment; S1 with narrow, central, rounded, elevated protuberance; S5 with wide,
shallow, semicircular emargination.
Pubescence and Color. Integument nearly all black/piceous. Labrum and mandible
with long, thick, erect, simple, fuscous hairs along ventral edge of mandible and
apex of labrum, may be intermixed with few light hairs [pubescence all light in C. validus].
Lower paraocular area with sparse, short, ochraceous, plumose hairs intermixed
with few, longer, fuscous, simple or somewhat branched hairs. Upper paraocular area
and frons with dense, long, fulvous-brownish, plumose hairs intermixed with smaller
number of fuscous hairs between and lateral to antennae, relatively bare between
antennal base and vertex. Vertex with long, plumose fuscous hairs intermixed with
shorter light hairs; more dense row of long light pubescence extending from upper
occiput along upper margin of vertex. Genal area with sparse, long, fuscous, simple
or somewhat branched hairs below and adjacent to compound eyes, mixed with long,
fulvous, plumose pubescence above, more dense toward occipital ridge. Mesosoma
with dense, light, fulvous hairs on pronotal lobe, as row along omaulus, on lateral
mesoscutum anterior to wings, on metanotum, and on boundary between lateral and
posterior surfaces of propodeum. Sparser, light, fulvous pubescence, intermixed with
varying amounts of fuscous pubescence, on disc of mesoscutum [Stephen (1954) describes
presence of abundant black pile on median discal areas of mesoscutum and
mesoscutellum of C. validus, whereas these areas largely worn bare in both C. ultra-
validus and C. validus specimens investigated here, with fulvous pubescence mainly
on mesoscutum anteriorly and mostly long, erect, fuscous pubescence along posterior
margin of mesoscutellum]. Mesepisternum with long, light pubescence, sparse below
wings, more dense ventrally [distribution of hairs on mesepisternum of C. validus
similar, but pubescence ochraceous to white versus light fulvous in C. ultravalidus].
Leg pubescence generally dark brown on basal segments, becoming dark brown or
fuscous on distal segments [variable, three FSCA specimens with light leg pubescence;
in C. validus light brown pubescence on basal segments, becoming ochraceous or white
on distal segments]. Wings deeply infuscated [lightly infuscated in C. validus], veins
and stigma piceous. T1 with fulvous hairs long and sparse on anterior declivitous
surface, denser laterally; in some specimens fringe of pale ochraceous hairs along outermost
lateral margin [hair distribution similar to that described by Stephen (1954) for
C. validus, pubescence light ochraceous and less dense laterally]. Apical tergal fascia
entirely or mostly absent, but better developed in some specimens with appressed,
isolated, individual hairs or weak, fragmented, patches of tomentum along apical rim,
sometimes more substantial laterally and across T4 and T5 rims [moderately wide
and dense, apical fascia present in C. validus, interrupted medially, broadly on T1 narrowly
on T2, entire on T3–T5; Stephen (1954) described sparse, long, erect, black pile
on tergal discs of C. validus, whereas pile very short and light on discs of specimens
examined]. Unworn specimens of C. ultravalidus have very sparse, short fuscous and
light pubescence on tergal discs. T2–T5 pubescence erect, simple, light, short laterally,
becoming sparser, darker, and longer from anterior to posterior; apical rims black or
faint amber [impunctate tergal rims of C. validus noticeably amber where fascia has
been lost]. T6 with dense, appressed, fuscous pubescence covering disc; erect, long,
fuscous pubescence laterally. S1 protuberance with long fulvous hairs. S2–S5 with
sparse fascia arising along basal margin of narrow, impressed, amber, apical rim; pubescence
becoming denser, longer, lighter laterally; disc with appressed, short, sparse,
light and sparse, erect, fuscous pubescence; light hairs of disc become increasingly
longer, denser laterally. S6 with long, thick, appressed, fuscous hairs intermixed with
fewer light hairs on disc.
Surface Sculpture. Clypeus with large and small deep punctures, widely and unevenly
separated along entire length; punctures much denser, somewhat elongate and
separated by one to two puncture diameters in median sulcus and along margin adjacent
to lower paraocular area; interspaces smooth and shiny over nearly entire length;
extreme base with elongate, dense punctures and/or rough texture. Supraclypeal area
densely and coarsely punctured except center and lower margin; interspaces faintly
imbricate except strongly imbricate along upper and upper-lateral margins and lineolate
laterally and on lower margin. Malar area with few (~18) widely spaced, deep
punctures; interspaces smooth and shiny, faintly lineolate just above mandible base
and just below compound eye. Lower paraocular area with narrow rugulose-punctate
strip of punctures, irregular in size and shape with some elongate, adjacent to and
delineated from smooth malar area; punctures becoming large, deep, dense interiorly,
spaced by less than one puncture diameter, more elongate lateral to antenna; interspaces
shiny. Upper paraocular area rugulose-punctate with smaller, nearly confluent,
elongate, obscure punctures; interspaces rough. Frons with large, elongate, confluent
punctures. Vertex with smooth patch above compound eye and fovea, with widely
spaced large punctures and fine, small punctures inbetween; obscure punctures between
ocelli and along upper margin of vertex; surface rough between ocelli, imbricate
along upper margin. Genal area densely punctured along orbit and between eye and
preoccipital ridge, lineolate along hypostomal cavity. Pronotum dorsal surface and
preomaular area with widely spaced punctures, evenly imbricate. Mesoscutum with
deep, dense punctures, nearly contiguous on anterior half, laterally, and along posterior
margin; punctures larger, less dense on disc. Mesoscutellum with dense, deep
punctures, somewhat elongate, laterally and posteriorly, widely spaced anteriorly
with shiny interspaces; imbricate along anterior-most margin and posteriorly [in C.
validus punctures more poorly defined and somewhat denser on anterior of mesoscutum
and posterior of mesoscutellum]. Tegula with fine punctures separated by two to
three puncture diameters. Mesepisternum with deep, dense punctures, well defined
on hypoepimeral area, separated by no more than one puncture diameter; surfacesomewhat rough, although shiny; punctures more obscure, surface increasingly rough
and lineolate ventrally. Metapleural protuberance with shallow obscure punctures;
surface very rough and somewhat rugulose. Metepisternum rugulose ventrally with
slanted rugae dorsally. Metanotum finely rugulose. Metapostnotum with vertical
(longitudinal), evenly spaced rugae forming a transverse row of shiny pits. Propodeum,
lateral surface with few indistinct, very widely spaced punctures; granulate;
posterior surface rugulose. T1 with declivitous anterior surface nearly impunctate;
deep large punctures on disc, separated by one to three puncture diameters, becoming
smaller and denser along slightly impressed apical rim; interspaces shiny; apical-most
narrow margin impunctate. T2–T5 with punctures somewhat smaller than those on
T1, denser basally and along narrow, median area; finer punctures along impressed
apical rim; interspaces shiny. Metasomal sterna with widely-spaced punctures separated
by three to six puncture diameters, finer and denser on posterior segments; interspaces
imbricate.
Male
Structure. Body length 12.62±0.36 mm, inter-tegular distance about 2.9±0.14
mm (n=6) [somewhat larger than C. validus, 11.76±0.25 mm and 2.71±0.27 mm (n=7),
respectively]. Form more slender than female. Head about 3.66±0.11 mm long, length
about 0.97x head width. Clypeus about 0.44x length of head. Malar area about 0.31x
length of head, 0.53x length of compound eye, about 2.3x width of mandible base
[0.26x, 0.41x, and 1.92x, respectively for C. validus]. Antennae, F2 about 1.5x length of
F1, F2–F9 subequal in length, and length about 1.5x their width, F10 about 1.5x length
of F1. Compound eyes about 0.54x length of head [0.59x for C. validus], inner margins
very slightly convergent below (UOD/LOD ratio = 1.1). Facial fovea shallow, shorter
than in female, upper margin nearly level with lower margin of middle ocellus. Genal
area width about 0.9x width of eye. Mandibles, clypeus, ocellar spacing as in female.
Posterior basitarsi 4.8x as long as broad. Mesosoma and metasoma structure as in female.
S5 lacks median emargination present in female. Genital armature with dorsal
wing of penis valve (terminology from Stephen, 1954) slightly more distal than that of
C. validus (Figs. 14, 15).
Pubescence and Color. Generally greater percentage of fuscous hairs relative to
fulvous hairs than in female. Integumental color as in female. Clypeus with dense,
long, fulvous, plumose pubescence on dorsal third drape over middle third. Lower
paraocular area with long, fulvous hairs and a few scattered, fuscous, simple or somewhat
branched hairs laterally. Upper paraocular area and frons with dense, mixed brown and fuscous pubescence around and just above antennal base, relatively bare
between just above antennal base and vertex. Antenna with brown, short black hairs
on scape longer and more apparent than on female [light, short, and less apparent in C.
validus males and females]. Vertex with dense, mostly fuscous pubescence mixed with
fulvous hairs between ocelli and along upper margin. Genal area with long, fulvous,
plumose pubescence below; hairs shorter above, and denser toward occipital ridge, intermixed
with a few, fuscous, simple or somewhat branched hairs, mainly along orbit.
Mesosomal hair distribution and color similar to female, darker and somewhat denser
on mesoscutum but not obscuring surface. Legs with dense, fulvous, plumose pubescence
on posterior of femur, somewhat less dense on hind femur; hairs simple on tibia
and tarsomeres and slightly darker on some specimens. Wings deeply infuscated,
somewhat lighter than females [clear in C. validus males]; veins and stigma piceous.
T1 anterior and lateral hair distribution similar to female but lacking lateral fringe of
light pubescence; erect, short, light and dark hair mixture on disc. T1–T5 with sparse,
appressed, short, light tomentum forming weak, fragmented, apical fascia, more substantial
than on female [fascia on C. validus males more dense and complete]. T2 and
T3 discs with abundant short, erect, fuscous, simple hairs, intermixed with sparse longer
erect fuscous hairs on T4 and T5. T6 and T7 with decumbent long hairs over disc,
dark on T6, mixed with fulvous on T7. Metasomal sternal hair distribution similar to
female but longer and much denser overall. S2–S5 with long plumose fulvous hairs
on discs becoming progressively shorter and confined to apical center on posterior
segments, flanked by short erect fuscous pubescence on remainder of discs. S4 and S5
with simple, long, erect, light pubescence laterally.
Surface Sculpture. Clypeus surface largely hidden by pubescence; apical threequarters
more densely punctate, especially basally and laterally, than in female;
patches of elongate, contiguous punctures adjacent to rugulose-punctate areas. Supraclypeal
area more densely and evenly punctate than in female; punctures large, deep
and contiguous. Malar area shiny and sparsely punctate as in female, more distinctly
lineolate on lower fourth above mandibles and just below compound eyes. Lower
paraocular area more evenly punctate than in female, punctures separated by no more
than one puncture diameter adjacent to malar area; interspaces shiny, surface rugulose
and rough; punctures become contiguous toward antennal bases. Upper paraocular
area rugulose-punctate with large, deep, somewhat elongate punctures; surface rough.
Frons with large, deep, round, confluent punctures. Vertex as in female but smooth
patch above compound eyes not well defined. Genal area similar to female but punctures
more obscure and surface rougher. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum punctures
as in female but spaced somewhat more evenly. Mesepisternum and metepisternum
as in female. Terga similar to female; punctures slightly more dense and more evenly
separated; T4–T7 interspaces with faint imbrication becoming more pronounced posteriorly.
Metasomal sterna similar to female.
Distribution: Along the Gulf Coastal areas of northern Florida, extending to
southeastern Georgia, in sandhill communities adjacent to wetlands (Fig. 16).
|
