Colletes meridionalis Schrottky 1902
Creators: name: Ferrari, Rafael R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Colletidae
Colletes
Colletes meridionalis

description: Colletes meridionalis Schrottky, 1902
(Figs. 22, 27, 28, 52A, 55C, 56B, 57B)
Colletes rufipes meridionalis Schrottky, 1902: 345; Schrottky 1913: 236; Cruz-Landim 1968: 119, 1973: 209; Rasmussen et al. 2009: 31; Ramos et al. 2015: 349.
Lectotype ♀ examined. Designated by Ferrari & Silveira (2015: 260). (MZSP).
Colletes extensicornis Vachal, 1909: 53; Moure & Urban 2002: 9; Silveira et al. 2002: 155; Moure et al. 2007: 681; Azevedo et al. 2008: 150; Carvalho & Oliveira 2010: 48; Moure et al. 2012; Rasmussen 2012: 27; Lima & Silvestre 2017: 11. Synonymy proposed by Ferrari & Silveira (2015: 260).
Lectotype ♁ examined. Designated by Moure & Urban (2002: 9). (MNHP).
Colletes meridionalis; Moure 1945: 394; Moure & Urban 2002: 13; Silveira et al. 2002: 155; Moure et al. 2007: 683; Azevedo et al. 2008: 150; Moure et al. 2012; Ferrari & Silveira 2015: 260; Ascher & Pickering 2018.
Diagnosis: Colletes meridionalis is unique in having the ventral surface of mesepisternum with a protrusion near the end of episternal groove that is surrounded by appressed short hairs. The only other Colletes species known to me that also has this characteristic is C. brevinodis Vachal, 1909 from Bolivia which most likely is the sister-species of C. meridionalis. However, the males of the two species (the female of C. brevinodis remains unknown) can be differentiated from one another by femora and tibiae dark-brown to black in C. meridionalis (femora and tibiae paleyellow in C. brevinodis); and mesepisternum densely punctate in C. meridionalis (mesepisternum sparsely punctate in C. brevinodis). In Brazil, C. meridionalis is most similar to C. pampeanus n. sp. because both are virtually the same size (10/ 8mm in length (♀ /♁)), and their legs are essentialy covered with pale-yellow setae and metasomal terga with pale-yellow appressed hairs. However, these species can be distinguished from each other by the unique feature of C. meridionalis mentioned above; and malar area considerably shorter, ~0.6/~1.3x (♀ /♁) as long as basal depth of mandible, in C. meridionalis (malar area ~1.2/2.0x (♀ /♁) as long as basal depth of mandible in C. pampeanus n. sp.).
Redescription: FEMALE (Figs. 27A, 27C, 27E):
Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 9.2–10.2; head width 3.3–3.6; head length 2.4–2.6; intertegular distance 2.5–2.8; forewing length 7.4–7.9.
Colouration: Black except distal half of mandible and tarsal claws reddish-brown. Femora (except distal ring of hind femur pale-brown), front and mid tibiae, ventrally reflexed lateral areas of T1–T5, metasomal sterna (except S6 pale-brown mid-longitudinally) dark-brown. Vein R of forewing, front and mid tarsi, hind tibia (except proximal 1/5 of dorsal surface dark-brown) pale-brown. Tegula, vein C of forewing, hind tarsus, proximal half of tarsal claws dark-orange. Wing venation (except veins C and R of forewing), tibial spurs, marginal zones T1–T5 and sterna paleyellow.
Structure: Labrum medially concave; concavity margined laterally by longitudinal ridges. Clypeal mid-longitudinal area very narrowly (0.4x MOD) and moderately deeply depressed. Malar area ~0.6x as long as basal depth of mandible (32:55). Hypostomal carina short and flat. F1 ~1.1x as long as its apical width (29:27). UID:LID (66:63). Frontal area without protrusion below lateral ocellus. Vertexal area concave behind upper summit of eye in postero- lateral view. Dorsolateral angle of pronotum modified as a long spine. Mesepisternum ventrally, near ventral end of episternal groove, with protrusion surrounded by short hairs. Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.5x as long as metanotum (21:44); metapostnotal pits well-delimited; posterior transverse carina somewhat sinuous and complete. Posteromedial surface of front coxa with strong spine. Posterior hind tibial spur ciliate. Hind basitarsus ~4.3x longer than broad (52:12). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws ~ 2x as long as inner rami (17:8). Marginal zone of T1 flat. Marginal zone of S6 depressed.
Pubescence: Head with pale-yellow, plumose, erect, moderately long hairs, (except mandible with pale-orange setae); those hairs short on clypeal disc, long near occipital area; genal area with off-white, suberect, short hairs near outer margin of eye pubescence. Mesosoma covered with pale-orange, plumose, erect, long hairs; those hairs only moderately long on mesoscutum and scutellum, very long on upper margin of lateral surface of propodeum; mesepisternum and metepisternum with off-white hairs; lateral surface of propodeum with off-white, short, appressed hairs. Legs with pale-yellow hairs; trochanters and femora with plumose, erect, very long hairs (except hind trochanter with very long hairs); femoral and tibial scopae with branched apically only, suberect, very long hairs anteriorly; tibiae with short setae, suberect on dorsal surface, erect on posterior surface (except hind tibia with erect, moderately short setae on dorsal and posterior surfaces); basitarsi with suberect, short setae on dorsal surface, those setae erect, long on posterior margin (except hind basitarsus with very long setae on dorsal margin). Metasomal terga covered with bright-yellow, dense, appressed hairs (except T6 with black, suberect, short setae); T1 also with plumose, erect, long hairs; T3–T5 also with erect, short setae on discs (those setae longer laterally). Metasomal sterna with pale-yellow hairs; T1 with plumose, erect, long hairs; T2–T6 with erect, minute setae on discs (T2 also with hairs branched only apically); T2–T6 with plumose, suberect, short hairs on marginal zones (except T5 with moderately short setae).
Surface sculpture: Clypeus moderately densely and moderately coarsely punctate near mid-longitudinal depression; lateral slopes densely and moderately finely punctate towards paraocular area; coarsely striate towards lower margin; interspaces smooth throughout. Supraclypeal area sparsely and moderately coarsely punctate; interspaces imbricate. Malar area moderately sparsely and moderately finely punctate; interspaces finely striate. Paraocular area densely punctate throughout (except slightly sparser towards antennal socket); moderately coarsely punctate below (interspaces smooth); finer above (interspaces rugulose). Frontal area punctures crowded and coarse; interspaces rugulose. Vertexal area moderately sparsely and finely punctate near eye; punctures crowded and moderately fine near lateral ocellus; interspaces smooth (except small impunctate area near ocellus with rugulose integument). Mesoscutum and mesepisternum densely and coarsely punctate (except punctures sparse posteromedially); interspaces smooth throughout. Scutellum punctures crowded and moderately coarse (except punctures dense and coarse anteriorly); interspaces rugulose (except interspaces smooth anteriorly). Metanotum densely and moderately coarsely punctate; interspaces rugulose. Metepisternum with oblique carinae mid-anteriorly; rugose above; densely and moderately coarsely punctate below (interspaces imbricate). Lateral surface of propodeum densely and finely punctate; interspaces rugulose. Vertical surface of metapostnotum with transverse carinae above. T1–T5 sparsely and minutely punctate; interspaces smooth throughout. T6 densely and finely punctate. S1–S5 moderately densely and finely punctate (except S2–S5 sparsely punctate mid-longitudinally); interspaces imbricate throughout. S6 densely and moderately coarsely punctate (except finely punctate mid-longitudinally); interspaces imbricate (except longitudinally finely striate towards posterior margin).
MALE (Figs. 27B, 27D, 27F). As in female, except for usual secondary sexual characteristics and as follows:
Dimensions (mm): Approximate body length 7.2–7.9; head width 2.7–3.1; head length 2.1–2.4; intertegular distance 1.9–2.3; forewing length 6.7–7.2.
Colouration: Front and mid tarsi, distal ring of hind tibia dark-orange. Hind femur anterodorsally pale-brown. Marginal zone of T6 pale-yellow. S2–S5 posterioly, disc of S6 pale-brown.
Structure: Clypeal mid-longitudinal area moderately narrowly (0.6x MOD) depressed on upper 2/3, much broadly depressed on lower 1/3. Malar area ~1.3x as long as basal depth of mandible (38:30). F1 ~0.8x as long as its apical width (23:27). UID:LID (61:52). Horizontal surface of metapostnotum ~0.6x as long as metanotum (28:44); metapostnotal pits well-delimited; posterior transverse carina very sinuous. Posteromedial surface of front coxa with small spine. Hind basitarsus ~4.3x longer than broad (47:11). Outer rami of hind tarsal claws ~1.6x as long as inner rami (11:7). Marginal zone of S6 not depressed. S7, S8 and genital capsule as in Figs. 28A, 28B, 28C, respectively.
Pubescence: Genal area with only erect hairs. Mesosoma dorsally with pale-yellow hairs throughout. Lateral surface of propodeum with plumose, erect, long hairs. Posterior margin of hind basitarsus with long setae. T1–T5 with appressed hairs restricted to marginal zones. S3–S5 discs with moderately short setae.
Surface sculpture: Clypeal mid-longitudinal depression densely and finely punctate; adjacent convex area sparsely punctate; interspaces smooth throughout. Supraclypeal area densely and moderately coarsely punctate. Vertexal area densely and moderately finely punctate throughout. Metanotum with smooth interspaces. Lateral surface of propodeum striate posteriorly. Vertical surface of metapostnotum rugose above. T1 moderately densely and moderately finely punctate. T2–T6 densely and finely punctate. Metasomal sterna minutely punctate; interspaces smooth (except imbricate anteriorly). S6 with imbricate interspaces posteriorly.
Material studied: Primary type specimens: Lectotype ♀ of C. rufipes meridionalis— “17.585”. “100.080”. “ LECTOTYPUS; Colletes rufipes meridionalis; Schrottky, 1902; Ferrari & Silveira, des. 2013”. {MZSP}. Lectotype ♁ of C. extensicornis— “ Pernambuco; Brésil ”. “ Colletes ♁; extensicornis; Vach”. “MUSEUM PARIS; Coll. J. Vachal 1911”. “ Lectotype ”. “ Colletes; extensicornis; Vach.”. “MUSEUM PARIS; EY0000000465”. {MHNP}.
Secondary type specimens: Paralectotype ♀ of C. rufipes meridionalis: BRAZIL—Rio Grande do Sul: [H. Ihering], 1♀, {MZSP}. Paralectotype ♁ of C. externsicornis: BRAZIL— 1♁, {MNHP}.
Additional specimens: BRAZIL — Bahia: Ibotirama, 18/i/1985, [Camargo], 1♀, {RPSP}. Itatim, 26/x/1996, 1♀, {MZUEFS}. Distrito Federal: Brasília, Campus da UnB, 18/vi/2004, [L. Pierrot], 1♀, {UFMG}. Minas Gerais: Araxá, 22/iv/ 1965, [C. Elias], 2♁♁, {DZUP}; idem, except 28/iv/1965, 1♀; idem, except 10/v/1965, 1♀. Bonfinópolis de Minas, 26/iii/2000, [M. Mazucato], 3♁♁, {RPSP}. Brasilândia de Minas, Fazenda Brejão, 23/vii/2000, [F. Silveira], 1♁, {UFMG}. Brazópolis, xii/1961, [C. Elias], 2♀♀ 8♁♁, {DZUP}. Brumadinho, Serra da Moeda, 20/xii/1998, [F. Silveira], 1♀, {UFMG}. Catas Altas, Serra do Caraça, [Kloss, Lenko, Martins & Silva], 1♁, {MEUV}. Nova Resende, vii/1961, [C. Elias], 1♁, {DZUP}. Passos, iv/1961, [C. Elias], 1♁, {DZUP}; idem, except 13/xi/1961, 1♀; idem, except 1/iii/1962, 1♁; idem, except 1/viii/1962, 1♀; idem, except 1/ix/1962, 1♀; idem, except 22/viii/1962, 1♀; idem, except 5/viii/1963, 1♀; idem, except 21/xii/1964, 1♀; idem, except 5/xi/1961, 1♀, {RPSP}. Patos de Minas, 23/xi/1965, [C. Elias], 2♁♁, {DZUP}. Patrocínio, Parque Florestal de Patrocínio, 8/ xii/2007, [J. Santos], 1♀ 4♁♁, {UFMG}; idem, except 18/xii/2007, 1♀ 2♁♁; idem, except 4/i/2008, [J. Santos], 1♁. Poços de Caldas, xi/1961, [C. Elias], 1♀ 4♁♁, {DZUP}. Ritápolis, 5/i/1975, [J. Camargo], 1♀, {RPSP}. São Gon- çalo do Rio Preto, Parque Estadual do Rio Preto, 31/x/2002, [F. Coelho], 4♀♀, {UFMG}; idem, except 18/ix/2003, [L. Faria], 1♀, {UFMG}. São Roque de Minas, Serra da Canastra, 26/ii/2001, [E. Almeida], 1♀, {UFMG}; idem, except 28/iii/2007, [A. Azevedo], 1♀ 2♁♁. Serra do Cipó, (-19.3000, -43.5833), 25/ii/1993, [G. Faris], 1♁, {RPSP}. Serra do Salitre, RPPN Cachoeira do Campo, (-19.1666, -46.5682), 2/xii/2016, [Ferrari & Hilário], 6♁♁, {PCYU}. Uberaba, x/1961, [C. Elias], 1♀ 1♁, {DZUP}. Uberlândia, Estação Ecológica do Panga, 24/x/2006, [A. Carvalho], 1♀, {UFMG}; idem, except 21/xi/2006, 1♁. Viçosa, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 4/iii/1989, [G. Bastos], 1♀, {MEUV}; idem, except 11/iii/1989, 1♀. Piauí: 30km NW of Bom Jesus, (-8.9500, -44.5833), 25/i/1993, 1♀, {RPSP}. Rio Grande do Sul: Santana do Livramento, (-30.8730, -55.5283), 3/xi/2012, [Almeida & Aguiar], 1♀, {RPSP}. Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia, (-27.1833, -52.3833), 4/iii/1949, [F. Plaumann], 1♀, {AMNH}. São Paulo: Altinópolis, 12/i/1978, [M. Mazucato], 1♁, {RPSP}.
Range: BRAZIL (Bahia, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sṳo Paulo). See also Fig. 22.
Biogeographical distribution: Chacoan dominion (Caatinga, Cerrado and Pampean provinces), and Parana dominion (Parana Forest province) at altitudes of 400–1500m a.s.l.
DNA barcode: Available. BOLD: ADF9673 (2♀♀ 2♁♁). Distance from the nearest neighbour (C. rufipes): 10.55–11.51%.
Floral hosts: Compositae— Helianthus annuus L. (Moure 1945 (as “girasol”)). Lythraceae— Cuphea sp. (this study). Sapindaceae— Matayba guianensis Aubl. (Carvalho & Oliveira 2010 (as C. extensicornis )).
Comments: Relatively common species widely distributed in Brazil (from Rio Grande do Sul state as north as Piauí state).
The synonymy of C. extensicornis under C. meridionalis by Ferrari & Silveira (2015) that was justified by the presence of a unique characteristic (mesepisternum ventrally with a protrusion surrounded by appressed short hairs) in the primary type specimens of both species is herein further supported by DNA barcoding.
description: Published as part of Ferrari, Rafael R., 2019, A revision of Colletes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Colletinae) from Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, pp. 1-91 in Zootaxa 4606 (1) on pages 46-50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4606.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2860607