Colletes microdontus Cockerell, 1937

Kuhlmann, Michael & Goergen, Georg, 2025, The bee genus Colletes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) in West Africa, Zootaxa 5661 (2), pp. 249-260 : 253

Colletes microdontus Cockerell, 1937

( Figs 3E–F , 4E–F , 5E–F )

Colletes microdontus Cockerell, 1937: 140–141 , ♂ Lectotype [designated by Kuhlmann 1998] (type locality: Namibia, Seeheim) (NHML), examined.

The species belongs to the morphologically isolated C. microdontus group. The only other closely related species is C. microdontoides Kuhlmann, 2003 from Saudi Arabia ( Kuhlmann 2003). The female was described for the first time and the male redescribed by Kuhlmann & Pauly (2013) who also already published the only known record of the species from West Africa: 1 ♂, Senegal, Louga [W16.14 N15.36], 2.viii.1979, A. Pauly, Tribulus terrestris L. (RBINS) ( Fig. 7 ).

General distribution. This species is widespread in deserts of the Afrotropical region and has been recorded from Senegal in West Africa, Ethiopia and East Africa down south to Namibia and South Africa ( Kuhlmann & Pauly 2013).

Floral hosts. Hermbstaedtia odorata ( Amaranthaceae ), Acacia nilotica , A. ethaica , A. brevispica ( Fabaceae ), Tribulus sp. , T. terrestris ( Zygophyllaceae ) ( Kuhlmann & Pauly 2013).

Seasonal activity. August.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz, 1955. A. Female, habitus, lateral view. B. Male, habitus, lateral view. C. diodontus Benoist, 1958. C. Female, habitus, lateral view. D. Male, habitus, lateral view. C. microdontus Cockerell, 1937. E. Female, habitus, lateral view. F. Male, habitus, lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz, 1955 female. A. Head. B. Metasomal terga T1 and T2. C. diodontus Benoist, 1958 female. C. Head. D. Metasomal terga T1 and T2. C. microdontus Cockerell, 1937 female. E. Head. F. Metasomal terga T1 and T2.

FIGURE 5. Colletes bytinskii Noskiewicz, 1955 male.A. Metasomal terga T1 and T2. B. S7, dorsal view. C. diodontus Benoist, 1958 male. C. Metasomal terga T1 and T2. D. S7, dorsal view. C. microdontus Cockerell, 1937 male. E. Metasomal terga T1 and T2. F. S7, dorsal view.

FIGURE 7. Records of Colletes species in West Africa.