Colletes diodontus Benoist, 1958

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 diodontus Benoist, 1958

( Figs 3C–D , 4C–D , 5C–D )

Colletes diodontus Benoist, 1958: 164–165 , ♂ Holotype (type locality: Morocco, Boumalne ) (MZLS), not examined.

The species belongs to the recently defined C. diodontus group that comprises three small species that are densely covered with white appressed pilosity. They are only known from desert regions of Morocco, Mauritania and the Arabian Peninsula ( Kuhlmann 2014).

Material examined (1 specimen). MAURITANIA: 1♀, Nouakchott [W15.58 N18.05], bac jaune, iii.1991, leg. F. Borgato ( RCMK) .

General distribution. Endemic to desert regions of Morocco and Mauritania ( Fig. 7 ).

Floral hosts. Unknown.

Seasonal activity. March.

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.