Colletes pseudolaevigena Kuhlmann 2002

Colletes pseudolaevigena Kuhlmann, 2002

(Figs. 4 a–f)

Colletes pseudolaevigena Kuhlmann 2002b: 1158 –1159.

The female of C. pseudolaevigena has been unknown and is here described for the first time.

Diagnosis. Within the C. foveolaris -group the female of C. pseudolaevigena is characterized by a moderately elongate malar area (Fig. 4 c), that is about as long as width of base of mandible or slightly shorter (distinctly shorter in C. brumalis, C. foveolaris, C. gandhi, C. luzhouensis; distinctly longer in C. annapurnensis, C. laevigena) similar to that of C. reinigi and the western Palaearctic C. coriandri, C. escalerai, C. judaicus and C. moricei. From these species C. pseudolaevigena can be differentiated by the much denser punctation of the abdominal terga (Fig. 4 e, 4f) that most closely resembles C. annapurnensis, but in the latter the apical tergal hair bands of T2–3 are about 1/3 broader. The tergal punctation of C. gandhi and C. luzhouensis is denser and coarser than in C. pseudolaevigena.

Description: Female, BL=9.0–9.5mm; head obviously broader than long, HW:HL=61:50 (Fig. 4 b); gena nearly as broad as eye in lateral view, GW:EW=9:11 (Fig. 4 c); width of metasoma slightly narrower than that between tegulae, MtW:TW=68:70. Clypeus nearly as long as broad, with coarse and dense oblique spine-shaped punctation basially, apical punctation slightly sparser (Fig. 4 b); disc of scutum and scutellum shiny, with round and dispersed punctation, i=1.5–2.0d (Fig. 4 d); disc of scutellum medially smooth (Fig. 4 d); malar area long, medially nearly as long as width of mandible base (Fig. 4 c); facial fovea narrow and shallow, nearly 1/2 times wide as width of antennal flagellum; propodeum laterally covered with sparse erect long paler hairs, integumental sculpture completely visible; disc of T1 finely and densely punctate, i=0.5–1.0d; T1 with large lateral white hair pathes, T2 with basal white hair band, T2–T5 with narrow white apical hair bands, and the apical hair band on T2 about 1/4–1/ 5 times broad as exposed tergum of T2 (Figs. 4 e, 4f); sloping anterior sparsely and lateral anterior parts of T1 slightly densely covered with erect long white plumose hairs. Antennal flagella ventrally black (Figs. 4 a, 4d); all legs black. Face, vertex, pronotal lobe, scutum and scutellum covered paler yellowish white plumose hairs, and sparsely intermixed with long black hairs (Figs. 4 a, 4c, 4d).Gena, mesepisternum covered with long paler white plumose hairs.

Material examined: China, Xizang: 2♂♂, Kyishong, 4500 m, 10.VII.1924, Maj. R.W.G. Hingston, Mt. Everest Exp. (NHML, RCMK); 1♀, Zêtang (91º42′E 29º12′N), 3553 m, 13.VI.1981, Tai-Lu Chen; 1♀, Zêtang (91º42′E 29º12′N), 3553 m, 22.VI.1981, Tai-Lu Chen; 12♀♀, Damxung Xian, Yangbajain (90º30′E 30º00′N), 4200 m, 21.IX.1975, Zi-Qing Wang; 2♀♀, Xigazê Xian (88º48′E 29º12′N), 3800 m, 9.VI.1961, Lin-Yao Wang; 1♀, Qüxü Xian (90º42′E 29º18′N), 9.VII.1966, Shu-Yong Wang.

Floral association: no record.

General distribution: China (Xizang).