Species Trichocolletes grandis Batley & Houston, 2012
- Trichocolletes (Trichocolletes) grandis Batley, M. & Houston, T.F. 2012. Revision of the Australian bee genus Trichocolletes Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Paracolletini). Records of the Australian Museum 64(1): 1-50 [Date published 23 May 2012] [21].
Type data:
Holotype AM K.278552 ♂, New South Wales. 50 km SE Broken Hill, 8 Sep. 2007, M. Batley, ex Swainsona viridis [32.1831°S 141.9067°E].
Generic Combinations
- Trichocolletes grandis (Batley & Houston, 2012).
Distribution
States
New South Wales, South Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Arid areas of western New South Wales and South Australia
IBRA
NSW, SA: Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Stony Plains (STP)
Ecological Descriptors
Adult: mellivore, volant.
Extra Ecological Information
Collected on flowers of: Swainsona viridis
Diagnosis
Length c. 13 mm; eyes hairy; metasomal bands silver; gena wide; vertex elevated; colour of metasoma variable. Labrum usually black in both sexes, but see comments on variation. Male gena with dense white hair.
Variation
Specimens collected at Coober Pedy were strikingly different in colour from those collected elsewhere. Males differed primarily in the colour of the pubescence, but females exhibited altered integumental colour. The metasoma of females was mostly red, legs brown and labrum amber, instead of black. Coober Pedy females retained weak metasomal hair bands but the integumental colour bands on the terga were frequently indistinct. One specimen exhibited intermediate colouring, with large areas of dark brown on T1,2, integumental metasomal colour bands and darker legs. Both sexes from Coober Pedy had strongly orange-brown pubescence, but this may have been the result of mineral staining. In all other respects, including the elevated vertex, dense genal hair and intermediate length setae on the eyes, the specimens were identical to those from other locations. The scapes of one male specimen were black, but all other males had orange scapes.
General References
Batley, M. & Houston, T.F. 2012. Revision of the Australian bee genus Trichocolletes Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Paracolletini). Records of the Australian Museum 64(1): 1-50 [Date published 23 May 2012]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Sep-2012 | 07-Sep-2012 | MOVED | ||
| 23-Aug-2012 | ADDED |