Colletidae

Subfamily Colletinae Lepeletier

Genus Colletes Latreille (15 taxa)

    Bees of the genus Colletes are solitary, but sometimes nest gregariously. These are ground nesting bees that often have prominent nests in open areas. These are either spring (9 species) or fall (5 species) flying but one species (C. mandibularis) exhibits two generations and flies in both spring and fall. In Florida and the south, they are generally lacking during the summer months of June and July. Most species are polylectic, foraging primarily on shrubs and trees.

    Fifteen to seventeen species, depending on the uncertain taxonomy of three species, are found in Florida. There is some disagreement on species between Stephen (1954) and Mitchell (1960). For example, Mitchell separates C. banksii from C. distinctus while Stephen makes it a synonym. In contrast, Mitchell synonymizes C. carolinus with his C. distinctus. All of our species, with two exceptions, are found elsewhere, primarily in the eastern U.S. but some extending further west. The two endemic species include C. titusensis, found in the central peninsula, and C. longifacies, found in the western panhandle and north-central peninsula. Both species have been described on the basis of 2-3 specimens. One new range extension to Florida is proposed for C. inaequalis, based on the specimens collected by Pascarella (unpublished data) in Leon County, Florida. There are no recognized subspecies but Stephen recognized several species groups.

    Key features used in identifying Colletes to species level include, besides the male genitalia, the presence of a dorsal prominence or horizontal carina on the mesepisternum and metepisternum (Stephen collectively referred to these as the metapleura), the malar length vs. malar width, flagellar length vs. width, hair color, prothoracic spines in females, sterna, and tergum punctation. Hair color is also used although hair color was found to be highly variable in many species (Stephen 1954). The horizontal carina character is found below the wings and can be hard to see. Some species have an orange to yellow edge to the carina, others just a black prominence, and others no noticeable swelling of either type.

Key references to Colletes.

Michener, C. D. 2000. Bees of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA. 913 p.

Mitchell, T.B. 1960. Bees of the Eastern United States. Volume I. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 141, 538 p.

Stephen, W. P. 1954. A revision of the bee genus Colletes in America North of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Colletidae). The University of Kansas Science Bulletin 36(1): 149-527.

Key to females (From Mitchell 1960)

  1. Metapleura each with dorsal prominence or horizontal carina usually with testaceous rim; malar spaces no longer than one-half as long as broad; last exposed sternum with apex not depressed..15
  2. colmanfemmesepisternalcarina.JPG (170325 bytes) colamefemmesepisternalcarinasideclose.JPG (56488 bytes)

    colmanfemmalarspace.JPG (132286 bytes) colamefemfaceside.JPG (52417 bytes)

    Metapluera with no dorsal prominence, or if weak prominence, with carina curving ventrally well in front of posterior margins; if having metapleural prominences, then malar spaces as long as broad…2

  3. Median flagellar segments short, usually one-half to three-fourths as long as broad when viewed from above; and last exposed sternum with apical portion strongly depressed with basal arcuate band of overhanging pile; when apical depression very small, sterna with strong scopa..C. brevicornis
  4. colbrefemant.GIF (496494 bytes) colbrefemabdtop.GIF (494944 bytes)

    Median flagellar segments usually as long as broad when viewed from above; last exposed sternum usually lacking depressed apical portion…3

    coldisfemaleface.GIF (507811 bytes) colnudfemface.JPG (64999 bytes) colbrifemfront.JPG (60955 bytes) colwilfemface.JPG (50887 bytes) colsimmiafemantenna.GIF (416973 bytes) collatfemface.JPG (66806 bytes)

  5. Mesoscutum and/or scutellum with admixture of black pile…4
  6. collatfemscutum.JPG (69520 bytes) collatfemscutellum.JPG (76356 bytes) colsimmiafemscutum.GIF (625969 bytes) colsimmiafemheadtop.GIF (532073 bytes) colwilfemscutum.JPG (67143 bytes) colwilfemscutellum.JPG (80037 bytes) colnudfemscutum.JPG (70262 bytes)  

    Mesoscutum and scutellum with no black pile…12

    coldisfemalescutum.GIF (492142 bytes)  colthofemtop.GIF (466551 bytes) colbrifemscutum.JPG (65332 bytes)

  7. Malar spaces at least three-fourths as long as broad…C. longifacies
  8. Malar spaces usually one-half as long as broad or less…5

    colsimmiafemmalarsp.GIF (542568 bytes) colwilfemfaceside.JPG (63918 bytes)

  9. First metasomal terga very finely punctate, punctures folliclelike and at least two puncture widths apart on discal area…C. titusensis
  10. First metasomal tergum deeply punctate, punctures one to one and one-half puncture widths apart laterally, or punctures fine and contiguous….6

    collatfemterga2close.JPG (65983 bytes) colsimmiafempropodeum.GIF (539341 bytes) colwilfemterga1.JPG (79354 bytes) colnudfemterga1.JPG (66879 bytes)

  11. Posterior basitarsi twice as long as broad, clypeus flattened, obscurely striately punctate; malar spaces one-third as long as broad..C. latitarsis
  12. collatfemrearbasitarsus2.JPG (56202 bytes) collatfemface.JPG (66806 bytes)  

    Posterior basitarsi at least three times as long as broad…7

    colnudfemrearbasitarsus.JPG (54974 bytes) colwilfemrearbasitarsusclose.JPG (48394 bytes)

  13. Prothoracic spines long and sharp, longer than width across base…8
  14. colsimmiafemprothoracicspines.GIF (497667 bytes)

    Prothoracic spines short, absent, or obliquely truncate, never terminating in a needlelike point to edge of head….10

  15. Fore coxae with long spines, at least as long as broad..C. simulans
  16. Fore coxae lacking spines…9.

  17. Clypeus long, flat, dull, and roughened; flagellar segments short, about five-eights as long as broad…C. willistoni

colwilfemclypeus.JPG (71917 bytes) colwilfemfaceside.JPG (63918 bytes)

Clypeus short, convex, coarsely punctate with shiny interspaces; flagellar segments about as long as broad..C. nudus

colnudfemclypeus.JPG (72087 bytes) colnudfemfaceside.JPG (46680 bytes)

10.     Antennae very short, flagellar segments one-half as long as broad; length 9-10mm..11

        colbrefemant.GIF (496494 bytes)         

Antennae long, flagellar segments as long as broad; length 12-14mm….C. inaequalis

11.     Metasomal terga one to three with distinct narrow preapical groove, followed by raised   flangelike margins; clypeus closely punctate…C. brevicornis

colbrefemabdtop.GIF (494944 bytes) colbrefemabdside.GIF (499363 bytes) colbrefemface.GIF (560979 bytes)

Metasomal terga one to three with apical margins entire and smooth, broadly fasciate; clypeus flat, dull, and weakly roughened..C. willistoni

colwilfemtergatop.JPG (56500 bytes) colwilfemtergaside.JPG (48742 bytes) colwilfemclypeus.JPG (71917 bytes)

  1. Prothoracic spines sharp, at least as long as width across base..C. distinctus
  2. Prothoracic spines short or absent, never as long as width across base…13

  3. Mesepisterna dull, obscurely or finely and densely punctate; mesoscutum with pile bright ochreus..C. thoracicus
  4. colthofemside.GIF (623491 bytes) colthofemtop.GIF (466551 bytes)

    Mesepisterna rugosely punctate with shiny, although sometimes roughened, interspaces; pile variable in color….14

    coldisfemaleside.GIF (476513 bytes) colbrifemmesepisternumsideclose.JPG (75480 bytes) colbrifemtop.JPG (42666 bytes)

  5. Last metasomal sternum with weak, elevated lateral longitudinal carina curved medially at apex; second metasomal tergum finely and densely folliculated; tegulae black..C. distinctus
  6. coldisfemaleabdtop.GIF (472823 bytes) coldisfemaletegula.GIF (497270 bytes)

    Last metasomal sternum lacking carinae; second metasomal tergum sparsely folliculated; tegulae brown hyaline…C. brimleyi

    colbrifemtergatop.JPG (67349 bytes) colbrifemscutum.JPG (65332 bytes)

  7. Metapleural prominence strongly protuberant with a broad rim, abruptly declivous beneath..16
  8. colmanfemmesepisternalcarina.JPG (170325 bytes) colamefemmesepisternalcarinasideclose.JPG (56488 bytes)

    Metapleural prominence weakly protuberant with a narrow brown to black rim, shallowly concave beneath…17

    colthyfemmesepistsernumside.JPG (75995 bytes) colmitfemmesepisternumside3.JPG (67516 bytes)

  9. Second metasomal tergum with broad, dense basal fascia, at least as broad as nonpubescent areas between basal and apical fasciae; first metasomal tergum finely and densely punctate especially laterally; metasomal terga three to five with short, white, and semierect pile, giving the surface a whitish sheen; apical fasciae broad and white; lateral fringes of first metasomal tergum dense and continuous to apical fascia; mesoscutum with pile white to ochreus…C. mandibularis
  10. colmanfemtergatop.JPG (181056 bytes) colmanfemterga1.JPG (151879 bytes) colmanfemtergaside.JPG (134717 bytes) colmanfemscutum.JPG (152052 bytes)

    Second metasomal tergum with basal fascia weak or absent, nor more than one-third as wide as nonpubescent area between basal and apical fascia; first metasomal tergum with disc sparsely folliculated and shiny; metasomal terga three to five bare and shiny, occassionally with a few semierect hairs; apical fascia weak and narrow; first metasomal tergum with lateral fringes weak and usally not continuous to apical fascia; mesoscutum with pile deep ochreus to yellow; Second metasomal tergum with a narrow basal fascia; mesepisterna densely, almost contiguously punctate; propodeum with posterior face smooth, sparsely punctate; pile of body tinged with fuscous..C. americanus

    colamefemtergatop.JPG (52718 bytes) colamefemterga1.JPG (72238 bytes) colamefemterga1close.JPG (71743 bytes) colamefemterga4.JPG (61278 bytes) colamefemterga4_5side.JPG (49147 bytes) colamefemscutum.JPG (65795 bytes) colamefempropodeum.JPG (66213 bytes) colamefemside.JPG (49158 bytes)

  11. Mesoscutum and scutellum with strong admixture of black and dark hairs; second metasomal tergum with no basal fascia; mesepisterna rugose…C. thysanellae

colthyfemscutum.JPG (69241 bytes) colthyfemtergatop.JPG (51632 bytes) colthyfemmesepistsernumside.JPG (75995 bytes)

Mesoscutum and scutellum with pile entirely light; second metasomal tergum with strong basal fascia; mesepisterna distinctly punctate…C. speculiferus

colmitfemscutum2.JPG (68986 bytes) colmitfemtergatop.JPG (46816 bytes) colmitfemmesepisternumside3.JPG (67516 bytes)

     

For females, C. brevicornis, C. willistoni and C. distinctus come out twice in the key.

 

Key to males (From Mitchell 1960)

  1. Metapleura each with dorsal prominence or horizontal carina, usually with testaceous rim, and malar spaces no longer than broad, flagellar segments longer than broad…13
  2. colamemalemesepisternalcarinaside.JPG (70139 bytes) colmanfemmesepisternalcarina.JPG (170325 bytes)

    Metapleura with no dorsal prominence or if weakly prominent with carinae curving ventrally well in front of posterior margins, if having rimmed prominence then malar spaces one and one-half times as long as broad…2

  3. Median flagellar segments usually as long as broad or slightly longer, and penis valves with broad dorsal and ventral wings…16
  4. colbreface.gif (496695 bytes) colwilmaleantennae.JPG (39813 bytes) colbremalegentop.GIF (489176 bytes)

    Median flagellar segments usually at least one and one-half times as long as broad; if shorter, penis valves lacking dorsal wing….3

    colthomaleant.GIF (364758 bytes) colthomalegendorsal.GIF (503988 bytes) colsimmiamaleantenna.GIF (494087 bytes)

     

  5. Mesoscutum, scutellum, or inner orbital margins with varying amounts of black hair…4
  6. Mesoscutum, scutellum, and inner orbital margins with light hair…9

  7. Malar spaces at least as long as broad, usually longer…5
  8. Malar spaces no longer than three fourths as long as broad…6

  9. Propodeum with posterior face outside of triangle rugose above; metasomal terga with discs having abundant short, erect, black pile; thorax with pile long, dense, and ochreus; seventh ventral plates with lateral lobe short and at tijmes partially fused to median..C. thoracicus
  10.  colthomalegendors3.GIF (454387 bytes) colthomaleside.GIF (319982 bytes) colthomalegenventral2.GIF (450127 bytes)

    Prododeum with posterior face outside of triangle dull and roughened; metasomal terga with discs having pile white to pale grey; thorax with pile, long, fine, and pale grey on periphery; seventh ventral plates tripartite apically, lateral lobes long and broadly separated from median lobe…C. inaequalis

  11. Posterior basitarsi short, no more than two and one-half times as long as broad..C. latitarsis
  12. Posterior basitarsi about four times as long as broad…7

  13. Prothoracic spines long and sharp, at least as long as width across base…8
  14. colnudmalepronotalspinetop.JPG (59322 bytes)

    Prothoracic spines short, vestigial, or obliquely truncate…C. inaequalis

  15. Vertex and mesoscutum with abundant black pile; length 11-14 mm, body coarsely punctate…C. nudus
  16. colnudmalevertex.JPG (65827 bytes) colnudmalescutum.JPG (66805 bytes) colnudmalescutellum.JPG (76132 bytes)

    Vertex with light pile; mesoscutum with but a few black hairs; length 8-10 mm…. C simulans

    colsimmiamaleantenna.GIF (494087 bytes)  colsimmiamalepropodeum.GIF (547100 bytes) colsimmiamaleside.GIF (401862 bytes)

  17. First metasomal terga shiny, impunctate, or, if punctate, with a few scattered folliclelike punctures especially laterally…10
  18. First metasomal terga closely punctate, punctures no more than two puncture widths apart…12

  19. Flagellar segments short, as long as broad; malar spaces linear…C. titusensis
  20. Flagellar segments about one and one-half times as long as broad; malar spaces at least three-eights as long as broad…11

  21. Malar spaces three-fourths as long as broad; seventh ventral plates with discs broader than long, weakly quadrate…C. brimleyi
  22. Malar spaces three-eigths as long as broad; seventh ventral plates longer than broad, roughly triangular…C. distinctus

  23. Metasomal tergum two uniform from base to apex, not depressed basally..C. thoracicus
  24. Metasomal tergum two depressed basally, with or without basal fasciae…C. simulans

  25. Lower edge of metapleural prominence weakly protuberant with a narrow rim which projects laterally…14   

colthymalemesepisternumside2.JPG (65779 bytes)

Lower edge of metapleural prominence with a broad rim which hangs down and obscures surface beneath it in lateral view….15

  1. Vertex and mesoscutum with admixture of black pile; hypoepimeral area abruptly protuberant; flagellar segments short, about as long as broad..C. thysanellae
  2. colthymalevertextop.JPG (64655 bytes) colthymalescutum.JPG (62177 bytes) colthymalemesepisternumside2.JPG (65779 bytes) colthymalefaceside.JPG (50007 bytes)

    Vertex and mesoscutum with pile all light…C. mitchelli

  3. First metasomal tergum with disc distinctly punctate, punctures no more than three punctures width apart at mid-line..C. mandibularis
  4. colmanmaletergum1.GIF (631229 bytes)

    First metasomal tergum with disc impunctate and shiny or, if punctate, punctures weak and sparse and folliclelike.. C. americanus

    colamemaleterga1_2.JPG (61375 bytes)

  5. Metasomal terga one to three with distinct narrow preapical grooves followed by raised flangelike margins; antennal segment three one and one-half times as long as four; malar spaces linear…C. brevicornis

colbreabd.GIF (528763 bytes) colbremaleabdside.GIF (490636 bytes) colbreside.GIF (287293 bytes)

Metasomal terga one to three with apex smooth, not grooved; antennal segment three subequal to four; malar spaces one-third as long as broad.. C. willistoni

colwilmaleterga1_2.JPG (66314 bytes) colwilmaleantennae.JPG (39813 bytes) colwilmalemalarspace.JPG (63740 bytes)

Note that no males have been described for C. longifacies.