Colletes storozhenkoi Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin, 2025

Colletes storozhenkoi Kuhlmann & Proshchalykin , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2A, B View FIGURE 2 , 3A, B View FIGURE 3 )

Type material ( 5 specimens). HOLOTYPE ♀. RUSSIA: “ Russia , Dagestan Republic, 5 km SE Novokayakent, 42°21′17′′N 48°03′12′′E, 23.06.2023, Proshchalykin” ( ZISP) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: 4♀, same data as for the holotype ( 2♀ FSCV, 2♀ RCMK) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. The new species belongs to the C. nanus species group that is particularly speciose in deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. Far less species occur in the Caucasus region and Middle Asia, namely C. popovi Noskiewicz, 1936 , C. schwarzi Kuhlmann, 2002 and the enigmatic C. penulatus Noskiewicz, 1936 . The latter species is known only from the single female holotype, which appears to have been lost and could not be studied (for details see “Remarks” below). Therefore, the diagnosis is limited to the first two closely related species, which are the only others found in the region. Both are also extensively illustrated here to facilitate the identification of all species.

The female of C. storozhenkoi differs from C. popovi and C. schwarzi by the following character combination: clypeus evenly convex and densely punctate, almost dull ( Figs 1B View FIGURE 1 , 2A View FIGURE 2 ) (medially flat and more sparsely punctate, shinier in C. schwarzi ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ) and C. popovi ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 )), apical clypeal grooves slightly further apart and smaller ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ) than in the other two species ( Figs 2C, E View FIGURE 2 ), disc of mesoscutum sparsely punctate (i = 2–4d) ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ) (impunctate in C. schwarzi and C. popovi , Figs 2D, F View FIGURE 2 ), apical tergal hair bands narrower, glabrous parts of tergal discs broader than apical tergal hair bands ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ) (apical tergal hair bands broader, glabrous parts of tergal discs narrower than apical tergal hair bands in the other two species ( Figs 3C–F View FIGURE 3 )).

Description. Female. Body length = 8.0– 9.5 mm. Head. Head wider than long (width to length ratio: 1.3–1.4: 1) ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Integument black except tip of mandible sometimes partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, yellowish-white, erect hairs; on vertex partly darker brown ( Figs 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ). Malar area narrow, medially about 1/4 as long as width of mandible base, finely striate. Antenna dorsally dark blackish-brown to black, ventrally on apical segments slightly lighter; F1 slightly longer than wide (length to width ratio: 1.1: 1). Mesosoma . Integument black. Dorsolateral angle of pronotum almost rectangular with a short, sharp tip. Mesoscutal disc sparsely and relatively finely punctate (i = 2–4d), interspace smooth and shiny ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ). Scutellum in the anterior half almost impunctate, smooth and shiny, posteriorly dull. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, whitish to yellowish-brown, erect hair ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Wings. Transparent, membrane light brown; wing venation brown to blackish ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Legs. Integument black. Hind basitarsus about four times as long as wide. Vestiture whitish ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Metasoma. Integument black; depressed apical tergal marginal zone margins yellowish to dark reddish translucent ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). T1 and T2 anteriorly densely covered with short appressed yellowish-white hairs, T1 anteriorly and medially on disc additionally sparsely covered with long, erect yellowish-white hairs ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ); apical tergal hair bands dense and broad, glabrous parts of tergal discs broader than apical tergal hair bands ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). T1 densely and finely punctate (i = 0.5–1d), interspace smooth and shiny; discs of following terga distinctly finer punctate and more dull ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after Prof. Sergei Yuryevich Storozhenko, a well-known Russian entomologist who made a great contribution to the study of orthopteroid insects.

General distribution. Only known from the type locality in Dagestan, southern Russia .

Floral hosts. Unknown.

Seasonal activity. June.

Remarks. The female of C. storozhenkoi differs in some respects (sculpture of clypeus, punctation and pilosity of metasoma) from the description of C. penulatus and both species were found in different regions ( C. penulatus :

valley of the river Ares, formerly Araxes, South Azerbaijan).Although it appears to be unlikely, it cannot be completely ruled out at present that they might indeed represent this species. According to the description, the holotype of C. penulatus (only a single specimen is known) was placed in Noskiewicz´ collection ( Noskiewicz 1936: 287) but the specimen is not there ( Wanat et al. 2014). So, ultimate clarity could only be obtained by either rediscovering the holotype of C. penulatus or by finding females that exactly match Noskiewicz’s (1936) description, that are known to be precise and reliable.