Colletes glaber Warncke 1978

Colletes glaber Warncke, 1978 Figs 2, 3, 4 Colletes glaber Warncke, 1978: 350–352, ♂. Holotype: ♂ [Warncke 1978: 352 mentioned a ♀ as the Holotype but in fact it is a ♂], Şereflikoçhisar, Turkey (OÖLM), examined. Material examined. Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic • Julfa, Daridagh, 39°03'N, 45°40'E, 1100 m, 26. V. 2022, 1 ♀, MM [FSCV]. Distribution. Jordan, Russia (North Caucasus), Turkey, Armenia, * Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic). Remarks. The intraspecific variation of C. glaber has been known for some time. The variability of the male S 7 and gonostylus is particularly striking, as its shape and hairiness are usually stable and species-specific. It therefore seemed possible that this species, which is predominantly found in the mountains of Turkey, could be a complex of closely related taxa. The first record of C. glaber in Azerbaijan was taken as an opportunity to try and clarify the long-standing taxonomic uncertainties around this species and to re-examine the available specimens (in total 65 females and 18 males). Type material was also included in the study and the male Holotype and a female Paratype, both collected at the same locality and date (Turkey: Şereflikoçhisar, 17 May 1970), are photographically documented in detail (Figs 2, 3, 4) as a reference. Data on the records of all examined specimens of C. glaber, most of which are unpublished, are listed below and the distribution of the species is summarised in Fig. 5 I. Information on the type material is also included, since Warncke (1978) only provided incomplete data. It was found that the holotype of C. glaber is a male and not a female, as erroneously stated by Warncke (1978: 352). Type material (6 specimens). HOLOTYPE: ♂. Turkey. • Şereflikoçhisar / Ankara [38.56°N, 33.33°E], 17. 5. 1970, Warncke (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke). PARATYPES. Turkey. • Kilis / Gaziantep [36.43°N, 37.07°E], 13. 5. 1975, 1 ♀, K. Warncke (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke); • Sille / Konya [37.55°N, 32.25°E], 9. - 17. 6. 1975, 1 ♀, J. Heinrich (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke); • same data as for the Holotype, 1 ♀ (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke); • Tanyeri / Erzincan [39.36°N, 39.51°E], 13. 6. 1973, 1 ♀, Kl. Warncke (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke); • Horasan / Arastal [40.02°N, 42.09°E], 14. 6. 1973, 1 ♀, Kl. Warncke (OÖLM, Coll. Warncke). Additional material examined (76 specimens). Jordan. • 80 km NE Aqaba (Straße nach Amman) [29.50°N, 35.20°E], 13. IV. 1989, 2 ♂, J. Gusenleitner (OÖLM); • same data as for preceding, 15. IV. 1989, 3 ♀, (OÖLM). Turkey. • 30 km N of Silifke, Uzuncabure [36.34°N, 33.54°E], 28. V. 1996, 14 ♀, 2 ♂, M. Halada (OÖLM, RCMK); • 40 km E of Mut, Cornelek [36.42°N, 33.41°E], 29. V. 1996, 4 ♀, M. Halada (OÖLM, RCMK); • Antalya, ca. 6 km E of Saklikent [36.50°N, 30.24°E], 1. VI. 2009, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, J. S. Ascher, J. G. Rozen, H. Özbek (AMNH); • Burdur, around Dirimli, 36°55'56"N, 29°38'39"E, 1350 m, 6. VI. 2006, 1 ♀, E. Scheuchl (RCMK); • Kuyucak, Adiyaman [37.51°N, 38.20°E], 8. VI. 1998, 2 ♀, M. Halada (OÖLM); • Sille bei Konya [37.55°N, 32.25°E], 10. VI. 1966, 1 ♀, H. H. F. Hamann (OÖLM); • Ihara valley [38.15°N, 36.18°E], 13. VI. 2008, 1 ♀, M. Kafka (OÖLM); • Güzelsu env., 40 km south-east of Van [43.33°N, 38.19°E], 2000 m, 7. VI. 2001, 10 ♀, 4 ♂, K. Denes sen. (OÖLM, RCMK); • Topuzdagi Gecidi, 38°31.63'N, 35°07.01'E, 1500 m, 18. VI. 2000, 1 ♀, M. & O. Niehuis (RCMK); • Ürgüp [38.37°N, 34.54°E], 17-19. VI. 1976, 1 ♀, Jos. Heinrich (OÖLM); • Afyon, Koroglu mountain pass, 38°55'20"N, 30°53'40"E, 1295 m, 21. VI. 2006, 2 ♀, E. Scheuchl (PCES); • 40 km E of Muradiye [39.00°N, 44.10°E], 2200 m, 5. VII. 2000, 2 ♀, M. Halada (RCMK); • 40 km NE of Muradiye [39.10°N, 44.01°E], 2200 m, 5. VII. 2000, 3 ♀, M. Halada (OÖLM); • Erzurum, 15 km SW, Tekederesi env. [39.48°N, 41.10°E], 2300 m, 2. VII. 2001, 1 ♀, M. Fikacek, J. Hajek & J. Straka (RCMK); • Erzurum Prov., S side of Palandöken Mtn. [39.51°N, 41.17°E], 5. VII. 2007, 1 ♀, J. S. Ascher, J. G. Rozen, H. Özbek (AMNH); • Horasan, 18 km E of Delibaba [40.02°N, 42.09°E], 25. VI. 1993, 1 ♀, 4 ♂, Jirousek (PCMS, RCMK); • 20 km E of Karakurt, Arastal [40.06°N, 42.46°E], 12. VI. 1977, 3 ♀, K. Warncke (OÖLM); • 50 km S of Kara, Pasli [40.17°N, 42.56°E], 1. VII. 1997, 1 ♀, M. Halada (OÖLM); • Giresun, 8-15 km NE of Sebin Karahisar [40.19°N, 38.30°E], 1100 m, 6. VI. 1988, 1 ♀, H. v. Oorschot & H. Wiering (NBCL); • Erzurum, Pazaryolu [40.25°N, 40.46°E], 27. VI. 2008, 1 ♀, J. G. Rozen, H. Özbek (AMNH); • Gümüshane, 28-42 km N of Terssundagi Gecidi [40.29°N, 39.21°E], 1300 m, 20. VI. 1988, 2 ♀, H. v. Oorschot & H. Wiering (NBCL, RCMK); • Cankin, between Sacakbeli pass, 40°41'53"N, 33°00'46"E, 1473 m, 18. VI. 2006, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, E. Scheuchl (RCMK). Azerbaijan. • Data see above. Armenia. • Vedi – Chozrov [40.00°N, 44.50°E], 4. VI. 2003, 1 ♀, Mucka (RCMK). Russia. • Tekipirkent, 41°20'18"N, 47°52'32"E, 29. VI. 2023, 1 ♀, 2 ♂, M. Proshchalykin, A. Fateryga (FSCV, RCMK). Examination of the specimens above revealed that significant variation exists in the coloration and extent of body hair, punctation of metasomal terga, shape of the male S 7 and gonostylus. For both sexes, there is a clear trend toward longer and darker body hair from south to north (Fig. 3 A, C, E, G, I, K). In the north, even blackish hairs are admixed on the vertex and on the dorsal side of the mesosoma (Fig. 3 A, C), which are absent in specimens collected further south (Fig. 3 E, G, I, K). Apical tergal hair bands are distinctly more extensive and denser in the south (Fig. 3 B, D, F, H, J, L), which is particularly apparent in females from Jordan (Fig. 3 J). The variation observed in the punctation of the terga (Figs 2 C, 2 L, 3 B, 3 D, 3 F, 3 H, 3 J, 3 L) and the shape of S 7 (Figs 2 F, 4 B, 4 D, 4 F) and the gonostylus (Figs 2 E, 4 A, 4 C, 4 E) does not seem to follow any general geographical pattern, but rather seems to be specific for a region. It appears that the morphological variability of C. glaber, that also exists within populations, is a continuum in which the different character states transition into one another in a geographical mosaic. Thus, it is currently not possible to morphologically delineate additional taxa based on the available material. However, genetic analyses, which were not feasible within the scope of this study, and further specimens may require a reassessment of the situation in the future. The only exception is a single male from the high mountains in southeastern Turkey, at the eastern edge of the distribution of C. glaber, that is clearly outside the variation range of this species. The specimen was also collected in higher altitude (> 2500 m) than C. glaber specimens and is described below as a new species.