Scrapter spinipes sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 33BE1BCA-688F-4E9B-AD5D-5E5AC395B6BF

Figs 30–31

Diagnosis

The female of S. spinipes sp. nov. can be separated from other species of this group by the combination of the following characters: supraclypeal area and clypeus densely and distinctly punctate, shiny, only partly superficially sculptured (Fig. 30B), scutum densely and coarsely punctate, basal area of propodeum medially about 1.5 times as long as metanotum (Fig. 30 C–D), stigma brown, apical margins of metasomal terga black, terga densely and coarsely punctate (Fig. 30E). The male is characterized by an unmodified antenna, coarsely and densely punctate scutum and metasomal terga (Fig. 31C), hind tibia apically broadened inside, forming a long spine (Fig. 31E), and the form of S7 (Fig. 31D).

Etymology

Named for the conspicuous apicolateral spine of the male hind tibia.

Type material (63 specimens examined)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA: ♂, 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos, 770 m, 31°16'18" S, 19°02'55" E, 18 Aug. 2012, M. Kuhlmann (SANC).

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂, same data as holotype (SANC 2 ♂♂, RCMK 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂); 8 ♂♂, idem, 3 Sep. 2012, MK (RCMK); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Ouberg Pass, 27 km SE of Vanrhynsdorp, Fynbos, 380 m, 31°48'07" S, 18°55'00" E, 9 Aug. 2011, MK (RCMK); 13 ♂♂, idem, 8 Aug. 2012, MK (NHML 9 ♂♂, RCMK 4 ♂♂); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, idem, 13 Aug. 2012, MK (RCMK); 2 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂, idem, 23 Aug. 2012, MK (NHML 5 ♂♂, RCMK 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂), 6 ♀♀, 17 ♂♂, idem, 30 Aug. 2012, MK (SANC 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, NHML 2 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂, RCMK 2 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂).

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 4.8–5.1 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Integument black, except part of mandibles dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair (Fig. 30B). Clypeus slightly convex with coarse punctation, apically sparse (i = 2–3 d), basally dense (i = 0.5–1 d); surface between punctures apically smooth and shiny, basally superficially shagreened and slightly matt (Fig. 30B). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally blackish-brown, ventrally yellowish-brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures superficially reticulate but shiny; disc densely (i = 0.5–1.0 d) and coarsely punctate (Fig. 30 C–D). Metanotum distinctly shorter than basal area of propodeum, apically with broad carinate depression (Fig. 30D). Propodeum basally distinctly and broadly carinate (Fig. 30D). Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, greyish, erect hair (Fig. 30A).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma brown.

LEGS. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; fore tibia basally partly with small yellowish spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish-white, dorsally slightly brownish.

METASOMA. Integument black, apical margins of terga partly narrowly translucent reddish-brown (Fig. 30E). Discs of T1 and T2 without hair; following terga with very few and short but increasingly more and longer hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga (Fig. 30E). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark greyish-brown. T1 densely (i = 1 d) and relatively coarsely but irregularly punctate, between punctures superficially sculptured and shiny; T2–T4 superficially sculptured but shiny, with dense, relatively coarse punctation; T2–T4 with superficially sculptured but shiny, broad apical tergal depression (Fig. 30D).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 4.8–5.1 mm.

HEAD. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black, except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, greyish-white, erect hair. Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, ventrally yellowish-brown, sometimes apical flagellar segments completely or largely dark brown (Fig. 31A).

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures superficially reticulate and slightly matt; disc densely (i = 0.5–1.0 d) and very coarsely punctate. Mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum covered with long, greyish, erect hair (Fig. 31A).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma brown.

LEGS. Integument black, fore tibia in the basal half anteriorly yellow (Fig. 31A). Hind tibia inside apically broadened, with a long spine; hind basitarsus subapically broadened (Fig. 31E). Vestiture greyish-white.

METASOMA. Integument black, apical margins of terga partly narrowly translucent reddish-brown (Fig. 31C). Discs of T1–T2 without hair; following terga with very few and short but increasingly more and longer hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga (Fig. 31C). T1 and following terga densely (i ˂ 0.5 d) and very coarsely punctate, between punctures polished and shiny; terga with narrow, superficially sculptured but shiny apical tergal depression (Fig. 31C). S3 and particularly S4–S5 with long, sparse apical hair fringes.

TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 31B), S7 (Fig. 31D) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 31F) as illustrated.

Distribution

The species has only been found on sandy soils in Fynbos of the wider Nieuwoudtville area.

Floral hosts

Brassicaceae: Heliophila sp., with a strong preference for blue-flowering species.

Seasonal activity

August–September.