Key for the identification of species in the Scrapter nitidus species group

Females

Females of S. convexoides sp. nov., S. perpunctatulus sp. nov. and S. glaberrimus are unknown.

1. Pronotal lobe yellowish to white (Figs 2A, 3A); if pronotal lobe brownish, scutellum and metanotum at least partly orange (Figs 70C, 73C) ............................................................................................... 2

– Pronotal lobe brownish to black (Figs 24A, 36A, 57A); scutellum and metanotum dark brown to black................................................................................................................................................... 6

2. Scutum, scutellum and metanotum partly orange; propodeum completely rugulose-areolate; supraclypeal area delimited by sharp edges (Figs 70C, 73C)............................................................ 3

– Scutum, scutellum and metanotum brownish or black; propodeum often partly carinate or coriaceous (Figs 8C–D, 58C–D, 64C–D); supraclypeal area elevated but not sharply delimited....................... 4

3. Metanotum with an orange spot medially (Fig. 70C).................................. S. flavipunctatus sp. nov.

– Metanotum completely brown (Fig. 73C) .......................................... S. ruficornis (Cockerell, 1916)

4. Facial fovea narrow, at least 5 times as long as wide, convergent at vertex (Fig. 8B); posterior ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes; discs of T2–T3 deeply punctate (Fig. 8E–F) ......... ............................................................................................................ S. flavostictus Cockerell, 1934

– Facial fovea wide, about 3.5 times as long as wide (Fig. 3B), parallel at vertex; posterior ocelli in front of posterior margin of compound eyes; discs of T1–T3 shallowly punctate (Figs 2E–F, 21E– F)........................................................................................................................................................ 5

5. Scutum sparsely punctate (i = 1–2.5 d) (Fig. 2C)............................. S. basutorum (Cockerell, 1915)

– Scutum densely punctate (i = 0.1 d) (Fig. 5C)............................................. S. flavipes (Friese, 1925)

6. Surface of scutum between coarse punctation with fine punctation (Figs 39C, 78C)....................... 7

– Scutum only with coarse punctation (Figs 27C, 54D, 61C).............................................................. 8

7. Discs of T1–T3 with very fine and coarse punctation (i = 1–2 d) (Fig. 76E); facial fovea about 4 times as long as wide (Fig. 76B) ......................................................................... S. confusus sp. nov.

– Discs of T1–T3 almost impunctate (Fig. 39E); facial fovea about 8 times as long as wide (Fig. 39B)............................................................................................................... S. obtusus sp. nov.

8. T3 anterior of premarginal line without row of punctures (Figs 21E, 33E); if T3 is completely punctate, punctation is regular and deep, single points are separated (Fig. 58E).............................. 9

– T3 anterior of premarginal line with a row of punctures (Figs 45D, 55C–D); if T3 is completely punctate, punctation is irregular, single points merge into each other............................................. 18

9. Supraclypeal area at upper margin straight to slightly convex (Figs 27B, 58B, 61B); propodeum shallowly carinate, at least partly smooth or coriaceous (Figs 27D, 58D, 61D) (It is assumed that S. flavitarsis belongs to this group based on the characteristics of similar species and S. cf. flavitarsis) ........................................................................................................................................ 10

– Supraclypeal area at upper margin distinctly emarginated and edges slightly extended (Figs 24B, 48B, 51B); propodeum usually more deeply carinate or areolate, sometimes with smooth parts laterally (Figs 24D, 48D, 51D) ........................................................................................................ 16

10. Propodeum coriaceous on posterior half (Fig. 21D); scutum densely (i = 0.5 d) punctate (Fig. 21C); T2–T3 superficially and regularly (i ~ 2 d) punctate; scopa greyish to brownish, without black hair (Fig. 21A); supraclypeal area distinctly elevated, formed like pyramid (Fig. 21B)............................ ............................................................................................................... S. flavitarsis Cockerell, 1936

– Propodeum smooth and shiny on posterior half (Figs 27D, 48D, 58D); scutum sparsely punctate (i> 0.5 d) (Figs 27C, 48C, 58C); T2–T3 either less punctate or more deeply; scopa often partly black (Fig. 48A); supraclypeal area usually flat to slightly elevated (Figs 27B, 48B, 58B)......................11

11. Discs of T1–T4 deeply and regularly punctate (Figs 58E, 61E, 64E); posterior ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes................................................................................................. 12

– Discs of T1–T4 shallowly punctate (Figs 33E, 48E); posterior ocelli in front of posterior margin of compound eyes (Fig. 11D)............................................................................................................... 14

12. Disc of T2 basally denser (i = 0.5–1 d) punctate than apically (i = 2–3 d) (Fig. 58E). Scutum densely punctate, laterally denser (i = 0.5 d) than medially (i = 1–1.5 d) (Fig. 58C); propodeum smooth and shiny (Fig. 58D); supraclypeal area elevated, but not sharply delimited (Fig. 58B)........................... ................................................................................................................. S. divergens (Friese, 1925)

– Disc of T2 basally denser (i = 1–2 d) punctate than apically (i = 3–5 d) (Figs 61F, 64F); scutum completely irregularly (i = 0.5–2 d or 2–4 d) punctate (Figs 61C, 64F); propodeum matt (Figs 61D, 64F); supraclypeal area elevated and sharply delimited (Figs 61B, 64F) ....................................... 13

13. Scutum finely and densely (i = 0.5–2 d) punctate (Fig. 61C)............................ S. montanus sp. nov.

– Scutum coarsely and sparsely (i = 2–4 d) punctate (Fig. 64C)....... S. pallidicinctus Cockerell, 1933

14. Prepygidial and pygidial fimbria and scopa partly black (Fig. 27A); propodeum basally with fine, v-shaped carinae, apically smooth and shiny (Fig. 27D); mesosoma shallowly punctate (Fig. 27E– F).......................................................................................................................... S. imparilis sp. nov.

– Prepygidial and pygidial fimbria at most dark brown (Figs 12A, 33A); propodeum different (Figs 12B, 33D); metasoma almost impunctate (Figs 12C–D, 33E–F)........................................... 15

15. Propodeum basally with carinae (Fig. 33D); metasoma smooth but without oily-bluish shine; mesepisternum with coarse punctation mixed with fine punctation; surface between punctures matt (Fig. 33C, E–F) ...................................................................................... S. mpumalangensis sp. nov.

– Propodeum basally coriaceous (Fig. 12B); metasoma with oily-bluish shine; mesepisternum only with coarse punctation, surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 12C–D)......................... ........................................................................................................................... S. caeruleus sp. nov.

16. T1 anterior of premarginal line with a row of punctures, disc of T1 without punctation, surface distinctly matt (Fig. 48F); propodeum deeply carinate (Fig. 48D) ............................................... .............................................................................................................. S. semirufus Cockerell, 1932

– T1 with very fine and dispersed punctures (i> 5 d) (Figs 24F, 51F), surface slightly matt; propodeum shallowly carinate (Figs 24E, 51D) ................................................................................................. 17

17. Transitional line from disc to apical depression of T1–T4 curved (Fig. 51E–F); discs of T1– T4 shallowly punctate, punctures almost invisible (Fig. 51E–F) ....... S. sphecodoides (Friese, 1912)

– Transitional line from disc to apical depression of T1–T4 straight (Fig. 24F); disc of T1 shallowly punctate, discs of T2–T3 deeply punctate (Fig. 24F) ............................ S. fuscipennis (Friese, 1912)

Females of the following species are very similar. Their identification can be difficult without reference specimen.

18. Discs of T1–T2 almost impunctate, sometimes punctation hardly visible, T1 anterior of premarginal line without row of punctures (Fig. 30E–F); disc of T3 deeply punctate; metasoma matt (Fig. 30E); scutum regularly and densely (i = 1–2 d) punctate (Fig. 30 C); transitional line between anterior longitudinal carinae and posterior transverse carinae of propodeum curved (Fig. 30D) .................... .............................................................................................................................. S. littoralis sp. nov.

– Discs of T1–T3 with distinct punctation, if punctation shallowly, then anterior of premarginal line of T1 with row of punctures; transitional line between anterior longitudinal and posterior transverse carinae usually straight; other combination of characters (Figs 15C–F, 36C–F, 67C–F)................ 19

19. Discs of T1–T2 shallowly and dispersed punctate (i> 4 d), T1 anterior of premarginal line with row of punctures (Fig. 55C–D); propodeum finely carinate, laterally often smooth and shiny (Fig. 55A– B); scutum medially more densely punctate than laterally (Fig. 54D)................ S. variabilis sp. nov.

– Discs of T1–T2 more deeply punctate; other combination of characters (Figs 15C–F, 36C–F, 67C– F)...................................................................................................................................................... 20

20. Discs of T1–T3 finely and shallowly punctate; propodeum finely carinate (Fig. 36D) ...................... ...................................................................................................................... S. nitidus (Friese, 1909)

– Discs of T1–T3 coarsely and deeply punctate; propodeum different (Figs 15C–F, 18C–F, 67C–F) .. ......................................................................................................................................................... 21

21. Scutum and mesosoma regularly and densely (i = 1–2 d) punctate (Fig. 18C); disc of T3 basally often more densely (i <1 d) punctate than apically (i = 1–2 d) (Fig. 18E–F); propodeum laterally often smooth and shiny, posterior carinae shallow (Fig. 18D) ................. S. crassipunctatus sp. nov.

– Scutum and mesosoma more irregular and/or sparser punctate; disc of T3 usually regularly punctate; propodeum different. If basal third of disc of T3 more densely punctate than posterior third, propodeum coarsely carinate; (Figs 15C–F, 44D, 45A–D, 67C–F) ................................................ 22

22. Propodeum laterally carinate, medially (rugulose-)areolate (Fig. 67D); mesepisternum irregularly (i = 0.5–3 d) punctate; discs of T1–T4 regularly punctate (i = 3–4 d); T3 sometimes more densely (i = 2–3 d) punctate than T2 (i = 3–4 d) (Fig. 67E–F).................................................... S. felicis sp. nov.

– Propodeum and punctation of mesosoma different (Figs 15C–F, 44D, 45A–D)............................. 23

23. Discs of T2–T3 regularly (i = 2–3 d) punctate (Fig. 15E–F); propodeum medially coarsely and irregularly areolate to longitudinally carinate, laterally carinate, posterior third transversely carinate (Fig. 15D); posterior ocelli little behind posterior margin of compound eyes ... S. convexus sp. nov.

– Discs of T2–T3 irregularly (Fig. 45C–D) punctate; propodeum coarsely carinate (Fig. 45A–B); posterior ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes .... S. perpunctatus Cockerell, 1933

Males

Males of S. caeruleus sp. nov., S. fuscipennis and S. littoralis sp. nov. are unknown.

1. Pronotal lobe yellow to white (Figs 3A, 7A, 10A)............................................................................ 2

– Pronotal lobe brown to black (Figs 34A, 62A, 77A)......................................................................... 4

2. Facial fovea wide, about 3.5 times as long as wide; mesosoma covered with long hair (Fig. 3D); hind femur partly yellow (Fig. 3A).......................................................... S. basutorum (Cockerell, 1915)

– Facial fovea narrow, at least 5 times as long as wide; mesosoma covered with short hair (Figs 7D, 10D); hind femur completely dark brown to black (Figs 7A, 10A).................................................. 3

3. T3 anterior of premarginal line with narrow band of pilosity of long, whitish, erect hair (Fig. 6D); scutum very densely (i = 0.1 d) and finely punctate (Fig. 6B); apical plate of S8 round in shape, shaft distinctly shorter (Fig. 7D) ......................................................................... S. flavipes (Friese, 1925)

– T3 anterior of premarginal line with hair patches laterally of short, whitish, erect hair (Fig. 9D); scutum densely (i = 0.5 d) and coarsely punctate (Fig. 9B); apical plate of S8 truncate in shape, shaft distinctly longer (Fig. 10D) ............................................................... S. flavostictus Cockerell, 1934

4. Surface of scutum between coarse punctation with fine punctation (Fig. 77B); facial fovea about 3 times as long as wide; flagella of antennae shorter than the compound eye (Fig. 77A) ..................... ............................................................................................................................ S. confusus sp. nov.

– Scutum only with coarse punctation (Figs 14B, 19B, 59B); facial fovea at least 6 times as long as wide; flagella of antennae longer than compound eye (Figs 14A, 19A, 59A) .................................. 5

5. Discs of T1–T3 sparsely punctate (i>1 d), on T2–T4 sometimes more densely punctate on basal third than on posterior third (Figs 22D, 34D, 75D)........................................................................... 6

– At least basal third of discs of T1–T3 densely (i <0.5 d) punctate (Figs 37D, 49D, 56D)............. 10

6. Discs of T1–T3 shallowly and finely punctate (Figs 22D, 34D); legs and/or tarsi yellow (Figs 22A, 34A) ................................................................................................................................................... 7

– Discs of T1–T3 deeply punctate (Figs 61D, 65D, 74D); legs completely brown to black (Figs 61A, 65A, 74A) .......................................................................................................................................... 8

7. Scutum finely and sparsely punctate (i = 2–3 d) (Fig. 34B); distal margin of S7 with deeper emargination (Fig. 35C); posterior ocelli behind posterior margin of compound eyes....................... ............................................................................................................... S. mpumalangensis sp. nov.

– Scutum coarsely and densely (i = 1–2 d) punctate (Fig. 22B); distal margin of S7 with shallower emargination (Fig. 23C); posterior ocelli in line with the posterior margin of compound eyes.......... .............................................................................................................. S. flavitarsis Cockerell, 1936

8. Disc of T1 sparsely and regularly (i = 3–4 d) punctate (Fig. 75A); propodeum coarsely areolate (Fig. 74C); apicolateral parts of S7 slightly curved (Fig. 75C) .......... S. ruficornis (Cockerell, 1916)

– Disc of T1 densely punctate (i = 1–2 d) (Figs 62A, 66A); propodeum different (Figs 61C, 65C); apicolateral parts of S7 distinctly curved (Figs 62C, 66C)................................................................ 9

9. Disc of T1 coarsely and densely punctate (i = 1–2 d), mixed fine punctures (Fig. 66A); T2 basally denser (i ~ 1 d) punctate than apically (i ~ 2 d) (Fig. 66A); propodeum finely areolate (Fig. 65C) ... ....................................................................................................... S. pallidicinctus Cockerell, 1933

– Discs of T1 and T2 finely and regularly (i = 1–1.5 d) punctate (Fig. 62A); propodeum coarsely areolate (Fig. 61C)............................................................................................ S. montanus sp. nov.

10. Discs of T1–T3 evenly densely (at most i = 0.5–1 d) punctate, T2–T3 anterior of premarginal line narrowly impunctate, width at most quarter of tergum (Figs 32D, 37D). If discs of T1–T4 without impunctate stripe (Fig. 59D), scutum also completely densely (i = 0.1 d) punctate (Fig. 59B).......11

– Discs of T1–T3 unevenly punctate, basally more densely (i <1 d) punctate than apically (i> 1 d), T1–T3 anterior of premarginal line impunctate, width at least quarter of tergum (Figs 31D, 47D, 56D) ....... 13

11. Scutum completely densely (i = 0.1 d) punctate (Fig. 32B) (Fig. 19B); discs of T1–T3 completely punctate (Fig. 19D).................................................................................. S. crassipunctatus sp. nov.

– Scutum coarsely and sparsely (i = 0.5–1 d) punctate (Figs 37C, 60C); T1–T3 anterior of premarginal line sometimes narrowly impunctate (Figs 37D, 60D).................................................................... 12

12. Discs of T1–T4 regularly and more sparsely (i = 0.5–1 d) punctate (Fig. 59D); distal margin of S7 with broad emargination (Fig. 60C) ......................................................... S. divergens (Friese, 1925)

– Discs of T1–T4 irregularly and more densely (i <0.3 d) punctate (Fig. 37E); distal margin of S7 with almost no emargination (Fig. 38B, D) .......................................................... S. nitidus (Friese, 1909)

13. S7 apicolaterally with hairs (Figs 69C, 72C)................................................................................... 14

– S7 apicolaterally without hairs (Figs 14C, 29C, 50C)..................................................................... 15

14. T2 on basal third of disc finely and densely punctate (i = 0.5 d) (Fig. 69A); scutum regularly (i = 1–1.5 d) punctate (68B); fore femur and tibia mostly brownish (Fig. 68A) ............ S. felicis sp. nov.

– T2 on basal fifth of disc finely and more sparsely punctate (i> 1 d) (Fig. 72A); scutum irregularly (i = 0.5–2.5 d) punctate (Fig. 71B); fore femur and tibia mostly yellowish (Fig. 68A)...................... ..................................................................................................................... S. flavipunctatus sp. nov.

15. Terga distinctly convex in lateral view (Figs 14A, 16A)................................................................. 16

– Terga (particularly T1) slightly convex in lateral view or usually even (Figs 28A, 52A, 56A)...... 17

16. Discs of T1–T3 with dense (i = 0.2 d) punctation that covers basal third of tergum (Fig. 16D); distal margin of S7 almost without emargination (Fig. 17C) ........................................ S. convexus sp. nov.

– Discs of T1–T3 with dense (i = 0.2 d) punctation that covers at least basal half of tergum (Fig. 13D); distal margin of S7 with emargination (Fig. 14C) .......................................... S. convexoides sp. nov.

17. Discs of T1–T3 superficially punctate (Figs 49D, 52D); disc of T1 finely punctate (Figs 50A, 53A); basomedially on T2–T3 hair bands of short and fine hair (Figs 49D, 52D).................................... 18

– Discs of T1–T3 deeply punctate (Figs 25D, 27D, 31D); disc of T1 coarsely punctate (Figs 26A, 28A, 32A); basomedially on T1–T3 hair bands of long, coarse, and dense hair (Figs 25D, 27D, 31D)..... 19

18. Disc of T2 basally densely (i = 0.2 d) punctate, punctation covers at most basal half of tergum (Fig. 53A); propodeum apically carinate (Fig. 52C) .......................... S. sphecodoides (Friese, 1912)

– Disc of T2 basally densely (i = 0.2 d) punctate, punctation covers at most basal three quarters of tergum (Fig. 50A); propodeum completely areolate (Fig. 49C)........... S. semirufus Cockerell, 1932

19. Gonocoxites medial angular-shaped (Figs 27B, 32B, 47B); scutum completely densely (i <1 d) and regularly punctate (Figs 26B, 31B, 46B); disc of T2 apicomedially with at least 20 punctures (Figs 28A, 32A, 47A)...................................................................................................................... 20

– Gonocoxites medially curved (Figs 41B, 43B, 57B); scutum not completely densely (i <1 d) punctate, punctation irregular (Figs 40B, 42B, 56B); disc of T2 apicomedially at most with 15 punctures (Figs 41A, 45A, 57A)...................................................................................................... 22

20. Flagella of antennae about twice as long as compound eye (Fig. 31A) .......... S. longicornis sp. nov.

– Flagella of antennae about 1.4 × as long as compound eye (Figs 28A, 46A) ................................. 21

21. Disc of T2 basally densely (i = 0.2 d) punctate, punctation covers at most basal three quarters of tergum, getting sparser apically (Fig. 47A); posterior ocelli little behind posterior margin of compound eyes; distal margin of S7 with wide and deep emargination (Fig. 47C)............................ ........................................................................................................ S. perpunctatus Cockerell, 1933

– Disc of T2 basally densely (i = 0.2 d) punctate, punctation covers at most basal half of tergum (Fig. 28F); posterior ocelli much behind posterior margin of compound eyes (Fig. 28B); S7 with slight emargination (Fig. 29C)............................................................................ S. imparilis sp. nov.

22. T2 basally with dense punctation that covers more than basal half of tergum (Fig. 43A); discs of T2–T4 medially with irregular coarse punctures (Fig. 42D); propodeum completely and coarsely areolate (Fig. 42C)..................................................................................... S. perpunctatulus sp. nov.

– T2 basally with dense punctation that covers basal third to half of tergum (Figs 26A, 41A, 57A); discs of T2–T4 medially with regular coarse punctures (Figs 25D, 40D, 56D); propodeum not completely areolate or with other type of sculpture (Figs 25C, 40C, 56C)..................................... 23

23. Discs of T1–T3 finely punctate (Fig. 40C) ........................................................... S. obtusus sp. nov.

– Discs of T1–T3 coarsely punctate (Figs 25D, 56D) ........................................................................ 24

24. Propodeum laterally carinate, medially rugulose-areolate (Fig. 56C)................. S. variabilis sp. nov.

– Basal third of propodeum coarsely areolate, apical part finely areolate or coriaceous (Fig. 25C)...... .............................................................................................................. S. glaberrimus (Friese, 1912)