Scrapter sphecodoides (Friese, 1912)

Figs 51–53

Strandiella sphecodoides Friese, 1912: 183–184, fig. 3. lectotype ♀ [designated by Eardley 1996] (type locality: Kapstadt, South Africa) (SAMC), examined.

Diagnosis

The female of S. sphecodoides can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: T3 anterior of premarginal line impunctate (Fig. 51E); punctation on discs of T1–T4 shallow and sparse (Fig. 51E); transitional line between disc and apical depression of terga curved (Fig. 51E); propodeum basally with carinae, apically slightly areolate (Fig. 51D). The male is characterized by punctation on discs of T1–T4 anteriorly dense (i = 0.3 d), apically sparse (i = 3 d) (Fig. 52D); punctation on disc of T1 fine and sparse (i = 2–3 d) (Fig. 53A); basal hair bands on T2–T4 fine and short (Fig. 52D); propodeum basally with carinae, apically implied areolate (Fig. 52C) and form of S7 (Fig. 53C).

Material examined (102 specimens)

SOUTH AFRICA • 30 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂; 25 km S of Bredasdorp, coast; 34°45′ S, 20°03′ E; 23 Oct. 1999; MS / MH leg.; OÖLM • 5 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; RCMK • 31 ♀♀; Kleinmond, coast; 34°20′ S, 19°02′ E; 6 Nov. 1999; MS / MH leg.; OÖLM • 5 ♀♀; RCMK • 1 ♀; Capland, Willowmore; 850 m a.s.l.; collection date unknown; HB leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Oct. 1923; HB leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Algoa Bay, Capland; 33°40′ S, 26°00′ E; 180 m a.s.l.; 1 Nov. 1914; HB leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; Cape Province, Kenton-on-Sea; 33°41′ S, 26°41′ E; 30 m a.s.l.; 23–29 Oct. 1971; RJ leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Cape Town; 33°57′ S, 18°27′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 27 Mar. 1905; GP leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; W Cape, Villiersdorp; 33°58′ S, 19°16′ E; 1030 m a.s.l.; 29 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; W Cape, Hermanus; 34°14′ S, 18°26′ E; 250 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 1978; VW leg.; SANC • 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Betty's Bay, Botanical Gardens; 34°21′ S, 18°55′ E; 40 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 3 ♂♂; Vermont Dunes; 34°26′ S, 19°10′ E; 0 m a.s.l.; Sep. 1977; VW leg.; SANC • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; W Cape, between Struisbaai and Elim; 34°45′ S, 20°00′ E; 10 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 7 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; W Cape, 1 km N of Struisbaai; 34°46′ S, 20°01′ E; 10 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2001, CE leg.; SANC • 6 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Cape Agulhas; 34°50′ S, 20°01′ E; 10 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 8.1–10 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with brownish hair, more densely around basis of antennae. Ocelli slightly in front of posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with shallow longitudinal depression; punctation fine and irregularly (i = 1–3 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 51B). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black. Supraclypeal area at upper margin distinctly emarginated and edges slightly extended.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe dark brown to black. Scutum regularly and densely (i = 1 d) punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 51C). Metanotum less than half as long as scutellum. Propodeum anterior with broad and coarse longitudinal carinae and posterior with fine transverse carinae, transitional line between anterior longitudinal and posterior transverse carinae slightly areolate (Fig. 51D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish (Fig. 51A).

LEGS. Integument black, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish (Fig. 51A).

METASOMA. Integument black, terga sometimes (partly) yellow, marginal zones yellowish-brown shimmering. T3 anterior of premarginal line at least laterally row of short, greyish, erect hair; T4 sparsely haired, basally more densely and shorter than apically; prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black (Fig. 51E). Discs of T1–T4 almost impunctate (Fig. 51E). Surface smooth and shiny (Fig. 51E–F).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 7.3–8.3 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hair. Ocelli slightly in front of posterior margin of compound eyes. Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe black. Scutum densely (i <1 d) punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 53B). Basal half of propodeum rugulose areolate, posterior half with carinae (Fig. 53C). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish (Fig. 52A).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white (Fig. 52A).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, terga sometimes (partly) yellow, marginal zone light brownish. Disc of T1 without hair (Fig. 53A), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, narrow hair band and basolaterally on T2–T3 hair field; T2–T4 anterior of premarginal line laterally row of short, erect, greyish hair (Fig. 52D). Disc of T1 finely and sparsely punctate (Fig. 53A); discs of T2–T4 basally more densely (i = 0.3 d) and finer punctate than apically (i = 3 d); medially more densely than laterally; surface between punctures on posterior parts of terga matt (Fig. 52D).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 53B), S7 (Fig. 53C) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 53D) as illustrated.

Distribution

Found in the southern part of the Greater Cape Floristic Region from the wider Cape Town area eastward to Willowmore and Kenton-on-Sea.

Floral hosts

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

October–November.

Remarks

Eardley (1996) synonymised this species with S. nitidus .