Scrapter variabilis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DCB91BC0-CC27-4362-A4AC-A659F47F4249

Figs 54–57

Diagnosis

The female of S. variabilis sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: T3 anterior of premarginal line with a row of points (Fig. 55C–D); punctation of T1–T4 shallow, sparse (Fig. 55C–D); T1 anterior of premarginal line with row of points (Fig. 55C–D); propodeum with carinae, laterally often smooth (Fig. 55A–B). The male is characterized by punctation on discs of T2–T4 coarse and basally dense (i = 0.5 d), apically sparse (i = 2–3 d) (Fig. 56E), dense punctation on disc of T2 covers at most half of tergum (Fig. 56F); less punctation medially of T2 (Fig. 56F); basal hair bands on T3–T4 (Fig. 56E); propodeum completely coarsely carinate (Fig. 56D).

Etymology

Named after the variable colour of the metasoma, which varies from completely dark blackish-brown to largely reddish.

Type material (72 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Gemsbokrivier-Pad, 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, road side; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 170 m a.s.l.; 20 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 25 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Sep. 2009; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 3 km NW of Farm Kanolfontein, 22 km W of Sutherland, road side; 32°23′17″ S, 20°26′32″ E; 1350 m a.s.l.; 18 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Gemsbokrivier-Pad, 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, road side; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 170 m a.s.l.; 10 Sep. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 19 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 28 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; NHML • 5 ♂♂; Knersvlakte, 5 km N of Grootdrif; 31°26′40″ S, 18°56′23″ E; 195 m a.s.l.; 21 Sep. 2007; KT leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 21 Sep. 2007; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 14 Sep. 2007; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Lamberts Bay, Strandveld, sand; 32°06′19″ S, 18°18′16″ E; 5 m a.s.l.; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt; 31°14′31″ S, 18°59′08″ E; 830 m a.s.l.; 28 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, near farm Engelsepunt; 31°14′08″ S, 18°58′23″ E; 843 m a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 3 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, river, dolerite; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; NHML • 9 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; NHML • 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 10 Sep. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀, 7 ♂♂; W. Cape, Knersvlakte, Vanrhynsdorp, urban garden; 31°36′31″ S, 18°44′02″ E; 3 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; Nieuwoudtville, Botanic Gardens; 31°22 S, 19°07 E; 760 m a.s.l.; Aug. 1923; HB leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Clanwilliam Dist., Biedouw Valley; 32°08′ S, 19°14′ E; 330 m a.s.l.; 5–7 Sep. 1987; CE leg.; SANC • 2 ♂♂; W Cape, Kunje Farm, 28 km SE of Citrusdal; 32°40′ S, 19°10′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 23 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Farm Liberty 50 km N of Ceres; 32°54′ S, 19°27′ E; 980 m a.s.l.; 27 Sep. 1990; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Vermont Dunes; 34°26′ S, 19°10′ E; 0 m a.s.l.; Sep. 1977; VW leg.; SANC .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7–7.4 mm.

HEAD. Slightly wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with brownish to greyish hair, more densely around basis of antennae. Ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with longitudinal depression; punctation fine and irregular (i = 1–3 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 54C). 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 coarsely and irregularly punctate, laterally dense (0.5 d), medially sparse (i = 1–1.5 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 54D). Metanotum less than half as long as scutellum. Propodeum anterior with broad and coarse transitional carinae, posterior with fine transverse carinae, laterally often smooth (Fig. 55A–B). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish (Fig. 54A–B).

LEGS. Integument black, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black (Fig. 54A–B).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, terga sometimes (partly) reddish, marginal zones yellowish-brown shimmering. Basolaterally on T2–T3 hair patches of greyish, short, erect hair; basally on T3 and T4 narrow hair band; T4 completely haired, basally more densely and shorter than apically; T3 anterior of premarginal line laterally row of hairs; prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae brownish to black (Fig. 55C– D). Discs of T1–T4 finely puncticulate, T1–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of points; surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 55C–D).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 6.9–7.5 mm.

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

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe dark brownish to black. Scutum irregularly punctate, laterally dense (i = 0.3 d), medially sparse (i = 1–1.5 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 56C). Propodeum basolaterally with carinae, medially rugulose-areolate (Fig. 56D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish (Fig. 56A–B).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white (Fig. 56A–B).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zone yellowish-brown shimmering. Disc of T1 without hair (Fig. 56F), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering third of terga; T2–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of short, erect, greyish hair (Fig. 56E). T1 basolaterally finer and more densely (i = 1 d) punctate than disc (i = 1–2 d) (Fig. 56F). T2–T4 basally more densely (i = 0.5 d) and finer punctate than apically (i = 2–3 d); medially more densely than laterally; dense punctation of T2 covers at most half of tergum; T2–T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of points; surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 56E).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 57A), S7 (Fig. 57B) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 57C–D) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from southern Namaqualand from Lamberts Bay in the west to the northern extension of the Roggeveld Mts south of Calvinia in the east.

Floral hosts

On Senecio sp., Felicia sp. ( Asteraceae) and various unidentified yellow Asteraceae .

Seasonal activity

August–September.

Remarks

A single male was found that morphologically corresponds to that of S. variabilis, but the punctation of terga is denser and surface of terga matt. Its identity is currently unclear so it is here provisionally labelled as S. sp. variabilis . The site data is recorded below:

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; Farm Avontuur, Fynbos, 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 13 Sep. 2022; HE leg.; RCMK .