Scrapter confusus, Mack & Kuhlmann, 2023

Mack, Anne & Kuhlmann, Michael, 2023, Revision of the nitidus species group of the bee genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), European Journal of Taxonomy 912, pp. 1-119 : 107-111

Scrapter confusus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0A4193F6-5694-4931-8DDD-F5E0126683BF

Figs 76–78

Diagnosis

The female of S. confusus sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: surface of scutum between coarse punctation with fine punctation ( Fig. 76C ); discs of T1–T3 finely and densely punctate (i = 1–2 d) ( Fig. 76E ); facial fovea about 4 times as long as wide ( Fig. 76B ). The male is characterized by 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 ).

Etymology

The unusual appearance of this species and the confusion caused by this with respect to its systematic placement within the genus Scrapter is reflected in its name.

Type material (18 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Namaqualand, Hester Malan N.R.; 29°38′ S, 17°58′ E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 4 Sep. 1985; MS leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 4 Sep. 1985; MS leg.; SAMC . • 3 ♂♂; 32 km N of Calvinia, near Farm Van Zyls Rust ; 31°10′32″ S, 19°52′42″ E; 870 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2007; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Hantam Mts, river bank , 32 km N of Calvinia, S Klipwerf Farm ; 31°12′09″ S, 19°50′04″ E; 870 m a.s.l.; 30 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; 7 km NE of Steinkopf, road side N7 ; 29°12′40″ S, 17°47′11″ E; 970 m a.s.l.; 12 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Leliefontein , slope , white trap; 30°13′58″ S, 18°09′52″ E; 1150 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Leliefontein , slope , yellow trap; 30°14′02″ S, 18°09′53″ E; 1150 m a.s.l.; 5 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Leliefontein , slope , yellow trap; 30°13′54″ S, 18°09′45″ E; 1150 m a.s.l.; 5 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Leliefontein , slope , white trap; 30°13′54″ S, 18°09′45″ E; 1150 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; W. Cape, Knersvlakte, Sukkulent Karoo , 30 km N of Vanrhynsdorp; 31°22′23″ S, 18°42′37″ E; 146 m a.s.l.; 6 Sep. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 11 km N of Concordia ; 29°25′54″ S, 17°57′16″ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 13 Sep. 2007; TG leg.; USDA • 1 ♀; W. Cape, Knersvlakte , Sukkulent Karoo, 30 km N of Vanrhynsdorp; 31°22′23″ S, 18°42′37″ E; 146 m a.s.l.; 22 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Gemsbokrivier-Pad , 4.5 km NE Grootdrif, road side ; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 170 m a.s.l.; 20 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 60 km S of Loriesfontein, Kliprand ; 31°24′ S, 19°35′ S; 970 m a.s.l.; 31 Oct. 1999; MH leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; 22–33 km ESE of Port Nolloth ; 29°19 S, 17°06′ E; 150 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 1984; CE leg.; SANC .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 9.1–9.8 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 complex eyes. Clypeus medially with superficial longitudinal depression; punctation fine and densely (i = 1–1.5 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 76B ). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black. Supraclypeal area medial next to each antenna elevated. Facial fovea about 4 times as long as wide ( Fig. 76A ).

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe dark brownish-black. Scutum coarsely and regularly (i = 1.5– 2.5 d) punctate, surface between coarse punctation covered with fine punctation ( Fig. 76C ). Metanotum about half as long as scutellum ( Fig. 76C ). Propodeum basolaterally finely carinate, posteriorly and medially smooth and shiny ( Fig. 76D ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 76A ).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black ( Fig. 76A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zones yellowish shimmering. Anterior on T2 laterally hair fields of sparse, greyish-white, erect hair ( Fig. 76F ); T3 laterally with very sparse short, greyish-white, erect hair; apicolaterally on T3 with one single row of hair; T4 completely haired, anteriorly denser than posteriorly; prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black ( Fig. 76E ). T1 regularly (i = 2–3 d) and finely punctate ( Fig. 76F ); on T2–T3 anterior and posterior margins denser (i = 1 d) punctate than disc (i = 2–3 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 76E ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 9.1–9.5 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 complex eyes. Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black, shorter than compound eye ( Fig. 77A ).

MESOSOMA. Integument brownish-black. Scutum sparsely (i = 1–2 d) punctate; surface between punctation covered with fine punctation ( Fig. 77B ). Propodeum completely rugulose-areolate ( Fig.77C ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 77A ).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 77A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zone yellowish-brow. Disc of T1 without hair ( Fig. 78A ), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering third of tergite ( Fig. 77D ). Posterior margins of T3–T4 at least laterally with single hair row of short, erect, greyish hair ( Fig. 77D ). T1 finely and densely punctate (i <1 d) ( Fig. 78A ); T2–T4 basally denser (i = 0.1 d) and finer punctate than posteriorly (i = 0.5 d); medially denser than laterally; posterior margins of T1–T4 with single point row; surface between punctation smooth and shiny ( Fig. 77D ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 78B ), S7 ( Fig. 78C ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 78D ) as illustrated.

Distribution

This species is apparently restricted to the Succulent Karoo Biome of Namaqualand and the Kamiesberg Mts in the NW of South Africa.

Floral hosts

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

August–October.

Remarks

Eardley (1996) erroneously described the female of this species as the female of S. armatipes (Friese) .

Figures

Fig. 76. Scrapter confusus sp. nov., paratype, ♀. A. Lateral view. B. Head (dorsal view). C. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). D. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). E. Metasoma (dorsal view). F. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view).

Fig. 77. Scrapter confusus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. A. Lateral view. B. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). C. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). D. Metasoma (dorsal view).

Fig. 78. Scrapter confusus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. A. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view). B. Genitalia (dorsal view). C. Sternum 7. D. Sternum 8.