Scrapter nitidus ( Friese, 1909 )

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 : 51-56

Scrapter nitidus ( Friese, 1909)

Figs 36–38

Polyglossa nitida Friese, 1909: 125 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Steinkopf, South Africa) (ZMHB), examined.

Polyglossa opaca Friese, 1909: 125 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Steinkopf, South Africa) (ZMHB), examined (synonymized by Kuhlmann 2021).

Diagnosis

The female of S. nitidus 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. 36E ); propodeum completely marked with fine carinae ( Fig. 36D ); disc of T4 barely hairy ( Fig. 36E ); punctation on T1–T4 shallow ( Fig. 36E ); punctation on disc of T1 as fine as punctation of posterior margin of T1 ( Fig. 36F ). The male is characterized by dense (i = 0.2 d) punctation on discs of T1–T4 ( Fig. 37D ); dense hair of T2 covers about half of the tergum ( Fig. 37F ); ocelli slightly behind posterior margin of compound eyes; small stripe on T3 parallel to posterior margin without dense punctation ( Fig. 37E ) and form of S7 ( Fig. 38B–D ).

Additional material examined (99 specimens)

SOUTH AFRICA • 3 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area ; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 1290 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Kamiesberg Mts , 5 km SE of Leliefontein, road side ; 30°20′09″ S, 18°06′24″ E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 10 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collecting data as for preceding; 11 Sep. 2016; 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 • 4 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts , 1 km S of Farm Allemansdam, road side ; 31°49′05″ S, 19°59′15″ E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Lamberts Bay, Strandveld , sand ; 32°06′19″ S, 18°18′16″ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 4 ♂♂; Keiski Mts , 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale ; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 1190 m a.s.l.; 13 Sep. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Sep. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 4 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 19 Aug. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, river, dolerite ; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 24 Aug. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK • 6 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 1 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; SANC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 10 km N of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Grasberg , dolerite hill ; 31°18′01″ S, 19°05′42″ E; 800 m a.s.l.; 12 Sep. 2009; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, Fynbos ; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 20 Sep. 2014; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; Cederberg Mts, road to Algeria , Olifants River bridge ; 32°21′55″ S, 18°57′06″ E; 150 m a.s.l.; 8 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.; 4 Sep. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 10 Jun. 2016; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • same collection data as for preceding; 20 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; 20 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 17 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 19 Aug. 2010; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; Keiski Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, dolerite hill ; 31°45′54″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; NHML • 1 ♂; Knersvlakte, along Gemsbokrivier-Pad ; 31°26′40″ S, 18°56′23 E; 195 m a.s.l.; 5 Jun. 2013; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 20 May 2013; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt ; 31°14′31″ S, 18°59′08″ E; 830 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Jul. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Jul. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Oct. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Oct. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; NHML • 14 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Sep. 2009; KT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; NHML • 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.; 13 Sep. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; N Cape, Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon , garden ; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Plateau Hantam Mts , near antenna , 9 km N of Calvinia; 31°22′29″ S, 19°47′03″ E; 1570 m a.s.l.; 7 Jun. 2013; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♂♂; same collection as for preceding; 30 Aug. 2011; MK leg.; RCMK (1 ♂ NHML) • 2 ♂♂; W Cape, Knersvlakte, Vanrhynsdorp , urban garden ; 31°36′31″ S, 18°44′02″ E; 3 Aug. 2003; KT leg.; RCMK • 5 ♀♀; Farm Dassiefontein near Kamieskroon ; 30°09′ S, 17°59′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 1990; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Doringrivier, N Nieuwoudtville ; 31°18′ S, 19°07′ E; 760 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 1990; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Clanwilliam Dist., Biedouw Valley ; 32°08′ S, 19°14′ E; 330 m a.sl.; 5–7 Sep. 1987; CE 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.sl.; 29 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂; 200 m S Farm Boskloof , 18 km S of Calvinia on R355; 31°38′36″ S, 19°44′36″ E; 1000 m a.s.l.; 22 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK • 3 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, river, dolerite ; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Sep. 2022; HE leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Farm Avontuur , Fynbos , 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 770 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2022; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.6–8.3 mm.

HEAD. Slightly wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with greyish hair, more densely around basis of antennae. Ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with shallow longitudinal depression; punctation fine and irregular (i = 1–3 d). Surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 36B ). 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 black. Scutum coarsely and irregularly punctate (i = 0.5–2 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 36C ). Metanotum about half as long as scutellum. Propodeum anterior longitudinal broad and fine carinae and posterior finer transverse carinae ( Fig. 36D ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with short, greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 36A ).

LEGS. Integument black, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black ( Fig. 36A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish to black, marginal zones light brownish. Hair field of short, greyish, erect hair basolaterally on T2 ( Fig. 36F ). Basally on T3–T4 hair bands, which cover about one fifth of T4, less on T3. T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of hairs ( Fig. 36E ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black. Disc of T1 sparsely (i = 3–5 d), finely and shallowly punctate ( Fig. 36F ); discs of T2–T4 shallowly and irregularly (i = 3–6 d) punctate. Surface between punctures smooth and shiny. T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of points across complete width of tergum ( Fig. 36E ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 7.8–8.4 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 black. Scutum relatively regularly, coarsely and densely (i = 0.1–1.5 d) punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 37B ). Propodeum completely coarsely rugulose-areolate ( Fig. 37C–D ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 37A ).

LEGS. Integument black, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 37A ).

METASOMA. Integument black, marginal zone brownish. Disc of T1 sparsely haired ( Fig. 37F ), T2– T3 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering about half of tergum; T4 with short hairs, getting longer towards posterior. T3–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of short, erect, greyish hair ( Fig. 37E ). Punctation on discs of T2–T4 dense (i = 0.1 d); narrow, impunctate, non-continuous stripe apicolaterally on all terga, getting broader towards posterior ( Fig. 37E ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 38A ), S7 ( Fig. 38B–D ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 38C ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Apparently widespread in western South Africa and recorded from Springbok down south at least to the wider Nieuwoudtville and Calvinia areas. As not all of the specimens listed under S. nitidus by Eardley (1996) could be studied the distribution of this species is not clear. However, it is almost certain that the record of a female S. nitidus from Kenya ( Davies et al. 2005: 177) does not belong to this species because it is far outside the range of the species. Unfortunately, no reference specimen could be found in SANC so it is impossible to investigate the identity of the species.

Floral hosts

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

Seasonal activity

May–October.

Figures

Fig. 36. Scrapter nitidus (Friese, 1909), ♀. 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. 37. Scrapter nitidus (Friese, 1909), ♂. 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. 38. Scrapter nitidus (Friese, 1909), ♂. A. Genitalia (dorsal view). B. Sternum 7. C. Sternum 8. D. Sternum 7.