Scrapter littoralis, 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 : 43-45

Scrapter littoralis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0FD26BDC-86E5-4200-AF79-BC1FD1525B2F

Fig. 30

Diagnosis

The female of S. littoralis 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. 30E); no or almost no punctation on discs of T1–T2 ( Fig. 30F); punctation on disc of T3 ( Fig. 30E); metasoma matt ( Fig. 30E); dense hairs basally on T4 ( Fig. 30E); punctation of scutum relatively regular and dense (i = 0.5–2 d) ( Fig. 30C); propodeum with carinae, transitional line between anterior longitudinal and posterior transverse carinae curved ( Fig. 30D). The male is unknown.

Etymology

The species is named after the collection site of the holotype at the shoreline near Lamberts Bay.

Type material (13 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Lamberts Bay , Strandveld; 32°06′19″ S, 18°18′16″ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 2017; sand; MK leg.; SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 9 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 7 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SANC • 1 ♀; 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 ♀; N Cape, Fynbos, 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt ; 31°14′31″ S; 18°59′08″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 27 Aug. 2003; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 8–8.5 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with brownish hair, more densely around the basis of antennae. Ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with shallow longitudinal depression; punctation fine, sparse (i = 1–3 d) and irregular; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 30B). 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 brownish-black. Scutum coarsely and irregularly punctate (i = 0.5–2 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 30C). Metanotum less than half as long as scutellum. Propodeum basally broadly, coarsely carinate, anterior longitudinal carinae more finely carinate than posterior transverse carinae, laterally areolate ( Fig. 30D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation dark brownish ( Fig. 30A).

LEGS. Integument brownish-black, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black ( Fig. 30A).

METASOMA. Integument black, T1–T2 partly yellowish-brown ( Fig. 30F), marginal zones yellowish-brown shimmering. Basolaterally hair patches on T2–T3 of greyish-white, sparse, middle long, erect hair; T4 completely haired, basally shorter than apically; T3 anterior of premarginal line at least laterally row of hairs. Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black ( Fig. 30E). Discs of T1–T2 almost impunctate ( Fig. 30F); punctation on disc of T3 shallow, density varying (i = 0.5–4 d); T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of points across complete width. Surface of metasoma matt ( Fig. 30E).

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Only found at three sandy sites at the coast, the Cederberg Mts and the Bokkeveld Plateau.

Floral hosts

On unidentified yellow Asteraceae .

Seasonal activity

August–September.