Scrapter convexus, 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 : 22-26

Scrapter convexus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:34E2A8A5-446B-4D0B-BBEC-0A547C8D97CF

Figs 15–17

Diagnosis

The female of S. convexus 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. 15E); basal half of the propodeum areolate to carinate, medially areolate, apically carinate ( Fig. 15D); ocelli slightly behind posterior margin of the compound eyes. The male is characterized by dense (i = 0.2 d) punctation on discs of T1–T4 ( Fig. 16D); dense (i = 0.2 d) punctation of T2 covers third of the tergum ( Fig. 17A); each tergum curved from anterior to posterior ( Fig. 16A) and form of S7 ( Fig. 14C).

Etymology

Named after the convex metasomal terga of both males and females.

Type material (7 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Roggeveld Mts , 1.5 km S of Farm Allemansdam, Renosterveld; 31°49′25″ S, 19°59′38″ E; 1285 m a.s.l.; 11 Sep. 2018; MK leg. SAMC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km S of Farm Perdekloof, river, dolerite ; 31°47′35″ S, 19°58′16″ E; 1220 m a.s.l.; 2 Sep. 2017; MK leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; 11 Sep. 2018; MK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.5–7.6 mm.

HEAD. Slightly 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 behind posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus slightly convex and medially with shallow longitudinal depression; punctation coarsely and. irregularly (i = 1–3 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 15B). 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 (i = 0.5–1 d), medially sparse (i = 1–2.5 d) ( Fig. 15C). Metanotum about half as long as scutellum. Propodeum broad and coarse longitudinal carinae and posterior finely transverse carinate to areolate, medially areolate ( Fig. 15D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short to middle long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation dark brownish ( Fig. 15A).

LEGS. Integument black, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black ( Fig 15A).

METASOMA. Integument brownish-black, T1 and T4 partly and T2–T3 completely yellowish-brown ( Fig. 15E). Hair field of sparse, greyish, short, erect hair basolaterally on T2–T4, getting more continuous and narrower towards posterior; narrow and sparse hair band basally on T3–T4; T3 anterior of premarginal line laterally row of hairs ( Fig. 15E). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black. Disc of T1 finely, sparsely (i = 1–2 d) and regularly punctate ( Fig. 15F); punctation on discs of T2–T4 regular, T2–T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of points across the complete width. Surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 15E).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 7.4–7.7 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 the posterior margin of the compound eyes. Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Scutum finely and densely (i = 0.3–0.8 d) punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 16B). Propodeum completely coarsely rugulose-areolate ( Fig. 16C). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 16A).

LEGS. Integument black, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 16A).

METASOMA. Integument dark brownish to black, marginal zone brownish shimmering. Each tergum curved from anterior to posterior ( Fig. 16A). Disc of T1 without hair ( Fig. 17A), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering third of terga. T3–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of short, erect, greyish-brown hair ( Fig. 16D). Discs of T2–T4 basally more densely (i = 0.2 d) and finer punctate than apically (i <1 d); medially more densely than laterally; lateral dense punctation of T2 covers third of the tergum; T1–T3 anterior of premarginal line with row of points ( Fig. 16D).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 17B), S7 ( Fig. 17C) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 17D) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from two sites at the northern extension of the Roggeveld Mts south of Calvinia.

Floral hosts

On yellow Senecio sp. ( Asteraceae ).

Seasonal activity

September.