Scrapter oxalissimus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 86E63A08-A616-440B-9693-E1FB82CE1101

Figs 2–3, 19–21, 23–27

Diagnosis

The female of S. oxalissimus sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species in this group by the following character combination: clypeus, vertex and dorsal side of mesosoma with abundant dark brown to blackish hairs intermixed with lighter hair (Fig. 19A), basal area of propodeum on anterior half with fine longitudinal carination, propodeum dorsolaterally (lateral to the matt propodeal triangle) partly smooth and shiny (Fig. 19D), foreleg blackish-brown, sometimes femur apically slightly dark yellowish-brown, disc of T2 shallowly and sparsely (i= 2 d) punctate (Fig. 19B),

The male is characterized by the clypeus medially coarsely and denser punctate, matt (Fig. 3), propodeum sparsely covered with thin hair of variable length, basal area with distinct longitudinal carinae (Fig. 20B), foreleg completely dark brown to blackish (Fig. 20A), hind tibia apicomedially not conspicuously swollen (Fig. 21A), genitalia as in Fig. 21B.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the specific host plants of the genus Oxalis ( Oxalidaceae) of this bee species.

Type material (15 specimens)

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Nieuwoudtville, Glen Lyon, Renosterveld; 700 m a.s.l.; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 7 Sep. 2003; M. Kuhlmann leg.; SANC.

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; 10 km N of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Grasberg, dolerite hill; 800 m a.s.l.; 31°18′01″ S, 19°05′42″ E; 12 Sep. 2009; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur, Fynbos; 770 m a.s.l.; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 25 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; Keiski Mts, 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 1190 m a.s.l.; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 27 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts, 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burned area; 1275 m a.s.l.; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 28 Sep. 2009; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; Keiskie Mts, 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, dolerite hill; 1270 m a.s.l.; 31°45′54″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 19 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 26 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts, 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 1290 m a.s.l.; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 24 Aug. 2018; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK ) • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 29 Aug. 2018; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.5–8 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Integument black, except part of mandibles dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with relatively short, blackish-grey, erect hair (Fig. 2). Clypeus strongly convex; medially relatively coarsely and very sparsely (i=2–5 d) punctate, laterally almost impunctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny (Fig. 2). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, ventrally very dark yellowish-brown to dark brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument and tegulae black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures reticulate and matt; disc relatively densely (i= 1–2d) and coarsely punctate (Fig. 19C). Metanotum about ⅔ as long as basal area of propodeum, apically with broad and distinct carinate depression (Fig. 19D). Propodeum on basal half laterally relatively finely linear carinate (Fig. 19D). Mesoscutum with short; scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with relatively long, blackish and grey, erect hairs (Fig. 19A).

WINGS. Yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma dark brown.

LEGS. Integument black. Vestiture and scopa brownish to blackish-grey.

METASOMA. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; apical margins of terga broadly translucent dark yellowish-brown to reddish-brown (Fig. 19B). Disc of T1 without hair; following terga with very short and few but successively more and longer, greyish, erect hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga (Fig. 19B). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brown. T1 very finely and indistinctly punctate, partly looking impunctate, T2 very finely and sparsely (i =2d) punctate, T3 and T4 very shallowly and sparsely (i=2–3 d) punctate; between punctures apical tergal depressions superficially shagreened but shiny (Fig. 19B).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 8 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Integument black, except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face covered with long, silvery-white, erect hair (Fig. 3). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, flagellar segments 5–11 ventrally dark yellowish-brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures strongly reticulate and matt; disc densely (i=d) but shallowly and relatively finely punctate. Basal area of propodeum ± wide crescent, distinctly and broadly linear carinate (Fig. 20B). Mesoscutum, propodeum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair; scutellum and metanotum covered with long, brownish-grey, erect hair (Fig. 20A).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma brown.

LEGS. Integument black to dark brown, hind tarsi successively slightly lighter brown distally. Hind tibia apically slightly broadened inside with a thin tuft of slightly longer greyish-white hair (Fig. 21A).

METASOMA. Integument black, apical margins of terga relatively broadly translucent dark yellowish-brown (Fig. 20C). Discs of T1 very sparsely covered with short, greyish, erect hair, following terga with successively more and longer hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga (Fig. 20C). T1 sparsely (i=2 d) and very finely punctate, T2-T6 finely and relatively sparsely (i=1.5–2d) punctate; terga and apical tergal depressions superficially shagreened and slightly matt to shiny (Fig. 20C). S3–S5 laterally with very sparse, long apical hair fringes or tufts (Fig. 20D).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia (Fig. 21B), S7 (Fig. 21C) and terminal plate of S8 (Fig. 21D) as illustrated.

Distribution

Found only on the Bokkeveld Plateau and the northern extension of the Roggeveld Mountains (Northern Cape Province).

Floral hosts

Oxalidaceae: yellow flowering Oxalis spec., O. pes-caprae,

Seasonal activity

August–September.