Genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828

Description of the Scrapter carysomus species group

Species of this group are medium-sized (6.5–8.5 mm body length) bees, characterized by a ± squarish face, usually with inner eye margins parallel or slightly diverging ventrally, malar area medially narrow, almost linear and in particular a distinctly protruding, polished and shiny clypeus and supraclypeal area (Figs 2–3). The latter is very conspicuous and unique in Scrapter, especially in females. Males are characterized by a large, apically broad and emarginate S7 with long and dense hair fringes on both sides of the emargination (e.g., Fig. 6C). In the closest related species that belong to a group around S. capensis (Friese, 1909), S. leonis Cockerell, 1934 and S. eremanthedon Davies, 2005 (sistergroup relationship supported by preliminary unpublished molecular-phylogenetic data) the clypeus and supraclypeal area are also protuberant, but to a much lesser extent and surfaces are more or less clearly and densely sculptured. Furthermore, their faces tend to be more transversely oval and the eyes usually converge ventrally.