Scrapter imparilis, 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 : 39-43

Scrapter imparilis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7E78343A-D8B6-4421-9C22-929B8BAB77F8

Figs 27–29

Diagnosis

The female of S. imparilis sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: T3 anterior of premarginal line impunctate ( Fig. 27E); propodeum basally v-shaped carinate, apically smooth and shiny ( Fig. 27D); discs of T1–T4 with shallow punctation ( Fig. 27E); prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae brownish ( Fig. 27E). The male is characterized by the form of S7 ( Fig. 29C); dense punctation on disc of T2 covers ½ of this tergum ( Fig. 28F); more than 15 points medially of T2 ( Fig. 28F); ocelli behind posterior margin of compound eyes ( Fig. 28B); dense (i <1 d) punctation of mesosoma ( Fig 28C).

Etymology

The name ‘ imparilis’ (Latin for ‘irregular’) refers to the medially much broadened apical tergal depressions particularly in the female that are unique in this the S. nitidus group.

Type material (17 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; W Cape, Cape Point Nature Res .; 34°14′ S, 18°26′ E; 250 m a.s.l.; 29 Sep. 2011; CE leg.; SANC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 3 ♀♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein, waterfall ; 31°33′01″ S, 19°07′24″ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 12 Sep. 2008; HE leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Remhoogte, slope ; 30°14′46″ S, 18°10′23″ E; 5 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Sep. 2003; CM leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; 5 km S of Grabouw ; 34°18′ S, 19°01 E; 29 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; RCMK • 5 ♀♀; Farm Dassiefontein near Kamieskroon ; 30°09′ S, 17°59′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 1 Oct. 1990; CE leg.; SANC • 4 ♀♀; Namaqualand, Hester Malan ; 29°38′ S, 17°58′ E; 500 m a.s.l.; 4 Sep. 1985; MT leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; N Cape Province, Studer's Pass near Garies ; 30°26′ S, 18°03′ E; 400 m a.s.l.; 16 Sep. 2007; CE leg.; SANC .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.1–7.3 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish proximal to reddish distal. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with greyish hair, more densely around the basis of the antennae. Ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with shallow longitudinal depression, punctation apically fine and relatively sparse (i = 2–4 d). Surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 27B). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black. Supraclypeal area triangularly shaped, convex, upper margin flat to slightly convex.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe black. Scutum coarsely, sparsely (i = 2–4 d) and irregularly punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 27C). Metanotum about half as long as scutellum. Propodeum basally with fine v-shaped carinae, posterior without sculpture, very smooth and shiny ( Fig. 27D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 27A).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish ( Fig. 27A).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zones yellowish. Transitional line between disc and marginal zone curved. Basally on T2–T4 patches of hair of middle long, brownish, erect hair. T4 sparsely covered with middle long, brownish, erect hair, T3 at least laterally covered with hair ( Fig. 27E). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae brownish. Discs of T1–T4 sparsely, finely and shallowly puncticulate ( Fig. 27F). Surface between punctures smooth and shiny.

Male

BODY LENGTH. 7.8 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument black, mandibles dark brownish proximal to reddish distal. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hair. Ocelli behind posterior margin of compound eyes ( Fig. 28B). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Scutum densely (I <1 d) punctate; surface between punctures matt ( Fig. 28C). Propodeum completely areolate ( Fig. 28D). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 28A).

LEGS. Integument black, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 28A).

METASOMA. Integument dark brownish, marginal zone yellowish to brownish. Disc of T1 without hair ( Fig. 28F), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering quarter of terga ( Fig. 28E). T2–T4 anterior of premarginal line laterally row of short, erect, greyish hair. Discs of T2–T4 basally more densely (i = 0.1 d) and more finely punctate than apically (I <1 d); medially more densely than laterally ( Fig. 28E); basally dense punctation on discs of T2 covers half of the tergum, medially more than 15 points ( Fig. 28F). T2–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of points. Surface between punctures matt.

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 29A–B), S7 ( Fig. 29C) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 29D) as illustrated.

Distribution

A few scattered records from the Fynbos biome, south of Cape Town to the Succulent Karoo in the Springbok vicinity in the north.

Floral hosts

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

September.