Scrapter basutorum ( Cockerell, 1915 )

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 : 6-10

Scrapter basutorum ( Cockerell, 1915)

Figs 2–4

Capicola basutorum Cockerell, 1915: 342–343 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Basutoland, Lesotho) (NHML), examined.

Polyglossa (Strandiella) luteipennis Friese, 1925: 516 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Rikatla, Mozambique) (ZMHB), examined (synonymized by Eardley 1996).

Diagnosis

The female of S. basutorum can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: pronotal lobe yellow ( Fig. 3A ); facial fovea 3.5 times as long as wide ( Fig. 2B ) and sparse punctation (i = 1–2 d) on the scutum ( Fig. 2C ). The male is characterized by a yellow pronotal lobe ( Fig. 3A ); flagellum of antenna slightly longer than the compound eye ( Fig. 3A ); hind femur partly yellow ( Fig. 3A ) and facial fovea 3.5 times as long as wide.

Material examined (2 specimens)

LESOTHO • 1 ♂; Basutoland , Teyateyaneng; [29°09′ S], [27°44′ E]; 16 Dec. 1964; DB leg.; RCMK .

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; O.F.S. Adullam Farm near Clarens; 28°32′ S, 28°28′ E; 20–26 Feb. 1980; CK leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 10.7 mm.

HEAD. Slightly wider than long. Integument brownish, mandibles dark brownish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with light brownish hair, more densely around the basis of the antennae. Facial fovea about 3.5 times as long as wide. Ocelli slightly in front of posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medial with shallow longitudinal depression; coarse punctation, apically sparse (i = 1–2 d), laterally dense (i = 1 d). Surface between punctures relatively smooth and shiny ( Fig. 2B ). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally and distal third completely yellow, dorsally black. Supraclypeal area at upper margin flat to slightly convex.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, pronotal lobe yellow. Scutum coarsely and irregularly punctate (i = 1–2.5 d); surface between punctures with very fine punctation. Metanotum about a third of length of scutellum ( Fig. 2C ). Propodeum basally broadly, coarsely carinate, posterior coarsely coriaceous, laterally carinae ( Fig. 2D ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma yellow, wing venation brownish ( Fig. 2A ).

LEGS. Integument brownish, hind femur completely dark brown to black. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish-brown ( Fig. 2A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zones yellowish-brown. No hair bands on basally terga.T3 anterior of premarginal line with hair band of long greyish-brownish, erect hair. Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae greyish-brown. Discs of T1–T4 punctulate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 2E–F ).

Male

BODY length. 11 mm.

HEAD. Slightly wider than long. Integument brownish, mandibles yellowish proximal and reddish distal. Facial fovea about 3.5 times as long as wide. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hair. Ocelli slightly in front of posterior margin of compound eyes. Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally and distal half completely yellow, dorsally black.

MESOSOMA. Integument brownish to black, pronotal lobe yellow. Scutum irregularly and densely (i = 1–2.5 d) punctate, mixed with very fine punctures ( Fig. 3B ). Basal half of the propodeum with coarse carinae, posterior half rugulose ( Fig. 3C ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma yellow, wing venation brownish ( Fig. 3A ).

LEGS. Integument on basis brownish, hind femur partly yellow. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 3A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zone brownish. T2–T4 sparsely covered with long, yellowish-brown, erect hair; T4–T5 basally with short, very dense, light brownish, erect hair, covering about sixth of T4 and half of T5. T3–T4 row of short, erect, light brownish hair. Disc of T1 finely, shallowly, sparsely (i = 3–5 d) punctate ( Fig. 4A ), discs of T2–T4 terga shallowly, finely, and sparsely (i = 2 d), but regularly punctate. Surface between punctures matt ( Fig. 3D ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 4B ), S7 ( Fig. 4C ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 4D ) as illustrated.

Distribution

A montane species that is only known from the Drakensberg region of South Africa and Lesotho. According to Eardley (1996), a single record from Mozambique is doubtful.

Floral hosts

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

December–February.

Figures

Fig. 2. Scrapter basutorum (Cockerell, 1915), ♀. A. Lateral view. B. Head (dorsal view). C. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). D. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). E. Metasoma (dorsal view). F. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view).

Fig. 3. Scrapter basutorum (Cockerell, 1915), ♂. A. Lateral view. B. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). C. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). D. Metasoma (dorsal view).

Fig. 4. Scrapter basutorum (Cockerell, 1915), ♂. A. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view). B. Genitalia (dorsal view). C. Sternum 7. D. Sternum 8.