Scrapter ruficornis ( Cockerell, 1916 )

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 : 103-107

Scrapter ruficornis ( Cockerell, 1916)

Figs 73–75

Strandiella ruficornis Cockerell, 1916: 430 , holotype ♂ (type locality: Willowmore, South Africa) (NHML), examined.

Polyglossa (Strandiella) caffra Friese, 1925: 515 , holotype ♀ (Willowmore, South Africa) (ZMHB), examined (synonymized by Eardley 1996).

Diagnosis

The female of S. ruficornis can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: pronotal lobe dark ( Fig. 73A ); T3 anterior of premarginal line impunctate ( Fig. 73E ); propodeum completely carinate ( Fig. 73D ); basal hair bands on T3–T4 and fine punctation on discs of T1–T4 ( Fig. 73E ); supraclypeal area delimited by sharp edges ( Fig. 73B ). The male is characterized by sparse punctation on discs of T1–T4 ( Fig. 74D ), basally on each tergum except T1 more densely (i = 1 d), apically sparse (i = 2–3 d); punctation on disc of T1 regular (i = 3–4 d) and fine ( Fig. 75A ); propodeum coarsely areolate ( Fig. 74D ) and form of S7 ( Fig. 75C ).

Additional material examined (40 specimens)

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Ceres , Cape Province; [33°21′ S], [19°18′ E]; 450 m a.s.l.; Nov. 1920; RT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; Dec. 1920; RT leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; N Cape, 24 km N of Eksteenfontein ; 28°43′03″ S, 17°06′33″ E; 380 m a.s.l.; 9 Oct. 2008; CE leg.; SANC • 2 ♂♂; Colesberg ; 30°43′ S, 25°06′ E; 1360 m a.s.l.; Nov. 1930; unknown leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; W Cape, Kunje Farm , 28 km SE of Citrusdal; 32°40′ S, 19°10′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 23 Sep. 2001; CE leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; Matjesfontein ; 33°14′ S, 20°35′E; 900 m a.s.l.; 1–6 Nov. 1928; RT leg.; SANC • 2 ♂♂; same collection as for preceding; 1–6 Nov. 1928; RT leg.; NHML • 2 ♀♀; Capland, Willowmore ; 33°18′ S, 23°30′ E; 850 m a.s.l.; 1 Dec. 1899; HB leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Nov. 1905; HB leg.; SANC • 11 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂; Ceres ; 33°21′ S, 19°18′ E; 450 m a.s.l.; Nov. 1920; RT leg.; NHML • 2 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; Dec. 1920; RT leg.; NHML • 1 ♀; Little Karoo , 38 km E of Ceres; 33°21′ S, 19°43′ E; 1130 m a.s.l.; 17–25 Nov. 1924; RT leg.; NHML • 3 ♂♂; Buffels River, Ladismith Div. ; 33°30′ S, 21°05′ E; 270 m a.s.l.; Oct. 1937; unknown leg.; SANC • 1 ♀; Cape Province; Nov. 1920; RT leg.; NHML .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 8.2 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument reddish-brown, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with brownish hair, more densely around basis of antennae. Ocelli slightly in front of posterior margin of compound eyes. Clypeus medially with shallow longitudinal depression, punctation fine and sparse (i = 3–4 d). Surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 73B ). Malar area medially narrowly, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellowish, dorsally dark brownish. Supraclypeal area delimited by sharp edges and definite.

MESOSOMA. Integument dark brownish, pronotal lobe dark brownish, scutum and scutellum possibly yellowish-brown. Scutum coarsely and irregularly punctate (i = 1–4 d); surface between punctures matt ( Fig. 73C ). Metanotum about half as long as scutellum. Propodeum areolate, medially fine, laterally coarse ( Fig. 73D ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 73A ).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish ( Fig. 73A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish. Basal hair bands on T2–T4, on T2 narrow and sparse ( Fig. 73F ), broadening towards posterior ( Fig. 73E ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish. Disc of T1 finely and shallowly punctate ( Fig. 73F ); T2–T4 basally a bit more densely (i = 2–3 d) punctate than disc (i = 4–5 d) and fine. Surface between punctures smooth and shiny. Marginal zone with single hairs in row across complete width ( Fig. 73E ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 8.6 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument brownish, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face densely covered with long, white, erect hair. Ocelli in line with posterior margin of compound eyes. Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Scutum regularly and densely (i = 1–1.5 d) punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 74B ). Propodeum completely coarsely areolate ( Fig. 74C ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 74A ).

LEGS. Integument black, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 74A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zones yellowish-brown shimmering. Disc of T1 without hair ( Fig. 75A ), T3–T4 basally greyish, dense, middle long, erect hair band, covering sixth of terga. T3–T4 anterior of premarginal line with row of short, erect, greyish-brown hair ( Fig. 74D ). Disc of T1 finely and regularly (i = 2–3 d) punctate ( Fig. 75A ); discs of T2–T3 basally more densely (i = 1–1.5 d) and finer punctate than apically (i = 2–3 d). Surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 74D ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 75B ), S7 ( Fig. 75C ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 75D ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Eardley (1996) synonymized several taxa with S. ruficornis that turned out to be separate species. Because only a few of those specimens were available for study, details of the distribution of this species are unclear but apparently S. ruficornis is widespread in the Greater Cape Floristic Region known from Willowmore in the SE to Ceres in the W.

Floral hosts

Due to the taxonomic confusion floral hosts are not clear but Eardley (1996) only mentions Asteraceae like in all other species of this group for which flower visitation records are available.

Seasonal activity

November–December.

Figures

Fig. 73. Scrapter ruficornis (Cockerell, 1916), ♀. 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. 74. Scrapter ruficornis (Cockerell, 1916), ♂. A. Lateral view. B. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). C. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). D. Metasoma (dorsal view).

Fig. 75. Scrapter ruficornis (Cockerell, 1916), ♂. A. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view). B. Genitalia (dorsal view). C. Sternum 7. D. Sternum 8.