Scrapter montanus, 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 : 86-90

Scrapter montanus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12A7BEA6-6EF4-480C-B9F6-EE0B2F861BCA

Figs 61–63

Diagnosis

The female of S. montanus sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species of this group by the following character combination: on posterior margin of T3 no row of points ( Fig. 61E ); scutum finely and densely (i = 0.5–2 d) punctate ( Fig. 61C ); discs of T1–T4 deeply and regularly punctate ( Fig. 61E ); propodeum matt on posterior half ( Fig. 61D ). The male is characterized by disc of T1 and T2 finely and regularly (i = 1–1.5 d) punctate ( Fig. 63D ); legs at most dark ( Fig. 63A ).

Etymology

The species is named for its apparent preference for mountainous regions in South Africa.

Type material (5 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Oranje Free State, Kroonstad ; 27°39′ S, 27°14′ E; 1380 m a.s.l.; 3 Oct. 1965; unknown leg.; SANC.

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 2 Oct. 1965; unknown leg.; SANC • 1 ♂; Caledon Riv btw Bethulie and Aliwal ; 30°35′ S, 26°20′ E; 1300 m a.s.l.; Oct. 1935; unknown leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; Capland , Willowmore; 33°18′ S, 23°30′ E; 850 m a.s.l.; Oct. 1912; HB leg.; RCMK .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.8 mm.

HEAD. Wider than long. Integument brownish, mandibles dark brownish to reddish. Face irregularly and sparsely covered with brownish hair, more densely around basis of antennae. Ocelli at level of posterior margin of complex eyes. Clypeus medially with superficial longitudinal depression; punctation fine and sparse (i = 2–3 d); surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 61B ). Malar area medially narrow, slightly curved. Antennal flagella ventrally yellow, dorsally black. Supraclypeal area elevated and sharply delimited.

MESOSOMA. Integument dark brownish, pronotal lobe dark brownish. Scutum coarsely and irregularly punctate (i = 0.5–2 d); surface between punctation smooth and shiny. Metanotum about half as long as scutellum. Propodeum basally carinate; surface matt. Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with short, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 61A )

LEGS. Integument yellowish-brown, fore tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white, scopa greyish to brownish, partly black ( Fig. 61A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zones yellowish-brown shimmering.Anterior on T2–T3 hair bands of sparse, greyish-white, erect hair; anterior margin of T3 with hair band; on posterior margin of T3 at least laterally one single hair row; T4 completely haired, anteriorly denser than posteriorly; prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brownish to black ( Fig. 61E ). Discs of T1–T3 finely and regularly (i= 2–4 d); disc of T3 anteriorly slightly denser punctate than posteriorly; punctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 61E–F ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 6.5–6.9 mm.

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

MESOSOMA. Integument brownish-black. Scutum irregularly (i = 0.5–1.5 d) punctate; surface between punctation smooth and shiny ( Fig. 62B ). Propodeum completely rugulose-areolate ( Fig. 62C ). Scutum, scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum sparsely covered with long, brownish to greyish, erect hair.

WINGS. Yellowish-brown, stigma and wing venation brownish ( Fig. 62A ).

LEGS. Integument brownish, fore and mid tibia with yellow spot. Vestiture greyish-white ( Fig. 62A ).

METASOMA. Integument brownish, marginal zone yellowish-brow. Disc of T1 without hair ( Fig. 63A ), T2–T4 basally greyish, dense, short, erect hair band, covering fifth of tergite. Posterior margins of T3–T4 at least laterally with single hair row of short, erect, greyish hair ( Fig. 62D ). T1–T3 finely and regularly (i = 1–1.5 d); surface between punctation smooth and shiny ( Fig. 62A ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 63B ), S7 ( Fig. 63C ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 63D ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from few sites in the eastern central part of South Africa from Willowmore in the south to Kroonstad in the north.

Floral hosts

Unknown.

Seasonal activity

October.

Figures

Fig. 61. Scrapter montanus sp. nov., paratype, ♀. 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. 62. Scrapter montanus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. A. Lateral view. B. Scutum and scutellum (dorsal view). C. Metanotum and propodeum (dorsal view). D. Metasoma (dorsal view).

Fig. 63. Scrapter montanus sp. nov., paratype, ♂. A. Terga 1–2 (dorsal view). B. Genitalia (dorsal view). C. Sternum 7. D. Sternum 8.