Scrapter oxalis, Kuhlmann, 2025

Scrapter oxalis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:ECBEF593-24AE-4B7C-B6CF-67A6C53A7302

Figs 2–3 View Fig View Fig , 16–18 View Fig View Fig View Fig , 23–28 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. oxalis sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species in this group by the following character combination: scutellum relatively small, distinctly convex and shiny ( Fig. 16D View Fig ), propodeum dorsolaterally (lateral to the matt propodeal triangle) very finely shagreened and matt, hair on posterior surface shorter than length of basal area ( Fig. 16D View Fig ), foreleg blackish-brown, sometimes femur apically slightly dark yellowish-brown, apical tergal depressions narrow and brownish translucent without reddish discoloration of the adjacent apical area of the disc, disc of T2 finely and sparsely punctate ( Fig. 16B View Fig ).

The male is characterized by the propodeum densely covered with thick, plumose hair of ± equal length ( Fig. 17B View Fig ), foreleg completely dark brown to blackish, sometimes to a small extent distitarsus and apical parts of mediotarsi orange-brown ( Fig. 17A View Fig ), hind tibia apicomedially strongly swollen, hairs apically on inner side relatively short ( Fig. 18A View Fig ), S3-S5 with dense apical hair fringes ( Fig. 17D View Fig ), genitalia as in Fig. 18B View Fig .

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the specific host plants of the genus Oxalis ( Oxalidaceae ) of this bee species.

Type material (17 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Knersvlakte , along Gemsbokrivier-Pad; 195 m a.s.l.; 31°26′40″ S, 18°56′23″ E; 5 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; SANC. GoogleMaps

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; Gemsbokrivier-Pad , 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, Road Side; 170 m a.s.l.; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 20 May 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; NHML GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 28 May 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 5 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 3 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 10 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; NHML GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Knersvlakte , along Gemsbokrivier-Pad; 195 m a.s.l.; 31°26′40″ S, 18°56′23″ E; 5 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 6.5–7.5 mm.

HEAD. Head as wide as long. Integument black, except part of mandibles dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with relatively long, yellowish-grey, erect hair ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Clypeus strongly convex with fine and very sparse (i= 2–5 d) punctation; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, ventrally dark yellow.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegulae dark brown. Mesoscutal disc between punctures finely reticulate and partly matt; disc finely, relatively shallowly and sparsely (i= 2d) punctate ( Fig. 16C View Fig ). Metanotum slightly shorter than basal area of propodeum, apically with narrow and indistinctly carinate depression ( Fig. 16D View Fig ). Propodeum basally very indistinctly and finely carinate ( Fig. 16D View Fig ). Mesoscutum with short;

scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with long, sparse, greyish to yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 16A View Fig ).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma brown.

LEGS. Integument black to dark reddish-brown. Vestiture yellowish to brownish-grey. Scopa yellowish-grey.

METASOMA. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; apical margins of terga broadly translucent yellowish to brownish ( Fig. 16B View Fig ). Disc of T1 and T2 very sparsely covered with very short, greyish-white, erect hair; following terga with successively more and longer, greyish-white, erect hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 16B View Fig ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brown. T1 and T2 impunctate, T3 and T4 with indistinct shallow punctation, looking almost impunctate; between punctures shagreened and slightly matt to shiny; apical tergal depressions very finely shagreened and slightly matt ( Fig. 16B View Fig ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 8.5 mm.

HEAD. Head slightly longer than wide. Integument black, except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face densely covered with long, silvery-white, erect hair ( Fig. 3 View Fig ). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, ventrally yellowish-brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures reticulate and slightly matt; disc shallowly but densely (i =d) and relatively finely punctate. Basal area of propodeum ± triangular and distinctly carinate ( Fig. 17B View Fig ). Mesoscutum sparsely, scutellum and metanotum densely covered with long, yellowish, erect hair; propodeum laterally with short, apically with long, dense, yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 17B View Fig ); mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair ( Fig. 17A View Fig ).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma brown.

LEGS. Integument black to reddish-brown, tarsi distally successively more yellowish-brown. Hind tibia apicomedially strongly swollen and curved, without distinct hair tuft ( Fig. 18A View Fig ). Vestiture greyish-white, on tarsi slightly yellowish.

METASOMA. Integument black to reddish-brown, apical margins of terga partly narrowly translucent dark reddish-brown ( Fig. 17C View Fig ). Discs of T1–T4 covered with short, greyish, erect hair, following terga with successively longer hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 17C View Fig ). Terga very finely and densely (i=d) punctate, appearing almost impunctate; between punctures and on apical tergal depressions superficially shagreened and slightly matt ( Fig. 17C View Fig ). S3 and S4 with dense, long apical hair fringes (laterally longer), S5 only laterally ( Fig. 17D View Fig ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 18B View Fig ), S7 ( Fig. 18C View Fig ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 18D View Fig ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Only known from the Knersvlakte (Western Cape Province) and possibly endemic to this southern-most part of the Succulent Karoo biome.

Floral hosts

Oxalidaceae : yellow flowering Oxalis spec. , O. argillacea , O. purpurea .

Seasonal activity

May–June.