Scrapter oxalissimus, Kuhlmann, 2025

Scrapter oxalissimus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:86E63A08-A616-440B-9693-E1FB82CE1101

Figs 2–3 View Fig View Fig , 19–21 View Fig View Fig View Fig , 23–27 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. oxalissimus sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species in this group by the following character combination: clypeus, vertex and dorsal side of mesosoma with abundant dark brown to blackish hairs intermixed with lighter hair ( Fig. 19A View Fig ), basal area of propodeum on anterior half with fine longitudinal carination, propodeum dorsolaterally (lateral to the matt propodeal triangle) partly smooth and shiny ( Fig. 19D View Fig ), foreleg blackish-brown, sometimes femur apically slightly dark yellowish-brown, disc of T2 shallowly and sparsely (i= 2 d) punctate ( Fig. 19B View Fig ),

The male is characterized by the clypeus medially coarsely and denser punctate, matt ( Fig. 3 View Fig ), propodeum sparsely covered with thin hair of variable length, basal area with distinct longitudinal carinae ( Fig. 20B View Fig ), foreleg completely dark brown to blackish ( Fig. 20A View Fig ), hind tibia apicomedially not conspicuously swollen ( Fig. 21A View Fig ), genitalia as in Fig. 21B View Fig .

Etymology

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

Type material (15 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; Nieuwoudtville , Glen Lyon, Renosterveld; 700 m a.s.l.; 31°24′03″ S, 19°08′34″ E; 7 Sep. 2003; M. Kuhlmann leg.; SANC. GoogleMaps

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; 10 km N of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Grasberg , dolerite hill; 800 m a.s.l.; 31°18′01″ S, 19°05′42″ E; 12 Sep. 2009; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur , Fynbos; 770 m a.s.l.; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 25 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Keiski Mts , 3 km E of Farm M’Vera, shale; 1190 m a.s.l.; 31°45′29″ S, 19°54′13″ E; 27 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Keiski Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, burned area; 1275 m a.s.l.; 31°45′47″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 28 Sep. 2009; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; Keiskie Mts , 5 km S of Farm Nooiensrivier, dolerite hill; 1270 m a.s.l.; 31°45′54″ S, 19°50′17″ E; 19 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 26 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀, 2 ♂♂; Roggeveld Mts , 2 km SE of Farm Allemansdam, burnt area; 1290 m a.s.l.; 31°49′32″ S, 19°59′55″ E; 24 Aug. 2018; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps ) • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 29 Aug. 2018; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7.5–8 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Integument black, except part of mandibles dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with relatively short, blackish-grey, erect hair ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Clypeus strongly convex; medially relatively coarsely and very sparsely (i=2–5 d) punctate, laterally almost impunctate; surface between punctures smooth and shiny ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, ventrally very dark yellowish-brown to dark brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument and tegulae black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures reticulate and matt; disc relatively densely (i= 1–2d) and coarsely punctate ( Fig. 19C View Fig ). Metanotum about ⅔ as long as basal area of propodeum, apically with broad and distinct carinate depression ( Fig. 19D View Fig ). Propodeum on basal half laterally relatively finely linear carinate ( Fig. 19D View Fig ). Mesoscutum with short; scutellum, metanotum, mesepisternum and propodeum with relatively long, blackish and grey, erect hairs ( Fig. 19A View Fig ).

WINGS. Yellowish-brown; wing venation and stigma dark brown.

LEGS. Integument black. Vestiture and scopa brownish to blackish-grey.

METASOMA. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; apical margins of terga broadly translucent dark yellowish-brown to reddish-brown ( Fig. 19B View Fig ). Disc of T1 without hair; following terga with very short and few but successively more and longer, greyish, erect hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 19B View Fig ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae dark brown. T1 very finely and indistinctly punctate, partly looking impunctate, T2 very finely and sparsely (i =2d) punctate, T3 and T4 very shallowly and sparsely (i=2–3 d) punctate; between punctures apical tergal depressions superficially shagreened but shiny ( Fig. 19B View Fig ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 8 mm.

HEAD. Head wider than long. Integument black, except mandible partly dark reddish-brown. Face covered with long, silvery-white, erect hair ( Fig. 3 View Fig ). Malar area medially narrow, almost linear. Antenna dorsally dark brown, flagellar segments 5–11 ventrally dark yellowish-brown.

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures strongly reticulate and matt; disc densely (i=d) but shallowly and relatively finely punctate. Basal area of propodeum ± wide crescent, distinctly and broadly linear carinate ( Fig. 20B View Fig ). Mesoscutum, propodeum and mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair; scutellum and metanotum covered with long, brownish-grey, erect hair ( Fig. 20A View Fig ).

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

LEGS. Integument black to dark brown, hind tarsi successively slightly lighter brown distally. Hind tibia apically slightly broadened inside with a thin tuft of slightly longer greyish-white hair ( Fig. 21A View Fig ).

METASOMA. Integument black, apical margins of terga relatively broadly translucent dark yellowish-brown ( Fig. 20C View Fig ). Discs of T1 very sparsely covered with short, greyish, erect hair, following terga with successively more and longer hair; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 20C View Fig ). T1 sparsely (i=2 d) and very finely punctate, T2-T6 finely and relatively sparsely (i=1.5–2d) punctate; terga and apical tergal depressions superficially shagreened and slightly matt to shiny ( Fig. 20C View Fig ). S3–S5 laterally with very sparse, long apical hair fringes or tufts ( Fig. 20D View Fig ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 21B View Fig ), S7 ( Fig. 21C View Fig ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 21D View Fig ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Found only on the Bokkeveld Plateau and the northern extension of the Roggeveld Mountains (Northern Cape Province).

Floral hosts

Oxalidaceae : yellow flowering Oxalis spec. , O. pes-caprae ,

Seasonal activity

August–September.