Scrapter oxalicus, Kuhlmann, 2025

Scrapter oxalicus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D062502A-CBE8-4039-9358-9045067A187C

Figs 2–3 View Fig View Fig , 10–12 View Fig View Fig View Fig , 25–26 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. oxalicus sp. nov. is unique in this species group due to the fore tibiae each having on the inside medially, on the outside apically and fore femur on the outside apically a dull yellow spot of variable size.

The male is unique in this species group due to completely bright yellow tarsi ( Figs 3 View Fig , 11A View Fig ), hind tibia apically on inner side with long hairs ( Fig. 12A View Fig ) and genitalia as in Fig. 12B View Fig .

Etymology

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

Type material (76 specimens)

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Gemsbokrivier-Pad , 4.5 km NE of Grootdrif, Road Side; 170 m; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ 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; 31°25′54″ S, 18°55′16″ E; 15 Aug. 2011; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 12 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 28 May 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 9 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; NHML GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 5 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 4 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; NHML GoogleMaps • 14 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 10 Jun. 2013; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; SANC GoogleMaps • 9 ♀♀, 17 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; NHML GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Knersvlakte , along Gemsbokrivier-Pad; 120–195 m a.s.l.; 31°23′57″ S, 18°54′11″ E; 14 Sep. 2007; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Knersvlakte , Gemsbokrivier-Pad, rivier; 195 m a.s.l.; 31°26′40″ S, 18°56′23″ E; 24 Aug. 2008; M. Kuhlmann leg.; NHML GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Knersvlakte , Sukkulent Karoo, 30 km N of Vanrhynsdorp; 146 m a.s.l.; 31°22′23″ S, 18°42′37″ E; 22 Aug. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; NHML GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 26 Aug. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; NHML GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Witwater , slope; 30.23050° S, 18.13458° E; 25 Sep. 2003; C. Mayer leg.; NHML GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 8 mm.

HEAD. Head slightly wider than long. Integument black to dark reddish-brown. Face covered with relatively short, greyish to yellowish, 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 basally dark brown to apically light brown, ventrally bright yellow.

MESOSOMA. Integument black, tegulae dark yellowish. Mesoscutal disc between punctures reticulate and matt; disc sparsely (i =1.5–3 d) and finely to slightly coarsely but shallowly punctate ( Fig. 10C View Fig ). Metanotum about ⅔ as long as basal area of propodeum, apically with narrow carinate depression ( Fig. 10D View Fig ). Propodeum basally finely and distinctly carinate ( Fig. 10D View Fig ). Mesoscutum with short, erect hair; propodeum laterally with relatively short, apically with long, erect hair; scutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum with sparse, long, greyish to yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 10A View Fig ).

WINGS. Slightly yellowish-brown; wing venation light brown; stigma yellow.

LEGS. Integument black to dark yellowish-brown; fore anteriorly on basal half with large yellow spot, posteriorly with indistinct yellowish spot. Vestiture and scopa greyish-white.

METASOMA. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; apical margins of terga broadly translucent yellowish to brown ( Fig. 10B View Fig ). Disc of T1 with very few, very short, greyish-white, erect hairs; following terga with successively more and longer, greyish-white, erect hairs; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 10B View Fig ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae greyish to slightly brownish. T1–T4 with very fine shallow and dispersed punctation, looking almost impunctate; between punctures shagreened and slightly matt to shiny; apical tergal depressions finely shagreened and slightly matt to shiny ( Fig. 10B View Fig ).

Male

BODY LENGTH. 7–7.5 mm.

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

MESOSOMA. Integument black. Mesoscutal disc between punctures reticulate, matt; disc finely and relatively densely (i=1–1.5 d) punctate. Basal area of propodeum ± narrowly crescent, distinctly covered with carinae that cover the majority of its surface ( Fig. 11B View Fig ). Mesoscutum sparsely, scutellum, metanotum with long, greyish to slightly yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 11A View Fig ); propodeum covered laterally with short, apically with long, dense greyish to slightly yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 11B View Fig ); mesepisternum sparsely covered with long, greyish, erect hair.

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

LEGS. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; fore femora apically, fore tibia and fore tarsi completely bright yellow; mid femora and tibia anteriorly and apically, mid tarsi completely bright yellow; hind tarsi bright yellow. Hind tibia yellowish-brown at the very apical end; apically broadened inside with a tuft of very long but sparse, greyish-white hair ( Fig. 12A View Fig ).

METASOMA. Integument black to very dark reddish-brown, apical margins of terga broadly translucent yellowish-brown ( Fig. 11C 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. 11C View Fig ). All terga extremely finely punctate, looking impunctate, superficially shagreened and slightly matt to shiny; apical tergal depression relatively broad, superficially shagreened and slightly shiny ( Fig. 11C View Fig ). S2–S5 laterally with sparse, long apical hair fringes or tufts ( Fig. 11D View Fig ).

TERMINALIA. Genitalia ( Fig. 11B View Fig ), S7 ( Fig. 11C View Fig ) and terminal plate of S8 ( Fig. 11D View Fig ) as illustrated.

Distribution

Found in the Knersvlakte (Western Cape Province) and the Kamiesberg Mountains (Northern Cape Province).

Floral hosts

Oxalidaceae : yellow flowering Oxalis spec. , O. argillacea F.Bolus , O. purpurea L.

Seasonal activity

May–September.