Scrapter oxaloides, Kuhlmann, 2025

Kuhlmann, Michael, 2025, New species and species group in the bee genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) oligolectic on Oxalis flowers in western South Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 987, pp. 146-188 : 176-178

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2863
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9D9B200A-8887-4E52-8D0C-A6B78D1B8B0F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15425206
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7D38FB0F-FFCF-8D2A-FDCD-22BBD46AFCBC
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scrapter oxaloides
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scrapter oxaloides sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5108110B-4E66-49AC-93F6-1F56B5877DAC

Figs 2 View Fig , 22–24 View Fig View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The female of S. oxaloides sp. nov. can be separated from that of all other species in this group by the following character combination: scutellum relatively large, flat and dull ( Fig. 22D View Fig ), propodeum dorsolaterally (lateral to the matt propodeal triangle) very finely shagreened and matt ( Fig. 22D View Fig ), hair on posterior surface of propodeum longer than length of basal area of propodeum ( Fig. 22D View Fig ), foreleg blackish-brown, disc of T2 finely and sparsely punctate, apical tergal depressions narrow, brownish translucent without reddish discoloration of the adjacent apical area of the disc ( Fig. 22B View Fig ). Females of S. oxaloides and S. oxalensis sp. nov. are very similar but the former has slightly narrower apical tergal depressions ( Fig. 22B View Fig ) and the basal area of propodeum shows slightly denser and finer reticulation ( Fig. 22D View Fig ). The male is unknown.

Etymology

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

Type material (22 specimens)

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur , Fynbos; 770 m a.s.l.; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 18 Aug. 2012; M. Kuhlmann leg.; SANC. GoogleMaps

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; 12 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Avontuur , Fynbos; 770 m a.s.l.; 31°16′18″ S, 19°02′55″ E; 16 Aug. 2011; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 23 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 6 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 27 Aug. 2017; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 20 km S of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Papkuilsfontein , Fynbos; 680 m a.s.l.; 31°33′16″ S, 19°08′31″ E; 27 Aug. 2010; M. Kuhlmann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Fynbos , 15 km NW of Nieuwoudtville, Farm Engelsepunt; 830 m a.s.l.; 31.14.31 S, 18.59.08 E; 22 Jul. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; NHML • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 23 Jul. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; RCMK • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 26 Jul. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; NHML • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 5 Aug. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; RCMK • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 27 Aug. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; NHML • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 23–26 Jul. 2003; K. Timmermann leg.; NHML • 1 ♀; Nieuwoudtville , garden; 700 m a.s.l.; 31°22′ S, 19°07′ E; K. Timmermann leg.; RCMK GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

BODY LENGTH. 7–7.5 mm.

HEAD. Head as wide as long. Integument black, except part of mandibles and sometimes part of clypeus dark reddish-brown. Face sparsely covered with relatively long, greyish, erect hair ( Fig. 2 View Fig ). Clypeus strongly convex with relatively coarse but 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 reticulate and slightly matt, disc sparsely (i=1–3d) and shallowly punctate ( Fig. 22C View Fig ). Metanotum slightly shorter than basal area of propodeum, apically with narrow carinate depression ( Fig. 22D View Fig ). Propodeum on basal half medially relatively coarsely and distinctly carinate ( Fig. 22D View Fig ). Propodeum apically with long, laterally with shorter, mesoscutum with short, scutellum, metanotum and mesepisternum with sparse, long, greyish to yellowish, erect hair ( Fig. 22A View Fig ).

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

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

METASOMA. Integument black to dark reddish-brown; apical margins of terga broadly translucent brown ( Fig. 22B View Fig ). Disc of T1 with very few, very short, greyish-white, erect hairs; following terga with increasingly more and longer, greyish-white, erect hairs; apical tergal hair bands missing on all terga ( Fig. 22B View Fig ). Prepygidial and pygidial fimbriae greyish to slightly brownish. T1 and T2 very shallowly, indistinctly, finely and sparsely punctate, looking almost impunctate; T3 and T4 very finely but relatively densely (i =1–2d) punctate; between punctures finely shagreened and slightly matt to shiny ( Fig. 22B View Fig ).

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Apparently endemic to the Bokkeveld Plateau (Northern Cape Province).

Floral hosts

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

Seasonal activity

July–August.