Scrapter nitidus (FRIESE, 1909)

Kuhlmann, Michael, 2021, Taxonomic notes on the bee genus Scrapter LEPELETIER & SERVILLE, 1828, with a checklist to species (Hymenoptera, Anthophila, Colletidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 53 (2), pp. 699-714 : 701

Scrapter nitidus species-group

The Scrapter nitidus species-group as defined by EARDLEY (1996: 42–43) comprises three species, namely S. nitidus , S. opacus (FRIESE) and S. ruficornis (COCKERELL) , including a total of nine synonyms. However, examination of several hundred specimens of this group including all type material revealed that in fact this is a species-rich complex of closely related taxa that often show subtle but clearly distinct morphological (and, in case of sequenced species, genetic) characters. Many species in this group are undescribed and are subject to an ongoing study. Almost all of the published synonyms represent valid taxa and, thus, are reinstated here to make their names available for a phylogenetic study that is currently under way.

Due to the complicated taxonomy in this species-group, that was already recognized by COCKERELL (1935), it is almost certain that the record of a female S. nitidus from Kenya ( DAVIES et al. 2005: 177) does not belong to this species. Unfortunately, no reference specimen could be found at SANC so it is impossible to verify the identity of the species as well as this unusual record far outside the known range of the genus.