Hippomachus engeli, Londt, 1983

Londt, Jason G. H., 1983, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 9. The genus Hippomachus Engel, 1927 (Asilinae: Asilini), ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 25 (2), pp. 441-448 : 446-447

Hippomachus engeli sp. n.

Figs 13-15

Named for Dr E. O. Engel in recognition of his pioneering work on this difficult group of Asilidae .

Description: Based on the unique holotype.

Head: Antenna similar to pegasus , bristles and setae of segments 1 and 2 entirely dark red-brown. Mystax similar to pegasus . Ocellar setae long, fine white as in pegasus . Postocular bristles fine dark red-brown, one or two yellow proclinate.

Thorax: Similar to pegasus . Dark red-brown setae of mane stop midway between transverse suture and scutoscutellar suture. Postpronotal lobes with a good group of fine white setae as in pegasus . Three notopleural bristles, 1 supra-alar, 1 postalar, all orange. Scutellum with white bristle-like setae on posterior margin (bristles and setae not clearly differentiated); disc with many white setae but there are a few dark brown ones centrally. Pleural setae fine yellowish as in pegasus . Wing: 8,3 x 2,7 mm. Venation as in pegasus . Legs: Femora dark red-brown, tibiae and tarsi orange-brown; bristles of femora mostly orange but with a few dark red-brown ones distally.

Abdomen: Similar to pegasus . ♂ genitalia as in Figs 13-15 . Styli about as long as gonocoxites; aedeagus thickish and sinuose in lateral view.

Material examined: ZIMBABWE: 1 ♂ holotype, Druid Mine, Filabusi, S. R., 20.ix. 1923, R. Stevenson ( NM) .

Remarks: This species is similar to pegasus but can be easily separated from pegasus on characters of the male genitalia. I have seen 2 ♀ from 'Niger, env. d'Agades, Nov. 1938 ' in NMP which appear to be very similar to engeli . Until males are available their identity cannot be determined with certainty.

Figures

Figs 13-15. Hippomachus engeli sp. n. holotype male genitalia. 13. Lateral. 14. Lateral aspect of gonocoxite, style and aedeagus. 15. Dorsal view of epandrial lobe.