Euscelidia capensis, Dikow, 2003

Dikow, Torsten, 2003, Revision of the genus Euscelidia Westwood, 1850 (Diptera: Asilidae: Leptogastrinae), African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 1-131 : 34-35

Euscelidia capensis sp. n. ( E. brunnea species-group)

Figs 19 , 21H

Etymology: Refers to the distribution of the species in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Diagnosis: The species is distinguished from congeners by the many erect setae scattered on the sct and the densely arranged microtrichia on the wings.

Description: Head: Black; fc silver pruinose, fc gib indistinct, mystax white, many macrosetae; prob and plp brownish-black, oc tr apruinose; occ silver pruinose, upper half only slightly silver pruinose, setae white; Antennae - scp brown, brown setae ventrally; ped brown, brown setae ventrally and dorsally, white pruinose; pped brown, white pruinose; apsel brown.

Thorax: Black; ppro peg large, silver pruinose; sct bluish-black, yellow and brown pruinose, posterior margin silver pruinose, 2 narrow median stripes, originating at anterior margin, and 2 lateral spots, not reaching anterior and posterior margins, only slightly pruinose, long yellow and brown setae scattered on surface; macrosetae: black, 1 npl s, 1 spal s; sctl silver pruinose, ds sctl s and sctl s long, brown; Legs - yellow to brown; pro and meso fem yellow, meta fem pale yellow proximally, remaining part yellow, clubbed, club with brown stripe laterally, setae white; pro and meso tib yellow, pale yellow stripe anteriorly, meta tib brown, pale yellow stripe not reaching tip anteriorly; first tar in proximal half pale yellow, brown distad, remaining tar brown, black setae; emp minute; Wings - densely covered with microtrichia; ptero distinct, brown; cell d terminating in 2 veins; hlt light brown.

Abdomen: Black; T brown pruinose, grey pruinose laterally, T1 with long brown setae laterally, white and brown setae on remaining T, S grey pruinose; ơ terminalia Fig. 21H - sur pointed distally, lobe ventrally; hypd bent upwards, divided into 2 lobes; d aed shea open, extending gonp, lat pr aed short, pointed; lat apod simple.

Type material - The ơ holotype is labelled ‘ Witzenberg Vall., S.W. Cape Prov. 3,000 ft. [900 m] 19.i.1921. / S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1921-79. / HOLOTYPE Euscelidia capensis sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (red label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of plastic), is in relatively good condition (left meso and meta leg broken; ơ terminalia attached to specimens pin in micro vial), and is deposited in the BMNH.

Two ^^ paratypes and 1 of undeterminable gender have same labels as holotype except ‘ PARATYPE Euscelidia capensis sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimens are double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of plastic), are in relatively good condition (1ơ with legs and abdomen broken), and are deposited in the BMNH. Three ^^, four ơơ and two paratypes of undeterminable gender are labelled ‘Ceres, Cape Province. [date] / S. Africa. R.E. Turner Brit. Mus. [collection code] / PARATYPE Euscelidia capensis sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. Specimens are double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of plastic), are in relatively good condition (1ơ with broken head; 2?? with broken abdomen), and are deposited in the BMNH.Altitude, collection dates, and collection codes are supplied: 2^^ 1ơ xi.1920, 1920-497; 1^ 1ơ 1,500 ft. [500 m], i.1921, 1921-78; 1^ ii.1921, 1921-115; 1?. i.1925, 1925-79; 2ơơ ii.1925, 1925-116.

Type locality and distribution ( Fig. 19 ): South Africa, Western Cape , Witzenberg Valley , 33 20'S 19 30'E. South Africa .

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Prov: 1? Ceres [several such localities], i.1925 [specimen in poor condition]. Depository: BMNH .

Figures

Fig. 19. Distribution. Euscelidia brunnea, circles; E. capensis sp. n., star; E. ochricornis, squares; E. pipinna sp. n., pentagon.

Fig. 21. ơ terminalia. A–E. Euscelidia natalensis sp. n. A. Dorsal. B. Ventral. C. Lateral. D. Hypandrium posterior. E. Aedeagus lateral. F–I. Aegeagi lateral. F. E. brunnea. G. E. cana sp. n. H. E. capensis sp. n. I. E. vallis sp. n. Scale line = 1 mm.