Euscelidia longibifida, Dikow, 2003

Dikow, Torsten, 2003, Revision of the genus Euscelidia Westwood, 1850 (Diptera: Asilidae: Leptogastrinae), African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 1-131 : 75-77

Euscelidia longibifida sp. n.

Figs 6C, D , 7F , 8A , 14 , 44E –I

Etymology: Latin adjectives longus = long and bifidus = bifurcated; refers to the long lateral processes on the dorsal aedeagal sheath.

Diagnosis: The species is distinguished from congeners by the yellow to brown pruinosity on the sct, the densely arranged microtrichia on the wings, and features of the ơ terminalia (d aed shea, long lat pr aed).

A B C

D E F

G H I

A - D E - I

Description: Head: Black; fc yellow pruinose, fc gib indistinct, mystax white, many macrosetae; prob and plp dark brown, setae white; oc tr brown pruinose dorsally; occ silver pruinose, setae white; Antennae - scp brown, black setae ventrally, white pruinose; ped light brown, brown setae ventrally and white setae dorsally, white pruinose; pped light brown, white pruinose proximally and ventrally; apsel brown.

Thorax: Black; ppro peg large, silver pruinose; sct predominantly brown pruinose, margins silver pruinose, a lateral presut and a lateral psut spot may be apruinose, presut and psut dc s short, white setae on margins; macrosetae: white, 1 npl s, 1 spal s; sctl white pruinose, sctl ds and sctl s long, white; Legs - yellow to brown; fem yellow, white setae, meta fem pale yellow proximally, clubbed, club anteriorly light brown, setae short, white; pro and meso tib yellow, light brown dorsally, meta tib yellow proximally, brown distally, pale yellow stripe not reaching tip anteriorly; first tar yellow, brown distad, remaining tar brown, setae black; emp minute; Wings - densely covered with microtrichia; ptero distinct, brown; cell d terminating in 2 veins; hlt light brown. Abdomen: Black; T predominantly brown pruinose, anterior and posterior margins narrowly grey pruinose, T2 with grey pruinose ring medially, T1 with long white setae laterally, T 2 in proximal third with white setae laterally, remaining T with short white and brown setae, S grey pruinose; ơ terminalia Figs 44E–I - sur pointed distally, lobe ventrally; hypd bent upwards, divided into 2 separated lobes; d aed shea short, lat pr aed long, extending gonp; lat apod simple.

Type material - The ơ holotype is labelled ‘ SOUTH AFRICA 2427 BA Transv. [Transvaal] Bulge River 30.I.1978 JGH. Londt Open grassveld area / HOLOTYPE Euscelidia longibifida sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (red label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of cardboard), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the NMSA.

The 6^^ 5ơơ paratypes have same labels as holotype except ‘ PARATYPE Euscelidia longibifida sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimens are double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of cardboard), are in good to very good condition, and are deposited in the NMSA .

Type locality and distribution ( Fig. 14 ): South Africa , Northern Province , Bulge River, 24 06'S 27 41'E. Mozambique, South Africa .

Material examined: MOZAMBIQUE: 1ơ Henrique, 15 18'S 39 58'E, 15.xii.; SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1? Kube Yini Game Reserve , 27 28'S 32 14'E, 10– 14.i.1994 ; 2^^ 1ơ 3?? Mfongosi , 27 17'S 32 09'E, iii.1914 , ii., iii.1917; 1^ Weenen , 28 51'S 30 05'E, i.1924 ; 1ơ 1? Ashburton , 29 38'S 30 24'E, 2.i.1989 ; 1ơ 1? Mackston , 30 01'S 30 18'E, iv.1977 ; Northern Prov: 5^^ 2ơơ Potgietersrus , 24 15'S 28 58'E, 28.i.1978 ; 5^^ 2ơơ Northam , 24 56'S 27 15'E, 1.xi.1978 ; 1ơ Warmbaths , 24 52'S 28 17'E, 1.xi.1978 ; 1^ Thabazimbi , 24 35'S 27 24'E, 1.xi.1978 ; North-West Prov: 3^^ 4ơơ Brits , 2527DA, 2.iii.1978 . Depository : BMNH, NMSA .

Figures

Fig. 6. Aedeagi. A, B. Euscelidia acuminata sp. n. A. Lateral. B. Dorsal. C, D. E. longibifida sp. n.

Fig. 7. Surstyli lateral. A. Euscelidia pallasii. B. E. natalensis sp. n. C. E. bequaerti. D. E. acuminata sp. n. E. E. splendida sp. n. F. E. longibifida sp. n. Scale lines = 100 m.

Fig. 8. Wings. A. Euscelidia longibifida sp. n. B. E. pulchra sp. n. C. E. lata sp. n. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 14. Distribution. Euscelidia bechuana sp. n., pentagons; E. fistula sp. n., squares; E. longibifida sp. n., circles; E. peteraxi sp. n., triangles.

Fig. 44. ơ terminalia. A–D. Euscelidia lepida sp. n. A. Dorsal. B. Ventral. C. Lateral. D. Aedeagus lateral. E–I. E. longibifida sp. n. E. Aedeagus lateral. F. Hypandrium posterior. G. Dorsal. H. Ventral. I. Lateral. Scale lines = 1 mm.