Fishermyia, Jason G. H. Londt, 2012

Jason G. H. Londt, 2012, Fishermyia stuckenbergi, a new genus and species of Afrotropical robber fly from Madagascar (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 221-230 : 222-223

Genus Fishermyia gen. n.

Etymology: This genus is named for my much esteemed colleague Eric Fisher, whose knowledge of the Asilidae is legendary. Not only did he sort through many thousands of Malaise-trapped insects from Madagascar, but he immediately recognised the interest and importance of the material described in this paper. Feminine gender.

Type species: Fishermyia stuckenbergi sp. n.

Diagnosis: Stenopogoninae with the following combination of characters: postpedicel more than 1.5× longer than scape and pedicel combined and bearing a distinct style made up of three elements, including a terminal “seta-like” element; mystacal setation confined to the ventral third of face; proepisternum fine setose (a few moderately developed setae are present, but these are never as strong as mesonotal macrosetae); scutellum with a single pair of apical macrosetae; postmetacoxal area entirely membranous and asetose; only abdominal T1 with a group of strong macrosetae dorsolaterally; ♂ terminalia fairly slender, never bulbous.

Key to genera of Afrotropical Stenopogoninae with setose anatergites (modified from Dikow & Londt (2000) to include Fishermyia ; it however excludes Oligopogon because of uncertainty of its subfamilial assignment)

1 Postpedicel (= third antennal segment) tipped with a small apical pit enclosing a “seta-like” sensory element....................................................................................8

– Postpedicel with a distinct terminal style made up of two or three elements (including a terminal “seta-like” element).............................................................2

2 Occiput with obvious macrosetae ..........................................................................4

– Occiput lacking macrosetae (i.e., with weak setae only).......................................3

3 Face relatively broad (eye:face-width ratio <1.1:1.0); scape clearly longer than pedicel; hypandrium less than half as long as epandrial lobes (western southern Africa) ............................................................................. Dioctobroma Hull, 1962

– Face relatively narrow (eye:face-width ratio>1.3:1.0); scape and pedicel about equal in length; hypandrium about as long as epandrial lobes (D.R. Congo).......... ........................................................................................... Dogonia Oldroyd, 1970

4 Proepisternum with a few strong macrosetae as well as fine setae; pronotal and mesonotal macrosetae very strong (flies have bristly appearance) (western southern Africa) ............................................................................ Anasillomos Londt, 1983

– Proepisternum with fine setae (some may be moderately developed, but never as strong as mesonotal macrosetae); pronotal and mesonotal macrosetae moderately developed ...............................................................................................................5

5 Abdominal T1–4 with groups of strong macrosetae dorsolaterally; antennal style consisting of two elements (one small basal segment and a “seta-like” sensory element); ♂ genitalia bulbous; ♀ T7 and T8 of nearly equal length ( western southern Africa ) ................................................................ Ontomyia Dikow & Londt, 2000

– Only abdominal T1 with groups of strong macrosetae dorsolaterally; antennal style consisting of three elements (two basal segments and a “seta-like” sensory element); ♂ genitalia slender, never bulbous; ♀ T8 distinctly shorter than T7 (♀ of Fishermyia unknown)........................................................................................6

6 Facial swelling pronounced both in lower and upper regions (southern Africa) ..... ................................................................................... Oratostylum Ricardo, 1925

– Facial swelling weak, only lower margin moderately pronounced........................7

7 Two or more pairs of apical scutellar macrosetae; mystax occupying almost entire face although sometimes weak in dorsal part; antennal postpedicel usually somewhat clavate, <1.5× longer than scape and pedicel combined (western southern Africa) .......................................................................... Remotomyia Londt, 1983

– A single pair of apical scutellar macrosetae; mystax occupying ventral third of face only, dorsal part asetose; antennal postpedicel elongate, spindle shaped,>1.5× longer than scape and pedicel combined (Madagascar)........... Fishermyia gen. n.

8 Facial swelling occupying approx. three-quarters of face and entirely covered with macrosetae and setae; presutural dorsocentral setae well developed; M 1 not strongly arched anteriorly; postmetacoxal membrane covered with long setae (southern Africa) ................................................................................. Daspletis Loew, 1858

– Facial swelling occupying at most half of face and often with macrosetae only on lower half; dorsocentral setae present only on posterior part of mesonotum; M 1 usually strongly arched anteriorly; postmetacoxal membrane usually asetose (widespread throughout the afrotropics) ................. Microstylum Macquart, 1838