Oligopogon enigmatus Oldroyd, 1974

Londt, Jason G. H., 2014, A revision of Afrotropical Oligopogon Loew, 1847 (Diptera: Asilidae) with the description of eighteen new species, African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 269-269 : 286-288

Oligopogon enigmatus Oldroyd, 1974

Figs 2E, 31

Oligopogon enigmatus Oldroyd, 1974: 124 (key); 1980: 370 (catalogue).

Redescription:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, fine silver pruinose, black and white setose. Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2: 3.0:2.6 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel circular in cross-section, tapering gradually distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long red-brown setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex fine silver pruinose, mystax white, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput dull silver pruinose except for two large subtriangular apruinose areas between dorsal eye margin and cervical region (see Fig. 2E), black setose dorsally, white ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1: 3.4 (face slightly narrower than one eye). Proboscis red-brown, straight, white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively silver pruinose, predominantly white setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose with following apruinose areas: postpronotal lobe, large lateral area extending from well anterior to transverse suture posteriorly to include postalar lobe, broad medial band which splits into two and coalesces with lateral areas anteriorly that does not extend to anterior or posterior margins. 2 black npl (the only black setae on mesonotum, other macrosetae weakly developed), general setae longish white. Scutellum dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for tiny strip along anterior margin, fine white setose (2 thin, long apical macrosetae). Pleura uniformly strongly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae white. Legs: Coxae dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters dark red-brown, white setose. Femora and tibiae dark red-brown, mixed dark red-brown and white setose. Tarsi red-brown, dark red-brown and white setose. Wings: 4.2 × 1.5 mm (holotype). Veins yellow. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen: Terga red-brown, largely apruinose except for silver pruinose anterolateral margins, long white setose. Sterna red-brown, entirely silver-gold pruinose, white setose. ♂ and ♀ terminalia red-brown.

Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘ Kransp [Kranskop 28°58'S 30°53'E] / 21.12.06’, ‘collection / Transvaal / Museum’, Oligopogon ♀ [No!] / enigmatus sp. n. / det H. Oldroyd 1973 / Holotype’ [black ink on white card] ( NMSA) Note: Missing left wing, otherwise in good condition.

Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘Zusterstr. [Zusterstroom farm 25°35’08”S 29°00’28E] / 17.12.04’, ‘ Oligopogon ♀ / enigmatus sp. n. / det H. Oldroyd 1973 / Paratype’ [black ink on white card] ( NMSA) .

Other material examined: LESOTHO: 1♂ Mamathes [29°08'S 27°51'E], 3.i.954, Bevis (DMSA Dip. 1606); 1♀ Mamathes, 1–9.i.1953, Bevis (DMSA Dip.1605); 1♀ Mamathes, 27.xii.1947, Jacot-Guillarmod (USNM 00832535); 1♀ Mamathes, 20.xii.1947, Jacot-Guillarmod (AMGS); 1♂ Mamathes, 27.xii.1947, Jacot-Guillarmod (AMGS); 2♂ 2♀ Pulane [29°15'S 27°56'E], 5.i.1954, Bevis, nr Mateka (DMSA Dip. 1602–4, 1332). SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ Nylsvley Nature Reserve, 24°39'S 28°42'E, 20–21.ii.1979, Mansell, collected by sweeping grass (SANC); 1♂ 20 km SE Loskopdam, 25°22'S 29°35'E, 9–13.ii.1981, van Tonder & Kok (SANC); 2♀ Loskopdam Nat. Res., 25°25'S 29°20'E, 12–13.xii.1985, Eardley (SANC); 1♂ Loskopdam Nat. Res., 25°25'S 29°20'E, 12–13.xii.1985, Millar (SANC); 1♀ O.T.K. Reserve nr Loskopdam, 25°27'S 29°24'E, 9–11.xii.1985, Eardley (SANC); 1♂ Rustenburg [25°40'S 27°15'E], xii.1961, Capener (SANC); 1♀ Rustenburg, 4–11.i.1957, Capener (SANC); 1♂ Pretoria [25°44'S 28°11'E], 4.xii.1915, Munro (SANC); 1♂ Pretoria, 14.i.1914, Munro (SANC); 1♂ Pretoria, 17.xii.1913, Munro (USNM 00832550); 2♀ Pretoria, 12.i.1919, Munro (SANC, USNM 00832548); 1♀ Pretoria, 10.i.1914, Munro (USNM 00832549); 1♀ Pretoria, 28.xii.1913, Munro (USNM 00832546); 1♂ Pretoria, 2.i.1916, Munro (USNM 00832551); 1♀ Pretoria, 1.i.1916, Munro (USNM 00832553); 1♂ Pretoria, 18.xii.1913, Munro (USNM 00832554); 1? Pretoria, Silverton, 9.xii.1915, Munro [collected together with trichopteron ] (USNM 00832545); 6♀ 1? Barberton [25°47'S 31°03'E], 1.iii.1979, Harrop (SANC); 2♀ Vredefort Dome nr Parys, 26°48'S 27°22'E, 1500 m, 26.xii.2000, Stiller, Swept off Eragrostis ? tef ( Poaceae ) land (PPRI); 2♂ 6♀ Goudhoek nr. Babanango, 28°23’S: 31°05'E, 24.ii.1990, Reavell (NMSA, BMNH 1♂ 1♀).

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Distribution confined to South Africa and Lesotho ( Fig. 31). Collected between November and March in a summer rainfall region. A grassland species.

Oligopogon freidbergi sp. n.

Fig. 2E Etymology: Named for Dr Amnon Freidberg, collector of the type material and in recognition of his generosity in donating valuable material to the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. Description :

Head: Dark red-brown to black, red-gold and silver pruinose, extensively black setose. Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2:3.3:2.5 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel circular in cross-section, tapering gradually distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face silver pruinose, frons and vertex red-gold pruinose, mystax black, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput dull silver pruinose except for two large subtriangular apruinose areas between dorsal eye margin and cervical region (See Fig. 2E), black setose dorsally, white ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:3.9 (face much narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, white setose.Palpi minute, 2-segmented, white setose. Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively red-gold and silver pruinose, black and white setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose with following apruinose areas: postpronotal lobe, large lateral areas extending from anterior to transverse suture to postalar lobes that coalesce with broad medial band that extends anteriorly as pair of stripes that do not reach anterior margin. 2 black npl (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae longish dark red-brown. Scutellum dark red-brown, entirely apruinose, fine dark red-brown setose (2 thin apical macrosetae poorly differentiated). Pleura uniformly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae pale yellow-white. Legs: Dark red-brown except for yellow-brown proximal region of metathoracic femora ( Congo material with all tibiae and tarsi yellow-brown). Coxae silver pruinose, whitish setose. Trochanters pale yellow-white setose. Femora mixed dark red-brown and white setose. Tibiae and tarsi mostly dark red-brown setose. Wings: 2.9 × 1.1 mm (holotype), Congo material bigger. Veins brown. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen:Terga dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for silver pruinose anterolateral margins, white setose. Sterna dark red-brown, entirely dull silver pruinose, white setose. ♂ and ♀ terminalia dark red-brown to black

Holotype: KENYA: 1♂ ‘ Kenya Tsavo [ca. 03°00'S 37°59'E] / Mtito Andei / 6.xii.1989 / A. Freidberg & F. Kaplan’ ( NMSA).

Paratypes: DR CONGO: 8♂ 13♀ ‘B Congo: / 7mi. NW. of / Jadotville [Likasi 10°59'S 26°44'E] / I-27-58, 1350m’, ‘E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech / collectors’ (CASC); 1♂ ‘Musée du Congo / Elizabethville [11°40'S 27°28'E] / Dr M. Bequaert’, ‘ Oligopogon sp. / cf. nitidus Effl / det. H. Oldroyd 1966’ (MRAC); 1♂ 4♀ ‘B. Congo: / 18mi. NW. of / Tshinsenda [12°17'S 27°59'E] / II-8-58, 1330m’, ‘E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech / collectors’ (CASC); KENYA: 2♂ 9♀ same data as holotype; 1♂ 2♀ ‘Kenya / Tsavo West [ca. 03°00'S 37°59'E] / KilaguniLod / 6.xii.1989 / A. Freidberg / & F. Kaplan’ (NMSA).

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: An East and Central African species. Collected from December to February in equatorial climes. Appears to be a woodland savanna species.