Oligopogon hyalipennis ( Oldroyd, 1960 )

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 : 291-292

Oligopogon hyalipennis ( Oldroyd, 1960)

Figs 2A, 29 Rhipidocephala hyalipennis Oldroyd, 1960: 277 . Oligopogon hyalipennis: Oldroyd 1970: 295 (key); 1980: 370 (catalogue).

Redescription:

Head: Dark red-brown, silver pruinose, extensively pale yellow-white setose.Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2: 4.2:2.8 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, pale yellow setose. Postpedicel circular in cross-section, tapering gradually distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long yellow setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex dull silver pruinose, mystax yellow-white, ocellar macrosetae red-brown. Occiput uniformly silver pruinose (See Fig. 2A), white setose. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1: 4.3 (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 silver pruinose, pale yellow and white setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose with following apruinose areas: small lateral area postsuture, small area on postalar lobe, short broad anteromedial band reaching anterior margin. 2 pale yellow npl, 1 pale yellow spal, 1 pale yellow pal (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae white.Scutellum dark red-brown, largely silver pruinose except for narrow posterior margin, fine white setose (2 weak apical macrosetae). Pleura uniformly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae pale yellow-white. Legs: Coxae red-brown, silver pruinose, whitish setose. Trochanters brown-orange, white setose. Femora red-brown with brown-yellow proximal ends, mixed pale yellow and white setose. Tibiae brown-yellow, darker red-brown distally, red-brown setose. Tarsi brown-yellow, red-brown setose. Wings: 3.4 × 1.2 mm (♂). Veins brown-yellow. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen: Terga dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for broad silver pruinose lateral margins, white setose. Sterna red-brown, extensively silver pruinose except for small anteromedial area, white setose. ♂ and ♀ terminalia dark red-brown.

Paratypes: MADAGASCAR: 1♂ 2♀ ‘Para- / type’ [yellow edged circular], ‘ Anakao [23°40'S 43°39'E] (Haut) / dct de Tuléar / 7.4.53 (A.R.)’, ‘ Institut. Scientifique / Madagascar’, ‘ Pres. IRSM. / B.M. 1957 – 343’, ‘BMNH(E) / #1029965’ [♂], ‘BMNH(E) / #1029966’, ‘BMNH(E) / #1029969’ ( BMNH) ; 1♂ ‘Para- / type’ [yellow edged circular], ‘Anakao (Haut) / dct de Tuléar / 8.4.53 (A.R.)’, ‘Institut. Scientifique / Madagascar’, ‘Pres. IRSM. / B.M. 1957 – 343’, ‘BMNH(E) / #1029968’‘BMNH(E); 1♂ ‘Para- / type’ [yellow edged circular], ‘ Anakao (Haut) / Tuléar / 4.53 (A.R.)’, ‘ Institut. Scientifique / Madagascar’, ‘ Pres. IRSM. / B.M. 1957 – 343’, ‘BMNH(E) / #1029967’ ( BMNH) .

Note: Oldroyd (1960) studied an undisclosed number of specimens of both sexes recording ‘ Distribution : Madagascar Sud-Ouest :Tuléar.Anakao (R. P.).Avril.’. While it is assumed that the holotype is in the Museum National D’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France ( MNHN), I have not been able to confirm this .

Other material examined: MADAGASCAR: 8♂ 5♀ 2? Madagascar, Tulear Pr. [province], Betioky [24°36'S 44°46'E], 275 m, 15.iii.1968, K.M.G. & P.D. ( BMNH #1029972–4 , # 1029976–7 , # 1029980–6 , NMSA 1♂ #1029979 1♀ #1029978) ; 1♀ same data but 27.iii.1968 ( BMNH #1029975 ) ; 1♀ same data but 8.iv.1968 ( BMNH #1029970 ) .

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: This is the only Madagascan species and is known only from the south western parts of the island (see Fig. 29). Collected in March and April. The species is known from one of the drier parts of the island dominated by spiny forest.