Oligopogon mhlopeni, Londt, 2014

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 : 295-296

Oligopogon mhlopeni sp. n.

Figs 2A, 10

Etymology: Named after the conservation area in which the holotype was collected.

Description:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, dull red-gold pruinose, extensively black setose. Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2:3.6:3.0 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel slightly laterally compressed, parallel sided, tapering distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, 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 except for white setae ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:4.0 (face much narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, pale yellow-white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, pale yellow-white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively red-gold and silver pruinose, black and pale yellow setose. Mesonotum: Dark red-brown to black, postalar lobes brown-orange. Extensively pruinose with following apruinose areas: postpronotal lobes, extensive lateral areas both anterior and posterior to transverse suture, pair of broad medial bands extending from just posterior to transverse suture to anterior margin (bands coalesce posteriorly). 2 black npl (other macrosetae weakly developed), general setae longish red-brown. Scutellum dark red-brown, entirely apruinose, fine sparse red-brown setose (apical macrosetae poorly differentiated). Pleura fairly uniformly silver pruinose (but somewhat greasy). Katatergal setae pale yellow-white. Legs: Coxae dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters dark red-brown, pale yellow-white setose. Femora dark red-brown with orange proximal ends, mixed dark red-brown and pale yellowish setose. Tibiae and tarsi orange, mixed dark red-brown and pale yellow-white setose. Wings: 3.9 × 1.5 mm (holotype). Veins dark brown. Membrane transparent, unstained, microtrichia confined to distal tip but extend a short distance down centres of cells r 2+3, r 4 and r 5 ( Fig. 10).

Abdomen: Terga dark red-brown to black, largely apruinose except for strong silver pruinose anterolateral margins, mixed dark red-brown and white setose. Sterna dark red-brown, extensively silver-gold pruinose except for apruinose posterolateral margins, white setose. Terminalia dark red-brown to black. ♂ unknown.

Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ Mhlopeni Ranch [29°01'S 30°25'E] / Natal / 5–23/2/1991 / F.L. Farquharson’.

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from the type locality (Mhlopeni Private Nature Reserve). Collected in February. The type locality is dominated by dry woodland savanna.