Gonioscelis maculiventris Bigot, 1879

Londt, Jason G. H., 2004, A review of the afrotropical genus Gonioscelis Schiner, 1866 (Diptera: Asilidae), with descriptions of new species, African Invertebrates 45, pp. 21-124 : 65-68

Gonioscelis maculiventris Bigot, 1879

Figs 80–82 , 148

Gonioscelis maculiventris Bigot, 1879: 441–442 ; Hull 1962: 131–132 (Figs 1778 & 1782 ơ gen.).

Redescription: Based primarily on holotype ơ ( OXUM) .

Head: Antennal scape and pedicel orange, postpedicel and style dark brown. Facial swelling pronounced, mystax brown-yellow, few small yellow-brown setae between antennal sockets and gibbosity. Frons and vertex gold pruinose. Ocellar tubercle apruinose with strong black oc. Occiput mostly gold pruinose (silver behind eye margins), setae yellow. Proboscis and palpus dark brown with black setae.

Thorax: Dark red-brown, gold pruinose. Postpronotal lobes orange, clearly contrasting with adjacent mesonotum, with approx. 4 black macrosetae and smaller yellow setae. Mesonotal setae black: ac, few strong ones anteriorly; approx. 20 pairs dc, well developed, clearly extending along entire length of mesonotum; 3 npl; approx. 5 sa; 6–7 long pa. Scutellum dark red-brown with approx. 6 black mrg sct. Wing length 8.3 mm, membrane mostly brown-yellow. Legs orange except for small dark red-brown area on posterior face of prothoracic femur, all macrosetae mostly black (few yellow dorsally on metathoracic femur), fine setae yellow. Prothoracic coxa black, thinly gold pruinose, black setose; femoral spur moderately pointed (angle approx. 35°).

Abdomen: Tergites mostly dark red-brown to black, posterolaterally orange, mostly silvery pruinose (with apruinose areas), setae yellow, long laterally on T1–3. Sternites dull brown-yellow, mostly apruinose, setae long yellow.

Terminalia ( Figs 80–82 ): Moderately short ep (proctiger projecting slightly beyond epandrial lobes), lobes hardly tapering distally, equipped with fine setae; gcx with three distal projections and a few fine setae; hyp, in ventral view, much shorter than broad, tapering rapidly to a shallowly-bilobed apex, each lobe equipped with long, fine setae.

Variation: A fairly variable species in both size and coloration. Specimens from the Richtersveld are generally smaller than those from elsewhere (perhaps because it is generally drier in this region). Leg coloration may also vary considerably from orange to dark red-brown. Male genital morphology on the other hand appears quite constant.

Type material: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ holotype (seen). No provenance data on specimen, but cited erroneously as ‘Natal’ by Bigot (1879) ( OXUM) .

Type locality: It is not known exactly where the holotype was collected, but as it is probable that it was not far from Cape Town and somewhere along the west coast, I here designate the type-locality as South Africa, Western Cape, 5 km E Lambert’s Bay, as a good series of similar specimens was collected in this area .

Other material: NAMIBIA: 1^, ‘Halenberg S. [Haalenberg Siding 26°38'S 15°29'E] / Namib, 5-xii- / 48. Koch/Son’; 3ơ 7^, ‘Namibia 10km W Aus / 2616CA 30.viii.1983 / Londt & Stuckenberg / Sparse grassveld - / Small woody plants’; 1ơ, ‘Namibia / 10km west of Aus / 26.39S 16.09E / 7.ix.2002 / F.W. and S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 1ơ 1^, ‘Namibia / Klinghardtberge / 27.14S 15.43E / 2.ix.2002 / F.W. and S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 1^, ‘Namibia / Klinghardtberge / 27.14S 15.43E / 3.ix.2002 / F.W. and S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 1ơ 1^, ‘SWA / Klingharts- / berge [27°20'S 15°45'E] / 3.iv.1980 / Whitehead’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘SWAfr/Namibia / Klinghardt / VB Whitehead / 1.x.1982 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘SWAfr/Namibia / Klinghardt / VB Whitehead / 24.x.1982 ’ (SAMC); 2^, ‘Namibia, Chamnaub / 27.43S 16.05E / 28.vii.2002 / F.W. and S.K. Gess’ [1^ with prey: Diptera : Tabanidae ] (AMGS); 6ơ 10^ 2?, ‘Namuskluft 88 / SE 2716 Dd / 7-14 Oct. 1970 ’, ‘H11127’ (NMNW); 2ơ 6^, ‘Namuskluft 88 / SE 2716 Dd / 7-15 Oct. 1970 ’, ‘H11127’ (NMNW); 2ơ 3^, ‘Namuskluft 88 / Lüderitz / SE 2716 Dd / 20-22 Sept 1973 ’, ‘H14597’ (NMNW); 2^, ‘Namuskluft 88 / Lüderitz / SE 2716 Dd / 12-15 Sept 1973 ’, ‘H14192’ (NMNW). SOUTH AFRICA: 4ơ 7^, ‘STH AFRICA: N Cape / 5 km NE of Grootderm / 28°29'52"S: 16°39'25"E / 27.viii.2002 JGH Londt / 90m Sandy & rocky / ridge with succulents’; 6ơ 8^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Richtersveld 2816DA / 1km E. of Grootderm / 2.ix.1983 J Londt & / B Stuckenberg Foot / of small hill’; 9ơ 12^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Richtersveld 5 km NE / Grootderm 1.ix.1989 / 28°31'00"S: 16°38'00"E / J Londt B Stuckenberg / P Croeser 50 m Sandy / slope Euphorbia scrub’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Richtersveld 1 km N / Kuboes 1.ix.1989 200m / 28°25'30"S: 16°59'30"E / J Londt B Stuckenberg / & P Croeser Rocky E / slope Euphorbia scrub’;1ơ 3^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Richtersveld 2816BD / 40km S of Ochta Mine / Londt & Stuckenberg / 2.ix.1983 / Mixed Karoo / bush with few flowers’; 4ơ 2^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Richtersveld 50 km NE / Grootderm 3.ix.1989 / 28°19'00"S: 16°55'00"E / J Londt B Stuckenberg / Sandy valley below a / rocky hillside 350 m’;1ơ, ‘S Afr C.P. / Skouer- / fontein / 2817Cc / 6 x 80 / Whitehead’ (SAMC); 1^, ’ 16 mi E of / Port Nolloth [29°15'S 16°52'E] / Aug 1921 / O. Hughes’; 1ơ 1^, ‘South Africa. Port / Nolloth. Sea level / 23-ix-1967 / E.S. Ross & / A.R. Stephen’ (CASC); 4ơ 4^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Richtersveld 18 km S / Lekkersing 2.ix.1989 / 29°07'00"S: 17°08'00"E / J Londt B Stuckenberg / & P Croeser 200m / Arid scrub/ succulents’; 2ơ 4^, ‘South Africa: Cape / Steinkopf / Anenous [29°14'S 17°35'E] Flats / 14-ix-1992 J. Manning’; 1ơ 6^, ‘R.S.A.: N Cape #88 / 27km E Port Nolloth / 29°18'S 17°09'E 180m / Date: 26.viii.1995 / Coll: J. & A. Londt / Open red sand/Flowers’; 1^, ‘R.S.A.: N Cape #85 / 5km N Komaggas / 29°45'S 17°31'E 390 m / Date: 24.viii.1995 / Coll: J. & A. Londt / Rocky slope Macchia’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 78 km S of Springbok / 30°01'30"S: 17°52'30"E / 31.viii.1989 700 m / B Stuckenberg J Londt / P Croeser Sandy area / 4km S Bufelsrivier’; 2ơ 2^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov. / 12km W Soutfontein. / 3017DA 4.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Succulent Karoo’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 8 km E of Kamieskroon / 3018AA 5.ix.1983 / Londt & Stuckenberg / Montane old land with / rocks & bushes nearby’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov. / 45km N Vanrhynsdorp. / 3118BA 4.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Succulent Karoo’; 1^, ‘R.S.A.: W Cape #97 / 17km N Vanrhynsdorp / 31°28'S 18°42'E 210 m / Date: 28.viii.1995 / Coll: J. & A. Londt / Rocky hillside’; 3^, ‘R.S.A.: W Cape #100 / 8km E of Lutzville / 31°36'S 18°24'E 60m / Date: 29.viii.1995 / Coll: J. & A. Londt / Sandy slope Flowers’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov. / 10km N Vanrhynsdorp / 3118DA 2.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Succulent Karoo’; 2^, ‘v Rhynsdorp [= Vanrhynsdorp 31°37'S 18°44'E] / July-Aug. ’27 / G. v. Son’; 2^, ‘v Rhynsdorp / viii-1927 / Dr Brauns’; 2^, ‘R.S.A.: W Cape #89 / 23km S Vanrhynsdorp / 31°47'S 18°46'E 510m / Date: 28.viii.1995 / Coll: J. & A. Londt / Gifberg Pass summit’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Gifberg 23km SE Van / Rhynsdorp 3118DC / Date: 15 Sept. 1982 / Coll: L. E. Schoeman’; 1^, ‘Klaver [31°47'S 18°37'E] C.C. / 19.9.1917 / A. Roberts’; 5ơ 3^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov. / Outskirts of Klawer / 3118DC 2.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Succulent Karoo’; 3ơ 4^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 5km N Nieuwoudtville / 3119AC 5.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / W. Mountain Karoo’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 25k E Nieuwoudtville / 3119AD 5.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / W. Mountain Karoo’; 2ơ, ‘South Africa, Cape Prov. / Botterkloof Pass, top of / Sept. 13, 1972, 3119Cd / 2230ft ME&BJ. Irwin / white sand dune assoc.’; 10ơ 10^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 5km [East of] Lambert’s Bay / 3218AB 31.viii.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Westcoast Strandveld’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Graafwater [32°09'S 18°36'E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exp. / Oct., 1947’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘S Afr C.P. / Lamberts Bay / Rd N. Elands Bay / 26.ix.1978 / VB Whitehead’ (SAMC); 7ơ 1^, ‘South Africa: Cape / Prov.; Agtertuin Farm / 55 km E Clanwilliam [32°11'S 18°54'E] / 10-iv-1984 / M. E. Irwin / sandy area’ [carry INHS Insect Collection numbers 33,288; 34,082; 34,083; 34,087; 34,088; 34,089; 34,090; 34,091] (INHS); 1ơ, ‘South Africa / Clenwilliam [= Clanwilliam 32°11'S 18°54'E] / 28 Sept. 1936 / Ac. US’; 1ơ, ‘S Afr 20 km / N. Clanwilliam / 9 ix 82 (1230 – 130) / G humifusum / VB Whitehead’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Paleisheuval [32°28'S 18°43'E] / Hetkruis / 26.ix.1985 / F.W. & S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 3^, ‘South Africa: W. Cape / 32km ne. Clanwilliam / Brandewyn R. 3219AA / 2-3.x.1977 RM Miller’; 7ơ 8^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Biedou Valley 300m / 32°06'00''S:19°19°00''E / J Londt B Stuckenberg / & P Croeser 6.ix.1989 / Rocky gentle N Slope / Scrub & wild flowers’; 1^, ‘South Africa: Cape / Prov. Biedouw valley / Clanwilliam District / 32°06'S 19°19'E / 22.viii.1987 M. Picker’; 24ơ 44^, ‘S. Africa: SW Cap #102 / Biedouw Valley / 32°06'S 19°14'E 350m / 1-12.ii.1991, M. Picker / Succulent Karoo’; 1ơ, ‘S Afr C.P. / Bidouw Valley / 3219AB / VB Whitehead / 4 ix 1983 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘S Afr C.P. / Bidouw Valley / 3219AB / VB Whitehead / 8 ix 1983 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ 6^, ‘Biedouw Valley / Namaqualand / 24/9/89 / M Picker/B Leon’; 1ơ 2^, ‘East of / Pakhuis Pass [32°09'S 19°02'E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exp. / Sept., 1947’ (SAMC); 3ơ 12^, ‘Saldanha Bay [33°05'S 18°00'E]’ ~ ‘S.A/M. / 9: 90’ (SAMC); 4ơ 4^, ‘Hopefield [33°04'S 18°21'E]’ ~ ‘S.A.M. / 9: 60’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘South Africa / Stellenbosch [33°56'S 18°51'E] / 23-10-1930 /Ac. US’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov. / 3km S Tulbagh / 3319AC 30.viii.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Macchia & old lands’; 3^, ‘S Africa: Cape #59 / 14 km S of Wolseley / 33°32'S 19°11'E 300m / Date: 31.x.1991 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Bain’s Kl. Sandy area’; 4ơ 6^, ‘Pearly Beach [34°40'S 19°30'E] / Bredasdorp’ ~ ‘S.A.M. / 12: 58' (SAMC); 3ơ 2^, ‘South Afriaca, Cape P. / Brandfontein Reserve / 34°46'S 19°52'E / 16-18 October 1992 / HG Robertson’ (SAMC).

Recorded material not studied: Engel (1929) records under maculipennis ‘^, Saw Mills, S. Rhodesia; 27.xii.23; Rhodesia Mus.; Imperial Bureau of Entom.’ I have not seen this specimen and consider the identification to be incorrect.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1–2, Fig. 148 ): Distributed along the west coast of southern Africa between southern Namibia in the north and the Stellenbosch area of the Western Cape province of South Africa in the south. This entire region receives winter rainfall and the majority of known localities fall within the Succulent Karoo biome. Although most specimens were collected between August and October (the rainy season) records are available for July, December, February and April suggesting a far longer period of adult activity. The December record and one of the April records are of specimens collected in southern Namibia, where limited winter and summer rainfall occurs. The February, and another April record pertain to material collected in the dry, rain-shadow area east of Clanwilliam, that may also receive a little summer rain. The species is commonly found, often abundantly, resting on the ground or low vegetation; it preys mostly on flower-visiting ruteline beetles. In contrast, a male from Biedouw is pinned beneath a female Neolophonotus bimaculatus Londt, 1986 that had been feeding on it. There are 25 Natal Museum prey records as follows: 2ơ 23^ (14 km S Wolseley 1; 17 km N Vanrhynsdorp 1; 45 km N Vanrhynsdorp 1; 5 km N Komaggas 1; 5 km NE Grootderm 1; 5 km W Lamberts Bay 1; 8 km E Kamieskroon 1; Biedouw Valley 15; Outskirts of Klawer 1; Richtersveld 1; Steinkopf 1) – Coleoptera ( Buprestidae 1; Scarabaeidae 21), Diptera ( Asilidae 1, Neolophonotus sp. ), Hymenoptera ( Apidae 1; Coletidae 1). In addition there is a prey record from Namibia in AMGS listed in the material above.

Similar species: A distinctive species, easily identified by its dark, bristly appearance and characteristically bilobed hypandrium.Although the face is gibbose, it is not closely related to either of the two major groups possessing this feature (i.e. the hispidus ‘group’, with single medial hypandrial process, and the punctipennis ‘group’ of smallish species with spotted wings).

Figures

Figs 77–88. Gonioscelis male genitalia. 77–79. G. macquartii (Jaennicke, 1867) (Nguruma). 77. Lateral. 78. Dorsal. 79. Ventral. 80–82. G. maculiventris Bigot, 1879 (holotype). 80. Lateral. 81. Dorsal. 82. Ventral. 83–85. G. mantis (Loew, 1852) (De La Rey). 83. Lateral. 84. Dorsal. 85. Ventral. 86–88. G. melas sp. n. (25 km N Kamieskroon holotype). 86. Lateral. 87. Dorsal. 88. Ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Figs 148–149. Distribution of Gonioscelis species found only in southernAfrica. 148. closed circle = genitalis, open circle = longulus, closed square = maculiventris, open square = phacopterus. 149. closed circle = lacertosus, open circle = nigripennis, closed square = ramphis, open square = truncatus.