Afromochtherus zoropegus, Londt, 2002

Londt, Jason G. H., 2002, Afrotropical Asilinae (Asilidae): A provisional key to genera, with a review of the status of Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878, and descriptions of new genera and species, African Invertebrates 43, pp. 11-92 : 40-41

Afromochtherus zoropegus sp. n. ( Figs 103–109 )

Etymology: Gr. zoros – pure + pege – water, derived from the Afrikaans type locality name of Louterwater, which means ‘pure water’.

Diagnosis: Head: Antennal scape blackish, pedicel mostly yellowish or both segments blackish, pedicel with at most a narrow yellowish apex; postpedicel longer than stylus. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with short setae. Dorsocentrals posterior to transverse suture only. Microtrichial coverage of wing moderate in distal area (proximal tip of cell r 5 bare). Prothoracic femur with two or three shortish posteroventral macrosetae. Metathoracic coxa with two or three lateral macrosetae; trochanter brownish yellow; femur anteriorly yellow with brown-black markings and with dark red-brown macrosetae. Abdomen: Ovipositor relatively short and broad (length:width ratio, measured dorsally <3.3) and relatively short and deep (length:depth ratio, measured laterally <2.8). Gonocoxite length:width ratio 1.6–2.0. Distal margin of S8 with weakly developed sclerotised area. Ventromedial area of hypandrium greatly constricted (ca. one quarter width of lateral parts). Gonostylus distally clubbed (viewed ventrally).Aedeagal terminal filaments short and poorly developed. Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite (viewed ventrally).Aedeagus straight, relatively short and laterally compressed. Epandrium with dorsal process/lobe.

Material examined: Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, ‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Louterwater 3323DC / 13.xii.1979 J Londt / B Stuckenberg grass / & hillside macchia’. Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: 2ơ, ‘ Leipoldtville [32 ° 13'S: 18 ° 29'E] / S.A.M. 11.58 [xi.1958]’ ( SAMC); 1ơ, ‘South Africa / Ceres [33 ° 22'S: 19 ° 19'E] / Jan. 1950 / W. Hanekom’; 1ơ, ‘ Upper Sources / Olifants River / Ceres [33 ° 22'S: 19 ° 19'E] C. P.’ ~ ‘ Mus. Exp. / Dec. 1949 ’ ( SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘ J.J.S. Le Roux / Rawsonville [33 ° 41'S: 19 ° 19'E] / Suid-Africa / 27.12.1943 (ơ) 17.12.1943 (^)’; 2ơ 1^, ‘ Willowmore [33 ° 17'S: 23 ° 29'E] / Capland / Dr. Brauns’, ‘3024 / 4.9’ (1ơ); 1^, ‘ Capland / Willowmore / 10.I.1922 / Dr. Brauns’; 1ơ, ‘ Capland / Willowmore / 5.I.1927 / Dr. H. Brauns / Georgida’; 1ơ 1^, same data as holotype .

Type locality: South Africa, Eastern Cape, Louterwater .

Comments: Similar to melanurus , but separable on genital differences. The distribution is confined to the Western Cape Province of South Africa ( Fig. 249 ), which is characterised by winter rainfall.

Figures

Figs 103–109. Afromochtherus zoropegus sp. n. (Louterwater ơ & ^). 103. Antenna. 104. Wing. 105–107. ơ genitalia. 105. Lateral. 106. Dorsal. 107. Ventral. 108–109. ^ genitalia. 108. Lateral. 109. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 249. Distribution of Afromochtherus species in southern Africa. A. kolodrilus (circles), A. megastylus (triangles), A. melanurus (squares), A. peri (crosses), A. zoropegus (pentagons).