Aneomochtherus africanus ( Ricardo, 1919 )

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 : 42

Aneomochtherus africanus ( Ricardo, 1919) ( Figs 110–116 )

Heligmoneura africanus Ricardo, 1919: 77–78 .

Neomochtherus signatipes Lindner, 1955: 41–43 . Syn. n.

Neomochtherus africanus ; Tsacas, 1969: 6–7.

Aneomochtherus africanus ; Lehr, 1996: 78.

Aneomochtherus signatipes ; Lehr, 1996: 78.

Type material: Holotype: KENYA: 1^ [ africanus seen], 2^ paratypes [not seen], ‘ Magadi [01 ° 54'S: 36 ° 17'E], Brit. E. Africa, April 1912, FG Hamilton’ ( BMNH) . Holotype: TANZANIA: 1ơ [ signatipes not seen], Ngaruka [= Nguruka 08 ° 07'S: 31 ° 02'E], 29 Jan–14 Feb 1952 ( SMNS) .

Holotype designation: Although Ricardo (1919) did not designate a holotype as such, she only had three specimens, all female, one of which she designated (in her usual manner) as ‘Type’. There can be no confusion as to which specimen be considered the holotype. The other two specimens are therefore treated as paratypes.

Material examined: KENYA: 1ơ, 6 km S.W. Kampi-Ya-Samaki (Lk. Baringo), 00 ° 35'N: 36 ° 00'E, 1020 m, 31.v.1980, Lamoral; 3ơ, Rt. A 104, 15 km S.E. Nairobi [01 ° 17'S: 36 ° 49'E], 29.iv.–15.v.1991, Freidberg & Kaplan; 1ơ 2^, Rt. A 109, Athi River [02 ° 59'S: 38 ° 31'E], 30.iv.1991, Freidberg & Kaplan, Malaise trap .

Type locality: Kenya, Magadi.

Comments: The literature relating to signatipes is confusing. Lindner (1955) apparently described the species on a single male from Ngaruka ( Tanzania) collected in 1952. Tsacas (1969), however, lists a holotype ơ and an allotype ^ from Mombassa ( Kenya) collected in 1922 (material I have not seen). Comparing the figures produced by Lindner and Tsacas suggests that two different species were involved.To add to the confusion, two other similar species, africanus and monobia , were known only from female specimens. With a few new records from Kenya and the collection of a good series of specimens from Mkomazi Game Reserve (northern Tanzania), close to the type locality of monobia (and with male genitalia similar to those figured by Tsacas for signatipes ), some clarity is now possible. I consider Lindner’s signatipes to be a synonym of africanus and Tsacas’ figures to represent monobia . The species is apparently confined to Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Figures

Figs 110–116. Aneomochtherus africanus (Ricardo, 1919) (Athi River ơ & ^). 110. Antenna. 111. Wing. 112–114. ơ genitalia. 112. Lateral. 113. Dorsal. 114. Ventral. 115–116. ^ genitalia. 115. Lateral. 116. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.