Afromochtherus melanurus, 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 : 34-35

Afromochtherus melanurus sp. n. ( Figs 59–65 )

Etymology: Gr. melan – black + oura – tail, refers to black hypopygium.

Diagnosis: Head: Antennal scape blackish, pedicel yellowish, but may be dark redbrown proximally; postpedicel shorter than stylus. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with short setae. Dorsocentrals present 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 brownblack markings and anterior macrosetae mostly dark red-brown to black, although a few yellow/white setae may be present. 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 rounded median process.Ventromedial area of hypandrium greatly constricted (ca. one quarter width of lateral parts). Gonostylus distally clubbed (viewed ventrally). Aedeagal terminal filaments minute. Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite (viewed ventrally).Aedeagus straight, relatively short and laterally compressed. Epandrium with dorsal process/lobe.

Material examined: Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, ‘ Matatiele / E Griqualand / 6.1.1969 3028BD / T.W. Schofield’. Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: 1^, ‘ Beaufort West / Oukloof [32 ° 10'S: 21 ° 45'E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘ Zinn – Hesse / Mus. Exp. / Jan. 1949 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1ơ 1^,‘ Fort Beaufort / “Umdala” [32 ° 48'S: 26 ° 39'E] / E. Cape’ ~ ‘ S A Museum / March 1954 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1^, ‘ Sth Africa Cape Prov / ca. 16km NE Hogsback / on Cathcart Road / 3226BD 19.i.1984 / D. & C. Barraclough / Rocky hillside’; 1ơ, ‘ Papiesfontein [33 ° 58'S: 24 ° 59'E] Gamtoos Mth’ ~ ‘ S.A.M. / 1:60’ ( SAMC) ; 1ơ, ‘ S Africa: Cape / Addo Elephant / National Park / 33 ° 27'S 25 ° 45'E / 16.i.1983 / R.M. Miller’; 2ơ 2^, ‘ Lourie [Loerie 33 ° 52'S: 25 ° 01'E] / E.C. P.’ ~ ‘ S.A.M. / 1:60’ ( SAMC) ; 4ơ, ‘ Port Elizabeth [33 ° 58'S: 25 ° 35'E] / E.C. P.’ ~ ‘ Jan, 1960 / S.A.M. ’ ( SAMC) ; 1ơ 2^, ‘ Walmer [33 ° 59'S: 25 ° 35'E] / Port Elizabeth / E.C. P.’ ~ ‘F.W. Gess / S.A.M. / Jan 1960 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1^, ‘ Algoa Bay [= Port Elizabeth] / Capland / Dr. Brauns / 1911’; 2^, ‘ S Africa: Cape #7 / 6km E of Alicedale / 33 ° 19'S: 26 ° 07'E, 600m / Date: 21.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / New Years Dam area’; 1ơ 1^, ‘ RSA 2- 3.01.1993 / Cape Province, Swellen-/ dam. [34 ° 02'S: 20 ° 26'E] Bontebok Nat. P / leg. F. Koch’ ( ZMHB) .

Type locality: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Matatiele .

Comments:A distinctive, large species. Although distribution appears to be centred on the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa ( Fig. 249 ), the species is also recorded from KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape Province. The species appears to be found in five different climatic areas (i.e. Mediterranean, Little & Great Karoo, S. Cape Coastal, S.E. Cape Coastal, Drakensberg) using the classification of Schultz (1965).

Figures

Figs 59–65. Afromochtherus melanurus sp. n. 59. Antenna. 60. Wing. 61–63. ơ genitalia. (Matatiele ơ). 61. Lateral. 62. Dorsal. 63. Ventral. 64–65. ^ genitalia. (Loerie ^). 64. Lateral. 65. 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).