Valiraptor silvestris, 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 : 62-64

Valiraptor silvestris sp. n. ( Figs 236–243 )

Etymology: L. silvestris – of woods, referring to the fact that the species is found in association with forests.

Diagnosis: Head: Antennal scape and pedicel blackish, pedicel with at most a narrow yellowish apex; postpedicel longer than stylus. Face gold pruinose; mystax with yellow macrosetae above epistomal margin. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with long setae. Dorsocentrals present both anterior and posterior to transverse suture. Microtrichia cover almost entire wing. Prothoracic femur with long, fine, hair-like posteroventral setae. Metathoracic coxa with one lateral macroseta; trochanter brownish yellow; femur anteriorly yellow with brown-black markings with black and yellow/white macrosetae. Abdomen: Ovipositor relatively long and narrow (length:width ratio, measured dorsally>3.3) and relatively long and shallow (length:depth ratio, measured laterally>2.8). Gonocoxite length:width ratio>2.5. Distal margin of S8 with poorly developed medial process.Ventromedial area of hypandrium not markedly constricted. Gonostylus clearly attenuate (viewed ventrally). Aedeagal terminal filaments well developed and filamentous. Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite (viewed ventrally).Aedeagus strongly curved, greatly elongate and tubular. Epandrium simple (without obvious lobes or projections).

Material examined: Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, ‘ South Africa / Natal / Karkloof Falls [29 ° 24'S: 30 ° 16'E] / 15.i.1978 / JGH Londt’. Paratypes : SOUTH AFRICA: 10ơ 9^, same data as holotype; 1ơ , ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 24.xi.1977 / JGH Londt / Town Bush’; 3ơ 1^, ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 25.ii.1981 / JGH Londt / Town Bush’; 1ơ , ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 10.iii.1983 / JGH Londt / Town Bush’; 2ơ 1^, ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 27 March 1980 / JGH Londt / Town Bush’; 2ơ 2^, ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 20.xii.1978 / JGH Londt / Town Bush’; 2ơ , ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / Ferncliffe Nature Res. / 29 ° 33'S: 30 ° 20'E / Date: 9.i.1990 / Coll: J. G. H. Londt’; 1ơ , ‘ South Africa: Natal / Pietermaritzburg / 2930 Cb 10.xii.1978 / JGH Londt Montrose’ .

Other material examined (no type status): SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, 5 km W. Sabie, 2530BB, Lone Creek River , xii 5, 1976, Miller ; 1ơ 1^, Mt Emlembe near Havelock Mine on Barberton Road , 25 ° 55'S: 31 ° 07'E 2531CC, 7.xi.1970, Stuckenberg 1425 m, Montane forest & streams; 1^, 17 km N. Utrecht, Elandsnek Farm, 27 ° 27·27'S: 30 ° 25·24'E, 1700–1900 m, 1.xii.1999, Dikow, Rocky grassland; 1^, Kube Yini Game Res, 27 ° 48'S: 32 ° 14'E, 360 m, 10–14.i.1994, Natal Musm Expedition; 1^, Harrismith, 2829AC, 17–18.xii.1981, Schoeman; 3^, Van Reenen Pass, 2829AD, 1.ii.1981, Stuckenberg; 1ơ, Nkandla Forest [28 ° 43'S: 31 ° 08'E], 22.x.1982, Reavell, Aristida junceifor . Grassland; 1ơ, Balgowan Area , 29 ° 21'S: 30 ° 05'E, 1320 m, 28.x.1993, Londt, 50 km N.W. PMB (on N3); 1ơ, 1·5 km N.W. Lidgetton, 2930Ac, 8.xii.1979, Miller & Stabbins, ca. Caversham Falls ; 1^, 15 km N.E. Howick, Karkloof Falls , 2930Ac, 1500 m, 14.ii.1979, Miller; 1ơ, Albert Falls Nat Res, 2930Ad, 14.iii.1981, Miller, along river; 1^, Hilton [29 ° 30'S: 30 ° 19'E], 26.i.1985, Seymour; 1^, Umgeni Res [Reserve – 29 ° 28'S: 30 ° 16'E], nr Howick, 10.i.1985, Recently burned grassveld; 1ơ, Doreen Clarke Nat. Res., 29 ° 34'40''S: 30 ° 17'20''E, 1100 m, 7.iii.1988, Londt, Mistbelt Mixed Forest ; 3ơ 1^, Pietermaritzburg, Townbush Valley , xii.1976, Miller, Malaise; 1ơ, Town Bush, Pietermaritzburg, 27.xi.1961, B. & P. Stuckenberg; 1^, Pietermaritzburg, 2930Cb, 14.xii.1978, Londt, Town Bush; 1ơ, Town Bush Forest Res, 2930CB, 7.i.1983, Barraclough; 9ơ 4^, Town Bush Forest Res, 2930CB, 1–. ii.1983, Barraclough; 1^, Pietermaritzburg, 2930CB, 30.iii.1982, Barraclough, Town Bush Forest Res.; 1ơ, Ferncliffe Nature Res., nr. Pietermaritzburg, 29 ° 33'S: 30 ° 20'E, 9.i.1990, Whittington, Indig. For.; 1^, Pietermaritzburg, Ferncliffe, 26.iv.1990, Brothers; 1ơ, Pietermaritzburg, 29 ° 33'S: 30 ° 21'E, 900 m, Ferncliffe Nature Res., 12.iii.1992, Robertson, Bracken valley ; 1^, Pietermaritzburg, Ferncliffe Nature Res., 29 ° 33'S: 30 ° 21'E, 900 m, 12.iii.1992, Barraclough, Bracken valley ; 2^, Pietermaritzburg, Ferncliffe Nature Res., 29 ° 33'S: 30 ° 21'E, 900 m, 12.iii.1992, Whittington, Bracken valley ; 1ơ, Pietermaritzburg, 2930Cb, 27.xii.1978, Londt, QE Park; 1ơ 2^, Pietermaritzburg, Queen Elizabeth Park, 29 ° 34'S: 30 ° 19'E, 3020’ Alt., 8.iii.1990, Bourquin; 1ơ, ‘ P.M.Burg [Pietermaritzburg], 5.i.1911, Fuller; 1ơ 1^, Krantzkloof Nat. Res., 29 46'S: 30 50'E, 400 m, 18.xii.1990, Whittington, Indigenous Forest ; 1^, Krantzkloof Nature Res., 29 ° 45'13''S 30 ° 51'07E, 300 m, 1.ii.2000, Londt, Grassland/Stream edge; 1^, Kloof, 1915, Marley; 2^, 10 km S.E. Ahrens, Lilani Rd, 2930BD, 8.iv.1986, Londt, Grassveld & Forest margins; 1ơ 1^, Mhlatuzana River , 29 48'S: 30 45'E, 500 m, 18.xii.1990, Whittington , Indig. Forest , Jackson’s Falls ; 1ơ, St. Helier , Clifton Canyon , nr. Hilcrest , 2930DD, 3.xii.1978, Miller , in “Gillits” forest; 5ơ 1^, Gillitts , Pinetown district , 20.xii.1961, [4ơ 1^] 21.xi.63 [1ơ], B & P Stuckenberg; 2ơ, Gillitts , 17.xi.1976, Londt , Indigenous Forest ; 5ơ 3^, Gillitts , St. Helier , 7.xii.1978, Londt ; 4ơ 3^, Oribi Gorge Reserve [30 ° 42'S: 30 ° 17'E], Umzimkulwana Valley, 21– 28.xi.1960, B. & P. Stuckenberg .

Type locality: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Karkloof Falls .

Comments: Although I have seen quite a number of specimens, these come from relatively few localities ( Fig. 255 ) located in two South Africa provinces (KwaZuluNatal and Mpumalanga). The species may be locally abundant, usually found along forest margins (i.e. the forest/grassland ecotone).

Figures

Figs 236–243. Valiraptor silvestris sp. n. (Karkloof ơ & ^). 236.Antenna. 237.Wing. 238–241. ơ genitalia. 238. Lateral. 239. Dorsal. 240. Ventral (aedeagus not shown). 241. Aedeagus, lateral. 242–243. ^ genitalia. 242. Lateral. 243. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 255. Distribution of Valiraptor species in southern Africa. V. namibiensis (triangles), V. silvestris (crosses).