Afroholopogon anassa, Londt, 2005

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 209-210

Afroholopogon anassa sp. n.

Figs 10–12 , 77

Etymology: Gr. anassa (queen). Refers to the type locality of Queen Elizabeth Park.

Description: Based on holotype.

Head: Antenna: Black, fine silver pruinose, dark red-brown setose; segmental formula 1.0:0.9:2.8:0.4:1.5. Face brown, silver pruinose (weak dorsally), mystax black, setae loosely arranged but extending over most of face. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:3.9. Frons and vertex dark red-brown, weak silver pruinose (mostly apruinose), long black setose. Occiput black, silver pruinose, pale yellow setose. Proboscis dark red-brown, white setose. Palpi dark red-brown, pale yellow setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum dark red-brown to black, shiny apruinose except for silver pruinose lateral margin, small area adjacent to postpronotal lobe and fairly extensive posterior area extending to approximately level of transverse suture. Setation: ac – fine white setae; dc – fine white setae; npl – 2 fine black; sa – long white setae (no obvious macrosetae); pa – few long white setae. Scutellum dark red-brown to black, largely shiny apruinose with silver anterior margin, disc asetose, margin with 6 long fine white setae. Pleura dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose except for small bare areas on anepisternum and katepisternum, white setose. Wing 4.2 x 1.5 mm (left wing partly broken off), pale brown, microtrichia brown, covering membrane extensively, basal angle of r 4 15°. Halter brown with pale yellow knob. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; trochanters dark red-brown; fem, variable – fem 1 orange, fem 2 orange with extensive dark red-brown ventral surface, fem 3 dark red-brown to black with brown-orange distal tip, white setose (a few black); tib variable – tib 1–2 orange with long black and white setae, tib 3 orange with distal half mostly dark red-brown, setae mostly black; tar dark red-brown, dark red-brown setose.

Abdomen: Terga black, shiny apruinose except for silver lateral margins, white setose. Sterna black, entirely gold pruinose, long white setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected and macerated, paratype illustrated ( Figs 10–12 ): Hypopygium unrotated; epand (in dorsal view) deeply incised medially to form two acutely pointed lobes joined narrowly basally; goncx externally distally unilobed, lobes of distinctive shape; hypd (in lateral view) not projecting distally beyond level attained by goncx, suddenly tapering (in ventral view) to a single poorly sclerotised elongate medial process.

Variation: Sexes similar. Specimens display little variation, although those from Pelgrimsrus, Pretoria and Kaapmuiden have yellow setae in the place of white ones. The extent of mesonotal pruinescence is also variable. The hind legs of these specimens are also not as darkly pigmented as those described for the holotype. The tibiae are, for example, entirely orange and lack dark red-brown coloration distally.

Type specimens: SOUTH AFRICA: 2^ paratypes, ‘ Marieps Mnt. [ Mariepskop 2432S 3052E] / iv.1932 / G. van Son.’; 1ơ paratype, ‘ Pelgrimsrus / SE 24.30. Dd. / 19.iv.1979 / J.A. Irish / Dept: of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Pelgrimsrus / SE 24.30. Dd. / iv.1979 / D. R. Swart / Dept : of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1ơ paratype, Pretoria / SE 25.28 Cb / v.1979 / P. Koekemoer / Dept: of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Kaapmuiden / SE 25 31 Cb / 14.iv.1979 / Van Eeden C.F. / Dept: of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa: Transvaal / 10 km E of Barberton / on Saddleback Pass / 7.iv.1985 SE2531 CC / J. Londt Rocky slope’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Barberton [2547S 3103E] / 10.5.14 / H.K. Munro’, ‘ SW Bromley / Collection / 1955’ ( NMNH); 1^ paratype, ‘ Meyerton / SE 26 28 Ca / i.1979 / P. Koekemoer / Dept: of Entomology / University of Pretoria’;ơ holotype, 2^ paratypes, ‘ Sth Africa : KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH Londt Grassland / 900 m 11.v.2000 a.m.’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa :KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH Londt Grassland / 900 m 20.v.2000 a.m.’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa : KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH Londt Grassland / 900 m 18.vi.2000 a.m.’; 2^ paratypes, ‘ Sth Africa : KZ-Natal / Pietermaritzburg 870 m / Botanical Gardens / 29°36'14''S 30°29'41''E / J.G.H. Londt 24.iv.2000 / Aristida grassland area’. SWAZILAND: 1^ paratype, ‘ Swaziland / Malolotja Wilderness Area / 26°07'S: 31°06'E 1530 m / Date: 7.iv.1997 / Coll: P.E. Reavell / Montane grassland’ .

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known from a few fairly widely separated localities within the south-eastern region of the Savanna Biome of South Africa ( Fig. 77 ). The species flies mainly from April to June (one record exists for January). This species was included in Londt’s (2002) study of grassland asilids at Queen Elizabeth Park, Pietermaritzburg. Pending this revision it was called Afroholopogon sp. 2 and only five specimens were encountered during that study. The species being found on weeks 19, 20 and 24, was considered primarily autumn-active although the dates fall into what might be called winter. There is a single January record from Meyerton and so the flight period may be different at sites remote from Queen Elizabeth Park. Nothing is known about its biology, except that it can be swept from grass. The ovipositor is of the usual stenopogonine form with well-developed acanthophorites, so it is assumed that oviposition takes place directly into soil.

Similar species: A. argos and aspros (see discussion).

Figures

Figs 7–19. Afroholopogon species, male genitalia: (7–9) A. africanus (Ricardo, 1925), Op Die Berg: (7) lateral, (8) dorsal, (9) ventral; (10–12) A. anassa sp. n., paratype, Pelgrimsrus: (10) lateral, (11) dorsal, (12) ventral, hypandrium only; (13–15) A. argos sp. n., paratype, 9 km NE Kranskop: (13) lateral, (14) dorsal, (15) ventral view of hypandrium; (16–19) A. aspros sp. n.; (16–18) paratype, Lilani: (16) lateral, (17) dorsal, (18) ventral, (19) paratype, Umgeni Nature Reserve, ventral view of distal end of hypandrium. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 77. Southern African distribution of Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 species: africanus – closed circle, anassa – open circle, chirundu – closed square, fugax – open square, vumba – closed triangle.