Rhabdogaster xanthokelis, Londt, 2006

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 286-287

Rhabdogaster xanthokelis sp. n.

Figs 110–112

Etymology: From Greek xanthos (orange) + kelis (spot). Refers to the orange postpronotal lobes of this species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, white setose. Antenna black, setae white. Face entirely pruinose. Mystax entirely white, occupying approx. lower one-third of face. Frons and vertex entirely apruinose (including ocellar tubercle). Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum with orange postpronotal lobes (contrasting with adjacent areas), extensively apruinose except for narrow lateral and posterior margins. Pleura extensively pruinose except for small area on anepisternum. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow anterior margin, with approx. 14 long sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely gold-silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark redbrown, gold-silver pruinose, white setose; troc dark red-brown; fem orange with dark red-brown anterior surfaces (progressively so from leg 1–3), white setose; tib orange with dark red-brown anterior surfaces, predominantly white setose (few black setae ventrodistally); tar dark red-brown, mostly black setose. Wing 6.3 x 2.4 mm, veins yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly, membrane largely transparent, slightly yellow stained, almost entirely microtrichose (except for some proximal parts). Discal cell entirely microtrichose, costal cell extensively microtrichose except for part of posterior region.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Tergites largely apruinose except for lateral margins, setae tiny medially, longer laterally. Sternites entirely pruinose with moderately long setae. Terminalia ( Figs 110– 112 paratype – some structures difficult to see as they are covered with many long black setae): epand in lateral view short, projecting beyond level attained by outer lobe of goncx and of similar length as hypd, tapering to narrowly-rounded tip; in dorsal view lobes separated but touching proximomedially; hypd in lateral view stout, smoothly curved; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering to elongate, parallel-sided terminal process with slight indentation terminally. In lateral view external lobe of goncx short, broad, not projecting beyond levels attained by epand and hypd, with broadly-rounded tip.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: ‘ S Africa: N Province #56 / Ben Lavin Nature Reserve / 23 ° 08'S: 29 ° 57'E 2700ft / Date: 20.xi.1997 / Coll: Barraclough & James / Malaise trap’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 1ơ ‘ Tshakoma [Tshakhuma – 2303S:3018E], Zpbg. / Nov., 1931 / G. van Son’; 2ơ 2^same data as holotype; 2^‘ S Africa: N Province #56 / Ben Lavin Nature Reserve / 23 ° 08'S: 29 ° 57'E 2700ft / Date: 21.xi.1997 / Coll: Barraclough & James / Malaise trap’; 1ơ 1^‘ơ + ^/ in copulo’, ‘ S. Africa. Transvaal / Outlook [? Uitkyk – 2549S:2925E] / 8 Dec 1978 / Nat. Mus. Bulawayo’ .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded from four South African localities in Limpopo province. Collected in summer (November and December).

Similar species: R. lindneri sp. n., major and oresbios sp. n.

Figures

Figs 104–115. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia:(104–106) R. tanylabis sp. n., Witsand Nature Reserve paratype: (104) lateral, (105) dorsal, (106) ventral; (107–109) R. theroni sp. n., Du Toits Kloof paratype: (107) lateral, (108) dorsal, (109) ventral; (110–112) R. xanthokelis sp. n., Ben Lavin Nature Reserve paratype: (110) lateral, (111) dorsal, (112) ventral; (113–115) R. yeti sp. n., Auob holotype: (113) lateral, (114) dorsal, (115) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.