Rhabdogaster nitida Hull, 1967

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 : 267-269

Rhabdogaster nitida Hull, 1967

Figs 62–64

Rhabdogaster nitidus Hull, 1967: 237 , 238; Oldroyd 1974: 69 (in key), figs 59 entire ^, 64 male genitalia. Type locality: South Africa (20 miles N Matatiele ).

Rhabdogaster nitida: Oldroyd 1980: 367 (catalogue).

Redescription: Based on holotype ^(in fairly poor condition).

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

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum extensively apruinose except for lateral and anterolateral parts (posterior to postpronotal lobes). Pleura largely pruinose but with big bare areas covering much of an- and katepisternum. Scutellum with pruinose margins (central apruinose area may be rubbed smooth), only a single tiny white sctl s intact. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, gold-silver pruinose, white setose; troc dark red-brown and orange, fem dark red-brown with orange distal parts, pale yellow-white setose; tib orange proximally, dark red-brown distally, predominantly white setose (a few black setae ventrodistally); tar dark red-brown, partly white (mainly dorsally) and black (mainly ventrally) setose. Wing 6.7 x 2.2 mm, veins yellow-brown to brown, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively microtrichose except proximally. Discal cell entirely microtrichose, costal cell entirely devoid of microtrichia.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black (except for yellow-brown subgenital plate), goldsilver pruinose, white setose. Tergites extensively pruinose except for mid-dorsal parts that are thinly apruinose (may be the result of wear). Sternites entirely pruinose. Male terminalia ( Figs 62–64 , Royal Natal Nat. Park specimen): epand in lateral view shorter than external lobe of goncx and hypd, tapering fairly rapidly to acute tips; in dorsal view lobes broadly fused proximally; hypd in lateral view curved with upturned apex, slightly shorter than external lobe of goncx; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering rapidly to long, narrow, process with clavate apex. In lateral view external lobe of goncx and gonst hardly visible.

Variation: A fairly consistent species. The mystax may have a few black setae (in both sexes). Legs may vary in the extent of orange coloration (e.g. fem 1 and tib 1 and 2 may be entirely orange).

Holotype: ^SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: ‘S. Afr. Cape Prov. / Border 20 miles N / Matatiele [3040S:2728E] / 8.III.51. No. 214’, ‘Swedish South Africa / Expedition / 1950–1951 / Brinck – Rudebeck’, ‘ Holotype [red]’, ‘Type / Rhabdogaster / nitidus / Hull [white, black border]’, ‘Zool. Mus. Lund Sweden / Asilidae / Type No. / 1793:1’ [last 2 lines sideways] (MZLU).

Other material studied: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 3ơ 6^‘South Africa: Natal / Royal Natal National / Park 7–11.iv.1990 / 28 ° 41'30"S: 28 ° 57'30"E / 1450m J.G.H. Londt / nr Mahai Caravan Park’; 3ơ 6^1? ‘ S Africa: Natal #12 / Royal Natal Nat. Park / 28 ° 41'S: 28 ° 57'E 1440m / Date: 02–04.iv.1993 / Coll: J. Londt / Mahai Camp /grassland’; 4ơ 4^‘ RSA: Natal #114 / Cathedral peak / 28-57'S:29-12'E 3075m / Date: 4.v.1995 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Grassland’; 2ơ ‘ South Africa: Natal / Cathedral Peak area / 28–31 May 1981 / R.M. Miller 2829CC / grassland’; 3ơ 1^‘ South Africa: Natal / Cathedral Peak area / Forest Reserve 1900m / 2829Cc 4–11.iv.1977 / JGH Londt ex Malaise’; 1^‘ South Africa: Natal / Cathedral Peak area / Ukhahlamba Res. Stn. / Above 1700m 2829cc / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Date: 28–31.v.1983 ’; 2ơ ‘ South Africa: Natal / Cathedral Peak area / 2829 Cc 7–12 April 1982 / JGH Londt ex Malaise’; 1^‘ S Africa: Natal / Drakensberg Mountains / ° ‘S: ° ‘E [co-ordinates not written in] / Date: 1996 / Coll: P.E. Reavell’ .

Other material recorded: Oldroyd (1974) gives ‘S.W. AFRICA: Okahandja, ii.1929 (R. E. Turner)’. This identification can not be accepted as Okahandja [2159S:1655E] lies in a totally different climatic region far from other confirmed localities.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Positively recorded only from South Africa. Known from a number of localities along the Drakensberg mountain range, and collected in late summer (March, April and May). Three prey records are available at the NMSA: 1ơ 2^( Hymenoptera , Formicidae , alates).

Similar species: R. nuda , oribi sp. n. and pellos sp. n.

Figures

Figs 55–67. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (55–58) R. major Oldroyd, 1970, damaged Mt Ndogo holotype: (55) lateral (left side), (56) dorsal, (57) ventral, (58) lateral (right side); (59–61) R. melas sp. n., Cathedral Peak holotype: (59) lateral, (60) dorsal, (61) ventral; (62–64) R. nitida Hull, 1967, Royal Natal Nat. Park: (62) lateral, (63) dorsal, (64) ventral; (65–67) R. nuda Loew, 1858, ‘Cap. B. Sp.’ holotype: (65) lateral, (66) dorsal, (67) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.