Rhabdogaster oribi, 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 : 274

Rhabdogaster oribi sp. n.

Figs 80–82

Etymology: Named after the type locality.

Description: Based on unique holotype ơ.

Head: Dark red-brown to black, gold-silver pruinose, white and black setose. Antenna dark red-brown to black, setae black. Face extensively pruinose except for two small weakly apruinose spots centrally. Mystax entirely pale yellow-white, occupying approx. lower half of face. Frons entirely pruinose, vertex apruinose (including ocellar tubercle), fine black setose. Occiput entirely silver pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae fine white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver and gold pruinose, black and white setose. Mesonotum extensively pruinose except for pair of anteromedial stripes, most of postpronotal and postalar lobes, and 3 lateral spots (1 anterior of transverse suture, 2 postsutural – one being small), notopleurals (2) and supraalars (1) pale yellow, other setae black. Pleura pruinose except for small spot on anepisternum. Scutellum pruinose except for hind margin, with 2 major black sctl s accompanied by 2 black minor setae. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc orange with red-brown distal ends; fem dark red-brown with orange proximal and distal ends, white setose; tib brown-yellow proximally, dark red-brown distally, predominantly white setose (some black setae ventrodistally); tar brown-yellow, mostly black setose. Wing 5.1 x 1.7 mm, veins orange-brown, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively microtrichose.Discal cell entirely microtrichose, costal cell mostly without microtrichia (some pesent in distal part).

Abdomen: Dark red-brown, fine gold-silver pruinose (tergites with apruinose hind margins only), white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 80–82 ): epand in lateral view longer than external lobes of goncx and hypd, tapering to fairly acute tips; in dorsal view lobes broadly fused proximomedially; hypd in lateral view curved, with upturned distal end, shorter than external lobe of goncx and epand; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering rapidly distally to pointed apex. In lateral view external and internal lobes of goncx clearly fused, gonst in ventral view sinuous with pointed tip.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: ‘ Oribi Gorge Reserve [3042S:3015E], / Umzimkulwana Valley, / Natal, South Africa. / B. & P. Stuckenberg / 21–28 November 1960 ’.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from the South African type locality. Collected in November.

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

Figures

Figs 80–91. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (80–82) R. oribi sp. n., Oribi Gorge Reserve holotype: (80) lateral, (81) dorsal, (82) ventral; (83–85) R. pedion sp. n., Royal Natal National Park paratype: (83) lateral, (84) dorsal, (85) ventral; (86–88) R. pellos sp. n., Grahamstown paratype: (86) lateral, (87) dorsal, (88) ventral; (89–91) R. poa sp. n., Serowe paratype: (89) lateral, (90) dorsal, (91) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.