Exoprosopa decastroi Hesse, 2001

Greathead, D. J., 2001, A study of the Exoprosopa busiris (Jaennicke) group of Bezzi (1924) in tropical Africa (Diptera: Bombyliidae), Journal of Natural History 35 (1), pp. 127-147 : 145-146

Exoprosopa decastroi Hesse

(Figures 8, 14)

Exoprosopa decastroi Hesse, 1950: 29 , Mozambique

Exoprosopa ferrierae Hesse, 1950: 31 , Mozambique, syn. n.

Hesse (1950) described two species, E. decastroi and E. ferrierae , from Mozambique, with almost identical descriptions. They are separated on minor diOEerences only in his key ( Hesse, 1956). The present material clearly belongs to the same species complex and is also coastal in distribution. However, it diOEers in detail from the descriptions of both of these species, notably in having a shorter second ¯agellomere (at most one sixth and not one quarter to one ®fth the length of the ®rst) and can be divided into two series, as noted below, each of which has a mixture of characters of the two species described from Mozambique. Principally, the Kenyan specimens with narrower wings have a more uniform infuscation but the other characters as E. ferrierae and the specimens with broader wings a less uniform infuscation with more conspicuous spots otherwise more closely resemble E. decastroi . However, given the variability of the Kenyan material in which specimens from localities along the coast within 160 km of each other show mixtures of the characters of Hesse’s two species, I conclude that there is one somewhat variabl e species.

Diagnosis

Similar to E. schmidtii in shape but abdomen broader elongate ovate. Hair yellow, scales yellow and bands on abdominal terga more distinct than in E. schmidtii . Legs brown, scales black. Wing (®gure 8) similar to E. schmidtii but a yellower brown and without an iridescent sheen. Male genitalia (®gure 14) with epiphallus very deep and short. Length of body, 11±13 mm; of wing, 12±14 mm.

Material examined

Kenya: Sokoke Forest , 3m, 23.vii.1965, D. J. Greathead; same, 1 1 l m, 16.v.1963; Kwale Forest, 1m, D. J. Greathead; same, 1m, 13.v.1963, D. J. Greathead; Shimba Hills, 1m, 16.vi.1981, R. H. Markham (all DJG) .

Material examined

Other specimens are as above but larger and sometimes with some black hair on pleura and scales on abdominal terga white at sides. Hair more orange. Body more broad as in E. luteicosta . Wing broader as E. luteicosta , less intensely infuscated and centres of cells much paler. Length of body, 14±16 mm; of wing 15±18 mm.

Material examined

Kenya: Kwale Forest, 1 1 l m, 13.v.1965, D. J. Greathead; Shimba Hills, 1 2 l m, 11.vi.1973, D. J. Greathead; same, 2m, 16.vi.1981, R. H. Markham (all DJG).

Distribution Kenya, Mozambique.