Ancylorhynchus reynaudii (Macquart, 1838)

Londt, Jason G. H., 2011, A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 471-471 : 516-518

Ancylorhynchus reynaudii (Macquart, 1838)

Figs 20 , 50 , 114–116 , 152

Xiphocera reynaudii Macquart, 1838: 48 , tab. 3, fig. 9 (whole specimen dorsal view).

Xiphocerus quadrimaculatus Loew, 1858: 348 ; 1860: 155. Syn. n.

Ancylorrhynchus reynaudii: Kertesz 1909: 102 (catalogue); Hull 1960: 217.

Ancylorrhynchus quadrimaculatus: Kertesz 1909: 102 (catalogue); Curran 1934: 7; Bromley 1936: 135; Hull 1960: 217; Oldroyd 1974: 32.

Ancylorhynchus reynaudii: Oldroyd 1980: 360 (catalogue).

Ancylorhynchus quadrimaculatus: Oldroyd 1980: 360 (catalogue).

Type specimen: Macquart’s (1838) description was based on a ♂ with data ‘Du Cap. M. Reynaud. Muséum.’, meaning that the specimen was collected by Reynaud in The Cape (= south-western parts of South Africa) and is housed at MNHN. However, Dr Christophe Daugeron (pers. comm.) reports that there is merely a label in the drawer that originally housed the specimen and so it must now be considered lost. Macquart’s illustration certainly suggests a species of Ancylorhynchus . My studies have led me to believe that Xiphocerus quadrimaculatus Loew, 1858 is identical to reynaudii and so a redescription of the species may be based on the extant holotype male of quadrimaculatus (below). It is intriguing that Loew (1863) states, under tricolor , ‘Synon. Xiphocera Reynaudii Macquart, Dip. Exot. I. II. 48. variet.’ A comment difficult to interpret as reynaudii cannot possibly be a synonym of tricolor as reynaudii takes precedence. Perhaps he was referring to the fact that these species are superficially alike. One thing is certain, the two species are dispecific. See further reference to this matter under tricolor .

Redescription:

Male (based on holotype quadrimaculatus . Condition: Excellent; slightly greasy.).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, dark red-brown setose. Antenna ( Fig. 20 ): Scape and pedicel orange, dark red-brown setose, postpedicel orange proximally becoming brown-orange distally, terminal stylus ‘segment’ present, dark red-brown, tipped with pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element. Segmental ratios: 1:0.4:4.3:0.3. Face black, silver pruinose except lateral parts of epistomal margin and dorsomedial area adjacent to antennal sockets, mystax dark red-brown occupying ventral ½ of face. Frons and vertex black, fine silver pruinose except for ocellar tubercle, dark red-brown setose; ocellar tubercle fine dark red-brown setose. Occiput black, uniformly silver pruinose, dark red-brown setose. Palpus dark red-brown, dark red-brown setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex slightly projecting with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, dark red-brown setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black with orange areas dorsally, fine silver-grey pruinose, white and dark red-brown setose. Prothorax entirely blackish, fine silver-grey pruinose, dark red-brown setose. Mesonotum dark red-brown to black except for orange postpronotal and postalar lobes (and adjacent parts), fine silver pruinose, fine white and dark red-brown setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (dark red-brown when present): dc confined to area posterior to transverse suture, c. 2 npl, 1 spal, 2 pal. Scutellum dark red-brown with orange anterolateral parts, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely pale yellow setose, hind margin with c. 4 macrosetae (missing) accompanied by few minor setae. Pleura entirely blackish, entirely fine silver pruinose, setae sparse, mainly whitish, confined mainly to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot blackish. Legs: cx dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose; tro red-brown; fem 1&2 dark red-brown proximally, orange distally; fem 3, tib and tar uniformly orange, entirely yellow setose, claws dark red-brown with orange proximal parts. Wings ( Fig. 50 ): 6.7× 2.8 mm. Veins brown-orange. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), pale brown, proximal cells partly transparent. Haltere brown-yellow with brown stalk.

Abdomen: Mostly dark red-brown to blackish with yellowish bands, partly fine silver pruinose, dark red-brown and white setose. T1 dark red-brown, whitish setose; T2 dark red-brown with yellowish posterior margin, silver pruinose submarginal band almost complete, white setose; T3–5 dark red-brown with yellow posterior margin, no obvious silver pruinose areas, dark red-brown setose; T6–end removed, macerated and illustrated. Sternites similar to tergites (largely hidden from view by overlapping tergites).

Genitalia ( Figs 114–116 ): Epand bifid, forming pair of relatively long, slender lobes that project posteriorly to a level beyond other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, straight, somewhat converging distally, distal parts slightly inwards curved. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe tapering distally to fairly acute tip, flange-like ventral structure evident (especially in lateral view); dorsal finger-like process well developed, projecting to approximately level achieved by tapered tip; inner lobe well developed, distal end strongly sclerotised, somewhat medially directed. Gonst hardly compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly. Hypd moderately developed, tapering beyond half length rapidly to broadly rounded medial setose protuberance (setae typically strong, directed vertically). Aed as elongated triangle with tiny bifid tip.

Variation: A fairly variable species. The mesonotum may be more extensively orange (especially in females). The legs vary with respect to the amount of dark red-brown coloration. Wing colour varies from yellowish through to pale brown (a female from Kagga Kamma has fairly dark brownish wings).Abdominal coloration varies from being almost entirely dark red-brown to blackish to very extensively orange posteriorly.

Holotype quadrimaculatus (examined): ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: ‘ Cap. B. Sp. [Cape of Good Hope] / Tollin’ [blue], ‘ quadrimac ’, ‘6666 [or 9999]’, ‘[purple square – no writing]’, ‘Coll. / H. Loew’, ‘Holotypus’ [red], ‘Zool. Mus. / Berlin’ ( ZMHB).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ Kamieskroon [30°12'S: 17°56'E] / Namaqualand’ ~ ‘ Museum Staff / Nov. 1936 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘SAM / Paleisheuwel [32°28'S: 18°43'E] / 16/xi.78 / VB Whitehead’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘ South Africa:W Cape / Kagga Kamma Nat. Res. / 32°45.15’S 19°34.21’E / 22–23 xi.2008 J&A Londt / 1075m Sandy area with / tall fynbos near houses’ ( NMSA) ; 1♀ ‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov. / Prince Alfred Pass / summit 11 xii.1979 / 3323 CC Stuckenberg & Londt Old lands’ ( NMSA) ; 1♀ ‘ Ceres [33°22'S: 19°19'E] / S A Museum’ ~ ‘ P. Smithers / Dec. 1940 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1♂ ‘ Cape Province / Ceres / Dec. 1924 ’, ‘ S. Africa / R.E. Turner / Brit. Mus. / 1925–44’ ( BMNH) ; 1♀ ‘ Slypsteen / Towerwaterkloof [33°23'S: 23°12'E] / Willowmore Dist. ’ ~ ‘ Mus. Staff / Oct. 1938 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1? ‘ Cape / Cape Town [33°24'S: 19°17'E] / i.88’ ~ ‘ Pres. / R. Lightfoot’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘ Cape / Cape Town’ ~ ‘1888 / Pres. / Plirall [? illegible]’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘J.J.S. le Roux / Rawsonville [33°41'S: 19°19'E] / Suid-Afrika / 25.i.1944 ’ ( NMSA) ; 1♀ ‘ South Africa , C.P. / Du Toits Kloof Pass / 33.42S 19.13E / 8 xii. / 1988 M.W. Mansell’ ( SANC) ; 1♂ ‘3055’, ‘ Stellenbosch [33°56'S: 18°51'E] / Capland / Dr. Brauns. / 1 xii.1924 ’ ( NMSA) ; 1♀ ‘ Capland / Stellenbosch / Nov. 13 1926 / Dr. H. Brauns. ’ ( NMSA) ; 1♂ ‘ Capland / Stellenbosch / Dec. 5 1926 / Dr. H. Brauns. ’ ( NMSA) ; 1♂ ‘ Table Mountain [33°58'S: 18°25'E] / Cape Town / 2 xii.1971 / A.L. Bevis’ ( DMSA) ; 1♂ ‘ Südafrika: Western Cape: / George [33°58'S: 22°27'E]: Botanical Garden / 258m u. NN [über normal Null = above sea level] / le.g. Barkemeyer 8.1.2002 ’ ( CODI) ; 1♂ ‘ Cape Province / Oakhurst [34°00'S: 23°44'E] / Tsitsikama Forest / 29 xii.1966 / C. Jacot-Guillarmod’ ( AMGS) ; 1♂ ‘ Groot Rivier / Knysna [34°02'S: 23°02'E] Dist. / Jan. 1955 / Martin’ ( AMGS) ; 2♂ ‘ Jeffreys Bay [34°03'S: 24°55'E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘ S.A. M / i.60’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Kommetjie 13 xii.1988 / Hill overlooking town / 34°08’S 18°19’E / JGH Londt Macchia / Sandy ground & rocks’ ( NMSA) ; 3♂ 1♀ ‘R. Sonder End [Riviersonderend 34°19'S: 19°54'E] / Oudebosch 1500 ft’ ~ ‘ K.H. Barnard / Nov.–Dec. 1928 ’ ( SAMC) ; 2♀ ‘ South Africa , Cape / 6 km NE Hermanus [34°26'S: 19°12'E] / 24 xii.1983 / D.J. Brothers’ ( NMSA) ; 3♂ 1♀ ‘ Capland / Krebs S. ’, ‘499’, ‘ Zool. Mus. / Berlin’ ( ZMHB) . UNKNOWN: 1♀ ‘ Pres by / Cape Museum / per. G. Ricardo / 2.iii.1923 ’ ( BMNH) .

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from South Africa ( Table 1), where it has been collected along the west coast of the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces and along the south coast of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces ( Fig. 152 ). The species has been collected from October through to March (no February records) (Table 2). The biology is largely unknown, although locality data and personal experience suggest that this is a species inhabiting Fynbos as well as Savanna biomes where it may be found resting on sandy surfaces.

Similar species:A member of the reynaudii species-group with similarities to fulvicollis , tricolor and zophos .

Figures

Figs 3–30. Antennae of Ancylorhynchus species: (3) A. cruciger (Loew, 1858), holotype, left side outer view; (4) A. dilobion sp. n., holotype, left side outer view; (5) A. doryphorus sp. n., holotype, right side inner view; (6) A. feijeni sp. n., holotype, left side outer view; (7) A. fulvicollis (Bigot, 1879), ♂ Pietermaritzburg, left side outer view; (8) A. funebris Bromley, 1936, ♂ Masiene, left side outer view; (9) A. gessi sp. n., holotype, left side outer view; (10) A. greatheadi sp. n., holotype, left side outer view; (11) A. hylaeiformis Speiser, 1910, holotype, left side outer view; (12) A. insignis Bromley, 1936, holotype, left side outer view; (13) A. magnificus Bromley, 1936, holotype, left side outer view; (14) A. nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828), ♂ Zungeru, right side outer view (reversed); (15) A. nyukinus Speiser, 1910, holotype, right side outer view (reversed); (16) A. oldroydi Lindner, 1961, holotype,right side outer view (reversed); (17) A. phelpsi sp. n., holotype, left side outer view; (18) A. pretoriensis Bromley, 1936, holotype, left side outer view; (19) A. prunus Oldroyd 1974, holotype, left side outer view; (20) A. reynaudii (Macquart, 1838), ♀ Kommetjie, left side outer view; (21) A. similis sp. n., paratype, left side outer view; (22) A. simpsoni sp. n., holotype, left side outer view (postpedicel missing); (23) A. snowi sp. n., holotype, left side outer view (postpedicel missing); (24) A. sokokensis sp. n., paratype, left side outer view; (25) A. susurrus (Karsch, 1879), holotype, left side outer view; (26) A. tricolor (Loew, 1863), holotype braunsi, right side outer view (reversed); (27) A. unifasciatus (Loew, 1858), ♂ Cumberland, left side outer view; (28) A. variabilis nom. n., ♂ Hotazel, left side outer view; (29) A. whiteheadi sp. n., paratype, left side outer view; (30) A. zophos sp. n., holotype, right side inner view. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Figs 41–50. Wings of Ancylorhynchus species: (41) A. hylaeiformis Speiser, 1910, holotype; (42) A. insignis Bromley, 1936; ♂ Alicedale; (43) A. magnificus Bromley, 1936, holotype; (44) A. nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828), ♂ Zungeru; (45) A. nyukinus Speiser, 1910, ♂ Lake Baringo; (46) A. oldroydi Lindner, 1961, holotype; (47) A. phelpsi sp. n., paratype ♀ Rekomitjie; (48) A. pretoriensis Bromley, 1936, holotype; (49) A. prunus Oldroyd, 1974, allotype; (50) A. reynaudii (Macquart, 1838), ♀ Kommetjie. Not to scale, see text for measurements.

Figs 111–128. Male terminalia of Ancylorhynchus species in lateral, dorsal and ventral views: (111–113) A. prunus Oldroyd 1974, holotype; (114–116) A. reynaudii (Macquart, 1838), holotype quadrimaculatus; (117–119) A. similis sp. n., holotype; (120–122) A. simpsoni sp. n., holotype; (123–125) A. snowi sp. n., holotype; (126–128) A. sokokensis sp. n., holotype. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 152. Distribution of Ancylorhynchus species in Southern Africa: ● = A. reynaudii (Macquart, 1838); ■ = A. tricolor (Loew, 1863); ▲ = A. unifasciatus (Loew, 1858).