Neoitamus angusticornis ( Loew, 1858 )

Young, Charles L., 2006, Robber flies of South Korea — II. South Korean species of the Subfamily Asilinae Latreille, 1802 (Diptera, Asilidae), Zootaxa 1132, pp. 1-30 : 15-18

Neoitamus angusticornis ( Loew, 1858)

( Figs 8 , 21 , 40, 41 , 49, 50 & 65 )

Itamus angusticornis Loew, 1858 — Loew (1858: 106).

Mid sized dark flies, 14 to 22mm. Lehr (1999) and Ohishi & Tagawa (1997) have proposed characters that differentiate between the closely related N. angusticornis and N. cothurnatus univittatus (leg coloration, antennae to gibbosity ratio, suctellar bristles and wing microhair) however, the shape of the male epandrial lobes seem to be the most reliable in the South Korean specimens. The distal apex of the black fore femur is usually banded yellow. The dorsal epandrial lobe projection is rounded at its apex, and distinctly separated by the lower, ventral lobe by a widely rounded notch ( Figs. 8 , 49, 50 ). Distal, ventral gonostylus apex with a distinct short sharp spur (usually seen externally, without dissection) ( Fig. 21 ).

Head: Face silver gray tomentose. Gibbous area in lateral aspect unevenly contoured, projecting sharply above and tapering below at oral margin. Gena with a row of fine black hair bordering lower portion of oral margin. Mystax thick, shorter whitish­yellow hair above with few scattered black hairs on lateral margins; longer abundant white hair below. Palpus with black and yellow hair. Long white genal hair merging into black proclinate lateral occipital bristles. Black postocular hair strongly proclinate. Proclinate orbital hair black. Occeller tubercle large with long black hair. Distance between dorsal margin of facial gibbosity and antennal base longer than length of antennal segment 1 (scape). Thorax: Paramedian scutal and latero­scutal stripes dull black. Acrostical black hair in two rows. Pleurae gray pollinose. Anepisternum with black hair, median area bare. Katepisternum with black hair dorsally, yellow hair ventrally. Anepimeron with long black hair. Katatergite with a row of vertical yellow hair. Metepimeron with a row of yellow hair and bristles. Anatergite with abundant yellow hair. Humeral callus with black and yellow hair. Chaetotaxy with 3 posthumeral; 4 notopleural; 8 supraalar; 5 postalar bristles; dorsocentral bristles and hair in weak row. 2–4 black scutellar bristles; scutellar disc with yellow hair. Legs: Coxae gray with white hair. Fore femur black with distal apex yellow (sometimes banded wider ventrally); 2 or more yellow apical anterior bristles; 4 yellow postventral bristles; ventral fringe of long yellow hair, longer basally. Mid femur black with sparse black hair; 4 yellow anterior bristles; 3 yellow dorsal bristles; 2 apical posterior bristles, 1 yellow, 1 black; fringe of long yellow ventral hair, longer basally; apical bristles black. Fore tibia yellow, black on distal, ventral apex, with black hair; 3 weak yellow anterior bristles; 2 strong yellow apical bristles; 3 black dorsal bristles; 2 black dorso apical bristles; 1 strong yellow posterior bristle; 2 yellow posterior apical bristles; 5 ventral bristles, 2 apical bristles, fringe of long yellow hair. Mid tibia yellow, black at distal apex with black and yellow hair; 3 long anterior black bristles, 3 short black anterior apical bristles; 3 black dorsal and 3 short black dorsal apical bristles; 4 yellow posterior bristles, 3 posterior apical bristles; long sparse yellow ventral hair, 3 long weak bristles; 4 yellow dorsal bristles; 7 weak yellow posterior bristles; ventral fringe of long yellow hair, longer basally; apical bristles black. Hind tibia yellow with black and yellow hair; distal apex black; 3 black anterior bristles, cluster of 3 black apical bristles; 3 black dorsal bristles, 1 black apical bristle; posterior surface with dense fringe of yellow tomentum extending medially, 2 black posterior apical bristles; sparse ventral yellow hair basally, 3 black apical bristles. Tarsomeres black dorsally, yellow ventrally; black and yellow apical bristles. Wings: Tinged gray at apex. Abdomen: Abdomen dull brownblack, with dark black apices. Tergites 1–5 with yellow and black dorsal hair; longer median and lateral marginal yellow hair. Long yellow lateral marginal hair on tergites 1–5. Tergite 6 with brown pollen, black hair and shorter yellow lateral marginal hair. Remaining tergites shining blue­black with yellow and black hair. Sternites with abundant long yellow hair becoming sparse and shorter on posterior sternites. Male genitalia shining blue­black. In lateral aspect epandrial lobe ( Figs. 8 , 49, 50 ) rounded with dorsal and ventral surfaces divided into 2 projections by a widely rounded notch. Dorsal lobe round and short. Rounded ventral lobe projects apically. Gonostylus sharp, spur­like on distal dorsal apex ( Fig. 21 ). Ovipositor elongated, compressed ( Fig. 65 ).

South Korean distribution. Ch ǒ llabuk ­Do Province. Kunsan. Wolmyong Park. 35°57’93”, 126°41’78”E. Kochang. Kochang Castle wall (no coordinates available). Naejangsan N.P. South entrance. 35°26’34”N, 126°53’06”E. Sŏngsusan Mt. Resort area. Sŏngsu­Myŏn. 35°3826N, 127°2442E. Pyŏngsanbando N. P. Puan­Gun. 37°44’57”N, 128°34’19”E. Sŏnunsan. Prov. P. Kochang­Gun. 35°27’50”N, 126°34’28”E. Taedunsan Prov. P. 36°05’00”N, 127°20’00”E. Ch ǒ llanam­Do Province. Chirisan N.P. Piagol Valley. Chiri Mt. 570 m. 35°16’39”N, 127°33’91”E. Wolchulsan N. P. Kangjin­Gun. 200 550m. 34°45’14”N, 126°41’11”E. Ch’ungch’ ǒ ngnam­Do Province. Kŭmsan­Gun. Kŭmsan. Posoksa. (no coordinates available). South Taean Peninsula. Konam­Myon. Saetbyeol Beach. 36°24’47”N, 126°22’12”E. Kang­won­Do Province. Chunchŏn. Nam­Myon. Hudong­Li. 37°44’31”N, 128°35’41”E. Chunchŏn­Shi. Namsan­Myon. Kangchon. 37°42’40”N, 127°35’26”E. Odaesan N. P. Chinbu­Myon. 660– 900m. 37°44’57”N, 128°34’19”E. Ky ǒ ngsangbuk­Do Province. Kimchŏn­Shi. Kimchŏn 400m. (no coordinates available). Ky ǒ ngsangnam­Do Province. Macheon. Chirisan Mt. 705m. 35°20’55”N, 127°38’21”E. Samjeong­Li. Macheon. Chirisan Mt. 6– 800m. 35°21’36”N, 127°38’25”E. Pijindo Is. (no coordinates available).

Material examined. 6ɗ, 19Ψ: 21/V–22/VI 1997–2000, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Kunsan, Wolmyong Park; 1ɗ: 16/VI/2002, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Kochang, Kochang Castle wall; 10ɗ, 6Ψ: 6/VI 30 /VI 1999–2002, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Naejangsan N.P., South entrance; 2ɗ, 2Ψ: 19/V 20 /V 1999–2001, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Sŏngsusan Mt. Resort area, Sŏngsu­Myŏn; 5ɗ, 8Ψ: 14/V–19/VI 1999 2004, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Pyŏngsanbando N. P., Puan­Gun; 3ɗ, 2Ψ: 5/VI/2004, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Sŏnunsan Prov. P., Kochang­Gun; 1ɗ: 6/VII/1999, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Taedunsan Prov. P.; 22ɗ, 13Ψ: 1/VI 29 /VII 1999 2002, Chŏllanam­Do Province, Chirisan N.P., Piagol Valley, Chiri Mt. 570 m.; 3ɗ, 4Ψ: 26/V/2004, Chŏllanam­Do Province, Wolchulsan N. P., Kangjin­Gun, 200 550m.; 2ɗ, 1Ψ: 12 14/VI/2000, P. Tripotin coll., Ch’ungch’ŏngnam­Do Province, Kŭmsan­Gun, Kŭmsan, Posoksa; 1Ψ: 24/V/2004, Ch­ungch­ŏngnam­Do Province, South Taean Peninsula, Konam­Myon, Saetbyeol Beach; 2ɗ, 1Ψ: 6–31/ VII/2003, P. Tripotin coll., Kang­won­Do Province, Chunchŏn, Nam­Myon, Hudong­Li, Malaise trap; 6ɗ, 2Ψ: 12/VI/2004, Kang­won­Do Province, Chunchŏn­Shi, Namsan­Myon, Kangchon; 1ɗ, 2Ψ: 19/VII–18/VIII 2003, P. Tripotin coll., Kang­won­Do Province, Odaesan N. P., Chinbu­ Myon, 660– 900m., Near Woljeongsa, in Korean fir forest; 2Ψ: 28/VI/2002, Kyŏngsangbuk­Do Province, Kimchŏn­Shi, Kimchŏn 400m.; 11ɗ, 6Ψ: 21–22/VI/2002, P. Tripotin coll., Kyŏngsangnam­Do Province, Macheon, Chirisan Mt. 705m., Malaise trap; 1ɗ, 6Ψ: 10/V–24/VIII 2002–2003, Kyŏngsangnam­Do Province, Samjeong­Li, Macheon, Chirisan Mt. 6– 800m.; 1ɗ: 7/VI/1997, P. Tripotin coll., Kyŏngsangnam­Do Province, Pijindo Is.

Field notes. Neoitamus angusticornis is concentrated in large populations, and outnumbered other robber flies collected in Malaise traps. Females were observed probing pine tree bark with the ovipositor but no eggs were found. N. angusticornis occupies sympatric and allopatric habitats with N. cothurnatus univittatus and N. castaneipennis .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Male external genitalia, lateral views. 1. Aneomochtherus sinensis. 2. Asilella londti. 3. Astochia virgatipes. 4. Eutolmus brevistylus. 5. Machimus aurulentus. 6. Machimus cf. pastshenkoae 7. Mercuriana ussuriensis. 8. Neoitamus angusticornis. 9. Neoitamus castaneipennis. 10. Neoitamus cothurnatus univittatus. 11. Neoitamus zouhari. 12. Philonicus albiceps. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 13 – 25. Male gonopods, lateral views. 13. Aneomochtherus sinensis. 14. Asilella londti. 15. Astochia virgatipes. 16. Eutolmus brevistylus. 17. Eutolmus koreanus. 18. Machimus aurulentus. 19. Machimus cf. pastshenkoae. 20. Mercuriana ussuriensis. 21. Neoitamus angusticornis. 22. Neoitamus castaneipennis. 23. Neoitamus cothurnatus univittatus. 24. Neoitamus zouhari. 25. Philonicus albiceps. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 26 – 48. Male aedeagi, lateral and dorsal views. 26 – 27. Aneomochtherus sinensis lateral & apex. 28 – 29. Asilella londti lateral & apex. 30 – 31. Astochia virgatipes lateral & apex. 32 – 33. Eutolmus brevistylus lateral & apex. 34 – 35. Machimus aurulentus lateral & apex. 36 – 37. Machimus cf. pastshenkoae lateral & apex. 38 – 39. Mercuriana ussuriensis lateral & apex. 40 – 41. Neoitamus angusticornis lateral & dorsal. 42 – 43. Neoitamus castaneipennis lateral & dorsal. 44. Neoitamus cothurnatus univittatus lateral. 45 – 46. Neoitamus zouhari lateral & dorsal. 47 – 48. Philonicus albiceps lateral & apex.

FIGURES 49 – 57. Male epandria and sternite. 49 – 50. Neoitamus angusticornis lateral & dorsal. 51 – 52. Neoitamus castaneipennis lateral & dorsal. 53 – 54. Neoitamus cothurnatus univittatus lateral & dorsal. 55 – 56. Neoitamus zouhari lateral & dorsal. 57. Machimus cf. pastshenkoae male sternite 8 and hypandrium. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 58 – 66. Female external genitalia, lateral views. 58. Aneomochtherus sinensis. 59. Asilella londti. 60. Astochia virgatipes. 61. Eutolmus brevistylus. 62. Machimus aurulentus. 63. Machimus cf. pastshenkoae. 64. Mercuriana ussuriensis. 65. Neoitamus angusticornis. 66. Philonicus albiceps.