Synolcus namibiensis, Londt, 2012

Londt, Jason G. H., 2012, The genus Synolcus Loew, 1858, with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae), African Invertebrates 53 (2), pp. 661-661 : 690-691

Synolcus namibiensis sp. n.

Figs 12 , 62–66 , 84 , 88

Etymology: Named after Namibia, where the type material was collected.

Description:

Male.

Head: Dark red-brown to blackish, strongly silver pruinose, white and black setose. Antenna: Blackish, silver pruinose, scape and pedicel mainly black (ventral) and white (dorsal) setose (may be mixed ventrally), postpedicel with few whitish setae dorsally; mean segmental ratios (n=4) 1:0.8:1.3:1.4 (0.3:1.0:0.1), i.e. pedicel slightly shorter than scape, postpedicel almost 1.5 times length of scape, stylus and postpedicel subequal in length. Face: Blackish, silver pruinose. Mystax mixed black (mainly dorsally and ventrolaterally) and white (mostly centrally), setae slightly better developed ventrally. Frons and vertex: Blackish, silver pruinose, frons white setose laterally, ocellar tubercle white setose. Occiput: Blackish, silver pruinose, mostly white setose except for a few black macrosetae dorsally.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to blackish, silver pruinose, black, pale yellow and white setose. Prothorax: Blackish, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum: Blackish, silver pruinose, macrosetae mainly white (few black), minor setae short blackish (mainly anteriorly) and longish white (mainly posteriorly). Macrosetae: acr and dc moderately developed mainly posterior of transverse suture, mostly white posteriorly, black anteriorly, 2 pale yellowish white npl, 2 pale yellowish white spal (1 may be black), 1 pale yellowish white pal. Scutellum: Blackish, silvery pruinose, disc white setose, 1 pair pale yellow-white apical macrosetae. Pleura: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, weakly white and pale yellow (ktg) setose. Legs: Cx dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose; cx 3 with 1 lateral macroseta. Tro dark red-brown, largely apruinose, weakly white setose. Fem uniform dark red-brown to black, major and minor setae white. Tib mainly brown-orange (distal ends dark red-brown), major setae mainly white (few black), minor setae white. Tar red-brown, major and minor setae mixed black and white. Wing ( Fig. 12 ): Veins mostly red-brown, anterior veins more orange-brown proximally, membrane transparent, wing tip not dark stained. Cell sc with sc–r. Cells r 1 and r 2+3 slightly expanded and displaying corrugations. Wing length × breadth (mean, n =4) 5.8 (5.3–6.4) × 2.1 (1.8–2.2) mm. Haltere: Pale yellow with pale brownish distal and proximal ends.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, black and white setose. T1 silver pruinose, 3–4 whitish macrosetae laterally accompanied by many white setae. T2–8 silver pruinose, setae mostly white (including 2–3 posterolateral macrosetae), a few short black setae anteromedially. S as T but uniformly silver pruinose, white setose.

Terminalia ( Figs 62–66 ): Epand in lateral view ( Fig. 62 ) elongate oval, about 3 times as long as deep, with fairly narrowly rounded distal end; epand lobes in dorsal view fairly widely separated proximally ( Fig. 63 ). S8 well-developed, thickly setose along posterior margin, and projecting distally as a narrow, finger­like medial lobe ( Figs 62, 64 ). Hypd moderately developed with deeply incised hind margin. Gonst in lateral view as in Fig. 65 . Aed fairly long and straight with S­shaped filamentous tip ( Fig. 66 ).

Female: Essentially similar to male. Wing length ×breadth (mean, n=2) 6.0 (5.9–6.1) × 1.8 (1.8–1.9) mm (size range almost identical to males but wing slightly narrower due to lack of expansion). Terminalia ( Fig. 84 ): Ovipositor laterally compressed, knife-like, elongate (almost 3 times as long as deep).

Holotype: NAMIBIA: ♂ ‘ Namibia : Ai­Ais [27°55'S 17°29'E] / Fish River Canyon / 7–8.x.1993 / leg. F. Koch’ ( NMNW).

Paratypes: 3♂ 2♀ same data as holotype (1♂ 1♀ NMNW, 1♂ 1♀ ZMHB, 1♂ NMSA) .

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from the type locality in southern Namibia ( Fig. 88 ), where adults were collected in October (Table 1). Although label data do not provide information regarding habitat, the species probably behaves much like acrobaptus and its other allies.

Figures

Figs 2–14. Synolcus species,♂ wing venation:(2) S.acrobaptus (Wiedemann, 1828) (Gydo); (3) S.amnoni Londt, 1990 (Nkhandla); (4) S. argentius Londt, 1990 (5 km NE Grootderm); (5) S.armstrongi sp.n. (Karkloof paratype); (6) S. aurulentus Engel, 1929 (Outeniqua); (7) S. dubius (Macquart, 1846) (Ntumeni); (8) S. griseus Engel, 1927 (Entabeni); (9) S. macrocercus sp. n. (Middelpos paratype); (10) S. malawi Londt, 1990 (Lichenya paratype); (11) S. minor (Bromley, 1947) (Melmoth); (12) S. namibiensis sp. n. (Ai-Ais paratype); (13) S. spinosus Londt, 1980 (Gladdespruit paratype); (14) S. ukhahlamba sp. n. (Monks Cowl holotype).

Figs 62–66. Synolcus namibiensis sp. n., paratype male genitalia (Ai-Ais): (62) lateral, (63) dorsal, (64) ventral, (65) gonocoxite and gonostylus, (66) aedeagus tip. Scale line 1 mm.

Figs 76–86. Synolcus species, ovipositor: (76) S. acrobaptus (Wiedemann, 1828) (Cape Town); (77) S. argentius Londt, 1990 (5 km NE Grootderm, redrawn from Londt 1990); (78) S. armstrongi sp. n. (Karkloof paratype);(79) S.aurulentus Engel,1929 (Knysna Forest, redrawn from Londt 1980); (80) S. dubius (Macquart, 1846) (Coffee Bay, redrawn from Londt 1980); (81) S. grieseus Engel, 1927 (Entabeni,redrawn from Londt 1980); (82) S.macrocercus sp.n.(Worcester paratype);(83) S. minor (Bromley, 1947) (Ngome, redrawn from Londt 1990); (84) S. namibiensis sp. n. (Ai-Ais paratype); (85) S. spinosus Londt, 1980 (Gladdespruit paratype, from Londt 1980); (86) S. ukhahlamba sp. n. (Injasuti paratype). Scale lines 1 mm.

Fig.88.The distributions of species in the Synolcus acrobaptus species-group (excluding S. malawi Londt, 1990):S.acrobaptus(Wiedemann,1828) – squares,S.argentius Londt,1990 – circles,S.macrocercus sp. n. – triangles, S. namibiensis sp. n. – diamonds.