Astochia strachani Oldroyd, 1970

Londt, Jason G. H., 1982, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 7. The genus Astochia Becker, 1913 (Asilinae: Asilini), ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 25 (1), pp. 241-251 : 249-250

Astochia strachani Oldroyd, 1970 Figs 17 -20

Astochia strachani Oldroyd, 1970: 312- 13 ; 1980: 336.

Redescription: Based on ♂ holotype, unless otherwise stated.

Head: Antennae black with short black setae on segments 1 and 2. Mystax yellow with a few black setae (ca. 15) in upper part. Occipital bristles short, black and not prociinate. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown with yellowish white setae.

Thorax: Mesepimeral setae mostly black but there are a few thin yellow ones as well. Hypopleural setae mostly yellow but 1 or 2 black ones may also be present. Mesonotal setae: dorsocentrals-short black, some found anterior of suture; presuturals- 3 black; supra-alars-3 black (1 is much smaller than the others); postalars-2 black; scutellars-2 long black. Metanotal callosities with yellow setae. Wings: 9,2 x 2,6 mm; venation and microtrichial distribution as in Fig. 17 . Legs: forecoxa with yellow-white setae anteriorly; hindcoxa with a single yellow bristle laterally. Femora with dorsal parts dark red-brown, ventral parts orange. Tibiae and tarsi orange-brown. Setation of hindfemur: bristles black; longer setae yellow; minor setae black in distal and outer parts, yellow in proximal and inner parts.

Abdomen: Segments 1-6 of ♀ pruinose, rest shiny black. Ovipositor long and narrow. Terga with yellow bristles laterally and fine longish setae over most of surface except for a few shorter black setae mid-dorsally. Sterna with longish yellow setae only. d genitalia as Figs 18-20 .

Material examined: NIGERIA: 4 ♂ 2 ♀, holotype and paratypes, Lagos, G. Strachan, ( BM) . MALAWI: 1 ♂, Chimaliro forest reserve, 1 200 m, Brachystegia woodland , 9.xii.1980, Stuckenberg & Londt ( NM) .

Other recorded material: Oldroyd (1970) also lists the following specimens as paratypes. SIERRA LEONE: 1 ♂, Nzala , 23.iii.1962, M. Rushton . ZAIRE: 1 ♂ 3 ~, Kasongo , viii-ix. 1959, J. Claessens ; 2 ♂ 1 ♀, Kapiti, iv. 1912, Miss. Agric .; 1 ♂, Luputa, ix. 1935, Dr Bomans ; 1 ♂, Elisabethville, route Sakania , 21. viii. 1952, L. Remy. These specimens are housed in the KMT .

Remarks: This is a widespread species which is active in the summer months. Table 1 shows that it has been recorded from August through to April but it should be remembered that its distribution spans the Equator and that it is unlikely to have this sort of seasonal incidence at any single locality.

Figures

Figs 17-20. Astochia strachani Oldroyd, male (Paratype-Nigeria). 17. Wing ca. 9 mm. 18-20. Genitalia. 18. Lateral. 19. Dorsal. 20. Ventral.