Afroholopogon melas, Londt, 2005

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 221

Afroholopogon melas sp. n.

Figs 39–41 , 79

Etymology: Gr. melas (black). Refers to the dominant colour of this species.

Description: Based on holotype.

Head: Antenna: Black, fine silver pruinose, black setose; segmental formula 1.0:0.7:2.6:0.2:0.9. Face black, silver pruinose except for mystacal area, mystax black, strong, extending almost to antennal sockets. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:4.4. Frons and vertex black, shiny apruinose, black setose. Occiput black, silver pruinose, black setose. Proboscis dark red-brown, brown setose. Palpi dark red-brown, black setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum black, shiny apruinose except for narrow silver lateral margin and extensive area postsuture. Setation: ac – fine black setae mostly postsuture; dc – fine black setae mostly postsuture; npl – 2 black; sa – 1 black; pa – 2 fine black. Scutellum black, largely shiny apruinose with silver anterior and posterolateral margins, disc asetose, margin with approx. 7 thin black setae. Pleura black, fine silver-gold pruinose except for bare areas on anepisternum, katepisternum and meron, sparsely black setose. Wing 5.8 x 2.3 mm, light brown, microtrichia brown, covering membrane extensively, basal angle of r 4 21°. Halter dark red-brown with orange-yellow knob. Legs: cx black, fine red-gold pruinose, black setose; trochanters black; fem black distal tips red-brown, black setose (some fine orange setae); tib orange, black setose; tar dark red-brown, black setose.

Abdomen: Terga black, shiny apruinose except for narrow silver lateral margins, black setose. Sterna black, fine red-gold pruinose, long black setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected, topotypic paratype ơ illustrated ( Figs 39–41 ): Hypopygium rotated through between 90–180°; epand (in dorsal view) incised to approximately half length to form broadly basally fused distally rounded lobes; goncx externally distally broadly bilobed and projecting (in lateral view) beyond level attained by epand; hypd (in lateral view) long and projecting distally well beyond levels attained by epand and goncx, tapering gradually (in ventral view) to slightly club-shaped medial process; medial process (in lateral view) with distinctive dorsally directed subapical scoop-shaped process.

Variation: Sexes similar. Specimens show no variation of note.

Type specimens: SOUTH AFRICA: ơ holotype, 2ơ 9^ paratypes, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Franschhoek Pass / 3319 CC [3354S 1909E] 21.xi.1986 / Londt & Quickelberge / Grass & macchia on / summit of pass 800 m’ (1^ BMNH) .

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 79 ) and collected only during November. The species apparently occurs sympatrically with africanus , but they may fly at slightly different times of summer ( melas a little earlier in the season).

Similar species: A. capensis and also africanus and peregrinus (see discussion).

Figures

Figs 33–44. Afroholopogon species, male genitalia: (33–35) A. mauros sp. n., paratype, Ellisras: (33) lateral, (34) dorsal, (35) ventral; (36–38) A. meilloni (Oldroyd, 1974), holotype, Eshowe: (36) lateral, (37) dorsal, (38) ventral; (39–41) A. melas sp. n., paratype, Franschhoek Pass: (39) lateral, (40) dorsal, (41) ventral; (42–44) A. pardosoros sp. n., holotype, Tierberg Nature Reserve: (42) lateral, (43) dorsal, (44) ventral. Arrow indicates a dent in epandrial lobe. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 79. Southern African distribution of Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 species: argos – closed circle, mauros – open circle, meilloni – closed square, melas – open square, peregrinus – closed triangle.