Rhabdogaster quasinuda, Londt, 2006

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 280-281

Rhabdogaster quasinuda sp. n.

Figs 95–97

Etymology: From Latin quasi (like) + nuda . Refers to the superficial similarity of this species to R. nuda .

Description: Based on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, predominantly white setose. Antenna dark red-brown to black, setae black. Face entirely pruinose. Mystax entirely white, largely confined to lower epistomal margin. Frons and vertex (including ocellar tubercle) entirely pruinose. Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum extensively pruinose except for tiny parts of postpronotal and postalar lobes, and a pair of short anteromedial stripes. Pleura pruinose except for small spot on anepisternum. Scutellum entirely pruinose, with 2 major sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc, fem, tib and tar brownyellow; fem and tib predominantly white setose (some black setae distally); tar mainly black setose. Wing 4.6 x 1.5 mm, veins pale brown, membrane transparent, unstained, almost entirely microtrichose. Discal and costal cells entirely microtrichose.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose. Tergites weakly apruinose mediodistally. Sternites entirely pruinose. Terminalia ( Figs 95–97 ): epand in lateral view similar in length to external lobe of goncx and longer than hypd, tapering to rounded tip; in dorsal view lobes broadly fused proximomedially; hypd in lateral view short, slightly curved, with slightly upcurved distal end; in ventral view somewhat truncate proximally, tapering rapidly to moderately long parallel-sided terminal process with rounded apex. In lateral view external lobe of goncx broad, tapering distally to fairly acute tip, gonst in ventral view curved.

Variation: Female similar to male. The extent of variation is difficult to assess as there are so few specimens.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ South Africa / Rawsonville [3341S:1919E] / 10.4.1944 / Ac. US. / JUR’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 1ơ ‘ South Africa / Stellenbosch [3243S:2535E] / 2 April 1927 / Ac . US.’; 2^‘ South Africa / Rawsonville [3341S:1919E] / 10.4.1944 / Ac . US. / JUR’.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded from two localities in South Africa where it is apparently sympatric with nuda . Collected only in April.

Similar species: R. eremia sp. n., pedion sp. n. and rustica .

Figures

Figs 92–103. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (92–94) R. pulverulentus (Loew, 1858), Stellenbosch: (92) lateral, (93) dorsal, (94) ventral; (95–97) R. quasinuda sp. n., Rawsonville holotype: (95) lateral, (96) dorsal, (97) ventral; (98–100) R. rustica Oldroyd, 1974, Garden Castle Nat. Res.: (98) lateral, (99) dorsal, (100) ventral; (101–103) R. sinis sp. n., Olifantshoek paratype: (101) lateral, (102) dorsal, (103) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.