Leptogaster sp.

Londt, Jason G. H., 2020, A survey of grassland Asilidae (Diptera) at Jacana Eco Estate, Hilton, South Africa, African Invertebrates 61 (1), pp. 29-48 : 29

14. Leptogaster sp. Fig. 11

Remarks.

Leptogaster Meigen, 1803 is a large genus, with over 50 described Afrotropical species, that is in need of modern revision ( Londt and Dikow 2017). There are many unidentified southern African specimens in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum’s collection and in other collections around the globe. The Jacana species cannot be identified specifically at present. Londt (2002b) recorded a species as occurring at Queen Elizabeth Park which was tentatively identified as 'sp. 1 near maculipennis Janssens, 1957'.

A single male specimen, requiring specific identification, was collected in Jacana’s upper field on week 38 of the survey.

This small species was swept from long grass and is considered to belong to Londt’s (1994) ecological category 4a (within grass).

A comparison of material from Jacana and Queen Elizabeth Park strongly suggests that only a single species is involved. While Table 4 provides a comparison of the recorded flight periods, these do not appear to overlap.

Figures

Figures 4 - 13. Grassland inhabiting Asilidae encountered at Jacana Eco Estate (arranged alphabetically): 4 Caenoura annulitarsis (Loew, 1858) 5 Damalis monochaetes Londt, 1989 6 Dasophrys fortis Londt, 1981 7 Dasophrys tarsalis (Ricardo, 1920) 8 Dysclytus firmatus (Walker, 1857) 9 Euscelidia vallis Dikow, 2003 10 Ischiolobos mesotopos Londt, 2005 11 Leptogaster sp. 12 Microstylum sp. 13 Rhipidocephala obscurata Oldroyd, 1966. Photos: B. Muller.