Rhabdogaster atropalpus, 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 : 248-249

Rhabdogaster atropalpus sp. n.

Figs 6–8

Etymology: From Latin atra (black) + palpus. Refers to the black palpal setae found in this species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, black and white setose. Antenna black, setae black. Face entirely pruinose. Mystax mostly white with a few black setae dorsally, occupying lower half of face. Frons mostly pruinose, vertex entirely apruinose (including ocellar tubercle), black setose. Occiput entirely pruinose, mostly white setose except for some black setae dorsally. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, mostly white setose except for tuft of black setae terminally on plp 2.

Thorax: Black, silver and gold pruinose, black and white setose. Mesonotum extensively silver-gold pruinose except for pair of anteromedial stripes, postpronotal and postalar lobes and three lateral spots, one anterior of transverse suture and two posterior of suture, setae mostly black (dorsocentrals well developed) except for few white anterolaterally. Pleura entirely gold-silver pruinose, white setose. Scutellum extensively pruinose except for posterior margin, with 8 black sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc dark redbrown; fem orange-brown with dark red-brown ventral surfaces (weak on forelegs), extensively white setose (fem 3 with row of strong black setae ventrally); tib orangebrown, legs 2 and 3 dark red-brown ventrally, predominantly white setose (some black setae ventrodistally); tar dark red-brown, mostly black setose. Wing 5.9 x 1.8 mm, veins dark brown, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively microtrichose except for some proximal parts. Discal cell entirely microtrichose, costal cell extensively lacking microtrichia (a few distally).

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver and gold pruinose, black and white setose. Tergites silver-gold pruinose except for broad apruinose posteromedial margins, mostly short black setose (white setose laterally). Sternites entirely gold-silver pruinose, white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 6–8 Pakhuis Pass paratype): epand in lateral view gradually tapering to rounded tips, dorsally divided into two lobes that are closely associated proximally; hypd in lateral view slightly shorter than both epand and goncx, moderately upturned distally; broad basally in ventral view but tapering rapidly to distal projection approximately the same length as broad base; goncx slightly shorter than epand lobe, tapering smoothly from about midlength to acute tip, well sclerotised internal lobe projecting well beyond external lobe and with rounded apex. Gonostyli in ventral view gently curved.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 4 km SW Clanwilliam / 32 ° 11'30"S: 18 ° 52'20"E / 28.viii.1989 225m / J Londt B Stuckenberg / & P Croeser Sandy E / slope macchia nr dam’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 1ơ 5^‘ Sth Africa : Cape Prov / 4 km SW Clanwilliam / 32 ° 11'30"S: 18 ° 52'20"E / 28.viii.1989 225m / J Londt B Stuckenberg / & P Croeser Sandy E / slope macchia nr dam’; 1^‘ Sth Africa Cape Prov / 30 km S Clanwilliam / 3218BD 31.viii.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg. / Karroid broken veld’; 1ơ 1^1? ‘ South Africa : Cape / Prov.; West side of / Pakhuis Pass [3208S:1900E], Cedarberg / Mtns. 10-ix-1984 / M.E. Irwin’; 1^‘ South Africa : Cape / Prov.; Pakhuis Pass / West side / 11-ix-1984 / M.E. Irwin’ .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from South Africa. Known from four collections from the Clanwilliam area, west of the Cedarberg mountain range. Collected in August and September.

Similar species: Distinctive.

Figures

Figs 6–17. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (6–8) R. atropalpus sp. n., Pakhuis Pass paratype: (6) lateral, (7) dorsal, (8) ventral; (9–11) R. bicolor sp. n., Pietermaritzburg holotype: (9) lateral, (10) dorsal, (11) ventral; (12–14) R. charma sp. n., Uitkyk paratype: (12) lateral, (13) dorsal, (14) ventral; (15–17) R. cornuata sp. n., Table Mt. holotype: (15) lateral, (16) dorsal, (17) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.