Rhabdogaster kalyptos, 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 : 261

Rhabdogaster kalyptos sp. n.

Figs 40–42

Etymology: From Greek kalyptos (covered). Refers to the extensive covering of pruinescence of this species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver-gold pruinose, pale yellow-white setose. Antenna black, setae dark red-brown. Face entirely pruinose. Mystax sparse, entirely pale yellow-white, occupying lower one-third of face. Frons and vertex entirely pruinose except for ocellar tubercle. Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver to silver-gold pruinose, black and pale yellowwhite setose. Mesonotum entirely pruinose except for a single small spot anterior of transverse suture and small part of postpronotal lobe, entirely black setose. Pleura entirely pruinose except for tiny spots on an- and katepisternum. Scutellum entirely pruinose, with 2 black sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark redbrown to black, silver pruinose, white setose; troc and fem dark red-brown (fem slightly paler distally), white setose; tib red-brown, extensively white setose (a few black setae ventrodistally); tar red-brown, extensively black setose. Wing 5.4 x 1.7 mm, veins brown, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively microtrichose (except for small parts proximally). Discal cell microtrichose, costal cell lacking microtrichia in proximal half.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver-gold pruinose, white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 40– 42 paratype): epand in lateral view longer than external lobe of goncx and shorter than hypd, gradually tapering to fairly acutely-pointed tips and with small supapical hump ventrally; lobes separated medially, but touching basally; hypd in lateral view fairly straight with upturned distal end, longer than epand; broadly-rounded basally in ventral view (hind margin indented medially), tapering to fairly acutely-pointed apex. External lobe of goncx shorter than epand, broad, terminating in short, upwardly directed acutely-pointed apex; well-sclerotised internal lobe dorsally clearly seen to be fused with external lobe, projecting beyond external lobe, with tapering apex. Gonostyli in ventral view well-developed, slightly curved, terminating in rounded swelling.

Holotype: ơ NAMIBIA: ‘ Namibia 21.iii.1984 / 21 km SW Grootfontein. / Rd 8/1 19 41'S: 17 58'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Mixed woodland on the / slopes of a hill’.

Paratypes: 10ơ 9^same data as holotype.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from the type locality in Namibia. Collected in March. Two prey records are available at the NMSA: 2^( Hymenoptera , Formicidae , alates).

Similar species: R. etheira sp. n.

Figures

Figs 31–42. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (31–33) R. glabra sp. n., Windhoek holotype: (31) lateral, (32) dorsal, (33) ventral; (34–39) R. gracilis (Engel & Cuthbertson, 1937): (34–36) Trelawney holotype: (34) lateral, (35) dorsal, (36) ventral; (37, 38) Bakubung: (37) lateral, (38) ventral; (39) Mkomazi: lateral; (40–42) R. kalyptos sp. n., Grootfontein paratype: (40) lateral, (41) dorsal, (42) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.