Tomomyza pictipennis Bezzi, 1921

Greathead, David J. & Evenhuis, Neal L., 2004, New species of Bombylioidea in Mario Bezzi’s Unpublished Hungarian Museum Manuscript, Zootaxa 773, pp. 1-56 : 28-29

Tomomyza pictipennis Bezzi, 1921

( Figs. 17–18)

42. Tomomyza pictipennis 1Ψ South Africa (Eastern Cape): Willowmore, xi.1906 (H. Brauns). MS page 51.

Bezzi, 1921b: 474 – Bezzi stated that it is a very distinct species, resembling a small specimen of Henica , mentioned ‘several specimens’ from Willowmore, xii–i. (H. Brauns) and that the species will be more fully described in his paper on the Bombyliidae of the Hungarian Museum.

Bezzi, 1922: 80 – diagnosis based on ‘exemplaria aliqua ex Willowmore, Jan.–Febr.; 1906– 1920, in Museo Budapestini et in collectione mea’. Two syntypes in MSNM from Willowmore: 1Ψ, xii. 1919 (Dr Brauns) red square label ‘2’; 1ɗ, 1.1.1920 (Dr Brauns). The Brauns collection in NMSA has six specimens collected by Dr Brauns in Willowmore: 1ɗ, 1.xi.1920 with a Bezzi determination label; 1Ψ, 10.xii.1919; 2ɗɗ, xii.1923; 2ɗɗ, 15.xii.1917; 1Ψ, 25.xii.1917 with a Bezzi determination label. The two specimens with Bezzi’s labels must be syntypes. The others are considered here to be duplicates retained by Dr Brauns and not sent to Bezzi.

Hesse, 1956: 79 – description from specimens in BMNH, TMSA & SAMC from various localities in the Nama­karoo biome (no details of label data).

Evenhuis & Greathead, 1999: 289 – listed the following syntypes and locations: 2 in MSNM, 2 in DEI, 1 in ZMHB, and an undetermined number in SAMC.

Types: The female syntype in HNHM was destroyed. The only other location given by Bezzi (1922) was his own collection (= MSNM). The male in MSNM is here designated lectotype ( Figs. 17–18).

Remarks: This is a very easily identified species having: cell r2+3 divided into at least two parts; extensively infuscated wings with isolated spots in the hyaline part ( Fig. 18). It is rather variable and was fully described by Hesse (1956)