Dasypogon diadema ( Fabricius, 1781 )

Szczepański, Wojciech T., 2023, A new species of Dasypogon (Diptera: Asilidae) from Central Europe, Zootaxa 5230 (3), pp. 367-380 : 369-373

Dasypogon diadema ( Fabricius, 1781)

( Figs 1A–D , 2A, B , 3A, C, E )

Asilus diadema Fabricius, 1781: 462

Asilus punctatus Fabricius, 1781: 463

Asilus bohemicus Preyssler, 1790: 67–68

Asilus cylindricus Fabricius, 1794: 463

Dasypogon nervosus Meigen, 1804: 252

Dasypogon fasciatus Meigen, 1820: 261–262

Type locality. Type: Italia, coll. Carlo Allioni ( Fabricius 1781); Neotype: Torino (Piemont, Italia), coll. Luigi Bellardi [type, Turin Museum of Natural History] ( Weinberg 1987).

Material examined.

Czech Republic: 1 ♁— Czech Republic, Raná, [19]63 [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Oblík , 3.08.[19]62, lgt. Diabola [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Praha, Bílá Hora , 16.08.1965, leg. J. Strojček [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Wimmer, Týnec, [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Neratovice [ NMP]; Hrubá Skála, Col. Wimmer [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Černošice, Wimmer [ NMP]; 1 ♀ — Hrusovice, Wimmer; 1 ♁— Bohemia, [n/r], 21.7.[19]43, Hofer;

France: 3 ♁♁— Saint-Thomé , 12 km SW Montelimar, 10.06.2001, leg. J. v.d. Smissen [ USMB]; 1 ♀ — Draguignan, Collectio N. Kheil [ NMP]; 1 ♁— Villefranche s.S., 15.07.1912, W. A. Schulz S., Sammlung E. Engel [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— S.- Frankreich, Montpellier, 17.06.[19]64, leg. A. Bilek, Staatsslg. München [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Avignon, 22.06.[19]62, leg. A. Bilek, Staatsslg. München [ ZSM]; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — France, Provence, Cruis Montagne de Lure , 16.07.1979, leg. M. Kühbander [ ZSM]; 2 ♁♁— France, Provence, M. de Lure. Cruis, 500 m, 15.07.1977, leg. W. Schacht [ ZSM]; 3 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ — S.- Frankreich, Camargue, 1.07.[19]64, leg. A. Bilek, Staatsslg. München [ ZSM]; 2 ♁♁— Süd Frankreich, Camargue, Le Sambuc, 24.06.[19]63, leg. A. Bilek, Staatsslg. München [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Süd Frankreich, Besse / Var, 250 m, 26.07.[19]63, leg. A. Bilek, Staatsslg. München [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— France, b. Cruis, Montagne de Lure , 22.08. 1977, 650 m, leg. M. Kühbander [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Limas (Rhône), 15.07.1912, W. A. Schulz S., Sammlung E. Engel [ ZSM]; 3♁♁—F/ Haute-Provence, Environ. St. Andreles-Alpes, 43.58N, 6.30E, 900 m, 11– 17.07.1991, Franzen / Wehlitz [ ZSM]; 3 ♁♁—France, Provence, Montagne de Lure , Lauzon b. Cruis, 500 m, 9.07.1979, leg. W. Schacht [ ZSM]; 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ — F/ Haute-Provence, Environ. St. Andreles-Alpes, 43.58N, 6.30E, 900 m, 19.07.1991, Franzen / Wehlitz [ ZSM]; 1 ♀ — France, Provence, Montagne d. Lure, Lauzon b. Cruis, 500 m, 3.08.1981, leg. W. Schacht [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Gallia merid., Etang d. B., St. Chamas , 2.06.[19]67, Gg. Necker [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Gallia, Dürance-Tal, Remullon, Necker, 13.06.[19]67 [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Gallia merid., Provance, St. Chamas , 2.06.[19]67, Gg. Necker [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— France, Digne, 11–13.06.[19]65, H G Sommer [ ZSM]; 4 ♁♁— Obervellmar; Gallia merid., Apt, 11.06.[19]67, Gg. Necker [ ZSM]; 2 ♁♁, 3 ♀♀ — Provence, Avignon, Montagnette, 15.06.[19]66, Gg. Necker [ ZSM]; 1 ♀ — Avignon, 22.06.[19]62, leg. A. Bilek, Staatssamml. München [ ZSM]; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — France, Etg. De Berre , les Martigues, H G Sommer, Obervellmar, 14.06.[19]65 [ ZSM]; 3 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ — F/ Var. les Salles sur Verdon, Hammenau du Pont. 500 m, 43.47N, 6.13E, 15.07.1991, Franzen / Wehlitz [ ZSM; 1♁ USMB]; 1 ♁— F/ Haute-Provence, Env. Chateau-Arnoux, Riev. Bleone, l’est de Haliiai, 44.04N, 6.03E, 460 m, 14.07.1991, Franzen / Wehlitz [ ZSM]; 1 ♁—Vogesen, Türkheim, 236 m, 8.07.1901, H. Kolbe S.G. [ ZMB] ;

Germany: 1 ♀ —D, MV, Pch, Retzow, 25.08.[20]01 [ ZMUH] ; 1 ♀ — D, MV, Pch, Retzow, 08.08.[20]02 [ ZMUH] ; 1 ♀ — Retzow bei Plau, 20.07.2014 [ ZMUH]; 1 ♁— Retzow bei Plau am See , 11.07.2014 [ ZMUH]; 2 ♁♁—D, MW, Plau Retzow, NSG, Mariengliess, 15.07.2013, [ ZMUH]; 1 ♁—D, MW, Plau Retzow, NSG, Mariengliess, 24.07.2013 [ ZMUH]; 1 ♁—D, MW, Mirow, Schwarz Forst, 27.07.2013 [ ZMUH] ; 1 ♀ — D, MV, Pch, Quaslin, 03.08.[20]02 [ ZMUH] ; 2 ♀♀ — Marienfliess W, 06.07.[20]00 [ ZMUH]; 1 ♁— bei Plau am See, Ganzlin, beim Bahnhof , 18.07.2020 [ ZMUH]; 1 ♁— Aschaffenburg , Kahl, 08.07.[19]34, W. Noll [ ZSM]; 2 ♁♁ , 1 ♀ — Hessen [ ZSM] ;

Italy: 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — Pinerolo [ ZSM] ; 1 ♀ — Piemont, Cribodo [ ZSM] ;

Poland: 1 ♁— LD, Krzeczów ad Wieluń, ugór (piasek), 01.07.2018, leg. A. Malkiewicz [ USMB]; 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ — LS, Kunice ad Legnica, żwirownia, 27.06.2021, leg. A. Malkiewicz [ USMB]; 4 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ — Nizina Wielkopolsko- Kujawska, Bydgoszcz—Nowy Fordon, 53º09’12.2’’N, 18º06’06.5’’E, 02.08.2022, CD09, leg. Waldemar Żyła [ USMB]; 1 ♀ — Polska, CD 09, Fordon-Zbocze, 15.07.2003, leg. K. Szpila [ USMB]; 1 ♁— Polska, CD 09, Bydgoszcz (Fordon), 11.07.[19]95, leg. T. Pawlikowski [ USMB]; 5 ♁♁, 1 ♀ — Janów, DC 04, 9.07.2005, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 2 ♁♁— Łódź Radogoszcz, CC 94, 18.07.2006, leg. M. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ — Łódź Radogoszcz, CC 94, 3.08.2006, leg. M. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 1 ♁— Burzenin, CC 40, 2.08.2007, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 7 ♁♁— Łódź Brus, CC 83, 7.08.2007, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 3 ♁♁— Łódź Brus, CC 83, 9.07.2007, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 2 ♀♀ — Policzko, DB 25, 16.07.2007, leg. T. Osicki [ RŻ]; 1 ♁— Łódź Brus, CC 83, 29.08.2011, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 1 ♁— Uniejów, CC 46, 15.07.2011, leg. A. Soszyńska-Maj [ RŻ]; 3 ♁♁, 1 ♀ — Łódź Brus, CC 83, 9.07.2007, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 1 ♁— Stanisławów, DC 61, 16.07.2007, leg. B. Soszyński [ RŻ]; 1 ♁— Puszcza Kampinoska, 23.07.[19]58, K. Kaczmarzyk [ MIZ]; 1 ♀ — Puszcza Kampinoska, 09.08.[19]58, K. Kaczmarzyk [ MIZ]; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — Landsberg a. W. [an der Warthe] [= Gorzów Wielkopolski], R. Ziegenhagen [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Polonia, Warszawa — Młociny, 30.07.1958, leg. A. Liana [ MIZ]; 2 ♁♁— Ratajewo Żwir, 23.07.1951, leg. B. Krezma [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Puszcza Kampinoska, 01.07.1956, leg. W. Mikołajczyk [ MIZ]; 1 ♀ — Puszcza Kampinoska — Dziekanów leśny, 20.07.1957, leg. J. Nowakoski [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Sochaczew, Gawłów, 06.09.1956, leg. A. Mańsko [ MIZ]; 2 ♁♁— Polonia, Puszcza Kampinoska — Dziekanów, 20.07.[19]59, leg. K. Kaczmarczyk [ MIZ]; 1 ♀ — Polonia, Puszcza Kampinoska — Palmiry, 22.07.[19]59, leg. A. Liana [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Polonia, Puszcza Kampinoska — Sadowo, 19.07.[19]59, leg. A.

Liana [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Polonia, Zaborówek, 09.08.1955, leg. W. Worczyca [ MIZ]; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — Polonia, Warszawa, 09.07.1967, leg. M. Motz [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— Radość ad Warszawa, 12.07.1959, leg. W. Bazyluk [ MIZ]; 1 ♁— 24.06.1963, Rembertów, Plewka [ MIZ]; 1 ♀ — Polonia, Warszawa, las Wawerski, 02.08.1961, leg. A. Liana [ MIZ]; 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ — Polska, XT97, Gizałki—Las , 08.08.2021, leg. P. Żurawlew [ŁM]; 2 ♁♁— Polonia, Janów, DC 04, P.K. Wzniesień Łódź., 09.07.2005, B. Soszyński leg. [ŁM]; 1 ♁— Gołąb, 28.07.[19]56, [Noskiewicz] [ MNHUW];

Spain: 1 ♁, 1 ♀ — N.E. Spain, E. Pyrenees, Port Bou , Capt. June 24.01, & pres.1901 by W. Holland [ ZSM] ;

Switzerland: 1 ♁— Wallis, 14.06.[19]48, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Wallis, 19.06.[19]50, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM]; 4 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ — Wallis, 27.06.[19]51, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM; 1 ♁, 1 ♀ USMB]; 3 ♁♁, 2 ♀♀ — Wallis, 23.06.[19]52, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM]; 1 ♀ — Wallis, 14.09.[19]53, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Wallis, 02.07.[19]54, Dr. Enslin [ ZSM]; 1 ♁— Helv ., Wallis, Umg. Sierre , 27.06.[19]53, St ̂cklein, Sierre Pfynwald [ ZSM]; 3 ♁♁— Helv ., Wallis, Umg. Sierre, 01.07.[19]53, St ̂cklein, Sierre Pfynwald [ ZSM]; 1 ♁, 2 ♀♀ — Sierre, 8.[19]08 [ ZSM] .

The most important literature data. France: Vallee de l’Aude Gesse Usson; Bagnères-de-Luchon; Sévignan [=Hérault]; Baré; Vernet-les-Bains ( Weinberg 1987); numerous localities ( Séguy 1927); Germany: Münster, Nehe ( Weinberg 1987); various localities mainly in north-eastern Germany and in the south-east (Rhine valley) ( Geller-Grimm 1998; Wolff et al. 2018); Italy: Torino (Piemont) ( Weinberg 1987); Poland: Miłosna ( Sznabl 1881), Kampinos Forest (Puszcza Kampinoska) ( Trojan 1961), Wiesagi ( Jaskuła 2003); Łódź ( Kowalczyk & Kurzac 2003); Spain: Figueres ( Weinberg 1987); Zaragoza, Los Monegros ( Weinberg & Blasco-Zumeta 1999), Biescas ( Alvarez Fidalgo et al. 2019); Switzerland: unspecified locations ( Weinberg & Bächli 1995).

The redescription of the type species and designation of the neotype were provided by Weinberg (1987). Nevertheless, a description with supplementary morphological details is presented below for D. diadema , and only the diagnostic differentiating characters are given for new species.

Description. Measurements. Body length 17–26 mm; body width 3.9–5.2 mm. Morphology. Head. Male. Mostly black, sometimes locally brownish, facial gibbosity moderately pronounced, mystax with several rows of black setae extended medially towards the antennae in a few rows of shorter, downward-pointing setae, upper part of mystax with distinct silvery-white or rarely yellow pubescence, eyes large, inner side almost parallel, slightly undulating, distance between eyes a little shorter than eye width, ocellar and postocular macrosetae distinct and black, occiput mostly directly behind eyes with silver pubescence, ocellar tubercle with 3 usually brown ocelli, antennae black, hairy with slight silvery pubescence, scape 1.5 x longer than wide, pedicel slightly longer with anterior part sometimes brownish, postpedicel with only a few setae, c. 1.5 x longer than both scape and pedicel combined, sensillum in apical pit, maxillary palpi large, two-segmented, black, with long setae, proboscis oval, slightly flattened laterally, with long black setae at base and some short, fine silvery setae on anterior part. Female. As male, but with the following differences: mystax with silvery-white setae, scape, pedicel and base of postpedicel mostly brownish, ocellar and postocular macrosetae black or more usually silvery-yellow and black. Thorax. Male. Black, covered with weak, mostly silvery tomentum, more visible at humeral and alar calluses, bare, shiny at scutellum, middle of mesopostnotum and postalar callus, setae on thorax short, black, number of longer black macrosetae variable, usually in the following ranges, 5–6 humeral, 3–6 notopleural, 3–6 supra-alar, 3–4 postalar, 3–4 dorsocentral, 4–8 scutellar, katatergite with a few rows of macrosetae, pleura bare, locally with whitish or yellowish tomentum, only notopleuron with tuft of setae in dorsal posterior corner. Female. As male, but with the following differences: tomentum more pronounced, yellowish, lateral parts of scutum, postpronotal lobe and sometimes also notopleuron and postalar callus usually dark brown to reddish-brown, coloration of thoracic macrosetae and short setae variable: in Central Europe usually black, sometimes with admixture of yellow-brown macrosetae, in Switzerland and France with a higher proportion of yellow-brown to black macrosetae. Wings: Male. Slightly transparent, black, darker along veins, colour depth variable, marginal cell r 1 open, cell m 3 closed and stalked, halteres yellow-white. Female. As male, but with the following differences: wings more transparent, paler, brownish, veins brown-orange. In males and females distances between some veins may vary, occasionally small additional veins may appear as well. Legs. Male. Deep black, exceptionally brownish, with black setae and variable number of macrosetae, short yellowish pubescence on inner side of tarsi and sporadically less distinct also on tibiae and coxa, outer side of all coxa and trochanters covered with long black setae, fore and mid femora usually with one macroseta anteriorly on outer side and a few or several located mainly on basal half of inner side, hind femora usually with row of macrosetae located only on outer side, tibiae and tarsi with numerous short and long macrosetae, apical spine on fore tibiae strong, basitarsus elongate, a little shorter than tarsomeres 2–4 combined, tarsomeres 2–5 c. 1.5 x longer than wide, tubercle on basitarsus of forelegs distinct, pulvilli well developed. Female. As male, but with the following differences: coloration of legs variable, usually brown or brownish-red, sometimes darker, almost black, outer side of all coxa covered with long, mostly silvery and locally also black macrosetae. Abdomen: Male. Long, cylindrical, tapering, shiny black with slight bluish reflex, pilosity black, dorsally short, laterally slightly longer, ventrally long, 1 st tergite with group of long lateral marginal macrosetae and setae, anterior part of 2 nd tergite bare, whitish tomentum in the lateral posterior part of tergites absent, sometimes barely visible only on 1 st tergite. Female. As male, but with the following differences: coloration of setae variable, usually black, sometimes locally white or yellow, abdomen black, locally paler with brick-red spots on tergites 3–6, presence of spots and their shape variable, usually more distinct on tergites 3–5, exceptionally also on tergite 2, distinct whitish tomentum in the lateral posterior part of tergites 1–5, in the lateral part of tergite 1 tomentum sometimes weak and more yellowish. Male terminalia. ( Fig. 2A, B ) Terminalia rotated, mostly black with pilosity of various length, epandrium divided into two similar halves, with heart-shaped apical side, mostly with black pilosity, only apically with short yellow-brown setae, hypandrium rounded apically, with angular concave posterior margin, tuft of long thick setae medially, and sparse, evenly distributed shorter setae, gonocoxite (basistylus) relatively big, rounded outwards, tapering anteriorly with apex more or less triangular, in some specimens from Italy apex elongate, inner margin undulating, with a distinct angular tooth, a group of short brown setae protruding from under the tooth, gonocoxite appendage brownish, tapering apically with sharp hooklike apex, gonostylus (dististylus) brownish, in form of slender, elongate appendage, with tip bent downwards and a few sparsely distributed, short brown setae, mostly in the middle part, aedeagus massive, with three lobes, median lobe shorter, widened in the middle, lateral lobes wide at base, widest in the middle, twisted and tapered apically, bent towards the dorsal side, apex pointing inwards, small triangular lateral projections between median and lateral lobes, ejaculatory apodeme usually short. Female genitalia. ( Fig. 3A, C, E ) Tergite 8 laterally shows two poorly chitinized areas, sternite 8 (hypogynium) membranous apically, membranous part more or less rectangular, each acanthophorite with a group of five spines, furca as in fig. 3, three spermathecae extending up to the middle of abdominal segment 5 (see also Weinberg 1987).

Distribution. North-west Italy (probably limited to the more mountainous areas near Turin and Cuneo), northeast Spain (Catalonia, Huesca), France, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic ( Bohemia) and Poland (west and central parts) ( Fig. 4 ).

Comments on distribution. Catalogues still incorrectly cite Dasypogon diadema from numerous countries (e.g. Lehr 1988; Cohen 2020). According to current research, the distribution of the species is limited to Central and Western Europe ( Fig. 4 ); all previous records from the Balkan Peninsula (i.e. Weinberg 1991) and Asia (i.e. Theodor 1980; Koçak & Kemal 2013, Ghahari et al. 2014) are certainly incorrect. The record from the United Kingdom most probably refers to specimens introduced from France ( Oldroyd 1969; Morgan 1995). In Belgium the species is probably extinct (only one single record from the 19 th century) ( Broek & Schulten 2017). The eastern range of the species requires confirmation, but so far there is no evidence that the species occurs farther east than the Vistula valley. In Spain, it is likely that it may occur farther south along the Balearic Sea.

Notes on synonymy. In the 18 th and 19 th centuries, many species were placed in the genus Dasypogon without any justification, and the synonymy of many taxa were not verified by subsequent researchers. In catalogues, various species have been regarded as synonyms of D. diadema ( Engel 1930; Hull 1962; Lehr 1988; Cohen 2020). Now after a review of abundant material from most of the Palearctic region, a number of issues have been resolved. There are some species that should be considered synonyms according to short, usually incomplete descriptions. Nevertheless, species of this genus are highly territorial, so an important helpful factor when considering synonyms is the type locality. I found only three types that fit both these requirements: Asilus punctatus — a female from Italy (destroyed, NHMD), Asilus bohemicus —a male from the Czech Republic ( Bohemia) (Preyssler’s Diptera collection probably lost), and Asilus cylindricus —a female from Germany ( Germania) (2 specimens in fair condition, NHMD). The types of Dasypogon fasciatus (female, MNHN) and Dasypogon nervosus (male, place of deposit not known) were described without the locality being specified, although they probably came from Germany (the collection of Baumhauer, who lived in Aachen), hence they can also be regarded as synonyms of this species. Dasypogon caudatus Bigot, 1881 described from the Alps is not Dasypogon . Based on a photograph of the type (female, OUMNH), I propose a new synonymy: Leptarthrus brevirostris ( Meigen, 1804) = Dasypogon caudatus Bigot, 1881 syn. nov. According to their descriptions, the next two species, both from Italy, do not correspond to Dasypogon either. The short, insufficient description of Asilus arcuatus Fabricius, 1794 (only a small fragment of a specimen, not enough to make a definitive identification, MHMD) could apply to several genera, but Fabricius described that species as small “Parvus”, which makes its classification within Dasypogon rather doubtful. Dasypogon fabricii Wiedemann in Meigen, 1820 (place of deposit not known) was described as black, with transparent wings, base of hind tibia red, and length c. 7 mm, but this must exclude Dasypogon . Lehr (1988) suggested that this appellation could be a junior synonym of Asilus arcuatus . The description of Asilus analis Fabricius, 1794 indicates that it may actually be a Dasypogon (female). Unfortunately only the remnants of the thorax survived (NHMD), so the reliable identification is rather impossible. However, I have compared the thorax with female specimens of D. diadema and other collected in locus typicus ( Italy), and based on it I can state that such color pattern of thorax is absent in specimens of D. diadema , thus it is probably a good species, later described as Dasypogon liburnicus Germar, 1817 and D. kugleri (in prep.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal and lateral habitus of Dasypogon diadema (A–D) and Dasypogon diabolicus sp. nov. (E–H).

FIGURE 2. Male terminalia of Dasypogon diadema (A, B) and Dasypogon diabolicus sp. nov. (C, D); A, C: Male terminalia, ventral view. Abbreviations: ae—aedeagus, bst—gonocoxite (basistylus), dst—gonostylus (dististylus), ga—gonocoxite appendage, hyp—hypandrium; B, D: Aedeagus, ventral, lateral and dorsal views. Abbreviations: eja—ejaculatory apodeme; llb—lateral lobe; lpr—lateral projection; mlb—median lobe.

FIGURE 3. Female terminalia of Dasypogon diadema (A, C, E) and Dasypogon diabolicus sp. nov. (B, D, F); A, B: sternite 8; C, D: furca, spermathecal ducts and spermathecae; E, F: furca.

FIGURE 4. Distributions of Dasypogon diadema and Dasypogon diabolicus sp. nov.