Afroholopogon capensis (Lindner, 1961)

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 213-215

Afroholopogon capensis (Lindner, 1961)

Figs 20–22 , 61, 62 , 78

Heteropogon capensis Lindner, 1961: 6 , 7, abb. 3 (head); Oldroyd 1980: 362 (catalogue). Type locality: South Africa.

Holopogon tomentosus Oldroyd, 1974: 49 (in key); 1980: 362 (catalogue). Type locality: South Africa. Syn. n.

Afroholopogon capensis: Londt 1994: 64 .

Afroholopogon tomentosus: Londt 1994: 64 .

Redescription: Based on holotype.

Head:Antenna: Black, gold pruinose except for apruinose scape, black setose; segmental formula 1.0:0.8:2.9:0.2:1.3. Face black, gold-silver pruinose (weak in region of mystax), mystax strong, black dorsally yellow ventrally and ventrolaterally, extending over threequarters of face (asetose just below antennae). Face width:head width ratio 1.0:4.4. Frons and vertex black, mostly shiny apruinose, dark red-brown to black setose, ocelli red. Occiput dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose (few short pale yellow setae dorsally). Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown to black, yellow setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum black, shiny apruinose except for the following silver-gold areas – lateral margin, fairly extensive area adjacent to postpronotal lobe, narrow strip anteriorly corresponding with position of acrostichal setae, broad posterior strip from posterior margin to just beyond transverse suture. Setation: ac – weak yellow anteriorly, longer postsuture; dc – long yellow; npl – 2–3 black (anteriorly) and yellow plus few minor setae; sa – 1–2 yellow plus many minor setae; pa – 2 yellow plus few minor setae. Scutellum black, largely shiny apruinose but weakly silver pruinose anterior and posterolateral margin, disc asetose, margin with 10 setae (7 black, 3 yellow). Pleura dark red-brown to black, almost entirely gold pruinose except for small apruinose areas on anepisternum, katepisternum and meron, sparsely yellow setose. Wing 5.3 x 2.3 mm, pale brown-yellow, microtrichia brown, covering almost entire membrane, basal angle of r 4 23°. Halter pale brown with yellow knob. Legs: cx dark red-brown, gold pruinose, yellow setose; trochanters dark red-brown; fem dark red-brown with red-brown distal tip, yellow setose (few black dorsodistally); tib orange, macrosetae black, setae yellow; tar red-brown, most setae black.

Abdomen: Terga black, shiny apruinose except for silver-gold lateral margins, setae dorsally small yellow longer laterally. Sterna dark red-brown, entirely dull gold pruinose, long fine yellow setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected and macerated, a specimen from Willowmore illustrated ( Figs 20–22 ): Hypopygium rotated through about 180°; epand (in dorsal view) incised medially to form two moderately pointed lobes broadly joined basally; goncx externally distally bilobed, lobes of distinctive shape; hypd (in lateral view) elongate, projecting distally well beyond level attained by goncx, gradually tapering (in ventral view) to broadly clubbed medial process.

Variation:Sexes similar. Female genitalia illustrated ( Figs 61, 62 ) for generic comparison with Ischiolobos . The species displays some variation. Many specimens are a little smaller than the holotype, setae are frequently white instead of yellow and pruinescence is silver rather than gold. The distribution and extent of mesonotal pruinescence shows variation which may be geographic.

Type specimens seen: SOUTH AFRICA: ơ holotype, 2^ paratypes ( capensis ), ‘Kapstadt [Cape Town 3355S 1825E] / 27.xi.-1.xii.1958 / Lindner leg.‘ ~ ’29.xi.’, ‘ Heteropogon / capensis Lind. / Lindner det.’, holotype is labelled ‘Typus / Lindner / 1961 [sideways] [red ink]’ and paratypes ‘ Paratypus / Lindner / 1961’ (SMNS). ơ holotype, 1^ paratype ( tomentosus ), ‘Elandsberg Mts South / of Cockscomb Peak / Patensie area / 1.12.67 3424DB [sic. 3324DB] / B&P Stuckenberg’.

Note: Lindner (1961) gives additional data for the capensis types, i.e. ‘(Kloof Neck – Lionhead)’, that does not appear on specimen labels.This information is likely to be correct as he personally collected the material. So I designate the type locality as Kloof Neck [3356S 1823E].

Other material studied: SOUTH AFRICA: 1^, ‘South Africa / Bitterfontein [3102S 1817E] / 3.xii.1981 / J.G. Theron’; 3ơ 7^, ‘S Africa: Cape #66 / 23 km S Vanrhynsdorp / 31°47'S: 18°46'E 600 m / Date: 2– 4.xi.1991 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Gifberg. Flat summit’; 1ơ, ‘S Africa: Cape #67 / 24 km S Vanrhynsdorp / 31°46'S: 18°48'E 600 m / Date: 3.xi.1991 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Gifberg. Flat summit’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Gifberg Pass summit / 16.xi.1986 3118DB / Londt & Quickelberge / 690 m Rocky macchia’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Nieuwoudtville Wild / Flower Res. 3119AC / Londt & Quickelberge / 690 m 16.xi.1986 ’; 2ơ 5^, ‘S Africa: Cape #69 / 1 km W Nieuwoudtville / 31°23'S: 19°06'E 800 m / Date: 4.xi.1991 / Coll:J.G.H. Londt / Caravan Park and area’; 2^, ‘S Africa: Cape #34 / 2 km N Middelpos / 31°54'S: 20°14'E 1250 m / Date: 29.xi.1990 / Londt & Whittington / Dry scrub on dam bank’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa: W. Cape / 32 km ne. Clanwilliam / Brandewyn R. 3219AA / 2–3.x.1977 RM Miller’; 1^, ‘East of / Pakhuis Pass [3208S 1900E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exp. / Sept. 1947 ’ (SAMC); 2^, ‘ RSA: Cape Prov. Koomplans- / kloof. 10 km S Citrusdal. / 200–270 m / 32°40'S. 19°01'E. / 04–08.x.1994 loc. 6 / leg. R. Danielsson’ (ZMLU); 4ơ 5^, ‘S Africa: N Cape #28 / Besemgoedkop 31 km N / of Sutherland 1670 m / 32°11'21''S: 20°36'03''E / 8.xi.1998 J&B Londt / Rocky ridge Macchia’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Swartkop 31 km NW of / Sutherland 3220BA / Londt & Quickelberge / 18–19.xi.1986 1600 m / Rocks Woody macchia’; 4ơ 6^, ‘S Africa: Cape #29 / 30 km NW Sutherland / 32°12'S: 20°36'E 1600 m / Date: 27.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Near Besemgoedkop’; 1ơ 3^, ‘Moordenaars / Karoo / Lammerfontein [3258S 2049E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Oct. 1952 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa: W Cape / Lion’s Head Nature Res / Kloofnek area 220 m / 33°56'29''S 18°23'10''E / 14.xii.2004 JGH Londt / Fynbos Stony path’; 1^, ‘Stellenb. [Stellenbosch 3356S 1851E] / C.P. / 1888’, ‘ Heteropogon / peregrinus Herm. / Cotype’ [grey] (SAMC); 4ơ 7^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Gydo Mtn. 24 km NE of / P.Alfred Ham. 3319AB / Londt & Quickelberge / 21.xi.1986 1150 m / Rocky area / Proteas’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Wit River Valley / Bains Kloof [3337S 1906E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exp. / Dec. 1949 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘Gt. Wint-hoek / Tulbagh [3317S 1909E] /4500 ft’ ~ ‘ Nov. 1916 / Lightfoot’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘S Africa: Cape #33 / Karoo Botanic Garden / 33°37'S: 19°27'E 210 m / Date: 5.x.1993 / Coll: J.&A. Londt / Worcester – Macchia’; 3ơ, ‘South Africa: Cape / 5 km W Robertson / 26.ix.1979 J. Londt / 3319DD stony slopes / with woody veget,’; 3^, ‘ 18m. E. / of Touws R. [3320S 2002E] to / Hondewater’ ~ ‘12.1962. / S.A.M. (SAMC); 2ơ 1^, ‘Klaarstroom [3320S 2032E] / Prince / Albert / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Oct. 1952 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘Rooinek [3320S 2055E] / Laingsburg / Dist.’ ~ ‘Zinn-Hesse / Mus. Exp. / Jan.1949 ’ (SAMC); 7ơ 3^, South Africa: Cape / Montague Pass 5 km NE / Ashton 25.ix.1979 / 3320CC J.G.H. Londt / Steep rocky hillside’; 4ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 20 km SE of Ashton / 3320CC 10.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg / False Macchia Slopes’; 2ơ 1^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Outskirts of Ashton / 3320CC 10.ix.1981 / J. Londt, L. Schoeman / and B. Stuckenberg / False Macchia Slopes’; 3ơ 2^, ‘South Africa: Cape / Montagu 25.ix.1979 / 3320CC J.G.H. Londt / hillside SE of town’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Tradouw Pass [3357S 2042E] / Swellendam Dist.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Nov. 1925 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘Van Wyk’s Dorp [3344S 2128E] / Oct. 1937 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Swartberg Pass 1250 m / 3322AC 10.xi.1986 / Londt & Quickelberge / N slopes/Proteas’; 2ơ 2^, ‘Meirings Poort [3324S 2233E] / Oct. 1937 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘Spitzkop / Meirings Poort [3324S 2233E]’ ~ ‘Museum Staff / Jan. 1935 ’ (SAMC); 3ơ 11^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Meiringspoort 3322BC / 11–12.xii.1979 Londt / & Stuckenberg Rocky / hillside & stream edge’; 6^, ‘Swartebergen / Prince Albert [3317S 2203E] Div.’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Nov. 1935 ’ (SAMC); 2^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Uniondale 3323CA / 12.xii.1979 J. Londt + B. Stuckenberg Steep / hillside macchia’; 1^, ‘Uniondale [3340S 2308E] / Capland / Dr. Brauns. / 25 12 09’; 1ơ 1^, ‘So. Africa: Cape Prov. / 1 km NE. Uniondale / 31.x.1978 3323CA / R. Miller & J. Londt / rocky hillside scrub’; 1ơ, ‘So. Africa: Cape Prov. / 25 km W. Uniondale / 31.x.1978 3323CA / R. Miller & J. Londt’; 1ơ, ‘Capland / Willowmore [3317S 2330E] / 1 12 1916 / Dr. Brauns’; 1ơ 4^, ‘Capland / Willowmore / 20 11 1916 / Dr. Brauns’; 1ơ 5^, ‘Capland / Willowmore / 25 11 1916 / Dr. Brauns’; 4ơ 1^, ‘Capland / Willowmore / Nov. 1917 / Dr. Brauns’; 2ơ, ‘Capland / Willowmore / 1 12 1917 / Dr. Brauns’; 3ơ 8^, ‘So. Africa: Cape Prov. / 9 km SW. Willowmore / 30–31.x.1978 3323AD / J. Londt & R. Miller / open Karoo scrub’; 1^, ‘South Africa / Strand [3407S 1850E] / 13.12.1941 / Ac. US. / A.C. Myburgh’; 2ơ 6^, ‘Sth Afr. Western Cape / Fernkloof Nature Reserve / Hermanus 16–17.xii.2000 / 34°23'40''S: 19°15'58''E / JGH Londt 90 m Natural / bush with many flowers’.

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Found mainly in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biomes of the Western Cape ( Fig. 78 ). The species flies from September to January and is frequently collected on rocky outcrops and large boulders.

Similar species: A. melas and africanus , but also peregrinus (see discussion).

Figures

Figs 20–32. Afroholopogon species, male genitalia: (20–22) A. capensis (Lindner, 1961), 9 km SW Willowmore: (20) lateral, (21) dorsal, (22) ventral; (23–25) A. chirundu sp. n., paratype, Chirundu: (23) lateral, (24) dorsal, (25) ventral; (26–29) A. dasys sp. n., paratype, Abd al-Kuri: (26) lateral, (27) right gonocoxite, (28) dorsal, (29) ventral; (30–32) A. fugax (Loew, 1858), Willowmore: (30) lateral, (31) dorsal, (32) ventral. Arrows indicate broken gonostylus. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Figs 58–64. Afroholopogon and Ischiolobos species, genitalia:(58–60) A. xeros sp. n., male genitalia, paratype, 52 km W Outjo: (58) lateral, (59) dorsal, (60) ventral; (61, 62) A. capensis (Lindner, 1961), female genitalia, 9 km SW Willowmore: (61) lateral, (62) ventral; (63, 64) I. mesotopos sp. n., female genitalia, paratype, Queen Elizabeth Park: (63) lateral, (64) ventral. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 78. Southern African distribution of Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 species:aspros – closed circle, capensis – open circle, pardosoros – closed square, tanystylos – open square, uranopia – closed triangle, xeros – open triangle.