Noliolaphria macra Loodt, 1977

Loodt, J. G. H., 1977, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 1. The genus Choerades Walker, 1851 and the descriptions of two new genera, Nannolaphria and Notiolaphria, from southern Africa and Malagasy Republic *, ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 23, pp. 43-55 : 51

NOliolaphria macra (Bigot, 1859) comb. n. Figs 10 -15

Laphria macra Bigot, 1859 pp. 415-16 .

Laphria nusoides Bromley, 1930 pp. 287-8 syn. n.

Diagnosis: Very similar to next species but differs in following respects. Thoracic markings distinct; microsetal distribution on wing more extensive, covering a greater part of the proximal region of the wing; gonopods of male possess distinctive distal projections.

Redescription: Based on 23 ♂ 20 ♀ jl pinned.

Male: Head: Lateral aspect (Fig. II). Eye in lateral aspect considerably broader dorsally than ventrally. Face below antennae shiny gold pollinose and lower half swollen. Mystax composed of long black, or black and white setae and a number of overlaying, short, silver-gold, shiny, dorso-ventrally flattened setae. Proboscis a little longer than antenna.

Thorax: Pollinose markings of mesonotum clearly evident especially in larger specimens which also have fine gold microsetae over most of the mesonotum. Wing ( Fig. 10 ) covered with black microsetae except for the most proximal regions.

Abdomen: A number of pale macro setae laterally on T2 and one or two in a similar position on each subsequent tergum. Genital bulb ( Figs 12-13 , small male) (Figs 14-15, large male) elongate oval, rotated through 180 0; gonopods lack fused setae dorsally; claspers long with a downturned pointed tooth apically; pseudoclaspers strongly developed and usually held in an upright position; gonopoda with distal margin produced distally, aedeagus with two lateral penis guides.

Dimensions: Body length ♂ 7,0-19,0 mm, ♀ 7,0-19,0 mm; wing length ♂ 5,0-14,0 mm, <jl 5,0- 14,5 mm.

Material examined: MALAGASY REPUBLIC: 3 ♀, Ivontaka 15 m, det Mananara, 1O-14.111.1958, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Sahasoa Fampanambo, 80 m, dct Maroantsetra , 26-29.111.1958, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂, Antanambe , 8 m, l.lV.1958, B. Stuckenberg; 4♂ 1 ♀, Montagne d'Ambre, 1000 m, dct Diego Suarez , 23.XI-4. Xil.1958, B. Stuckenberg; 2 ♂ 3 ♀, Lambomakandro, 550 m, dct Sakaraha , 4- 10.11.1957, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂ 2 ♀, Route d'Anosibe, 840 m, dct Moramanga , 18-24.XII.1957, B. Stuckenberg; 2 ♂ 2 ♀, Sambirano, Lakobe , Nossi-Be , 6 m, 9-23.XI. l957, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂, Vakoana, 1 520 m, Andringitra Ambalavao , 21- 24.1.1957, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂, Ambohitantely, 1600 m, dct Ankazobe , 6.1.195 8, B. Stuckenberg; 3 ♂ 2 ♀, Perinet, XIl.1955, B. Stuckenberg; 1 ♂, Tsaramandroso , Ankarafantsika Forest, 1.195 6, B. Stuckenberg . MAURITIUS: 1 ♂ 2 ♀, Le Pouce Mtn. , 20.I.1961 (♂) , 29.X1. l962 (♀) , 30.XI. l962 (♀), C. M. Courtois. (All specimens in Natal Mus.) . MALAGASY REPUBLIC: 5♂ 4 ♀, E. Madagascar, Forest, 600-1 200 m, xn. I930- 11.193 1, c. H. Lamberton (Durban Mus.) .

Remarks: I have, among the specimens studied, 2 ♂ and 3 ♀ identified as L. nusoides Bromely while the rest are identified as L. macra (all studied by Oldroyd). The specimens labelled as L. nusoides are all large individuals from the eastern parts of Malagasy Republic (Sahasoa Fampanambo, lvontaka and Antanambe). I can find no differences in morphology between these and the other smaller specimens identified as L. macro . I therefore come to the conclusion that there is a single widespread species with considerable size variation. One of the smaller specimens has the same label data as two of the larger specimens (lvontaka) and therefore the possibility of sUb-species is ruled out. Although I have not seen the types of L. macro or L. nusoides I believe the synonymy is justified based on the Oldroyd identified material before me.

Figures

Figs 10- 13. Notiolaphria macra (Bigot) gen. n. Small o. 10. Right wing. 11. Lateral aspect of head. 12-13. Genital bulb. 12. Lateral aspect. 13. Dorsal aspect. (Note: Genital bulb, normally rotated through 1800, is drawn as if unrotated.)