Congomochtherus elferinki Londt & Tsacas, 1987

Jason G. H. Londt, 2014, The Afrotropical Robber Fly Genus Congomochtherus Oldroyd, 1979 (Diptera: Asilidae: Asilinae), African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 333-350 : 336-338

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5733/afin.055.0204

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B6764F23-CEA3-46CD-9CF5-56843CD40D99

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5679697

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B38796-E842-584E-FEBC-AD58FE5FFCC5

treatment provided by

Admin

scientific name

Congomochtherus elferinki Londt & Tsacas, 1987
status

 

Congomochtherus elferinki Londt & Tsacas, 1987 View in CoL

Figs 1 View Fig. 1 , 2 View Fig. 2 , 6 View Figs 5-11 , 17 View Fig. 17

Congomochtherus elferinki Londt & Tsacas, 1987: 32 View in CoL (figs 1 whole ♂, 2 postmetacoxal area, 11 wing, 12-17 ♂ terminalia, 18 ♀ terminalia).

Previously recorded material: Londt & Tsacas (1987) listed the following type material: SOUTH AFRICA: 2♂ (paratypes), F. Oldreives Outlook Est., 22°59'S 29°50'E, Louis Trichardt, Zoutpansberg, 1415 m, 4-8. xii.1978, Falc. Coll. Exp. (NHMZ); 1♀ (paratype), Mogoto Nature Res., Zebediela, 24°15'S 29°15'E, [c. 1405 m], 22-25.x.1979, Prinsloo (SANC); 1♂ (paratype), Nyl Rivier 8 km SW of Nylstroom [Modimolle c. 24°46'S 28°21'E c. 1190 m], 2428CD, 29-31.i.1978, Londt, bushveld near river (NMSA); 1♂ (paratype), Gladdespruit river headwaters at Kaapsehoop [Kaapschehoop c. 25°35'S 30°46'E c. 1635 m], 2530DB, 5000ft, 3.xi.1970, Stuckenberg, grassland & gallery forest (NMSA); 1♂ (paratype), Pretoria. Roodeplaat Hort. Res. Inst., 25°41'S 28°18'E, [c. 1280 m]. 1.xi.1979, Van Tonder (SANC); 3♂ 2♀ (paratypes), Barberton, Havelock Road, 2531CC, 7.xi.1970, Stuckenberg, Lomati River [Barberton Nature Reserve c. 25°51'S 31°06'E c. 1505 m], headwaters montane meadow (NMSA); 2♂ 3♀ (paratypes), Johannesburg, Sandton [c. 26°06'S 28°03'E c. 1630 m], 2628AA, 7 (1♂ 2♀) & 14.ii.1982 (1♂ 1♀), Elferink (NMSA); 1♂ (paratype), Argent [Argent Ave., Roodepoort 26°08'S 27°53'E c. 1600 m], 24.xii.1939, Capener (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ (paratype), Halfway House, 28.ii.1982, Elferink, Jukskei River [26°08'S 28°08'E c. 1570 m] (NMSA); 7♂ (holotype & paratypes) 8♀ (paratypes), Johannesburg, Highlands North [c. 26°09'S 28°05'E c. 1675 m], 2628AA, 21.ii.1981 (2♀) 7.iii.1982 (7♂ 6♀), Elferink, [possibly James & Ethel Gray Park - c. 26°08'21"S 28°03'50"E] (NMSA 5♂ (inc. holotype) 4♀, MNHN, BMNH); 1♂ (paratype), Klipfontein, 28°18'S 24°08'E, [c. 1300 m], 4.xii.1979, Falc. coll. Exp. (NHMZ); 6♂ 2♀ (paratypes), Cathedral Peak area, 2829CC, 4100', 20.xi.1979, Londt, Mhlwezine Riv. [c. 28°56'S 29°14'E c. 1320 m] (NMSA); 2♂ 2♀ (paratypes), Giant's Castle Game Res., Injasuti [Injisuthi c. 29°07'S 29°26'E c. 1455 m] area, 2929AB, Londt, 5-11.xii.1983, (NMSA); 5♂ 1♀ (paratypes), 5 km W of Matatiele [c. 30°19'S 28°44'E c. 1435 m], 3028BC, 8.i.1979, Londt & Stuckenberg, open grassveld nr. stream or river banks on grass (NMSA); 2♂, (paratypes), Xuka River, 10 km E Engcobo [c. 31°40'S 28°07'E c. 720 m], 3128CA, 26.x.1978, Londt & Miller, river bank (NMSA). ZIMBABWE: 1♂ (paratype), Penhalonga [= Penalonga c. 18°53'S 32°40'E, c. 1160 m], 6.xii.1978, Wheeler (NMSA).

Newly recorded material: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀, Pietersburg [= Polokwane], 29°29'S 23°45'E [error - c. 23°54'S 29°27 'E, c. 1250 m], 13.ii.1987, Erasmus, Dept. Entomology Pretoria University (NMSA); 1♂, O.T.K. Reserve, Loskopdam, 25°27'S 29°24'E, [c. 1300 m], 4-11.xii.1985, Millar (NMSA); 1♀, Witbank [25°52'S 29°13'E c. 1593 m], 2529CC, iii.1979, Buitendag (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀, Melmoth District, Vergelegen farm, 28°32'S 31°21'E, 760 m, 4.ii.1986, Hurt, sitting on rock adjacent to stream (NMSA); 2♀, Kelvin Grove [c. 28°55'S 29°28'E c. 1210 m], 28°50'S 29°20'E, 20.xi.1993, Cradock, grass near river (NMSA); 2♂ 2♀, Mhlopeni Nature Reserve, 29°01'09"S 30°24'56"E, 900 m, 15.iii.2 000, Londt & Dikow, Acacia thornveld (NMSA); 1♂, Injisuthi Nature Reserve, 29°07'29"S 29°26'24"E, 14 70 m, 21-23.iii.2013, Londt, montane grass Proteas bridge area (NMSA); 2♂, Injasuti [= Injisuthi] Nature Res., 29°12'S 29°22'E [error - 29°07'S 29°26'E], 500 m [error - c. 1456 m], 26.iii.1994, Londt (NMSA); 1♀, Castleburn resort area, 29°44'17"S 29°17'36"E, 1650 m, 23.ii.2000, Londt, River Walk grassland river banks (NMSA); 1♀, Castleburn resort area, 29°44'22"S 29°17'58"E, 1620 m, 16.i.2014, Londt, Mlambonja River (NMSA); 3♂, Garden Castle Hotel area, 29°45'05"S 29°13'38"E, 1760 m, 14-16.i.2014, Londt, Stones, Mlambonja River (NMSA);

1♀, Castleburn resort area, 29°44'20"S 29°17'54"E, 1620 m, 19.iv.2014, Londt, Mlambonja River; 1♀, Mhlatuzana River, 29°48'S 30°45'E, 500 m, 18.xii.1990, Whittington & Londt, indigenous forest Jackson's Falls (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀, Pietermaritzburg, 30°36'S 30°22'E [unlikely and erroneous record], 1.xii.1994, Cradock (NMSA). TANZANIA: 1♂, 20 km N Uvinza [5°06'S 30°23'E, c. 1020 m], xi. 4 [or ii] 1964, Dudley (NMSA). ZIMBABWE: 1♂, Umtali [= Mutare c. 18°58'S 32°39'E c. 1100 m] District, Kebokon [? - indistinct], 12.x.1931 (NMSA).

Distribution ( Fig. 17 View Fig. 17 ), phenology ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ) and biology:Although there are few records beyond South African borders, this is a fairly widely distributed species that is likely to be found at many places throughout the eastern parts of Africa. The species has been collected during every month from October to April ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ) and so it can be said with certainty that this is a summer-active asilid. I have collected this species on no fewer than 12 occasions and can testify to the fact that individuals are invariably found resting on rocks in and along streams and rivers. One such locality, in the scenic Drakensberg Mountains, is pictured here ( Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 ). They are active fliers, which makes collection difficult (without falling into the water or getting the net drenched). My experience is backed up by a number of other collectors in the information provided on labels. Although some labels suggest that individuals may have been collected on vegetation, this is probably unlikely as I have not encountered them resting on vegetation (apart from dead twigs amongst riverine rocks). Interestingly enough, the species appears to be at home along rivers running through highly developed suburban places in the greater Johannesburg area, where streams are probably somewhat polluted. Little biological information is available.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Asilidae

Genus

Congomochtherus

Loc

Congomochtherus elferinki Londt & Tsacas, 1987

Jason G. H. Londt 2014
2014
Loc

Congomochtherus elferinki

Londt & Tsacas 1987: 32
1987
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