Senaspis pennata (Herve-Bazin, 1914) Figs 11, 46, 47, 63, 79, 90, 101

Protylocera pennata Hervé-Bazin, 1914: 288.

Differential diagnosis.

Different from all other Senaspis species by the head in lateral view without distinct protuding frons (Fig. 47); the unmarginated scutellum (Fig. 63), and the completely hyaline wing, with a distinctly open cell r1 (Fig. 79).

Examined material.

Protylocera pennata Hervé-Bazin: Holotype, female, “HOLOTYPUS” “MUSÉE DU CONGO // Kalengwe 16.X.1911 // Dr. Bequaert leg.;" "R. DÉT . // M // 69" " Protylocera // Protylocera pennata // Hervé-B . ♀ // Type" "RMCA ENT // 000016792" [KMMA].

Description.

Body length: 15.0 mm. Wing length: 12.2 mm.

Female (Fig. 11). Head (Figs 46, 47). Eye bare; dichoptic, facets equal in size. Frons largely subshiny black-brown in ventral protruding part; dorsally with black pollinosity in front of ocellar triangle for length equal to ocellar triangle, between subshiny and black pollinose part with more dispersed greyish pollinosity continued ventrally narrowly along eye margin; dispersed short dark pile, except for area with greyish pollinosity where pile is pale. Face subshiny brown; with greyish pollinosity, medial part and ventral lateral margins largely devoid of pollinosity; in parts with dispersed long pale pile; facial tubercle weakly pronounced. Gena as pollinose part of face; with short to long pale pilosity. Occiput black-brown, covered with dully grey pollinosity; with dispersed pale pile except dorsally where black. Antennal segments black-brown, arista pale yellow.

Thorax (Fig. 63). Scutum subshiny black, with brownish to brownish grey pollinosity; with short pale brown pile, along lateral margins intermixed with dispersed black pile, pilosity paler posteriorly, pilosity modereately long especially along margins. Scutellum rounded and not marginated, slightly more than twice as wide as long; pale brownish; with pale pilosity except anteriorly on disc where largely orange-brown pile (pile rubbed off in medial part); pilosity moderately long especially along apical margin; Pleura ground colour black-brown, covered with dispersed long pale pile except on meron, dorsomedial anepimeron, anterior part of katepisternum and anterior anepisternum (katepimeron obscured and absence or presence of pilosity not visible).

Legs. Brown to black-brown, pro- and mesofemora more orange-brown posteriorly, tarsal segments yellowish except major part of metabasotarsomere; with short black pilosity, along posterior margin of pro- and mesofemora with longer pale pile, tarsal segments, except major part of metabasotarsomere, with short pale pile; pro- and mesotibiae very dense. Metaleg (Fig. 90), femur moderately thickened, with ventral swelling in apical fifth; tibia thickened and curved, pile on ventral and dorsal margins along entire length, at least as long as width of tibia, and very dense.

Wing (Fig. 79). Completely hyaline. Calypters yellow-white with fringe of yellow-white pile. Cell r1 distinctly open; vein R4+5 sinuate but not appendiculate.

Abdomen (Fig. 101). Subshiny brown to black-brown, weak brownish pollinose; tergum I more yellowish brown; tergum II anterior margin narrowly black, medial anterior half yellowish brown, laterally more extensively so, gradually darkening posteriorly; tergum III with pair of orange-brown fasciae in anterior two-fifths; with short pale pilosity, except tergum V and posterior margin of tergum IV where black pile.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution.

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Comments.

The position of this species within the genus Senaspis is uncertain. While there are some similarities with other Senaspis species (maculate eyes, wing venation except cell r1 distinctly open, pilosity on metatibia), there are also some distinct differences. For instance, the shape of the head in lateral view (no strongly protruding frons, facial tubercle poorly developed, face extending more ventrally), the scutellum is unmargined, the completely hyaline wing, and the distinctly open cell r1. As the available material is limited to a single female specimen, we await additional material and/or further revision of other eristaline representatives from the Afrotropical region before proposing any generic assignment.