Trichardis zinidi, Londt, 2008

Londt, Jason G. H., 2008, A review of Afrotropical Trichardis Hermann, 1906, and the description of the first Oriental representative of the genus (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 171-171 : 207-208

Trichardis zinidi sp. n.

Figs 53, 54

Etymology: Named for the collector Dr I. Abu-Zinid, who donated a number of East African Asilidae to the Natal Museum.

Redescription (based on holotype in excellent condition):

Head: Orange-brown anteriorly dark red-brown posteriorly, colours masked by silver pruinescence covering entire head, pale yellow and white setose.Antenna brown-orange, postpedicel dark red-brown, yellow setose; postpedicel clavate (L:D=2.6:1). Mystax shiny yellowish. Ocellar tubercle with 4 macrosetae. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown.

Thorax: Orange-brown and dark red-brown patches, gold-silver pruinose, shiny pale yellow setose. Postpronotum entirely pruinose, mesonotum extensively apruinose centrally margins silver pruinose, macrosetae and setulae shiny yellowish. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellow posterior macroseta, pruinose except for large anteroventral area. Proepimeron, katepisternum and anepisternum entirely pruinose. Legs: Orange-brown, femora dark red-brown dorsally, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur orange-brown, dark red-brown dorsally, length:height ratio 3.6:1, ventral tubercles poorly developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 4.8× 1.8 mm. Costal vein strongly developed as far as wing tip, then very weakly developed along posterior margin of wing and absent from alula. Membrane extensively microtrichose; discal cell microtrichose but weak proximally, cell r 5 microtrichose in distal half only.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown, extensively silver pruinose, shiny pale yellowish setose. T2 dark red-brown, extensively pruinose (central area apruinose).

ơ genitalia ( Figs 53, 54 ): Epandrium in lateral view slightly longer than basal part of gonocoxite (i.e. excluding distal projection of gonocoxite and gonostylus). Proctiger moderately dorsoventrally compressed. Hypandrium greatly reduced and simple. Gonocoxite in ventral view lacking projections and with about 6 medially directed distal macrosetae; mediodistal projections stout, converging distally, with fairly sharply upturned sclerotised distal part. Gonostyli well-developed, bulky, converging distally to upturned flange-like tips. Aedeagal prongs small, more or less straight, with small terminal filamentous tubules.

Holotype: KENYA: ơ ‘ Kenya: Kajiado Dist. / Nguruman area 700 m / 01°50'S: 36°56'E / coll: I. Abu-Zinid / Date: 28.iv.1990 ’ ( NMSA).

Paratypes: KENYA: 1^same data as holotype ( NMSA) . TANZANIA: 1^‘ Tanzania: 10 km N–NE / di Mto Wa Mbu [?], presso bosco / di euforbia (1100 m), alla luce’ ( MZUF) . UNKNOWN: 1^‘ Afrique / Laga Arba [?] / 25 juillet’, ‘Museum Paris’, ‘ Trichardis / H. Oldroyd det. 1965’ ( MNHN) .

Distribution and biology: Recorded from Kenya and Tanzania.Adults collected in April and July (Table 1). Little label data relating to habitat preference exists, although one specimen is labelled ‘presso bosco di euforbia’ which suggests an arid environment. The life history and prey preferences are unknown.

Similar species: T. zinidi has an entirely pruinose postpronotal lobe and in this respect can be grouped with apicalis , grisescens , ornata , picta , terminalis , testacea and turneri . The species is, however, most similar to apicalis .

ORIENTAL SPECIES

While this paper focuses on the Afrotropical fauna I have identified a single new species of Trichardis from India that represents the first record of the genus from the Oriental Region.

Figures

Figs 53–56. Trichardis species, male genitalia: (53, 54) lateral and ventral of T. zinidi sp. n., holotype; (55, 56) lateral and ventral of T. indica sp. n., holotype. Scale lines = 1 mm.