Trichardis turneri Oldroyd, 1974

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 : 205-206

Trichardis turneri Oldroyd, 1974

Figs 51, 52 , 58

Trichardis turneri: Oldroyd 1974: 120 ; 1980: 356 (catalogue).

Redescription (based on paratype ơ from type locality in excellent condition):

Head: Dark red-brown except for outer borders of face which are brown-orange, extensively silver pruinose (weak on face centrally), white setose. Antenna brown-orange, postpedicel red-brown with brown-orange base, setae orange and black; postpedicel not markedly clavate (L:D=3.2:1). Mystax white. Ocellar tubercle with 2 macrosetae. Proboscis dark red-brown, palpi red-brown.

Thorax: Brown-orange with dark red-brown areas, extensively silver pruinose, yellow and white setose. Postpronotum entirely pruinose, mesonotum dark red-brown with brown-orange borders, apruinose except for lateral and posterior margins, macrosetae pale yellow, setulae white. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellow posterior macroseta, extensively pruinose except for a small anteroventral area. Proepimeron pruinose but weakly posteriorly, katepisternum pruinose but weakly anteriorly, anepisternum entirely pruinose. Legs: Brown-orange, femora orange-brown, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur orange-brown, length:height ratio 3.3:1, ventral tubercles well-developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 5.2× 2.2 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 but microtrichiae absent from parts of proximally situated cells; discal and r 5 cells entirely microtrichose.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown, apruinose, macrosetae pale yellow setulae white. T2 dark red-brown, apruinose.

ơ genitalia ( Figs 51, 52 ): 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 without projections and with about 13 distally arranged macrosetae; mediodistal projection stout, with upturned sclerotised tip. Gonostyli stout, converging distally and ending in upturned slightly curved tips.Aedeagal prongs small, fairly straight.

Holotype (examined): SOUTH AFRICA: ơ ‘Holo- / type’ [circular, red edge], ‘S.W. Africa. / R. E. Turner. / Brit. Mus. / 1931-12.’, ‘ Trichardis / turneri Oldr / det. H. Oldroyd 1972 / Holotype’ [white], ‘ Cape Province: / Somerset East. [32°43'S: 25°35'E] Nov. 25-30 1930 ’ (BMNH).

Paratypes (examined; all BMNH): SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ơ ‘Para- / type’, ‘ Aliwal North [30°42'S: 26°42'E], / Cape Province. / Dec. 1922 ’, ‘ S. Africa. / R. E. Turner. / Brit. Mus. / 1932-45’; 6 ơ 2^1? ‘Para- / type’ [circular with yellow border], ‘ Cape Province / Somerset East. / Nov. 25–30.1930.’, ‘ SW Africa / R.E. Turner / Brit. Mus. / 1931–12’; 1^‘ Para- / type’, ‘ Cape Province / Somerset East. / 10-22.xii.1930.’, ‘ S. Africa / R.E. Turner / Brit. Mus. / 1931–37 ’.

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ơ 2^Parys [26°54'S: 27°27'E], ARC, Fry ( SAMC) ; 1^Bothaville [27°22'S: 26°37'E], 30.xii.1964, Brothers ( AMGS) ; 1 ơ 1^Verdun Kommadagga Dist. [30°18'S: 20°59'E], 1.xii.1985, Gess ( AMGS) ; 2 ơ Dreunberg Burghersdorp [30°59'S: 26°19'E], xi.1939, Mus. Staff ( SAMC) ; 1 ơ 2^3 km E Cradock , 32°10'02"S: 25°40'09"E, 956 m, 29.x.2004, Londt, Acacia scrubland with many wild flowers ; 1 ơ Urquhart Park Caravan Park Graaff-Reinet , 32°15'S: 24°33'E, 4–6.xii.1988, Londt, riverine vegetation, sandy ground ; 1 ơ Klein Visrivier c. 10 km W Somerset East, 32°44'S: 25°30'E, 800 m, 6.xii.1989, Londt, rocky ridge & stream ; 2 ơ 2^Willowmore [33°17'S: 23°29'E], 20.i.1908 (1 ơ), ii.1914 (1 ơ), xii.1914 (1^), 25.xii.1914 (1^), Brauns ; 1^Willowmore , 10.i.1908, Brauns ( SAMC) ; 1 ơ Bathurst [33°31'S: 26°50'E], 14.i.1959, Jacot-Guillarmod ( AMGS) .

Distribution and biology: A South African endemic restricted to the central parts of the country ( Fig. 58 ). Adults recorded in summer between October and February (Table 1). The species has been collected on sandy ground in Acacia scrubland and in the vicinity of a stream. The biology is otherwise unknown.

Similar species: T. turneri has an entirely pruinose postpronotal lobe and in this respect can be grouped with apicalis , grisescens , ornata , picta , terminalis , testacea and zinidi . The species is distinctive, especially with respect to male genital form.

Figures

Fig 58. Distributions of southern African Trichardis species:· – T. apicalis Oldroyd, 1974, 9 – T. terminalis Oldroyd, 1974, • – T. turneri Oldroyd, 1974.

Figs 47–52. Trichardis species, male genitalia: (47, 48) lateral and ventral of T. terminalis Oldroyd, 1974, holotype; (49, 50) lateral and ventral of T. testacea (Macquart, 1838), holotype; (51, 52) lateral and ventral of T. turneri Oldroyd, 1974, Graaff-Reinet. Scale lines = 1 mm.