Trichardis cribrata ( Loew, 1858 )

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 : 179-180

Trichardis cribrata ( Loew, 1858)

Figs 11, 12 , 59

Hoplistomera cribrata: Loew 1958: 357 ; 1860: 193.

Trichardis cribrata: Engel 1924: 108–109 ; Oldroyd 1970: 249 (fig. 28, mesopleuron); 1974: 118; 1980: 355 (catalogue).

Trichardis cribratus: Hull 1962: 97 .

Redescription (based on Mhlopeni Nat. Res. male in excellent condition):

Head: Dark red-brown to black, finely silver pruinose except for central parts of face. Antenna orange-brown, black setose except for a few small pale yellow setae; postpedicel not markedly clavate (L:D=3.2:1). Mystax uniformly pale yellowish. Ocellar tubercle with 2 macrosetae. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose except for some bare areas. Postpronotum medially strongly silver pruinose, laterally apruinose, mesonotum apruinose except for silver lateral and posterior margins, macrosetae yellow–white, fine setulae yellowish. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellow posterior macroseta, extensively silver pruinose except for apruinose area anteroventrally. Proepimeron anteriorly pruinose, posteriorly apruinose; katepisternum posteriorly pruinose, anteriorly apruinose; anepisternum entirely pruinose. Legs: Dark red-brown, tibiae orange-brown proximally, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur dark red-brown, length:height ratio 3.4:1, ventral tubercles well-developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 4.0× 1.6 mm. Costal vein moderately developed around most of wing margin, weakening along anal cell and absent from alula. Membrane extensively microtrichose—discal and r 5 cells entirely microtrichose. Abdomen: Dark red-brown with narrow brown-orange posterior margins, fine pale white setose. T2 dark red-brown, apruinose except for narrow weakly silver pruinose posterior margins laterally.

ơ genitalia ( Figs 11, 12 ): Epandrium in lateral view significantly 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 median projections distally and with a row of about 7 mediodistally arranged macrosetae; mediodistal projection long, well-developed and with slightly upturned sclerotised distal end. Gonostylus stout with relatively straight and broadly rounded apex.Aedeagal prongs small, more or less straight and with small trifurcate tip.

Type specimens: Despite an extensive search, I have not been able to trace the whereabouts of the type material. Loew’s (1858) short description, in Latin, was based on ‘ ơ & ^’ from ‘Caffraria (Wahlb.)’. As no holotype was designated his specimens must be considered syntypes. There is only one species from southern Africa that answers to the description, so I am confident that the material here assigned to this taxon has been correctly allocated, and that there is little need for a neotype to be designated .

Type locality designation: Loew’s material, collected by Wahlberg, came from ‘Caffraria’, a term used to cover much of the eastern part of present day Southern Africa.As Wahlberg passed through the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, I hereby designate the Mhlopeni Nat. Res., SE of Muden, as type locality as a good series has been collected there .

Specimens studied: LESOTHO: 5 ơ 3^Mamathes [29°08'S: 27°51'E], 31.xii.1947 (1^), 4.i.1948 (1 ơ), 9.i.1949 (1 ơ), 9.xii.1949 (1 ơ), 8.i.1950 (1 ơ 1^) 1.i.1952 (1 ơ 1^), Jacot-Guillarmod (AMGS); 1^Mahlatsa [29°13'S: 28°00'E], 30.xii.1951, Jacot-Guillarmod (AMGS). MOZAMBIQUE: 1 ơ Maqudé [?Magude, 25°02'S: 32°40'E], 29.ii.1964, Moore (NMNH); 3 ơ 1^Maoamba [25°36'S: 32°15'E], 9–12.iii.1964, Moore (NMNH). SOUTH AFRICA: 1^Pietersburg [Polokwane, 23°54'S: 29°27'E], 8.xii.1965, Hoffmann (SANC); 1^Groenfontein, 35 km E Thabazimbi, 24°34'S: 27°45'E, 27.xi.1980, Kok (SANC); 1^Ben Alberts Nat Res, Thabazimbi, 24°37'S: 27°23'E, 24–28.xi.1980, Kok (SANC); 1 ơ Sondéla Nat. Res., 24°54.127'S: 28°25.191'E, 1086 m, 7–14.xi.2003, Londt, Acacia savannah; 1^Skukuza [24°59'S: 31°36'E], 23.xi.1959 (BMNH); 1^Salietjie Pad, KNW [= KNP – Kruger National Park], 27 km from Skukuza, 8.xi.1960, van Schalkwyk (SANC); 1 ơ 1^Kruger National Park, N of Sabie R., 25.xi.1959, Munro & v. Bruggen (SANC); 1^Lydenburg Dist. [25°06'S: 30°27'E], 1896, Krantz; 1^1? Wonderboom [25°36'S: 29°20'E], 21.xi.1915, Roberts; 1^W. boom [Wonderboom] Pretoria, xii.1915, Munro (NMNH); 2 ơ 1^Swartruggens Marico [25°39'S: 26°42'E], 15.i.1921, Brauns; 1 ơ Zwartruggens Marico, 15.i.1921, Brauns (NMNH); 1 ơ Rustenburg [25°40'S: 27°15'E], 3.xii.1961 (BMNH); 2 ơ 4^Pretoria [25°44'S: 28°11'E], 28.xii.1912 (1 ơ), 16.xii.1913 (1^), 12.xii.1914 (1^), 2.xii.1915 (1 ơ), 18.xii.1915 (1^), xii.1929 (1^), Munro (NMNH); 1^1? Pretoria, 16.xii.1913, Munro (SANC); 1 ơ 2^Hennops R., 20 km W Pretoria, 25°47'S: 27°55'E, 17.xii.1981, Oberprieler (SANC); 1^Brnkh.spr. [Bronkhorstspruit, 25°48'S: 28°44'E], 15.xii.1906; 1 ơ 2^Halfway House [25°59'S: 28°07'E], 22.vii.1981, Elferink; 1 ơ Lichtenburg [26°09'S: 26°10'E] (MCMI); 3 ơ 2^Lichtenburg, Brauns (ZSMC); 1^‘ Sammlung F. Hermann’ [no locality data, but probably from Lichtenburg] (ZSMC); 1^Kroonstad [27°40'S: 27°14'E], O.R.C. [Orange River Colony = Free State Province], Eckersley (BMNH); 2 ơ 1^1? M’fongosi [28°42'S: 30°48'E], x.1911 (1?), iii.1917 (1^), iv–xi.1934 (2 ơ), Jones (SAMC); 2 ơ 3^Weenen [28°51'S: 30°05'E], i.1925 (2 ơ 2^), iii.1925 (1^), Thomasset (BMNH); 1^Koornspruit Weenen, 2830CC, 24.xi.1981, Milton, Acacia tortilis ; 1 ơ 1^Colenso, 2829DB, 7.x.1981, Londt; 1 ơ 1^20 km W Tugela Ferry, 2830CA, 26–27.ii.1977, Miller, Malaise trap; 9 ơ 4^c. 10 km E Estcourt [29°00'S: 29°53'E], 13.xii.1995, Londt & Cradock, Acacia woodland; 1 ơ 1^Estcourt, 1894, Haviland (SAMC); 1 ơ 3^Estcourt, xii.1896 (2^in BMNH); 1 ơ 1^Estcourt, 1897, Marshall (BMNH); 6 ơ 2^Mhlopeni Nat. Res. 15 km SE Muden, 2930AB, 22.xii.1983, Londt; 2^Aliwal North [30°42'S: 26°42'E], 1326 m, 1–13.i.1923, Turner (BMNH); 1^Umdala Fort Beaufort [32°48'S: 26°39'E], iii.1954, S.A.Museum (SAMC); 1 ơ Willowmore [33°17'S: 23°29'E], 10.i.1907, Brauns (ZSMC); 2 ơ 2^5 km NE Kenton on Sea, 3326AD, 29.xii.1985, Londt, bush & grass & stream bed; 1 ơ 1^Kangwane, Thomeni Res. [?], 16.i.1992, Acacia veld. ZIMBABWE: 1^Rekomitjie [16°08'S: 29°24'E], i.1988, Phelps, Mopane woodland; 1^Mt Selinda [20°25'S: 32°42'E], xii,1935, van Son.

Distribution and biology: The species is a southern African endemic, distributed widely within the eastern half of the subregion (eastwards of about 23°E), but does not appear to occur along the subtropical and tropical eastern coast ( Fig. 59 ). Adults fly during the summer months of October and March (there is a record for July that needs verification) (Table 1). While little information is available concerning habitat, labels suggest that the species is found mainly in Acacia savannah and woodland.

Similar species: Oldroyd (1970) compared katangaensis with cribrata , but these species are in fact quite different in many respects. T. cribrata is a member of what is here called the ‘ cribrata species group’ which consists of crassipala , cribrata , eburacta , hesperia , malawi , similis , spicata and indica . These species are superficially similar, but can be separated on characters of the male genitalia. T. cribrata appears to be a fairly distinctive species within the group.

Figures

Fig 59. Distributions of southern African Trichardis species: – T. cribrata (Loew, 1858), 9 – T. effrena sp. n., 1974, • – T. picta Hermann, 1906.

Figs 11–16. Trichardis species, male genitalia: (11, 12) lateral and ventral of T. cribrata (Loew, 1858), Mhlopeni Nat. Res.; (13, 14) lateral and ventral of T. eburacta sp. n., paratype, Comoé National Park; (15, 16) lateral and ventral of T. effrena sp. n., paratype, Witsand Nat. Res. Scale lines = 1 mm.