Trichardis Hermann, 1906

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 : 174-175

Genus Trichardis Hermann, 1906

Trichardis Hermann, 1906: 137 . Type species: Laphria testacea Macquart, 1838 , by designation of Hermann (1920: 177).

Strobilothrix Becker, 1907: 42–43 . Type species: Strobilothrix albipila Becker, 1907 [ Hoplistomera leucocoma Wulp, 1899 ], by monotypy.

Diagnosis ( Figs 1–4 ): Laphriine asilids (wing length <7 mm) with the following combination of characters. Head: Antennal postpedicel moderately elongate to clavate; proboscis small and hardly protruding beyond lower epistomal margin. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with at least a few strongly developed macrosetae; anatergal macrosetae usually present; scutellum with weakly developed marginal macrosetae;

postmetacoxal area membranous; hind femora robust (length:breadth ratio <4), with a swollen appearance and usually equipped with ventral tubercles; hind leg of male usually lacking a tibial spur; vein R2+3 bent anteriorly at tip and joining R1 just before or at C; cell r 5 always closed; C continues fairly strongly along wing margin to Cu+A1 before becoming much weaker along anal cell and completely absent from alula. Abdomen: Terga with discal setae beyond T1 and lacking obvious golden setation. ơ genitalia: Epandrium in dorsal view hardly if at all incised (i.e. not divided into lobes); hypandrium usually absent or at best poorly developed; gonocoxites usually closely associated ventrally and rarely with a median projection (when present it is short and medially directed) and commonly with mediodistal macrosetae.

Notes: Hermann's original description makes reference to ‘ Hoplistomera ’ and includes figs 5 (antenna) and 7 (wing), but no indication of which species was involved. Hermann (1920) separates Trichardis from Strobilothrix on the basis of femoral setation. Oldroyd (1970: 247) says the genus is not easily separated from Hoplistomerus and provides a brief discussion of the characterisation of these taxa.

AFROTROPICAL SPECIES

Figures

Figs 1– 4. Trichardis species: (1–3) T. testacea (Macquart, 1838): (1) dorsal view of entire male, (2) lateral view of entire male, (3) wing; (4) T. effrena sp. n., wing. See text for measurements.