Anypodetus Hermann, 1907

Londt, J. G. H., 2000, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 32. A Revision Of Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 With The Description Of Three New Species (Laphriinae), Annals of the Natal Museum 41, pp. 123-128 : 127

Genus Anypodetus Hermann

Anypodetus Hermann,1907:69 [ 1908:167].

Type -species: Anypodetus fasciatus Hermann,1907 ,by original designation.

A detailed generic description was provided by Hull (1962: 345-347), based on the type species.The following notes, based on all the species, supplement Hull’s description. A. leucothrix is in many respects atypical, and may in time be shown to warrant another generic placement.

Head: Setation of antennal scape and pedicel more variable than described by Hull; shape of postpedicel (= third ‘segment’ of flagellomere) rather different in A. macroceros ; style (= microsegment) with single pit -enclosed spine terminally; face not always uniformly pruinose (= pollinose); facial setation sometimes both intra - and interspecifically variable, especially in colour, and more extensive than suggested. No mention is made that some species have shiny, dorsoventrally flattened, scale -like setae associated with the mystax ( arachnoides , unicolor ).

Thorax: Mesonotal pruinescence sometimes largely absent and setae better developed ( leucothrix ); postpronotal lobe (= humerus) only rarely lacking stout macrosetae; lateral mesonotal macrosetae somewhat variable in number and more than 2 notopleurals, supra -anals and postalars sometimes present (especially in fascipennis ); scutellum not always without marginal setae, which may be well developed in leucothrix and weakly developed in unicolor ; scutellar disc setae may be quite well developed ( leucothrix ); pleura sometimes ventrally apruinose ( leucothrix ); katatergal (= metapleural) macrosetae variable in number.

Legs: Setal number and development variable.

Wings: The characteristic alignment of veins ( Fig. 8 ) (considered a good synapomorphy supporting monophyly within the genus, see couplet 1 of key) is not present in two species ( fascipennis , leucothrix ).

Abdomen: Terga 2-6 with variable number of macrosetae (0-3); epandrium does not ‘merge laterally with the gonopod’, but is separate (as shown in figures).

Figures

Figs 7-9. Anypodetus species, wing venation. 7. A. fascipennsis Engel (Willowmore ♀). 8. A. nigrifacies Ricardo (Mkuzi ♂). 9. A. leucothrix sp. n.(holotype). Scale lines = 1 mm.