Ancylorhynchus phelpsi, Londt, 2011

Londt, Jason G. H., 2011, A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 471-471 : 512-513

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5733/afin.052.0214

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B75F77-C616-FF97-FE7E-DF2BFE84F942

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Ancylorhynchus phelpsi
status

sp. nov.

Ancylorhynchus phelpsi sp. n.

Figs 17 View Figs 3–30 , 47 View Figs 41–50 , 108–110 View Figs 93–110

Etymology: Named for Dr R.F. Phelps whose collecting activities in Zimbabwe have provided interesting material including the type specimens of this species.

Description:

Male (based on holotype. Condition: Excellent; right antenna broken off beyond pedicel; mesonotum depressed and slightly cracked in region where pin was inserted; abdomen slightly greasy.).

Head: Orange and dark red-brown, silver pruinose, whitish setose. Antenna ( Fig. 17 View Figs 3–30 ): Dark red-brown, scape whitish setose pedicel appears asetose, postpedicel tipped with obliquely positioned pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element (terminal stylus ‘segment’ absent). Segmental ratios: 1:0.2:7.6. Face yellowish, strongly silver pruinose except lateral parts of epistomal margin, mystax shiny whitish occupying ventral ⅓ of face. Frons and vertex orange and dark red-brown, silver pruinose, whitish setose; ocellar tubercle anteriorly apruinose, fine whitish setose (no macrosetae). Occiput orange with small dorsal part dark red-brown, uniformly silver pruinose, whitish setose. Palpus dark red-brown, whitish setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, whitish setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown and orange, silver pruinose, whitish setose. Prothorax dark red-brown and orange, strongly silver pruinose, whitish setose. Mesonotum brown-orange except for dark red-brown median stripe that fails to reach posterior margin and pair of dark red-brown marks at level of transverse suture, fine silver pruinose (including narrow strip down centre of dark median stripe), fine shortish whitish setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (whitish when present): dc tiny confined to area posterior of transverse suture, 2 npl, 1 spal, 2–3 pal. Scutellum red-brown with brown-orange area posteromedially, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely whitish setose, hind margin with c. 4 whitish moderately developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura patchy dark red-brown and brown-orange, entirely silver-gold pruinose, setae whitish confined to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot brown-orange with dark red-brown spot medially. Legs: cx dark red-brown and brown-orange, silver pruinose, white setose; tro red-brown; fem, tib and tar brown-orange (dorsal parts of tib paler yellowish), whitish setose except for some blackish setae on fem, claws dark red-brown with orange proximal parts. Wings ( Fig. 47 View Figs 41–50 , paratype): 7.1× 2.9 mm. Veins pale brown. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), distal cells pale brown. Haltere pale yellow with slightly darker base.

Abdomen: Red-brown and orange-brown, anterior parts of segments a little darker, silvery pruinose, whitish setose. T1 dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; T2–8 dark red-brown anteriorly orange-brown posteriorly, large silver pruinose areas posterolaterally, white setose. Terminalia orange-brown. Sternites similar to tergites.

Genitalia ( Figs 108–110 View Figs 93–110 , paratype): Epand bifid, forming pair of relatively long, slender lobes that project posteriorly beyond all other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, each having undulating appearance in dorsal view, distal parts converging. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly to rounded end; dorsal finger-like process well-developed, shortish, slightly clavate; inner lobe well developed, distal end sclerotised and somewhat medially directed. Gonst hardly compressed, slender, dorsally directed. Hypd moderately developed, proximal margin shallowly indented, anterior region tapering fairly rapidly to broad truncate, flattened distal end. Aed sub-triangular in ventral view with small bifid distal tip.

Female. Similar to the male, but more extensively orange in colour.

Variation: A fairly consistent species.

Holotype: ♂ ZIMBABWE: ‘ Africa , Rhodesia / Loc. Rekomitjie [16°08'S: 29°24'E] / Ref. / Date. 25/x/76 / Habit. Riverine / Collector. R.J. Phelps’ ( NMSA). GoogleMaps

Paratypes (all NMSA): 1♂ 2♀ ZIMBABWE : 1♂ same data as holotype GoogleMaps ; 1♀ ‘ Africa , Rhodesia / Loc. Rekomitjie / Ref. / Date. 23/x/76 / Habit. Riverine / Collector. R.J. Phelps’ ; 1♀ ZIMBABWE: ‘ Africa , Rhodesia / Loc. Rekomitjie / Ref. / Date. 22/x/76 / Habit. Riverine / Collector. R.J. Phelps’ .

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from the type locality in Southern Africa ( Zimbabwe) ( Table 1). The species has been collected only in October (Table 2). The biology is largely unknown, although label data state ‘riverine’ suggesting riverine woodland or savanna.

Similar species: A member of the nomadus species-group with close similarities to doryphorus .

NMSA

KwaZulu-Natal Museum

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Asilidae

Genus

Ancylorhynchus

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