Smeryngolaphria melanura (Wiedemann, 1828)

Jason G. H. Londt, 1989, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 18. The genus Smeryngolaphria Hermann, 1912 (Laphriinae), Annals of the Natal Museum 30, pp. 147-157 : 148-151

Smeryngolaphria melanura (Wiedemann, 1828)

Figs 2 , 5 , 12-14

Laphria melanura Wiedemann, 1828: 508

. Smeryngolaphria melanura Hermann, 1912: 226 ; Carrera, 1960: 155; Hull, 1962: 333; Martin & Papavero, 1970: 39.

Redescription: Based on unique holotype specimen.

Head: Dark red-brown and yellow areas as indicated. Antenna: Scape and pedicel brown-yellow, ftagellomeres both missing. All setae of scape and pedicel dark

red-brown; scape with strong dark red-brown ventral bristle. Face ( Fig. 5 ) width: maximum head width (measured anteriorly) ratio 4,7: 1. Upper five-eighths dark red-brown, lower three-eighths yellow; upper dark area with 2 strong brown bristles centraJly, near antennaI bases; lower paler area with cluster of long yellow bristles and setae, a few of which are slightly dorsoventrally flattened (those occurring laterally) and approaching the condition found in the females of Afrotropical species. Vertex and frons black with few black setae laterally. Ocellar bristles yellow-brown. Occipital area dark red-brown dorsally, yellow-brown ventrally; extensively gold pruinose; major dorsal bristles brown and black; all setae golden yellow. Proboscis yellow but red-brown ventrodistally. Pal pi pale yellow, 2-segmented, equipped with yellow setae.

Thorax: Brown-yellow, uniformly fine gold pruinose. Postpronotal lobes with yellow setae. Mesonotum with tiny black and yellow setae; acrostichal setae undifferentiated; dorsocentrals postsuturally situated only (best developed near hind margin); 3-4 notopleurals; 4 supra-alars; 3 postalars (all mesonotal bristles

brown-yellow). Scutellum with small black (few yellow) setae on disc, 8 brownyellow marginal bristles. Anatergites (metanotal callosities) gold pruinose, lacking setae. Pleura fine gold pruinose; all setae and bristles brown-yellow. Hind and upper margins of anepisternum with brown-yellow bristles; katatergum with many long brown-yellow bristles. Postmetacoxal area membranous. Wing length 13,5 mm (from humeral crossvein to tip); venation as in Fig. 2 ; except for small areas of cells c, r l, r 2+3, br, bm, cup, a l and discal, wing covered with microtrichia; r 5 open; m3 closed and stalked; r-m crossvein at about one-third the distance along anterior margin of discal cell; membrane yellow-stained, especially anterobas ally, entire wing tip (from approximately level of r-m crossvein) brown-stained. Legs brownyellow except for tips of hind femora which are dark red-brown and tarsi which are dark brown; setae mostly long yellow but mixed with black on pro- and mesothoracie tarsi and almost dark red-brown on hind tarsi; hind femur with ca 4 strongly developed bristles distally.

Abdomen: Terga 1-4 brown; T5 dark red-brown dorsocentrally, brown-yellow laterally; T6-7 dark red-brown. 2-4 dis cal bristles on all terga; setae yellow on brown-yellow parts, black on dark red-brown areas. Sl-5 yellow, S6-8 dark red-brown with longish setae. Genital bulb yellowish, rotated through 90°. Genitalia as illustrated in Figs 12-14 ; aedeagus with three short terminal filaments (a plesiomorphic condition found in all Laphriinae ).

Female: Not studied.

Material examined: BRAZIL: 1 ♂ holotype, 'Brasilien', ' melanura Coli . Winthem', ' Type W.' ( NMW). This inconspicuously labelled specimen has been provided with a modern type label.

Figures

Figs 2-4. Smeryngolaphrill species, wing venation. 2. S. melanura (Wiedemann). 3. S. pa/lida Bromley. 4. S. bromleyi sp. n.

Figs 5-11. Smeryngolaphria species. 5-7. Anterior aspect of head. 5. S. me/anura (Wiedemann). 6. S. pallida Bromley. 7. S. bromleyi sp. n. 8-11. Antennae. 8-9. S. pallida Bromley. 10-11. S. bromleyi sp. n. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Figs 12-14. Smeryngolaphria melanura (Wiedemann), holotype <3 genitalia. 12. Lateral. 13. Dorsal. 14. Ventral. Note: Aspects do not take rotation into account. Scale = 1 mm.