Euscelidia obtusa, Dikow, 2003

Dikow, Torsten, 2003, Revision of the genus Euscelidia Westwood, 1850 (Diptera: Asilidae: Leptogastrinae), African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 1-131 : 88-89

Euscelidia obtusa sp. n.

Figs 51E–I , 61

Etymology: Latin adjective obtusus = blunt; refers to the blunt, slightly pointed distal margin of the hypandrium.

Diagnosis: The species is distinguished from congeners by the few microtrichia on the wings and features of the ơ terminalia (sur with dorsal and ventral lobe, short lat pr aed extending gonp).

Description: Head: Black; fc yellow pruinose, fc gib indistinct, mystax white, many macrosetae; prob and plp brown and dark brown, setae white; oc tr white pruinose dorsally; occ silver pruinose, setae white; Antennae - scp brown, white setae ventrally, white pruinose; ped brown, white setae ventrally and brown setae dorsally, white pruinose; pped proximally light brown, remaining part brown, white pruinose proximally and ventrally; apsel hyaline.

Thorax: Black; ppro peg small, distinct, silver pruinose; sct black, sometimes anterior and lateral margins orange, predominantly yellow pruinose, margins silver pruinose, 2 lateral triangular spots, anterior and posterior to trn sut, apruinose (not as distinct as in other species), yellow setae on margins; macrosetae: 1 white npl s, 1 white or black spal s; sctl white pruinose, ds sctl s and sctl s long, white; Legs - yellow to brown; pro and meso fem yellow, setae white, meta fem slightly clubbed, pale yellow proximally, club dorsally brown with short white setae; pro and meso tib yellow, pale yellow stripe anteriorly, meta tib brown, yellow proximally, pale yellow stripe not reaching tip anteriorly; first tar yellow, remaining tar light brown, setae black; emp minute; Wings - hyaline, few microtrichia scattered on remigium and on distal margin; ptero distinct, brown; cell d terminating in 2 veins; hlt yellow.

Abdomen: Black; T brown pruinose, anterior and posterior margins grey pruinose, T1 with long brown setae laterally, T 2 in proximal half with white setae laterally, remaining T with short white and yellow setae, S grey pruinose; ơ terminalia Figs 51E–I - sur pointed distally, lobe dorsally and ventrally; hypd bent upwards, not divided; d aed shea short, lat pr aed extending gonp; lat apod simple.

Type material - The ơ holotype is labelled ‘ KENYA #60 Nguruma, Kajiado dist 0150'S: 36 56'E 700 m v.1990, Rift valley COLL: I. M. I. Abu-Zinid Alluvial plains / ơ 2488 (handwritten) / HOLOTYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (red label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in block of foam), is in very good condition (met legs broken), and is deposited in the NMSA.

A ơ paratype is labelled ‘ Magadi, Brit. E. Africa [British East Africa = Kenya], April 1912. F. G. Hamilton. 1915-374 / PARATYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in rectangular piece of plastic), is in poor condition (sct cracked, left pro and meso leg broken, specimen greasy), and is deposited in the BMNH . A ơ paratype is labelled ‘ KENYA, Rt. A109 Hunters’s Lodge 2,7. XII.1989 [2–7.xii.1989] A. FREIDBERG & FINI KAPLAN / PARATYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in block of foam), is in very good condition (abdomen broken attached to foam block; ơ terminalia attached to specimens pin in micro vial), and is deposited in the NMSA . 3^^ paratypes are labelled ‘ KENYA: Machakos #83 40km SE of Nairobi 01 28'S: 37 03'E 1700 m Date : 29.xi.1992 A Whittington & J Londt Lukenya cliffs/ bushveld / PARATYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimens are double mounted (minuten in block of foam), are in excellent condition, and are deposited in the NMSA . 2^^ paratypes are labelled ‘ KENYA Rt. A109 50 km SE Nairobi 30.IV.1991 A. FREIDBERG & FINI KAPLAN / PARATYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimens are double mounted (minuten in block of foam), are in good to very good condition (1^ head broken), and are deposited in the NMSA . A ơ paratype is labelled ‘SALISBURY [Harare] Mashonaland March 1900 G. A. K. Marshall (‘ March 1900 ’ handwritten) / 79 / PARATYPE Euscelidia obtusa sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in circular piece of cardboard), is in good condition (sct cracked; ơ terminalia attached to specimens pin in micro vial), and is deposited in the BMNH .

Type locality and distribution ( Fig. 61 ): Kenya , Nguruma, 1 50'S 36 56'E. Kenya, Zimbabwe .

Figures

Fig. 51. ơ terminalia. A–D. Euscelidia nitida. A. Dorsal. B. Ventral. C. Lateral. D. Aedeagus lateral. E–I. E. obtusa sp. n. E. Aedeagus lateral. F. Aedeagus dorsal. G. Dorsal. H. Ventral. I. Lateral. Scale line = 1 mm.

Fig. 61. Distribution. Euscelidia erichthenii sp. n., pentagon; E. festiva, squares; E. moyoensis, circles; E. obtusa sp. n., triangles; E. senegalensis sp. n., star.