Mesembrius capensis (Macquart, 1842)

Jordaens, Kurt, Goergen, Georg, Skevington, Jeffrey H., Kelso, Scott & Meyer, Marc De, 2021, Revision of the Afrotropical species of the hover fly genus Mesembrius Rondani (Diptera, Syrphidae) using morphological and molecular data, ZooKeys 1046, pp. 1-141 : 1

Mesembrius capensis (Macquart, 1842) Figs 7 , 30 , 50 , 70 , 87 , 110 , 129 , 160 , 179 , 209

Helophilus capensis Macquart, 1842: 122 (South Africa).

Helophilus capensis - Séguy (1931): 118.

Helophilus (Mesembrius) capensis - Bezzi (1915): 95.

Tubifera capensis - Kertész (1910): 250.

Mesembrius capensis - Curran (1927): 64 - Curran (1939): 10 - Smith and Vockeroth (1980): 504.

Helophilus lagopus Loew, 1860: 386 (South Africa). syn. nov.

Helophilus lagopus - Bezzi (1901): 16.

Helophilus (Mesembrius) lagopus - Bezzi (1915): 95.

Tubifera lagopus - Kertész (1910): 255.

Mesembrius lagopus - Curran (1927): 62 - Curran (1939): 10 - van Doesburg (1955): 355 - Smith and Vockeroth (1980): 504 - De Meyer and Maragia (1993): 3.

Differential diagnosis.

Mesembrius capensis males lack an apical pile brush on the profemur and have an unmodified metatibia. The basoventral section of the profemur has a patch of black pile. The metafemur is entirely covered with long, thin yellow pile, but with long black pile interspersed in the anteroventral proximal 1/5. The fascia on tergite II is very large with a large anterior and smaller posterior triangular black marking. Males are easily distinguished from any other male by the patch of long black pile on the ventroproximal end of the profemur. Females have a frons which is pale pilose on the ventral half. It differs from females of other species with a pale pilose frons in the ventral half (except from the spined morph of M. caffer ) in tergite II which has a yellow fascia (a pair of yellow maculae in other species). It differs from the female of the spined morph of M. caffer in the mesotibia which lacks or has very inconspicuous black pile, except for a few thick, black spines at the distal ventral end (black pile conspicuous in ventral distal half and without thick black spines at distal ventral end in M. caffer ).

Examined material.

Helophilus capensis Macquart: Lectotype (hereby designated), male, “SYNTYPE” " MNHN, Paris // ED6791" " 1♂ Helophilus // Helophilus capensis Macq // C.F. Kassebeer 1999" [MNHN]. Helophilus capensis Macquart: Paralectotype, female, “SYNTYPE” " MNHN, Paris // ED6790" " SYNTYPES // Vockeroth ‘69” "afrique // Delalande" [MNHN] .

Helophilus lagopus Loew: Holotype, female, " Helophilus // Mesembrius lagopus " “208” "Cap. B. // Spei." "Victo- // rin." " LECTOTYPUS // Helophilus lagopus // Loew, 1858" "design. Kassebeer 1993" "NHRS-BYWS // 000002620" [NRMS].

Other material.

Angola • 1♂ 1♀; 30 km NE of Duque de Braganza ; Nov-Dec. 1957; G.H. Heinrich leg.; NHMUK • 1♀; Duque de Braganza; Nov-Dec 1957; G.H. Heinrich leg.; NHMUK . Botswana • 1♂; Gabarone ; 12 Nov 1988; W.H.O. Ernst leg.; RMNH . Democratic Republic of the Congo • 1♀; Sakania ; Sep 1931; N.P. Cockerell leg.; NHMUK • 1♂ 1♀; Lualaba; Bunkeya ; Oct 1907; S.A. Neave leg.; NHMUK • 1♂; Katanga; Kafubu Mission ; Nov 1931; J. Ogilvie leg.; CNC • 1♀; South Kivu; Kalambelembe-Baraka ; Jul 1918; R. Mayné leg.; KMMA • 1♀; Kapanga; Lulua ; Nov 1928; Walker leg.; KMMA • 1♂ 1♀ Léopoldville [= Kinshasa]; 27 May 1915; Lang and Chapin leg.; KMMA • 1♂; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 11-17 Sep 1931; A. Mackie leg.; NHMUK • 1♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 23 May 1920; M. Bequaert leg.; KMMA • 1♂ 1♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 1927; M. Bequaert leg.; KMMA • 1♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 12 Nov 1928; M. Bequaert leg.; KMMA • 1♂ 1♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 1 Dec 1929; M. Bequaert leg.; KMMA • 1♂; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 11-17 Nov 1931; T.D.A. Cockerell leg.; CNC • 1♂ 1♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 9 Sep 1932; De Loose leg. • KMMA • 2♀♀; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 1 Dec 1929; M. Bequaert leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 15 Mar 1928; M. Bequaert leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 23 May 1920; M. Bequaert leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Sakania ; Nov 1931; V.P. Cockerell leg.; CNC • 1♀; Tumbwe ; 16 Nov 1921; M. Bequaert leg.; KMMA • 1♀; locality unknown; 8 Nov 1951; H. De Saeger leg.; KMMA. Eswatini; 1♀; Manzini; 7 May 1991; J.A.W. Lucas leg.; RMNH . Ethiopia • 1♂ 1♀; Errer River ; date unknown; G. Kristensen leg.; NHMUK . Ghana • 1♂; Kumasi ; 28 Oct 1946; J. Bowden leg.; NMSA . Kenya • 2♂♂ 3♀♀; Nairobi Prov., Kasarani ; 10-14 Dec 2016; K. Jordaens and R. Copeland leg.; NMK • 1♀; Nairobi Prov., Kasarani ; IV.2014; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE • 1♀; Central Prov., Kinnyaga, Mucagara Farm ; 16-18 Dec 2016; K. Jordaens and R. Copeland leg.; NMK • 2♂♂; Nyeri; X.1948; van Someren leg.; NHMUK • 2♂♂ 2♀♀; Sola District, Lonje Valley , Laikipia escarpment; 12 Sep 1919; T.J. Anderson leg.; NHMUK . Madagascar • 1♀; Antananarivo; 28 Feb 2016; G. Goergen leg.; IITA . Malawi • 1♀; Ruo ; date unknown; R.C. Wood leg.; NHMUK . Mozambique • 1♂; Luabo; Lower Zambezi River, Port East Africa ; 1 Apr 1958; P. Usher leg.; NMSA • 1♂; Rikatla ; date unknown; H. Junod leg.; NMSA . Rwanda • 1♀; Nduga ; Mar 1953; P. Basilewsky leg.; KMMA . South Africa • 1♀; Barberton, Aloe Bridge Farm ; 22 Oct 2016; A. Vujić et al.; leg.; UNS • 2♂♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Bisley Valley Nature Reserve ; 22 Dec 1993; J.G.H. Londt and Craddock leg.; NMSA • 1♂ 1♀; Bontebok National Park ; 4 Dec 2016; A. Vujić; S. Radenković; N. Veličković and Z. Petanidou leg.; UNS • 1♂ 1♀; Capland ; date unknown; S. Krebs leg.; MNB ; 1♂; Western Cape, Cederberg ; 17-21 Oct 2017; K. Jordaens leg.; KMMA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Doonybrook ; 10 Oct 2015; Vujić et al. leg.; UNS • 1♀; Eastern Cape, East London ; 9 Apr 1922; H.K. Munro leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Eastern Cape, East London ; 9 Apr 1922; H.K. Munro leg.; NMSA • 1♂; Hottentot , Holland; 5 Dec 2016; A. Vujić; S. Radenković; N. Veličković and Z. Petanidou leg.; UNS • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Ashburton ; 8 Nov 1982; D.A. Barraclough leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Barlett Estate, Cato Ridge ; 9 Oct 2018; G. Theron leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Bishopstown, near Pietermaritzburg ; 11 Dec 1982; A. Seymour leg.; NMSA • 2♂♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Bisley Valley Reserve ; 22 Dec 1993; J.G.H. Londt leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Congelia ; 26 Oct 1906; G.F. Leigh leg.; NMSA • 2♂♂; KwaZulu-Natal; Ferncliff ; 16 Nov 2018; K. Jordaens leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Hudley ; date unknown; E. Pinhey leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Illovo ; 14 Jun 1919; collector unknown; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Ingwavuma ; 21 Feb 1979; J.G.H. Londt leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve ; 30 Nov 1982; B.R. Stuckenberg leg.; NMSA • 1♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Kosi Lake ; 22-27 Jan 1967; D. Gilissen leg.; RMNH • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Mkuzi Game Reserve, Nsumu Pan Area ; 12 Jan 1994; Natal Museum Staff leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Mtunzini ; 7 Feb 1965; T. Schofield leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Port Shepstone, Uvongo ; 23 Sep 2005; A. Wilson leg.; NMSA • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Salt Rock ; 5 Oct 1991; J.G.H. Londt leg.; NMSA • 2♂♂; KwaZulu-Natal; Zululand, Ndumu Game Reserve ; 26 Oct 1972; M.E. Irwin leg.; NMSA • 3♂♂ 4♀♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Howick ; 18 Oct 2015; A. Vujić et al. leg.; UNS • 1♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Howick, near Curry's Post ; 14 Feb 2016; A. Vujić; S. Radenković leg.; UNS • 1♂; Western Cape, Keniworth Racecourse Cons. Area ; 5 Nov 2014; A. Vujić et al. leg.; UNS • 1♀; Mpumulanga, Mariepskop National Park ; 23-24 Jan 2017; K. Jordaens leg.; KMMA • 1♂ 1♀; Mpumulanga, Molele Farm ; 28 Jan 2017; K. Jordaens leg.; KMMA • 1♂; Muizenberg, False Bay ; 3 Jan 1972; Southern African Expedition leg.; NHMUK • 1♀; KwaZulu-Natal, N. from Pietermaritzburg along Otto's Bluff ; 19 Oct 2015; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK • 4♂♂ 8♀♀; KwaZulu-Natal, near Howick ; 18 Oct 2015; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK • 1♂; Cape Province, Port Elizabeth ; 22-27 Dec 1985; J.G.H. Londt leg.; NMSA • 1♂; Stellenbosch, Delheim winery; 10 Feb 2009; E.M. & L. Laasonen leg.; MZH • 1♂; Western Cape, Cederberg NP; 20 Nov 2011; A. Vujić leg.; MZH • 1♂ 1♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Winterton ; 1 Oct 2015; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK • 1♂; KwaZulu-Natal, Winterton ; 27 Sep 2015; A. Vujić et al. leg.; UNS • 1♂ 2♀♀; Zastron ; 16 Dec 2016; A. Vujić; S. Radenković; N. Veličković and Z. Petanidou leg.; UNS • 1♂ 1♀; locality and date unknown; S. Krebs leg.; MNB • 1♂; Limpopo Province, Moorddrift ; date and collector unknown; NMSA • 1♂; Limpopo Province, Plat River ; 1 Jan 1903; V. Judzncka leg.; NMSA • 1♂; Mongosi ; May 1916; W.E. Jones leg.; RMNH • 2♂♂; Mpumalanga, Barberton , De Kaap; 18 and 29 Apr 1929; H.K. Munro leg.; NMSA • 2♂♂; Mpumalanga, Lomati River ; 7 Nov 1970; B.R. Stuckenberg leg.; NMSA • 1♀; Piet Retief ; 15 Mar 1918; Dr. Brauns leg.; RMNH • 1♀; Port Elizabeth ; 24 Feb 1922; H.K. Munro leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Western Cape, Knysna ; 1 Jan 1910; H. Brauns leg.; NMSA . Togo • 1♀; Kloto Forest ; Feb 2005; G. Goergen leg.; IITA . Uganda • 1♂; Entebbe ; 23-31 Jan 1973; H. Falke leg.; CNC • 1♀; Entebbe ; 1-15 Apr 1983; G.G.M. Schulten leg.; RMNH • 1♂; Ibanda; 23-28 Dec 1972; H. Falke leg.; CNC . Zambia • 1♂; Lake Bangweulu, Mbawala Island ; Nov-Dec 1946; collector unknown; NHMUK • 1♂; N. of lake Bangweulu, near Milambo ; 20 Oct 1946; collector unknown; NHMUK • 1♂; N. of Lake Bangweulu; N’Sombo; 11 Dec 1946; collector unknown; NHMUK • 1♂; Chilanga ; 2 Jan 1914; R.C. Wood leg.; NHMK . Zimbabwe • 1♂; upper Kalungwsisi valley; 10 Sep 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OXUM • 1♂; Salisbury [= Harare]; date unknown; G.A.K. Marshall leg.; NHMUK • 1♀; Umtali District ; 2 Jan 1931; P.A. Sheppard leg.; RMNH • 1♂; N. Vumba ; 6 Oct 1963; D. Cookson leg.; NMSA .

Re-description male

(Fig. 7 ). Body length: 10.6-14.5 mm. Wing length: 8.1-10.4 mm.

Head (Fig. 50 ). Eyes bare; slightly dichoptic, distance between eyes approx. the width of ocellus. Face white with dark medial vitta; white pollinose; white pilose. Vertical triangle with black pile in lower half and at ocellar triangle, yellow pile on vertex; yellow pollinose until just before anterior ocellus; distance between lateral ocellus and eye margin 1/2 width of ocellus. Frontal triangle white; white pilose; white pollinose. Frontal prominence shiny black. Occiput yellow; yellow pilose; yellow and white pollinose. Antenna black, antennal arista reddish-brown.

Thorax. Scutum black with, dorsally, pair of well-demarcated yellow vittae and a faint yellow medial line, which are both connected at anterior and posterior parts of scutum; with lateral, yellow vitta; pile rufous. Scutellum uniformly yellow-brown; yellow pilose.

Legs. Proleg (Fig. 160 ): femur dark brown to black, without apical pile brush; yellow pilose, pile shorter on dorsal side; with a small patch of black pile at posteroventral proximal end. Tibia yellow to orange-brown, long yellow pilose with a few thick black pile at distal end; tarsi orange-brown, black pilose dorsally, yellow-orange pilose ventrally. Mesoleg (Fig. 179 ): femur as in proleg, but without the posteroventral black pile at proximal end; tibia yellow-orange; with black pile on anterodorsal side; otherwise long yellow pilose. Basitarsus and second tarsal segment orange-brown; black pilose dorsally, long yellow pilose posteriorly. Other tarsi brown; black pilose, with long dark brown pile posteriorly. Metaleg: femur dark brown to black; yellow pilose, with long black pile interspersed at posteroventral proximal half and with some short and thicker black pile at distal end. Tibia dark brown; unmodified; long yellow pilose with sorter, black pile on ventrally and posteriorly, ventral side also with some long, black pile. Tarsi dark brown to black; black pilose dorsally, dark brown and orange pilose ventrally.

Wing (Fig. 129 ). Entire wing uniformly dense microtrichose.

Abdomen (Fig. 87 ). Tergite II with a pair of large, yellow triangular maculae; black marking hourglass-shaped; posterior black marking, though sometimes very vague (as in Fig. 87 ), equal in size or somewhat narrower than anterior black marking. Posterior black part with short, stiff black setulae which to not extend to the lateral margins. Tergite III and IV with yellow fascia of variable size, often occupying almost the entire tergite, but always with black triangular marking posteriorly. Tergite V strongly white pollinose, except for a black medial zone; with short, black stiff pile posteriorly which do not reach the lateral tergal sides, this pile being absent in specimens where the posterior black marking is strongly reduced.

Genitalia (Fig. 209 ). Epandrium: Dorsal lobe of surstylus elongated, more or less rectangular with upwardly curved apex; with short, black spines in distal half; dorsolaterally with a few longer, black setulae; dorsally and laterally with long, yellow pile. Ventral lobe of surstylus with large expansion ventrally with, on ventral side of the expansion, very long and dense black setulae.

Re-description female

(Fig. 30 ). Body length: 9.6-14.4 mm. Wing length: 8.1-10.2 mm.

Head (Fig. 70 ). Eyes bare; dichoptic. Face yellow-white with dark medial vitta; white pilose, white pollinose. Frons yellow-white; predominantly black pilose on ocellar triangle and just ventrally of ocellar triangle, otherwise white pilose; strongly white pollinose on ventral 3/5. Distance between lateral ocellus and eye margin approx. 1½ x width of ocellus. Occiput yellow-white; yellow-white pilose; yellow-white pollinose. Frontal prominence shiny black, orange-brown at distal end; antenna black; antennal arista reddish-brown.

Thorax. Scutum dark brown with one pair of dorsolateral lighter, yellow pollinose vittae which are connected posteriorly; with lateral, yellow pollinose vitta; yellow pilose. Scutellum yellow-orange; yellow pilose.

Legs. Proleg: Femur black, distal end yellow-orange; yellow pilose; white pollinose. Tibia orange, darkened on dorsal distal 1/3; yellow pilose. Tarsi orange-brown to black; black pilose dorsally, yellow pilose ventrally with some thick, black pile ventrally. Mesoleg: Femur black; yellow-white pilose, with some short black spines at distal end ventrally. Tibia orange; yellow pilose, with some long, thick black pile at ventral distal end. Basitarsus orange; yellow pilose, with some long, thick black pile on dorsal distal end and ventrally. Other tarsi black; dorsally short black pilose, ventrally yellow pilose with some large, thick black pile. Metaleg: Femur black; yellow-white pilose with shorter and thicker black pile on ventral distal half; white pollinose. Tibia chocolate-brown; yellow-white pilose with some black pile interspersed ventrally, pile longer on distal ventral end. Tarsi black; short black and yellow pilose dorsally; densely yellow-orange pilose ventrally.

Wing. Entire wing uniformly microtrichose.

Abdomen (Fig. 110 ). Tergite II with a broad orange fascia, with a narrow black anterior marking and a larger, posterior black marking which, in the medial part, is approx. 1/2 the tergal length; yellow pilose, with some very short and thicker black pile posteriorly; especially the posterior part of the posterior black marking white pollinose. Tergite III with yellow-orange fascia which in the medial part is approx. 2/5 of tergal length; yellow pilose, with some very short and thicker black pile posteriorly; especially in the medial part strongly white pollinose. Tergite IV similar, but entire orange fascia strongly white pollinose and black pile in black marking almost absent. Tergite V black; yellow-white pilose; strongly white pollinose on anterior half, especially on the lateral sides.

Distribution.

Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Comments.

The study of the type material shows that M. lagopus (Loew, 1860) is morphologically similar to M. capensis (Macquart, 1842) and hence, we consider both conspecific, with M. lagopus (Loew, 1860) being a junior synonym of M. capensis (Macquart, 1842).

Figures

Figures 7, 8. Mesembrius spp., habitus, lateral view 7 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 8 M. chapini Curran (♂).

Figures 29, 30. Mesembrius spp., habitus, lateral view 29 M. ctenifer syn. nov. Hull (♀) 30 M. capensis (Macquart) (♀).

Figures 46 - 51. Mesembrius spp., head, frontal view 46 M. arcuatus sp. nov. (♂) 47 M. caffer (Loew) (nominal morph) (♂) 48 M. caffer (Loew) (spined morph) (♂) 49 M. ctenifer Hull syn. nov. (♂) 50 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 51 M. chapini Curran (♂).

Figures 70 - 74. Mesembrius spp., head, frontal view 70 M. capensis (Macquart) (♀) 71 M. cyanipennis (Bezzi) (♀) 72 M. chapini Curran (♀) 73 M. maculifer Hull (♀) 74 M. morio (Bezzi) (♀).

Figures 83 - 88. Mesembrius spp., abdomen, dorsal view 83 M. arcuatus sp. nov. (♂) 84 M. caffer (Loew) (nominal morph) (♂) 85 M. caffer (Loew) (spined morph) (♂) 86 M. ctenifer Hull syn. nov. (♂) 87 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 88 M. chapini Curran (♂).

Figures 107 - 112. Mesembrius spp., abdomen, dorsal view 107 M. caffer (Loew) (nominal morph) (♀) 108 M. caffer (Loew) (spined morph) (♀) 109 M. ctenifer syn. nov. Hull (♀) 110 M. capensis (Macquart) (♀) 111 M. chapini Curran (♀) 112 M. cyanipennis (Bezzi) (♀).

Figures 127 - 130. Mesembrius spp., right wing 127 M. arcuatus sp. nov. (♂) 128 M. caffer (Loew) (nominal morph) (♂) 129 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 130 M. chapini Curran (♂).

Figures 159 - 162. Mesembrius spp., proleg, dorsal view 159 M. tarsatus (Bigot) (♂) 160 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 161 M. senegalensis (♂) 162 M. longipilosus sp. nov. (♂). Abbreviations: bt-basitarsus, fem-femur, tib-tibia.

Figures 177 - 180. Mesembrius spp., mesoleg, dorsal view 177 M. tibialis sp. nov. (♂) 178 M. caffer (Loew) (♂) 179 M. capensis (Macquart) (♂) 180 M. madagascariensis Keiser (♂). Abbreviations: bt-basitarsus, fem-femur, tib-tibia.

Figures 205 - 216. Mesembrius spp., male genitalia, lateral view 205 M. arcuatus sp. nov. 206 M. caffer (Loew) (nominal morph) 207 M. caffer (Loew) (spined morph) 208 M. ctenifer Hull syn. nov. 209 M. capensis (Macquart) 210 M. chapini Curran 211 M. copelandi sp. nov. 212 M. cyanipennis (Bezzi) 213 M. ingratus (Loew) 214 M. longipilosus sp. nov. 215 M. madagascariensis Keiser 216 M. minor (Bezzi).