Heteralonia (Isotamia) azaniae Greathead and Evenhuis, 2001

Greathead, D. J. & Evenhuis, N. L., 2001, Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera: Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae), African Invertebrates 42 (1820), pp. 105-224 : 201-203

Heteralonia (Isotamia) azaniae Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n.

( Figs 98 , 123 )

Material examined: Holotype Ò. KENYA: Mau Summit , 7.x.1975 (D. J. Greathead) ( BMNH) . Paratypes. KENYA: 1Ò1^, as holotype; near Gil-Gil , 5.xi.1975 , 2Ò1^ (D. J. Greathead); Elburgon , 7.x.1975 , 2^ (D. J. Greathead); Rongai , 11.x.1975 , 1^ (D. J.

Greathead) (all DJG); Masai Reserve , 23.iv.1913, 2Ò ( T. J. Anderson); Nyeri (S), 12.iv.1945, 1Ò1^ (van Someren); Chulyu Hills, 5200 feet, iv.1938, 2Ò (Coryndon Mus. Exped.) (all BMNH). TANZANIA: near Kolo N of Kondoa, 15.v.1968, 1Ò (D. J. Greathead) ( DJG). Also seen in collection of J. Bowden, a series from Uganda: Sebei, Ngege, 26.viii.1959 (J. Bowden) .

Diagnosis: This is a very variable species, as is the subgenotype H. (Isotamia) daveyi (Bezzi) . It is larger than that species and has more extensive brownish scaling and distinct spots on the crossveins in the pale part of the wings, as does H. loxospila Hesse and H. ceuthodonta Hesse , but these species have vein R 2+3 originating much closer to crossvein r-m, and do not have the faint infuscation along the margins of the veins at the wing margin.

Description: Holotype Ò. Length 9.5 mm; proboscis 3 mm; wing 11.5 mm. Head: Black, but brown inside oral cavity and with paler brownish areas on genae.Eyes at vertex separated by more than 3 x width of ocellar triangle which is narrow and elongate. Face broad and longitudinal groove conspicuous. Frons and face with dense fine black hair and a tuft of flattened black hairs at apex of facial cone, scales shining reddish-brown. Occiput with mixed black and yellow hair and glittering reddish scales. Antenna: Brownish black. First flagellomere conical, equal in length to scape and pedicel combined, and with a stout flattened second flagellomere of equal length terminating in a transparent style. Proboscis almost twice length of head, black. Palpi black with long sparse black hairs. Thorax: Black. Hair black with a few orange-yellow ones intermixed, especially towards the anterior margin, that at anterior margin (collar) dull yellow. Scales reddish-brown with some intermixed black ones. Pleura with patches of flattened scale-like hairs above mid coxae. Plumula weak, white. Legs: brownish-black.Bristles and spicules well developed, black.Fore tibiae spiculate and hind femora with a complete ventral row of strong bristles. Scales dense, black with a few reddish ones intermixed, glossy or matt depending on angle of incident light. Claws, black, long, slender and rather straight. Wing ( Fig. 98 ): Basicostal infuscation and spots dark brown and paler brown borders to longitudinal veins in clearer part of wing. Clearer part tinged greyish-brown. Costal hook and comb black. Squama brownish-black with a fringe of small orange scales. Halter blackish. Abdomen: Black. Hair black, very sparse except at sides of first tergum. Scaling dense, mainly black, forming a fringe at sides, except on first tergum. White scales forming irregular spots at sides and on mid-line of terga 2–6 and across base of seven, also with some orange-brown scales across the base of second tergum and scattered among the black ones elsewhere. Sterna with black hair and scales, with a few orange scales intermixed and at margins of sterna. Male genitalia ( Fig. 123 ): Small, inconspicuous, black. Epiphallus spatulate.

Paratype ^.As holotype, even eyes no more widely separated at vertex. Spermathecae very small thick-walled, tubular, pointed at apex.

Remarks: Specimens vary in the extent of the admixture of orange hair and scales and the amount of white scaling on the abdomen. The wing varies in the size of the spots (larger in Uganda specimens) and the intensity of the dark borders to the veins (absent in the Tanzania specimen).

The other eastern African species of Isotamia are all found in relatively arid savannas among short grass (DJG, unpublished observations); however, this species was collected at localities over 1500 m in relatively humid areas.

Subgenus Mesoclis Bezzi

Mesoclis Bezzi, 1921 a: 139 [1922 b: 105; 1922 c: 143; 1924:228, 229] (as subgenus of Exoprosopa Macquart ). Type species: Anthrax pygmalion Fabricius, 1805 , by original designation (as ‘ varineriuspygmalian, Fabr.’).

Distribution: Monotypic. Mediterranean Basin including North Africa: Heteralonia pygmalion (Fabricius) .

Subgenus Metapenta Bezzi

Metapenta Bezzi, 1921 a: 138 , 139 [1922 a: 84; 1923: 330; 1924: 230] (as subgenus of Exoprosopa ). Type species: Exoprosopa pentala Macquart, 1840 , by subsequent designation (Bezzi, 1924: 230).

Distribution: Afrotropical Region: 10 species.

Subgenus Zygodipla Bezzi

Zygodipla Bezzi, 1924: 244 (as subgenus of Exoprosopa Macquart ) [1926: 268 (as genus)]. Type species: Anthrax algira Fabricius, 1794 , by original designation.

Corycetta Hull, 1973: 413 (as subgenus of Exoprosopa Macquart ). Type species: Exoprosopa subfasciata Engel, 1936 , by original designation.

Distribution: Mainly Palaearctic and Oriental Regions, also Yemen. North Africa: 9

species. Africa South of the Sahara: 3 species; Heteralonia suavipennis (Macquart)

(Gambia-Senegal, Cape Verde Islands), H. tephroleuca (Loew) ( Sudan) , H. mira

Greathead ( Namibia) (Greathead 2001 a).

Figures

Figs 95–99. Bombyliidae wings. 95. Heteralonia spoliata (Bezzi). 96. Exoprosopa batrachoides Bezzi. 97. Ligyra atricosta Bezzi (all from Bezzi 1924). 98. Heteralonia azaniae Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n. 99. Exoprosopa enigma Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n.

Figs 119–124. Bombyliidae genitalia. 119. Exoprosopa argentifrons Macquart, male genitalia. a. lateral view. b. ventral view. 120. Micomitra vitripennis (Brunetti), male genitalia. a. lateral view. b. ventral view (all from Hesse 1956). 121. Exoprosopa engima Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n., male genitalia 122. Exoprosopa enigma Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n., female spermatheca. 123. Heteralonia azaniae Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n., male genitalia. 124. Diatropomma annettae Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n., male genitalia.