Oligopogon trichopteron, Londt, 2014

Londt, Jason G. H., 2014, A revision of Afrotropical Oligopogon Loew, 1847 (Diptera: Asilidae) with the description of eighteen new species, African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 269-269 : 309

Oligopogon trichopteron sp. n.

Figs 2A, 6

Etymology: From Greek trichos f. (hair) and pteron n. (wing). In reference to the almost entirely microtrichose wing membranes possessed by this species.

Description:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, extensively black setose.Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2:1.8: 3.7 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel short, circular in cross-section, tapering distally and with fine setae distally. Style long, of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex silver pruinose, mystax black, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput uniformly silver pruinose (See Fig. 2A), pale yellow-white setose. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:3.4 (face narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively gold-silver pruinose, predominantly black setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose with 2 pairs of circular apruinose spots on either side of transverse suture. 2 black npl, 1 black spal (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae longish mostly dark red-brown. Scutellum brown-yellow, largely silver pruinose except for medial strip, fine brown setose (apical macrosetae poorly differentiated). Pleura fairly uniformly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae pale yellow-white. Legs: Coxae orange-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters yellow, white setose. Femora yellow, mixed dark red-brown (including a few macrosetae dorsodistally) and pale yellowish setose. Tibiae and tarsi yellow, mostly dark red-brown setose.Wings: 4.9 × 1.7 mm (holotype). Veins yellow. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely microtrichose (giving wing pale yellow appearance) ( Fig. 6).

Abdomen: Terga red-brown, largely apruinose except for silver pruinose anterolateral margins, white setose. Sterna red-brown, extensively silver pruinose, usually with three apruinose spots (one on each lateral margin and one posteromedially – Pretoria ♀ lacks lateral spots), white setose. ♂ and ♀ terminalia red-brown.

Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ Sth Africa : Transvaal / 6 km N of Vivo 2229CC / 23–24.ii.1980 Londt / & Schoeman Bushveld / veget. & old lands’ ( NMSA).

Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ same data as for holotype; 1♀ ‘South Africa, Tvl / Langjan Nat. Res. / 22.52S 29.14E / 10.iii.1990 / C. D. Eardley’ (SANC); 1♀ ‘South Africa / Tvl Province / Pretoria [25°44'S 28°11'E] / 15.xi.1959 / D.J. Greathead’, ‘ Oligopogon / penicillatus Loew / det J.E. Chainey 1983’ (BMNH #1029993); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Pretoria / Silverton / 9.12.15 / H.K. Munro’ [together with trichopteron ] (USNM 00832552 ♂, 00832547 ♀).

Note: It is usually preferable to select a ♂ as holotype, but the single ♂ available is damaged (lacks antennae and the distal ends of both wings are missing).

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from northeastern South Africa. The species has been collected between November and March, although there are no records for December and January. This is an open woodland savanna species.