Synolcus malawi Londt, 1990

Londt, Jason G. H., 2012, The genus Synolcus Loew, 1858, with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae), African Invertebrates 53 (2), pp. 661-661 : 686-688

Synolcus malawi Londt, 1990

Figs 10 , 54–57

Synolcus malawi: Londt 1990: 8–9 , figs 2 (wing), 14–17 (♂ gen.).

Redescription (based on NMSA paratype and original description):

Male.

Head: Blackish, silver pruinose, white and black setose. Antenna: Blackish, fine silver-gray pruinose, scape and pedicel black setose; segmental ratios 1:0.8:1.5:1.4 (0.3:1.0:0.1), i.e. pedicel shorter than scape, postpedicel 1.5 times length of scape, stylus almost as long as postpedicel. Face: Blackish, silver pruinose. Mystax mixed black and white. Frons and vertex: Blackish, silver-gray pruinose, black setose including ocellar tubercle. Occiput: Blackish, silver pruinose, black (dorsally and centrally) and white (centrally and ventrally) setose.

Thorax: Blackish, silver pruinose, black, yellowish and white setose. Prothorax: Blackish, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum: Blackish, silver pruinose with blackish median band and lateral patches, macrosetae black, minor setae black (mainly anteriorly) and white (mainly posteriorly). Macrosetae: acr and dc moderately developed posterior of transverse suture only, 2 npl, 2 spal, 2–3 pal (accompanied by smaller setae). Scutellum: Blackish, silver pruinose, disc fine white setose, 1 pair black apical macrosetae. Pleura: Black, silver pruinose, weakly white and yellow (ktg) setose. Legs: Cx black, silver pruinose, white setose; cx 3 with 2 lateral macrosetae. Tro dark red-brown, largely apruinose, white setose. Fem black, major setae mostly pale yellow (few black), minor setae long or short white. Tib mostly dark red-brown (proximally orange-brown), major setae black and pale yellow, minor setae white. Tar dark red-brown, major setae black, minor setae black and yellowish. Wings ( Fig. 10 ): Veins mostly dark red-brown, anterior veins orange-brown proximally, membrane transparent, wing tip dark stained. Cell sc with sc–r. Cells r 1 and r 2+3 greatly expanded and displaying corrugations. Wing length× breadth (mean, n= 2) 7.8 (7.6–7.9) × 3.3 (both specimens) mm. Haltere: Pale yellow with pale brownish proximal end.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver and dull reddish pruinose, white setose. T1 fairly uniformly silver pruinose, 3–4 white macrosetae laterally accompanied by many white setae.T2–8 mostly silver pruinose but usually darker in appearance anteromedially with a dull reddish pruinescence, setae white. S as T but uniformly silver pruinose, white setose.

Terminalia ( Figs 54–57 ): Epand in lateral view ( Fig. 54 ) more than 3 times as long as deep, with fairly broadly rounded distal tip; epand lobes in dorsal view narrowly separated proximally. S8 well-developed, thickly setose along posterior margin and projecting distally as a triangular lobe ( Fig. 55 ) that largely hides from view both hypd and goncx. Hypd reduced. Gonst in lateral view short with hooked distal end ( Fig. 56 ). Aed convolutedly sinuous distally ( Fig. 57 ).

Female: Unknown.

Type material examined: MALAWI: 1♂ paratype ‘ Lichenya Plateau / 2000m / 5/ 24.xi.1981 ’, ‘ Coll. Mus. Turvuren / Malaŵi South Reg. / Mount Mulanje [15°57'S 35°37'E] / xi.1981 R. Jocqué’. Note: Other types have not been re-examined .

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from Mount Mulanje in southern Malawi. This is the northernmost record of the genus ( Fig. 87 ). The type series was collected in November (Table 1). Label data makes no mention of the habitat occupied, but the locality and coordinates suggest indigenous forest.

Figures

Figs 2–14. Synolcus species,♂ wing venation:(2) S.acrobaptus (Wiedemann, 1828) (Gydo); (3) S.amnoni Londt, 1990 (Nkhandla); (4) S. argentius Londt, 1990 (5 km NE Grootderm); (5) S.armstrongi sp.n. (Karkloof paratype); (6) S. aurulentus Engel, 1929 (Outeniqua); (7) S. dubius (Macquart, 1846) (Ntumeni); (8) S. griseus Engel, 1927 (Entabeni); (9) S. macrocercus sp. n. (Middelpos paratype); (10) S. malawi Londt, 1990 (Lichenya paratype); (11) S. minor (Bromley, 1947) (Melmoth); (12) S. namibiensis sp. n. (Ai-Ais paratype); (13) S. spinosus Londt, 1980 (Gladdespruit paratype); (14) S. ukhahlamba sp. n. (Monks Cowl holotype).

Figs 54–57. Synolcus malawi Londt, 1990, paratype male genitalia (Lichenya paratype): (54) lateral, (55) ventral view of S8, (56) gonostylus, (57) aedeagus (redrawn from Londt 1990). Scale line 1 mm.

Fig. 87. The distribution of Synolcus Loew, 1858.