Notiolaphria coerulescens ( Macquart, 1834 ) Londt, 2015

Londt, Jason G. H., 2015, Taxonomic observations regarding four genera ofAfrotropical robber flies, Choerades Walker, 1851, Laphria Meigen, 1803, Nannolaphria Londt, 1977 and Notiolaphria Londt, 1977, and the description of Ericomyia gen. n. (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae), African Invertebrates 56 (1), pp. 191-191 : 200-208

Notiolaphria coerulescens ( Macquart, 1834) , comb. n.

Figs 3 , 4 , 5 , 11, 12 , 34

Laphria coerulescens Macquart, 1834: 286 ; Kertész 1909: 179 (catalogue); Hull 1962: 323; Oldroyd 1980: 351 (catalogue). Mauritius.

Laphria albimaculata Macquart, 1838: 64 [1839: 180]; Kertész 1909: 176 (catalogue); Hull 1962: 323; Oldroyd 1980: 351 (catalogue). South Africa; Madagascar, Réunion. Syn. n.

Laphria breonii Macquart, 1838 b: 65 [1839: 181]; Kertész 1909: 179 (catalogue); Hull 1962: 323; Oldroyd 1980: 351 (catalogue). Réunion. Syn. n.

Laphria cyaneogaster Macquart, 1838: 64 [1839: 180]; Kertész 1909: 180 (catalogue); Hull 1962: 323; Oldroyd 1980: 351 (catalogue). Mauritius. Syn. n.

Laphria submetallica Macquart, 1838: 63 [1839: 179]; Kertész 1909: 195 (catalogue); Hull 1962: 323; Oldroyd 1980: 352 (catalogue). Mauritius. Syn. n.

Laphria macra Bigot, 1859: 415 ; Kertész 1909: 189 (catalogue); Oldroyd 1960: 283 (fig. 12 ♂ gen.); Hull 1962: 323; 1980: 352 (catalogue). Madagascar; Comoros, Mauritius. Syn. n.

Laphria nusoides Bromley, 1931: 287 ; Oldroyd 1960: 284 (fig. 13 ♂ gen.); Hull 1962: 323; 1980: 352 (catalogue). Madagascar, Comoros.

Notiolaphria africana Londt, 1977: 53 ; Oldroyd 1980: 1218 (catalogue). South Africa & Zimbabwe. Syn. n.

Comments on new synonymy: I have studied many specimens from Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands and am convinced that the vast majority belong to a single widely distributed species which I here call coerulescens as this is the oldest available name. Although I have not seen the types of the following species, their descriptions appear to agree well with material I have studied and now list under coerulescens ( albimaculata , breonii, cyaneogaster, submetallica and macra ). Since seeing additional material from the African mainland I have become convinced that africana is not sufficiently distinct to warrant separation from other material now listed under coerulescens .

The following is a transcription of Macquart’s (1834) original, brief description: 28. L. BLEUATRE. – Laphria coerulescens, Nob.

Long. 5 lig. Noire. Face blanchâtre; moustache noire. Abdomen à reflets bleus et violets; un peu de blanc aux cȏtés de chaque segment. Ailes brunâtres. De l’Ile-de-France; cabinet de M. de Serville.

Translated this reads:

28 L. BLUISH. – Laphria coerulescens , New.

Length. 5 lines. Black. Face white; moustache black. Abdomen with blue and purple hues; a little white at the sides of each segment. Wings brownish. Ile-de-France; cabinet of M. de Serville.

Although brief, this description agrees well with all specimens studied and listed below.

Etymology: The name is derived from the Latin caeruleus/coeruleus (sky blue, azure), presumably referring to the blue hue of the abdomen.

Redescription: Based on all material examined. A morphologically uniform species ( Fig. 3 ), despite considerable size variation. No apparent sexual dimorphism exists.

Head: Black, silver and gold pruinose, black and white (rarely pale yellow) setose. Antenna: Black, scape and pedicel black setose. Segmental ratios (scape as 1) — 1:0.6:2.9. Style absent, postpedicel tipped with a pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element. Face black, moderately gibbose ventrally, gold (rarely silver) pruinose. Mystax with long, black (may possess a few small white) setae a pair of dorsolaterally situated groups of gold (rarely silver), glistening, scale-like setae. Dorsal region of face with 1 pairs of moderately developed black macrosetae (and commonly a few smaller black or white setae) situated close to antennal bases. Frons black, dull gold pruinose with fine black setae laterally adjacent to eye margin. Ocellar tubercle with a pair of long, strong, black macrosetae. Vertex black, dull gold pruinose. Postocular (occipital) region black, gold puinose and strongly black setose dorsally, silver pruinose and fine white setose ventrally. Palpi and proboscis dark red-brown to black, white setose.

Thorax: Black, with areas of silver and gold pruinescence, black, pale yellow and white setose. Pronotum black. Mesonotum black, extensively shiny apruinose, but with areas of fine silver-gold pruinescence situated mainly laterally and posteriorly (medial part of postpronotal lobe and adjacent area; a pair of spots along transverse suture). Acrostichals black, poorly developed. Dorsocentrals black, relatively poorly developed anterior of transverse suture. Mesonotal macrosetae: Black, 2 npl, 2 spal, 2–3 pal. Scutellum shiny black with silver-gold pruinose anterior margin (of varying width), disc with tiny black setae, 6 long black apical macrosetae (accompanied by a variable number of smaller setae). Pleura: Black, entirely silver pruinose, black, pale yellow and white setose.Anepisternum with 1 black macrosetae posteriorly. Katatergal macrosetae mostly black (dorsally) and white (ventrally). Anatergites uniformly silver pruinose, asetose. Legs: Coxae black, silver pruinose, fine yellow-white setose. Trochanters shiny black, apruinose, pale yellow-white setose. Femora somewhat inflated, entirely black, macrosetae black, other setae black or yellowish.Tibiae and tarsi shiny black, macrosetae and minor mainly black (few fine yellowish may be present). Claws black, pulvilli and empodia well developed. Wings: ♂ 3.4×1.2–12.6× 3.8 mm, ♀ 4.9×1.7–12.1× 3.9 mm (wide variation). Veins dark red-brown to black, cell r 5 open or closed on margin, m 3 and cua closed and stalked, membrane brownish stained, transparent, microtrichia largely absent from proximal half of wing and extensive in distal half ( Fig. 5 ). Halter pale yellow.

Abdomen: Shiny dark red-brown to black, terga largely apruinose except for small silver pruinescence posterolateral areas, sterna paler than terga, uniformly dull silver pruinose. T1 with 3–5 laterally situated pale yellowish macrosetae, T2 with 2 macrosetae, T3 with 1–2, T4–5 with 1. Female may have fewer macrosetae and T5 always lacks a macroseta. Terga have short black setae dorsally, longer pale yellow to white setae laterally, sterna uniformly longish pale yellow setose.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 11–12 ): Rotated through 90°. Epandrium as a single shield-like plate, showing no indication of bifurcation distally but tapering to broad apex. Proctiger jutting out beyond distal end of epandrium, ventral lobes more prominent than dorsal lobes. Gonocoxites composed of external and internal lobes. External lobe broad proximally (as broad as epandrium in lateral view), tapering to narrowly rounded apex in lateral view. Internal lobe laterally compressed, jutting out distally beyond level achieved by external lobe, slightly dorsally hooked terminally. Gonostylus projecting a little beyond internal lobe of gonocoxite, laterally compressed, with hooklike apex directed ventrally. Hypandrium, longer than wide in ventral view, reduced to a subtriangular sclerite less than half the length of gonocoxites, with acutely rounded medial lobe. Aedeagus of moderate length with three terminal prongs.

Female terminalia: Simple, slightly telescopic, setaceous and lacking spines.

Material examined (some previously recorded in publications are marked with an asterisk*): BURUNDI: 3♂ ‘Burundi, Bururi / National Forest / 1955m, 3.93022°S. / 29.61697°E’ [c. 03°55'47"S 29°37'01"E, c. 2040 m], ‘Malaise trap, Indigenous / forest, near stream / 21 Sep–5 Oct 2010 / R. Copeland’ (NMKE); 1♀ same data but 24 Aug – 7 Sep 2010 (NMKE). COMOROS: 1♀ ‘Pamanzi / lac Dziani [c. 12°46'14"S 45°17'19"E, c. 20 m]/ Pr. M vi’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH). KENYA: 1♂ 1? ‘Kenya, Coast Prov / Taita Hills, Mbololo / Forest, 3.33271°S. / 38.44769°E [c. 03°19'58"S 38°26'52"E, c. 1505 m], 1671m’, ‘Sweep net, along / road in forest / 2 Jan 2012 / R. Copeland’ (NMKE); 1♀ ‘Kenya, Coast Prov. / Taita Hills, Chawia / Forest. 3.47908°S / 38.34162°E [c. 03°28'45"S 28°20'30"E, c. 1530 m]. 1614m’, ‘Malaise trap, next / to small forest pond / 28 Nov – 12 Dec / 2011. R. Copeland’ (NMKE); 1♀ same data but 23 Jan – 6 Feb 2012 (NMKE); 1♂ ‘Pinned after initial / alcohol preservation’, ‘Kenya: Taita Hills area / Ngangao forest 1800 [m] / 03°22'S 38°21'E 21.ii – / 8.iii.1999 R Mwakodi / T. Hills Biodiv. Project’ (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Kenya: / Diani Beach [c. 04°16'47"S 39°35'41"E, c. 5 m] / vii.1951 / N.L.H. Krauss / B.M. 1951-541’ (BMNH. MADAGASCAR: 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Province / d’Antsiranana. Montaigne / Francais, elev 150m / 23 January 2001 ’, ‘ 12°19.5'S 49°20'E [12°19'30"S 49°20'00"E, c. 226 m] / California Acad of Sciences / M.E. Irwin coll. Hand netted / along forested limestone / ridge. MA-01-06-03’ (CAS); 2♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Antsiranana Province / Sakarany, 7 km N Joffreville, hand / netted in tropical deciduous forest / M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, R. Harin’Hala / 7.i. 2007, 360m, 12°20'S 49°15'E’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Antsirama Prov. / Parc Nat. Montagne d’Ambre / 960m, 12°30'52"S 49°10'53"E, / 26 – 29 Jan 2001, CAS, coll. M.E. / Irwin, E.I. Schlinger & R. Harin’Hala / Malaise trap MA-01-01A-02’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Province / d’Antsiranana. Parc National / Montagne d’Ambre / elev 1050m, 25 Jan 2001 ’, ‘ 12°31'13"S 49°10'45"E, / California Acad of Sciences / M.E. Irwin collector / hand netted MA-01-01C-03’ (CAS); 2♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar Nord / Montagne d’Ambre [c. 12°37'S 49°09'E, c. 525 m] 1000m / dct Diégo-Suarez / 23.xi – 4.xii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Madagascar Nord / Montagne d’Ambre [c. 12°37'S 49°09'E, c. 525 m] 1700m / dct Diégo-Suarez / 11–15.xii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Madagascar N. / Ambohitra / Montagne / d’Ambre [12°43'S 49°05'E], 1000m / 9.iv.1991 / A. Freidberg / & Fini Kaplan’ (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Antsirama Prov. / Ankarana Special Reserve, hand / netted, tropical rainforest 5.i.2007 / M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, R. Harin’Hala / 50 m, 12°57.52'S 49°07.19'E [12°57'31"S 49°07'11"E, c. 130 m]’ (CAS); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Madagascar Sambirano / Lokobe Nossi-Bé [13°23'S 49°19'E] 6m / 9 – 23.xi.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Nosy-Komba [c. 13°28'17"S 48°20'56"E, c. 535 m] / Sommet / v-56 A.R.’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Manambato [13°42'S 49°07'E] / 4.iv.1995 / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 1♂ 2♀ ‘Madagascar E. / Perinet / (Andasibe [13°48'S 49°52'E]) / 16, 17.iv.1991 / A. Freidberg / & Fini Kaplan’ (NMSA); 2♂ 2♀ ‘E Madagascar Perinet / 20km E. Moramanga / (Andasibe) 3.4.1982 / leg. Barkemayer’ (NMSA); 1♀ same data bit 1.4.1982 (NMSA); 2♂ 2♀ same data but 4.4.1982 (NMSA); 1♂ same data but 5.4.1982 (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Antsirama Prov. / Parc Nat. Marojejy, 5 km W Manan- / tenina village. Camp Mantella / 14°26.29'S 49°46.44'E [14°26'17"S 49°46'40"E, c. 530 m] 490m / 25 Feb – 4 Mar 2005, CAS, coll. / R. Harin’Hala, mal.trap MA-31-13’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Maroantsetra / Fampanombo [c. 15°22'32"S 49°37'19"E, c. 185 m] / 8-56 m 7’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Sofia Region / Port-Berger Distric, 20km N / Ambovomamy, Elev. 86m, ex / malaise trap, 21 – 28.xii.2008, 15°27.07'S 47°36.80'E [15°27'09"S 47°36'48"E, c. 70 m], colls. M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala MG-33-73’ (CAS); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar Est / Sahasoa [16°04'S 49°13'E] Fampanambo 80m / dct Maroantsetra / 26 – 29.iii.1958, B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Anakarafantsika / Forest [Ankarafantsika 16°06'S 47°05'E]’, ‘Tsaramandroso / Madagascar / Jan. 1956 / B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Ankarafantsika [Nature Reserve c. 16°06'59"S 47°05'49"E, c. 170 m]/ Forest’, ‘Tsaramandroso / Madagascar / Jan. 1956 / B. Stuckenberg’ (BMNH); 1♂ 2♀ ‘Madagascar Sud / Route d’Anosibe [16°17'S 44°53'E] 840m / dct Moramanga / 18 – 21.xii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Sahafanjana / Manambato / (Anove) [c. 16°20'59"S 49°14'41"E, c. 655 m]’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Mailaka [c. 16°27'S 46°29'E, c. 25 m] / i.1952 / N.L.H. Krauss / B.M. 1952-146’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Madagascar Est / Antanambe [16°27'S 49°50'E] 8m / l. iv.1958 / B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘E. Madagascar Nosy / Boraha [16°53'40"S 49°54'21"E, c. 20 m]: 1km N Lon- / kintsy 13.4.1982 / leg.Barkemeyer’ (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Besarikata / 17°27'S 48°51'E / 1 – 3.iv.1995 / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 9♂ 8♀ ‘Coll. Mus. Tervuren / Madagascar: Tam. / Manakambahiny nr. Vavatène / 17°35'S 48°58'E / ii.1995, A. Pauly réc’ (GULB); 1♂ 3♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Manakambahiny / 1 – 7.ii.1991 / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Fulpointe [Foulpointe – 17°41'S 49°30'E] / 9 – 11.ix.1993 ’ (GULB); 4♂ 4♀ ‘Coll. Mus. Tervuren / Madagascar: Tam. / Didy [18°07'S 48°32'E], 18°04'S 48°32'E / iii.1992, forêt, bac jaune / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 3♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Didy 0. iii.1992 / A. Pauly réc’ (GULB); 2♂ same data but 0. iv.1992 (GULB); 1♂ ‘Madagascar:Tam./ Didy / le 0. vi.1992 / Leg.A. Pauly’ (GULB); 1♂ ‘Madagascar Centre / Ambohitantely [18°10'S 47°17'E] 1600m / dct Ankazobe / B. Stuckenberg’, ‘6.i.58’ (NMSA)*; 2♀ ‘Madagascar Centre / Ambohitantely 1600m / dct Ankazobe / B. Stuckenberg’, ‘6.i.58’ (BMNH); 9♂ 5♀ ‘Madagascar, Antananarivo Pr. / 3 km 41° NE Andranomay 11.5km 147° SSE Anjozorobe, 1300m [1385 m], 5 – 13 / Dec 2000, 18°28'24"S 47°57'36"E, / coll Fisher, Griswold et al CAS / Mal. Trap, mont. Rainfor. [montane rainforest] BLF2375’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Malaise traps / primary / rainforest’, ‘Madagascar: Tamatave / Torotorofotsy, Andasibe / (Perinet), 22km NW / 18°46.25'S 48°25.93'E / 23–25.x. 2004, 960m. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs & R. Harin’Hala’ (BMSA); 1♀ ‘E Madagascar 5km E / Andekaleka (Lohari: / andava [18°46'S 48°40'E]) 7.4.1982 / leg. Barkemayer’ (NMSA); 3♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar Nord / Montagne d’Ambre [18°55'S 47°33'E] 1000m / dct Diego-Suarez / 23.xi – 4.xii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 5♂ ‘Madagascar / Perinet [c. 18°55'40"S 48°24'52"E, c. 935 m] 500m / 6–12.v.1968 / K.M. Guichard’ (BMNH); 3♂ 2♀ ‘Perinet [c. 18°55'40"S 48°24'52"E, c. 935 m] / Madagascar / Dec. 1955 / B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Perinet / Madagascar / Dec. 1955 / B. Stuckenberg’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Antananarivo Prov / Mandraka 18°56'S / 47°56'E [1230 m], 10 Mar 94 / coll. M. Wasbauer’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Mandraka [18°57'S 47°53'E] 75km E / Antananarivo / 16.iv.1991 Rt2 / A. Freidberg / & Fini Kaplan’ (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ ‘Madagascar / Moramanga [c. 18°57'S 48°14'E, c. 925 m] / Km. 18 c. 500m / 1.v.1968 / K.M. Guichard’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Madagascar / near Moramanga [c. 18°57'S 48°14'E, c. 925 m] / forest / 12.iii.1968 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 4♂ ‘Madagascar Toamagina Prov. / Parc Nacional Andasibe (Perinet) / 19km W Moramanga, [18°57'S 48°14'E, c. 960 m] 1000m / in forest, colls: E.I. Schlinger, / M.E. Irwin, & H.H. Rasolondalao / MEI.99-MA-3 24-xii-1999 ’ (CAS); 2♂ 6♀ same data but 24.xii.1999 (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar Toamagina Prov. / Parc Nacional Andasibe (Perinet) / 19km W Moramanga, 1000m / 5.xii.1999; forest; ME Irwin, / EI Schlinger, HH Rasolondalao’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Sandrangato [c. 19°06'S 48°14'E, c. 960 m]’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH); 4♂ 4♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. [Toamasina] / Morarano [c. 19°26'S 47°29'E, c. 1550 m] - Chrome / forêt 25km W, 1200m / 17°45'S 47°59'E [?] / xii.1991, A. Pauly leg’ (GULB); 3♂ 3♀ same data but i.1992 (GULB); 1♂ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Morarano-Chrome / xii.1991 / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 1♂ 1♀ same data but i.1992 (GULB); 12♂ 7♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Morarano-Chrome / xii.1991. Forêt / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 6♂ 3♀ ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Morarano-Chrome / 1 – 25.x.1991 / A. Pauly col’ (GULB); 42♂ 30♀ 1? ‘Madagascar: Tam. / Morarano- / Chrome, / ii.1991 / Leg.A. Pauly’ (GULB); 2♂ ‘Madagascar / Mararano [= Morarano c. 19°26'S 47°29'E, c. 1550 m], 25km W / i.1992 / Rec. A. Pauly’ (GULB); 2♀ ‘Ankaratra [c. 19°34'27"S 46°55'04"E, c. 2005 m] massif / Madagascar / Jan. 1956 / B. Stuckenberg’, ‘Manjakatompa / forest station’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Menabe Region / Morondava Dist, 7 km E Beroboka / Antsarongaza forest. Elev 45m. Ex / malaise trap, 25.xi. – 3.xii.2008 / 19°58.65'S 44°39.92'E [19°58'39"S 44°39'55"E, c. 55 m], colls M. / Irwin, R. Harin’Hala MG-45B-48’ (CAS); 1♂ 1♀ same data but 20 – 28.i.2009, MG-45B-55 (CAS); 1♀ same data but 9 – 17.v.2009, MG-45B-69 (CAS); 1♀ ‘Maroantsetra / Ambodivoangy [c. 20°38'29"S 47°31'32"E, c. 635 m]’, ‘Institut / Scientifique / Madagascar’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Ambohimitombo Forest [c. 20°43'S 47°26'E, c. 1220 m] / Madagascar / Jan. 1895 / Dr Forsyth-Major / 98.46’ (BMNH); 1♂ 2♀ ‘Madagascar, Vatovavy / Fitovinany Region, Ifanadiana / District, Ranomafana Nat’l Pk / Vohiparara bridge, 17km W of / Ranomafana, ex malaise trap’, ‘elev 1109m, 1 – 19.ix.2002 / 21°13.57'S 47°22.19'E’ [21°13'34"S 47°22'11"E, c. 1200 m] / colls M. Irwin & R. Harin’Hala / MA-02-D9A-40’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Prov. 17km / W Ranomafana, Vohiparara / Ranomafana Natl Park, malaise in / rainforest, 5 – 15.vii.2002 / 1110m, R. Harin’Hala, M.E. Irwin / 21°13.57'S 47°22.19'E, MG 9A-34’ (CAS); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa / Prov. Parc Nacional Ranomafana / 14km W of Park headquarters / Vohiparara 8.xii.1999 ’, ‘ 21.2263°S 47.3702°E [21°13'34"S 47°22'12"E, c. 1150 m] 1150m / M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger & H.H. / Rasolondalao, in cloud forest / MEI 99-MA-5’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Prov. / Parc Nat’l Ranomafana / Vohiparara, at broken bridge, elev / 1110m, 1 – 19.ix.2002 ’, ‘ 21°13.57'S 47°22.19'E [21°13'34"S 47°22'12"E, c. 1150 m]’ / coll M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala / Ex malaise trap MA-02-09A-40’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa Province / Ranomafana National / Park, Vohiparara area / 1050m, 12 April 1998 ’, ‘ 21°13.6'S 047°24.0'E [21°13'36"S 47°24'00"E, c. 1180 m] / swept from foliage / along tourist trail / J.S. Schweikert coll’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa Province / Ranomafana National / Park, Vohiparara area / 1050m, 19 April 1998 ’, ‘ 21°13.6'S 047°24.0'E / swept from foliage / along tourist trail / J.S. Schweikert coll’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa Province / Ranomafana National / Park, Talatakely area / 900m 6 April 1998 ’, ‘ 21°14.9'S 047°25.6'E [21°14'54"S 47°25'36"E, c. 910 m] / swept along trails / near research cabins / J.S. Schweikert coll’ (CAS); 1♂ same data but 17 April 1998 (CAS); 8♂ 9♀ ‘Madagascar Fianarantsoa / Prov. Parc Nacional Ranomafana / Bell Vue Trail, tropical forest / 21°15.6'S 47°25.6'E [21°15'36"S 47°25'36"E, c. 935 m] 1000m / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger / MEI 99-MA-7 21.xii.1999 ’ (CAS); 4♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar Fianarantsoa / Prov. Parc Nacional Ranomafana / Bell Vue Trail, tropical forest / 21°15.6'S 47°25.6'E 1000m / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger / MEI 99-MA-7 8.xi.1999 ’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa / Pr. Parc Nat Ranomafana / Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020m / 13 – 23 June 2003, 21°15.99'S 47°25.21'E [21°15'59"S 47°25'13"E, c. 1065 m]’, coll R. Harin’Hala / CAS, Mal. Trap MA-02-09C-32’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa Province / Ranomafana National / Park, Talatakely area / 1000m, 27 April 1998 ’, ‘ 21°15.3'S 047°25.9'E [21°15'18"S 47°25'54"E, c. 810 m] / swept in sunny gap in / mixed tropical forest / near small creek / J.S. Schweikert coll’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana / National Park, Talatakely / 13 – 22 April 1998, 655m’, ‘ 21°15'S 47°27'E [c. 936 m] / M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger / Malaise trap in tropical / forest. 98-MAD-6’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar / Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana / National Park, Talatakely / 21°15'S 47°25'E [c. 1120 m]’, ‘ 11 April 1998, 850m elev / M.E. Irwin, E.I. Schlinger / hand netted in tropical / forest. 98-MAD-2’ (CAS); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar Fianarantsoa Province / Ranomafana National Park,/ Talatakely area, 900m / 2 – 22 January 2001 ’, ‘ 21.25041°S 47.41945°E [21°15'01"S 47°25'10"E, c. 1025 m] / mixed tropical forest / D.H & K.M. Kavanaugh, R.L. / Brett, E. Elsom and F. Vargas’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Prov. / 12km W Ranomafana Natl Pk / entrance, radio tower, malaise in / montane tropical forest, 26 – 31.iii.02, R. H’Hala, M.E. Irwin, 1215m / 21°15.05'S 47°24.43'E [21°15'03"S 47°24'26"E, c. 1165 m], MG 9B-22’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa / Province. Ranomafana Hotel / Domaine Nature, at light / 21.2576°S 47.4415°E [21°15'27"S 47°26'29"E, c. 650 m] 335m / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger / MEI 99-MA-13 11.xii.1999 ’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Prov. / Belle Vue, 1.2km S Ranomafana / Nat’l Park entrance, Malaise / in rain forest, 23.iv. – 4.v.2003 / 1095m, R. Harin’Hala M.E. Irwin / 21°15.99'S 47°25.21'E MG 9C-59’ (CAS); 2♂ same data but 16 – 28.v.2003, MG 9C-61’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7 km / W Ranomafana [National Park 21°19'S 47°23'E, c. 1515 m], 1100m / 15 – 24 September 1988 / C. Kremen, collr.’ (USNM); 2♂ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 1100m / 1 – 3 October 1988 / C. Kremen, R. Van Epps / & L. Rasabo. Collrs.’ ‘Malaise trap in / small clearing / montane / rain forest’ (USNM); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 1100m / 8 – 21 October 1988 / W. E. Steiner’ [pinned with prey – Tachinidae ] (USNM); 3♂ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 1100m / 22 – 31 October 1988 / W. E. Steiner’, ‘Malaise trap in / small clearing / montane / rain forest’ [1♂] (USNM); 1♂ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 1100m / 1 – 7 November 1988 / W. E. Steiner’ (USNM); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 900m / 20 – 31 January 1990 / W. E. Steiner’ (USNM); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 900m / 23 – 28 February 1990 / W. E. Steiner’, ‘Malaise trap in / small clearing / montane / rain forest’ (USNM); 1♀ ‘Madagascar: Prov. / Fianarantsoa, 7km / W Ranomafana, 1000m / 8 – 13 March 1990 / W. E. Steiner’ [pinned with prey – Cercopidae ] (USNM); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Coll. Mus. Tervuren / Madagascar: Fia. / Ranomafana [National Park 21°19'S 47°24'E, c. 1215 m], forêt / 15.iii.1994, bac jaune / A. Pauly réc’ (GULB); 13♂ 7♀ ‘Madagascar: Fia. / Ranomafana / 19.i.1992 / A. Pauly réc’ (GULB); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Antana / Prov. Manjakatompa / 21°21'S 47°19'E [c. 1230 m] / 12 March 1994 / coll. M. Wasbauer’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar Centre / Vakoana 1520m / Andringitra [22°13'S 46°55'E] Ambalavao / 21 – 24.i.58 B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 2♂ 3♀ ‘Madagascar Sud-Ouest / Lambomakandro [22°42'S 44°42'E, c. 525 m] 550m / dct Sakaraha / 4 – 10.ii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*; 2♀ ‘Madagascar Sud-Ouest / Lambomakandro 550m / dct Sakaraha / 4 – 10.ii.57 B. Stuckenberg’ (BMNH); 2♂ 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Tulear / Prov. Zombitse National / Park, near Angap office / 22°53.19'S 44°41.53'E / 11 – 16 April 2002 / California Acad of Sciences / coll, R. Harin’Hala, malaise / trap. Deciduous spiny forest / elev 840m, MA 02-13A-24’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Tulear Prov / Mikea Forest, NW of Manombo / el 30m, 14 – 28 Nov 2002 / 22°53.22'S 43°28.53'E [22°53'13"S 43°28'32"E, c. 30 m]’, CAS / Irwin, Parker, Harin’Hala colls / M.t. transit. For. MA-02-18A-40’ (CAS); 2♂ ‘Madagascar, Tulear Prov. / Zombitse Nature Reserve / 16km E Sakaraha 825m / MEI 99-MA-14 18.xii.1999 ’, ‘ 22.8823°S 44.7006°E [c. 22°52'56"S 44°54'02"E, c. 820 m] / tropical forest on sand / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger’ (CAS); 2♂ 1♀ same data but 16.xi.1999 (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa / Prov. 7km W Manombo [22°57'11"S 43°28'20"E, c. 15 m] 10m / Ambinany, beach vegetation / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger / MEI 99-MA-10, 10.xii.1999 ’ (CAS); 1♂ 2♀ ‘Madagascar, Fianarantsoa / Prov. 20km SSW Farafangana / Manombo Special Reserve / MEI 99-MA-9, 10.xii.1999 ’, ‘ 23.028°S 47.730°E [23°01'41"S 47°43'48"E, c. 25 m] 60m / malaise in tropical forest / M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Tulear / Province, Beza Mahafaly / Reserve, Parcelle 1 near / research station / 29 April – 19 May 2002, 23°41.19'S 44°35.46'E [23°41'11"S 44°35'28"E, c. 155 m] / California Acad of Sciences / coll. R. Harin’Hala, malaise / trap in dry deciduous forest / elev 165m, MA-0214A-24’ (CAS); 1♂ same data but 18 – 28 July 2002, MA-0214A-30’ (CAS); 1♂ same data but 20 – 28 October 2002, MA-0214A-38’ (CAS); 1♂ ‘Madagascar, Tulear Prov. / Andohahela N.P. Tsimelahy /Parc. 11, 15 – 26 Feb 2003, 180m / 24°56.21'S 46°37.60'E [24°56'13"S 46°37'36"E, c. 190 m], CAS / Irwin, Parker, Harin’Hala colls / M.t. transit. For. MA-02-20-16’ (CAS); 1♀ ‘Madagascar’, ‘[? Illegible]’ (BMNH). MALAWI: 5♂ 3♀ ‘Malawi Ntchisi forest / reserve [c. 13°19'S 34°03'E, c. 1155 m] 1334Ac 1500m / Londt & Stuckenberg / 3 – 4.xii.1980 Montane / forest & woodland’ (NMSA); 7♂ 5♀ ‘Malawi Zomba Plateau [c. 15°19'38"S 35°19'15"E, c. 1055 m] / 24 – 27.xi.1980 1500m / Stuckenberg & Londt Riverine / 1535Ad Montane forest’ (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Nyasaland / Mt. Mlanje [c. 15°56'S 35°38'E, c. 2420 m] / 19.xi.1912 / S.A. Neave’ (BMNH); 1♂ same data but 25.xi.1912 (BMNH); 1♀ same data but 26.xi.1912 (BMNH); 1♀ 1? same data but 28. xii.1912 (BMNH); 1♂ 2♀ same data but 31.xii.1912 (BMNH); 1♀ same data but 9.i.1913 (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Malawi Mulanje Mtn. / Likabula river valley [c. 15°56'38"S 35°30'08"E, c. 885 m] / 28 – 30.xi.1980 1535Dc / 1000m Stuckenberg & / Londt Riverine / Brachystegia woodland’ (NMSA). MAURITIUS: 1♀ ‘Mauritius / Trou aux biches [c. 20°01'54"S 57°32'49"E, c. 10 m] / 17.8.1938 / C.M. Courtois’ (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Mauritius / Hollywood [c. 20°05'57"S 57°34'52"E, c. 50 m] / 25.2.1955 / C.M. Courtois’ (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Mauritius / Roche Bois [c. 20°08'57"S 57°30'44"E, c. 20 m] / 25.7.1955 / C.M. Courtois’ (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Mauritius / La Pouce Mtn [c. 20°12'S 57°31'E, c. 690 m] / 30.ii.1962 / C.M. Courtois’ (NMSA)*; 1? same data but 20.i.1961 (NMSA)*; 1♀ same data but 29.ii.1962 (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Mauritius / La Pouce / 10.vi.1971 / A.M. Hutson / B.M. 1971-346’ (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Mauritius / Le Pouce [La Pouce] / 11.xii.1937 / J. Vinson’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Mauritius / N. Mannders’ (BMNH); 1♂ ‘Mauritius’ (BMNH). MOZAMBIQUE: 1♂ holotype, 2♂ paratypes ( africana ) ‘Gorongoza Mountain [c. 18°41'25"S 34°18'49"E, c. 125 m]/ Manica Sofala Dist. / Port East Africa / 840m. Gallery forest / Sept 1957 Stuckenberg’ (NMSA)*. RÉUNION: 1♂ ‘La Réunion / Gros Piton Rond [21°09'S 55°36'E, c. 1375 m] / 5.iii.2000 1000m / G. Delvave’ (NMSA); 3♀ ‘La Réunion / Notre Dame de la / Paix [21°14'S 55°36'E, c. 1840 m] 20.ii.1999 / J.F. Vayssieres’, ‘Sur vegetation / indigens’ (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Réunion [locality not stated] / 5.iii.2013 / D. Martiré / DM015799’ (NMSA); 1♂ 2♀ ‘Réunion 1000m / 1.i.2013 / D. Martiré (NMSA); 2♀ ‘Réunion 900m / 29.xi.2012 / D. Martiré / DM013357’ (NMSA). TANZANIA: 1♂ ‘Tanganyika / W. Usambara Mts. / 1600m / Lushoto [c. 04°34'S 38°24'E, c. 715 m] / ii.1962 ’ (CNC); 1♂ ‘Tanganyika: / Amani [c. 05°06'S 38°38'E, c. 905 m] / iii.1959 / J.D. Phipps / B.M. 1962-453’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Amani Tang. Terr. / E. Usambara / March 1950 / E. Pinhey’ (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Tanganyika: / Amani 1957 / J.G. Halcrow / In cowshed’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘Tanganyika / W. Usambara Mts. / 2100m / Magamba [c. 06°25'08"S 31°05'17"E, c. 1090 m] / iii.1962 ’ (CNC); 1♂ ‘Tanganyika / Ulguru Mts [c. 07°14'S 37°33'E, c. 1015 m] / 1500 – 1800m’ (CNC). UGANDA: 1♂ ‘Kayonza Forest / Kigezi Dist. [c. 00°16'N 31°37'E, c. 1260 m] Uganda / 2135m May 1972 / E. Babyetagara’ (CNC); 1♀ ‘Uganda Prot. / Western Ankole [c. 00°37'S 30°40'E, c. 1400 m] / 4500–5000ft / 10–14, Oct. 1911 / S.A. Neave’ (BMNH). ZIMBABWE: 1♀ paratype ( africana ) ‘N. Vumba [Bvumba Mountains c. 19°06'S 32°47'E, c. 1250 m] / S. Rhodesia / 19.11.1964 / D. Cookson’ (NMSA)*; 1♀ paratype ( africana ) ‘Mt Selinda [c. 20°25'S 32°42'E, c. 1150 m] / 5.2.54 / N.J. Myers’ (NMSA)*; 1♀ paratype ( africana ) same data but 3.2.54 (NMSA)*.

Other material (i.e. published records not studied):

coerulescens : Macquart’s (1834) type material from ‘De l’Ile-de-France’ (Mauritius).

albimaculata : Macquart’s (1838) type material from ‘Du Cap et de l’Ile Bourbon’ (The Cape, South Africa, and Réunion).

breonii : Macquart’s (1838) type material from ‘l’Ile Bourbon’ ( Réunion).

cyaneogaster : Macquart’s (1838) type material from ‘De l’Ile-de-France’ ( Mauritius).

submetallica : Macquart’s (1838) type material from ‘De l’Ile-de-France’ ( Mauritius).

macra : Bigot’s (1859) type material from Madagascar.

nusoides : Bromley’s (1931) type material (♂ & ♀) from ‘Tananarive’, Madagascar.

macra: Oldroyd (1960) provided the following details relating to studied material: ‘ Comores: Anjouan, Bimbini [12°11'32"S 44°14'03"E, c. 10 m]; Pamanzi [ Mayotte – 12°47'54"S 45°16'31"E, c. 15 m], lac Dziani [12°46'14"S 45°17'19"E, c. 20 m]. Madagascar Centre et Centre-Est : Moramanga, Sandrangato; Perinet; La Mandraka; Ankaratra. Madagascar Est: Maroantsetra,Ambodivoangy et Ambohitsitondrona. Madagascar Ouest: foret de I’Ankarafantsika; Analavelona. Décembre à juin’ [some material, now in NMSA, has been seen].

nusoides: Oldroyd (1960) provided the following details relating to studied material: ‘ Comores: Mayotte, Mamoutzou [Mamoudzou – 12°46'41"S 45°13'40"E, c. 50 m]. Madagascar Est : Maroantsetra , Ambodivoangy et Ambohitsitondrona ; Sahafanjana ; Manambato sur l’Anove. Décembre à février; août.’ [some material in NMSA has been studied].

macra: Londt (1977) recorded material which has not been reexamined i.e. ‘ 5♂ 4♀ E. Madagascar, Forest, 600-1200m, xii.1930 – ii.1931, C. H. Lamberton ( DMSA.)’.

Distribution, phenology and biology: This is by far the most widely distributed species, occurring on at least five Indian Ocean Islands ( Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and the Comoros islands of Anjouan and Mayotte) as well as on the African mainland ( Fig. 34 ). Collected throughout the year on Madagascar (no record for August ) and the African mainland (no records for April or June) ( Table 1 ). The species inhabits mainly indigenous tropical or montane forest (eg. Fig. 4 ) and can be found over a wide range of altitudes (8–2040 m). Many specimens were malaise trapped and only two prey records are known ( Diptera : Tachinidae , Hemiptera : Cercopidae ), both captured by female individuals.

The wide distribution and great range in size requires comment. It is my contention that this species has been carried to many of the Indian Ocean islands and to the African mainland by oceanic currents, possibly aided by cyclonic activity, as proposed for ‘rafting’ mammals ( Stankiewicz et al. 2006). Although the life cycle of Notiolaphria species has not been studied, it is known that adult flies settle on tree trunks and decaying logs in forest environments. Like many robber flies of the subfamily Laphriinae , species of Notiolaphria probably oviposit in holes in wood, the larvae probably being predaceous on wood burrowing insects and associated invertebrates.This being true, the possibility exists that pieces of wood containing developing larvae can be swept down rivers and out to sea and land up on distant shores. Clearly, the period at sea cannot exceed the time it takes for larvae to metamorphose, as adults emerging at sea would certainly have little chance of survival.

Although I have not encountered any published work directly supporting of my suggestions above, Dr Eric Fisher expressed similar thoughts on what he called ‘overwater dispersal’ in his unpublished dissertation on Andrenosoma Rondani, 1856 ( Fisher 1986) when he wrote ‘The biology of the immature stages seems to me the obvious reason for this group’s success in colonizing islands. The larvae and pupae of Laphriinae all live in wood, so logs carrying still living laphriine larvae must occasionally washup on beaches of even distant islands’. Clearly, this interesting matter needs further investigation.

The considerable size variation displayed by this species also requires comment and possible explanation. I believe that it may be a response to the degradation of forests over much of the species’ distribution. As trees are felled and wood is removed from forests for a variety of purposes it is highly probable that the resources available to developing larvae have been negatively impacted upon with respect to both quantity and quality. This would in turn certainly impact on the success of larval development and probably influence the size to which larvae are able to grow. Dr M. Mansell (pers. comm.) informs me that predatory antlion larvae frequently produce smaller adults when poorly fed. The same may well be true of predacious robber fly larvae. It is my impression that flies collected some years ago (eg. those collected by Stuckenberg in the 1950s) are generally larger than those pinned from more recent collections. Clearly, forests have been greatly degraded over the last 50 or more years and so it is plausible that this degradation is being reflected in the size of these forest inhabiting flies.

Figures

Fig. 3. Notiolaphria coerulescens (Macquart, 1834), ♂ Réunion (Photo: Dominique Matiré).

Fig.4. Notiolaphria coerulescens (Macquart, 1834), habitatat Bururi Forest, Burundi (Photo:R. Copeland).

Figs 5–10. Notiolaphria species, wings. (5) No. coerulescens (Macquart, 1834) (Mauritius, Roche Bois); (6) No. dimidiatifemur (Oldroyd, 1960) (Madagascar, 7km W Ranomafana National Park); (7) No. microtheres sp. n. (Madagascar, Mikea Forest); (8) No. miltothorax sp. n. (Madagascar, 7km E Beroboka, Antsarongaza forest); (9) No. rufitibia (Oldroyd, 1960) (Madagascar, Foulpointe); (10) No. stuckenbergi (Oldroyd, 1960) (Madagascar, Zombitse National Park).

Figs 11–15. Notiolaphria male terminalia (note: rotated through 90°). (11, 12) No.coerulescens (Macquart, 1834) (Madagascar, Lambomakakandro):(11) lateral and (12) ventralviews;(13) No.dimidiatifemur (Oldroyd, 1960) (Madagascar,Zombitse Nature Reserve):lateral view; (14, 15) No.microtheres sp.n. (Madagascar, Mikea Forest): (14) lateral and (15) ventral views. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figs 34–37. (34) Distribution of Nannolaphria nigra Londt, 1977 (■) and Notiolaphria coerulescens (Macquart, 1834) (●); (35–37) Distributions of Notiolaphria species in Madagascar: (35) No. dimidiatifemur (Oldroyd, 1960) (●), No. microtheres sp. n. (■), No. miltothorax sp. n. (▲); (36) No. rufitibia (Oldroyd, 1960) (●), No.stuckenbergi (Oldroyd) (▲); (37) Ericomyia atomentosa (Oldroyd, 1960) typical specimens (●) atypical specimens (▲).