Gonioscelis occipitalis Oldroyd, 1970

Londt, Jason G. H., 2004, A review of the afrotropical genus Gonioscelis Schiner, 1866 (Diptera: Asilidae), with descriptions of new species, African Invertebrates 45, pp. 21-124 : 75-76

Gonioscelis occipitalis Oldroyd, 1970

Fig. 145

Gonioscelis occipitalis Oldroyd, 1970: 275–276 ( Fig. 49 foreleg).

Redescription: Based on holotype ^ ( MRAC) .

Head:Antenna broken off beyond pedicels, dark red-brown, setae black. Facial swelling moderately developed, without obvious point at which dorsal region terminates below antennal sockets, mystax black except for a few white setae along epistomal margin. Frons and vertex weak silver pruinose. Ocellar tubercle weakly pruinose, with black oc. Occiput silver pruinose except for two apruinose areas behind vertex, setae mostly black, a few white ones mixed with black ventrally. Proboscis and palpus dark redbrown to black, with yellow-brown setae.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, red-gold pruinose. Postpronotal lobes dark red-brown to black, not contrasting with adjacent mesonotum, with very short black setae. Mesonotal setae mostly black: ac not evident; 3 pairs dc, not extending anterior of transverse suture; 2 npl; 3 sa; 3 pa (2 yellow, 1 black). Scutellum black, silver pruinose, with 2 black mrg sct. Wing length 7.5 mm, membrane mostly pale brown. Legs: Coxae, trochanters and base of femora dark red-brown, all other parts brown-yellow, macrosetae black, smaller setae mixed black and yellow. Prothoracic coxa dark red-brown to black, gold-silver pruinose, yellow-white setose; femoral spur moderately pointed (angle approx. 40°).

Abdomen: Tergites dark red-brown, silver pruinose, setae black. Sternites similar to tergites.

Terminalia: Male unknown. Unique ^ holotype not dissected.

Variation: Unknown.

Type material: DR CONGO (Lulua): 1^ holotype (seen), Sandoa [09°41'S 22°52'E] à Kapanga, ix.1928, Dr Walker Musée du Congo ( MRAC) .

Type locality: Democratic Republic of Congo: Sandoa .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1–2, Fig. 145 ): Known only from the type locality.

Similar species:A member of the large and widely distributed group of species possessing a poorly defined facial gibbosity. The position of this species will only be ascertained when more material, including males, becomes available.

Figures

Fig. 145. Distribution of Gonioscelis species found north of southern Africa. closed circle = occipitalis, open circle = pruinosus, closed square = submaculatus, open square = tomentosus, closed triangle = whittingtoni.

Figs 42–51. Gonioscelis male genitalia. 42–44. G. exouros sp. n. (holotype). 42. Lateral. 43. Dorsal. 44.Ventral.45–47. G. feijeni sp. n. (Nampula paratype), epandrial macrosetae missing.45. Lateral. 46. Dorsal. 47. Ventral. 48. G. francoisi Oldroyd, 1970, lateral, reproduction of published illustration. 49–51. G. genitalis Ricardo, 1925 (Ongandjera syntype), left epandrial lobe broken off at mid-length. 49. Lateral. 50. Dorsal. 51. Ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.