Gonioscelis submaculatus Speiser, 1910

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 : 86-88

Gonioscelis submaculatus Speiser, 1910

Figs 2 , 110–112 , 145

Gonioscelis submaculatus Speiser, 1910: 90 .

Redescription: Based primarily on syntype ^ ( NHRS) .

Head: Antenna yellow-brown, distal parts of pedicel and postpedicel a bit darker, setae mostly yellow to brown-yellow. Facial swelling poorly developed ( Fig. 2 ), mystax uniform pale yellow-white, setae above gibbosity weaker than those on gibbosity. Frons and vertex gold pruinose. Ocellar tubercle partly gold pruinose with dark red-brown oc. Occiput silver pruinose, setae pale yellow-white. Proboscis and palpus dark redbrown, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown and orange patterned, mostly gold-silver pruinose. Postpronotal lobes brown-orange, contrasting with adjacent areas of mesonotum, with few, small pale yellow setae. Mesonotal setae pale yellow: ac not evident; approx. 6 pairs (many broken off) dc, extending just anterior of transverse suture; 3 npl; 4 sa; 3 pa (most broken). Scutellum dark brown, with 6 pale yellow-white mrg sct. Wing length 7.8 mm, membrane mostly pale brown with yellowish veins. Legs: Brown-yellow (including trochanters), setae mostly pale yellow-white. Prothoracic coxa brown-yellow, thinly gold pruinose, white setose; femoral spur moderately pointed (angle approx. 45°).

Abdomen: Tergites dark red-brown, terminal segments becoming increasingly brownorange, gold pruinose, fine yellow setose. Sternites like tergites but more extensively brown-orange, thinly gold pruinose, yellow setose.

Terminalia: Syntype ^ not dissected. ơ terminalia ( Figs 110–112 ): In dorsal view ep projecting to about the same distance as proctiger, lobes tapering distally to slightly downturned rounded setose apex; gcx distally with two distal projections and a few long macrosetae; hyp, in ventral view, shorter than broad, tapering to blunt, truncate, distal end, apex has weakly sclerotised asetose area distomedially.

Variation: The syntypes suggest that there is little individual variation or sexual dimorphism. However there are too few specimens to allow a meaningful assessment.

Type material: TANZANIA:1ơ 1^ syntypes (seen), ‘Meru [03°14'S 36°45'E] / Nieder.’, ‘Ngare na / nyuki’, ‘Sjöstedt’, ‘jan’, ‘ Gonioscelis / submaculatus / P. Speiser det. / Type!’ (NHRS) [The smaller ơ syntype does not have the word ‘Type’ on the label. Speiser states ‘1ơ, gleicher Provenienz stelle ich nur mit einigen Bedenken dazu’].

Type locality: Tanzania: Meru .

Other material: KENYA: 2ơ 1^, ‘Brit. E. Africa. / S.A. Neave. / B.M. 1912-193.’ (BMNH). MALAWI: 9ơ 2^, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1924-298.’, ‘H. S. Stannus , / Zomba, [15°23'S 35°20'E] / Nyasaland.’, ‘ Gonioscelis / submaculatus / Speiser ơ’ [ID label only on 1ơ 1^] (BMNH, 1ơ 1^ NMSA); 1ơ 1^, ‘H. S. Stannus / Zomba, / Nyasaland.’, ‘ Gonioscelis / submaculatus ơ Speiser’ (SAMC) [apparently Ricardo ID]; 1^, ‘C>C1 / Mt. Mlanje, [15°58'S 35°38'E] / Nyassaland, / 25.viii.1913 / S.A. Neave.’, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / 1921-12’ [with prey labelled C1<C – Halictidae Halictus jucundus Smith ^] (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘A>A1 / Valley of / Lower / Shire [Dist. 16°45'S 35°10'E] / Nyassaland, / 6.viii.1913 / S.A. Neave.’, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / 1921-12’ [with prey labelled A1<A – Chalcidae Allodupe sp.] (BMNH). TANZANIA: 1^, ‘Mufindi [08°36'S 35°17'E] / D.Ost-Afrika / Zumpt x.1938 ’, ‘ Gonioscelis / submaculatus / Spsr. / Dr. Engel det.’ (BMNH). ZIMBABWE: 1ơ 1^, ‘Brit. Mus. / 1911-177.’, ‘N.E. Rhodesia. / Niamadzi River [? Niamanda Stream 13°08'S 29°54'E], / near Nawalia. / 2000 ft. / 19-20.viii.1910. / S.A. Neave.’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1924-298.’, ‘N.W. Rhodesia / Chilanga. [15°34'S 28°17'E] / 3.viii.13 / R.C. Wood / on path near / river. / 4030’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Inst. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1931-331.’, ‘ Gonioscelis / ventralis / Schin / var. macqti . / Jeann.’, ‘Sawmills. [19°35'S 28°02'E] / S Rhodesia / 9.7.1923 / Rhodesia / Museum.’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1931-331.’, ‘Hope Fountain [20°16'S 28°39'E] / S. Rhodesia / 12.9.1922 / Rhodesia / Museum.’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘S. Rhodesia: / 1926-1929. / H.S. Leeson. / B.M. 1929-466’ (BMNH).

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1–2, Fig. 145 ): Fairly widely distributed, being recorded from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya. Adults have been collected between July and October, the syntypes were collected in January. Cuthbertson’s (1939) comments relating to submaculatus are here provided under cuthbertsoni as material identified as submaculatus by Engel, now in ZSMC, has been studied and found to represent this new species.

Similar species:A member of the large and widely distributed group of species possessing a poorly defined facial gibbosity. The hypandrium is distinctively shaped with its rather truncate appearance distally. Some specimens have slight wing spotting similar to that seen in some specimens of cuthbertsoni and pale examples of tomentosus . This may indicate a close relationship between these species, particularly submaculatus and cuthbertsoni .

Figures

Figs 2–5. Gonioscelis species, head, showing development of facial gibbosity and mystax. 2. G. submaculatus Speiser, 1910 (Valley of Lower Shire), poorly defined gibbosity, and mystax extending fairly strongly to antennal sockets. 3. G. longulus Ricardo, 1925 (Paul Roux), moderate gibbosity, and mystax extending moderately to antennal sockets. 4. G. lacertosus Engel, 1925 (Hantamsberg Summit), moderate gibbosity, and small weak setae between gibbosity and antennal sockets. 5. G. punctipennis Engel, 1925 (Garies), well-developed gibbosity, and complete lack of setae between gibbosity and antennal sockets.

Figs 101–112. Gonioscelis male genitalia. 101–103. G. punctipennis Engel, 1925 (25 km N Kamieskroon). 101. Lateral. 102. Dorsal. 103. Ventral. 104–106. G. ramphis sp. n. (Mahalapye paratype). 104. Lateral. 105. Dorsal. 106. Ventral. 107–109. G. scapularis (Macquart, 1838) (4 km SW Clanwilliam). 107. Lateral. 108. Dorsal. 109. Ventral. 110–112. G. submaculatus Speiser, 1910 (Zomba). 110. Lateral. 111. Dorsal. 112. Ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.

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.