Gonioscelis tomentosus 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 : 88-89

Gonioscelis tomentosus Oldroyd, 1970

Figs 113–115 , 145

Gonioscelis tomentosus Oldroyd, 1970: 276–277 .

Redescription: Based primarily on holotype ^ ( MRAC) .

Head: Antennae both missing [orange with dark red-brown setae in Malawi material]. Facial swelling poorly developed, mystax uniform dark red-brown, a group of 4 small setae located between gibbosity and antennal sockets. Frons and vertex thinly gold pruinose. Ocellar tubercle almost apruinose with black oc. Occiput thinly silver-gold pruinose, setae short dark red-brown to black. Proboscis and palpus dark red-brown to black, dark red-brown setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown, red-gold pruinose, with black apruinose longitudinal stripes on mesonotum. Postpronotal lobes dark red-brown, not contrasting with adjacent mesonotum, with few orange setae. Mesonotal setae black: ac not evident; approx. 3– 4 weak pairs dc, not extending anterior of transverse suture; 2 npl; 3 sa; 2 pa. Scutellum black, silver pruinose, with 2 black mrg sct. Wing length 7.6 mm, membrane mostly dark brown, centres of some cells paler. Legs: Femora dark brown, tibiae and tarsi brown-orange, setae mostly black, some minor setae yellow. Prothoracic coxa black, red-gold pruinose, black setose; femoral spur moderately pointed (angle approx. 40°).

Abdomen: Tergites dark red-brown (membranes brown-orange), silver pruinose, setae short dark red-brown. Sternites similar but red-gold pruinose.

Terminalia: Holotype ^ not dissected. ơ terminalia ( Figs 113–115 ): Long ep, in dorsal view projecting far beyond level attained by proctiger, lobes tapering distally to slightly downturned apex bearing a group of long macrosetae; gcx distally with two distal projections and a few long macrosetae; hyp, in ventral view, clearly longer than broad, slightly constricted at mid-length and tapering to bilobed apex, lobes equipped with a few short macrosetae and fine setae distally.

Variation : A ơ from DR Congo, 34 mi. E of Kenge, is most likely to represent the species, described only on females. The ơ specimens from Malawi and Zambia , while strongly resembling the holotype, show slight differences in male genital morphology (ep a little shorter, hyp not as deeply bilobed). Specimens from Angola are not as darkly pigmented and have wings exhibiting darker areas associated with forks and crossveins. The Angola males however agree well with the Kenge specimen as far as genitalia are concerned. For the present I consider all the material listed as belonging to this species. Type material: DR CONGO: 1^ holotype (seen), ‘ Holotypus’ , ‘ Musée Du Congo / Lulua: Kapanga [? 06°49'S 22°32'E] / viii–1932 / F. G. Overlaet’ ( MRAC). 1^ paratype (not seen), Katanga, Fokele [?], 29.xi.1911, Dr Bequaert ( MRAC) .

Type locality: Democratic Republic of Congo: Kapanga .

Other material: ANGOLA: 1ơ, ‘ Angola: / 6mi. NW. of / Sta. Comba Dao [Comba – 08°35'S 15°04'E] / v-30-58, 1250m’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) ; 1ơ, ‘ Angola: / 2mi. N. of / Hengue [10°13'S 13°50'E] / v-29-58, 1550m’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) ; 1ơ 2^, ‘ Angola: / 4mi. SW. of / Quilenda [10°33'S 14°22'E] / v-31-58, 900m’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) ; 1^, ‘ Angola: / 14mi. NW. of / Cacula [14°33'S 14°04'E] / 1000m. v-25-58’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) ; 3ơ, ‘ Angola: / 19mi. NE. of / Sada Bandeira [Sa Da Bandiera – 14°55'S 13°30'E] / v-21-58, 1650m’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC; 1ơ NMSA) ; DR CONGO: 1ơ, ‘B. Congo: / 34 mi E of / Kenge [04°56'S 17°04'E] / viii- 5-1957 ’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC) . MALAWI: 1ơ, ‘ Malawi / Mjgesse Forest [?] / 6200 ft 24 Sept. 1981, J. Bampton’ . ZAMBIA: 1ơ, ‘ Zambia / Mafinga Mtns. [09°57'S 33°21'E] / 6300 ft. 20 Sept. 1981 / J. Bampton’ . ZIMBABWE: 1ơ, ‘ Mt. Selinda [Mission 20°25'S 32°42'E] / S. Rhodesia / Nov.-Dec. 1930 / R.H.S. Stevenson’ ( SAMC) . UNKNOWN: 1ơ, ‘ Lugawara / 15/8[? - poorly written]/51’ ( BMNH) .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1–2, Fig. 145 ): Known from the central African countries of Angola, Zambia, DR Congo and Malawi, and also present in Zimbabwe. While all the Angolan specimens were collected in May, others were collected between August and November/December (no records for October). One specimen appears to have been collected in a forest, it is likely, however, that the species inhabits more open terrain.

Similar species:A member of the large and widely distributed group of species possessing a poorly defined facial gibbosity. The variation seen in this species makes it difficult to assess relationships. Male genital similarities suggest a close relationship with longulus .

Figures

Figs 113–133. Gonioscelis male genitalia. 113–115. G. tomentosus Oldroyd, 1970 (34 mi. E of Kenge). 113. Lateral. 114. Dorsal. 115. Ventral. 116–118. G. truncatus Oldroyd, 1974 (Van Reenen paratype). 116. Lateral. 117. Dorsal. 118. Ventral. 119–133. G. ventralis Schiner, 1867. 119–121. Holotype. 119. Lateral. 120. Dorsal. 121. Ventral. 122–133. Gonocoxal variation. 122. Holotype. 123. Cradock (femoralis). 124. Bulawayo (rufescens). 125. Louterwater. 126. Vivo. 127. Tugela Ferry. 128. Padkloof. 129. Gravelotte. 130. Boknes. 131. Alicedale. 132. Grahamstown. 133. Mseleni. 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.