Tolmerus atricapillus ( Fallén, 1814 )

Broek, Reinoud Van Den, Smit, John T., Bree, Elias De & Beentjes, Kevin, 2018, Tolmerus calceatus (Meigen) confirmed as a valid species separate from Tolmerus atricapillus (Fallén) (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 4508 (2), pp. 249-258 : 254-256

Tolmerus atricapillus ( Fallén, 1814)

(figure 3 & plate 2 )

Asilus atricapillus Fallén, 1814

Machimus atricapillus ( Fallén, 1814) ; Loew (1849)

Tolmerus atricapillus ( Fallén, 1814) ; Lehr (1988)

Type: ♂, ♀ (copula), Sweden (deposition unknown)

Material examined. Belgium 1♂ Limburg , Stramprooierbroek,.1994, leg. A. van Eck; France 3♂ Centre, Souesmes , Les Vannes, 47.448-2.213, 25.viii.2011, 18.viii.2011 ; 1♂ Creuse, St. Moreil , La Faurie, 45.852-1.714, 22.viii.2012 ; Germany 1♂ Hessen, Ober Widdersheim, 7.viii.1993 , leg. A. van Eck; 1♂ Bayern, Markredwitz, 10.vi.2000 , leg A. van Eck; Finland: 1♂ Valittula, 28.vii.2003 , leg. A. van Eck; the Netherlands 2♂ Bemelen, Bemelerberg, 9.ix.2014 ; 1♂ Breda , Mastbos, 19.viii.2011 , leg. J.T. Smit (RMNH.INS.543694); 1♂ Kalenberg , Woldlakebos, 27.viii.2011 , leg. J.T. Smit (RMNH.INS.546541); 1♂ 1♀ Kampina, 27.viii.2012; 2♂ 1♀ Loonse en Drunense duinen, 17.vii.2011, 1.viii.2011, 10.viii.2011 ; 2♀ Oisterwijk, Kampina, Balsvoort , 23.vi.2012 ( RMNH.INS.552166, RMNH.INS.552167) ; 1♂ Ossendrecht , Stoppelbergen, 3.ix.2011 leg. J.T. Smit (RMNH.INS.546528); 1♂ Renkum , Sinderhoeve, 28.vi.2012 , leg. D. Belgers (RMNH.INS.553343); 1♂ Soest , Vliegbasis Soesterberg, 2.vii.2012 , leg. K. Goudsmits (RMNH.INS.554729); 1♂ Tilburg , Huis ter Heide, 20.viii.2013 .

Diagnosis. T. atricapillus is a variable, dark greyish brown Machimus like species with a size between 11–17 mm.

Head: Mystax black, only in the lower third part white bristles present. Short hair on scape white, on pedicel black. Hair on frons black, postocular bristles mostly black, occipital hairs and bristles white.

Thorax: Tomentum greyish brown, all bristles on scutum black, small hairs on scutum black, not very short. Longer hairs between post sutural bristles black. Scutellum with 2–4 (6) marginal bristles. Wings clear with a slightly darkened apex. Anterior side of femora black, with or without a small red spot before apex. Posterior side of front femur usually brownish red in apical half, sometimes with a complete dorsal brownish red stripe. Middle and hind femora with a narrow posterodorsal brownish red stripe. Tibiae brownish red with a black apex and a variable black stripe on the interior side. Tarsomeres brownish red with a black apex.

Abdomen: Both tergites and sternites with a pattern of greyish brown dusting. First tergite with black hairs and bristles along the posterior margin, bristles and hairs along the posterior margin of the rest of tergites black in the middle white on the lateral sides. In males, the 8 th sternite has a forked projection with black hairs at the apex.

Terminalia: Extremely similar to T. calceatus , only the gonostylus is quite different (see plate 2c ).

Ecology. T. atricapillus is a species of pine, mixed and deciduous forest edges and trails but can be found in a wide variety of habitats like gardens, parks as long as there are trees and/or shrubs present, preferably on a sandy soil. It can often be found sunbathing on tree trunks, branches, fence posts, stones and so on. Favourite look-out posts are branches, leaves of trees and herbs. Mating takes place in head-to-head position, eggs are deposited on a variety of organic objects on the soil like fallen leaves and sticks but also on herbs and grasses.

Figures

PLATE 2. Male Tolmerus atricapillus male. A: Lateral view. B. Head in lateral view. C: Gonostylus.