Villa efflatouni, El-Hawagry, Magdi S. & Greathead, David J., 2006

El-Hawagry, Magdi S. & Greathead, David J., 2006, Review of the genus Villa Lioy (Bombyliidae, Diptera) from Egypt, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 1113, pp. 21-32 : 28-29

Villa efflatouni sp. nov.

Villa senecio ( Loew, 1869: 188) : Bezzi, 1925: 226; Steyskal & El Bialy, 1967: 18 (misidentifications)

Specimens of this species were misidentified as Villa senecio (Loew) by Bezzi (1925), E ngel (1937) and Steyskal & El Bialy (1967). Bowden labelled specimens of this species as Villa senecio (Loew) as well, but they can not be V. senecio . The two syntype males of Villa senecio ( Loew, 1869) in ZMHB were examined and V. senecio is considered to be a synonym of V. ixion (Fabricius) SYN. NOV. It differs from it, as does V. albula ( Loew, 1869) previously synonymised with V. ixion ( Evenhuis & Greathead, 2003) , in not having silver scales on the apical abdominal tergites. It is smaller, 8 mm, has only one pale band of whitish scales at the base of tergum 4 and dense long whitish hair. However, the E gyptian specimens have sparse hair, pale scale bands on all abdominal tergites and black scales at the sides of tergites 5–6 and all thoracic and abdominal bristles and hairs pale, except for rows of black hairs on the hind margins of the terminal abdominal tergites. These specimens do not run to any species in Engel's (1937) key, whether or not the black scales on tergites 5–6 are considered to constitute tufts. They are very similar in appearance to small specimens of V. cana but differ most notably from it in having the alula brownish with a dark thick margin; in having the wing base, costal, and subcostal cells brownish; and in having a few black hairs at sides of 3rd tergite. The male genitalia correspond with the figure for ' V. s e n e c i o ' in Theodor (1983: 253 Fig. 719) in having a long aedeagus and no spine­like outgrowths at the apex of the epiphallus. We consider that Theodor misidentified and dissected a specimen of the present new species.

Holotype ɗ. Medium to large sized black species. Body length: 12–13 mm. Head. Frons covered with black hairs mixed with yellowish scaly hairs. Upper frons narrow, slightly wider than ocellar tubercle. Face entirely covered with long whitish scaly hairs become more yellowish and larger at middle. Antennae black, with long black hairs on scape mixed with some long white ones at inner side. Thorax. All hairs and scaly hairs on scutum yellowish white becoming brownish at anterior margin. Short scaly hairs at posterior half of scutum form a triangular area the same size of scutellum with its base lying along the line of scutellar suture. Pleural vestiture yellowish white. Wings ( Fig. 1 ) hyaline; alula brownish with dark thick margin; wing base, costal, and subcostal cells tinged brownish; veins yellowish to brown. Patagium dark brown, covered with whitish scales; costal comb black; halter yellowish brown to orange with a paler tip. Abdomen. All hairs of abdomen whitish except rows of long black bristly hairs on hind margins of 3 anal tergites, and few black hairs at sides of tergites 3–4; tergites 2–7 banded with pale scaly hairs becoming darker at 3 anal ones; tergites with black scales reaching sides; sides of tergites 5–6 with distinct black scale tufts. Hypopygium ( Fig. 7 ) with a long aedeagus and no spine­like outgrowths at the apex of the epiphallus.

Paratype Ψ. Like male but upper frons wider, about two times or more as wide as ocellar tubercle.

Material examined. Holotype ɗ. EGYPT: Mariout, 18.iv.1925 (Efflatoun) [genitalia dissected]. Paratypes, 1ɗ, same data as holotype [head broken]; EGYPT: 1Ψ, Ismailia, 14.vi.1925 (Efflatoun); 1Ψ, same except 14.ix.1925. [deposited in CUE].

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Wings: 1. V. efflatouni sp. nov.; 2. V. stenozoides sp. nov.

FIGURES 7, 8. Male genitalia: 7. V. efflatouni sp. nov.: a. lateral view, b. tip of epiphallus; 8. V. stenozoides sp. nov.: a. lateral view, b. tip of epiphallus.