Epacmoides biumbonatus (Bezzi, 1922)

Greathead, David J. & Evenhuis, Neal L., 2004, New species of Bombylioidea in Mario Bezzi’s Unpublished Hungarian Museum Manuscript, Zootaxa 773, pp. 1-56 : 45

Epacmoides biumbonatus (Bezzi, 1922)

( Figs. 31–32 )

53. Plesiocera biumbonata 1Ψ South Africa (Eastern Cape): Willowmore (H. Brauns). MS page 64.

Bezzi, 1922: 83 – key and label data ‘ex Willowmore, 20 Jan. 1907, in Museo Budapestinensi’ but sex not mentioned.

Bezzi, 1925: 298 – key and reference to information in Bezzi (1922).

Hesse, 1956: 130 – description as E. albifrons Hesse and E. albifrons var. pallidulus Hesse. Evenhuis & Greathead, 1999: 420 – listed one syntype in MSNM.

Types: The specimen in MSNM: South Africa (Eastern Cape): 1ɗ, Willowmore, 20.1.1907 (Dr Brauns) is considered here a syntype male. Since the female in HNHM is destroyed, the MSNM male is the only surviving syntype, which is here designated lectotype ( Fig. 31 ).

Remarks: In the Hungarian Museum manuscript, Bezzi, appended a note to his descrip­

tion detailing how the male specimen sent to him by Dr Brauns differed from the female. It

corresponds with the specimen in MSNM now designated lectotype.

It is clear that Hesse (1956) misidentified E. biumbonata as another species without dense chalky white scaling on the frons, which is very distinct in the male specimen in Bezzi’s collection ( Fig. 32 ). Thus, E. albifrons Hesse SYN. NOV. and E. albifrons var. pallida Hesse SYN. NOV., the latter of which is barely distinct from the nominate variety, are synonyms of E. biumbonata (Bezzi) .

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 32. Lectotype specimens of species of Bombyliidae referred to in Bezzi’s manuscript. 29 – 30, Litorrhynchus evanescens Bezzi [= Litorhina] (lectotype in MSNM). 29, female habitus. 30, wing. 31 – 32, Plesiocera biumbonata Bezzi [= Epacmoides] (lectotype in MSNM). 31, male habitus. 32, head.