Afroholopogon mauros, Londt, 2005

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 218-219

Afroholopogon mauros sp. n.

Figs 33–35 , 79

Etymology: Gr. mauros (dark). Refers to the generally dark colour of this small species.

Description: Based on holotype.

Head: Antenna: Dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose, white setose; segmental formula 1.0:1.2:2.8:0.3:2.5. Face black, strongly silver pruinose, mystax white, strong setae along epistomal margin, otherwise short. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:4.6. Frons and vertex black, extensively silver pruinose but with an apruinose strip joining eyes through ocellar tubercle, white setose. Occiput black, entirely silver pruinose, white setose. Proboscis dark red-brown, white setose. Palpi redbrown, white setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum black, silver pruinose except for 3 small mediolateral apruinose spots, one anterior of transverse suture, two postsuture (the most posterior one may be tiny or hardly evident). Setation: ac – fine white setae, long postsuture; dc – long white setae along entire length of mesonotum; npl – 2 pale yellow; sa – 1 weak white amongst white setae; pa – 1 weak white amongst white setae. Scutellum black, entirely silver pruinose, disc asetose, margin with 6 thin pale yellow setae and white setae that extend onto disc. Pleura black, entirely silver pruinose, white setose. Wing 3.8 x 1.5 mm, transparent membrane with yellow veins, microtrichia absent, basal angle of r 4 27°. Halter pale brown with yellow knob. Legs: cx black, silver pruinose, white setose; trochanters black; fem dark red-brown, white setose; tib dark red-brown, white setose (a few dark red-brown setae distally); tar dark red-brown, black setose.

Abdomen: Terga dark red-brown, silver pruinose except for apruinose mediodistal parts, white setose. Sterna dark red-brown, entirely silver pruinose, white setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected, but agrees well with topotypic paratype ơ illustrated ( Figs 33– 35 ): Hypopygium unrotated; epand (in dorsal view) moderately incised to form broadly basally fused distally pointed lobes; goncx externally distally unilobed and projecting (in lateral view) beyond level attained by epand; hypd (in lateral view) short and not projecting distally beyond level attained by epand, tapering gradually (in ventral view) to broadly-rounded medial process.

Variation: Sexes similar. Little variation seen. Specimens from the western parts of the known distribution (Northern Cape of South Africa and Namibia) have more extensively apruinose mesonotal areas.

Type specimens: BOTSWANA: 6ơ 2^ paratypes, ‘ Botswana / Serowe [2223S 2643E] / M. T. 6.xi.87’; 8ơ paratypes, ‘ Botswana / Serowe / M. T. 6.xii.87’ (1ơ BMNH); 3^ paratypes, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #56 / Farmer’s Brigade / 22°25'S: 26°44'E 1000 m / Date: 28.xi.1990 / Coll: P. Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Botswana SE 2226BD / Forestry nursary. / ca. 6 km SE of Se- / rowe. Malaise trap 3 / Forchhammer. 1300 m. / 27-xi-84’; 2^ paratypes, ‘ Botswana SE 2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5 kms / SE of Serowe Hillside / N slope P. Forchhammer / 30-xi-84 / Malaise trap 2 / Mercury vapour lamp’ . NAMIBIA: 1^ paratype, ‘ Namibia 28.iii.1984 / 15 km W Usakos. Rd 2/2 / 21 59'S: 15 30'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Roadside vegetation – / flowers .’. SOUTH AFRICA: 1^ paratype, ‘ Soutpan [2258S 2920E], Zpbg. / 15–30 Nov. 1932 / G. van Son’; ơ holotype, 5 ơ 4^ paratypes, ‘mounted / from alcohol’, ‘ S. Africa: Transvaal / Ellisras [2340S 2744E] / Malaise trap / 22.xi.1978 / Brothers & J-Guillarmod’; 1^ paratype, ‘ South Africa: N Cape / Ca. 5 km E Augrabies Falls / National Park’s main gate / 28°37.284'S 020°16.576'E / 670 m J Londt & T Dikow / 4.ii.2004 Acacia savanna’; 3ơ 4^ paratypes, ‘ South Africa: N Cape / Tierberg Nature Reserve / 28°43.012'S 020°59.805'E / 830 m J Londt & T Dikow / 5.ii.2004 Rocky, sparsely / vegetated exposed hillside’ .

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known from a few fairly widely separated localities within the Savanna Biome ( Fig. 79 ). The species flies from November to March (no records for January). Material collected by me was swept from grass.

Similar species:A distinctive species with similarities to anassa , argos , aspros, meilloni and vumba (see discussion).

Figures

Figs 33–44. Afroholopogon species, male genitalia: (33–35) A. mauros sp. n., paratype, Ellisras: (33) lateral, (34) dorsal, (35) ventral; (36–38) A. meilloni (Oldroyd, 1974), holotype, Eshowe: (36) lateral, (37) dorsal, (38) ventral; (39–41) A. melas sp. n., paratype, Franschhoek Pass: (39) lateral, (40) dorsal, (41) ventral; (42–44) A. pardosoros sp. n., holotype, Tierberg Nature Reserve: (42) lateral, (43) dorsal, (44) ventral. Arrow indicates a dent in epandrial lobe. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 79. Southern African distribution of Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 species: argos – closed circle, mauros – open circle, meilloni – closed square, melas – open square, peregrinus – closed triangle.