Rhabdogaster sinis, Londt, 2006

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 283-284

Rhabdogaster sinis sp. n.

Figs 101–103

Etymology: From Greek sinis (plunderer). Refers to the predatory behaviour of the species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver to gold pruinose, white setose. Antenna black, setae pale yellowwhite. Face entirely silver-gold pruinose. Mystax sparse, entirely white, occupying approx. lower half of face. Frons extensively silver pruinose, vertex entirely apruinose (including ocellar tubercle). Occiput entirely silver pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver to silver-gold pruinose, white setose.Mesonotum extensively pruinose except for pair of anteromedial stripes and 5 lateral spots (including small parts of postpronotal and postalar lobes). Pleura entirely silver pruinose. Scutellum entirely pruinose, with 2 moderately developed white sctl s accompanied by 3 or 4 smaller setae. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose; troc and fem dark red-brown (fem with narrow orange-brown distal ends), white setose; tib red-brown with orange-brown proximodorsal parts, extensively white setose (a few black setae ventrodistally); tar red-brown, black and white setose. Wing 4.9 x 1.6 mm, veins brown, membrane transparent, unstained, largely lacking microtrichia, except distally. Discal cell with microtrichia in distal part only, costal cell entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver-gold pruinose, white setose. Tergites with narrow apruinose hind margins. Terminalia ( Figs 101– 103 paratype): epand in lateral view projecting beyond levels attained by outer lobe of goncx and hypd, tapering to narrowly-rounded tip; in dorsal view lobes broadly fused proximomedially; hypd in lateral view short, curved, with upturned distal end; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering to moderately long terminal process with trifurcate apex. In lateral view external lobe of goncx and gonst project well beyond end of external lobes of goncx. Gonst in ventral view fairly straight.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: ‘ S Africa: N Cape #18 / 15 km W Olifantshoek / 27 ° 55'S: 22 ° 38'E 1575m / Date: 15.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / Rocky, bushy valley’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: 1ơ ‘Zoutpan. Pta. [Pretoria 2545S:2810E] / 24.3.1941 / G. van Son’. 1^‘ South Africa / Pretoria / Moreleta / Park 3.4.85 / J.G. Theron’ ; Northern Cape: 5ơ 6^same data as holotype; 1^‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Hill nr Olifantshoek / 2722DC 24.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Rocky hillside grass / & Acacia trees .’.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded from four localities in South Africa. Collected in March and April. Found sympatrically with tanylabis .

Similar species: R. cinerascens .

Figures

Figs 92–103. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (92–94) R. pulverulentus (Loew, 1858), Stellenbosch: (92) lateral, (93) dorsal, (94) ventral; (95–97) R. quasinuda sp. n., Rawsonville holotype: (95) lateral, (96) dorsal, (97) ventral; (98–100) R. rustica Oldroyd, 1974, Garden Castle Nat. Res.: (98) lateral, (99) dorsal, (100) ventral; (101–103) R. sinis sp. n., Olifantshoek paratype: (101) lateral, (102) dorsal, (103) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.