Doliogethes decipiens Greathead, 2006

Greathead, David J., 2006, New records of Namibian Bombyliidae (Diptera), with notes on some genera and descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 1149 (1), pp. 1-88 : 11-12

Doliogethes decipiens Greathead sp. nov.

Doliogethes tripunctatus (Bezzi, 1921: 65) and Hesse, 1938: 561 not Macquart, 1840: 101; misidentifications.

Bezzi (1921) identified a specimen from Northern Cape in SAMC as Dischistus tripunctatus (Macquart) . Subsequently, Hesse (1938) gave a detailed description of the same species [as Doliogethes tripunctatus (Macquart) ] based on Bezzi’s and numerous other specimens from South Africa in SAMC and BMNH. However, Bombylius tripunctatus Macquart , originally described without locality, is a North African species of Bombylisoma (holotype examined by N.L. Evenhuis; synonymy in Evenhuis & Greathead, 1999) but no name has been proposed hitherto for the common South African species described by Bezzi (1921) and Hesse (1938). Specimens have now been identified from Namibia so the opportunity is taken to provide the species with a name — Doliogethes decipiens and the specimen described by Bezzi (1921) is designated holotype.

Description. See Bezzi, 1921: 65 as Dischistus tripunctatus . Further description in Hesse (1938: 561) as Doliogethes tripunctatus .

Material examined. Holotype ♂. [ South Africa]: Namaqualand, Springbok, Oct.[18]90, R. Lightfoot, SAM­DIP­A001421, Dischistus tripunctatus Macq. ♂ (SAMC), bearing a label in Bezzi’s handwriting “ Dischistus tripunctatus Macq. ♂ ” and the printed red label “ HOLOTYPE Doliogethes decipiens Greathead xii.2004 ”. Paratypes, numerous specimens in SAMC (not examined) and BMNH identified by Hesse (1938) and listed by him as Doliogethes tripunctatus , also the specimen from Namibia listed on p. 45.

The species is readily recognised by having the dorsal surface of the thorax and abdomen black and the remaining cuticle pale orange­brown, hair pale reddish­brown, bristles gleaming reddish brown. Antennae with ratio 3:1:4 and flagellum tapering towards its apex and slightly bowed away from midline. Proboscis twice length of head, reddish, blackened at apex. Legs with pulvilli three quarters length of claws. Wing hyaline with base and costal cell infused brownish and three small darker brown spots at base of Rs and apical veins of basal cells.