Sisyrnodytes brevis ( Macquart, 1838 )

Londt, Jason G. H., 2009, A review of Afrotropical Sisyrnodytes Loew, 1856 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 50 (1), pp. 137-137 : 147-151

Sisyrnodytes brevis ( Macquart, 1838)

Figs 1 , 15, 16 , 41

Acnephalum breve: Macquart 1838: 52 (tab. iv, fig. 3 head, lateral aspect).

Dasypogon (Acnephalum) brevis: Walker 1854: 458 .

Sisyrnodytes brevis: Loew 1860: 72 ; Oldroyd 1957: 83–84 (figs 2, 3 ơ genitalia); Hull 1962: 191 (fig. 106 antenna); Oldroyd 1974: 73; 1980: 368 (catalogue).

Sisyrnodytes defusus Oldroyd, 1974: 74 ; 1980: 368 (catalogue). Syn. n.

Sisyrnodytes diplocus Oldroyd, 1974: 74 ; 1980: 368 (catalogue). Syn. n.

Redescription:

Male (in the absence of the brevis holotype, the description is based on the defusus holotype ơ (now considered the neotype of brevis ); condition: fair, left wing broken off at base and missing, right wing broken off just beyond humeral crossvein—all cells missing except for cell a1; mesonotum and scutellum appear somewhat abraded and a number of setae are missing; the specimen is double mounted on a strip of cellulose and pinned laterally).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, setae white except for a few brownish orange postoculars. Antennae: Dark red brown except for tip of style which is yellowish. Scape and pedicel white setose. Major ventral setae of pedicel project to a similar level achieved by postpedicel. Basal element of style short (slightly longer than broad). Eye to face width ratio 2.0:1. Mystax shortish, white, weakly developed dorsally (leaving a shiny apruinose, asetose strip between the eyes below antennal sockets). Frons and vertex white setose. Laterally situated frontal setae not extending below antennal sockets. Occipital setae mostly white, postoculars brownish orange. Palps and proboscis white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, white setose. Prothorax white setose. Mesonotum entirely white setose (except for abraded areas). Scutellum apruinose with moderately defined transverse groove; disc asetose, c. 12–14 white apical setae in two groups (absent medially). Pleural setae white. Katepimeron asetose; katatergals long, white, shafts more or less smooth. Legs: Dark red-brown, mainly white setose except for few strong black setae at distal tips of tibiae and ventrally on tarsi. Claws longish, black; empodia longish, yellowish; pulvilli minute to absent. Wings broken off and missing (see information under variation). Haltere yellow-brown.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown; white setose, but poorly so over medial parts of T1–5. T1– 6 with longish, pale glistening white setae laterally especially in more distally situated segments.

Genitalia: Not dissected, but visible structures appear to conform to dissected and illustrated genitalia of a male from the Karoo Botanic Gardens, Worcester ( Figs15, 16 ). Epandrium greatly reduced and simple in structure, proctiger extending well beyond it. Gonocoxite with external lobe tapering to fairly sharp tip, internal lobe robust, with characteristic shape in lateral view (a useful feature when viewing undissected males). Gonostylus somewhat shorter than internal lobe of gonocoxite and simple in structure. Hypandrium flattish, sub-triangular in ventral view, with long medial lobe extending beyond tip of external lobe of gonocoxite. Medial lobe, in ventral view, with lateral wing-like projections basally (there is some variation in the degree of development of these). Aedeagus slender with blunt tip.

Female. Similar to male but commonly has more yellow and orange setation.

Variation:A topotypic male specimen identified as defusus has wings measuring 3.5× 1.5 mm. This is a fairly variable species; males are generally smaller than females with measured wing lengths of ơ 2.6–3.7 mm, ^2.9 –4.7 mm respectively. The defusus type, and other material from Worcester, are extensively white setose (except for some orange setae on occiput and prothoracic tibiae). Males from other localities may, however, be more extensively yellow or orange setose, the areas most commonly affected include the antennae, frons, occiput, pronotum, anterior parts of mesonotum and legs.

Neotype designation: Although Oldroyd (1957) states ‘ Holotype in Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.’, the specimen is unfortunately no longer there. In complying with the qualifying conditions for the designation of a neotype, I provide the following information as required by Article 75 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999: 84–85).

Clarification of taxonomic status: S. brevis , originally described from ‘The Cape’, is a long-established species that is now believed to be confined to South Africa. There has been considerable confusion surrounding its identity and various scientists have recorded it from localities north of the equator in both Palaearctic Africa and beyond. Although these records are now believed to relate to nilicola , this, and the other Palaearctic species, urgently need revision. There is therefore a need to clarify the status of the species and to provide some taxonomic stability. The designation of a neotype provides a standard reference specimen.

Characters differentiating brevis from other species: The description provided, together with illustrations of the male terminalia and the key serve well to define this species and to separate it from all other Afrotropical species.

Recognition of the neotype specimen: The specimen is clearly labelled as neotype.

Reasons for believing that the holotype is lost or destroyed: The holotype used to form part of the Macquart’s collection housed in the MNHN. This was confirmed by the curator of this collection, Christophe Daugeron, who also informed me that the specimen is no longer in the collection and that there is no record of it having been sent to anyone on loan. In addition, a colleague, Prof. Denis Brothers, personally examined the relevant drawer and confirmed that the specimen is now missing.

Evidence of consistency with what is known about the holotype: Although Macquart’s original description, in Latin and French, is brief, the neotype conforms well to it.

Evidence that the neotype comes from the same region as the holotype: Pierre Antoine Delalande (1787–1823) collected the material used by Macquart. While it is not possible to ascertain precisely where the material was found it is known that Delalande, who spent some time in Cape Town and the Algoa Bay area, made three journeys into the interior between November 1818 and September 1820. He could have collected the brevis type(s) on any of these trips. Although Worcester, about 100 km east of Cape Town, is the other side of a mountainous area, it is one of the closest localities to Cape Town from which brevis is positively recorded. Worcester is also the type locality of defusus , which is now considered a synonym of brevis . I therefore conclude that Worcester is an appropriate type locality.

Repository of neotype: The neotype is housed in the BMNH, London as indicated below in the list of types studied.

Type specimens examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ơ neotype of brevis ( defusus holotype), ‘Holo- / type’ [circular with red rim], ‘ Cape Prov., / Worcester. [33°39'S: 19°26'E] / 1.1934’, ‘S. Africa. / R.E. Turner. / Brit. Mus. / 1934–106.’, ‘ Sisyrnodytes / defusus . sp. n. / det. H. Oldroyd 1971 / Holotype’ (BMNH); ^holotype ( diplocus ), ‘Malmesbury [33°27'S: 18°44'E] / Kapland / Dr. Brauns. / 5.xii.1928 [?]’, Collection / Transvaal / Museum’ [pale green], ‘ Sisyrnodytes ơ / diplocus sp. n. / det. H. Oldroyd 1971 / Holotype’ (NMSA). Eastern Cape: 1^paratype ( diplocus ), ‘Wit River Valley / Cambria area / Patensie Dist. / 6.12.67 3324DA / B&P Stuckenberg’, ‘ Sisrynodytes ^/ diplocus sp. n. / det. H. Oldroyd 1971 / Paratype’ (NMSA). Note: The diplocus holotype, originally deposited in the Transvaal Museum, is now in the Natal Museum and is a female, contrary to Oldroyd’s (1974) statement.

Type locality: I here designate the type locality as South Africa, Western Cape, Worcester [33°39'S: 19°26'E] .

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ơ 1^‘ Modder Riv / Brandfort [28°42'S: 26°28'E] Dist / OFS’ ~ ‘ Mus. Staff / Nov 1939 ’ ( SAMC) ; 3 ơ 5^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 2km NE of Carnarvon / 14.xi.1986 3022CC / Londt & Quickelberge / 1350m Flat scrubland’ ( NMSA) ; 4 ơ 4^‘ Kamieskroon [30°12'S: 17°56'E] / Namaqualand’ ~ ‘ Museum Staff / Nov. 1936 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1^‘ Aliwal North , [30°42'S: 26°42'E] / Cape Province./ Dec. 1922 ’, ‘ S. Africa. / R.E. Turner. / Brit.Mus. / 1923-45’ ( BMNH) ; 1 ơ 1^‘ Colesberg [30°44'S: 25°06'E] / C.P.’ ~ ‘ Mus. Staff / Nov. 1939 ’ ( SAMC) ; 1^‘ South Africa : N Cape / 1 km S Carnarvon 1260m

/ Appie van Heerden Nat. / Reserve 14.xi.2008 / 30°58.83'S: 22°07.39'E / J&A Londt Karoo scrub’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Gifberg Pass summit / 16.xi.1986 3118DB / Londt & Quickelberge / 690m Rocky macchia’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 17km NW Touwsrivier / 20.xi.1986 3119BD / Londt & Quickelberge / 900m Sand and tall / bush Military area’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 1^‘ Knersvlakte [31°15'S: 18°45'E] / Namaqualand’ ~ ‘Mus. Expd. / Oct. 1950 ’ (SAMC); 1 ơ 1^‘ Knersvlakte / Mus. Staff./ Oct. 1939 ’ (SAMC); 1 ơ 1^‘ Van Rhynsdorp [Vanrhynsdorp, 31°37'S: 18°44'E] / SA Museum’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Nov. 1936 ’ (SAMC); 3 ơ 4^‘ S Africa: Cape #35 / 23km N of Middelpos / 31°44'S: 20°14'E 1170m / Date: 29.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / At Kookfontein River’ (NMSA); 2 ơ 2^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Longhill Nature Res. / 5km N of Queenstown / 31°52'S: 26°53'E 1350m / J & H Londt Acacia / savannah 3.xii.1989 ’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 10km S of Sutherland / Swaarweerberg 3220BC / Londt & Quickelberge / 19.xi.1986 1600m / Rocks Woody macchia’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 44km N Matjiesfontein / 20.xi.1986 3220DC / Londt & Quickelberge / 1050m Tall renoster- / bos on rocky slope’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Molteno Pass 33km NW / Beaufort West 3222AB / 11.xi.1986 Londt & / Quickelberge Flowers / along roadside 1450m’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 2^‘ Bulshoek [32°01'S: 18°47'E] Clw [Clanwilliam], / S.A.M. 12-56’ (SAMC); 1 ơ ‘Bulhoek [Bulshoek] / Klaver – Clanw.’ ~ ‘Mus. Expd. / Oct. 1950 ’ (SAMC); 2^‘ South Africa: N Cape / Fish River bridge 23 km / SE Middelpos 1145 m / 32°01.42'S: 20°24.41'E / 18.xi.2008 J&A Londt / Sandy riverine scrub area’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 1^‘ S Africa: Cape #33 / 23km SE of Middelpos / 32°01'S: 20°25'E 1200m / Date: 28.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Banks of Visrivier’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 3^‘ S Africa: Eastern Cape / 3km E Cradock 956m / 32°10'02''S 25°40'09''E / 29.x.2004 J&A Londt / Acacia scrubland with / many wild flowers’ (NMSA); 1^‘ South Africa: N Cape / Renoster River 18 km N / Sutherland 1320 m / 32°15.21'S: 20°41.67'E / 19-20.xi.2008 J&A Londt / Rocky ridge Stream edge’ (NMSA); 2 ơ 1^‘ S Africa: Cape #26 / 18km N of Sutherland / 32°16'S: 20°41'E 1350m / Date: 26.xi.1990 / Londt & Whittington / Renosterrivier area’ (NMSA); 1^‘ South Africa, Cape Province / Brakkloof Farm / Grahamstown [32°18'S: 26°32'E] / 30.i.1982 / P.M.C. Croeser’ (NMSA); 7 ơ 2^‘ South Africa / Grahamstown / 19.xii.71 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1^‘ Merweville [32°40'S: 21°31'E] / Dist. C.P.’ ~ ‘H. Zinn / Jan – Feb. 1947 ’ (SAMC); 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Klein Visrivier – ca. / 10km W Somerset East / 32°44'S: 23°30'E 800m / J & H Londt 6.xii.1989 / Rocky ridge & stream’ (NMSA); 1^‘ South Africa: W Cape / Kagga Kamma Nat. Res. / 32°45.15'S: 19°34.21'E / 22-23.xi.2008 J&A Londt / 1075 m Sandy area with / tall fynbos near houses’ (NMSA); 10 ơ 3^‘ Sth Africa: W Cape / Gonnemanskraal N of / Jacobsbaai JGH Londt / 32°57'14''S 17°53'07''E / 21–26.xii.2002 0–10m / Dune sand & vegetation’ (NMSA); 2^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Op die berg 3319AB / 21.xi.1986 J Londt / 1070m Sandy area / short grass & shrubs’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 6^‘ S. Africa: Cape #1 / Karoo Botanic Gardens / Worcester 3319Cb / 30.xii.1982 – 6.i.1983 / Malaise trap / Coll: R.M. Miller’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 1^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Diepkloof CA 20km E / De Rust 3322BD / 12.xii.1979 J. Londt / & B. Stuckenberg Dry / rocky hillside & stream’ (NMSA); 2^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Meiringspoort 3323CA / 12.xii.1979 Londt / & B. Stuckenberg Rocky / hillside & stream edge’ (NMSA); 3 ơ 5^‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Uniondale 3323CA / 12.xii.1979 J. Londt & / B. Stuckenberg Steep / hillside macchia’ (NMSA; SANC 1 ơ 1^); 1^‘ So. Africa: Cape Prov. / New Years Dam 3326AC / Alicedale 5.xi.1978 / R. Miller & J. Londt / dam margin’ (NMSA); 1 ơ ‘ Cape Province / Clifton [33°11'S: 26°24'E], 18km NW / of Grahamstown / 20.xi.1990 / F.W. & S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 1 ơ ‘Laingsberg [33°12'S: 20°51'E] / Koup Siding / SA Museum’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Nov 1939 ’ (SAMC); 2 ơ 1^‘ S Africa: Cape #5 / 15km NW Grahamstown / 33°12'S: 26°24'E 500m / Date: 20.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Clifton farm hillside’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Gouph / Lainsburg [Laingsberg, 33°12'S: 20°51'E] Div.’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Feb. 1938 ’ (SAMC); 2 ơ ‘S Africa: Eastern Cape / Ecca Pass Nature Res. / 33°13'07''S 26°37'38''E / 21.x.2004 J&A Londt / 457m N slope 20km NE / Grahamstown, Thicket’ (NMSA); 3 ơ 5^‘ S Africa: Cape #11 / 32km E of Willowmore / 33°15'S: 23°48'E 650m / Date: 22.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Dry scrub road margin’ (NMSA); 1^‘ Witzenberg Vall. [Pass, 33°16'S: 19°13'E] / 3,500 ft. / Ceres District, / Cape Province. / 21– 23.xii.1920 ’ (BMNH); 1^‘ S Africa: Cape #23 / 19km SE of Laingsburg / 33°17'S: 20°57'E 700m / Date: 25.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / near Floriskraal dam’ (NMSA); 4 ơ 3^‘ Capland / Willowmor [Willowmore, 33°17'S: 23°30'E] / 11 [xi] 1907 [1 ơ 2^] 28 11 1906 [1 ơ] Nov 1914 [1^] / Dr. Brauns’ (NMSA; ZSMC 2 ơ); 1 ơ 4^‘ S Africa: Eastern Cape / Grahamstown 643m / 33°17'52''S 26°30'44''E / 24.x.2004 J&A Londt / Rocky Acacia grassland / Somerset Heights area’ (NMSA); 2^‘ Cape Province / Strowan [33°18'S: 26°28'E] / Grahamstown / 27.xi.1968 [1^] 11.xii.1968 [1^] / F.W.Gess’ (AMGS); 1 ơ 2^‘ S Africa: Eastern Cape / 2km E Alicedale 310m / 33°19'07''S 26°06'12''E / 23.x.2004 J&A Londt / Dry rocky hillside with / succulent vegetation’ (NMSA); 1 ơ 7^‘ S Africa: Cape #7 / 6km E of Alicedale / 33°19'S: 26°07'E 600m / Date: 21.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / New Years Dam area’ (NMSA); 4 ơ 5^‘ South Africa / Cape Province / Coombs [33°19'S: 26°49'E] / 25.x.1959 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1^‘ 8m. NE / Touws R. [Touwsrivier, 33°20'S: 20°02'E]’ ~ ‘H. Zinn / Jan – Feb. 1947 ’ (SAMC); 9 ơ 6^‘ S Africa: Cape #6 / 2km S of Grahamstown / 33°20'S: 26°31'E 800m / Date: 20.xi.1990 / Londt & Whittington / Dassie Krantz Forest’ (NMSA); 2^‘ S Africa: Cape #12 / 16km SW of Willowmore / 33°23'S: 23°23'E 900m / Date: 22.xi.1990 / Londt & Whittington / Ghwarriepoort River 2’ (NMSA); 1 ơ ‘S Africa: Eastern Cape / Thomas Baines Nat Res / 33°24'40''S 26°30'07''E / 23.x.2004 J&A Londt / 289m Grewia & Acacia / thicket. Settler’s Dam’

(NMSA); 2^‘ Matroosberg Sta. [ Railway Station 33°26'S: 19°50'E]’ ~ ’12.1962. / S. A.M. ’ ( SAMC); 3^

‘ Upper Sources / Olifants River [33°41'S: 21°43'E] / Ceres C.P. ’ ~ ‘ Mus. Exp. / Dec. 1949 ’ ( SAMC); 1 ơ

‘ South Africa: W Cape / Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve / 33°54'55''S 19°53'37''E / 20.x.2005 J.G.H. Londt /

234m Dry succulent / rocky hillside Rooikat trail’ (NMSA).

Distribution, phenology and biology:Although fairly widely distributed ( Fig. 41 ), brevis is a South African endemic. All previous reports of the species from countries much further north are erroneous, referring mainly to nilicola which superficially resembles brevis . Oldroyd (1957, 1974) reports the species from southern Namibia, but his material,

from Aus, represents another species described earlier in this paper as ausensis . Adults are active during summer (October–February) (Table 1) and inhabit both winter and summer rainfall regions. Label data indicate that dry, sandy and often rocky environments are favoured. Many specimens were found on rocky hillside slopes while others were collected in Acacia savannah areas. Personal experience suggests that individuals rest on exposed sand or rocks, darting after small insect prey flying close to the ground.

There are three prey records in the Natal Museum database, all from Clifton Farm near

Grahamstown. Two males were captured with Hymenoptera (Cynipidae) while one female was found feeding on a small Coleopteran (probably Chrysomelidae ). Personal experience indicates that populations may on occasion be locally fairly high.

Comments: It is clear that Oldroyd, who revised the genus in 1957 and again added to our knowledge in 1974, did not have a good concept of brevis . Evidence for this was gleaned from the following analysis. In 1957 (p. 84) he lists material as follows: ‘South

West Africa: Aus; Neels Poort. Cape Province: Ceres District, Witzenberg Valley, 3500

feet; Worcester.’ and in 1974 (p. 73) the following list appears ‘S.W. Africa:Aus; Neels

Post. Cape Province: Ceres Dt.; Aliwal North (R. E. Turner); Wit River Valley, Cambria

Area (Stuckenberg); Kimberley (Greathead)’. My study of Oldroyd’s material from the places listed above reveals the following:

Aus – These specimens are distinctive and now constitute the types of a new species ausensis .

Neels Poort or Neels Post – Both names are incorrect. Labels actually show the locality as Nels Poort (more commonly written as Nelspoort, the Afrikaans equivalent). This locality is not in S.W. Africa (i.e. Namibia) as labels state, but in the Western Cape Province of South Africa). These specimens are now considered to belonging to the new species dasykylon .

Witzenberg Valley / Ceres Dt. – The single female from this locality is considered correctly identified as brevis .

Worcester – The material Oldroyd listed under brevis in 1957 was used to erect his new species, defusus , in 1974. S. defusus is now considered a synonym of brevis .

Aliwal North – The single female from this locality is considered correctly identified as brevis .

Wit River Valley – While one female is a paratype of diplocus (= brevis ), another, with identical label data, belongs to subater .

Kimberley – These specimens, listed both under brevis and subater , correctly belong to subater .

The fact that Oldroyd had relatively few specimens at his disposal, most of which were females, must have contributed to his apparent lack of appreciation of brevis .

Similar species: This species is similar to ausensis and oligotrichus .

Figures

Figs 1–5. Sisyrnodytes species: (1) S. brevis (Macquart, 1838), dorsal view of a Gonnemanskraal ơ; (2) S. curtus (Wiedemann, 1819), lateral view of Knersvlakte ^; (3, 4) S. major Adams, 1905, variation in wing staining: (3) Nguruma ơ; (4) Azare paratype ơ; (5) S. aethes sp. n., wing venation of Meiringspoort paratype ^.

Figs 13–18. Sisyrnodytes species, ơ terminalia: (13, 14) S. ausensis sp. n., holotype, lateral (position of aedeagal base faintly indicated) and ventral; (15, 16) S. brevis (Macquart, 1838), Worcester, lateral and ventral; (17, 18) S. curtus (Wiedemann, 1819), 7 mi. N. Vanrhynsdorp, lateral and ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 41. Distribution of Sisyrnodytes ausensis sp. n. (•), brevis (Macquart, 1838) (·) and niveipilosus Ricardo, 1925 (9).