Afromochtherus sathus, Londt, 2002

Londt, Jason G. H., 2002, Afrotropical Asilinae (Asilidae): A provisional key to genera, with a review of the status of Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878, and descriptions of new genera and species, African Invertebrates 43, pp. 11-92 : 39-40

Afromochtherus sathus sp. n. ( Figs 87–94 )

Etymology: Gr. sathos – one with a large penis, refers to the large aedeagus of this species.

Diagnosis: Head: Antennal scape and pedicel yellowish; postpedicel shorter than stylus. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with short setae. Dorsocentrals posterior to transverse suture only. Microtrichial coverage of wing moderate in distal area (proximal tip of cell r 5 bare). Prothoracic femur with two or three shortish posteroventral macrosetae.Metathoracic coxa with two lateral macrosetae; trochanter brownish yellow; femur anteriorly yellow with brown-black markings and with dark red-brown to black macrosetae. Abdomen: Ovipositor relatively short and broad (length:width ratio, measured dorsally <3.3) and relatively short and deep (length:depth ratio, measured laterally <2.8). Gonocoxite length:width ratio 1.6– 2.0. Distal margin of S8 lacking medial process or sclerotised area. Ventromedial area of hypandrium greatly constricted (ca. one quarter width of lateral parts). Gonostylus distally clubbed (viewed ventrally). Aedeagal terminal filaments not obvious. Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite (viewed ventrally). Aedeagus straight, relatively short and laterally compressed. Epandrium with dorsal process/lobe.

Material examined: Holotype: ZIMBABWE: 1ơ, ‘Rhodesia / Salisbury [= Harare 17 ° 50'S: 21 ° 03'E] / A. Watsham’. Paratypes : ZAMBIA: 1ơ, ‘ Kafue Riv. [15 ° 56'S: 28 ° 55'E] / J. Drury / 08’ ( SAMC) . ZIMBABWE: 1ơ 1^, ‘ Rekometjie Research / Station [16 ° 08'S: 29 ° 24'E] / 17/10/73 [ơ] 22/10/73 [^] / R. J. Phelps’; 1ơ , ‘ Zimbabwe / Matetsi [18 ° 03'S: 26 ° 36'E] / 4 Oct. 1978 / E.M. Jones’; 1ơ 1^, ‘ Rhodesia / Stuckenberg / October 1957 ’, ‘ Wankie [= Hwange 18 ° 22'S: 26 ° 29'E] Dist .’

Type locality: Zimbabwe, Harare .

Comments: Known only from a few localities in Zimbabwe; this species is similar to malawi and peri . The remarkable development of the gonostyli distinguishes the species from its congeners.

Figures

Figs 87–94. Afromochtherus sathus sp. n. 87. Antenna. 88. Wing. 89–92. ơ genitalia. (Kafue ơ). 89. Lateral. 90. Dorsal. 91. Ventral. 92. Aedeagus lateral (sketch, not to scale). 93–94. ^genitalia. (Wankie ^). 93. Lateral. 94. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.