Rhabdogaster karoo, 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 : 261-262

Rhabdogaster karoo sp. n.

Figs 43–45

Etymology: Refers to the occurrence of this species in a semi-arid area of South Africa known as the Karoo .

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, pale yellow and white setose. Antenna black, setae white and pale yellow (few dark red-brown on pedicel). Face entirely strongly pruinose. Mystax entirely pale yellow-white, occupying approx. lower half of face. Frons extensively pruinose, vertex entirely apruinose (including ocellar tubercle). Occiput entirely pruinose, dorsally pale yellow, ventrally white setose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae pale yellow-white.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver-gold pruinose, pale yellow-white setose. Mesonotum extensively apruinose except for lateral and posterior margin and areas posterior of postpronotal lobes. Pleura extensively silver-gold pruinose with apruinose spots on anepisternum, katepisternum and proepimeron. Scutellum extensively apruinose except for anterior margin, with approx. 10 small brown-yellow sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge brown-yellow, entirely apruinose. Legs: cx red-brown, silver-gold pruinose, pale yellow setose; troc orange and red-brown; fem brown-yellow with dark red-brown anterior surfaces, white setose; tib brown-yellow, white setose (a few black setae distally, especially on tib 3); tar brown-yellow, predominantly black setose. Wing 3.5 x 1.3 mm, veins yellow-brown, membrane transparent, unstained, almost entirely microtrichose (except for some small proximal areas). Discal and costal cells entirely microtrichose. Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, gold-silver pruinose, dark red-brown and white setose. Tergites extensively apruinose except for narrow hind margins, setae dark redbrown on apruinose parts, white on pruinose areas. Sternites entirely pruinose, short white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 43– 45 paratype): epand in lateral view longer than external lobe of goncx and hypd, gradually tapering to narrowly-rounded tips; lobes very narrowly separated medially; hypd in lateral view curved, with upturned distal end, shorter than epand, of similar length as external lobe of goncx; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering rapidly to long distal projection with splayed tip. External lobe of goncx shorter than epand lobe, similar in length to hypd, broad, parallel-sided terminating in broadly-rounded apex; internal lobe and details of gonst hidden from view.

Variation: A uniform species. ^with central apruinose facial spot.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: ‘ Sth Africa: Cape Prov / 22 km SE Graaff-Reinet / on Pearston Rd 750m / 32 ° 27'S: 24 ° 38'E Open / Karoo scrub/flowers / J&H Londt 7.xii.1989 ’.

Paratypes: 3ơ 4^same data as holotype.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from the South African type locality in a semi-arid area receiving limited summer rainfall. Collected in December (mid-summer in a summer rainfall area).

Similar species: R. oldroydi and tanylabis sp. n.

Figures

Figs 43–54. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (43–45) R. karoo sp. n., Graaff-Reinet paratype: (43) lateral, (44) dorsal, (45) ventral; (46–48) R. kosmos sp. n., Omaruru paratype: (46) lateral, (47) dorsal, (48) ventral; (49–51) R. lindneri sp. n., Nairobi holotype: (49) lateral, (50) dorsal, (51) ventral. (52–54) R. maculipennis Engel, 1929, Sawmills lectotype: (52) lateral, (53) dorsal, (54) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.