A revision of Afrotropical Astochia Becker, 1913 with descriptions of three new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Asilini) Author Londt, Jason G. H. text African Invertebrates 2019 60 2 215 237 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.60.38432 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.60.38432 2305-2562-2-215 CA0D0E0336BF45F993BB844C1CF1BD64 5C2A2092E76958E79C6E93C56A0F66FF Astochia silva sp. nov. Figs 13 , 14 , 15-18 , 19 , 26 Etymology. L. silva ( sylva ) f. woods, trees, forest. Named after the forest habitat occupied by this species. Description. Based on all material studied. Entire holotype as illustrated ( Fig. 13 ). Figure 13. Astochia silva sp. nov. entire ♂ holotype. Head: Dark red-brown to black, dull gold pruinose, black and yellow setose. Antenna dark red-brown to black, scape and pedicel black setose, postpedicel slightly laterally compressed. Relative lengths of segments (scape as 1) scape 1, pedicel 0.64, postpedicel 1.78, style 1.42 (0.14: 1.14: 0.14 - composed of a tiny basal element followed by a long, thin, stylus tipped with a tiny seta-like sensory element). Face black, ventral half protuberant, entirely strongly gold pruinose. Mystax mainly black with some yellow macrosetae centrally on epistomal margin, confined to protuberance. Frons black, gold pruinose. Vertex black, gold pruinose, strongly concave. Ocellar tubercle weakly pruinose, with c. 10 moderately developed ocellar macrosetae. Occiput uniformly gold pruinose, black (dorsally and along dorsal eye margins) and fine pale yellow to cream (ventrally) setose. Palps dark red-brown, single segmented, black (distally) and pale yellow (proximally) setose. Proboscis dark red-brown to black, straight, pale yellow setose. Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, gold pruinose, black and pale yellow setose. Antepronotum dark red-brown, gold pruinose, black setose. Mesonotum dark red-brown to black, patterned with gold pruinescence (central longitudinal stripe and lateral patches dull apruinose), entirely black setose. Lateral macrosetae black (2 notopleurals, 2 supra-alars, 2 postalars). Scutellum dark red-brown to black, entirely gold pruinose, with 6 (4 in paratypes) black apical macrosetae, disc fine black setose. Pleura dark red-brown to black, entirely gold pruinose, fine black and yellow setose. Katatergal setae moderately well developed, black. Anatergites fine black setose. Postmetacoxal area membranous. Legs: Entirely black (♀ has orange tibiae with black distal ends). Coxae gold pruinose, mostly shiny yellow setose. Trochanters weakly yellow setose. Femora black (dorsally) and yellow (ventrally) setose. Tibiae and tarsi entirely black setose. Claws, pulvilli and empodia well developed. Wings ( Fig. 14 ) Length (humeral crossvein to tip) x breadth (maximum): Holotype ♂ 10.8 x 3.8 mm, paratype ♀ 12.8 x 3.9 mm, paratype ♂ 10.5 x 3.6 mm. Veins dark red-brown to black, membrane transparent, marginally microtrichose, centrally lacking microtrichia, cells m 3 and cua closed and stalked. Figure 14. Astochia silva sp. nov. paratype ♂ wing. Abdomen: ♂ - dark red-brown to black, almost entirely gold pruinose (terminalia apruinose), mostly yellow setose (T1 and genitalia black and yellow setose). ♀ - as ♂ but T1-5 pruinose, T6-9 telescopic and apruinose). Male terminalia ( Figs 15-17 ): Unrotated. S8 with posterior region greatly extended distally, almost twice as long as broad in ventral view ( Fig. 17 ). Epandrium 3 x longer than wide in lateral view ( Fig. 15 ), deeply incised dorsomedially with left and right sides narrowly joined near base; distal ends narrowed to form fairly elongate, convergent lobes. Hypandrium relatively small with slightly projecting, broad, ventral lobes ( Fig. 17 ). Gonocoxite subtriangular in lateral view with some what elongate, distally rounded lobes ( Fig. 15 ). Gonostylus well developed, dorsally directed ( Fig. 15 ). Figures 15-18. Astochia silva sp. nov. terminalia: 15, 17 Paratype ♂ 15 lateral 16 dorsal 17 ventral 18 Paratype ♀ lateral. Scale bar: 1 mm. Female terminalia ( Fig. 18 - not dissected): Ovipositor telescopic and comprising segments 6-9. Type material. Holotype. Kenya: ♂ 'Kenya: W Kakamega #73 / Kakamega Forest Reserve / 00°22'N , 34°53'E 1620m / Date: 24.xi.1992 / A Whittington & J Londt / Indigenous forest paths' , 'Prey Identification / Order: Diptera / Family: Calliphoridae / Other: ... / Det: JGH Londt' , 'Asilprey 001895', 'NMSA-DIP-106722' , 'Asilprey 001895' (NMSA). Paratypes. Kenya. 1♂ 1♀: Same collecting data as holotype. 1♂ 'NMSA-DIP-106723' ; 1♀ 'NMSA-DIP-106724' (NMSA), 1♀ 'Brit. E. Afr. / S.E. Slopes / of Kenya [Mount Kenya c. 0°09'S , 37°19'E ] / 6,000-7,000 ft. [ c. 1980 m] / Feb. 3-12, 1911. / S.A. Neave' , 'E preying / on F' , 'Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / 1921 -9.' , ' Astochia sp. / det J.G.H. Londt, 1981' - Prey pinned alongside 'Brit. E. Afr. / S.E, Slopes / of Kenya / 6,000-7,000 ft. / Feb. 3-12, 1911. / S.A. Neave' , 'F prey / of E [ Coleoptera : Staphylinidae ]', 'Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / 1921 -9.' (BMNH). Paratype. Burundi: 1♀ 'Burundi, Bururi / National Forest / 1955m. 3.93022S , 29.61697°E [ 03°55'49"S , 29°37'01"E 2010m]', 'Malaise trap, edge of / indigenous forest / 23 Mar - 6 Apr 2014 / R. Copeland' (ICIPE). Distribution, phenology and biology. Recorded from Kenya and Burundi ( Fig. 26 ). Collected from November to March (Table 1 ); no records for December and January. Found associated with indigenous forests. Fig. 19 shows the habitat in which the species has been found in the Bururi National Forest, Burundi. Two prey items are associated with specimens ( Coleoptera : Staphylinidae , Diptera : Calliphoridae ). Figure 19. Astochia silva sp. nov. habitat at Bururi National Forest (Photo: Bob Copeland - 10 August 2010).