A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae)
Author
Londt, Jason G. H.
text
African Invertebrates
2011
2011-12-31
52
2
471
471
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.5733/afin.052.0214
journal article
10.5733/afin.052.0214
2305-2562
7917250
Ancylorhynchus greatheadi
sp. n.
Figs 10
,
40
,
87–89
Etymology: Named after Dr David J. Greathead, whose collecting activities have led to the discovery of a number of interesting Afrotropical
Asilidae
, including this species from
Eritrea
.
Description:
Male
(based on
holotype
. Condition: Excellent.).
Head
: Red-brown to dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Antenna (
Fig. 10
): Red-brown, scape and pedicel white setose, postpedicel tipped with obliquely positioned pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element (terminal stylus ‘segment’ absent). Segmental ratios: 1:0.3:5.2. Face dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose except lateral parts of epistomal margin, mystax shiny white occupying ventral ⅓ of face. Frons and vertex dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose, white setose; ocellar tubercle fine white setose (no macrosetae). Occiput dark red-brown, uniformly fine silver pruinose, white setose. Palpus red-brown, white setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, pale yellow setose.
Thorax
: Red-brown to dark red-brown with orange-brown areas dorsally, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. Prothorax anteriorly brown-orange, posteriorly red-brown, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum red-brown with lateral parts brown-orange, fine silver-grey pruinose, fine moderately long white setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (white when present):
dc
weak confined to region posterior of transverse suture,
c
. 2
npl
, 1
spal
, 1
pal
. Scutellum entirely red-brown, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely white setose, hind margin with
c
. 4 white weakly developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely dark red-brown, entirely fine silver-grey pruinose, setae white, confined to
anepst
,
kepst
and
ktg
.
Anatg
and
mes pnot
red-brown, not contrasting with scutellum. Legs: Entirely red-brown, white to pale yellow setose,
cx
silver pruinose, claws dark red-brown with orange proximal parts. Wings (
Fig. 40
,
paratype
): 5.6×
2.2mm
. Veins brown-yellow. Membrane entirely microtrichose, transparent (lacking staining). Haltere yellow with red-brown base.
Abdomen
: Predominantly red-brown with some yellow areas, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. T1 red-brown; T2 red-brown with large yellow posterolateral areas that coalesce medially; T3–4 red-brown with small yellow areas posterolaterally; T5–7 red-brown with narrow posterior margins; terminalia red-brown. Sternites similar to tergites but yellow areas cover entire posterior margins.
Genitalia
(
Figs 87–
89
paratype):
Epand
bifid, forming pair of parallel, moderately slender lobes that just out beyond all other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, each being relatively straight with slightly inwardly curved distal tips.
Proct
simple, dorsally situated
cerc
appearing fused proximally.
Goncx
well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly to fairly broadly-rounded tip; dorsal finger-like process poorly-developed appearing as a slight bump bearing a few longish setae; inner lobe well developed, distal end pointed, sclerotised and medially directed.
Gonst
somewhat compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly.
Hypd
well developed, a little broader than long, tapering fairly rapidly to slightly bilobed apex; distal third flattened with group of long setae arising from base of flattened region (
Fig. 87
, lateral view);
Aed
not visible in ventral view.
Female
: There is a fair degree of sexual dimorphism. Females are generally more orange in colour (e.g. the head, including face, palps and antennae are orange; the mesonotum is orange with a central dark marking; the legs are entirely orange). Females are generally slightly larger than males (
♂
wing length ranges from
5.6–7.5 mm
(average
6.4 mm
),
♀
wing length ranges from
6.4–7.9 mm
(average
7.1 mm
)).
Variation:There is very little variation. One male from Waddi Damas is somewhat paler than other males but this may be a consequence of being teneral.
Holotype
:
♂
ERITREA
: ‘
Eritrea
: /
Salamona
[
15°39'N
:
39°01'E
] /
30.iv.1961
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
).
Paratypes
:
5♂
5♀
ERITREA
:
2♂
‘
Eritrea
: /
Barentu
[
15°07'N
:
37°36'E
] /
Dist.
/
18.ix.1960
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
)
;
1♀
‘
Eritrea
: nr /
Gogni
[
15°08'N
:
37°21'E
] /
17.ix.1960
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
)
;
2♂
‘
Eritrea
: /
Waddi
/
Damas
[
15°30'N
:
39°12'E
] /
14.iii.1956
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
)
;
1♂
1♀
similar data as holotype (
BMNH
)
;
2♀
‘
Eritrea
: /
Salamona
/
9–10.iv.1961
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
)
;
1♀
‘
Eritrea
: /
Salamona
/
29.iv.1961
/
D.J. Greathead’
(
BMNH
)
.
Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from the
type
series collected in East Africa (
Eritrea
) (
Table 1
). Adults have been collected in September as well as in March and April (Table 2). The biology is unknown, but vegetation maps suggest that the environments occupied are dominated by
Acacia
savanna and desert scrubland.
Greathead (1967)
provides further details on habitats, where the specimens were collected.
Similar species: A member of the
nomadus
species-group with close similarities to
funebris
and
susurrus
.