Megatrigon tabanoides sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AF0AED98-F365-434F-A0FF-EA337D9374D7

Figs 1K, 2L, 3K, 5C, 7K, 10K, 11K, 12J, 16

Diagnosis

Black, large species, with white microtrichiose stripes on tergites (Figs 1H, 7K); wing membrane brown along the veins (Fig. 5C); alula bare of microtrichia at posterior margin; all tibiae orange without dark ring; tarsomeres 4–5 black dorsally (rest of tarsomeres can be shaded); only species with intraalar microtrichia on mesoscutum; postsutural pilosity of mesoscutum mainly black.

Etymology

The species epithet, which is formed as an adjective, is derived from the Latin word tabanus (= horse fly), alluding to the resemblance of this species to a horse fly of the genus Tabanus Linnaeus.

Type material

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA: ♂, Western Cape, 5 km E of Lambert’s Bay, westcoast strandveld, 31 Aug. 1981, J. Londt, L. Schoeman & B. Stuckenberg leg. (NMSA).

Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♂, Northern Cape, Bowesdorp, Sep. 1941, museum staff leg. (SAMC); 1 ♂, Northern Cape, 16 km S of Steinkopf, 1 000 m, 31 Aug. 1989, Stuckenberg, Londt & Crosser leg. (NMSA); 1 ♂, Western Cape, Pakhuis Pass, 1961, museum staff leg. (SAMC); 2 ♂♂, Western Cape, 5 km E of Lambert’s Bay, 31 Aug. 1981, Londt, Schoeman & Stuckenberg leg. (NMSA); 2 ♂♂, Western Cape, Cape Pen., Hout Bay, 11 Sep. 1967, E.S. Ross & A.R. Stephen leg. (CAS); 3 ♂♂, N Cape, Hantams Nat. Botanical Garden Neuwoudville, Rocky ridge, 750 m, 31°24ʹ49″ S, 19°09ʹ35″ S, 11 Sep. 2012, J. & A. Londt leg. (NMSA).

Description

LENGTH. Body 12.0 mm, wing 7.5–8.0 mm.

HEAD (Figs 2L, 3K). Distance between eyes, 0.16–0.17 width of head; the width of post-ocular orbit dorsally a little larger than in M. argenteus comb. nov. 0.10–0.11 × width of head; microtrichia on head reduced: on face traces of microtrichia along eye margin, wide microtrichiose area below antennae continuing as tiny medial facial stripe; frons and vertex shiny; microtrichia on postocular orbit do not exceed postocular ridge.

THORAX. Lateral microtrichiose stripes on mesoscutum missing, submedian stripes indistinct ending as a spot at the level of transverse suture, conspicuous intraalar microtrichiose stripe.

WING (Fig. 5C). Capitulum brown.

LEGS. Pro- and mesofemur partly black, but orange at base, apex, and anteriorly in distal half; metafemur mainly black with blue or violet luster, but orange-brown at base and in some specimens also ventrally; hairs on legs mainly white with more or less numerous short black setae on all femora and tibiae, black long posteroapical tuft on metatibia, tarsi dorsally predominately covered by black setae.

ABDOMEN (Figs 1K, 7K). tergites 2–4 black, with oblique white microtrichiose fasciae almost connected in the middle; triangular on tergite 2 and touching posterior corner, on tergites 3+4 separated from lateral margins (or barely touching on tergite 3 in some specimens). Male genitalia in Figs 10K, 11K, 12J.

Distribution

Afrotropical – South Africa (Northern and Western Cape) (Fig. 16).