Exoprosopa

Greathead, D. J., 2001, A study of the Exoprosopa busiris (Jaennicke) group of Bezzi (1924) in tropical Africa (Diptera: Bombyliidae), Journal of Natural History 35 (1), pp. 127-147 : 140-141

Exoprosopa ®ssicornis Bezzi

(Figure 17)

Exoprosopa W ssicornis Bezzi, 1924: 350, Kenya [examined]

Bezzi (1924) indicates that he intended to describe E. W ssicornis in his paper on the Bombyliidae in the Budapest Museum which was not published and the material that was to be described in it has subsequently been destroyed. The key and notes in his (1924) monograph identify the species and constitute a valid description. Therefore, the single specimen listed (from Kenya) is the holotype .

The unusual structure of the apex of the antenna at once identi®es the species. It is also smaller than E. luteicosta which it most closely resembles. The discal cell is not expanded at the apex as in other members of the species group.

Diagnosis

As E. luteicosta but: only buccal rim pale. Hair tinged orange. Legs appear black, variable amount of white scales on femora. Narrow band on t2 and band on t5 present. Discal cell not expanded at apex. Wing infuscation paler and less intense than E. luteicosta and lacking distinct spots and with the veins faintly darker than the membrane which is tinged brownish±grey. Squamal fringe yellow±brown. First ¯agellomere with apex excavate and minute second ¯agellomere oOEset so that the antenna appears forked at the apex. Male genitalia very similar to E. luteicosta . Spermatheca very elongate and sinuous with a rounded bulb (®gure 17). Length of body, 9±14 mm; of wing, 9±15 mm.

Material examined

Kenya: Voi , 1m, 18.iv.1975 (Coll. 167); 4m, 29.xii.1972, D. J. Greathead; near Voi, 2 2 l m, 26.ix.1967, D. J. Greathead; Mackinnon Road, 1, l 30.x.1981, R. H. Markham (all DJG) .