Apiocera alastor (Walker) Walker, 1968

Stuckenberg, B. R., 1968, A redescription of ' Asilus' alastor Walker, and its transfer to the genus Apiocera (Diptera: Apioceridae), Annals of the Natal Museum 20 (1), pp. 123-125 : 124-125

Apiocera alastor (Walker) n. comb.

Asilus alastor Walker, 1849 , List Ins. Brit. Mus. 2: 444-5.

♂ Holotype: Frons convergent, relatively narrow, at vertex its width relative to transverse diameter of head 19:90. Ocelli in elongate triangle, anterior ocellus almost twice as far from posterior ocelli as latter are from one another. Proboscis (see fig.) elongate, fairly slender, longer than vertical diameter of head, with appressed labella. Palp progressively flattened and broadened apically, truncate at apex where it is so thin as to be translucent.

Frons ashy-grey except for yellowish-grey lateral borders and reddish-brown lines bordering median groove beneath anterior ocellus. Hairs of frons and vertex dark brown, fine and crinkly. First and second antennal segments brownish with sparse greyish pubescence, bearing fine, pale hairs and much larger, stiff, radiating bristles which are either blackish-brown or yellowish-white; larger dark bristles on first segment equal to length of that segment, pale bristles equal to lengths of basal and second segments combined; on basal segment the dark bristles mainly on dorsal surface, a few on outer lateral surface, pale bristles mainly on latero-ventral surface, second segment with only a few of the fine, pale hairs, otherwise with dark bristles arranged in radiating, median circle broken on inner side, a few pale bristles included in ventral part of this circle; third segment obscurely brown, with differentiated dark-brown area over apical portion. Parafacials yellowish-white tomentose with fine yellowish-white hairs. Palps pale yellowish-brown, apical segment with fine, pale hairs only, basal segment with some stifi", bristle-like, pale yellowish-white hairs in addition to many fine, pale hairs. Proboscis blackish-brown. Occipital fringe dense, whitish, the hairs stiff and fairly thick, on upper part of occiput some strong, dark bristles mixed with fringe.

Mesonotum and pleura largely discoloured and rubbed; on anterior part of mesenotum two greyish-white, dorsocentral vittae enclose a brownish median vitta which is divided in midline by a narrow, paler brown line. Abdominal segments 1 -7 dark brown on tergites, dull pale orange on sternites, hypopygium contrasting blackish-brown. Claspers with apical tuft of long, creamy hairs.

Wing relatively short, reaching back to hind margin of seventh tergite; ambient vein absent around auxillary lobe and alula (as in africana ).

Length of body (excluding mouthparts, antennae and apical tufts of claspers) about 19 mm. Wing length about 10.5 mm.