Euscelidia natalensis, Dikow, 2003

Dikow, Torsten, 2003, Revision of the genus Euscelidia Westwood, 1850 (Diptera: Asilidae: Leptogastrinae), African Invertebrates 44 (2), pp. 1-131 : 35-36

Euscelidia natalensis sp. n. ( E. brunnea species-group)

Figs 5A–C , 7B , 21A–E , 22

Etymology: Refers to the distribution of this species that is centred in south-eastern South Africa in the province KwaZulu-Natal.

Diagnosis:The species is distinguished from congeners by the predominantly apruinose, black sct, the two narrow median grey pruinose stripes on the sct, and the densely arranged microtrichia on the wings.

Description: Head: Black; fc silver pruinose, fc gib indistinct, mystax white, many macrosetae; prob and plp dark brown, setae white; oc tr apruinose; occ silver pruinose, black setae medially and white setae laterally; Antennae - scp brown, white setae ventrally, white pruinose; ped brown, black setae ventrally and dorsally, white pruinose; pped brown, white pruinose; apsel hyaline.

Thorax: Black; ppro peg small, distinct, silver pruinose; sct black, sometimes with antero-lateral red spots, brown pruinose, margins silver pruinose, sometimes pruinosity restricted to margins, 2 narrow median stripes, not reaching posterior margin, and 2 lateral stripes, not reaching anterior and posterior margins, apruinose, yellow and brown setae medially, white setae on lateral margins, dc setae well-developed; macrosetae: 1 white npl s, 1 black spal s; sctl silver pruinose, ds sctl s and sctl s long, brown; Legs - yellow to brown; fem proximally yellow, brown distad, setae white, meta fem clubbed, club with short white setae; tib brown, pale yellow stripe not reaching tip anteriorly; first tar yellow, brown distad, remaining tar brown, setae black; emp minute; Wings - densely covered with microtrichia; ptero distinct, brown; cell d terminating in 2 veins; hlt light brown.

Abdomen: Black; T predominantly brown pruinose, anterior and posterior margins grey pruinose, T1 with long brown setae, T 2 in proximal third with few white setae laterally, remaining T with short yellow and brown setae, S grey pruinose; ơ terminalia Figs 21A–E - sur pointed distally, lobe ventrally; hypd bent upwards, divided into 2 lobes; d aed shea open, extending gonp, lat pr aed long, rounded; lat apod simple.

Type material - The ơ holotype is labelled ‘ SOUTH AFRICA: Natal Kosi Bay Nat. Reserve 2632DD 30.xi.–2.xii.82 [30.xi.–2.xii.1982] Londt, Barraclough & Stuckenberg Forest & open woodland areas / HOLOTYPE Euscelidia natalensis sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (red label)’. The specimen is double mounted (minuten in block of foam), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the NMSA.

The 6^^ 5ơơ paratypes have same labels as holotype except ‘ PARATYPE Euscelidia natalensis sp. nov. det. T. Dikow 2001 (yellow label)’. The specimens are double mounted (minuten in block of foam), are in good to very good condition, and are deposited in the NMSA .

Type locality and distribution ( Fig. 22 ): South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal , Kosi Bay Nature Reserve , 26 52'S 32 52'E. Mozambique, South Africa .

Material examined: MOZAMBIQUE: 3^^ 1ơ 2?? Maputo, 2557'S 32 34'E, ix.–xii. 1913 , i.–iii., iv.–vii.1914; SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1^ Kosi Bay Estuary, 2632DD, 16–19.iii.1982 ; 1^ 1? Mkuzi Game Reserve , 2738'S 32 14'E, 12.i.1994, 14.iii.1995 ; 2^^ 5ơơ St. Lucia Nature Reserve , 28 20'S 3225'E, 7.x.1983, 21.x.1984 ; 2^^ Dukuduku Forest Reserve , 2823'S 32 20'E, 7–8.iv.1960, 25.iv.1988 ; 2 ^^ 1ơ Jozini , 2732AC, 28.xi.1971 ; 3^^ 1ơ Krantzkloof Nature Reserve , 2930DD, 8.xi.1984 ; Northern Prov: 1^ 1ơ Uitkyk road, 2429AA, 28.i.1978 ; 1ơ Blyde river canyon, 2430DB, 26–27.ii.1980 . Depository : BMNH, NMSA .

Figures

Fig. 5. Aedeagi. A, B, C. Euscelidia natalensis sp. n. A. Lateral. B. Ventral. C. Dorsal. D, E, F. E. bequaerti. D. Anterior. E. Lateral. F. Dorsal. Scale lines = 100 m.

Fig. 7. Surstyli lateral. A. Euscelidia pallasii. B. E. natalensis sp. n. C. E. bequaerti. D. E. acuminata sp. n. E. E. splendida sp. n. F. E. longibifida sp. n. Scale lines = 100 m.

Fig. 21. ơ terminalia. A–E. Euscelidia natalensis sp. n. A. Dorsal. B. Ventral. C. Lateral. D. Hypandrium posterior. E. Aedeagus lateral. F–I. Aegeagi lateral. F. E. brunnea. G. E. cana sp. n. H. E. capensis sp. n. I. E. vallis sp. n. Scale line = 1 mm.

Fig. 22. Distribution. Euscelidia cana sp. n., pentagon; E. natalensis sp. n., circles; E. notialis sp. n., squares; E. vallis sp. n., triangles; E. zumpti, star.