Hoplistomerus erythropus Bezzi, 1915

Londt, Jason G. H., 2007, A review of the genus Hoplistomerus Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae), African Invertebrates 48 (2), pp. 167-198 : 172-173

Hoplistomerus erythropus Bezzi, 1915

Figs 1 , 11–13

Hoplistomerus erythropus: Bezzi 1915: 224–226 ; Hull 1962: 96; Oldroyd 1980: 350 (catalogue).

Diagnosis: Size: Small (wing length from humeral cross-vein to tip <8 mm). Head: Eye wider than face (in anterior view measured at level of greatest head width). Relative proportions of antennal segments (scape, pedicel and postpedicel) 1.0:1.0:3.5 (i.e. scape and pedicel approximately equal; postpedicel 3.5 times length of scape). Thorax: Presutural macroseta(e) absent. Anepisternal macroseta absent. Prosternal ventromedial setation short to absent. Male metatibial spur small. Scutellum with a transverse groove at mid-length.Wing cell m 3 with microtrichia covering its posterodistal half. Prothoracic coxa and prosternum both dark red-brown (there is some variation in holotype). Prothoracic femur orange. Abdomen: T3 setulae white laterally, golden medially. ơ genitalia as in Figs 11–13 .

Type specimens studied: SOMALIA: 1^holotype, ‘Mogadisiu [Mogadishu, 02°02'N: 45°21'E] / Moggio 1913’ [white, handwritten], ‘ Hoplistomerus / erythropus / ^n.sp.’ [yellowish, handwritten] (MZUF). Condition: Fair. Both antennae broken off beyond pedicels, left wing stuck to locality label with glue.

Note: Bezzi (1915) compares the species with zeliminus, leucocomus and nigrescens (his spelling).

Other specimens studied: KENYA: 1ơ 1^Laisamis [01°36'N: 37°48'E], 11.xii.1969, Irwin & Ross, 2000 feet ( CASC) . SOMALIA: 3ơ Baidoa [03°04'N: 43°48'E], 10.xi.1953, Desert Locust Survey ( BMNH) ; 1^Waraable [Warable, 02°55'N: 43°49'E], 13.vii.1986, Lavigne . UGANDA: 1^Gulu [02°47'N: 32°18'E], iv–v.1925, Carpenter ( NMNH) .

Notes: Oldroyd (1940) gives the year of Bezzi’s publication as 1914, but later (1980) correctly gives the year as 1915. While Bezzi’s description was based on a single female from Mogadishu, Oldroyd (1940) provided a redescription based on males and females from Bohotle. I have studied this material as well as other material (listed above) and have found inconsistency in male genital form. As the female holotype appears more similar to the material listed above (smaller, metethoracic femur less inflated) than to the Bohotle specimens I present new illustrations of the male genitalia now thought to be representative of the species. The Bohotle specimens have been used for the description of a new species ( H. pegos ). As a consequence of these actions, it should be noted that the form of the erythropus gonostylus illustrated by Oldroyd (1940), who subsequently (1970) compared the genitalia with garambensis , is no longer considered correct.

Distribution and biology: Known from three localities in Somalia, and one each in Kenya and Uganda. The species has been collected in April, May, July, November and December (Table 1).

Figures

Figs 1–4. Hoplistomerus species: (1) H. erythropus Bezzi, 1915, entire female, lateral view; (2) H. nobilis Loew, 1858, entire female, dorsal view; (3) H. oldroydi sp. n., wing; (4) H. pelos sp. n., wing.

Figs 5–13. Hoplistomerus species, male terminalia: (5–7) H. caliginosus Wulp, 1899, Haithalhim paralectotype: (5) lateral, (6) distal end of gonocoxite and gonostylus, (7) ventral; (8–10) H. engeli Oldroyd, 1940, Bohotle paratype: (8) lateral, (9) distal end of gonocoxite and gonostylus, (10) ventral; (11–13) H. erythropus Bezzi, 1915, Baidoa ơ: (11) lateral, (12) distal end of gonocoxite and gonostylus, (13) ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.