Hyperusia apiformis Greathead and Evenhuis, 2001

Greathead, D. J. & Evenhuis, N. L., 2001, Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera: Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae), African Invertebrates 42 (1820), pp. 105-224 : 170-171

Hyperusia apiformis Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n.

Etymology: The specific name apiformis is Latin for bee-like.

Material examined: Holotype Ò. TANZANIA: 50–70 miles N Dodoma, 20.iv.1967 (D. J. Greathead) ( BMNH) . Paratypes. TANZANIA: 2^, as holotype; 1^, Kongwa , 20.iv.1967 (D. J. Greathead); 1^, Dodoma, 3.iv.1966 (J.E. D.M[ilner]) on flowers .

Comments: This species is most similar to H. transvaalensis Hesse in having entirely black antennae, almost completely black body and predominantly pale whitish vestiture. It differs in having one strong median bristly hair at the apex of the last tarsal segment of the hind leg, fewer black hairs and bristles on the legs, and gleaming brassy scale-like hairs on the dorsal surface of the body of females.

Description: Holotype Ò. Length of body, 4 mm; of wing, 4 mm. Black, except extreme apices of femora, tibiae and basal four segments of tarsi which are yellow. Hair white, except for some black hairs on genae, second palpal segment, front coxae and femora. Bristles and spicules on legs pale yellow, except at apices of middle and hind tibiae and the long bristly hairs at apices of hind tarsi. Head: Cuticle shining. Eyes separated by width of ocellar triangle at vertex. Frons tumid above but depressed in middle at level of antennae. Antenna: Ratio 1.5:1:5, pedicel with strong dorsal spine at apex, flagellum narrow and apical third expanded club-like. Proboscis, projecting by 2 x length of antennae. Palpi about equal in length to flagellum and apical segment slightly broader than first. Thorax and abdomen: Hair long and silky and with sparse silvery scale-like hairs beneath on abdominal terga. Legs: Hind tarsi with a conspicuously long bristly hair at apex flanked by two shorter hairs. Wing: Milky hyaline. Veins pale yellow, r-m crossvein beyond middle of discal cell, cell cup open. Squama white, fringe white. Halter pale yellow with upper surface of knob white.

Paratype ^. Similar to holotype male but with a yellow-brown area on head at sides of antennae or more extensively brown on frons also; hair shorter and sparser and scale-like hairs dense brassy on dorsal surface of thorax and abdomen; frons 3 x width of ocellar triangle at vertex; wing tinged yellow and with yellow veins, cell cup open or closed on wing margin.