Oligopogon adonis, Londt, 2014

Londt, Jason G. H., 2014, A revision of Afrotropical Oligopogon Loew, 1847 (Diptera: Asilidae) with the description of eighteen new species, African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 269-269 : 275-277

Oligopogon adonis sp. n.

Fig. 2A

Etymology: From Greek Adonis (God of love and beauty). In reference to the attractive appearance of this species.

Description:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, dull gold pruinose, orange setose. Antenna: Dark brown-yellow except for red-brown scape, distal 1⁄3 of postpedicel and distal 2⁄3 of style. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2:4.4:2.6 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, orange setose. Postpedicel slightly laterally compressed in cross-section, slightly swollen distally. Style of smaller diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long brown-orange setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex dull gold pruinose, mystax orange-yellow, ocellar macrosetae orange-brown. Occiput uniformly dull gold pruinose (see Fig. 2A), orange-yellow setose. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:3.8 (face narrower than one eye). Proboscis red-brown, straight, pale yellowish setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, pale yellow setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively dull gold pruinose, orange and pale yellow-white setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose with few small apruinose areas (small spot laterally anterior to transverse suture, V-shaped area postsuture). Two orange npl (other macrosetae weakly developed), general setae orange and pale yellow-white. Scutellum dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for two dull gold pruinose areas anteriorly, fine pale yellow setose (apical macrosetae poorly differentiated). Pleura fairly uniformly dull gold pruinose. Katatergal setae orange. Legs: Coxae red-brown, dull gold pruinose, yellow setose. Trochanters brown-orange, pale yellow-white setose. Femora orange with red-brown ring at ⅔ length, mixed orange and pale yellowish setose. Tibiae orange with red-brown ring at ⅔ length and distal region, mostly orange-yellow setose. Tarsi orange with brown and orange-yellow setae. Wings: 3.8 × 1.3 mm (holotype). Veins brown, paler proximally. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia. Abdomen: T1 dark red-brown, T2–8 orange with red-brown posterior margins, extensively apruinose except for fine gold-silver pruinescence anterolaterally, pale yellow setose. Sterna largely orange, entirely dull gold pruinose, pale yellow setose. ♀ terminalia orange with red-brown parts (♂ unknown).

Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ South Africa : Natal / Mhlopeni Nat. Reserve / 2930AB 9.iv.1983 / 8 km SE of Muden / Londt , Barraclough & / Seymour Thornveld’ ( NMSA).

Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ South Africa : Natal / Mhlopeni Nature Res. / 15 km SE Muden 2930AB / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Date: 22.xii.1983 ’ ( NMSA) .

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology ( Table 1) and biology: Known only from the type locality, Mhlopeni Private Nature Reserve (29°01’11”S 30°24’55”S, 900 m). Collected during summer and autumn. The type locality is predominantly dry woodland savanna.