Gonioscelis ventralis Schiner, 1867

Londt, Jason G. H., 2004, A review of the afrotropical genus Gonioscelis Schiner, 1866 (Diptera: Asilidae), with descriptions of new species, African Invertebrates 45, pp. 21-124 : 92-98

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7666901
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/574587DC-4643-FFB9-42DA-FDEBFBA66FA3
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Gonioscelis ventralis Schiner, 1867
status

Treatment

Gonioscelis ventralis Schiner, 1867 View in CoL View at ENA

Figs 1 View Fig , 6 View Figs 6–9 , 119–133 View Figs 113–133 , 147 View Figs 146–147

Gonioscelis ventralis Schiner, 1867: 363–364 View in CoL ; Hull 1962: 131–132 (Fig. 1710 ơ gen.); Oldroyd 1974: 42. Gonioscelis femoralis Ricardo, 1925: 266–267 View in CoL ; Hull 1962: 131–132 ( Figs 137 View Figs 134–142 antenna, 451 wing, 916 &

925 head, 1911 ^ gen.) syn. n.

Gonioscelis rufescens Ricardo, 1925: 268 View in CoL syn. n.

Gonioscelis maculipennis Engel, 1925: 169–170 View in CoL ( Fig. 5 View Figs 2–5 ơ gen) syn. n.

Redescription: Based primarily on holotype ơ ( NHMW) .

Head: Antennal scape and pedicel orange-brown, postpedicel dark red-brown, setae mostly yellow, longer ones light brown. Facial swelling poorly developed, a second smaller protuberance between main gibbosity and antennal sockets, mystax uniform pale yellow, in two groups associated with facial swellings. Frons and vertex thinly gold pruinose. Ocellar tubercle apruinose with brown-yellow oc. Occiput gold-silver pruinose except for two apruinose areas behind vertex, setae pale yellow. Proboscis and palpus dark red-brown, with fine pale yellow setae.

Thorax:Brown-orange with three dark red-brown areas on mesonotum, thinly gold pruinose (2 apruinose areas posteriorly). Postpronotal lobes not contrasting in colour with adjacent mesonotum, with many pale yellow setae. Mesonotal setae yellow: ac not evident; approx. 4 pairs dc, not extending anterior of transverse suture; 3 npl; 3 sa; 3–4 pa. Scutellum brown-orange, with 8 fine yellow mrg sct. Wing length 6.3 mm, membrane mostly yellow, most cells centrally yellow-brown ( Fig. 6 View Figs 6–9 ). Legs: Uniform brown yellow, setae mostly pale yellow dorsally, but many black setae ventrally. Prothoracic coxa brown-orange, silver pruinose, yellow setose; femoral spur bluntly pointed (angle approx. 75°).

Abdomen: Tergites dark red-brown, brown-orange laterally, gold pruinose (with some bare areas), yellow setose. Sternites orange, apruinose except for tiny patches medially placed on hind margins, yellow setose.

Terminalia ( Figs 119–121 View Figs 113–133 ): In dorsal view ep shorter than proctiger, epandrial lobes hardly tapering distally and with sharply downturned short tips, apical part before downturned tip bearing long setae; gcx with three distal projections and a few short fine setae, ventral lobe thumb-like and equipped with few setae; hyp, in ventral view, clearly shorter than broad, tapering rapidly to mid-length before terminating in two somewhat truncated diverging setose apical lobes.

Variation: A species showing a fair degree of individual and geographic variation. Of particular note is the variation seen in the shapes of gonocoxal projections and the arrangement of gonocoxal setae. The decision to synonymise femoralis , rufescens and maculipennis has been largely made as a result of an inability to clearly define their differences within the wide range of variation that can be seen ( Figs 122–133 View Figs 113–133 ).

Type material: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ holotype ( ventralis seen), ‘Cap’, ‘ ventralis Sch / Coll. Winthem’, ‘Type’ (red) (NHMW); 1ơ syntype ( femoralis seen), Cape Province, Cradock [32°11'S 25°37'E], iv.1914, Miss Brinker, BM 1914-177 (BMNH); 2^ syntypes ( femoralis seen), South Africa, Natal, Willow Grange [Willowgrange – 29°03'S 29°57'E], Mooi River, R.C.Wroughton, BM 1923-58, 7.xii.1913 & 13.xii.1913 (BMNH); 1ơ holotype ( maculipennis seen), ‘Algoa bay [= Port Elizabeth – 33°58'S 25°35'E] / Capland / Dr. Brauns / 11 10 96’, ‘Type von / maculipennis / Engel / 1925’ (ZSMC); 1ơ paratype ( maculipennis seen), ‘Algoa-Bay / Capland / Dr. H. Brauns / 20 12 96’, ‘Sammlung / F. Hermann’, ‘ Gonioscelis / maculipennis / Herm.’, ‘ Gonioscelis / maculipennis / Eng. / det. E.O. Engel ơ’ (ZSMC); ơ ^ paratypes ( maculipennis not seen), Capland, Krebs (ZMHB); 2ơ 1^ syntypes ( rufescens seen), Zimbabwe [S.Rhodesia], Bulawayo [20°09'S 28°35'E], 21.xii.1919 [1ơ 1^] 10.xi.1920 [1ơ], Rhodesia Museum (BMNH).

Type locality: ‘ Afrika’ was cited as the only information known about the type locality. The specimen is however clearly labelled ‘ Cap’ (= Cape). I here designate the type locality as South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Dias Memorial area near Bokness, as the male known from this locality perhaps most closely resembles the holotype .

Other material: BOTSWANA: 1ơ, ‘Botswana (B1) / 42 mls W. / Kalkfontein [22°07'S 20°54'E] / 11-12.iv.1972 ’, ‘Southern /African Exp. / B.M. 1972-1’, ‘at / light’ (BMNH); 1ơ 1^, ‘Botswana / 50 km NNW / of Serowe / Forchhammer / 2226BA 19-xi-84 / Bush day’; 1ơ, ‘Day / Serowe, Botswana / Forchhammer Leg. / Date 27-12/82 / J.No.’; 2^, ‘Day / Serowe, Botswana / Forchhammer Leg. / Date 18-11/82 / J.No.’; 1ơ, ‘Malaise trap 1 / Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N slope P. Forchhammer / 30.xi.1983 ’; 1ơ, ‘Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N slope P. Forchhammer / Malaise trap 3.xii.1985 ’; 1ơ, ‘Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N slope P. Forchhammer / Malaise trap 3. i.1986 ’; 1ơ, ‘Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N slope P. Forchhammer / Malaise trap 3 / v-86’; 1^, ‘ 110km S Francistown / Botswana / 22°03'S 27°16'E / 21.i.1978 / Holm, Jacobs, Kirsten, Scholtz’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Botswana / Mochudi / Kgatleng District / SE 2426Ac’, ‘ 19-21 Apr. 1982 / S. Louw’. MOZAMBIQUE: 1ơ, ‘Mapulanguene [24°29'S 32°05'E] / 6-12-60’, ‘ Insecta / Det. Travassos Dias’; 1^, ‘Mapulanguene / 3-12-60’; 1^, ‘Sabié [25°19'S 32°15'E] / 17/9/1953 / Col.T. Dias’; 8ơ 9^, ‘Chiqubo [? = Chiquembo – 21°26'S 33°54'E], Mozam. / No. / 11-20, ii-1964 / Coll.A.L. Moore (NMNH). NAMIBIA: 1ơ, ‘Otjimbumbe [17°24'S 14°25'E] / Kunene R. / Mar. 1923 ’ ~ ‘S.W. Africa / Mus. Exped.’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘Katima Mulilo [Katima Molilo – 17°30'S 24°16'E] / E Caprivi / 20-28.x.1970 / A. Strydom’; 1ơ, ‘S.W. Africa (W41) / Tsumeb [19°14'S 17°43'E] / 17.ii.1972 ’, ‘Southern / African Exp. / B.M. 1972-1’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘SWA / Outjo [20°07': 16°09'E] / IRC / 1916DA / 10.iii.79 / VB Whitehead’ (SAMC); 2ơ, ‘S.W. Africa (W36) / Otjikoko Süd Fm., / 33 mls. ENE. / Omaruru [21°26'S 15°56'E] / 10-13.ii.1972 ’, ‘Southern / African Exp. / B.M. 1972-1’ (BMNH); 1ơ 1^, S.W. Protect. / Narugas [? = Narudas 27°22'S 18°51'E]’ ~ ‘R. Lightfoot / Jan. 1919 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘SWA / Alkmar [21°52'S 19°52'E] / 3.iii.82 / V.B. Whitehead’ (SAMC); SOUTH AFRICA: 2ơ 2^, ‘Sth Africa: Transvaal / 6km N of Vivo 2229CC / 23-24.ii.1980 Londt / & Schoeman Bushveld / veget. & old lands’; 2ơ, ‘S Africa: Transvaal / Beacon Ranch 20km / NW Gravelotte [23°57'S 30°37'E] / 17.xi.1978 / Brothers & J-Guillarmod’; 1^, ‘South Africa 2427CB / Transvaal Thabazimbi / 1.ii.1978 JGH. Londt / Bushveld with long / open areas of grass’; 1ơ, ‘Rooiberg [24°46'S 27°44'E] / Transvaal / xii.1958 ’ (BMNH); 3^, ‘South Africa 2427DD / Transvaal 15km E of / Rooiberg 1.ii.1978 / JGH Londt Grassveld’; 1ơ 1^, ‘South Africa / Transvaal / S.W. Waterberg Dist. [24°00'S 28°00'E] / 31.i.1928 / Prof. J.C. Faure’ (ID G. faurei sp. n. by Bromley 1945 – unpublished) (NMNH); 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Doorndraad / 24°40'S 28°46'E / 23 iv 1988 M. Prinsloo / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa / Trsvl., 5 mi. W. / Warmbad [24°53'S 28°17'E] / 24-25 Feb. 1968 / Spangler’ (NMNH); 1^, ‘ RSA Transvaal / Chuniespoort [24°12'S 29°30'E] / 1.iv.1979 / L. Schoeman’; 1^, ‘South Africa 2429AC / Transvaal 10km SE / Potgietersrus on rd / to Zebediela 24-7.i / 1978 JGH Londt / Bushveld’; 9ơ 9^, ‘South Africa: Limpopo / Sondela Nature Reserve / 24°54.127'S 028°25.191'E / 7-14.xi.2003 J.G.H. Londt / 1086m Acacia savannah / Sweep-net & Malaise trap’; 5ơ 3^, ‘South Africa 2429CC / Transvaal Elands / River N Marble Hall / 24.i.1978 JGH Londt / Grassveld nr. River’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa: Transvaal / Abel Erasmus Pass / 2430BC 26.ii.1980 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Bushveld near summit’; 1ơ, ‘Skukuza [24°59'S 31°36'E] / Kruger N.P. / leg. Zumpt, ii.69’ (BMNH); 5ơ 5^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / 25°52'36"S: 22°53'58"E / 990m 13.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia , Ziziphus savanna’ (1ơ 1^ CASC); 4ơ 6^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Phiri Camp area / 25°46'43"S: 22°55'53"E / 990m 14.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia Erogrostis savanna’; 1ơ 1^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Phiri Camp area / 25°46'43"S: 22°55'53"E / 990m 15.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia Erogrostis savanna’; 1ơ 4^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Motopi Camp area / 25°50'55"S: 22°55'45"E / 1020m 14.iii.2003 J Londt / Dry Acacia savanna’; 3^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Phephane River area / 25°47'26"S: 22°51'08"E / 990m 15.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia, Grewia savanna’; 2ơ 5^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Vorstershoop (outskirts) / 25°50'08"S: 23°01'28"E / 990m 15.iii.2003 J Londt / Erogrostis Schmidtia verge’; 1ơ 1^ 1?, S. Afr. C.P. / Tosca / 2523Dd / 26.ii.80 / Whitehead’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Botsalano Game Reserve / Dam near Gate 2 1380m / 25°32'05"S: 25°41'31"E / 18.iii.2003 J Londt Rhus / Acacia mixed savanna’; 1^, ‘Boekenhoudskloof, SA / (30km NE Pretoria [2528CB]) / 7.xii.77 / G. Bernon’; 1^, ‘South Africa / Pretoria [25°39'S 28°09'E] / 31-12-1965 / J. D. Mohr’; 1ơ, ‘S Africa: NW Province / Leon Taljaard Nature Reserve / 26°55'32"S: 24°41'55"E / 1230m 13.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia Erogrostis savanna’; 1ơ, ‘Suid-Africa / Potch [Potchefstroom – 26°43'S 27°06'E] / 13-1-1943 / H. P. V. Heerden’; 1ơ, ‘Pongolo R. [26°51'S 32°20'E] / Oct. 1929 / Marley’; 1^, ‘South Africa: Natal / Ndumu Game Reserve / Rest Camp 2632Cd 85m / 15 Feb. 1978 Malaise / Brothers & Bampton’’ 1^, ‘Ndumu Game / Reserve / N.E. Zululand / Jan 1964 ’; 1ơ 3^, ‘S Africa: N Cape #14 / 20km N of Hotazel / 27 07:'S 22 59'[sic] 1050m / Date: 14.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / Kuruman River banks’; 1^, ‘S Africa: Cape Prov / Hotazel / 2.iii.1989 / 27°10'S 22°55'E / L. E. Schoeman’; 1ơ, ‘S Africa: N Cape #15 / 14km S of Hotazel / 27 19'S 22 54'E 1050m / Date: 14.iii.1991 / Londt & Whittington / Ga-Mogara River bed’; 1ơ, ‘S Africa: N Cape #17 / 3km E Olifantshoek / 27 55'S 22 45'E 1250m / Date: 15.iii.1991 / Londt & Whittington / Open Acacia grassland’; 1^, ‘S Africa: N Cape #19 / 8km W Olifantshoek / 27 56'S 22 40'E 1550m / Date: 15.iii.1991 / Londt & Whittington / Flat grassy plain’; 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Ca. 5km W of Hotazel / 2722BB 23.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacias/Grass/Shrubs’; 4^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Hill nr Olifantshoek / 2722DC 24.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Rocky hillside grass / & Acacia trees’; 2ơ 3^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 45km SW of Kuruman / 2723CA 24.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacia Woodland area’; 9ơ 5^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 50km SW of Kuruman / 2723CA 24.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacia woodland area’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 30km SW of Kuruman / 2723DA 24.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Sandy area/few shrubs’; 1ơ, ‘Taungs [= Taung 27°32'S 24°48'E] / Griqualand / West’ ~ ‘Mus Staff / Oct. 1939 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘South Africa: Natal Prov / Zululand, 20mi. S. Ndumu / Game Res. Camp. (2732Aa) / Nov. 29. 1971; ME & BJ Irwin / dry scrub forest; 320ft’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa, Natal / Zululand, 40km N / Jozini, 25-x-1972 / M. E. Irwin 2732Ac’; 5^, ‘South Africa, Natal Prov / 20 mi. N Jozini (2732Ac) / Nov. 28, 1971 ME&BJ Irwin / dry hillside; 750ft. el.’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Natal / Mseleni 29.xi.1982 / 2732BC Stuckenberg / Barraclough & Londt / Woodland/ sandy area’; 1ơ 1^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Witsand Nature Reserve / ca. 28°33'45"S: 22°28'40"E / 1200m 5.iii.2001 / J.G.H. Londt Red sand / Acacia grassland area’; 2^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Witsand Nature Reserve / ca. 28°32'15"S: 22°30'30"E / 1200m 6.iii.2001 / J.G.H. Londt Red sand / Acacia /Grewia grassland’; 2^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Witsand Nature Reserve / 28°34'49''S: 22°28'43''E / 1200m 6.iii.2001 / J.G.H. Londt Red sand / Acacia / Ziziphus grassland’; 3ơ 2^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Padkloof Pass ca 20kn / S Witsand. Dry river / course Grass / Acacias / 2822DA 17.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman’; 4^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Vaalbos National Park / Bokdam Camp area 1150m / 28°34.394'S 024°17.698'E / 28-29.i.2004 JGH Londt & / T Dikow Acacia savanna’; 2^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Vaalbos National Park / Mekala Rest Camp 1070m / 28°28.654'S 024°18.911'E / 28-29.i.2004 JGH Londt & / T Dikow Acacia savanna’; 1^, ‘South Africa: N Cape / Vaalbos National Park / Riverside Picnic site 1055m / 28°27.470'S 024°19.994'E / 28-29.i.2004 JGH Londt & / T Dikow Acacia savanna’; 1^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 60km W of Kimberley / 2824CA 25.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacias/grass/sand’; 5^, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / 35km W of Kimberley / 2824CB 17.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacias/ grass/sand’; 2ơ 2^, ‘Kimb. [Kimberley – 28°44'S 24°46'E] / 10/96 [x.1896]’; 1ơ, ‘Kimb. / ơ in cop / 3/10/96’; 2ơ 1^, ‘Kimb. / 11/96 [xi.1896]’; 1^, ‘RJ Power / Kimberley, C.P.’ (AMGS); 7ơ 6^, ‘Modder Riv / Brandfort [28°42'S 26°28'E] / OFS’ ~ ‘Mus Staff / Nov. 1939 ’ (SAMC); 1ơ 6^, ‘South Africa: Natal / Colenso 2829DB / 7.x.1981 / J.G.H. Londt’; 3ơ 3^, ‘South Africa: Natal / Weenen Nature Reserve / 28°51'S 29°59'E / grassland, Umtunzini / 1-3.x.1990, sweepnet / A. E. Whittington’; 1^, ‘R.S.A.: KZ-Natal #20 / Mpati Mountain Dundee / 28°08'S 30°13'E 1590m / Date: 19.iii.1997 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Summit grass & bush’; 1^, ‘South Africa: Natal / 20km W Tugela Ferry / 26-27.ii.1977 2830CA / Raymond M. Miller / Malaise trap’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Natal / 4km N Tugela Ferry / 19.ii.1979 2830CB / J.G.H. Londt Trees / & Grass near stream’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa, Natal / 2830Cc, Weenen / Mooiplaats, 21.xi.1986 / A/E. Whittington’; 1^, ‘South Africa: Natal #1 G/ Weenen Nat. Reserve / 28°50'S 30°10'E m / Date: 30.ix.1990 / Coll: R.M. Miller’; 1^, ‘Nyala Game / Reserve [28°40'S 31°45'E] / 12.xi.89 / Grass & Thorn’ ~ ‘Veld / 20km inland / Empangeni’; 1ơ, ‘S Africa: N Cape #30 / 64km SW of Douglas / 29 23'S 23 20'E 1070m / Date: 19.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / Open grassland’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Natal / Estcourt [29°00'S 29°53'E] / Date: 13.xi.1986 / Coll: L. E. Schoeman’; 1ơ 2^, ‘Estcourt / 1896’; 1^, ‘Estcourt / 11/96’; 1ơ, ‘Estcourt, / Natal. / Sept. & Oct. 1896. / G.A.K. Marshall. / 1903-17.’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1923-58.’, ‘Natal / Willow Grange / Mooi River / 13.xii.13. / R.C. Wroughton’ [same data as femoralis syntypes] (BMNH); 1^, ‘Mhlopeni Ranch [29°00'S 30°25'E] / Natal / 12-14/11/1990 / F.L. Farquharson’; 1M 7^, ‘South Africa: Natal / Mhlopeni Nature Res. / 15km SE Muden 2930AB / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Date: 22.xii.1983 ’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Natal / Ukulinga / Pietermaritzburg [29°37'S 30°23'E] / Date: 2.x.1983 / Coll: A. Freidberg’; 1^, ‘So.Africa: Univ. Natal, / Ukulinga Res. Frm. 10km / SE Pietermaritzburg [2930CB] / 16- 31.10.1986 grassland / RM Miller dam margin / malaise trap’; 1ơ, ‘Matatiele [30°20'S 28°48'E] / CP 11.11.54’, ‘S, Africa: / Cape Province. / 11.ix.1954. / C.H. Andrewes.’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘Matatiele / CP 10.11.54’, ‘S, Africa: / Cape Province. / 10.ix.1954. / C.H. Andrewes.’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘South Africa: Natal Prov / Richmond Dist. Pateni / 30°09'E, 29°56'S (2930Cc) / Nov. 18, 1971; temp. forest / BR Stuckenberg & ME Irwin’; 1^, ‘South Africa: Natal / Josephines Bridge / 3030AA / Date: 20.xii.1984 / Coll: J.G.H. Londt’; 1^, ‘South Africa, Cape / 16mi. E. of Cradock / Farm “Who can tell” / March 11, 1972, 1000m / ME & BJ Irwin, 3225Bb’; 5ơ 4^, ‘Cookhouse [32°45'S 25°49'E] / Eastern Cape’ ~ SA Museum / March, 1954’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘Zuurbergen [Suurberg Mountains 33°15'S 25°34'E] / Eastern / Cape’ ~ ‘S.A. Museum / March., 1954’ (SAMC); 1ơ 1^, ‘Uniondale [33°39'S 23°08'E] / Capland / Dr Brauns / 25.12.09’, ‘ Gonioscelis / maculipennis / det. Engel’ [ID on ^ only]; 1ơ 1^, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Louterwater 3323DC / 13.xii.1979 J. Londt / B. Stuckenberg grass / & hillside macchia’; 4ơ 3^, ‘Patiente [Patensie 33°46'S 24°49'E] / Humansdorp / S.A. Museum’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Oct. 1938 ’ (SAMC); 2ơ 4^, ‘Papiesfontein [3324DD] / Gamtoos Mth.’ 6 ‘S.A.M. / 1:60’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Otterford Forestry / Reserve / Hankey area / 1-10.12.67 3325CC / B & P Stuckenberg’; 2ơ, ‘Groendal / Uitenhage [33°46'S 25°24'E] / SA Museum’ ~ ‘Mus. Staff / Oct. 1938 ’ (SAMC); 5^, ‘Loerie [33°52'S 25°02'E] / ECP’ ~ ‘S.A.M. / 1: 60’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Algoa-Bay [= Port Elizabeth – 33°58'S 25°35'E] / Capland / Dr. H. Brauns / 5 12 96’, ‘ G. / maculipennis / Herm. / det. Engel’, ‘ Gonioscelis / maculipennis / Eng.’ (ZSMC); 1^, ‘Walmer / Port Elizabeth [33°58'S 25°35'E] / ECP’ ~ ‘F.W. Gess / S.A.M. / Jan. 1960 ’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘Port Elizabeth / 3.12.60 / B.S. Brunhuber’ (AMGS); 1ơ, ‘ Cape Province / Grahamstown [33°18'S 26°32'E] / 7.i.1978 / J. G. H. Londt’; 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Grahamstown / 17.ii.1971 / J. G. H. Londt’; 1ơ, ‘Grahamstown / E.C.P. [Eastern Cape Province] / S. Africa / 19.iii.55. / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1ơ 1^, ‘Grahamstown / E.C.P. / S. Africa / 6.iii.55’, ‘D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘Grahamstown / E.C.P. / S. Africa / 27.iii.55. / D.J. Greathead’, ‘ Gonioscelis / det. H. Oldroyd’ (BMNH); 1ơ 1^, ‘Grah. Town [Grahamstown] / K.H. Munro / 22.3.21’ (SAMC); 1ơ 2^, ‘ Cape Province / Vlakwater [33°09'S 26°19'E] / Grahamstown / 21-xi-1981 / D.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Vlakwater / Grahamstown / 16-xi-1987 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 3ơ 2^, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton [33°15'S 26°21'E] /Grahamstown / 9.iii.1978 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1ơ 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton /Grahamstown / 17.iii.1978 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 2^, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton /Grahamstown / 21.iii.1978 / F.W. Gess’ [1^ – with prey Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae ] (AMGS); 1ơ, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton /Grahamstown / 5.iv.1978 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton /Grahamstown / 13.i.1978 / D.W. Gess’, ‘Sandpit’ (AMGS); 2^, ‘ Cape Province / Hilton /Grahamstown / 14.ii.1978 / S.K. Gess’ (AMGS); 2ơ 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan [33°18'S 26°28'E] /Grahamstown / 16-i-1969 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 3^, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan /Grahamstown / 8-i- 1969 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1ơ, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan /Grahamstown / 18-ii-1969 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 3^, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan /Grahamstown / 3-iii-1969 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1ơ, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan /Grahamstown / 22-i-1969 / F.W. Gess’ (AMGS); 1^, ‘ Cape Province / Strowan /Grahamstown / 30-iii-1969 / C. JacotGuillarmod’ (AMGS); 1ơ, ‘S Africa: Cape #7 / 6km E of Alicedale / 33°19'S 26°07'E 600m / Date: 21.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / New Years Dam area’; 1^, ‘South Africa, Cape Province / Port Alfred 16.i.1982 / (33°36'S 26°58'E) R.F. Lawrence / + P.M.C. Croeser’; 4ơ 2^, ‘Boesmans Riv. [Boesmansriviermond 33°42'S 26°40'E] / nr. Grahamstown / E. Cape’ ~ ‘S.A. Museum / March., 1954.’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Sth Africa Cape Prov / Dias Memorial area / near Bokness 3326DA / 25.i.1984 D. & C. / Barraclough. Coastal / forest margins’; 1^, ‘Dr. Brauns / Capland’, ‘ G. / maculipennis / Herm. / det. Engel’ (ZSMC). ZIMBABWE: 1ơ 1^, ‘Rhodesia / Salisbury [17°49'S 30°02'E] / A. Watsham’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Salisbury / Feb/15’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Salisbury / 23/12/ 11’ (SAMC); 3ơ 3^, ‘Dr Melle / Arcturus. 1916 / Salisbury’ (SAMC); 1ơ, ‘Sawmills [19°35'S 28°02'E] / S. Rhodesia / 14.xi.1924 / R.H.R. Stevenson’; 1ơ, ‘Sawmills / S. Rhodesia / 10.ii.1923 / Swinburne & / Stevenson’; 1^, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1928-347.’, ‘ Gonioscelis / ventralis / Schin. / Dr E O. Engel det.’, ‘Sawmills / S. Rhodesia / 22-2-1925 / Rhod. Museum’ (BMNH); 1^, ‘ Bulawayo [20°09'S 28°35'E] / 30.4.1923 / R. Stevenson’; 1ơ, ‘ Bulawayo / S. Rhodesia / 16.i.1927 / R.H.R. Stevenson’, ‘ Gonioscelis / ventralis / Schin. / Dr. E.O. Engel det.’ [recorded by Engel (1929)]; 1ơ 1^, ‘Zimbabwe / Shabani 20°20'S / 30°02'E Jan. 1981 / Mr P. Fox’; 1ơ, ‘Chipinda Pools Area / Tsetse Fly Ops. / S. Rhodesia / Ndanga [reserve 20°25'S 31°25'E] / R.G. 10.xii.1939 / Lundi R.’, ‘Pres. by / R. Goodier. / B.M. 1961-72.’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘S. Rhodesia / Mt. Silinda [mission 20°25'S 32°42'E] 10.ii.60. / R. Goodier 1138’, ‘Pres. by / R. Goodier. / B.M. 1961-72.’ (BMNH); 1ơ, ‘7.iii.14 / Lon?ey [illegible letter – unknown locality] / Rhodesia / H Swale’ (SAMC).

Recorded material not studied: Ricardo (1925) mentions a ^ from Tsumeb ( Namibia) sent for study by Peringuey (then at SAMC), and 1ơ 1^ from Saw Mills ( Zimbabwe). The whereabouts of this material is not known. Engel (1929) records under ventralis ‘^, Saw Mills, S. Rhodesia; 27.xii.23; Rhodesia Mus.; Imperial Bureau of Entom.’ I have not traced this specimen. Oldroyd (1970) provisionally recorded maculipennis from Tanzania ‘Albertville, 1^, 1-20.ii.1919 (R. Mayné) (MRAC)’ – it is highly unlikely that his identification was correct.

Notes: As far as synonymies are concerned the following should be noted: 1. G. femoralis and rufescens : Ricardo’s (1925) species fall within my concept of ventralis and so are synonymised. 2. G. maculipennis: Engel (1925: 167–168) was apparently unable to identify ventralis . His description and illustration (his Fig. 2 View Figs 2–5 ) of Waterberg material listed as ventralis agree well with ramphis , his Lichtenburg female is mantis , while material from Ethiopia and Kenya belong to macquartii . His description and illustration of the male genitalia of maculipennis (his Fig. 5 View Figs 2–5 ), however, accurately depicts the condition seen in the holotype of ventralis , evidence supporting the proposed synonymy. Hull’s (1962) illustration of ventralis , apart from being upside-down, is poor in that little detail is given and the shapes of structures do not agree particularly well with the holotype. Ricardo (1925) designated more than one type for both femoralis and rufescens , so all her specimens must be regarded as syntypes. As Engel (1925) listed his maculipennis ‘Type’ separately from his ‘Cotypen’ I accept it as a holotype and the cotypes as paratypes. The fact that he attributes maculipennis to ‘Hermann i. litt.’ is of no consequence as no credit can be attributed to Hermann in terms of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature. Oldroyd (1974) records ventralis from ‘Ndumu Reserve and Nohlangosi’ ( South Africa), ‘Mahalapye, (Schofield), Botswana, and ‘?Rhodesia’. This material, except for the ‘?Rhodesia’ record, is now referred to other species – see ramphis (Nohlangosi = Mohlangasi and Mahalapye records) and zulu (Ndumu record).

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1–2, Fig. 147 View Figs 146–147 ): The most widespread of southern African species. It is found in Grassland/Savanna situations over much of the central and eastern parts of southern Africa (an area of summer rainfall) – from Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia in the north to the southernmost parts of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.Adults have been collected almost all year round except for the winter months of June, July and August. Personal experience and label data suggest that individuals are usually found on the ground or on low vegetation. Cuthbertson (1935), using the name maculipennis , published the following comment on the species in Zimbabwe – ‘Recorded by Engel (1929) … from Bulawayo and Sawmills (Matabeleland), and is known to me from the Mazoe and Darwin district. On the R. Ruia near Mt. Darwin in September, 1935, the flies were abundant in the riverbanks on sandy ground with sparse vegetation. At this locality in early September, I observed a male dart at a yellow Chrysomelid beetle, Hyperacantha sp. , which was disturbed from a shrub ( Rhus . sp.).’ Cuthbertson (1938), again using the name maculipennis , added the following – ‘Widely distributed in Southern Rhodesia, especially in the more arid areas, and is prevalent from July to December. Prey: Male with tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans, Westw. (Muscidae) , male, and female with same prey, female, in July, 1938, at Gota-Gota Camp, Urungwe, Lomagundi district (W. L. Williams).’ There is a prey record in AMGS listed above.

Similar species:A member of the large and widely distributed group of species possessing a poorly defined facial gibbosity. The intraspecific variation displayed by this species, as currently defined, makes it difficult to comment on possible relationships with others species. G. hadrocantha and ramphis are perhaps most closely related to ventralis .