Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve)

Rognes, Knut, 2013, A new species in the genus Pseudorhyncomyia Peris, 1952 and the identity of P. deserticola Zumpt and Argo, 1978 (Diptera, Rhiniidae), Zootaxa 3736 (3), pp. 249-264 : 258-259

Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve)

Figs. 14–28 .

Rhyncomyia braunsi Villeneuve, 1920: 153 . Lectotype male ( South Africa, Cape province, Willowmore, NMSA), by designation of Zumpt (1958: 124) (not examined).

Rhyncomyia (Eurhyncomyia) braunsi: Cuthbertson 1935: 18 .

Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi: Peris 1952: 59 ; Zumpt 1958: 22; Pont 1980: 783; Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006: 94.

Diagnosis. The species has been adequately diagnosed and described by Peris (1952) and Zumpt (1958). Male. Length 8–13 mm (n=2). Frons width at narrowest point / head width ratio: 0.02–0.04 (n=2). TST7+8 shining greenish-black except for a narrow tomentose area close to the epandrium, with pale setulae only, hind central half quite bare ( Fig. 26 ). No strong black setae on disc of TST7+8. ST5 lobes grey tomentose, with black vestiture ( Fig. 26 ). Male genitalia figured by Zumpt (1958: 124 fig. 40). Female: Length: 11 mm (n=1). Frons width at vertex / head width ratio: 0.30 (n=1). Ovipositor with straight spines at tip ( Fig. 16 ).

Description. The generic description above includes an explicit account of specific features.

Material examined. BMNH: 1 male labelled (1) S. AFRICA / Cape Province / Graaf Reinet / 24-27.x.1931 [printed]; (2) Pres. By / Com.Inst.Ent. / B.M.1950-323. [printed]; (3) Miss A.Mackie [printed]; (4) Rhyncomyia / braunsi Vill. / S-V. PERIS det. 1947 [handwritten, last line printed, except for year] ( Fig. 27 ). • 1 male [staged on yellow celluloid plate] labelled (1) Cape Colony: / King William’s / Town district. / Miss Barrett. / B.M.1899-77.

[printed]; (2) Pseudorhyncomyia / braunsi / Vill. 1920 / S-V. PERIS det. 1948 [handwritten, last line printed, except for year]. Both specimens are mentioned by Peris (1952: 59). NMSA: 1 female labelled (1) TANZANIA: Serengeti / Nat. Park. Seronera / 23-XI-1969 / M. E. Irwin & / E. S. Ross [printed]; (2) Pseudorhyncomyia / braunsi (Vill.) / det. Zumpt 74; (3) NMSA-DIP / 19836 [printed] ( Fig. 28 ). I have not dissected the genitalia of any of the specimens.

Distribution. Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.

Biology. The life habit has been described by Villeneuve (1920), and subsequently repeated in various versions by Cuthbertson (1935), Ferrar (1987) and Kurahashi and Kirk- Spriggs (2006). The larvae live in the heap of debris around the nests of termites of the genus Hodotermes Hagen and attack and suck the contents of living termites (Villeneuve 1920, citing account by Brauns). The pupae are found below the heaps of debris. Brauns succeeded in breeding the larvae to the adult stage by feeding them on live termites.

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 16. Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve) (from female in NMSA). 14. Habitus, left lateral view. 15. Habitus, dorsal view. 16. Abdominal tip. The reddish outgrowths on T 5 are fungi of the order Laboulbeniales, so far unidentified as to species.

FIGURES 17 – 22. Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve) (17, 19, 21 from male in BMNH “ … Graaf Reinet … ”; 18, 20, 22 from female in NMSA). 17 – 18. Head anterior view. 19 – 20. Head, left lateral view. 21 – 22. Head, dorsal view.

FIGURES 23 – 28. Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve) (23, 25 – 27 from male in BMNH “ … Graaf Reinet … ”; 24, 28 from female in NMSA). 23. Right suprasquamal ridge. 24. Much of pleura and base of abdomen, left lateral view. 25. Apex of wing. 26. Tip of abdomen, ventral view. 27. Labels of male. 28. Labels of female.