Ischiolobos mesotopos, Londt, 2005

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 234-235

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7666864
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CF1787E3-FFD2-FFFD-EB94-FEF0FCCCE2AF
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Ischiolobos mesotopos
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Ischiolobos mesotopos View in CoL View at ENA sp. n.

Figs 6 View Figs 1–6 , 63, 64 View Figs 58–64 , 68–70 View Figs 65–76 , 80 View Fig

Etymology: Gr. mesos (middle) and topos (place, position). Refers to the species inhabiting the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.

Description: Based on holotype ( Fig. 6 View Figs 1–6 ).

Head:Antenna: Black, fine red-gold pruinose, dark red-brown setose; segmental formula 1.0:1.3:3.9:0.1:1.1. Face black, entirely fine red-gold pruinose, mystax with long strong black setae along epistomal margin and tiny pale yellow setae centrally that extend weakly to below antennal sockets. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:4.6. Frons and vertex black, entirely red-gold pruinose, fine dark red-brown setose. Occiput black, silver pruinose, white setose (dorsal setae pale yellow). Proboscis dark red-brown, white setose. Palpi dark red-brown, plp 1 white setose, plp 2 brown setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum black, entirely pruinose except for postpronotal lobes, gold-red anteriorly and centrally, silver laterally and posteriorly. Setation: ac – tiny black setae; dc – tiny black setae anteriorly, longer posteriorly; npl – 2 black; sa – 1 black; pa – 1 black. Scutellum black, entirely silver pruinose, disc asetose, margin with 2 black macrosetae and tiny black setae. Pleura black, entirely silver pruinose, sparsely pale yellow setose. Wing 4.4 x 2.1 mm, dark brown, microtrichia black, covering entire membrane, basal angle of r 4 20°. Halter pale brown with pale orange-yellow knob. Legs: cx black, silver pruinose, white setose; trochanters black; fem black, macrosetae black setae black and yellow; tib orange with dark red-brown distal end (more extensive on fem 3), macrosetae black, setae black and yellow; tar dark red-brown, tar 1–2 extensively orange, most setae black bur some yellow.

Abdomen: Terga black, largely apruinose except for weak silver lateral margins, yellow setose (T1 has 3–4 black setae). Sterna black, entirely weak silver pruinose, fine yellow setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected, topotypic paratype ơ illustrated ( Figs 68– 70 View Figs 65–76 ): Hypopygium rotated through about 180°; epand (in dorsal view) incised to approximately half length to form broadly basally-fused distally-rounded cupped structure projecting well beyond levels attained by either goncx or hypd; goncx externally distally unilobed and projecting (in lateral view) beyond level attained by hypd; hypd (in lateral view) short, rapidly tapering to pointed medial process.

Variation: The Cumberland females have less extensively black femora (i.e. femora are orange proximally) and have yellow mystacal macrosetae. These specimens may represent a closely related and undescribed species, but in the absence of males they are here regarded as variants of those found at the type locality.

Type specimens: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ 2^ paratypes, ‘ Hilton [2930 CB] / Natal / 29.11.1965 / J.S. Taylor’; 1^ paratype, ‘ South Africa: KZ-Natal / Cumberland Nature Res. / 29°30.199'S: 30°30.207'E / 13.i.2004 J Londt T Dikow / 560 m Open rocky area & / Acacia woodland near river’; 2^ GoogleMaps paratypes, ‘ South Africa KZN / Cumberland Nat. Res. / 29°30.832'S 30°30.306'E / Light trap 654 m / Date: 2-3.xii.2004 / Coll: M. Mostovski’ (1^ BMNH); 1^ GoogleMaps paratype, ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / 900 m 8.i.2000 / J.G.H. Londt Grassland’; 1^ GoogleMaps paratype, ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / 900 m 11.i.2000 / J.G.H. Londt Grassland’; ơ GoogleMaps holotype, 1^

paratype, ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / J.G.H. Londt Grassland / 900 m 19.i.2000 GoogleMaps p.m.’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa:KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH. Londt Grassland / Date: 22.i.2000 GoogleMaps a.m.’; 1ơ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa: KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH. Londt Grassland / Date: 30.i.2000 GoogleMaps p.m.’; 1ơ 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa: KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH. Londt Grassland / Date: 5.ii.2000 GoogleMaps a.m.’; 1^ paratype, ‘ Sth Africa: KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park / 29°34'00''S 30°19'14''E / JGH. Londt Grassland / 900 m 7.i.2001 GoogleMaps p.m.’; 1^ paratype, ‘ South Africa: KZ-Natal / Queen Elizabeth Park Res / 29°33.994'S: 030°19.287'E / 829 m 30.xii.2003 GoogleMaps / JGH Londt & M Mostovski / Mistbelt Grassland area’ .

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known from three fairly closely situated localities in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands ( Fig. 80 View Fig ). The species flies from November to February. This species was included in Londt’s (2002) study of grassland asilids at Queen Elizabeth Park, Pietermaritzburg. Pending this revision it was called Afroholopogon sp. 1 and some nine specimens were encountered during that study. The species was encountered on weeks 1–5 of the study (i.e. in January and early February) and considered a summer-active species. Little is known of its biology except that it lives in tall grass.

Similar species: I. holcocephaloides and notios (see discussion).