Choerades aureopilosa (Ricardo, 1900) Loodt, 1977

Loodt, J. G. H., 1977, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 1. The genus Choerades Walker, 1851 and the descriptions of two new genera, Nannolaphria and Notiolaphria, from southern Africa and Malagasy Republic *, ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 23, pp. 43-55 : 44-46

Choerades aureopilosa (Ricardo, 1900) comb. n.

Fig. I

Laphria aureopilosa Ricardo, 1900 pp. 171-2 .

Laphria variabilis Bromley, 1947 pp. 112- 13 .

Laphria f lavipes Wiedemann, 1821 pp. 238-9 Oldroyd's (1974) Rhodesian records only.

C. aureopilosa has been reasonably well described by Ricardo (1900) (as Laphria ) and Bromley (1947) (as L. variabilis ) but it appears that the sexual dimorphism which occurs particularly in this species caused a certain amount of confusion in Oldroyd's (1974) work. Male C. aureopilosa key out perfectly in Oldroyd's key but females which lack 'recumbent yellow abdominal pilosity' key out as C. jlavipes. As a result of this Oldroyd's specimens were identified as two different species: the females as C. jiavipes and the males as C. aureopilosa , except for a series of males from Rhodesia which mysteriously bear the label ' Laphria bella Loew'. There must, in the case of these Rhodesian males, have been an error in labelling the specimens as they are typical C. aureopilosa , a species not easily confused with other southern African forms.

There is, in the Natal Museum, a single male specimen from Ngoye Forest determined by Oldroyd as ' Laphria nigribimba', a species known only from Zaire, Cameroon and Liberia. Oldroyd (1974) did not include this species in his key to South African Laphria and so I presume that he was doubtful about the determination. The specimen possesses genitalia identical to C. aureopilosa but the yellow pubescence so characteristic of this species is not present.

The male genitalia (Fig. I) of C. aureopilosa have not been adequately described. Fused gonopod setae (4 in each group) half as long as genital bulb, well developed, jutting out posteriorly beyond distal margin of proctiger. Five long moderately well-developed setae lie in a straight line laterally and parallel to each group of fused setae. Last abdominal tergum with a mid-dorsal process on hind margin not found in any other southern African species.

The separation of female C. aureopilosa and C. jiavipes is difficult. C. aureopilosa has a few small gold setae on the mesonotum; no silver tomentum on the sides of the mesoscutum; darker tipped wings and generally darker legs, although there is some variation in this last character. C. jlavipes, on the other hand has no gold setae on the mesonotum, possesses two anterolateral silver pollinose spots on the mesonotum and is generally lighter in wing and leg coloration.

Material examined: RHODESIA: 5 ♂ N. Vumba , D. Cookson, 4. IV.1964 (1 ♀) -r/ 26.IX.1964 (l ♂) , 4.X.1964 (11 ♂) , 7.X.1964 (1♀ 8.X.1964 (1 ♂) , 13.111.1965 (l ♂) , 15.X.1965 (1) ♀ 30.X. l965 (1 ♂) , 21. III. l966 (1 ♀) (Natal Mus.) ; 1♀ Vumba , A Umtali Dist., 11.1932, P. A. S. (Natal Mus.) ; 1 ♀ Mt Selinda, 3.II.1954, N. Jimyers ‘ f! (Natal Mus.) . SOUTH AFRICA: Natal: 1 ♀ Manguzi River , Near Maputo, XI-XII. 1945, H. W. Bell Marley (Durban Mus.) ; 1♂, Ngoye Forest between Eshowe and Empangeni, II.1957, Stuckenberg (Natal Mus.) ; 1♀ Tugela River Mouth , 29.JJJ. 1963, T. W. Schofield (Natal Mus.) ; 1 ♂, Durban Bluff, 8.VIII. l925, H. W. Ben Marley (Natal Mus.) ; 1 ♂, Durban, Stella, Marley (Natal Mus.) ; 3 ♂ ' 2♀ Durban “ +1 Bluff, C. N. Barker, 20.xn, 1919 (10'),12.111.1920 (1 ♂), 4.xn.1920 ( 1 ♀).\\ 25.Tl1.1921 'fil

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(l ♀ 7.Xll.1921 (1♂) (Durban Mus.) ; 1 ♂, Durban, Stella , 6. X:1921, c. N. Barker (Durban Mus.) ; 1 ♂ 1♀ Winklespruit , C. N. Barker, 21. XII.1918 (1♀ 25.XII.1918 (1 ♂) (Durban Mus.) ; 1♀ Park Rynie , 23.XII.1920, C. N. Barker (Durban Mus.) ; 1 ♂, Pietermaritzburg , Town Bush, XII.1976, R. M. Miller, ex Malaise Trap ( Natal Mus.) 1 ♂ 1♀ Durban, 13.IV.1974 (l ♀ 16.111.1975 (l ♂), R. K. Brooke (Durban Mus.)