Rhabdogaster charma, Londt, 2006

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 250-251

Rhabdogaster charma sp. n.

Figs 12–14

Etymology: From Greek charma (source of joy, delight). Refers to the attractive appearance of this species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, white and pale yellow setose.Antenna black, setae white. Face with small central apruinose spot. Mystax entirely white, occupying lower twothirds of face. Frons strongly pruinose in ventral half; vertex entirely apruinose. Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae pale yellow-white.

Thorax: Black, silver and gold pruinose, white and pale yellow setose. Mesonotum extensively pruinose (gold anteriorly) with clearly defined apruinose areas (a pair of anteromedial stripes and four lateral spots, including postpronotal and postalar lobes), notopleurals pale yellow, other setae white. Pleura with a large apruinose area on anepisternum. Scutellum extensively apruinose except for narrow anterior margin, with approx. 12 moderately developed sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc orange; fem dark red-brown with broad orange proximal and distal ends, white setose (a row of approx. 7 short pale yellow macrosetae centrally); tib orange with small, dark red-brown distal tip, predominantly white setose (a few black setae distally); tar red-brown, partly white and black setose. Wing 3.8 x 1.5 mm, brown, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively microtrichose (except for some proximal areas). Discal and costal cells entirely microtrichose.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white and dark red-brown setose. Tergites largely apruinose except for two large anterolateral subtriangular areas (separated medially), dark red-brown setae on apruinose areas, white on pruinose areas. Sternites entirely pruinose, short white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 12–14 Uitkyk paratype): epand in lateral view gradually tapering to slightly downcurved, fairly acutely-rounded tips; lobes narrowly separated proximally; hypd in lateral view about as long as epand and goncx, slightly upturned distally, dorsally with raised subapical ridge (hypd is laterally flattened subapically); broadly-rounded basally in ventral view, tapering to fairly broad bilobed apex. External lobe of goncx of similar length as epand, tapering to slightly downcurved, fairly sharp apex, moderately sclerotised internal lobe small, projecting ventrally and in lateral view seen projecting below outer lobe. Gonostyli (not illustrated) slender, gently curved.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: ‘ South Africa 2429AA / Transvaal Uitkyk Rd. / 10 km N Potgietersrus / 28.I.1978 JGH. Londt / Rocky side of koppie / grass trees and bush’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 3ơ same data as holotype ; Gauteng: 2ơ ‘ Pretoria [2532S:2811E] / Silverton / 9.12.15 [9.xii.1915] / H.K. Munro’ ( NMNH) .

Note: One of the NMHN males is poorly preserved and lacks its head and all its legs. In the absence of a good series it is included as a paratype.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from two South African localities. Collected in December and January (mid-summer) in a summer rainfall area. Similar species: Distinctive.

Figures

Figs 6–17. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (6–8) R. atropalpus sp. n., Pakhuis Pass paratype: (6) lateral, (7) dorsal, (8) ventral; (9–11) R. bicolor sp. n., Pietermaritzburg holotype: (9) lateral, (10) dorsal, (11) ventral; (12–14) R. charma sp. n., Uitkyk paratype: (12) lateral, (13) dorsal, (14) ventral; (15–17) R. cornuata sp. n., Table Mt. holotype: (15) lateral, (16) dorsal, (17) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.