Apolysis elbae ( Efflatoun, 1945 ) Gibbs, 2023

Gibbs, David, 2023, A world review of the bee fly tribe Usiini (Diptera, Bombyliidae) - Part 3: Parageron Paramonov s. lat., European Journal of Taxonomy 863 (1), pp. 1-162 : 149-150

Apolysis elbae ( Efflatoun, 1945) comb. nov.

Usia elbae Efflatoun, 1945: 210 .

Type material

Lectotype (here designated)

EGYPT • ♂ (pinned through circular card, in good condition); “ Gebel Elba , South Eastern Desert, 15,3 to end April 1929 /Zool. Dep. Collection, Egyptian University, Collection Tewfik/ Usia elbae Effl., Det. Efflatoun ”; TAU.

Paralectotype

EGYPT • 1 ♀ (pinned through circular card, in good condition, thorax partially greasy); “ Gebel Elba , South Eastern Desert, 15,3 to end April 1929 /Zool. Dep. Collection, Egyptian University, Collection Tewfik/ Usia elbae Effl., Det. Efflatoun ”; TAU .

Remarks

Efflatoun (1945) based his description of this species on more than 40 males and 50 females, mostly from Gebel Elba, southwestern Egypt, and two males from Wadi Feran [sic = Feiran], South Sinai. While it has not been possible to visit the collections in Egypt, where many of the syntypes still survive, two syntypes in TAU were loaned to me and are here designated as lectotype and paralectotype.

A very small species, readily diagnosed as Apolysis from the distal arista in the apico-dorsal sulcus of the postpedicel, sparsely short-haired disc of mesonotum, elongate discal cell, A1 running dead straight to wing margin, A1+CuA 2 (petiole of anal cell) long, slender short-haired palps and form of the form and orientation of the male hypopygium. Neither the lectotype or paralectotype has been dissected as this would not increase confidence of generic placement in Apolysis as currently understood.

Distribution

Egypt (Gebel Elba, Wadi Edeib and Wadi Kansissrob, Southwestern Desert, and Wadi Feran [sic = Feiran], South Sinai).