Neoitamus africanus Astochia africana A revision of Afrotropical Astochia Becker, 1913 with descriptions of three new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Asilini) Londt, Jason G. H. African Invertebrates 2019 60 2 215 237 234597F2-8E94-5FB0-8CD6-5DB36A2238C6 Ricardo, 1919 Ricardo 1919 Insecta Asilidae Astochia CoL Animalia Astochia africana Diptera 3 218 Arthropoda species africana   Neoitamus africanusRicardo, 1919: 73; Oldroyd 1939: 38; Hull 1962: 557; Oldroyd 1970: 313.  Astochia africana: Oldroyd 1980: 336; Londt 1982: 243 (figs 2 (wing), 3 (♀ ovipositor), 5-7 (♂ terminalia)).  Diagnosis. Mystax black. Katatergal setae black. Anatergite with black and white setae. Scutellum disc with black setae. Mesonotal macrosetae black. Wings: Discal cell microtrichose. Legs: Femora entirely black. Metathoracic femora with ventral macrosetae. ♀ with abdominal segments 1-5 pruinose. ♂ terminalia as in Fig. 1. The species was fully redescribed by Londt (1982).   Figures 1-4.Lateral views of  Astochiamale terminalia as illustrated by Londt (1982): 1  A. africana 2  A. armata 3  A. sodalis 4  A. strachani.  Material. Previously recorded and personally studied material: Kenya: 3♀, lectotype & paralectotypes, Edge of forest on S & E slopes of Mt Kenya [ c. 00°10'S, 37°26'E3000m], 6000-7000 ft [ c.2000 m], 3-12.ii.1911, S.A. Neave (BMNH); 1♂ 2♀, 5-7 miles into Kenia Forest, near Luche [?] R. 9-10.ii.1911, T.J. Anderson (BMNH). Malawi: 2♂ 3♀ [ Londt (1982)recorded 2♂ 4♀] 'Malawi Ntchisi Forest / Reserve 1334Ac 1500m [ 13°22'43"S, 34°01'17"E c.1420m] / Londt & Stuckenberg / 3-4.xii.1980 Montane / forest & woodland', 1♂ 'NMSA-DIP-03374'; 1♂ 'NMSA-DIP-106705'; 3♀ 'NMSA-DIP-106706-8'(NMSA). Uganda: 1♂ 1♀, Ruwenzori range [ c. 00°23'N, 29°52'E], Namwamba Valley, 6500 ft [ c.1980 m], xii.1934-i.1935, B.M. E. Afr. Exp., F.W. Edwards (BMNH). Material not studied but recorded by Oldroyd (1970): DRC: 1♀, Stanleyville [= Kisangani], Mahagi-Niarembe [ c. 02°16'N, 31°03'E1550m], x.1935, Ch. Scops (MRAC); 1♀, Muturak [?], 3.ii.1933, Van Sacaghem (MRAC). Rwanda: 1♀, Kivu, Kisenyi [= Gisenyi c. 01°41'S, 29°16'E1550m], ii.1928, Ch. Seydel (MRAC); 1♂, Kisenyi, 1800 m, 18.xi.1961, A. Bertrand (MRAC). Newly recorded material: Kenya: 1♀ 'Kenya: Nairobi #58 / Karura State Forest / 01°15'S, 36°53'E1700m / 19.xi.1992 5 km NE city / J Londt & A Whittington / indigenous forest/ edges', 'NMSA-DIP-03364'(NMSA). Malawi: 1♀ 'C Malawi Ntchisi District / Ntchisi Forest Reserve [ c. 13°22'43"S, 34°01'17"E1420m] / 5000ft [ c.1525 m] 24 Nov - 2 Dec 2000 / Collector R J Murphy / Det Ref No AS21' 'NMSA-DIP-106709'(NMSA). Tanzania: 1♀ 'van Someren / Mt Moroto [ c. 2°32'S, 34°46'E] / Kar moya [?] 4 50', 'Com Inst Ent. / Coll. No. 11740' (BMNH).  Distribution, phenology and biology. Recorded mainly from East Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) and eastern DRC ( Fig. 25). Collected from October through to February (Table 1), no records for January. Found mainly associated with indigenous forest environments.   Table 1.Phenology of  Astochiaspecies. Months commencing from July.    Species J A S O N D J F M A M J    A. africana - - - 1 3 7 - 8 - - - -    A. armata - - - 8 17 9 4 4 1 5 - -    A. lumarius - - - - 1 1 - - - - - -    A. neavensis - - - 8 1 - - - - - - -    A. silva - - - - 3 - - 1 1 - - -    A. similis - - - - - - - 1 - - - -    A. sodalis 3 - - - - - - - - - - -    A. strachani - 6 1 4 3 - - - 1 8 - -  Totals 3 16 1 21 28 17 4 14 3 13 0 0