Rhabdogaster theroni, 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 : 285-286

Rhabdogaster theroni sp. n.

Figs 107–109

Etymology: Named after the late Dr J.G. Theron who made an enormous contribution to the taxonomy of South African homopterans. In addition, his collecting activities were important, most of the type specimens of this species being found by him.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, white setose.Antenna black, setae white except for a few black dorsally. Face extensively pruinose except for a pair of oblique spots in dorsal region. Mystax entirely white, occupying most of face. Frons and vertex extensively fine pruinose except for an apruinose stripe between eyes (including ocellar tubercle). Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, setae white.

Thorax: Black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum with large apruinose areas, including postpronotal and postalar lobes, broad medial stripe, two large spots on either side of transverse suture. Pleura extensively pruinose except for large spots on an- and katepisternum. Scutellum largely apruinose except for narrow anterior margin, with approx. 12 sctl s. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver-gold pruinose. Legs: cx black, silver pruinose, white setose; other parts dark red-brown to black except for distal ends of fem and proximal ends of tib which are orange-brown. Setae mostly white (some black on ventral parts of tar). Wing 4.0 x 1.5 mm, veins pale brown-yellow, membrane transparent, unstained, proximally largely devoid of microtrichia. Discal cell proximally without microtrichia, costal cell entirely without microtrichia.

Abdomen: Black, silver pruinose, white setose.Tergites apruinose middorsally and along hind margins. Sternites entirely pruinose. Terminalia ( Figs 107– 109 paratype) darkly pigmented: epand in lateral view short, not projecting beyond levels attained by outer lobe of goncx and hypd, tapering to fairly acute tip; in dorsal view lobes narrowly fused proximomedially; hypd in lateral view short, curved, upturned distally; in ventral view somewhat truncate proximally, tapering rapidly to elongate slightly clavate terminal process. In lateral view external lobe of goncx broad, projecting beyond levels attained by epand and hypd, with broadly-rounded tip. Inner lobe of goncx with heavily-built well sclerotized tip; gonst in ventral view short, fairly straight.

Variation: Minimal. The two females from Jonkershoek may represent two separate taxa as one is somewhat smaller than the other and has a largely black mystax.

Holotype: ơ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ South Africa / Du Toits Kloof [3345S:1911E] / 23.iii.1985 / J.G. Theron’.

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 2^‘ South Africa / Stellenbosch / Jonkershoek [3358S:1858E] / 18.iii.1981 / J.G. Theron’; 1ơ ‘ South Africa / Stellenbosch / Jonkershoek / 18.3.1981 / G. Häppner’; 1^‘ South Africa / Jonkershoek / 44/4 1983 / Leon v Zyl’; 1^‘ J. Heyns / South Africa / Jonkershoek / 27.3.1953 ’; 1^‘ South Africa / Bokfontein / Ceres [3320S:1919E] 8.3.85 / J.G. Theron’; 2ơ 1^1? same data as holotype; 2ơ 2^‘ South Africa / Du Toit’s / Kloof Pass / 23.3.85 / J.G. Theron’ .

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded from four South African localities in the Western Cape mountains near Stellenbosch. Collected in March except one found in April.

Similar species: R. cornuata sp. n., poa sp. n. and yeti sp. n.

Figures

Figs 104–115. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia:(104–106) R. tanylabis sp. n., Witsand Nature Reserve paratype: (104) lateral, (105) dorsal, (106) ventral; (107–109) R. theroni sp. n., Du Toits Kloof paratype: (107) lateral, (108) dorsal, (109) ventral; (110–112) R. xanthokelis sp. n., Ben Lavin Nature Reserve paratype: (110) lateral, (111) dorsal, (112) ventral; (113–115) R. yeti sp. n., Auob holotype: (113) lateral, (114) dorsal, (115) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.