Tsacasiella blanda (Tsacas, 1969)

Londt, Jason G. H., 2002, Afrotropical Asilinae (Asilidae): A provisional key to genera, with a review of the status of Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878, and descriptions of new genera and species, African Invertebrates 43, pp. 11-92 : 56

Tsacasiella blanda (Tsacas, 1969) ( Figs 199–200 )

Neomochtherus blandus Tsacas, 1969: 11–12 .

Neomochtherus callipygus Tsacas, 1969:12–13 . Syn. n.

Tsacasiella blandus ; Lehr, 1996: 72.

Tsacasiella callipygus ; Lehr, 1996: 73.

Type material: Holotype: DR CONGO: 1ơ, [ blanda seen], ‘Holotypus’, ‘Coll. Mus. Congo / Bas-Congo: Kalina [04 ° 18'S: 15 ° 16'E] / viii-1945 / Mme Delsaut’, ‘ Neomochtherus / neavei Ricardo / det. H. Oldroyd 1966’, ‘ Neomochtherus / blandus n.sp. / Holotype ơ / L. Tsacas det. 1967’ (MRAC); Allotype: DR CONGO: 1^ [not seen] same data as holotype. Holotype: RWANDA: 1ơ [ callipygus seen], ‘Holotypus’, ‘Musée du Congo / Kagera [01 ° 38'S: 29 ° 34'E]: Gahinga / ( Ruanda) 26-iv-1937 / H. J. Brédo’, ‘ Neomochtherus / callipygus n.sp. / Holotype ơ / L. Tsacas det. 1967’ (MRAC); Paratype: DR CONGO: 1ơ [ callipygus not seen], Kagera, Gahinga, 29.iv.1937, H. J. Bredo (MRAC).

Type locality: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kalina .

Synonymy of callipygus : A study of the type material together with the descriptions provided by Tsacas (1969), leads me to believe that callipygus is a synonym of blanda . Comments:As mentioned under Materials and Methods, the holotype of blanda is badly damaged and now lacks both antennae, right wing and four legs (only the left fore- and right hind-leg remain intact). The holotype of callipygus , sent in the same box as the blanda type (and three other types) was even more badly damaged. All that remained attached to the pin was the thorax, head (minus antennae) and part of one fore-leg (right femur and tibia). Fortunately the genitalia vials attached to the pins were not dislodged. After sorting through the fragments found in the box I was able to identify portions of both wings and a piece of abdomen which appear to belong to the callipygus specimen; these were placed in a gelatine capsule, pinned and appropriately labelled alongside the type specimen. None of the many broken fragments could be confidently associated with the blanda type specimen, and so an empty capsule with appropriate label has been placed alongside this type. Fortunately there are other specimens in the type series that were not sent to me that remain intact. No new material representing these taxa were found during this study.

Figures

Figs 199–202. Tsacasiella species. Epandrium, lateral. 199–200. T. blanda (Tsacas, 1969). 199. Kalina ơ holotype. 200. Kagera ơ holotype (callipygus). 201. T. debilis (Tsacas, 1969) (Komi ơ holotype). 202. T. exilis (Tsacas, 1969) (Lubumbashi ơ holotype). Scale lines = 1 mm.