Longibeccus fuscovittatus (Ricardo) Scarbrough, 2010

Scarbrough, A. G., 2010, An overview of the Afrotropical Ommatiinae (Diptera: Asilidae) with a key to genera, Zootaxa 2540, pp. 1-47 : 12-17

Longibeccus fuscovittatus (Ricardo) , new combination.

Figs. 3, 9, 30–40, 108

Ommatius fuscovittatus Ricardo, 1900: 177 ; Hull 1962: 436; Oldroyd 1974: 139; 1980: 347. Catalogue.

Redescription, male. Brown with yellowish-gray tomentum. Body 9.0– 14.2 mm; wing 6.4–11.3 mm. Head ( Fig. 9): Face yellow tomentose, with abundant yellow and 4–5 brown bristles on lower 1/3; short, yellow setae dorsally; lower 1/2 of face evenly sloped forward, slightly gibbous ventrally; FHWR 1.0:4.0–1.0:4.4. Palpus and proboscis yellow setose, narrow bases often yellow. Antenna ( Fig. 3) with scape and pedicel yellow, brown setose; flagellum black with scattered punctations, as long as scape and pedicel combined and as wide as or wider than either scape or pedicel; FWLR 1.0:1.7–1.0:2.4. Frons parallel sided, yellow to brownish-yellow tomentose, brown setose laterally, setae slightly shorter than scape. Ocellar tubercle projects well above dorsal margin of eye with yellow tomentum and brown setae, 2 setae as long as scape. Occiput yellowish-gray to gray tomentose with mostly yellow setae, sometimes sparse black setae behind postocular bristles; beard white; 6–7 thick postocular bristles present, 2–3 bristles curved forward with tips just beyond posterior margin of eye.

Thorax: Pronotum yellow tomentose with yellow and, or black bristles. Mesonotum yellowish-gray or yellow tomentose, 2 longitudinal paramedial stripes, separated by paler tomentum, and 2–3 lateral spots, all brown; setae brown except postpronotal and postalar setae yellow; anterior setae very short, less than 1/2 as long as scape; 4–5 lateral and 4–5 dorsocentral bristles, the latter extend forward to or near transverse suture. Scutellum yellowish-gray tomentose, mostly yellow setose, with 2 black marginal bristles and preapical groove. Pleuron yellow tomentose anteriorly, yellowish-gray posteriorly with only pale yellow setae and bristles; anepimeral bristle and halter yellow, knob often reddish. Wing ( Fig. 30): Hyaline with dense brownish-yellow microtrichia, sparse or absent bordering veins of basal cells. Cell r 1 narrow, pointed apically. Base of cell r 4 at or slightly before cell d, sides parallel, slightly curved downward apically; vein R 4 strongly arched basally, meeting costa at or just above wing apex. Crossvein r-m well before middle of cell d, longer than CuA 1 +M 3. Base of cell m 1 moderately narrow, sometimes slightly constriction apically; m 1 WR 1.0:1.6:2.6–1.0:7.0:6.4. Legs: Coxae brown, yellow tomentose with abundant yellow setae. Trochanter brownish-yellow to brown. Femora yellow with narrow brown apices, short brown or black bristles, and yellow setae ventrally. Prothoracic femur ventrally with row of yellow setae, basal 2–3 setae long. Mesothoracic femur with 3–4 bristles anteriorly and 1–3 preapical anteroventral bristles, and row of long, posteroventral setae. Metathoracic femur with mostly black bristles, sparse thin yellow posterior bristles basally; MFWLR 1.0:4.5–1.0:4.9. Tibiae yellow, narrow apex of metathoracic tibia black; bristles black, yellow bristles on prothoracic tibia laterally. Tarsi with basal 4 tarsomeres yellow, apices usually slightly brown or black, apical tarsomere brown or reddish-brown; most bristles blackish, pro- and mesothoracic tarsi with 4–6 yellow bristles laterally.

Abdomen: Mostly yellowish-gray tomentose with yellow setae, tergites 2–6 dorsally sparsely brown tomentose and brown setose. Lateroapical margin of tergites 4–9 and sternites 4–6 with 2–3 thin yellow or black bristles apically; apical margin of sternite 7 with 4–6 stout yellow or brown bristles. Terminalia ( Figs. 31–36): Reddish. Epandrium with deep, wide notch apically, bordered dorsally and ventrally by margin; dorsal margin short and narrow, ventral margin much longer and wider. Gonostylus narrow apically, strongly angled forward with small pointed apex. Aedeagus with flat plate-like epiphallus concealing distiphallus dorsally, epiphallus variable, tuberculate with W-shaped apical margin or smooth with rounded apical margin; distiphallus narrow apically; ejaculatory apodeme short and narrow, projects only slightly beyond sheath. Gonocoxite with strongly produced, rounded anterolateral corner; anteromedial process digitate, flat, narrow, and curved forward. Apical margin of hypandrium triangular.

Female. Body 10.4–16.1 mm; wing 8.3–11.7 mm; FHWR 1.0:4.5–1.0:5.0; FWLR 1.0:1.7; m 1 WR 1.0:2.3:2.1–1.0:2.8:2.9; MFWLR 1.0:4.8–1.0:5.0. Abdomen: Bristles much stronger and longer than in male. Terminalia ( Figs. 37–40): Apical margin of tergite 8 produced medially. Tergite 9 narrow, fused with tergite 8 and base of cercus. Cercus and ventral lamella strongly arched downward, concave ventrally. Apical margin of sternite 8 produced medially, margin somewhat rounded. Spermatheca oval. Genital fork membranous, arms weakly sclerotized apically, base oval, arms wide basally, narrowed apically.

Type examined. Ommatius fuscovittatus Ricardo (holotype ♂, BMNH). Other specimens examined. ANGOLA: Angola (A11) [Namibe Province], Bruco [Fazenda Bruco, 15 o 7’S, 13 o 11’E] 26.ii– / 2.iii.1972 ~ Southern African Exp. / B.H.1972-1 ~ Ommatius fuscovittatus Ric. / Det. H. Oldroyd 1973 (1 ♂, BMNH) . BOTSWANA: [Serowe district] #104 / Farmers Brigade / 22 o 25’S 26 o 44’E 100 m / iv.1991 / P. Forchhammer / malaise trap (1 ♂, NMSA); SE 2226 BD / SEROWE Farmer’s / Brigade malaise trap / 8– 9.xii.88 Forchhammer (1 ♀, NMSA) ; same data except 8.xii.88 (1 ♀, NMSA) ; same data except ix.88 (1 ♂, NMSA) ; same data except xii.89 (1 ♀, NMSA); SE 2226 BD / SEROWE Farmer’s / Brigade ca. 8 km SE of Serowe / 1300 m A. [= Acacia ] tortilla woodland / 31.i.85 / malaise trap 3 forest nursery (1 ♂, NMSA) ; F. Oldrelres / Outlook Est. 22 o 59’S 22 o 50’E / Louis Trichardt (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMBZ) . CHAD: Museum Paris / [Chari-Baguirmi division] Rives du Moyen Chari / Demraou – Bousso [10 o 28’N 16 o 43’E] / Mission Chari – Tchad / D r J. Decrose 1904 ~ Juin (1 ♂, MNHN) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Entre Doufil / et la Riviére ~ Museum Paris / Enclave Belge / De Lado / Mission / Du Bourge de Bozas [5 o S 31 o 45’E?] 1903 (1 ♀, MNHN) . ETHOPIA: Pres. By / Imp. Bur. Ent. / 1923-58 / Abyssinia / xi.1911 / R.J. Stordy (1 ♀, BMNH) . GHANA: [Ashanti region] Obuasi [6 o 12’N 1 o 41’W]. W. Africa / 6.viii.1907 / Dr. W.M. Graham ~ caught in bush path’ (1 ♀ [terminalia absent], BMNH) . KENYA: [Rift Valley province] Narok, 75 mi [12 km] WSW / Kenya Afr. / 1 o 38’S 35 o 17’E / ii.6.1948 ~ Cent. African Exp. / Neal A. Webber coll. (1 ♂, 2 ♀, AMNH) ; Rift Valley Prov. / Marich Pass , 917 m, / 1 o 32.18’N 35 o 27.48’E / Malaise trap, 20.ii.– / 6.iii.2005; R.S. Copeland (1 ♂, USNM) ; Rt. A 109 / Hunter’s Lodge [02 o 11’S 37 o 41’E] 2–7.xii / 1989 A. Friedberg / Fini Kaplan (1 ♀, NMSA) ; Matembar / 01 o 22’N 35 o 03’E / 26–27.v.1980 Lamoral / malaise trap (1 ♂, NMSA) ; Magadi [153ʹS 3616ʹE _] / Brit. E. Africa / iv. 1912 [terminalia slide # 62] / F.G. Hamilton (1 ♂, BMNH) ; Mdi. [=Magadi] / E. Africa / W.S. Godfrey / viii.69 (1 ♀, USNM) ; Magadi / Brit. E. Africa / iv.1912 / F.G. Hamilton / 1915-374 (gender? [terminalia absent], BMNH) ; Nyanza prov. / Rusinga Island ; 1206 m, / 0 o 23.240’S 34 o 10.995’E / Malaise Trap, 12–19.i.2005 / R.S. Copeland (1 ♂, NMKE) ; Nyanza prov. / Gembe Hill , 1362 m / 0 o 29.36’S 34 o 60’E / Malaise Trap, 22–29.i.2005 / R.S. Copeland (1 ♂, NMKE) ; Nyanza prov. / Ungoye Field St. , 1147 m / 0 o 36.91’S 34 o 05.52’E / Malaise trap 7–21.iv.2005 / R.S. Copeland (1 ♀, NMKE) ; Eastern prov. / Kibwesi Forest, Malaise / trap 25.xii–2.i.2000 / 2 o 27.90’S 37 o 54.91’E / R. Copeland (1 ♀, NMKE) ; same location and collector, 3–10.v.2000 (1 ♀, USNM) ; same location and collector, 9–16.i.2000 (1 ♀, NMKE) . MOZAMBIQUE: Chimonzo [24 o 56’S 33 o 17’E] - Mozam. / 21–27.ii.1984 / A.L. More (1 ♂, USNM) . NIGERIA: [Adamawa state] 7 mi. [= 11.3 km] N. Uba [1027' 1313'] 500 m / 28.ix.1066 / E.S. Ross / K. Lovenzon (1 ♂, CASC) . SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng province Pretoria [25 o 43’S 28 o 11’E] / 24.i.14 / H.K. Munro (1 ♂, USNM) ; KwaZulu-Natal [Prov.] / Weenen [28 o 51’S 30 o 05’E] / iii.1924 / [terminalia slide 53] / H.P. Thomasset ~ Ommatius fuscovittatus Ric. / Det. H. Oldroyd 1973 (1 ♂, BMNH) ; same data except (2 ♀, BMNH) ; Natal / 25 km E. Louwsburg [27 o 37’S 31 o 07’E] / 20.ii.1979, / 2731DA, / JGH Londt grassy / area near river (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMSA) ; Natal / 15 km E. Magudu [27 o 32’S 31 o 40’E] 2731DB / 20.ii.1979 JGH Londt / banks of river (1 ♂, NMSA) ; Moorddrift [24 o 15’S 28 o 57’E] / i.1925 / G.V. Dam (1 ♂, NMSA) ; Natal Prov. / 20 mi. [= 32 km] N. Jozini [27 o 26’S 32 o 4’E] (2732 Ac) / 28.xi.1971 M.E. & B.J. Irvin / dry hillside; 750 ft el. (1 ♀, NMSA) ; KwaZulu-Natal , 15 km SE Ingwavuma [27 o 09’S 32 o 0’E] / 21.ii.1979 2732AA / JGH Londt bushy / area with big trees (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMSA) ; KwaZulu-Natal Prov. / 20 mi [32 km] N. Juzini (2732 Ac ) / 28.i.1971 M.E. & B.J. Irwin / dry hillside 750 ft. el. [= 229 m] (1 ♀, NMSA) ; KwaZulu-Natal / Ashburton [29 o 37’S 30 o 23’E] / 15 km SW of / Pietermaritzburg / 19–25.ii.1977 JGH Londt / malaise in grassland (1 ♀, NMSA) ; Natal / Bishopstowe [29 o 35’S 30 o 27’E] 2930CB / near Pietermaritzburg / coll. A.J. Seymour / 11.xii.1981 (1 ♀, 1981); RSA: KZ Natal #117, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Res. , 28 o 09’S 32 o 02’E 160 m, 29.xii.1995 - 3.i.1996, coll. J. Londt & K. Cradock, Munyawaneni Camp area (2 ♂, 1 ♀, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ- Natal #2, Hluhluwe Game Reserve , 28 o 05’S 32 o 01’E 150 m, 2.i.1996, J. Londt & K. Cradock, dam edge (1 ♀, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ-Natal # 106, Hluhluwe Game Reserve , 28 o 05’S 32 o 04’E 300 m, 19.i.1994, S. Robertson Forest Margin (1 ♂, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ-Natal # 48, Hluhluwe Game Reserve , 28 o 05’S 32 o 02’E 180 m, 12– 15.i.1995, D.A. Barraclough, Forest Margin, riv. gullies (1 ♀, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ-Natal #64, Umfolozi Game Reserve 28 o 19’S 31 o 52’E 300 m, 17.iii.1995, coll. J.G.H. Londt, Acacia woodland (1 ♀, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ- Natal #21, Itala Game Reserve 27 o 31’S 30 o 14’E 800 m, 27–29.iii.1996, coll. D.A. Barraclough, woodland/ thomveld (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMSA) ; RSA: KZ-Natal #74 / Itala Game Reserve / 27 o 31’S 31 o 12’E 750 m / 4– 6.xi.1997, J.G.H. Londt, Mbiso camp woodland (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMSA) ; South Africa KwaZulu-Natal / Bisley Valley Nature Reserve / Pietermaritzburg 10.i.2004, 29 o 40’S 30 o 24’E / 715 m J. Londt & T. Dikow, Acacia Savannah (1 ♂, TDIC) ; S. Africa: N-W province Pilanesberg / National Park, Bakubung 12–19.xi.1999 / 25 o 20’S 27 o 03’E JGH Londt / 1170 m camp (1 ♀, NMSA) ; South Africa Limpopo / province Hans Merensky / Nature Reserve 23 o 43S 30 o ’E, 10.i.2005 434 m / light trap C. Chaboo (1 ♂, TDIC) ; Zoutpansberg [mountain range] 1415 m / N. Transvaal [Limpopo province] / 4.xii.1978 (1 ♂, NMBZ) ; Klipfontein / 25 53' 60S 29 o 13’E / N. Transvaal [Limpopo province] / 6.xii.1979 [id. Ommatius fuscovittatus Ricardo ] (1 ♂, NMBZ) ; Nylstroon [=Modimolle, 24 o 42’S 28 o 24’E] /16–31.xii.31 / G.P.F. v. Dam (1 ♀, USNM) ; South Africa Limpopo / province Witwatersrand University Rural Facility / 24 o 32.8’S 31 o 06.2’E, 14.i.2005 / light trap C. Chaboo (1 ♀, TDIC) ; South Africa Limpopo province / Polokwane Nature Reserve / 23 o 57’S 29 o 27’E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1260 m 13.ii.2005 / Acacia woodland near Salt Pan (1 ♂, TDIC) ; Wylie’s Poort [22 o 54S 29 o 56’N]/ SM North / 21–22.iii.1954 / A.J.T. Janse (1 ♀, NMSA) ; Messina [=Musina, 22 o 21’S 30 o 3’E] Tvl / 25–28.iii.1954 / A.J.T. Janse / collection / Transvaal / Museum (1 ♀, NMSA) ; Mpumalanga province / Kruger Park 9.xii.1972 / Timbatene Tswiri / woodland savanna nr. Skukuza [25 o 01’S 31 o 38’E] / B.&P. Stuckenburg / 2431 Dc (1 ♀, NMSA) ; Kruger Natl’ Park / Pretoriuskop [25 o 10’S 31 o 16’E] / 20–21.ii.1968 / Krombein & Spangler (1 ♀, USNM) ; S. Africa: E. Transvaal / Ofcolaco [24 o 6’S 30 o 22’E] 2430AB / Selati River / xii.7–8.1976 R. Miller (1 ♀, NMSA) . SUDAN: [Kordofan province] Nuba Moutains / Talodi [10 o 39’N 30 o 23’E] / vi–viii. 1921 / Capt. F. Moysey / came to light / Brit. Mus. / 1922-194 (1 ♀, BMNH) . ZIMBABWE: [Matabeleland South province] 527 / Balla - Balla [=Mbalabala, 20 o 29’S 29 o 05’E] / S. Rhodesia / iii.1931, ii.1933, A. Cuthbertson (2 ♂, USNM) ; Matopos [20 o 25’S 28 o 60’E] / S. Rhodesia / 12.i.1958 (1 ♀, NMBZ) ; [Mashonaland West province] Crocodile Pool Farm / Banket [17 o 24’S 30 o 23’E] S. Rhodesia / 15.xii.1977 / D.K.B. Wheeler (1 ♂, NMBZ) ; [Manicaland province] Umtali [=Mutare, 18 o 58’S 32 o 40’E] S. Rhodesia / AC31885 (1 ♂, AMNH) ; Alice Vale Farm / Vumba [19 o 52’S 31 o 22’E] near Zimunya Res. / S. of Umtali [= Mutare], S. Rhodesia / 25.xii.1972 / K.B. Wheeler (1 ♂, NMBZ) ; Rhodesia: [Mashonaland East province] / Subi River / Chibuwedip [20 o 33’S 32 o 24’E] i.1971 / B. Hursey (1 ♂, BMNH) ; Turk Mine [=Dabula, 19 o 24’S 28 o 27’E] / S. Rhodesia / ii.1957 (2 ♀, NMBZ) .

Distribution. Subsaharan Africa. Data labels indicate that adults of one or more species are active during every month of the year. Habitat types are variable ranging from dry hillsides, Acacia savannas, woodlands, bush with large trees, Thomveld and grasslands communities up to 1500 meters in elevation. Adults were captured at forest margins and dam-riverside vegetation with hand nets and light and Malaise traps.

Remarks. L. fuscovittatus is distinguished by the yellow scape and pedicel, long wide flagellum ( Fig. 3), proboscis with apex flattened dorsally, awl-shaped, the dark pleura and coxae, hyaline wings ( Fig. 30), and combined characters of the terminalia ( Figs. 31–40).

Four males and four females (AMNH, BMNH, NMSA) from Magadi, Kenya, and Nuba Mountains, Talodi, and Ethiopia (Abyssina) differs somewhat from the ‘typical’ specimens of L. fuscovittatus . Such are considered minor variations and are included below. Externally, the males are essentially identical with only the dorsal and ventral processes of the epandrium being larger. Internally, the aedeagal epiphallus of the males are smooth apically, apex more retangular and narrower than in the typical L. fuscovittatus . Further, the narrow basally constricted cerci bear an erect flange; the produced apical margin of tergite 8 is narrower and projects far forward. The genital fork is narrower, especially the dorsal sclerotized arms and the base. Both sexes usually have a narrow dark streak on the anterior surface of the mesothoracic and sometimes the metathoracic femur.

The holotype of Ommatius fuscovittatus has the following label information; 1.) round label, red margins, Type [on one side], Ommatius fuscovittatus ♂ [on opposite side], 2.) Pretoria [25 42' S, 28 13'E] (W.L.D.), 3.) Ommatius fuscovittatus , n sp Type E, G.R. 31-3-00, 4.) S. Africa Distant coll. 1911-383, and 5.) Holotype, Ommatius fuscovittatus Ricardo det. J.E. Chainey, 1986 [and a green circle with the word Holotype]. The specimen is in poor condition, without abdomen, flagellum, and style.