Trichardis malawi, Londt, 2008

Londt, Jason G. H., 2008, A review of Afrotropical Trichardis Hermann, 1906, and the description of the first Oriental representative of the genus (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 171-171 : 191-192

Trichardis malawi sp. n.

Figs 29, 30

Etymology: Named after Malawi, where the holotype and a number of paratypes were collected.

Description (based on holotype in excellent condition):

Head: Dark red-brown to black, extensively silver pruinose except for shiny apruinose strip centrally from ocellar tubercle to epistomal margin, setae black and white.Antenna orange-brown, distal part of postpedicel and style dark red-brown, black and white setose; postpedicel elongate spindle-shaped (L:D=4.2:1). Mystax sparse white with black macrosetae along epistomal margin. Ocellar tubercle with 2 macrosetae. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black with a few small orange-brown areas (postalar lobes, anepisternum and coxae), fairly extensively silver pruinose, pale yellow-white setose. Postpronotum strongly silver pruinose medially, apruinose laterally; mesonotum apruinose except for margins, macrosetae pale yellowish, setulae pale white. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow silver pruinose anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellowish posterior macroseta, silver pruinose except for large apruinose anteroventral area. Proepimeron, katepisternum and anepisternum entirely pruinose. Legs: Orange-brown with femora slightly darker, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur orange-brown, length:height ratio 3.5:1, ventral tubercles poorly developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 4.7× 1.9 mm. Costal vein extends along most of wing margin, weakly along anal cell, absent from alula. Membrane extensively microtrichose, small areas of some proximally situated cells without microtrichiae; discal and r 5 cells entirely microtrichose.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown anteriorly becoming brown-orange posteriorly, apruinose except for narrow silver pruinose posterolateral tergal margins, macrosetae pale yellowish, setulae whitish. T2 dark red-brown, apruinose except for hind margins laterally.

ơ genitalia ( Figs 29, 30 ): Epandrium in lateral view significantly longer than basal part of gonocoxite (i.e. excluding distal projection of gonocoxite and gonostylus). Proctiger moderately dorsoventrally compressed. Hypandrium greatly reduced and simple in structure. Gonocoxite in ventral view with weakly defined projections distally and lacking macrosetae; mediodistal projection stout with upturned darkly sclerotised distal end. Gonostylus fairly stout with slightly upturned tip. Aedeagal base well-developed, upturned mediodistally; prongs large, upwardly directed and with expanded trumpet-like openings.

Holotype: MALAWI: ơ ‘ Malawi 35 km SE of / Monkey Bay on road / to Mangochi 1434 Aa / 12.xii.1980 500m / Londt & Stuckenberg / mixed woodland’ ( NMSA).

Paratypes: MALAWI: 1 ơ 6^same data as holotype . TANZANIA: 2^‘ Tanzania : Serengeti / Nat. Park. Seronera [02°16'S: 34°47'E] / 23-xi-1069 / M.E. Irwin & / E.S. Ross’ ( CASC) . ZIMBABWE: 1 ơ ‘ Country Rhodesia / Loc. Lusulu [18°04'S: 27°50'E] / Date 22/xi/63 / Coll.G. Davison’ ( NMSA) ; 1^‘ Country Rhodesia / Loc. 22/xi/63 / Date Lusulu / Coll. R. J. Phelps’ ( NMSA) .

Distribution and biology: The species is recorded from Southern and Eastern Africa. Adults have been collected during the summer months of November and December (Table 1). I collected the Malawian specimens resting on the ground in mixed woodland. Similar species: A member of what is here called the ‘ cribrata species group’ which consists of crassipala , cribrata , eburacta , hesperia , malawi , similis , spicata and indica . These species are superficially similar, but can be easily separated on characters of the male genitalia. T. malawi has distinctive male genitalia.

Figures

Figs 29–34. Trichardis species, male genitalia: (29, 30) lateral and ventral of T. malawi sp. n., paratype, Monkey Bay; (31, 32) lateral and ventral of T. mellina sp. n., paratype, Ghinda; (33, 34) lateral and ventral of T. nigrescens (Ricardo, 1903), Homhil. Scale lines = 1 mm.