Trichardis ornata, 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 : 194-195

Trichardis ornata sp. n.

Figs 35, 36

Etymology: From Latin ornata (handsome, splendid). Refers to the attractiveness of this species.

Description (based on unique holotype in good condition, right antenna broken off beyond pedicel, genitalia slightly damaged):

Head: Dark red-brown to black, entirely silver pruinose, white setose. Antennal scape and pedicel orange, postpedicel dark red-brown, setae white; postpedicel somewhat clavate (L:D=2.9:1). Mystax white. Ocellar tubercle with 4 macrosetae. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown.

Thorax: Dark red-brown, extensively silver pruinose, pale yellow and white setose. Postpronotum entirely pruinose, mesonotum apruinose except for fairly broad silver pruinose margins, macrosetae pale yellowish, setulae white. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow silver pruinose anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellow posterior macroseta, entirely pruinose, but weakly so anteroventrally. Proepimeron, katepisternum and anepisternum entirely pruinose. Legs: Femora orange with dark red-brown band subapically (broad on hind legs), tibiae orange proximally red-brown distally, tarsi dark red-brown, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur dark red-brown distally orange proximally, length:height ratio 4.3:1 (slender), ventral tubercles poorly developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 5.3×2.0 mm. Costal vein strongly developed as far as wing tip, then very weakly developed along posterior margin of wing and absent from alula. Membrane not extensively microtrichose—discal cell lacking microtrichiae, cell r 5 only with weakly developed microtrichiae in distal half.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown, extensively apruinose but hind margins of terga broadly pruinose and lateral parts weakly pruinose anteriorly, white setose. T2 dark red-brown, apruinose except for broad posterior bands laterally and weaker areas anterolaterally.

ơ genitalia ( Figs 35, 36 ; note slight damage to tips of proctiger, aedeagal prongs, tip of mediodistal process of left gonocoxite, and tip of left gonostylus): Epandrium in lateral view longer than basal part of gonocoxite (i.e. excluding distal projection of gonocoxite and gonostylus). Proctiger moderately dorsoventrally compressed (tip broken off). Hypandrium greatly reduced and simple. Gonocoxite in ventral view without projections and lacking distally arranged macrosetae; mediodistal projection fairly slender with straight distal end. Gonostylus moderately slender, gently curved with broadly rounded apex.Aedeagus with fairly elongate lateral projections basally; prongs more or less straight, tip damaged.

Holotype: CHAD: ơ ‘ Tchad , N'Djaména [12°04'N: 15°08'E] / Chari – Baguirmi / 2.viii.1992 / Leg. H.R. Feijen’ ( NMSA).

Distribution and biology: The species is known only from the type locality.The holotype was collected in August (Table 1). No biological information exists.

Similar species: T. ornata has an entirely pruinose postpronotal lobe and in this respect can be grouped with apicalis , grisescens , picta , terminalis , testacea , turneri and zinidi . The species is, however, most similar to testacea .

Figures

Figs 35–40. Trichardis species, male genitalia: (35, 36) lateral and ventral of T. ornata sp. n., holotype, (note: X indicates broken structures); (37–40) T. picta Hermann, 1906: (37, 38) lateral and ventral of holotype, (39, 40) lateral and ventral of holotype of T. lucifer Oldroyd, 1974. Scale lines = 1 mm.