Ancylorhynchus variabilis, Londt, 2011

Londt, Jason G. H., 2011, A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 471-471 : 531-533

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5733/afin.052.0214

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B75F77-C603-FF83-FE3E-DF68FF68FA5C

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Ancylorhynchus variabilis
status

nom. nov.

Ancylorhynchus variabilis nom. n.

Figs 1 View Fig , 28 View Figs 3–30 , 58 View Figs 51–60 , 138–140 View Figs 129–146 , 151 View Fig

Xyphocerus variegatus Bigot, 1879: 429 .

Ancylorrhynchus variegatus: Kertész 1909: 103 (catalogue); Hull 1960: 217; Oldroyd 1974: 33. Ancylorhynchus variegatus: Oldroyd 1980: 360 View in CoL (catalogue).

It should be noted that the name variegatus View in CoL has been used for two different species which currently reside in Ancylorhynchus View in CoL . Dasypogon variegatus Wiedemann, 1817 View in CoL , a Palaearctic species now considered a junior synonym of type species Ancylorhynchus glaucius (Rossi, 1790) View in CoL was described before the Afrotropical species Xyphocerus variegatus Bigot, 1879 . Although both species were at one time considered valid within Xyphocerus (see Schiner 1867: 368) both were listed by Kertész (1909) under Ancylorrhyncus; Wiedemann’s 1817 species as a synonym of glaucius View in CoL and Bigot’s 1879 species as a valid name in its own right. While all subsequent authors have accepted Bigot’s name it is necessary to provide this taxon with a new name in order to stabilise the taxonomy (it being possible that a much needed review of Palaearctic Ancylorhynchus View in CoL could see the resurrection of Wiedemann’s earlier name).The similar, but different name, variabilis , is here established as a new name for Bigot’s variegatus .

Redescription:

Male (based on holotype. Condition: Good; both antennae completely missing; right metathoracic leg has been reattached to specimen with glue, but is complete).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose.Antenna ( Fig. 28 View Figs 3–30 ): Missing. Face black, strongly silver pruinose except laterally on epistomal margin, mystax shiny white occupying ventral ⅔ of face. Frons and vertex blackish, fine silver pruinose except for area anterior of ocellar tubercle, white setose; ocellar tubercle fine white setose. Occiput black, uniformly fine silver-grey pruinose, dorsal setae pale yellow ventral setae red-brown. Palpus dark red-brown, white setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, white setose.

Thorax: Blackish with orange areas on posterolateral parts of mesonotum, fine silver pruinose (weak on orange parts), white setose. Prothorax entirely black and apruinose, white setose. Mesonotum dark red-brown to black anterior of transverse suture, posterior of suture black area tapers to point just short of hind margin, postalar lobes and surrounding area orange, fine silver pruinose (weak on orange sections), fine moderately long white setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (pale yellow when present): dc weak, confined to parts posterior to transverse suture, c. 3 npl, 1 spal, 2 pal. Scutellum dark red-brown except for small anteromedial orange area, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely pale yellow setose, hind margin with 3 pale yellow weakly developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely blackish, entirely silver-grey pruinose, setae setose (confined to anepst, kepst and ktg). Anatg black, silver pruinose laterally, mes pnot red-brown, weakly pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, strongly silver pruinose, white setose; tro red-brown; fem dark red-brown with narrowly orange distal tips, tib orange except for dark red-brown distal ends, tar uniformly dark red-brown; legs entirely fine white setose, more major setae pale yellowish, claws dark red-brown with orange proximal parts. Wings ( Fig. 58 View Figs 51–60 ): 8.1× 3.2 mm. Veins yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), distal cells brown (from about first fork of Rs), proximal cells yellowish and semi-transparent. Haltere yellow with pale brown stalk.

Abdomen: Predominantly dark red-brown to blackish with orange patches, silver pruinose, whitish. T1 entirely dark red-brown, fairly strongly silver pruinose; T2 dark red-brown with extensive orange areas posterolaterally (almost meet medially), weakly silver pruinose; T3 similar to T2 but orange areas not as extensive; T4 entirely dark red-brown, weakly silver pruinose; T5 similar to T3; T6 and terminalia removed for study of genitalia. Sternites similar to tergites but orange along posterior margins of all sternites.

Genitalia ( Figs 138–140 View Figs 129–146 ): Epand bifid, forming pair of relatively long, slender, straight lobes, extending posteriorly beyond level achieved by other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, lie parallel with each and are hardly if at all inwardly curved distally. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly to narrowly rounded distal end; dorsal finger-like process completely absent; inner lobe well developed, distal end sclerotised, medially directed. Gonst laterally compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly. Hypd moderately developed, wider than long, tapering fairly rapidly to pair of relatively poorly sclerotised, somewhat membranous, slightly diverging, setose protuberances (setae shiny and readily seen in dry material, and at least partly obscure underlying structures). Aed largely hidden in undissected genitalia.

Variation: The holotype lacks antennae; another specimen was measured and demonstrated the following segmental ratios 1:0.4:4.7:0.2 (the species having a small, but clearly differentiated stylus ‘segment’). This species shows little variation. Males have dark red-brown to black antennae while females have extensively orange antennae. The legs of males are mostly dark red-brown but some individuals have the distal parts of femora and tibiae orange. Females usually have entirely orange legs (except for the terminal tarsomere which is always dark red-brown), but a few individuals have red-brown coloration proximally on the femora. The extent of orange coloration of the mesonotum varies somewhat.

Holotype (examined): ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Holo- / type [circular, red edged]’, Xiphocerus / variegatus / J. Bigot / 379 in / coll. / Bigot.’, ‘Coll. Bigot / abt.1845-93. / Pres-1914 by / J.E. Collin.’, ‘379 X. Variegatus ♂ / = op. L-. [?] Hermann 1913 / C.B.Sp. [Cape of Good Hope] J. Bigot. [large drawer label]’, ‘Type Dip: 306 / Xyphocerus / variegatus / Bigot / Hope Dept. Oxford’ (OXUM).

Other material examined: LESOTHO: 1♀ ‘ Mamathes [29°08'S: 27°51'E] / Basutoland / 8-1-1950 / A Jacot- / Guillarmod’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ ‘ Mamathes / Basutoland / 4.ii.1951 / C. Jacot- / Guillarmod’ ( AMGS) ; 1♂ ‘ Mamathes / Basutoland / 28.ii.1959 / C. Jacot- / Guillarmod’ ( AMGS) ; 1♀ ‘ Mamathes / Basutoland / 26.ii.1949 / C. Jacot- / Guillarmod’ ( AMGS) . NAMIBIA: 1♂ ‘SWA / Outjo / Ibc [?] / 1916DA / 12.iii.79 / VB Whitehead’ ( SAMC) ; 1♀ ‘ S.W. Africa: / Witvlei / 1.iii.1970 / E.S. Ross ( CASC) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Phiri Camp area / 25°46’43”S: 22°55’53”E / 990m 14.iii.2003 J Londt / Acacia Erogrostis savanna’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ 3♀ ‘S Africa: NW Province / Vorstershoop (outskirts) / 25°50’08”S: 23°01’28”E / 990m 15.iii.2003 J Londt / Erogrostis Schmidtia verge’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♀ ‘ S Africa: NW Province / Molopo Game Reserve / Motapi Camp area / 25°50’55”S: 22°55’45”E / 1020m 14.iii.2003 J Londt / Dry Acacia savanna’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ ‘ Sth Africa Cape Prov / 15km SE. Van Zylsrus / 2622CC 22.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacias / Grass / Shrubs’ ( NMSA) ; 5♂ 7♀ ‘ Sth Africa Cape Prov / ca 5km W Hotazel / 2722BB 23.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Acacias / Grass / Shrubs’ ( NMSA) ; 2♀ ‘ S Africa: N Cape #14 / 20km N of Hotazel / 27 07’S 22 59’E 1050m / Date: 14.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / Kuruman River banks’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ ‘ Africa: Belmont. [? South Africa, 27°28'S: 28°44'E] / L. Ogilvie. / 23.ii.1934 / B.M. 1934–157.’ ( BMNH) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ 1♀ ‘ Sth Africa Cape Prov / 30km E. Groblershoop / 2822CD 19.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Roadside vegetation’ ( NMSA) ; 2♂ ‘ S Africa: N Cape #20 / 26km E of Upington / 28 23’S 21 29’E 950m / Date: 16.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / permanent dunes’ ( NMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ ‘ South Africa, Cape / 16mi. E of Cradock / Farm “Who can tell” / March 11, 1972, 1000m. / ME & BJ Irwin, 3225 Bb’ ( NMSA) .

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from Southern Africa ( Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa) ( Table 1), where it is fairly widely distributed ( Fig. 151 View Fig ). Specimens have been collected from January–March (Table 2). The biology is largely unknown, locality data and personal experience suggest that the species inhabits both Grassland and Savanna biomes.

Similar species: A member of the reynaudii species-group with some similarities to dilobion .

NMSA

KwaZulu-Natal Museum

AMGS

Albany Museum

SAMC

Iziko Museums of Cape Town

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Asilidae

Genus

Ancylorhynchus

Loc

Ancylorhynchus variabilis

Londt, Jason G. H. 2011
2011
Loc

Ancylorrhynchus variegatus: Kertész 1909: 103

KERTESZ, C. 1909: 103
1909
Loc

Xyphocerus variegatus

BIGOT, J. M. F. 1879: 429
1879
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