Ancylorhynchus nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828)

Londt, Jason G. H., 2011, A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 471-471 : 507-508

publication ID

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

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B75F77-C61B-FF98-FEF7-DA39FEBCF949

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Ancylorhynchus nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828)
status

 

Ancylorhynchus nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828) View in CoL

Figs 14 View Figs 3–30 , 44 View Figs 41–50 , 99–101 View Figs 93–110

Dasypogon View in CoL Nomada: Wiedemann 1828: 397 View in CoL ; Walker 1854: 492.

Scylaticus View in CoL Nomada: Wulp 1870: 209 View in CoL ; Kertész 1909: 103 (catalogue).

Ancylorrhynchus nomada: Hull 1960: 217 .

Ancylorhynchus nomadus: Oldroyd 1980: 360 View in CoL (catalogue).

Wiedemann’s holotype appears to be lost. Despite an extensive search it could not be traced. In his description Wiedemann (1828) states ‘Im Lendener Museum’, however the meaning of this is not known to me. The specimen is not in Leiden nor is it in London, although Walker (1854) lists a female in British Museum. Although Wiedemann (1828) states ‘ ♀. Vatterland?’, Oldroyd (1980), in cataloguing the species, gives locality information as ‘[No locality]; Nigeria’ indicating that he had seen material from Nigeria. There are two specimens from Nigeria in the BMNH (which probably provided the information used in the catalogue), and there is also a specimen in ZSMC identified as nomadus View in CoL by Engel. I have decided that the species represented by these three specimens is therefore a reasonable candidate to bear Wiedemann’s name, and so here redescribe the species on the basis of this material. Should the holotype not be found the single male listed below is the most appropriate neotype. It should also be noted that during this study I found two other West African species that also agree well with the description provided by Wiedemann. These species are described as new species under the names similis and simpsoni .

Redescription:

Male (based on Zungeru ♂. Condition: Good; left antenna broken off beyond pedicel; terminal 2 tarsomeres of right prothoracic leg missing; left prothoracic tarsus broken off and glued to supporting card).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white and dark red-brown setose. Antenna ( Fig. 14 View Figs 3–30 ): Scape dark red-brown white setose, pedicel orange-brown white setose, postpedicel orange-brown tipped with obliquely positioned pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element (terminal stylus ‘segment’ absent). Segmental ratios: 1:0.3:5.6. Face dark red-brown to black, strongly silver pruinose except laterally on epistomal margin and small medial spot adjacent to antennal sockets, mystax shiny white occupying ventral ⅓ of face. Frons and vertex dark red-brown to black, fine silver-grey pruinose (weak anterior of occelar tubercle), white setose; ocellar tubercle fine white setose (no macrosetae). Occiput black, uniformly silver pruinose, white setose. Palpus orange-brown, red-brown setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis brown-orange, white setose.

Thorax: Uniformly dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white and blackish setose. Prothorax entirely black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, fine moderately long white setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (blackish or white when present): few dc confined to posterior region, 3 black npl, 1 black spal, 2–3 white pal. Scutellum entirely blackish, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely white setose, hind margin with c. 8 long white macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely blackish, entirely silver pruinose, setae white confined to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot dark red-brown to black. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; tro dark red-brown (tro 2 with row of short white setae ventrally); fem, tib and tar uniformly dark red-brown, entirely white setose, claws dark red-brown with brown-orange proximal parts. Wings ( Fig. 44 View Figs 41–50 ): 7.1× 2.7 mm. Veins dark red-brown. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), extensively brown due to dark microtrichia and some staining, proximal parts semi-transparent. Haltere orange-brown with pale yellow knob.

Abdomen: Predominantly brown-orange with blackish areas, silver pruinose, entirely white setose. T1 uniform dark red-brown, strongly pruinose; T2 dark red-brown with orange-brown parts posterolaterally, strongly silver pruinose except for black spot mediolaterally; T3–5 brown-orange, somewhat red-brown dorsomedially, weakly pruinose; terminalia dark red-brown (excised). Sternites similar to tergites but orange areas more extensive.

Genitalia ( Figs 99–101 View Figs 93–110 ): Epand bifid, forming pair of relatively long, slender lobes. Lobes closely abut proximally, each being fairly straight and lying parallel to each other. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc closely associated and may be partly fused together proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly beyond level reached by epand; dorsal finger-like process long, distally pointed, jutting out well beyond level reached by epand; inner lobe well developed, distal end sclerotised, medially directed. Gonst hardly compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly. Hypd moderately developed, suboval in shape, posterior margin projecting posteriorly as a slightly medially indented ridge. Aed broadly triangular in ventral view, with tiny bifid distal tip.

Female. Similar to male.

Material examined: NIGERIA: 1♂ ‘Zungeru [09°49'N: 06°09'E] / N. Nigeria. / Dr. J.W. Scott Macfie. / 2 iii.1911 ’, ‘Sammlung / F. Hermann’, ‘ Ancylorrh. / nomada / Wd’, ‘ nomada Wied. ’, ‘ Ancylorrhynchus / nomada Wied. / det. E. O. Engel ♂ ’ (ZSMC); 1♀ ‘Nigeria: Falala: [? Falali, 11°28'N: 09°02'E] / 16.vii.1957: / P. Blasdale collection’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘N. Nigeria. / nr.Ajassepo [Ajasse Ipo, 08°14'N: 09°49'E] / 27.iv.1912 / Dr. J.W. Scott Macfie.’ (BMNH).

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from three West African (Nigerian) records ( Table 1). Adults have been collected in March, April and July (Table 2). The biology is unknown, but localities suggest that this is a savanna species.

Remarks: Van Der Wulp (1870: 209) had the following to say ‘ Dasypogon Nomada en Histrio zijn beiden nog door typische exemplaren in het museum vertegenwoordigd en behooren, wegens de lange dunne sprieten en de overige kenteekens, tot het geslacht Scylaticus L̂w.’ Long, slender antennae are hardly grounds for transferring nomada to Scylaticus , however, Wulp (1870) was correct in removing the species from Dasypogon into a genus that is certainly similar to Ancylorhynchus . Kertész (1909) listed Nomada under Scylaticus Loew (citing Walker 1854 and Schiner 1866) and in response to the comment made by Wulp (1870). It is also of interest that Indian specimens in BMNH from Bahir (Banhar Province) look very like the dark species in West Africa ( nomadus , similis , simpsoni ) which suggests that Wiedemann’s nomadus may not even be an Afrotropical species!

Similar species: A member of the nomadus species-group with close similarities to simpsoni .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Asilidae

Genus

Ancylorhynchus

Loc

Ancylorhynchus nomadus (Wiedemann, 1828)

Londt, Jason G. H. 2011
2011
Loc

Scylaticus

KERTESZ, C. 1909: 103
WULP, F. M. & VAN DER 1870: 209
1870
Loc

Dasypogon

WALKER, F. 1854: 492
1854
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