Enica adelphe, Rollinson & Cabrero, 2025

Rollinson, Lisa & Cabrero, Allan, 2025, Species discovery in Southern African bee flies (Diptera, Bombyliidae): A new species in the revised genus Enica Macquart, 1834, African Invertebrates 66 (1), pp. 73-115 : 73-115

Enica adelphe sp. nov.

Fig. 3

Diagnosis.

The species is distinguished from other species in the genus by the absence of scales on the occiput, two dark elongated spots on the occiput extending from the dorsal to the lateral margin, red cuticle on the abdomen past tergite 4, and the dark brown scales on the metathoracic femur.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of author L. Rollinson’s sister, Jessica Rollinson. The specific epithet is Greek for sister.

Description.

Head: wider than high, creamy white; males holoptic, females dichoptic, vertex and compound eyes at same level; frons (at level of antennal insertion) more or less parallel-sided, female: light brown to reddish-orange, darker than head, with dark brown to black upside down “ V ” spot not touching eyes, males: similar to head, slightly darker than head; frons black setose, with white scales, males no setation near eyes, females setose near eyes only dorsally; ocellar tubercle slightly raised, dark reddish brown to black, black macrosetose, white or light brown scales posteriorly; occiput whitish – yellow setose, without scales, dorsal eye margin with dark brown to black spots present, not touching eye margin, extending more than three times as long as wide; gena significantly darkened to reddish brown or black, extremely sparsely setose.

Proboscis and maxillary palpus: proboscis straight, black; labella only forming distal tip of proboscis, apically rounded, minute black setose; maxillary palpus not extending beyond oral cavity, black, brown setose.

Antenna: black; scape creamy white, approximately as long as pedicel, white and black setose laterally and dorsally, setae extending to tip of pedicel; pedicel dark brown, short black setose dorsally; postpedicel black, tapering distally, longer than scape and pedicel combined, black scales dorsally; stylus reduced, only apical ‘ seta-like’ sensory element present, situated sub – apically in cavity on postpedicel.

Thorax: reddish brown and light orangish brown; scutum predominantly black, reddish on margins, grey to brown scales centrally and white scales peripherally; setation: acr setae present, black, dc setae present, black; prosternum silvery grey pubescence; proepisternum silvery grey pubescence, long yellowish-white setose, white scales; antepronotum silvery grey pubescence, light yellow scales anteriorly; postpronotum silvery grey pubescence, asetose, with medial dark brown to black stripe; postpronotal lobe silvery grey pubescence, white scales, white and black setose; pleuron silvery grey pubescence; proepimeron silvery grey pubescence, asetose; anepisternum silvery grey pubescence, white scales ventrally, black macrosetose dorsally; anepimeron silvery grey pubescence, asetose; katepisternum silvery grey pubescence, white scales dorsally; laterotergite silvery grey pubescence, asetose; meron + metepisternum silvery grey pubescence, asetose or white scales dorsally; metepimeron silvery grey pubescence, asetose; scutellum red, anterior black spot or red, medial black stripe, apubescent, ds sctl setae black macrosetose, ap sctl setae comprised of yellowish-white scales.

Leg: dark brown, covered in scales, some regular setae present; pro coxa dark reddish brown, silvery grey pubescence, white scales, thin white setose, thick black setose; pro femur dark brown, dark brown scales, black setose; pro tibia light brown, raised short and fine dark brown setose ventrally, large black setose dorsally; mes coxa dark reddish brown, white pubescence, white scales, thick black setose; mes femur dark brown, dark brown scales, black setose; mes tibia light brown, dark brown scales, long black setose, distal tip with long black setae; met coxa dark reddish brown, white pubescent, white scales, thin white setose, thick black setose, anteriorly without any protuberance; met trochanter short black setose ventrally, white scales dorsally, without protuberance; met femur dark brown, dark brown scales, long and thick black setose; met tibia light brown, dark brown scales, large black setose, distal tip with long black macrosetae of varying sizes; proximal pro, mes, and met tarsomeres longer than following 2 tarsomeres combined, proximal met tarsomere as wide as following tarsomeres; pro tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; mes tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; met tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; claw smoothly arched distally.

Wing: 8.2–9.8 mm, microtrichia absent; membrane color pattern males: minimal spots of infuscation in r 2 + 3, br, and bm, females: darkly infuscated except for white tinted base of wing, r-r, r-m, base of r 2 + 3, base of m 2, m-cu, split between M 1 + 2 and M 3; costal vein dark brown short setose, whitish clear setose proximally; R 2 + 3 distally distinctly arching anteriorly, r 1 open; R 4 terminating anterior to wing apex, distinctly arching anteriorly; cell r 4 open, proximally R 4 and R 5 parallel, R 4 strongly diverging anteriorly in distal 2 / 3; R 5 terminating posterior to wing apex; r 5 open; M 1 terminating posterior to wing apex; cell d closed by base of M 2 and m-m, r-m situated in distal ¼; m 3 open; cua open; alula greatly reduced, nearly straight wing margin; haltere stem dark brown setose.

Abdomen: shape ovate, predominantly black anteriorly and red posteriorly; tergites smooth, setae with small sockets only; T 1 predominantly black, no red or a very thin line of red posteriorly, snow – white setose, with scales; T 2–7 predominantly dark reddish brown, dark brown setose, white scales, white scales in lines on posterior margins of T 2 and T 4; S 1–8 predominantly light reddish-orange, yellow to white scales, thin black setose and long white setose; lateral margin black setae remaining close to abdomen, male T 8 brown scales, black setose.

Terminalia: gonocoxites longer than wide, broader at base, gradually narrowing, fused almost completely with phallus, with short, fine hairs apically; gonostylus with sharp projection; phallus inflated and helmet-like at base, apically separating from gonocoxite, continuing straight apically; lateral aedegal apodeme round with medial concavity; ejaculatory apodeme long, rounded in lateral view, extending significantly past anterior margin of the gonocoxites, ending at start of lateral strut. (Fig. 4 B, D )

Type Locality.

South Africa: Northern Cape: Richtersveld, Grootderm 42 km NE (28°22'30"S, 016°55'00"E).

Material examined.

Holotype. South Africa – Northern Cape • 1 ♂ Richtersveld, Grootderm 42 km NE; 28°22'30"S, 016°55'00"E; 200 m a. s. l.; 03 Sep. 1989; Londt, Jason, Stuckenberg, Brian leg.; eroded sandy valley with flowers; NMSA -DIP-89520 , NMSA

Paratypes. South Africa – Northern Cape • 1 ♀ Richtersveld Numees (= Numees abandoned mine); 28°16'59"S, 016°58'00"E; 09 Sep. 1986; Struck, M. leg.; SAM-DIP-A 004969 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Richtersveld, Grootderm 50 km NE; 28°19'00"S, 016°55'00"E; 350 m a. s. l.; 03 Sep. 1989; Londt, Jason, Stuckenberg, Brian leg.; sandy valley below a rocky hillside; NMSA -DIP-89519 , NMSA

Distribution, Biodiversity hotspots, phenology, and biology.

Known from only two localities in the Northern Cape in South Africa (Fig. 5 ). Although it is only known from South Africa, it is likely that this species extends northward into Namibia. It is only known from 3 specimens, between 2 collecting events in 1986 and 1989. This species is known to occur in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot. Adult flies have only been collected in September (Table 2 ). Adult flies are presumed pollinators, as other species in the genus have been observed visiting flowers (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64518819). Larvae are unknown but presumed parasitoids as other Bombyliidae , hosts are unknown ( Yeates and Greathead 1997).

Figures

Figure 3. Enica adelphe sp. nov. NMSA - DIP- 89520 ♂, holotype (A – C) A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C habitus, frontal view; Enica adelphe sp. nov SAM-DIP-A 004969, ♀ (D – F) D habitus, frontal view E habitus, dorsal view F habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.

Figure 4. Lateral and ventral view of Enica male terminalia. Terminalia of Enica imitata NMSA - DIP- 90025 (A, C); Terminalia of Enica adelphe sp. nov. NMSA - DIP- 89520 (B, D). Abbreviations: b ph = base of phallus; ej apod = ejaculatory apodeme; goncx = gonocoxite; gonst = gonostylus; lat aed apod = lateral aedeagal apodeme; ph = phallus. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Map of southern Africa with elevational relief and biodiversity hotspots (sensu Conservation International in grey) and distribution of E. imitata and E. adelphe sp. nov. specimens studied.