Oligopogon superciliatus Oldroyd, 1970

Londt, Jason G. H., 2014, A revision of Afrotropical Oligopogon Loew, 1847 (Diptera: Asilidae) with the description of eighteen new species, African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 269-269 : 306-308

Oligopogon superciliatus Oldroyd, 1970

Figs 2A, 35

Oligopogon superciliatus Oldroyd, 1970: 295 (key), 297; 1980: 371 (catalogue).

Redescription (based primarily on paratype as holotype is damaged – head and abdomen stored in glycerine capsule. Antennae broken off beyond pedicels, both wings missing. Remaining fragments agree with paratype):

Head: Dark red-brown to black, gold-silver pruinose, extensively black setose.Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.2: 2.5:3.7 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel short, circular in cross-section, tapering distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with many long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex gold-silver pruinose, mystax black, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput uniformly dull silver pruinose (See Fig. 2A), black setose dorsally, white ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:3.8 (face narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively red-gold and silver pruinose, black and pale yellow setose. Mesonotum: extensively pruinose except for following apruinose areas: small posterior area of postpronotal lobe, small circular lateral spot anterior to transverse suture, large suboval lateral area postsuture, much of postalar lobe. 2 black npl, 1 black spal (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae mixed dark red-brown and pale yellow. Scutellum dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for pair silver pruinose areas anteriorly. Pleura fairly uniformly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae pale yellow-white. Legs: Coxae dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters dark red-brown, white setose. Femora dark red-brown with yellow-brown distal and proximal ends, mixed dark red-brown and pale yellow-white setose. Tibiae yellow-brown, slightly darker distally, mixed dark red-brown and yellow setose. Tarsi yellow-brown, dark red-brown to black setose. Wings: 5.1 × 1.8 mm (paratype). Veins brown-yellow. Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen: Terga dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for silver pruinose anterolateral margins, white setose. Sterna dark red-brown, silver-gold pruinose except for large lateral and posterior areas, white setose. ♀ terminalia dark red-brown (♂ unknown).

Holotype: DR CONGO: 1♀ ‘Holotypus’ [orange], ‘Musée du Congo / Elisabethville [11°40'S 27°28'E] / x 1911 / Miss. Agric.’, ‘ Oligopogon / superciliatus Oldr / det. H. Oldroyd 1966 / Holotype’ (MRAC).

Paratype: 1♀ ‘Paratypus’ [orange], ‘Musée du Congo / Elisabethville / x 1911 / Miss.Agric.’, ‘ Oligopogon / superciliatus Oldr / det. H. Oldroyd 1966 / Paratype’ (MRAC).

Other material examined: MOZAMBIQUE: 1♀ Marromeu [18°17'S 35°56'E], xii.1959, Stuckenberg, Salone forest ; 1♀ 1? Lourenço Marques [= Maputo 25°57'S 32°34'E], ix–xii.1913, Junod ( BMNH #1029995 ?, #1030007 ♀) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ Kruger Nat. Park, Tshalungwa Spring , 22°33'S 31°05'E, 26.i.1984, Mansel’ ( SANC) ; 1♂ Krantzkloof Nat. Res. , 2930DD, 8.xi.1984, Londt ; 1♀ Thobeka Lodge 4 km NE Manguzi, 26°57’39”S 32°46’47E, 84 m, 10–16.xii.2010, Londt, In garden Mixed woodland ; 3♀ Itala Game Reserve , 27°28'S 31°25'E, i.1991, Miller, Malaise trap Craig Adam Dam ; 1♂ Inanda Falls [Inanda Dam 29°40'S 30°48'E], 21.xii.1954, Bevis’ ( DMSA Dip. 1333) ; 1♀ Umsinduzi R [probably near Inanda Dam ], 9.xii.1959, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1611) ; 2♀ Durban, Sydenham [29°49'S 30°59'E], 13.iii.27, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1334, USNM 00832544 ) ; 1? Durban [29°51'S 31°01'E], 1905, Muir ( BMNH #1030008 ) ; 1? Durban, Umbilo [29°54'S 30°59'E], 24.i.20, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1330) ; 2♀ Durban, Umbilo , 8.iii.1914, Bevis ( BMNH #1029990 & #1030001) ; 1♀ Durban, Umbilo , 3.xii.1936, Bevis ( USNM 00832547 ) ; 1♀ Kenneth Stainbank Nat Res, 29°55'S 30°57'E, 20.ii.1992, Barraclough, Indig.Forest margins ; 4♂ 3♀ Durban, Coedmore [29°56'S 30°56'E], 22.xi.1953, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1588, 1596–9, 1600–1) ; 1♀ Doonside [30°04'S 30°53'E], 3.i.1917, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1331) ; 1♀ Doonside , 1.i.1917, Bevis ( DMSA Dip. 1329) ; 1? Umkomaas [30°12'S 30°47'E], 1.i.1935, Bevis ( USNM 00832543 ) ; 1♂ Widenham [? Umkomaas ca. 30°12'S 30°47'E], 16.xii.1927, Bevis ( USNM 00832542 ) ; 1♀ Mtentwana , 31°05’12”S 30°11’08'E, 30.x.1990, Whittington, Coastal bush ; 1♀ Dweza Nature Reserve, 32°16'S 28°51'E, 50 m, 17–20.xi.1991, Barraclough, Indig. Forest & margins .

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Although the types are from the DR Congo, the species is known from the eastern ‘coastal’ regions of South Africa and Mozambique ( Fig. 35). It has been collected between October and March. The habitat occupied is mostly dry sandy coastal woodland.

Remarks: In appearance, this species is very similar to argolagon . There will probably be a need to re-evaluate these species once far more material is available for study.