Oligopogon rossi, Londt, 2014

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 : 305

Oligopogon rossi sp. n.

Figs 2E, 5

Etymology: Named for Dr E.S. Ross who has collected many interesting and valuable Asilidae on his various African expeditions.

Description:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, red-gold and silver pruinose, extensively black setose. Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.0:3.2:3.3 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape and pedicel of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel circular in cross-section, tapering distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face and vertex silver pruinose, frons dull red-gold pruinose, mystax black, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput silver pruinose except for two large subtriangular apruinose areas between dorsal eye margin and cervical region (see Fig. 2E), black setose dorsally, white setose ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:4.0 (face much narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, brown and pale yellow-white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, brown, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, extensively red-gold and silver pruinose, black and pale yellow setose. Mesonotum: Extensively pruinose except for postpronotal lobes, a pair of large lateral spots posterior to transverse suture and postalar lobes. 2 black npl (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae longish, mostly dark red-brown (few whitish). Scutellum dark red-brown, entirely silver pruinose, fine dark red-brown setose (ca. 4 thin apical macrosetae). Pleura fairly uniformly silver pruinose. Katatergal setae white. Legs: Coxae dark red-brown, silver pruinose, whitish setose. Trochanters dark red-brown, white setose. Femora dark red-brown, mixed dark red-brown and white setose. Tibiae and tarsi brown-yellow, dark red-brown setose. Wings: 5.1 × 1.8 mm (holotype). Membrane entirely microtrichose, appearing pale yellow ( Fig. 5).

Abdomen: Terga dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for narrow silver pruinose lateral margins, white setose. Sterna dark red-brown, extensively apruinose except for large silver pruinose anteromedial areas. ♂ and ♀ terminalia dark red-brown.

Holotype: ZAMBIA: 1♂ ‘ N. Rhodesia: / Chambezi [river ca. 11°28'S 30°21'E] Pon- / toon, 25 mi. S. / of Kasama / ii-11-58, 1220m’, ‘ E.S. Ross & / R.E. Leech / collectors’ ( CASC).

Paratypes: ZAMBIA: 3♂ 7♀ 3? Data as for holotype ( CASC, NMSA 1♂ 1♀) .

Note: Some identified by Oldroyd as penicillatus , others as superciliatus .

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from the type locality in Zambia. The species has only been collected in February. The preferred habitat is not recorded.