Oligopogon waltonae, 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 : 310-311

Oligopogon waltonae sp. n.

Fig. 2E

Etymology: Named for Miss A. Walton who collected many interesting insects on the farm Resolution in the Albany district of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Description:

Head: Dark red-brown to black, fine gold-silver pruinose, extensively black setose. Antenna: Dark red-brown. Segmental ratios: 1:1.5:4.3:4.5 (scape, pedicel, postpedicel, style). Scape shorter than pedicel, but of similar development, black setose. Postpedicel circular in cross-section, parallel sided, tapering distally. Style of similar diameter to distal end of postpedicel, equipped with long black setae projecting from all surfaces. Face, frons and vertex fine gold-silver pruinose, mystax black, ocellar macrosetae black. Occiput dull silver pruinose except for two elongate apruinose areas between dorsal eye margin and cervical region (see Fig. 2E), black setose except for some white setae ventrally. Face to head width ratio in anterior view 1:3.6 (face narrower than one eye). Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, white setose. Palpi minute, 2-segmented, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown, extensively gold-silver and silver pruinose, black, pale yellow and white setose. Mesonotum: Extensively gold-silver pruinose with following apruinose areas: postpronotal lobes, moderate lateral area anterior to transverse suture, large posterolateral area involving postalar lobe, pair narrow medial stripes that extend anteriorly to beyond half way between transverse suture and anterior margin, but stopping far short of posterior margin. 2 black npl (other macrosetae poorly developed), general setae mostly dark red-brown. Scutellum red-brown, largely apruinose except for narrow gold-silver anterior margin, sparse fine dark red-brown setose (apical macrosetae poorly differentiated). Pleura uniformly strong silver pruinose. Katatergal setae black. Legs: Coxae brown-orange, silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters orange, pale yellow-white setose. Femora mostly orange-brown with paler orange proximal and distal ends, mostly pale yellowish setose (few dark red-brown apically). Tibiae orange, mixed dark red-brown and pale yellow setose. Tarsi brown-orange, dark red-brown setose. Wings: 4.6 × 1.7 mm (holotype).Veins orange-brown.Membrane transparent, unstained, entirely lacking microtrichia.

Abdomen:Terga dark red-brown, largely apruinose except for silver pruinose anterolateral margins, white setose. Sterna red-brown, extensively silver-gold pruinose except posterolateral margins, white setose. Terminalia brown-orange (♂), red-brown (♀).

Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘ Resolution [33°10'S 26°37'E] / Grahamstown’ ~ ‘ Miss Walton / 1929’ ( SAMC A008892 ).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘ Resolution / Albany Distr / 3-i-1928 / A. Walton’ ; 1♂ ‘15/2/28’, ‘5818 / Fort Brown / Wiss Walton’ ( AMGS) ; 1♀ ‘8/1/28’, ‘ No. 5763 / Resolution / Ft. Brown / A. Walton’ ( AMGS) ; 1♀ ‘ Resolution / Albany Distr / 10/xii 1928 / A. Walton’ ; 1♀ ‘ Resolution / Albany Distr / 12/xii 1928 / A. Walton’ ; 1♀ ‘ Resolution / Albany Distr / 9/i 1929 / A. Walton’ ; 1♂ ‘ Resolution / Albany Distr / 10/i 1929 / A. Walton’ ; 1♀ same data as holotype ( SAMC A008892 ) ; 1♀ ‘ Resolution / Grahamstown’ ~ ‘ Miss Walton / 1930’ ( SAMC A008892 ) .

Distribution ( Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: The species is known only from the type locality – the farm Resolution, near Fort Brown and Grahamstown. It has been collected during December and January. The habitat is almost certainly scrubland dominated by grass.