Afromochtherus peri, Londt, 2002

Londt, Jason G. H., 2002, Afrotropical Asilinae (Asilidae): A provisional key to genera, with a review of the status of Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878, and descriptions of new genera and species, African Invertebrates 43, pp. 11-92 : 38-39

Afromochtherus peri sp. n. ( Figs 80–86 )

Etymology: Named after Per Forchhammer whose collecting activities in Botswana greatly advanced our knowledge of southern African Asilidae .

Diagnosis: Head:Antennal scape and pedicel yellowish; postpedicel shorter than stylus. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with short setae. Dorsocentrals posterior to transverse suture only. Microtrichial coverage of wing moderate in distal area (proximal tip of cell r 5 bare). Prothoracic femur with 2–3 shortish posteroventral macrosetae. Metathoracic coxa with two lateral macrosetae; trochanter brownish yellow; femur anteriorly yellow with brown-black markings and with dark red-brown to black macrosetae. Abdomen: Ovipositor relatively short and broad (length:width ratio, measured dorsally <3.3) and relatively short and deep (length:depth ratio, measured laterally <2.8). Gonocoxite length:width ratio 1.6–2.0. Distal margin of S8 with median sclerotised area. Ventromedial area of hypandrium greatly constricted (ca. one quarter width of lateral parts). Gonostylus distally clubbed (viewed ventrally). Aedeagal terminal filaments not obvious. Gonostylus longer than gonocoxite (viewed ventrally).Aedeagus straight, relatively short and laterally compressed. Epandrium with small dorsal process/lobe rather distally located.

Material examined: Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, ‘S Africa: N-W Province / Pilanesberg National Park / Bakubung 12–19.xi.1999 / 25 ° 20'40''S: 27 ° 03'25''E / JGH Londt 1170m Camp’. Paratypes: BOTSWANA: 12ơ 12^, ‘ Botswana SE2226BD / Serowe. Farmer’s / Brigade. Malaise / trap. Forchhammer’ [basic label – dates and trap number where indicated as follows] ix-88 trap 7 (3ơ 1^), ix-88 trap 8 (1ơ 1^), x-88 trap 8 (2ơ 1^), xi-88 trap 9 (1ơ 3^), ix-89 (3ơ 3^), x-89 (2ơ 1^), xi-89 (2^); 9ơ 5^, ‘ Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N Slope P Forchhammer’ [basic label – dates and other details as follows] 30-xi-1983 Malaise trap 1 (1^), 13-i-85 Malaise trap 1 (1ơ), xi-85 Malaise trap 1 (2ơ), ix-86 Malaise trap 3 (2ơ), xi-86 Malaise trap 2 (2ơ), ix- 87 inside house (1^), xi- 87 M. T. 6 (1ơ 1^), xii- 87 M. T. 6 (1^), 3-xi-88 (1^), ix-92 Mercury vapour lamp (1ơ); 1^, ‘Serowe / M.T. 6 / xi-87’; 1ơ, ‘Botswana / Serowe / MT 6 x-87’; 1ơ, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #56 / Farmer’s Brigade / 22 ° 25'S: 26 ° 44'E 1000m / Date: 28.xi.1990 / Coll: P. Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’; 3ơ 1^, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #63 / Farmer’s Brigade / 22 ° 25'S: 26 ° 44'E 1000m / Date: ix.1990 / P. Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’; 2ơ 3^, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #65 / Farmer’s Brigade / 22 ° 25'S: 26 ° 44'E 1000m / Date: x.1990 / P. Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Inside house / Serowe, Botswana / Forchhammer Leg. / Date: 22–9/82 (M) 5–10/82 (F) / J.No. / Day’; 1ơ 1^, ‘Day / Serowe, Botswana / Forchhammer Leg. / Date: 12-x/82 (^) 27-10/82 (ơ)’. SOUTH AFRICA: 1ơ, ‘Potgietersrus / SE 2428Bb / xii.1978 / R de Kock / Dept. of Entomology / University of Pretoria’; 1ơ, same data as holotype; 1^, ‘Pretoria [25 ° 45'S: 28 ° 10'E] / Tvl / J.T. 10.1931’; 2ơ 4^, ‘Sth Africa Transvaal / Halfway House [25 ° 59'S: 28 ° 07E] / By River / R Elferink 22.xii.1981 ’; 1ơ, ‘South Africa Transvaal / Kruger Park 9-xii-1972 / Olifants River nr Balule / riparian woodland 2431Bb / B & P Stuckenberg’; 1ơ, ‘Suid-Africa / Potch [Potchefstroom – 26 ° 43'S: 27 ° 05'E] / 24-12-1942 / H.P.V. Heerden’. ZIMBABWE: 1ơ, ‘ Bulawayo [20 ° 09'S: 28 ° 35'E] / S. Rhodesia / 4.xi.1923 / Coll. R. Stevenson’ (SAMC); 1^, ‘Plukridge [?] / S. Rhodesia / Oct–Nov 1927, Stevenson’ (SAMC).

Other material examined (no type status): BOTSWANA: 8ơ 4^, Serowe, Farmer’s Brigade (22 ° 25'S: 26 ° 44'E), ix (3ơ 2^) x (4ơ 2^) xi.1989 (1ơ), P. Forchhammer, Mercury V.L. ( NHRS); 18ơ 6^, Gabarone Village [= Gaberones Village 24 ° 38'S: 25 ° 54'E], 9–18.xi (7ơ 1^) 18-25.xi (6ơ 4^) 25.xi–6.xii.1993 (5ơ 1^), Bert Viklund, Museum garden Malaise trap ( NHRS) .

Type locality: South Africa, North-West Province , Pilanesberg National Park, Bakubung Camp .

Comments:The species is similar to malawi and sathus , but can be readily distinguished using male genital characteristics. The species’ distribution appears to be centred on an area in the northern part of South Africa that includes eastern Botswana and southern Zimbabwe ( Fig. 249 ).

Figures

Figs 80–86. Afromochtherus peri sp. n. (Serowe ơ & ^). 80. Antenna. 81. Wing. 82–84. ơ genitalia. 82. Lateral. 83. Dorsal. 84. Ventral. 85–86. ^ genitalia. 85. Lateral. 86. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 249. Distribution of Afromochtherus species in southern Africa. A. kolodrilus (circles), A. megastylus (triangles), A. melanurus (squares), A. peri (crosses), A. zoropegus (pentagons).