Tsacasiella inornata, 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 : 58

Tsacasiella inornata sp. n. ( Figs 210–216 )

Etymology: L. inornatus – unadorned, refers to the absence of the small ventrodistal epandrial projection found in all other species of the genus.

Diagnosis: Head: Antennal scape and pedicel yellowish; postpedicel shorter than stylus. Thorax: Postpronotal lobe with long setae. Dorsocentrals present both anterior and posterior to transverse suture. Microtrichial coverage of wing moderate in distal area (proximal tip of cell r 5 bare). Prothoracic femur with long, fine, hairlike posteroventral setae. Metathoracic coxa with one lateral macroseta; trochanter brownish yellow; femur anteriorly yellow with brown-black markings and dark red-brown to black macrosetae. Abdomen: Ovipositor relatively long and narrow (length:width ratio, measured dorsally>3.3) and relatively long and shallow (length:depth ratio, measured laterally>2.8). Gonocoxite length:width ratio: 2.1– 2.5. Distal margin of S8 lacking medial process or sclerotised area. Ventromedial area of hypandrium moderately constricted (ca. half width of lateral parts). Gonostylus moderately slender (viewed ventrally). Aedeagal terminal filaments minute. Gonostylus shorter that gonocoxite (viewed ventrally). Aedeagus straight, relatively short and laterally compressed. Epandrium with poorly defined ventrodistal and dorsodistal lobes, these being rounded and almost equally developed.

Material examined: Holotype: NAMIBIA: 1ơ, ‘Namibia 21.iii.1984 / 21km SW Grootfontein / Rd 8/1 19 41'S: 17 58'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Mixed woodland on the / slopes of a hill’. Paratypes: BOTSWANA: 2ơ 2^, ‘ Botswana SE2226BD / Farmers Brigade 5km / SE of Serowe Hillside / N Slope P Forchhammer’ [basic label – plus date and other data as follows] 16-v-1984 Malaise trap 1 (1ơ), 19-iii- 1985 Malaise Trap 2 (1^), Malaise Trap 2 iii.1986 (1^), iv.1986 Malaise trap 2 (1ơ); 5ơ 4^, ‘ Botswana SE2226BD / Serowe Farmer’s / Brigade. Malaise / trap Forchhammer / iv.89 (1^), i.90 (1ơ), iii.90 (1ơ 1^), iv.90 (1ơ 1^), iv.92 (2ơ 1^); 4ơ 4^, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #66 / Farmers Brigade / 22 25'S: 26 44'E 1000m / Date: ii.91 (1ơ), iii.91 (2ơ 3^), v. 91 (1ơ 1^) / P Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’; 6ơ 2^, ‘ Botswana: Serowe #104 / Farmers Brigade / 22 25'S: 26 44'E 1000m / Date: iv. 1991 / P Forchhammer / Malaise Trap’. MALAWI: 1ơ 1^, ‘ Malawi SE1435AC / 25km N of Mangochi / 1km S Club Makokola / 11.iii.1987 J Londt / Grass & thick bush’. NAMIBIA: 2ơ 1?, ‘Namibia – Exp. ZMB 1992 / Kavango: Mahango Game / Reserve 18 ° 17'S / 21 ° 43'E / lux, 2.iii.92, leg. W. Mey’ (ZMHB); 2ơ, ‘Namibia: Mahango / Game Reserve / 1-5.iii.1994 / leg. F. Koch’ (ZMHB); 1ơ, ‘Namibia 22.iii.1984 / 20km NW Grootfontein / Rd 72 19 28'S: 17 58'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Roadside grass and / in sandy area’; 1^, ‘Namibia 21.iii.1984 / 15km NE Grootfontein / J Scribante Skietbaan / Rd 9/2 19 28'S: 18 15'E / Stuckenberg & Londt / Grassy road verges’; 1ơ 1^, same data as holotype. ZIMBABWE: 1^, ‘Victoria Falls [17 ° 55'S: 25 ° 21'E] / Rain Forest / 5.v.1954 / AJT Janse’; 1ơ, ‘Wankie [19 ° 10'S: 26 ° 30'E] S.R. / 15m South / 30.iv.1954 / AJT Janse’.

Type locality: Namibia, 21 km S.W. Grootfontein .

Comments: Although most of the types are from Botswana, the species is known from four different countries .

Figures

Figs 210–216. Tsacasiella inornata sp. n. (Club Makakola ơ & ^). 210. Antenna. 211. Wing. 212–214. ơ genitalia. 212. Lateral. 213. Dorsal. 214.Ventral. 215–216. ^ genitalia. 215. Lateral. 216. Dorsal. Scale lines = 1 mm.