Saropogon zinidi, Londt, 1997

Londt, Jason G. H., 1997, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 29. A review of the genus Saropogon Loew, 1847 (Dasypogoninae), ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 38, pp. 137-157 : 153-155

Saropogon zinidi sp. n.

Figs 28-32

Etymology: Named for Dr I. M. I. Abu-Zinid, whose collecting activities in Kenya aided in the discovery of this species.

Description: Based on holotype d.

Head ( Figs 28-29 ): Entirely dark red-brown to black, strongly silver pruinose except for a transverse band across vertex, including most of ocellarium, which is shiny apruinose. Setae of frons, vertex and occiput black and white. Antenna black; setae dark red-brown to black; proportional lengths of segments - 1: 0.7: 2.5: 0.3; microsegment with pit-enclosed seta present. Width of eye: width of face ratio 1: 1 (i.e. face as wide as eye). Mystax yellow-white; composed of ca. 30 setae arranged in 2 rows along lower facial margin. Palpus dark brown to black. Proboscis dark redbrown to black, slightly downcurved distally.

Thorax: Mesonotum dark red-brown to black, postalar lobes slightly paler; strongly silver pruinose. Macrosetae black and yellow: 2 npl (black and yellow); 2 yellow spal; 2 yellow pal; ca. 3 pairs black dc postsuturally; pronotal lobes equipped with 2 macrosetae (black and yellow). Scutellum dark red-brown to black, 2 black marginal macrosetae; disc asetose, silver pruinose. Pleura dark red-brown to black, gold-silver pruinose; katatergite with ca. 15 scattered yellow-white setae. Wing: 9.2 x 3.2 mm; cell m3 closed and stalked, cup closed on or just before wing margin; membrane yellow stained along anterior margin and main veins, otherwise transparent; microtrichia confined to margins of major veins, wing margins and tip (wings have a brownish striped appearance). Halter: Dark-brown. Legs: Femora and tibiae orange (tibiae with dark red-brown distal ends), tarsi dark red-brown to black; most macrosetae black, but a few yellow.

Abdomen: TI-3 dark red-brown to black, T4 patchy red-brown and orange, T5 and beyond orange; macrosetae pale yellow, confined to lateral parts of T 1; most small setae black except on terminalia where many are yellow. Genitalia ( Figs 30-32 ): rotated ca. 90°; proctiger well developed and downwardly directed distally; hypandrium tapering to a rounded point distally and with a poorly-developed membranous, distal lobe ( Fig. 32 ); phallus moderately developed with wing-like projections laterally ( Fig. 30 ).

Variation: Topotypic paratypes remarkably consistent with holotype, other material demonstrating minor differences. Tanzanian d abdomen appears to be entirely dark red-brown, but it is extensively covered with fungal hyphae.

Material examined: KENYA: 1 d hoiotype, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ paratypes, ' Kenya #59 / Nguruma, Kajiado dist / 01 °50'S: 36°56'E 700m / iv. 1990, Rift valley / Coli: I.M.1. Abu-Zinid / Alluvial plains' ( NMSA) ; 1 ♀ paratype, ' Brit. E. Africa, / Masai Reserve [? Masai Mara Game Reserve - 1 °25 'S: 34°55 'E] / 14.4. 1914 / T. J. Anderson.'; ' Imp Inst / Entom'; ' S W Bromley / Collection / 1955' ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ paratype, ' Kenya: Archers's Post [0039'N:3r41 'E] / Vaso Nyiro river. / 2300' 6.xii.1969 / M. E. Irwin & / E. S. Ross' ( CASC) . TANZANIA: 1 ♂ paratype, Tanzania / 15 miles S. of / Longido [2°44'S: 36°39'E] 30.iv.66 / 0 & A Greathead' ( BMNH) .

UNKNOWN COUNTRY: 2 ♀ I? paratypes, ' Olgasalic [?] / May , 1944 / Meneghetti' ( NMKE).

Relationships: A distinctive species. The male genitalia have some features in common with greatheadi (e.g. the wing-like flanges of the phallus).

Saropogon sp.

I have studied a single unidentifiable female, in perfect condition, collected by Robert Lavigne, labelled 'Somalia / Warable [2°55'N: 43 °49'E] / vi-7-87 / unknown / 102', housed at NMSA. This specimen appears to belong to an undescribed species near zinidi . The obvious differences are that the mystax is entirely black, as are most of the other head setae, and the abdomen is entirely black except for the terminalia which are yellow-brown. The thorax is also blackish with black setae. The mesonotum is strongly gold pruinose except for silver pruinose lateral parts. Most of the head is blackish although the ground colour of the face, which is masked by golden pruinescence, may be brownish. I am unwilling to describe the species on a single female and so merely note its interesting appearance and locality.

Figures

Figs 28-32. Saropogon zinidi sp. n. paratype d (Nguruma). 28-29. Head. 28. Lateral. 29. Anterior. 30--32. d genitalia. 30. Lateral. 31. Dorsal. 32. Ventral. Scale lines equal I mm.