Poecilosomella angulata (THOMSON, 1869)

Papp, L., 2010, Seven New Afrotropical Species Of Poecilosomella Duda (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (1), pp. 9-41 : 22-23

Poecilosomella angulata species group

The characteristics of this species group are as follows. Frons (postfrons) microtomentose (i.e. not shiny), 2 (1) pairs of fronto-orbitals. Mesonotum microtomentose, mostly dark, with silvery pattern. Genal seta comparatively short and fine, or not separable in the row of genal setae. Wing not much patterned: diffuse brown spots are around base of R 2+3, of R 4+5 and on apices of radial veins. Costal vein terminates at vein R 4+5, or produced slightly behind it. False vein from cubital vein does not close a cubital cell. At least hind tibia bicolourous, there are pale rings on the dark tibiae. In the Oriental region there are a number of species, which fit to this diagnosis, but only three (plus one) species in the Afrotropical region, incl. a new species.

In my paper on the Afrotropical Poecilosomella spp. ( PAPP 1990) I included also P. mirabilis ( VANSCHUYTBROECK, 1951) in the P. angulata group. Indeed, its surstylus is with 3 short apical lobes (anterior setose, mid lobe with apical thorn, caudal ridged, sharp in lateral view). Also the form of the postgonite and of the cercal part of the epandrial complex with a small sagittal projection show that it is really a member of this species group. However, its peculiar wing venation and the single long fronto-orbital seta places P. mirabilis more distant from the rest of the group.

Poecilosomella angulata (THOMSON, 1869) (Limosina) – I have seen specimens from the following countries (specimens mostly in the HNHM): Brazil, Columbia, Paraguay, Cuba, Dominica, Santa Lucia and Florida; the Canary Islands, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, both the Congos, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Republic of South Africa, and Madagascar. In the NMSA there are numerous specimens from the RSA, and also from Kenya.

As formerly corroborated ( PAPP 2002), all records from the Oriental and Australasian regions are based on misidentifications.

Poecilosomella maxima ( VANSCHUYTBROECK, 1950) ( Limosina (Poecilosomella) ). Type locality: Zaire, Rutshuru. HT male (MRAC, Tervuren, see PAPP 1990). Material studied: specimens in the NMSA: 1 male 2 females: Kenya, Trans Nzola #70, Mount Elgon Nat. Park, 01°05’N: 34°49’E, 2320 m, 23.xi. 1992, J Londt & A Whittington, Kitum Cave/forest path; 1 female: ibid., September 15, 1976, R. Miller; 1 female: Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Town Bush, August 1976, R. Miller; 1 female: Port St. Johns, South Africa, B. & P. Stuckenberg, 20–25. Nov. 1961. Specimens in the HNHM: 4 males 5 females (incl. 1 female paratype): as given in PAPP (1990: 146).

Distribution. Nigeria, Républic Démocratique du Congo (formerly Zaire), Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, Republic of South Africa.

Poecilosomella mirabilis VANSCHUYTBROECK, 1951 – Type: holotype female (IRSN, Brussels) from Likete ( Zaire) (see PAPP 1990). Material studied: 3 males 3 females (HNHM): as given in PAPP (1990: 146). 8 males 10 females (HNHM, 3 m 3 f in DEI): Togo: Région des Plateaux: Zogbégan, village part Zogbégan-Carriére (SE of Badou), at creek Elèbè, 7°34’50”N, 0°40’03”E, 650 m, 20– 25. 4.2008, leg. M. v. Tschirnhaus, Tg 1888 [V-shaped valley near cocoa-plantation downstream of village, remains of secondary rainforest, dense bank vegetation, dead wood, leaf litter, mud and sparsely running water near creek spring, swept, filled into eclector].

Distribution. Nigeria, Togo (new), Sudan, Uganda, Républic Démocratique du Congo ( Zaire).