Afroholopogon pardosoros, Londt, 2005

Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 46 (1937), pp. 203-252 : 221-222

Afroholopogon pardosoros sp. n.

Figs 42–44 , 78

Etymology: Gr. pardos (leopard) and oros (mountain). Refers to the type locality of Tierberg (Dutch – Leopard Mountain).

Description: Based on holotype.

Head: Antenna: Dark red-brown (style slightly paler), silver pruinose, strongly white setose; segmental formula 1.0:1.1:1.8:0.2:1.8 (i.e. relatively short postpedicel). Face black, entirely strong silver pruinose, mystax with short, strong white setae extending to antennal sockets. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:5.2. Frons and vertex black, colour masked by strong silver pruinescence, white setose. Occiput black, silver pruinose except for two apruinose areas either side of vertex that extend onto occiput, white setose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown, white setose.

Thorax: Mesonotum black, shiny apruinose except for silver convoluted lateral and posterior margins and narrow median stripe. Setation: ac – long white postsuture; dc – long white postsuture; npl – 3 strong yellow; sa – 1 long yellow; pa – 2 long yellowwhite. Scutellum black, largely shiny apruinose but with silver pruinose anterior margin and broad median band, disc asetose, margin with approx. 30 well developed white setae. Pleura black, gold-silver pruinose except for apruinose spots on anepisternum, katepisternum and meron, long white setose. Wing 4.6 x 1.9 mm, veins dark red-brown and brown-orange, membrane transparent, microtrichia mostly absent, basal angle of r 4 27°. Halter pale brown with pale yellow knob. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; trochanters dark red-brown; fem dark red-brown with orange-brown tips, white setose (some strong setae); tib brown-orange, white setose; tar dark redbrown, white and black setose.

Abdomen: Terga black, gold-silver pruinose except for some bare areas anterolaterally and posteromedially on tergites, white setose. Sterna similar to terga but without apruinose areas. Genitalia: ơ holotype illustrated ( Figs 42–44 ): Hypopygium unrotated; epand (in dorsal view) poorly developed, not incised to form lobes (posterior margin gently concave), proc well-developed and projecting well beyond level attained by either goncx or hypd; goncx externally distally weakly bilobed and projecting (in lateral view) beyond level attained by epand. Aedeagus (in lateral view) elongate projecting beyond level attained by hypd; hypd (in lateral view) robust, elongate, gradually tapering distally to moderately pointed medial process.

Variation: The holotype male is then only known specimen.

Type specimens: SOUTH AFRICA: ơ holotype, ‘ South Africa: N Cape / Tierberg Nature Reserve / 28°43.012'S 020°59.805'E / 830 m J Londt & T Dikow / 5.ii.2004 Rocky, sparsely / vegetated exposed hillside’ .

Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 78 ), collected only during February. Biology unknown. This species and mauros occur sympatrically.

Similar species: A. dasys and uranopia (see discussion).

Figures

Figs 33–44. Afroholopogon species, male genitalia: (33–35) A. mauros sp. n., paratype, Ellisras: (33) lateral, (34) dorsal, (35) ventral; (36–38) A. meilloni (Oldroyd, 1974), holotype, Eshowe: (36) lateral, (37) dorsal, (38) ventral; (39–41) A. melas sp. n., paratype, Franschhoek Pass: (39) lateral, (40) dorsal, (41) ventral; (42–44) A. pardosoros sp. n., holotype, Tierberg Nature Reserve: (42) lateral, (43) dorsal, (44) ventral. Arrow indicates a dent in epandrial lobe. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 78. Southern African distribution of Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 species:aspros – closed circle, capensis – open circle, pardosoros – closed square, tanystylos – open square, uranopia – closed triangle, xeros – open triangle.