Acnephalomyia eremia, Londt, 2010

Londt, Jason G. H., 2010, A review of Afrotropical Acnephalum Macquart, 1838, including the reinstatement of Sporadothrix Hermann, 1907 and descriptions of two new genera (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 431-431 : 451-452

Acnephalomyia eremia sp. n.

Figs 38–40 , 66

Etymology: From Greek eremia (desert, wilderness); noun in apposition. Refers to the arid conditions under which the species has been found.

Description (Condition of holotype fair; antennae broken off beyond pedicels; right prothoracic and left meso- and metathoracic legs missing.):

Head: Dark red-brown to black, white setose, mostly apruinose. Antenna (broken off beyond pedicel): Scape and pedicel brown-orange. Segmental ratios 1.0:0.8:?:?:? – scape and pedicel subequal in length, pale whitish setose (most macrosetae missing, but single macroseta on dorsal aspect of right pedicel suggests that these would be as long or longer than postpedicel). Face dark red-brown to black, apruinose except for narrow strips adjacent to eye margins, mystax white, covering entire face, but weakly dorsally (some setae appear to have been rubbed off). Frons, vertex and postocular region dark red-brown to black, apruinose except for central part of postocular region, white setose; angle subtended by eye margins at level of frons/vertex c. 17°. Proboscis red-brown, white setose. Palpus dark red-brown, 2-segmented, white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, apruinose, mostly white setose. Pronotum mostly white setose, but with group of yellowish macrosetae medially. Mesonotum mostly white setose (a few pale yellowish setae posteromedially). Lateral macrosetae moderately developed, white (4 npl, 5 or 6 spal, 5 or 6 pal). Pleura largely asetose except for numerous, long, somewhat wavy, white katatergals, dorsally situated anepisternals and katepisternals. Scutellum shiny dark red-brown apruinose with poorly-developed transverse, subapical groove.About 26 moderately developed white apical macrosetae accompanied by slightly shorter, fine, white setae; disc sparsely white setose. Legs: Mostly dark red-brown, but fem orange-brown ventrally. Major setae erect, translucent whitish, minor setae recumbent, white. Ventral parts of tar black setose. Claws black, longish (but shorter than tarsomere 5); empodia slender, yellow, about half length of claws; pulvilli tiny (about one-third length of empodium). Haltere brown-yellow, base slightly darker. Wing: 6.2× 2.4 mm. Veins brown, membrane lacking microtrichiae; entirely transparent, unstained. Vein R 4 with well-developed basal stump-vein.

Abdomen: Terga broader than long, mostly dark red-brown to black, but somewhat orange-brown laterally. Terga apruinose, but entirely pitted by setal sockets. Terga with long, recumbent white setae laterally. White setae extend along distal margins of terga gradually becoming shorter medially. Large areas of terga appear asetose, but are covered with tiny reddish-brown setae. Sterna dark red-brown, apruinose, longish white setose. Terminalia largely withdrawn between T6 and S6, distal parts somewhat obscured by setae. Genitalia ( Figs 38–40 ): Epand moderately well-developed, jutting out to almost same level as achieved by outer lobe of goncx, distally broadly rounded and shallowly incised. Proc somewhat swollen in appearance and jutting out slightly beyond level achieved by epand (lateral view). Exterior lobe of goncx broadly rounded proximally, tapering distally to a broadly rounded, somewhat truncate, distal end; interior lobe rather long, jutting out to about same level as achieved by hypd, slightly downturned distally. Hypd somewhat truncate basally, tapering to long finger­like, distally projecting medial lobe.

Holotype: ♂ NAMIBIA: ‘ Namib Desert SWA / Praetorius 8 Aug 82’, ~ ‘ Dune 15km / NW of The Far East [23°46'S: 15°47'E] / I.1650 ’ ( NMSA).

Distribution and phenology (Table 3): Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 66 ) where it was collected in August.

Similar species: Male genitalia superficially similar to dorsalis , leukoros , probolos and platygaster , but shape of gonostylus in lateral view, and especially the distal extremity of outer lobe, is unique as is the shape of the hypandrium.

Figures

Figs 35–43. Acnephalomyia male terminalia: (35–37) A. dorsalis (Macquart, 1838) Knersvlakte, North of Vanrhynsdorp, lateral, dorsal and ventral; (38–40) A. eremia sp. n. holotype, lateral, dorsal and ventral; (41–43) A. iota sp. n. holotype, lateral, dorsal and ventral. Scale lines = 1 mm.

Fig. 66. Distribution of Acnephalomyia species: A. dorsalis (Macquart, 1838) – circles; A. eremia sp. n. – triangle.