A review of Afrotropical Trichardis Hermann, 1906, and the description of the first Oriental representative of the genus (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae) Londt, Jason G. H. African Invertebrates 2008 2008-12-31 49 2 171 171 Londt, 2008 Londt 2008 [486,694,1091,1116] Insecta Asilidae Trichardis Animalia Diptera 28 199 Arthropoda species similis sp. nov.   Figs 43, 44 Etymology: From Latin  similis(similar). Refers to the similarity between the male genitalia of this species and  crassipala. Description (based on holotypein excellent condition):  Head: Black, silver pruinose except for strip between ocellar tubercle and epistomal margin, setae black, white and pale yellow. Antenna dark red-brown to black, black setose; postpedicel elongate spindle-shaped (L:D=4.3:1). Mystax shiny yellow-white with black macrosetae along epistomal margin. Ocellar tubercle with 2 macrosetae. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown to black.  Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose except where apruinose, shiny yellowish setose. Postpronotum extensively apruinose except for narrow band medially, mesonotum apruinose except for narrow lateral and posterior margins, yellowish setose. Scutellum apruinose except for narrow anterior margin. Anepisternum with pale yellowish posterior macroseta, pruinose except for large area anteroventrally. Proepimeron pruinose anteriorly, apruinose posteriorly; katepisternum pruinose posteriorly, apruinose anteriorly; anepisternum pruinose except for small central spot. Legs: Dark red-brown, pulvilli and empodium of similar length. Hind femur dark red-brown, length:height ratio 3.9:1, ventral tubercles well-developed. Hind tibia lacking ventrodistal spur. Wing: 4.3× 1.7 mm. Costal vein strongly developed as far as wing tip, then very weakly developed along posterior margin of wing and absent from alula. Membrane extensively microtrichose—discal and r 5cells entirely microtrichose.  Abdomen: Dark red-brown proximally becoming red-brown distally, apruinose, pale yellow setose. T2 dark red-brown, apruinose.  ơgenitalia ( Figs 43, 44): Epandrium in lateral view slightly longer than basal part of gonocoxite (i.e. excluding distal projection of gonocoxite and gonostylus). Proctiger long, strongly dorsoventrally compressed. Hypandrium moderately well developed with two pairs of lobes distally. Gonocoxites in ventral view with medially directed dorsal projections and lacking macrosetae; mediodistal projection well-developed, strongly sclerotised, broad with characteristic shape. Gonostylus short, slender, poorly developed, straight. Aedeagal prongs more or less straight, small, tapering to small terminal filamentous tubules.   Holotype: MALAWI: ơ‘ Malawi KasunguNat. / Park Lifupa Camp/ 1333 Aa  9–10.xii.1980/  1000 m Stuckenberg& / Londt,  Brachystegia’( NMSA).   Paratypes: 1 ơsame data as holotype; 1^‘ Malawi Chimaliro/ forest reserve  1200 m/ 1233 Bc Stuckenberg& / Londt  9.xii.1980/  Brachystegiawoodland’ ( NMSA). Distribution and biology: The species is recorded from two localities in Malawi.Adults are known to fly in December (Table 1), midsummer in the southern hemisphere. The typematerial was collected on the ground in  Brachystegiawoodland. Similar species: A member of what is here called the ‘  cribrataspecies group’ which consists of  crassipala, cribrata, eburacta, hesperia, malawi, similis, spicataand  indica.These species are superficially similar, but can be easily separated on characters of the male genitalia.  T. similisis most similar to  crassipalain that both species have well-developed hypandria. 1980-12-09 1980-12-10 1980-12-09 NMSA Malawi Malawi 1000 Aa Park Lifupa Camp 29 200 1 Kasungu holotype 1980-12-09 1980-12-10 1980-12-09 NMSA Malawi Londt 1200 Chimaliro Stuckenberg 29 200 1 Kasungu paratype