Rhabdogaster kosmos, Londt, 2006

Londt, Jason G. H., 2006, A review of the Afrotropical genus Rhabdogaster Loew, 1858 with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 243-313 : 262-263

Rhabdogaster kosmos sp. n.

Figs 46–48

Etymology: From Greek kosmos (ornament, decoration). Refers to the attractive appearance of this small species.

Description: Based mainly on holotype ơ.

Head: Black, silver pruinose, white setose. Antenna black, setae white. Face entirely strongly pruinose. Mystax entirely white, occupying approx. lower one-third of face. Frons and vertex entirely pruinose (including ocellar tubercle, although areas bordering ocelli are bare). Occiput entirely pruinose. Proboscis and palpi dark red-brown to black, setae white.

Thorax: Black, silver pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum strongly pruinose except for pair of medial stripes (extending from anterior margin to three-quarters length of mesonotum), two large lateral spots and much of postpronotal and postalar lobes. Pleura extensively pruinose except for small spots on an- and katepisternum. Scutellum extensively apruinose except for ring encircling disc, with 3 moderately developed sctl s accompanied by approx. 8 minor setae. Postmetacoxal bridge entirely silver pruinose. Legs: cx dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose; troc dark red-brown; fem dark red-brown with orange distal ends, white setose; tib orange, broadly dark red-brown distally, predominantly white setose (few black setae ventrodistally); tar dark red-brown, predominantly white setose (few black setae). Wing 3.8 x 1.5 mm, veins brownyellow, membrane transparent, unstained, extensively lacking microtrichia (except distally). Discal cell at most sparsely microtrichose, costal cell entirely without microtrichia.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, dark red-brown and white setose. Tergites largely apruinose with broad anterolateral subtriangular pruinose areas, setae tiny dark red-brown on apruinose areas, short to moderately long on pruinose parts. Sternites entirely pruinose, short white setose. Terminalia ( Figs 46– 48 paratype): epand in lateral view slightly shorter than external lobe of goncx, tapering to narrowly-rounded tips; in dorsal view lobes narrowly separated proximomedially; hypd in lateral view fairly straight with upturned distal end, shorter than external lobe of goncx; in ventral view broadly-rounded proximally, tapering rapidly distally before diverging and terminating in broad distal lobe with shallowly bilobed apex. External lobe of goncx slightly longer than epand, slightly curved upwards distally before tapering quickly to rounded apex; internal lobe and details of gonst largely hidden from view; aedeagus in ventral view with broadly expanded apex.

Holotype: ơ NAMIBIA: ‘ South West Africa 2114 Bc / Damaraland, Okombahe area / 33 km. W. Uis Mine, 750m. / 6-II-1974, ME Irwin / dunes against rocky hill’.

Paratypes: NAMIBIA: 1ơ ‘Namibia 25.iii.1984 / Rocky hillside slopes / at Khorixas Rest Camp / 20 21'S: 14 55'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Sparse Mopane scrub.’; 1ơ 1^‘Namibia 26.iii.1984 / 54 km S Khorixas. Road / 76. 20 43'S: 14 49'E / Londt & Stuckenberg / Roadside grass and / flowers, sandy area.’; 1^same data as holotype; 1ơ 2^‘South West Africa 2115Bd / Omaruru Dist. 25 km. N.W. / Omaruru, 1200m. 5-II- 1974 / ME Irwin, dry wash in Acacia -covered plain’; 1^‘South West Africa 2116Ca / Omaruru Dist. 20 km. S.E. / Omaruru, 1580m. 4-II-1974 / ME Irwin, sandy plain with Acacia trees’.

Distribution, phenology and biology (Tables 1, 2): Recorded only from Namibia, at five localities in the northern region receiving late summer rainfall. Collected during February and March.

Similar species: R. zebra sp. n.

Figures

Figs 43–54. Rhabdogaster species, male terminalia: (43–45) R. karoo sp. n., Graaff-Reinet paratype: (43) lateral, (44) dorsal, (45) ventral; (46–48) R. kosmos sp. n., Omaruru paratype: (46) lateral, (47) dorsal, (48) ventral; (49–51) R. lindneri sp. n., Nairobi holotype: (49) lateral, (50) dorsal, (51) ventral. (52–54) R. maculipennis Engel, 1929, Sawmills lectotype: (52) lateral, (53) dorsal, (54) ventral. Scale bars = 1 mm.