Afroestricus, a new Afrotropical Ommatine (Diptera: Asilidae) genus with twenty species and two species groups
Author
Scarbrough Table Of Contents, Aubrey G.
text
Zootaxa
2005
2005-08-26
1041
1
1
76
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1041.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.1041.1.1
11755334
5050609
Afroestricus minutus
(Bromley)
Figs. 81–90
,
194
Ommatius minutus
Bromley, 1936: 129
comb. n.
Hull 1962: 436
;
Oldroyd 1980: 347
.
Redescription, male. Brown with mostly gray tomentum and white to pale yellow vestiture. Body
6.3–7.7 mm
; wing
4.9–6.3 mm
.
Head
: Face ventrally, yellowishgray tomentose with pale yellow or white vestiture, six to seven long brown bristles and sparse brown setae present dorsally; FWLR 1.0:4.5–1.0:5.4. Antenna with basal two segments yellow to light brownishyellow and black setae; flagellum brown, as long as scape; longest ventral seta as long as flagellum or scape; FWLR 1.0:1.1–1.0:1.7. Frons brownishyellow tomentose; setae slightly longer than scape. Occiput brown tomentose behind ocellar tubercle, yellowishgray to gray tomentose, ocellar tubercle brown posteriorly; setae white to pale yellow, sparse black setae often present; six to nine black postocular bristles present, longest bristle proclinate, tip about 1/2 distance to ocellar tubercle.
Thorax
: Pronotum gray tomentose with black or yellow bristles. Mesonotum mostly yellowishbrown tomentose, two narrow median stripes and two lateral dark spots present, tomentum yellowishgray to gray laterally and posteriorly; vestiture dark brown or black, pale yellow setae between rows of dorsocentral bristles posteriorly and laterally above wing bases; longest anterior acrostichal setae quite thin, as long as to slightly longer than scape; four or five lateral and six or seven dorsocentral bristles, long and thick, the latter wide spaced, extends forward as a row to postpronotum posteriorly. Scutellum yellow to yellowishgray tomentose with sparse fine, short yellow setae, two black marginal bristles, and a prominent preapical groove. Pleuron mostly gray tomentose, anepisternite yellow with sparse setae, and one anepimeral and four katatergal long, stout, black bristles. Halter yellow.
Wing
(
Fig. 3b
): Entirely yellow to brownishyellow microtrichose. Cell r
1
slightly rounded apically; vein R
2+3
weakly curved forward. Cell r
4
with base just beyond apex of cell d; vein R
4
only slightly curved anteriorly apically. Crossvein rm before middle of cell d. Base of cell m
1
cell narrow, wide just beyond base with sides gradually divergent toward wing margin; m
1
WR 1.0:3.6:4.0–1.0:4.0:5.2.
Leg
: Coxae brown, gray tomentose with abundant long, white setae. Trochanter, femora and tibiae yellow. Fore femur with ventral row of white setae, two to three unusually long. Middle femur without preapical posteroventral bristle. Hind femur with most or all anterior and anteroventral bristles black, one to two bristles sometimes yellow; HFWLR 1.0:4.9–1.0:5.3. Tibiae with mostly black bristles; fore tibia with two to three yellow lateral bristles; hind tibia with two long black apical bristles. Tarsi mostly yellow with black bristles; apical tarsomere sooty brown; fore tarsus with three, and middle tarsus sometimes with one yellow bristle laterally.
Abdomen
: Mostly dark brown, apical margins of segments slightly lighter and apical segments usually brownishyellow to yellow; tomentum mostly gray with white setae, yellow brown dorsally on most terga with black setae.
FIGURES 81–90.
Afroestricus minutus
(Bromley)
. Male terminalia: 81–83. Lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. 84. Gonostylus. 85–86. Aedeagus, dorsal and lateral views. Female terminalia: 87–88. Dorsal and ventral views. 89. Spermatheca. 90. Genital fork.
Terminalia
(
Figs. 81–86
): Brownishyellow to yellow. Epandrium wide apically, notched dorsoapically; a broad, Wshaped emargination present; median margin of emargination produced, rectangular in lateral view; ventral corner of emargination hooked. Gonostylus distinctive. Distiphallus horizontal, apex narrow, exposed laterally; epiphallus flat, wide apically. Gonocoxite short, truncate anteriorly. Hypandrium triangular apically.
Female. Differs as follows. Body 6.6–7.0 mm; wing
5.1–5.4 mm
. FHWR 1.0:4.2– 1.0:4.8; FWLR 1.0:1.5–1.0:1.7; m
1
WR 1.0:3.6:3.8–1.0:3.8:3.9; HFWLR 1.0:5.6–1.0:5.8.
Head
: Face with numerous black bristles and several black setae dorsally. Postocular bristles strongly proclinate with apex of longest bristles above ocellar tubercle.
Wing
: Crossvein rm about 2/3 as long as CuA
1
+M
3
.
Leg
: Fore femur with a weak, short, anterior preapical bristle. Fore and middle femora with two to three long, black, ventral setae. Hind femur with two to three unusually thin bristles on basal 1/2 posteriorly, usually yellow, sometimes one bristle black. Fore tibia with only black bristles laterally. Fore tarsus with only one yellow bristle.
Abdomen
: Apical terga with bristly setae and bristles, those in apical corner of tergum 8 thickest and longest.
Terminalia
(
Figs. 87–90
): Tergum 9 narrow medially, strapelike. Sterna 7–8 mostly black setose. Sternum 8 triangular, anterolateral margins membranous. Spermatheca short, horizontal, carrotshaped, weakly annulate. Genital fork distinctive.
Types examined.
SOUTH AFRICA
: 1 M [
holotype
Ommatius minutus
Bromley
], Pretoria [
25°43’S
28°16’E
],
17.i.1915
, H.K. Munro (NMSA); 1 F [
allotype
O. minutus
Bromley
], Pretoria [
25°43’S
28°16’E
],
31.xii.1913
(NMSA); 1 F, Pretoria [
25°43’S
28 °16’E
], 25.xii.11, H.K. Munro ~
Paratype
,
Ommatius minutus
Br (USNM)
; 1 F, Pretoria [
25°43’S
28°16’E
], 28.xii.16, H.K. Munro ~
Paratype
,
Ommatius minutus
Br (USNM)
.
Additional material.
BOTSWANA
: 1 M,
Tsessebe
,
Bechuanaland
, leg.
Zumpt
, i.56 (
BMNH
)
.
MALAWI
: 1 F,
Nyasaland
,
Shire River
,
Blantyre
Ncheu
road, 27.xi.58
550 m
, E.S.
Ross
and
R
.
E. Leach
(
CASC
)
.
MALI
: 2 F,
Coll. Mus. Tervuren
,
Mali
:
R
.C.
T
. MPesoba,
8.ix.1970
, G.
Pierrand
(
MRAC
)
.
NAMIBIA
, 1 M, SW
Africa
(W39),
Kombat
,
16–17.ii.1972
(
BMNH
)
.
SOUTH AFRICA
: 1 M,
Transvaal
,
Kruger Park
,
9.xii.1972
,
Shongile Borehole
nr.
Letaba
[
23°55’25”S
30°07’33”E
], tree trunks and water edge,
Stuckenberg Family
2331
Cd
(
NMSA
)
;
1 M, 3 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
, [
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
6.i.1970
,
Mazithi
dam grassland,
10 km
north of
Tshokwane
,
B and P. Stuckenberg
2431
Db
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
, 2331
Dc
,
Letaba
[
23°55’25”S
30°07’33”E
]
Camp
xii.1972
, on tree trunks,
Stuckenberg Family
(
NMSA
)
;
2 M,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
9.xii.1972
,
Shongile Borehole
nr.
Letaba
[
23°55’25”S
30°07’33”E
], tree trunks and waters edge,
Stuckenberg Family
2331
Cd
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
Kruger Park
[
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
9.xii.1972
Mazithi
dam grassland,
10 km
north of
Tshokwane, B
and P.
Stuckenberg
2431
Db
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Natal
,
Goedhoek
nr.
Babanago
,
28°23’5S
:
30°05’E
,
24.iii.1990
, P.E.
Reavell
(
NMSA
)
;
2 M, 2 F,
Sth
[South]
Africa
:
Cape
Prov
,
35 km
W. Kimberley
[
28°40’S
24°50’E
], 2824
CB
17.iii.1982
,
J. Londt
and
L. Schoeman
, Acaciagrasssand (
NMSA
)
;
4 M, 5 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
Kruger Park
[
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
9.i.1974
,
Bangu Borehole
grass, mud,
10 km
SE Balule
2431
Bb, B.
and P.
Stuchenberg
(
NMSA
)
;
1
F, S. Africa
:
Transvaal
,
37 km
N. Louise Trichardt
Limpopo
Val.
[
26°32’N
29°16’E
], 2229DD,
i.1975
Struckenberg
, arid
Bushveld
(
NMSA
)
;
2 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
Kruger Park
[
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
10 km
SE Potgietersrus
[
24°09’S
29°04’E
] on
Rd
to
Zedediela
24–27.i.1978
JGH
Londt
, bushveld (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
Kruger Park
[
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
37 km
N. Louise Trichardt
Limpopo
Val.
[
26°32’N
29°16’E
], 22290D,
i.1975
,
Stuckenberg
, arid bushveld (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Natal
,
25 km
E.
Louwsburg
,
20.ii.1979
,
JGH
Londt
grassy area, near river (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
Pretoria
[
25°43’S
28°16’E
], 12.ii.71,
J. M.
de W. (
NMSA
)
;
2 F, S.
Africa
:
Transvaal
,
10 km
SE Potgietersrus
[
24°09’S
29°04’E
] on rd to
Zebediela
24.i.1978
, J.G.H.
Londt Bushveld
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Natal
,
25 km
E.
Louwsburg
,
20.ii.1979
grassy, area near river E. (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
Pretoria
[
25°43’S
28°16’E
],
10.i.1932
, G.
Van Son
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
Pretoria
[
25°43’S
28°16’E
], 12.ii.71, J.
Mdeh.
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
: 2229
CA
,
Transvaal
,
Alldays
[
22°39’51”S
29°11’43”E
], 25.vi.78
JGH
Londt
, bushveld (
NMSA
)
;
1 M, 10 F,
South Africa
: 2427BA,
Bulge River
25–30.i.1978
,
JGH
Londt
open, grassveld area (
NMSA
)
;
2 M,
South Africa
:
Bosbokrand
,
15.xii.1980
, F.
Horniball
(
NMSA
)
;
1 M,
South Africa
:
Dundee
[
28°14’S
30°16’E
], 18.xii.78,
J.G. Theron
(
NMSA
)
;
1 M,
South Africa
: 2427BA,
Transv.
[Transvaal],
Bulge River
,
30.i.1978
JGH
Londt
, open grassveld area (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
: 2229
CC
,
Transvaal
,
Blouberge
,
10 km
NW Vivo
, 25.i.78,
J. G. H. Londt
, mountain base, grass, bushveld (
NMSA
)
;
4 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
8 km
NW Barberton
[
25°48’S
31°04’E
], on
Bagolass Rd
SE253000,
6–8.vi.1985
J.
Londt
, bushveld long grass (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
Pretoria
[
25°43’S
28°16’E
],
10.i.1932
, G.
Vanson Transvaal Museum
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
9.xii.1972
,
Shongile Borehole
nr.
Letaba
[
23°55’25”S
30°07’33”E
], tree trunks and water edge,
Stuckenberg Family
233
Kd
(
NMSA
)
;
1 M, 3 F,
South Afica
:
Transvaal
[
25°0’S
31°7’E
],
6.i.1974
,
Mazithi Dam
grassland,
10 km
North of Tshokwane
, B and P
Stuchenberg
24310b (
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
South Africa
:
Transvaal
,
Letaba
[
23°55’25”S
30°07’33”E
],
Camp
,
xii.1972
, on tree trunks,
Stuckenberg Family
(
NMSA
)
;
1 M,
South Africa
:
Natal
,
Goudhoek
nr.
Babanango
,
28°23’S
31°05’E
,
24.ii.1990
, P.E.
Reavell
(
NMSA
)
;
2 M, 7 F,
South Africa
: 2427BA,
Transv.
[Transvaal],
Bulge River
,
30.i.1978
JGH
Londt
, open grassveld area (
NMSA
)
;
2 M,
Bosbokrand
,
15.xii.1910
, F.
Honiball
(
NMSA
)
;
1 F,
Dunden
18.xii.78, J. G.
Theron
(
NMSA
)
;
2 F, 2229
CA
Transvaal
,
Alldays
[
22°39’51”S
29°11’43”E
], 25–26.i.78
JGH
Londt
, bushveld (
NMSA
)
;
1 F, 2229
CC
Transvaal
,
Blouberge
,
10 km
NW Vivo
, 25.i.78,
JGH
Londt
,
Mountain Basegrass
, bushveld (
NMSA
)
.
ZIMBABWE
: 2 F,
Nyamandhlorn, S
.
Rhodesia
,
6.ii.1972
,
Nat. Museum
S.
Rhodesia
,
Leg.
E.
Pinhey
(
NMZB
)
.
Distribution (
Tables 1
,
2
;
Fig. 194
). Widespread (
Botswana
,
Malawi
,
Mali
,
Namibia
,
South Africa
,
Zimbabwe
); collected between November and June, in open grassveld, bushveld, and trees along shores bordering rivers. Data label show the species rests on tree trunks, grass, sand, or mud shore lines.
Remarks.
Afroestricus minutus
is distinguished from congeners by its small size and distinctive terminalia (
Figs. 81–90
). It is similar to
A. sadaukii
but differs in the shorter, wider flagella, yellow to brownishyellow scape and pedicel, yellow trochanters, the short anterior acrostichal setae, and yellow ventral bristles of the middle and hind femora. Additionally, the spermathecae are short, not recurved, carrotshaped, surface slightly annulated, and the spermathecal duct is attached at the end rather than prebasally.