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——_—
ANNALS
OF THE
VOLU MH XXXIV
ANNALS
OF THE
SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
VOLUME XXXIV
PRINTED FOR THE
TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., 212 CAUSEWAYSIDE, EDINBURGH.
1938.
' ' ‘ mr ‘ jeep 8 J
Pek eee eet
ay
‘hc. ie oon
TRUSTEES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM.
J. G. VAN DER Horst, Esq.
W. J. THORNE, Esq.
Professor WitL1AM ADAM JOLLy, M.B., Ch.B., D.Sc., F.R.S.S.Afr.
Professor D. L. ScHotrz, D.Sc.
Councillor A. J. MacCatium, M.P.
SCIENTIFIC STAFF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
MUSEUM.
Epwin Leonarp Gitx, D.Sc., Director and Keeper-in-Chief. :
KeEprpEL Harcourt Barnargp, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.S., Assistant Director; in Charge
of Fish and Marine Invertebrates.
ALBERT JOHN Hessz, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S., Assistant in Charge of the Ento-
mological Department.
Miss GWENDOLYN Joycre Lzwis, B.A., Assistant in Charge of the Botanical
Department.
Miss Exta Marcaret SHaw, B.A., Assistant in Charge of the Ethnological
Department. '
Lizuwe Dirk Boonstra, D.Sc., Assistant in Palaeontology.
SripNEY Henry Havueuron, B.A., D.Sc., Honorary Keeper of the Geological and
Palaeontological Collections.
A. J. H. Goopwin, M.A., Honorary Keeper of the Ethnological and Archaeological
Collections.
ee a ewoiiis can the Hereubniar (Diptera) of Southern Afree 3
Z By A. J. eee B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S., Entomologist, South African ere
= PSST | “Museum, Cape Town. (With 332 Text-figures.) Spas
ISSUED JULY 1938. PRICE 40s.
‘PRINTED FOR THE x "vs capes
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33 BY NEILL AND CO., LTD.,
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ANNALS
OF THE
SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM
VOLUME XXXIV.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa.
—By A. J. Hesse, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.E.S., Entomologist, South
African Museum, Cape Town.
PREFACE.
SINCE the time that Wiedemann (1828) and Macquart (1840) described
odd genera and species from material containing South African forms,
over a century ago, specimens of many South African species of
Bombyludae have found their way into museum collections. From a
systematic point of view the accumulation of unnamed material thus
necessitated more comprehensive undertakings. Among entomol-
ogists interested in Diptera, Loew was one of the first to devote his
attention to the description of South African Diptera and Bombyliidae.
His “Die Dipteren-Fauna Siidafrika’s, 1860” is indispensable to the
student of South African Diptera, and as a model of descriptive
accuracy and scientific clarity it has not been superseded. After Loew,
occasional generic and specific descriptions were published by Rondani
(1863), Bigot (1892), and Becker (1912), but another period of accum-
ulation elapsed before any serious attention was again given to South
African and Ethiopian Bombyludae. This period of half a century
between Loew and modern times was not only a period of settlement
and economic expansion in Africa, but was also one of biological
interest in that the botanical and faunistic wealth of the Hthiopian
VOL. XXXIV.
2 Annals of the South African Museum.
Continent was slowly being revealed by explorers, collectors, and
pioneer-naturalists. Not only did museums and institutions become
enriched by the gun of the big-game hunter, but contributions by
zealous and enthusiastic collectors, interested in Entomology, in-
creased the accessions to their entomological collections a hundredfold.
More comprehensive surveys of South African Diptera were thus made
possible, and Bezzi, through a series of contributions culminating in
“The Bombyliidae of South Africa (Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii,
1921),” and “The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924,”
carried on the work of Wiedemann and Loew to a further stage. In
the last decade, however, so much collecting has been done in South
Africa and so much material has accumulated that even Bezzi’s re-
vision of this family is now entirely inadequate and incomplete from a
taxonomic point of view. In this and the following volume yet another
attempt is made to revise the genera and species of Southern Africa.
For this purpose the author has had at his disposal the large and
unnamed collections of the British Museum, the Imperial Institute of
Entomology, the Transvaal Museum, and the very rich collection of
the South African Museum, as well as smaller collections from the
Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, the Rhodesian Museum, the
Albany Museum, the Durban Museum, the Natal Museum, the
Agricultural Departments of Southern Rhodesia and the Union of
South Africa. Members on the scientific staff of the South African
Museum have also undertaken special trips to various localities in the
South and South Hastern Cape, to the mountainous parts of the
Western Province, to the North Western Districts, to Namaqualand,
to Great Namaqualand, and to many localities in the Gouph Karoo,
the Nieuwveld Karoo, the Great Karoo and the little Karoo to obtain
as many specimens as possible from these regions. The expeditions of
the South African Museum to South West Africa, Damaraland,
Ovamboland, and the Kaokoveld during 1915-26 and to parts of
Portuguese Hast Africa have also contributed many interesting
specimens. The large collection in the Transvaal Museum includes
not only a representative collection from various localities in the
Transvaal but a very good collection from the Little Karoo, obtained
by the late Dr. Brauns, and a miscellanous collection acquired by the
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 3
Vernay-Lang Kalahari and Bechuanaland Expedition (see Ann.
‘Trans. Mus., vol. xvi, pp. 161-184, 1936, by A. J. Hesse). The rich
unnamed collections from the British Museum and the Imperial
Institute include material from all over the Union and some from
South West Africa and Rhodesia, chiefly collected by Mr. R. Turner,
Professor and Mrs. W. Cockerell, Mr. J. Ogilvie, and Miss A. Mackie.
This present revision attempts to embrace the known genera and
species distributed over the southern parts of Africa from about
latitude 18 or 20 to the south coast, comprising parts of North and
South Rhodesia, Southern Portuguese Hast Africa, the entire Union of
South Africa, British Bechuanaland, and the Kalahari and the greater
part of South West Africa south of the Kunene River. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that very numerous specimens were examined and studied,
and that a very large number of new species and some new genera are
described, there is no doubt that this vast area still contains numerous
undescribed and unknown forms, and that our Bombylid fauna is in
reality far richer in species than any revision at present can embody.
In such an extensive area, comprising all possible types of ecological
environments and great stretches of little known, barren or inhospit-
able, wooded or mountainous regions, even organised collecting,
continued for many years, can but acquaint us with comparatively
few of the actual number of species. Even more significant is the fact
that the greater part of Southern Africa is subject to periodic and
usually transient manifestations of insect life dependent upon favour-
able climatic and environmental conditions, which do not necessarily
follow an annual or regular and rhythmic cycle but which may follow
sudden or erratic rainfalls or storms, sometimes after long periods of
drought and dessication. The collector of insects in the Great Karoo,
the Little Karoo, the Nieuwveld Karoo, Namaqualand, the greater
part of Bechuanaland, the Kalahari and South West Africa cannot
obtain a representative collection of the indigenous fauna by merely
undertaking trips during the more propitious seasons, such as spring
and summer, but has to take many climatic factors into consideration
which are at present metereologically unpredictable and which may
either elicit a sudden and transient profusion of plant and insect life
or inhibit their appearance for long periods.
4 Annals of the South African Museum.
Notwithstanding these remarks, this revision aims at being more
comprehensive than any other work dealing with the known South
African forms and purports to be unique for this family in that the
male genital apparatus or hypopygium of practically every known
South African species of which the male is known is figured or
described. The text is thus very long, and if the descriptions and keys
appear to be unnecessarily long and involved the author wishes to beg
the patience of systematists and to point out that such a procedure is
often unavoidable in a family where generic and specific differences
are often very subtle and where it is in many cases extremely difficult
to determine and separate species by the old type of abbreviated
descriptions. The keys and arrangement of the species are not in
accordance with any natural or evolutionary scheme but merely one
of convenience, and if this revision will enable students of Bombyludae
to identify and recognise the various South African forms at least part
of the object in compiling it will have been achieved. It is also hoped
that all the free-hand drawings and illustrations, many of them in
outline, made by the author himself, will enable those interested in
these insects to recognise and distinguish the structural and specific
differences which they attempt to portray.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
In conclusion, I wish to express my indebtedness and obligation to
the Research Grant Board of the Union of South Africa for having
very kindly assisted me financially in the form of a grant, without the
help of which supplementary investigations in various localities would
not have been possible. My indebtedness and thanks are also due to
all those persons who have been so kind as to entrust the unnamed
material under their charge to my care. In this connection I par-
ticularly wish to mention Dr. N. Riley, Keeper of Entomology in the
British Museum, Dr. F. Edwards and Mr. H. Oldroyd of the British
Museum, Sir Guy A. K. Marshall, Director of the Imperial Institute,
Dr. Walther Horn, Director of the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut
(Berlin-Dahlem), Mr. C. Swierstra, Director of the Transvaal Museum,
Mr. G. van Son of the Transvaal Museum, Dr. G. Arnold, Director of
—————
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 5
~ the Rhodesian Museum, Dr. J. Hewitt, Director of the Albany Museum,
Dr. R. Lawrence, Director of the Natal Museum, Mr. E. Chubb,
Director of the Durban Museum, Mr. H. Munro, Entomologist in the
Union Department of Agriculture, and Mr. A. Cuthbertson, Ento-
mologist in the Rhodesian Agricultural Department. A special vote of
thanks is also due to my colleagues Dr. K. H. Barnard, the Assistant
Director of the South African Museum, to Dr. L. Boonstra, and
especially to Mr. C. Thorne, for their kind co-operation in the collect-
ing of a very large number of species.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
Defintion of Bombyliidae.
Ir is almost superfluous to recapitulate the diagnostic characters of
this family when detailed definitions have been given in turn by Loew
(p. 173, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr. i, 1860), Becker (p. 421, Ann. Mus. Zool.
Acad. Imp. St. Petersb. xvii, 1912), Brunetti (p. 173, Faun. Brit. Ind.
Diptera Brachycera, vol. 1, 1920), Bezzi (p. 1, The Bombyliidae of the
Kthiopian Region, 1924), Roberts (p. 91, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South
Wales, Australian Bombyliidae, liu, part 1, 1928), and by Engel (pp.
1-7, Die Flegen d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 65 (Bombyliidae), 1932).
The chief characters of the family are:—
Body assuming a variety of shapes, being either short, plump, and
bee-like, or elongate and cylindrical and even very elongate, sometimes
mimicking or assuming the body-shape of other Diptera, such as
Therevids, Empids, Asilids, Syrphids, and Conopids or even that of
Aculeate Hymenoptera, such as Sphegids and Vespids; integument
may be entirely dark or black or there may be spots, stripes, bands or
abdominal bands of yellow, reddish yellow, brownish or even whitish;
it may show a metallic or submetallic bluish sheen; it may be smooth,
minutely punctured, or even with more coarse puncturation or sculp-
ture on certain parts; pubescence usually present and well developed,
the majority of species being hairy, almost absent in a few, usually
composed of dense, fine, erect or semi-erect hairs, sometimes inter-
VOL. XXXIV. 2
6 Annals of the South African Museum.
mixed with stouter bristles, bristly hairs, or even macrochaetal bristles
on definite parts, especially frons, thorax in front, sides of thorax, on
mesopleuron, on post-alar calli, across hinder part of scutellum and
across hind margins of abdominal segments, with fine, hair-lke,
depressed and sometimes dense scales sometimes present and with
broader, flatter and often denser scaling in some forms, sometimes
denser and more concentrated on thorax above, sides of abdomen or
across hind margins of abdomen and venter, on body below and on
legs, with slaty grey or greyish pruinescence or bloom or dust on the
body in a large number of species. Head usually large, usually as
broad as thorax, sometimes even slightly broader, usually globular,
but sometimes slightly elongated; occiput either flattened or slightly
concave or even convex, inflated, bilobate above and with a deep
concavity; ocelli three in number, very rarely reduced, usually
situated in a triangle on a slight elevation on vertex; frons usually
broad in 99, usually much reduced, small and triangular in §¢ (where
eyes are in contact above), usually slightly convex from side, rarely
sunk in, very often with a distinct or an indication of a central groove,
usually transversely or foveately depressed anteriorly in 99 especially;
face in profile varies from being moderately conical to very prominently
conical, or it may even be scarcely evident; it may be well demarcated
from antennal insertions, and in a few cases 1t may be tumidly inflated
and convexly continuous with the frontal part; it may be smooth and
shining or smooth only centrally, or it may be densely covered with
hairs or scaling or even with a brush of dense hairs; buccal cavity
always well developed and deep, usually with carinate or sharp edges,
separated from inner margins of eyes by a furrow or groove-like
depression, which is very variable in distinctness, sometimes almost
entirely wanting, sometimes only present as a faint foveate depression,
and sometimes long and groove-like; genae absent or present or
absent lower down on facial region, with or without pubescence or
scaling; eyes large, convex, bare, faceted, the upper facets in $¢ of
numerous species distinctly coarser than lower ones, the upper coarser
ones either gradually merging into lower ones or well marked off from
lower ones, with the hind margins of eyes either straight, slightly
sinuate, or even with a distinct emargination, with the eyes in one
division of Bombyliids bisected by a line or with an indication of a
bisecting line, the eyes in contact or contiguous above on vertex in ¢g
or narrowly or even broadly separated in some 36, separated above in
22, very rarely in contact, their inner margins usually diverging
anteriorly on each side of frons even if only shightly; antennae porrect,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. i
close together or separated, variable in length, either 3- or 4-jointed,
with or without a distinct terminal element or style, but sometimes
even with 2 or 3 distinct, separately visible, terminal elements, with
some of the antennal joints sometimes markedly incrassate or
thickened, with the third joints rod-like, club-like, spindle-shaped,
ovoid, or modified and clavate or excavate apicaily in some forms,
with fairly dense pubescence or scaling on the first joints in majority of
species and sometimes also with longish hairs or scaling on the third
joints; proboscis short and stoutish or very long and slender, with the
labella fleshy or hard and horny, the labial part and labella may some-
times be covered with fine spines; palps usually 2-jointed, but ap-
parently single-jointed in many forms and even distinctly 3-jointed in
a few; the apical joint may be thickened and clavate, and both joints
may be covered with conspicuous hairs or scaling and may be very
prominent.
Thorax subquadrate or quadrate, broadest behind, flattened,
shghtly convex or sometimes distinctly humped; pronotal part usually
below level of the well-developed mesonotum which abuts on occiput;
in Toxophora, however, the pronotal part is conspicuous and in the
form of a distinct collar; scutellum usually fairly large, subtriangular
or semicircular, flattened but more usually slightly tumid, very rarely
emarginate or bilobate posteriorly, the hind border usually with
bristly hairs or stoutish bristles; pleurae high in some species (with
humped thorax), the metapleurae bare in some genera but usually
with some hairs or scaling, with a distinct metapleural tuft of bristly
hairs in majority of forms. Wangs (cf. text-fig. 1 of a Bombylius,
semidiagrammatic) and their venation are very important in the
separation of genera and even species. Throughout this revision the
old type of terminology, used by Loew, Williston, Osten Sacken, Bezzi,
and also used by many dipterists of the old school, is also used by me
for the sole reason that it is more comprehensible to the amateur and
student. Compared with the more scientific terminology of Comstock,
the various veins and cells alluded to in the text are as follows:—-
Costal vein —Costa—C.
Subcostal vein —Subcosta—Se.
First longitudinal vein —Radius one—R,.
Second __,, i —Radius two and three—Rg, 3.
Third <i ie —Radius four and Radius five—R, and R;.
Fourth a ee —Media one and Media two—M, and M,.
Fifth a + —Media three, Cubitus one, and Cubitus two—M,,
Cu,, and Cu,.
8 Annals of the South African Museum.
Sixth longitudinal vein —Second Anal—2d A.
Humeral cross vein —h.
Discal cross vein —Radio-medial cross vein—r-m.
Vein between discoidal and
third posterior cells —Medial cross vein—m.
Costal cell —2d C. Second basal cell —2d M.
First basal cell —R. Second posterior cell—M,.
Marginal cell —R,. Third a », —2d M,.
First submarginal cell—R,. Fourth a » —Cu,.
Third es » —2d R,. Anal cell —lst A.
Second es 2 == Bee Axillary cell or lobe —2d A.
First posterior cell —Rs. Alula —(Al.).
Discoidal cell —lst M,. Squama —(Sq.).
The wings of Bombyladae are characterised by not having cell M,.
They are either with or without 4 posterior cells (R;, M,, 2d M,, and
Ze2,<— Hob h KR. C.Sc_2d0. ky fees
a
ad A’ Cur. CurMs
Text-Fic. 1.—Wing of Bombylius (semidiagrammatic).
Cu,), usually with a discoidal cell (1st M,), only a few without it, with
2 or 3 submarginal cells (R; and R,), rarely with only 1, with the
second longitudinal vein (R, +3) arising from third longitudinal vein
(R, and R;) either near the base and acutely or a good distance away
from base and at right angles, with the vein (R,) between submarginal
cells in many cases also arising at right angles from M, +R; and there
provided with a short stump, with the first and second basal cells
(R and 2d M) sometimes equal in length but usually with R longer
than 2d M, with the discal cross vein (r-m) either before middle, at
middle, or beyond middle of discoidal cell (1st M,), with the first
posterior cell (R,) and anal cell (1st A) either open or closed and acute
apically and provided with a stalk of variable length, with the axillary
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 9
cell or lobe (2d A) either broad and triangularly lobate or narrow, with
the alula (Al.) either broad and lobate or very much reduced, being
vestigial or almost wanting, with the squama (Sq.) usually well
developed and fringed with hairs or scales, with a distinct basal comb
(Ba C.) developed in many species, but almost or entirely absent in
numerous species; wings themselves either hyaline, vitreous hyaline,
greyish hyaline, spotted, mottled, fenestrated, banded, or infuscated;
halteres usually with slender stalks and oval, but sometimes slightly
apically truncated or excavated knobs. Abdomen with 6-9 visible
segments, the visible ones on 33 usually one less than in 99, with the
terminal elements or segments in $¢ modified into the hypopygium
and attendant structures, with the genitalia of the 92 sometimes
provided with a row of spines on each side and sometimes also with
the last sternite in 99 slightly modified or elongated to lodge the
genital lamellae, with the abdomen itself variable in shape, either
oval, rotund, straight-sided, conical, tubular, elongate, and in one
subfamily even pedunculate. Legs with the hind ones usually longer
than the others, with the coxae, especially the front ones, sometimes
elongate in conjunction with high pleurae and a humped thorax;
femora with or without hairs, these when present usually longer and
denser in $d, usually with scaling, with or without a row or a few
spines below, often with only spines on hind ones, with or without
apical and lateral spines; tibiae with distinct rows of spicules or spines,
sometimes very strongly developed, but in some forms poorly de-
veloped, minute and almost absent, with strongly or poorly developed
apical spurs, one or a few of which sometimes more developed than
the others; tarsi with the front ones in some 99 slightly thickened;
claws usually well developed, either sickle-shaped, rapidly curved
downwards apically or almost straight or feebly curved; empodium
usually very poorly developed, vestigial and in form of a short bristle,
but sometimes quite distinct as a visible spine; pulvilli either well
developed, broad or narrow, and extending to middle or beyond
middle of claws or much reduced and confined to base of claws, or in
some, especially in 99, vestigial or even wanting.
Hypopygium.—The hypopygium of the $$ in this family has not
been studied or figured to any extent by previous authors, and the
attempts at describing or portraying them, in the literature at my
disposal, are very unsatisfactory. Becker (pp. 193-227, Ent. Zeit.
Berl., vol. 1, Pl. VI, figs. 8 and 9, 1905 (1906)) first made an attempt at
describing the genitalia of Usia. Copello in 1932 (p. 118, Rev. Soe.
Ent. Argentina, vol. v) reproduced a drawing of the genitalia of
10 Annals of the South African Museum.
Hyperlonia morio. The only attempt, however, at describing and
figuring the g-hypopygium is a large number of illustrations, chiefly
of Bombylius, Usia, Geron, Anastoechus, Lomatia, Aphoebantus,
Anthrax, Satyramoeba, Spongostylum, Exoprosopa, and Thyridanthraz,
made by Engel in Lieferungen, 65, 67, 69, 87, 91, 99, 101, and 105 of
his ‘‘ Die Fliegen d. Pal. Reg. (Bombylidae) 1932-36.’ Most of the
authors merely refer to the hypopygium, in their synopsis of the
family, as a genital structure or organ of the male sex. None of them
have considered this structure as of sufficient importance to merit a
detailed description or portrayal, and its diagnostic value in the
separation of genera and species has scarcely been considered. Weshé
in his studies of the genitalia in both sexes in Diptera (pp. 339-383,
Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. (2nd Ser. Zool.), vol. 1x, pls. 23-30, 1906) does
not include the genitalia of Bombylidae. Brunetti (p. 173, Faun.
Brit. Ind. Diptera Brachycera, vol. 1, 1920) is content with the state-
ment that the genitalia of Bombyludae are inconspicuous. Engel,
notwithstanding his large number of very unsatisfactory drawings of
the male genitalia of several genera and species, commits himself to
the following statement: “‘Zur Unterscheidung von Arten sind diese
Genitalanhange in den wenigsten Fallen zu gebrauchen, da sie meist
von langer Behaarung verdeckt sind.”’ Both Becker and Engel are in
many cases very brief and vague, and in some cases apparently paid
more attention to the lateral processes of the last sternite (tergite),
which encloses and surrounds the hypopygium, than to the essential
hypopygial structures themselves. Asis evident from all the illustra-
tions in this revision, the hypopygium is sufficiently and morphologic-
ally distinct in most genera and species to warrant its study and
portrayal as a means of separating the genera and a very large number
of species in this family. Asin the case of Culicidae and other dipterous
families, a description and portrayal of all the male genitalia of
Bombylhids are thus important and essential, and the female genital
apparatus, not studied in this revision, will probably prove to be
equally important.
The hypopygium of the male in this family may be conveniently
studied by snipping off the last two or three abdominal segments and
leaving or boiling it for some time in a weak solution of NaOH or KOH,
when all the musculature and attendant nonchitinous tissues will be
dissolved away. The hypopygium proper may now be easily removed
from the other segments by means of needles under a dissecting
microscope. This should be done under water, and the hypopygium,
in by far the majority of species, can itself be better studied under
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 11
- water. The structure is predominantly chitinous and can also be
studied dry by simply gumming or gluing it on toa card. A mount
in Canada Balsam or on a glass slide under a cover-slip is not necessary
and is not to be recommended unless the detailed study of micro-
sculpture is necessary. The minute hypopygium of very small species
(Cyrtostinae) may be mounted in glycerine jelly and studied under a
more powerful microscope by transmittent light. This process is,
however, very unsatisfactory for most other Bombyliids in that it
confines a view to one plane only, and the stereoscopic or spacial
relation of one part or structure of the hypopygial complex to another
cannot be so easily made out. By rotating and moving the entire
structure under water, views from all possible angles can be obtained.
Two or three quartz grains (sand) can be used to retain the hypopy-
gium in the desired position. Free-hand sketches and a description
of the parts can thus be easily made under a fairly powerful binocular
microscope. By gumming the dried hypopygium on one of its sides
to a card, different views can also be obtained. Allowance must,
however, be made for a certain amount of shrinkage in such dried and
mounted specimens. The essentials are, however, not affected in
even the dry and slightly shrunken state. A dried mount may be
restudied again by simply boiling it in water or dilute NaOH.
As in the case of most Diptera, the hypopygium of the 3g seems to
be associated with the ninth abdominal segment, but the author
wishes to express no concise opinion as to the exact segmental signifi-
cance, derivation, and homology of the male genital structures in this
family. These structures are merely dealt with from a structural
point of view and not from the developmental aspect. The hypopy-
gium or male genital apparatus of this family is often a very complex
structure, the separate parts of which are difficult to correlate or
homologise with similar structures of other Diptera. In order to
designate homologous structures in the various families, detailed
developmental and embryological studies have to be carried out on
the abdomen of all the Diptera. In the case of Coleoptera and Lepi-
doptera there is to a certain extent some uniformity of structure and
pattern, which enables us to correlate and homologise certain basic
structures in one group with those in another. In Diptera this is by
no means the case, and if we consider the structures present in male
Culicidae and attempt to correlate them with those of males of
Glossina or with those of Bombyliidae or Tipulidae we find that we are
confronted with a problem of homology which may lead to confusion.
In as far as the structures under consideration are not obviously
12 Annals of the South African Museum.
homologous a non-committal terminology is adhered to throughout
this revision.
The chitinised structures (cf. text-fig. 2, a, b, and c of Bombylius
lateralis, and of all the other text-figures of male genitalia in this
paper), constituting the hypopygium, are usually composed of two
basic, independently immovable, symmetrical, shell-like elements, one
on each side, convex on one side and hollowed out on the other, which
are throughout referred to as the basal parts (Ba.Pt.). These parts
may correspond or be homologous to the so-called claspers or coxites
SESy :
~ Ba Sh.->
(a) (6) (c)
TEXxtT-FIG. 2.—(a) Side view of hypopygium of $ of Bombylius lateralis F.
(0) Ventral view, and (c) dorsal view of same.
of some other Diptera, but in the Bombyliidae they are not segmentally
attached externally to the terminal abdominal segments but are
usually partially or completely enclosed by the visible last tergite and
sternite. They may be considered as partially internal in position
and, if homologous to claspers, as similar structures which have
migrated inwards. These parts may be symmetrically and partially
separated, and not entirely separate as in case of claspers, by a central
groove-like impression or suture on the convex side, or they may be
undivided, constituting a single structure. The apparently separate
parts of the former type are, however, not independently movable.
Towards the apical part each half, or the apical part of the undivided
type, 1s usually narrowed into a sort of neck region, the inner or outer
margins of which may be produced apically into an inner apical
prominence or process (I.Ap.A.), or an outer process. The inner one
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 13
- may be covered with a row of hairs or bristly hairs. The integument
of the basal parts may be smooth or minutely punctured and setiferous,
or it may be provided with bristly hairs or even longish hairs on the
convex side or towards apical part in neck region. Basally each basal
part may also be produced into a lobe or process. Avpically each basal
part, in the majority of forms, is usually provided with a separately
movable joint, which is referred to as the beaked apical joint (Ap.Jt.),
and which may represent the styles of some other Diptera. This
joint in some genera, such as Geron, Amictogeron, and Pseudoamictus,
may be represented by an apical, more or less immovable, process or
lobe. The beaked apical joints assume a variety of shapes and they
may be short, broad, oval or elongate, and cylindrical or leaf-shaped,
triangular or bird-head shaped. They may be flattened or hollowed
out above, or they may be convex above. Apically they may end in a
sharp, pointed beak, either directed downwards or outwards, or even
upwards. Sometimes no beak is present, and sometimes a subapical
process or accessory beak may be present. The beaked apical joint
may be more ridged or convex along its inner side above and there
provided with a row of spine-like bristly hairs or a tuft of short or
even longish bristly hairs. __
Lodged inside the cavity of the basal parts is the true aedeagal
apparatus or complex (shown in profile, from below or above in
many of the illustrations). This apparatus is attached or joined on
to the basal parts on each side not only by means of membranes but
also by a chitinous band or connecting chitinous strand, referred to
as the ramus (R.). By this ramus the aedeagal complex is kept in
position between the basal parts. The ramus from each side either
coalesces with its partner at the middle to form a bell-shaped or
rim-like part from which arises the apically directed aedeagus (Ae.).
The aedeagus itself is also variable in shape, and it may be long,
slender, curved or straight, short, tubular or spout-hke; it may be
hook-shaped, and in some forms it may even be scarcely evident.
Ventrally to it (i.e. away from concavity of basal parts) and towards
the base of it, the combined rami, or base of aedeagus and the rami,
may be produced apically into a ventral aedeagal process (V.Ae.
Pr. or Ae.Pr.), or even into two such processes, one on each side.
This ventral aedeagal process, where present, may assume various
shapes of specific importance, and may even be sometimes very
intricate, complex, and elaborate. ‘Towards and in the concave part
of basal parts the aedeagus may be prolonged towards the base on
each side into a prong, strap, or process (P.Str.), which may be
14 Annals of the South African Museum.
visibly projecting basally behind and beyond the other structures of
the aedeagal complex. The middle part (M.Pt.) of the aedeagal:
complex usually fits ito the aedeagal part, and is a conspicuous
part in most Bombyliids. Towards its thicker base on each side there
is a shoe-horn or tongue-shaped, flattened sclerite, ceferred to as the
lateral strut (L.Str.), which is also variable in its shape and size,
but is almost always slightly hollowed out on the side away from the
concavity of the basal parts. These lateral struts are usually some-
what twisted. Medially and joined on to the middle part, towards the
concavity of basal parts and just between the lateral struts, is a
peculiar, basally directed, chitinous sclerite, referred to as the basal
strut (Ba.Str.). This structure arising from a narrow, more deeply
coloured, chitinous base is usually extremely laterally compressed,
flattened from side to side, appearing linear from above or below, but
in profile it is broad, fan-like, racket-shaped, bat or chopper-shaped
(cf. side. views in the illustrations). Only rarely has this basally
directed strut any lateral or dorsal extensions or processes.
In addition to these essentials, the aedeagal apparatus may also
have accessory and symmetrical structures on each side, such as
prongs, curved spines or hook-like structures (cf. the hypopygial
structures of the Geroninae and Systropinae). A reference to the
numerous figures, drawn irom two or three different views and in the
majority of cases of either the left or the right half of the basal parts,
will acquaint the reader with the essential fundamentals more than
detailed descriptions. Throughout this paper, unless otherwise
stated, the convex side of the basal parts is considered as dorsal, for in
a large number of forms this side is directed towards the dorsal aspect
of the abdomen. In many forms, however, the hypopygium seems to
be reversed in position, the concave side, which lodges the aedeagal
apparatus, being directed to the true dorsum of the insect, and in other
forms it is even directed laterally. Enclosing the aedeagal complex,
on the opposite side to that of the basal parts, is the last apparent
sternite (or tergite if structures are reversed) to which is attached
apically on each side a small triangular, or subtriangular, terminal
plate (T.S. and T.T.). These plates, which probably correspond to
terminal elements of a segmental nature, are pretty uniform, but in
some forms they may also be of specific value in the separation of
species (see Systropinae). The last sternite (L.S.) is attached to the
base of basal part on each side and also by means of membranes. In
the majority of Bombyliids it is also very uniform in structure and
shape, only the apical margin being either truncate, slightly or much
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 15
produced or even emarginated, and the apical angles may also vary,
sometimes being acute or even prolonged. In some forms, such as the
Uswnae (cf. text-fig. 3 of the Palaearctic Usia versicolor), Systropinae,
and Toxophorinae (cf. text-figures under these subfamilies), the last
sternite, which is sometimes dorsal in position, is of taxonomic im-
TExT-FIG. 3.—Hypopygium of ¢ of Usia versicolor F., showing ventral and
side views, and above a view of aedeagal armature.
portance in that it may be produced or very much prolonged on each
side into a spine-like, prong-like, or even hooked process (L.S. and T.P.
in illustrations), which may act in conjunction with the hypopygium
during copulation.
The mechanical function of the various structures concerned in the
sexual act is not known, but, judging from their position in the
ensemble, there is reason to believe that the beaked apical joints or
processes open the vaginal aperture by an oblique, downward, and
outwardly directed movement and, when locked or closed in this
position, also act as anchors or grappling organs. The aedeagus is an
16 Annals of the South African Museum.
intromittent organ, acting as a guide for the penis proper and the
seminal duct inside it. The accessory structures or ventral aedeagal
processes, when present, may also act as supplementary grappling
organs or guides. The basally directed dorsal processes of the
aedeagus constitute centres for the attachment of muscles, which
probably control the movements of the aedeagus. The lateral and
basal struts, to which strong muscles are also attached in the living
insects, probably control the movements of both the middle part and
the aedeagus. A slight push on the flattened basal strut tends to
push the aedeagus hindwards and also obliquely downwards away
from the beaked apical joints. In the subfamilies Geroninae and
Systropinae, where the hypopygial structures are very complicated,
it is very difficult to predict the probable mechanical significance of
the various accessory structures.
The genitalia of the females have not been studied in this revision
and they appear to show more uniformity, but there is no doubt that
dissection and treatment of these pacts will also reveal generic and
specific differences. Females belonging to the Bombyliudae Tomoph-
thalmae usually have a row or brush of stoutish bristles or spine-like
bristles or even recurved hooks on each side of the genital plates. In
the case of Systropus the last sternite may be prolonged or produced,
sometimes even modified into a shining, horny, spine-like process. In
all Bombylids the male and female are joined end to end during
copulation, and in this position they are able to fly in either direction.
BIOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL.
Life History.—The life histories of comparatively few Bombylids
are known even from other parts of the world, and only about seven or
eight life histories are partially known from Southern Africa, and to
these reference is made in the text. From the comparatively little
that is known it is, however, accepted by all authors that the Bomby-
luidae are parasitic or predaceous in their larval stages, feeding on the
eggs, larvae, and pupae of other insects. According to a compilation of
Bezzi (pp. 10-12, ““ The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region,” 1924)
from the known facts, the larval stages of Bombylius parasitise solitary
bees, those of Systoechus and Anastoechus destroy the eggs in the egg-
packets of Oedipodine locusts, those of Geron parasitise the cater-
pillars of certain moths, those of Systropus develop in the caterpillars
or pupae of Limacodid-moths, those of Toxophora parasitise solitary
wasps, those of certain Lomatiwnae have been reared in the egg-
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 17
packets of locusts, those of some Anthracinae destroy the larvae of
solitary bees, fossorial wasps, and even beetles, and those of Ezopro-
sopinae are parasitic on the larvae of Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepid-
optera, Orthoptera, and even Coleoptera. Some species of Bombyliidae
are thus of economic importance in that they parasitise species of
insects which are injurious to man or his crops. Two species of
Systoechus in South Africa have been proved to parasitise the egg-
packets of the brown trek locust (Locustana pardalina), and, from an
economic point of view, these insects may prove to be important agents
in controlling this locust to a limited extent. Species of Thyridanthrax
have also been bred from Tsetse Flies (Glossina), and species of Villa
from destructive caterpillars. From complete life histories that have
been worked out in other parts of the world it appears that the eggs
TExtT-FIG. 4.—First instar of a Bombyliid larva (semidiagrammatic from
Uvarov and after Portchinsky).
are laid or deposited in the ground near or in the nest of the host, and
in many cases it appears that the hatched first instar has to make its
way into the egg-packet or nest of the host. The larva probably
passes through at least two or three instars before it pupates. The
first instar or newly hatched larva of some forms (cf. text-fig. 4 of a
Bombylius (semidiagrammatic from Uvarov and after Portchinsky))
is, according to Chapman (Ent. Month. Mag. xiv, 1878, p. 196),
Portchinsky (Dept. Agric. St Petersb., 1895, vide “ Locusts and Grass-
hoppers,” p. 109, Uvarov, 1928), and Nielsen (p. 647, Zool. Jahrb.,
Bd. xvii, 1903), an active triungulin type, provided with three pairs
of bristles instead of legs on the thorax and also a pair of terminal
bristles by means of which it can move very rapidly and find its food.
According to Portchinsky, this type of larva, of Systoechus autumnalis,
sometimes is unable to find its food at the period it hatches, in which
case it hibernates in the soil until the next spring, when it resumes its
quest. According to Nielsen, the first instar may moult and initiate
a sort of second instar closely resembling the first before entering the
final stage. The last instar, which is usually found feeding on the eggs
18 Annals of the South African Museum.
in the egg-packets or on the larvae of its host, is entirely different (cf.
text-fig. 127). Itis an eruciform type of larva, without eyes, antennae,
orappendages. Asso little is known about the larval stages of Bomby-
liids, it is doubtful whether all Bombylizdae pass through similar stages,
and there is reason to believe that in some cases, such as in Systropus,
the larva is an internal parasite in the caterpillars or pupae of Lima-
codid-moths. The pupae of known Bombylids (cf. text-figs. 129, 315,
etc.) are peculiar in being usually armed with cephalic processes or
spines, and also with transverse rows of partially embedded spines or
chitinous hooks on the abdominal segments. There is no doubt that
these spines and hooks facilitate movements in the soil, or may even
help to pierce the masonry cell walls or cocoon walls of their hosts.
From what is known it appears that the pupae of Bombyliids are
capable of active movement and to a much greater extent than in the
case of many other Diptera. |
Habits and Ecology.—From an ecological point of view the Bomby-
liidae of Southern Africa are interesting in that indirectly they are
associated with more or less distinct plant communities. Certain
areas supporting certain types of plant associations appear to be
proportionally richer in the number and variety of species of Bomby-
liids than others where the same or similar communities are wanting.
The prevalence of certain plant communities is due to various environ-
mental factors of which climate is probably the most important.
Indirectly the distribution and preponderance of certain species of
Bombylids are thus due to climatic factors. The adults of all known
Bombylids feed on the pollen, nectar, and secretions of flowers, and
the presence of flowering plants thus plays a great role in the lives of
these insects. Both from a collector’s point of view and from geo-
graphical data as regards localities, there appears to be little doubt
that the semi-arid and more barren parts of Southern Africa, such as
the Little Karoo, the Gouph Karoo, the Great Karoo, the Nieuwveld
Karoo, Namaqualand, and Bushmanland, are proportionally area for
area richer in Bombylidae than any of the other regions considered in
this revision. Judging from the known number and variety of species,
recorded and described in literature from other parts of the Ethiopian
Continent, there is also no doubt that the above-mentioned areas are
also richer in numbers and species than any other part in Africa.
The Karoo and the neighbouring semi-arid regions may thus be said
to support a very rich Bombyliid-fauna and may be considered as an
environment where the Bombyliidae of Southern Africa have reached
their maximum development, both in species, varieties, and numbers.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 19
~The Karooid type of plant associations, comprised mostly of sclero-
phyllous plants and shrubs, mesembryanthemums, xerophytes, suc-
culents, and numerous drought-resistant plants, subjected to very
dry conditions but profusely flowering at times, is thus a very favour-
able environment for the development of these insects. Such factors
as a comparatively high diurnal temperature, low rainfall, a profusion
of flowers after showers, an abundance of other insect hosts and
adequate soil conditions no doubt play important roles in the life of
Bombyliuds. As all Bombylhids are heat-loving insects, and are more
abundantly found during the noontide heat, their preference for a warm
environment and maximum sunshine is obvious. In view of the fact
that they are dependent on flowers for their subsistence, they in-
directly play a great role in the pollination of our Karoo flowers.
During their larval stages they are parasitic on the developmental
stages of other insects, and the abundance of such insects is to them a
great necessity. Second only to the Karoo in the number of forms is
the Bombyliid-fauna of the type of environment which prevails at the
Cape and in the south and south-western Cape Province, where an
abundance of flowering plants, heaths, composites, and proteaceous
plants attains a maximum glory during spring and early summer, and
where a peculiar mountainous flora attracts a certain type of insect-
fauna. On the other hand, the Bombylid-fauna, both in numbers and
species, are relatively fewer in the grassland, steppe, or savanna,
where Dicotyledons play a minor role. In fact, comparatively few
Bombyliids are found in grass country, and when represented they are
usually found along the more wooded and dry river courses, on the
rocky prominences or in hilly country where more Dicotyledons
flourish and where a greater variety of plants thrive, or even in the
broken mimosa or mopane bush of the interiors and plateaux.
The Bombyludae of Southern Africa, and especially of its semi-arid
and more barren parts, are not only remarkably rich in numbers and
species, but there are also numerous genera and species which appear
‘to be peculiar to these regions or which show characters not found in
related genera and species in other parts of the world. Peculiar to
and endemic in the southern parts of Africa are genera, such as
Dischistus s.str., Doliogethes n. gen., Lepidochlanus n. gen., Adelrdea,
Sosiomyia, Conophorina, Cheilohadrus n. gen., Corsomyza, Callyn-
throphora, Gnumyia, Megapalpus, Crocidium, Adelogenys n. gen.,
Apatomyza, Amictogeron n. gen., Pseudoamictus, Onchopelma n. gen.,
-Oniromyia, Nomalonia, Henica, Peringueyemyia, Tomomyza, Pan-
tostomus, Pteraulax, Synthesia, etc. By far the greater number of
20 Annals of the South African Musewm.
these genera have been recorded only from the Karoo, Little Karoo,
the N.W. Karoo, Bushmanland, and Namaqualand.* Some genera,
such as Bombylius, Systoechus, Anastoechus, Phthiria, Apolysis, and
Geron, on the other hand, are represented by peculiar and character-
istic species, or are even richer in the number of species than in other
zoo-geographical regions. Characteristic species are also found in
the case of Chasmoneura n. gen., Platypygus, Empididercus, Lomatia,
and Hxoprosopa, some of the groups of the latter genus being pre-
eminently or exclusively South African.
The habits of Bombyliids are little known, and as in the case of most
other groups in nature much information is needed on this point.
They are usually very rapid fliers, their powers of flight increasing as the
temperature rises, and from about eleven o’clock in the morning to
four o’clock in the afternoon they seem to reach their maximum abund-
ance and swiftness. All of them feed on the pollen and nectar of
flowers, but also on the exudations of young shoots and leaves. Certain
species are almost always found settling on or in flowers, and some of
them even appear to be associated with certain flowers. Others, again,
are more usually found hovering over and settling on the soil or hot
sand between shrubs. Many frequent rocky prominences, settling on
the rocks in the hot sun or go there late in the afternoon. Many rapid
fliers hover in the air, producing a monotonous and high-pitched hum,
darting now here and then there. Quite a number prefer dry river
courses, where they settle on the drift sand or exposed rocks. An
interesting point about the hovering and settling habit is that an
individual, which hovers over or settles on a certain spot, when dis-
turbed will fly away but will eventually return to the same spot again
after a while. An individual seems to be restricted to a more or less
limited area, hovering here, settling there on a flower or on the ground,
flying a few paces away and settling again, but after a while repeating
the same procedure over the same ground. As in the case of many
other insects, Bombyliuds are very sensitive to cold, cold winds, and
stormy weather. They become sluggish during cold weather and are
not to be found flying about; specimens often being found clinging to
bushes in a torpid condition. During strong wind they avoid the
windy side of hillocks or hills. Many species appear to come out only
at certain times of the day, and certain kinds are seen only in the fore-
* A species of the interesting Corsomyza has, however, been described as a fossil
from the Baltic Amber of the Lower Oligocene (Tertiary Period). This genus thus
appears to be palaeo-endemic in South Africa. Other ancient genera, from the
Baltic Amber and still living, are Bombylius, Lomatia, and Anthrax.
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 21
“noon while others are abundant in the afternoon. In South Africa
Bombylids appear to be more common and numerous during spring
and early summer, but are only abundant during these seasons when
flowers are abundant or when there is a luxuriant plant growth after
rains. Many forms are, however, also found during the hottest part
of the day even in winter, especially in the Karoo and northern parts of
the country. Bombyluds on the whole, however, are heat-loving
insects, and the dense hairy coat so characteristic of the majority of
forms is probably not purely ornamental but probably subserves
special physical and physiological functions in the dry environment
where they preponderate. The dense pubescence is a protection
against solar radiation, heat and light. The pale, gleaming, lurid, or
fulvous reflecting hairs and bristly hairs reflect light and prevent the
absorption of heat, a physiological necessity in a dry environment.
SYSTEMATIC AND DESCRIPTIVE.
Bezzi in his paper, “The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region,’’
divided this family into two great divisions, the Bombyliidae Homoe-
ophthalmae and the Bombylidae Tomophthalmae. These divisions he
based on either the absence or the presence of an emargination or
sinuosity along the hind margins of the eyes, and also on the non-
bilobate or bilobate condition of the occiput, and to a certain extent
also on the nature of the wing-venation. According to Bezzi, however,
certain genera, such as Nomalonia, Henica, Peringueyrmyra, Tomomyza,
and Pantostomus, are also included in the first great division, where the
eyes are not emarginate behind and the occiput is not bilobate. These
genera, however, though not having emarginate eyes, have a distinct
bilobate occiput and also wing-characters agreeing more with the
second division. There is no doubt, however, that the first three of
these, and especially Peringueyimyia, are transitional forms. For
purposes of convenience it is, however, better to adhere to one
character common throughout the first division rather than an
ensemble of characters which is not strictly distinctive for either the
one or the other. In this revision the first part thus deals with all the
genera not having a distinct and characteristic bilobate occiput, and
to the second part are referred all genera, including those alluded
to above, which have a distinct or pronounced bilobate occiput. To
the second part is also appended a comprehensive index, a biblio-
graphical list, an appendix, and a note on the number of genera,
species, and varieties described and recorded from Southern Africa.
VOL. XXXIV. 3
22 Annals of the South African Museum.
PARP LT
(With 332 Text-figs.)
Division I.
Occipital region behind eyes not distinctly bilobate, usually flattened
or concavely hollowed out, or merely with a slight central groove-like
depression or shallow furrow down the occiput from behind ocellar
tubercle, and never with a very deep slit-like channel or sulcation
leading into a deep concavity in head behind, constituting a marked
bilobate condition; eyes with the hind margins entire, rarely obviously
sinuate and only deeply emarginate in one genus (Hurycarenus),
always without a bisecting line or such division if present, due only to
larger size of upper facets and then confined to 3; wings with the
common base of second and third longitudinal veins before fork usually
very much shorter, with the second longitudinal vein usually origin-
ating at an acute angle from the third one, and the vein separating
submarginal cells usually not provided with a distinct and even long
basally directed or projecting stump or appendix near its base where
it bends down to meet the third longitudinal vein.
Key to subfamilies, groups, and genera of Division I.
1. (76) Thorax without a distinctly visible, broad, and well-marked-off prothorax
or pronotal part, forming a conspicuous ring or collar, and if such is
indicated it is small, narrow, and hidden by the large mesonotal part
which abuts on the occiput and is also not provided with stoutish macro-
chaetal bristles; scutellum not markedly flattened; legs with the
femora, especially the hind ones, not tending to be markedly incrassate
and narrowed apically and basally and without markedly long and dense
spines, and elongate, flattened, and fluted scales on the tibiae, especially
hind ones; antennae without very dense and conspicuous, bushy scaling
on all the joints . : » | epee
2. (75) Body not simulating or minasokene thas of Aone: Hynenogiaa such
as Sphex, Sceliphron, etc., or even Vespids like Belonogaster; meta-
sternal region not strongly, broadly, and abnormally developed; abdomen
not remarkably long and also without a slender stalk or petiole ending
in a club as in Sphegids and Vespids; legs, especially the hind ones,
not abnormally long and the front femora without an elliptical callus-
like area; terminal lappets or plates to last sternite (even if dorsal in
position), which encloses the aedeagal complex of hypopygium of gd,
without a black, hardened, sculptured callus : . &
3. (70) Wings with 2 or 3, not less than 2, submarginal cells aan antennae
triarticulate, but the third joint may end in terminal elements or in a
style, rarely quadriarticulate, and if an obvious fourth joint is present
the wings have at least 2 submarginal cells; head with the occipital
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 23
region usually flattened, slightly hollowed or only slightly convex, not
markedly and roundly convexly developed, with the eyes not tending
to be shifted forwards; body usually moderate or large, rarely very
small, with the pubescence usually dense, moderately dense or at least
visibly present in majority of cases, rarely very sparse and short; tibiae
usually with distinct rows of spicules and apical spurs and the basal
joint of hind tarsi never with a basal process or hook below in gg; last
sternite in ¢¢ with the upper apical angle on each side rounded or only
subangularly produced but not produced into a sharp, spine-like, or
hook-like process; hypopygium of gg without any dorsal or ventral
process and rarely with a flattened lateral process on each side of the
basally directed, flattened basal strut from the middle part of aedeagal
complex . i . 42
4. (69) Head with the vertex and fort tneeliy Sguially itoad in ‘Bothy sexes, and
if nearly so the frons is not roundly very convex (from side), with the
ocellar tubercle, when well developed, not markedly broad and centrally
grooved towards base and always with 3 well-developed ocelli present,
with the lower apical part of first antennal joints not conspicuously
dilated or tumidly and globularly enlarged, without any distinct, dense,
and conspicuous scaling on the labral part of proboscis; wings usually
well developed, normal, and broad, not remarkably narrow and feeble
in relation to body and with the base not remarkably narrow . 3) ROR
5. (56) Wings with 4 posterior cells always present and always with a discoidal
cell; antennae with joint 3 rod-like, club-shaped, pointed, and if
modified either broad, flattened, incrassate or clavate apically or even
excavate apically but not ending apically in an upper and a lower
spine-like process or a distinct subapical upper spine or hook-like
process; genae with the hairs or bristly hairs not concentrated in a
forwardly and upwardly directed tuft or brush; abdomen in 992 never
with segment 8 produced on each side below into a lobe-like or lappet-
like process; thorax only rarely very convex and humped in appearance
6 (Bombyliinae) (p. 40).
6. (39) Wings with the anal cell open, not angularly acute and closed apically,
and not provided with a distinct short or long stalk; antennae with
joint 3 not clavate or thickened apically or excavated apically, and
rarely ending apically in a long and distinct terminal joint or terminal
elements, and if with longish terminal elements the anal cell of wings is
open; hind femora rarely without spines below, and if no spines are
present the anal cell is open : : 5 : : ae ys
7. (38) Antennae with joint 3 not ending in a very long and alsindex terminal
element or joint; scutellum not bilobate or bispinose apically; wings
with the marginal cell not markedly and abnormally broad and dilated
apically, and with the second longitudinal vein not arcuately curving
hindwards towards hind border . : : chgeSe
8. (19) Wings with the first posterior cell acute and aigstal saicallye either provided
with a distinct stalk of variable length, or it may be very angularly acute
apically and with a very short stalk, or it may even be acute and sessile
on the hind border of wings, but it is never distinctly and broadly open,
and in cases* provided with a moderately long stalk the vein between
Annals of the South African Museum.
first and second posterior cells is not markedly S-curved and the alula
of wings is always well developed and broadly lobate; first antennal
joints not distinctly or widely separated and rarely very incrassate;
femora rarely without spines below, and if without spines first posterior
cell is not open . ; : ava : ; ae)
9. (18) Frons, face, and genae not smooth and brilliantly shining, the face not
10. (17
1]
)
very markedly conically produced and separated from frons in front of
antennae by a distinct, deep, transverse furrow; metapleurae usually
hairy and always with a distinct tuft of hairs or bristly hairs just before
base of halteres and above posterior thoracic spiracles; wings with a
more or less well developed or distinct basal comb and with the alula
always broad, lobe-like, and well developed; legs with spines, or some
spines, on the femora below, especially the hind ones . ‘ . 102
Hind margin of eyes without a distinct deep sinuosity or emargination;
antennal joint 3 with only shortish terminal elements or a style apically;
wings with the vein between the first and second posterior cells joining
on to or received by the vein separating these cells from second sub-
marginal cell; frons in 99 at least without a row of conspicuous and very
stout macrochaetal bristles on each side; hypopygium of ¢¢ with the
dorsal apical part of basal parts not produced apically and upwards or
obliquely upwards into a transverse, flattened, lobe-like part or process,
and also without a very conspicuous tuft of stiff, bristly hairs or bristles
on outer lower margin in neck region of basal parts ‘ : oo WE
. (14) Wings with the first basal cell distinctly much longer than second basal
. (13
. (12
avi
)
)
cell; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 2 and 6—77) . : ; Ee
Wings with 3 submarginal cells present
Bombylius (Triplasius Lw.) (p. 114).
Wings with only 2 submarginal cells present . Bombylius L. (p. 41).
Wings with the first basal cell as long as second basal cell .. - bE
(16) Head across eyes markedly broad, at least as broad, or slightly broader
than broadest part of thorax, with the frons broad in 92 and without
a distinct central furrow in G¢ and without a transverse depression or
groove apically in 99; wings with the discoidal cell very broad and
distinctly more truncate apically, its apical cross vein long and usually
longer than the discal cross vein, with the squamae more distinctly
bilobed, the smaller lobe nearest thorax comparatively large and broad;
claws more often almost straight and only slightly curved, rarely sickle-
shaped, and the pulvilli always short, not extending beyond middle of
claws even in gg; pubescence on face and body below always strikingly
or conspicuously frosty, cretaceous, or chalky white; hypopygium of
dG (text-figs. 78-91) with the beaked apical joints usually very broad
in basal two-thirds, leaf-shaped and the dorsum distinctly depressed or
even foveately hollowed out, with the aedeagus never falcate and the
ramus on each side from basal part never produced apically into a
rod-like or stylet-like process on each side of aedeagus, there being
either no process or a different type of process
Anastoechus Ost. Sack. (p. 290).
16. (15) Head across eyes not markedly broad and almost always narrower than
broadest part of thorax, with the frons comparatively narrower, having
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 25
a distinct indication or a distinct central furrow in $¢ and always with
a transverse depression anteriorly in 29; wings with the discoidal cell
more acute apically, its apical cross vein being distinctly shorter and
usually shorter than discal cross vein, with the squamae less distinctly
bilobed, the smaller lobe being only indicated, scarcely distinct; claws
almost always sickle-shaped, either rapidly or more gradually curved
downwards to apex, rarely almost straight, and the pulvilli long in both
sexes, extending to much beyond middle of claws, and if to about middle
the other characters at least do not conform; pubescence on face and
body below only rarely frosty or chalky white and then not uniformly
and very conspicuously so; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 92-142) with
the beaked apical joints more elongate and narrow, more gradually
narrowed to apex and not distinctly hollowed out above, with the
aedeagus either falcate, its ventral part being produced into a thin
keel-like plate, or, if not falcate, the ramus on each side from basal part is
produced into an apically projecting rod-like or stylet-like process on
each side of aedeagus . : : . Systoechus Lw. (p. 292).
17. (10) Hind margin of eyes with a deep sinuosity or comparatively deep
emargination; antennal joint 3 with a longer and more conspicuous
terminal joint or joints; wings with the vein separating first and second
posterior cells passing straight to hind border, being joined by or
receiving the vein between first posterior and second submarginal cells
like a cross vein; frons in 99° with a row of 2, or more, very stout and
conspicuous macrochaetal bristles on each side; hypopygium of g¢
(text-figs. 143-148) with the dorsal apical part of basal parts produced
apically and upwards or obliquely upwards into a transverse, flattened
lobe or process, the upper edge of whichis usually black, slightly recurved,
and armed with ctenate spines, longer, more distinct, and more comb-like
on the outer edge or laterally, with a distinct tuft of long, stiff bristles
on lower outer margin in neck region of basal parts
Eurycarenus Lw. (p. 507).
18. (9) Frons, face, and genae very smooth, bare, and brilliantly shining black,
the face markedly and conically prominent in front and separated from
frons in front of antennae by a deep, transverse furrow; metapleurae
bare, but with a tuft of hairs in front of halteres; wings without, or
with only a very feebly developed, basal comb and with the alula very
feebly developed, very narrow, and not broadly lobe-like; legs without
any spines on the femora below; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 150).
Sisyrophanus Karsch (p. 523).
19. (8) Wings with the first posterior cell open or broadly open on hind border
and thus without a stalk and also never sessile on border, and if in very
rare cases the cell is stalked the alula is vestigial and the vein between
first and second posterior cells is more distinctly S-curved, the femora
are without spines below and the first antennal joints are separated
basally and incrassate : . 20.
20. (37) Antennae with joints ] and 2 not saeintiealy beaches ibd sloieate: and
if joint 1 is elongate it is not markedly and conspicuously thickened
or incrassate, and joint 2 especially is not strikingly incrassate, barrel-
shaped, and elongate; vertex in 99 not very tumid, the ocellar tubercle
26 Annals of the South African Museum.
not markedly elevated; face usually more prominent; palps not
obviously, visibly, and distinctly 3-jointed; wings with either 2 or 3
submarginal cells present . ; . : ; : sees
. (34) Wings with only 2 submarginal cells presente ; 22.
2. (33) Head with the occipital part on each side behind eyes wet hooad and
somewhat inflated, with the face not relatively broad and tumidly or
conically prominent, narrower, and if conical not tumidly prominent
medially, with the third antennal joints rod-like, slender, pointed but
not markedly elliptical or shortly spindle-shaped and without a dense
covering of spinule-like pubescence, wings, if infuscated, not mottled or
marbled . : . 2oe
23. (30) Body more plump, ae slonate, the abdlemen wot ranked elongate
and cylindrical; wings rarely with the basal comb absent or with the
alula vestigial and much reduced, and if so the vein separating sub-
marginal cells is distinctly more S-shaped and the femora are without
spines below; antennal joint 3 stouter, more rod-like, comparatively
more bluntly pointed, and if slender and more sharply pointed the first
joints are thickened and separated, and femora without spines below;
palps with the apical joints not characteristically thickened or clavate
and not directed upwards; metapleurae rarely entirely bare, and if so
hind femora are without spines; last sternite of abdomen in ¢¢ rarely
elongate and scoop-like, and if so the femora are not spined; hypopygium
of gg without a subapical lobe or spine-like process on beaked apical
joints, and the aedeagus not markedly long or very slender . . 24,
24. (25) Antennae with the first joints separated, very much thickened and
incrassate, barrel-shaped, with joint 3 elongate and slender, spindle or
subspindle shaped, the apical part very slender; face somewhat produced
and spout-like, bare; wings with the base narrowed, the alula much
reduced, the axillary lobe also reduced and narrowish, the discal cross
vein very much beyond middle of discoidal cell, and the first posterior
cell sometimes closed and stalked apically; pubescence very dense,
fine and shaggy, puff-like, that on head above, antennal joint 1, sides
ot face and genae very long, dense and conspicuous, without any pubes-
cence on metapleurae, the tuft being also absent; last sternite in ¢¢
elongate and scoop-like; legs with dense and longish hairs on femora
below, without any spines on femora below, with the claws curved down
apically and the pulvilli long, reaching apices of claws; hypopygium of
3d (text-figs. 151-154) with the beaked apical joints usually directed
outwards and having a peculiar twisted structure, with the aedeagus
usually broad, tubular, and spout-like Dischistus Lw. s. str. (p. 527).
25, (24) Antennae with the first joints contiguous, scarcely thickened, usually
slender, with joint 3 not spindle-shaped, but rod-like, subrod-like, or
only thickened near base; face broadly rounded, not prominent or much
produced, sometimes also bare; wings with the base not markedly
narrowed, the alula always well developed and lobate, the axillary lobe
always broad and lobate, the discal cross vein very much before middle,
at or near middle or only a little beyond middle of discoidal cell and the
first posterior cell always open; pubescence much shorter, less dense,
not very shaggy or puff-like, sometimes comparatively sparse and short,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 27
especially in 99, that on head above and on face shorter and less dense,
and if dense it is much shorter, with some scaling or hairs on metapleurae
and always with a metapleural tuft of hairs or scales; last sternite in §¢
shortish and broad, truncated or slightly rounded but not elongate and
scoop-like; legs with much shorter, or without much, hair on femora
below and always with some spines on hind femora beiow, with the claws
either curved down rapidly or more gradually and the pulvilli short or
long; hypopygium of jg with the beaked apical joints not twisted, and
with the aedeagus less stout and tubular : 26.
26. (29) Pubescence on body above with the bristly baits and ‘pristleg et dis-
tinctly frayed or fimbriate apically, without very dense, flattened,
lanceolate scaling on pleurae and body below, the scaling, when present,
being denser only on body above; head with the frons in 99 always with
a distinct transverse depression anteriorly, with the first antennal joints
never distinctly thickened and without distinct visible short hairs on
the third antennal joints, with the first terminal element of antennal
joint 3 usually longer, conical, and more conspicuous; wings with the
basal comb slightly or even distinctly more developed, the discoidal cell
longer, narrower, and not broad or short and triangular and without a
tendency for anal cell to be distinctly much narrowed or subacute
apically; pulvilli, when reduced, at least more conspicuous at base of
claws; hypopygium of j¢ always with a distinct membrane or ventral
eadeagal process, or with a ventral apically directed process on each
side below aedeagus . ; 2s
27. (28) Eyes in $¢ very narrowly anacated, SiConibi sab is or beaadiy separated
above, broadly or very broadly separated in 99, usually 3-5 times as
broad as ocellar tubercle; frons in 2° with the transverse depression at
about the middle or just a little beyond the middle, the frons and face
in 9° and face in §¢ never brilliantly shining black; antennae with
joint 1 usually longer and with 3 usually shorter, and when long never
much more than about 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually
narrowed apically from broader base or subrod-like and slightly curved;
wings with the discal cross vein very much before middle, rarely near or
at middle, of discoidal cell, the discoidal cell distinctly broader and
more truncate apically, the basal comb usually slightly more developed;
pubescence on the whole shorter in ¢d, less sparse in 99, always with
some pubescence on face in both sexes, without any opalescent, gleaming,
silvery whitish scaling or even dense golden scaling on thorax and
abdomen, and without any silvery tufts or black tufts on sides of antennae;
body usually with much red or reddish on face, pleurae, and on abdomen
in both sexes; legs always with a few spines on middle femora below,
and with the pulvilli long or short; last sternite in fg with the posterior
lateral angles rounded and not angularly pointed; hypopygium of gg
(text-figs. 155-165) with only a ventral membranous expansion below
aedeagus or with a distinct lateral apically produced process, not ending
in a distinct spine, on each side below aedeagus
Doliogethes n. gen. (p. 545).
28. (27) Eyes in ¢¢ always in direct or actual contact for a short distance above,
not very broadly separated in 29, usually less than 3 times as broad as
28 Annals of the South African Museum.
ocellar tubercle; frons in 99 with the transverse depression farther
forwards and just behind antennae and often with a medial depression
leading up to tubercle, the frons and face in 99 and face in $¢ very often
brilliantly shining black; antennae with joint 1 usually short and only
about 2-24 times as long as 2, with 3 more elongate and rod-like, straight,
at least 14 times, and usually more than 1} times, as long as 1 and 2
combined; wings with the discal cross vein in the neighbourhood of the
middle of discoidal cell, the discoidal cell more narrowed apically, the
basal comb smaller; pubescence on the whole sparser in both sexes,
more so in 99, rarely dense in gg, that on face medially wanting, with
denser and more conspicuous scaling on body above, especially in 99,
rarely without a silvery tuft on each side of antennae in 99, more often
with opalescent, glittering, bluish or greenish, metallic scaling on frons
and body above in 929, and with gleaming, silvery white scaling on
abdomen above in both sexes, or especially in $f; body, including
scutellum, predominantly black, rarely with reddish on pleurae or
abdomen; legs only with spines on hind femora below, and with the
pulvilli always reaching apices of claws; last sternite in gg with the
posterior lateral angles angular or even angularly produced; hypopygium
of $¢ (text-figs. 166-172) with a distinct lateral apically produced process
on each side of aedeagus below, ending in a curved or recurved, slender
hook or prong, or with a complex and broad ventral aedeagal process
below aedeagus provided with a long or curved spine or hook on each
side . ‘ A _. Chasmoneura n. gen. (p. 586).
29. (26) Pubescence on body nove with the bristly hairs and bristles frayed or
fimbriate at their apices, with very dense hair-like scaling, either whitish
or cinnabar-red, on body above and dense, flattened, lanceolate scaling
on face, antennae, pleurae, and venter in both sexes; head with the frons
in 29 convex and without a transverse depression, with the face broadly
rounded and not prominent, with the first antennal joints slightly
thickened and with distinct, visible, short hairs on antennal joint 3 and
with the terminal elements minute and inconspicuous or in form of a
hair; wings with the basal comb very feebly developed, the discoidal
cell shorter, broad, triangular, or bell-shaped and with a tendency for
anal cell to be narrowed or even acute apically; pulvilli much reduced,
vestigial, scarcely visible in 99, and only indicated in gg; hypopygium
of 3¢ (text-fig. 173) more Bombylius-like, without any ventral aedeagal
process below aedeagus : ; . Lepidochlanus n. gen. (p. 6138).
30. (23) Body more elongate and cylindrical, the abdomen markedly elongate;
wings with the basal comb absent and the alula much reduced or
vestigial, the second longitudinal vein less bent up at its end, and the
vein separating the submarginal cells less S-curved; antennal joint 3
more slender, elongate, and pointed; palps with the apical joint short,
thickened, and directed upwards; metapleurae entirely bare; last sternite
in gg elongate and scoop-like; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 174-196)
with a subapical lobe or spine-like process on elongated apical joints
and with the aedeagus elongate and sometimes very slender . . oly
3]
31. (32) Body less cylindrical, less humped, and the abdomen broader; pubescence
much denser and more shaggy, puff-like, that on antennae below and
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 29
on face very much shorter, that on abdomen much denser and longer
and also present above; frons in 99 with a distinct transverse depression ;
antennae shorter and joint 1 much shorter and less than 5 times as
long as 2; wings with the second longitudinal vein straight and less
sinuous at its end, with the alula, though reduced, more developed and
with the anal cell more narrowly open; legs shorter and less developed,
with denser and longer hairs on femora below in both sexes, and middle
tibiae with 1 or 2 pallid spurs apically below; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-
figs. 174-195) without a very long, slender, and curved aedeagus, without
a lateral lobe on each side of aedeagus and with the basal strut directed
towards base. . Gonarthrus Bezz. (p. 619).
32. (31) Body more elongate, more oplinelnial: the thorax slightly, but distinctly,
more humped and the abdomen narrower and more cylindrical; pubes-
cence sparser, less dense and fine, not fine and puff-like on thorax, that
on antennae below and face very much longer, that on abdomen less
dense and shorter and sparse or absent above; frons in 99 with a distinct
groove-like depression; antennae much longer and joint 1 conspicuously
elongate, quite 5-53 times as long as 2; wings with the second longi-
tudinal vein slightly undulating and distinctly, though slightly, more
sinuous at end, with the alula very much reduced, vestigial, and with
the anal cell more broadly open; legs longer, more powerful, and with
much shorter and fewer hairs on femora below and middle tibiae with
the apical spurs all unicolorous; hypopygium of jg (text-fig. 196) with
a long, slender and curved aedeagus, with a lateral, flattened process or
lobe at base of aedeagus on each side and with the basal strut directed
towards apex of abdomen . : . Paratoxophora Engel. (p. 669).
33. (22) Head with the occipital part on each side behind eyes broad and some-
what inflated or tumidly prominent, with the face relatively, broadly,
and tumidly prominent, with the third antennal joints (text-fig. 197)
distinctly spindle-shaped and covered with dense spinule-like pubescence;
wings extensively mottled or marbled (text-fig. 198); hypopygium of
6 (text-fig. 199) : : ; Cheilohadrus n. gen. (p. 674).
34. (21) Wings with 3 submarginal sails present : - 2 30%
35. (36) Antennal joint 3 from side (cf. text-figs. 200-205) iat maeeeale: broadened
towards base, and not distinctly hollowed out below in $4, and not con-
spicuously broad and bellows-shaped in 99, and without long, stoutish,
bristly hairs or bristles near base above, and long slender hairs near
apex below; antennal joint 1 not markedly thickened; frons in 99
without or with a less distinct transverse depression, which when indicated
is slightly farther back; hairs and bristly hairs on face and genae shorter
and sparser; wings without any pubescent hairs at base above and with
a distinct fringe on the alula; hypopygium of $3 (text-figs. 200-206)
Adelidea Macq. (p. 680).
(Syn. =Sobarus Lw.).
36. (35) Antennal joint 3 from side (text-fig. 207, b and c) markedly broader and
dilated near base and hollowed out or slightly excavated below in $3
(b), very strikingly broadened basally and bellows-shaped in 9° (c), and
with long, bristly hairs or bristles above near base and also below near
apex in both sexes; antennal joint | distinctly incrassate and thickened;
30 Annals of the South African Museum.
frons in 92 with a more distinct transverse depression just behind bases
of antennae; hairs and bristly hairs on face and genae distinctly longer
and denser; wings with distinct pubescent hairs at base above and with
an almost absent, very sparse or vestigial, fringe on the alula; hypo-
pygium of J (text-fig. 207, a) . : : Sosiomyia Bezz. (p. 702).
37. (20) Antennae with joints 1 and 2 markedly elongate, markedly and con-
spicuously thickened and incrassate, joint 2 being especially elongate,
incrassate, and barrel-shaped; vertex in 99 more or less tumidly raised,
the ocellar tubercle being more prominent and elevated; face poorly
developed, not prominent but only bluntly rounded; palps obviously
and distinctly 3-jointed; wings with only 2 submarginal cells present;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 208) . : Conophorina Beck. (p. 705).
38. (7) Antennae with joint 3 ending in a remarkably long and slender terminal
element or fourth joint (cf. text-fig. 209); scutellum (text-fig. 210),
bispinose or bilobate apically; wings with the marginal cell markedly
broad or dilated apically, the second longitudinal vein arcuately curving
hindwards towards hind border (cf. text-fig. 211); hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 212) . : : . Othniomyia n. gen. (p. 707).
39. (6) Wings with the anal cell ansiileeie acute apically and very rarely not
closed and provided with a stalk; antennae with joint 3 clavate, thickened
or excavated apically or ending in distinct terminal elements or joints;
femora without any spines below : : . 40.
40. (49) Head very broad, sometimes markedly pioadl as -amoad as, or broader
than, thorax, with the eyes in gg broadly separated, at least as broad
as broad ocellar tubercle and sometimes very much broader, with the
frons broad, with the facial region usually very broad, inflated, or tumid,
and sometimes with a characteristic dense brush of bristly hairs on facial
part, constituting a circumoral brush, with the third antennal joints
clavate, thickened, or excavated apically, and the terminal elements
reduced or absent; last sternite of abdomen in g¢ notched medially;
thorax not humped in appearance and body on the whole with much
denser and longer pubescence; wings sometimes with 3 submarginal
cells; hypopygium of known go (text-figs. 214-217, 219-223, 227, 229-
231, and 233-237) usually with a characteristic, somewhat laterally
compressed, claw-shaped or hook-like beaked apical joints
4] (Corsomyza-group) (p. 712).
41. (46) Facial region not so strikingly and markedly tumidly prominent or
inflated, the frons in front less tumid, sides of face, the face and genae
not so strikingly inflated; antennal joint 1 not distinctly thickened and
barrel or subbarrel-shaped and usually longer; proboscis usually longer,
and when short always projecting beyond antennae; buccal cavity
situated more in front of head; hypopygium of gg (text-figs. 214-217,
219-223, and 227-233) with the beaked apical joints more markedly
claw-like and distinctly more laterally compressed : , 2) eae
42, (43) Head in front markedly broad, the facial region very broad, the sides
of face and genae more tumid, with the inner margins of eyes distinctly
diverging down sides of facial region in both sexes, the head below being
much broaded than vertex, even in 99; antennae inserted much higher
up, at least half or very nearly half the distance from front ocellus to
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 31
edge of buccal rim; pubescence on body distinctly denser and more
conspicuous, especially in ¢¢, with that on facial region in form of a
distinct and characteristic, dense, circular, facial brush, even in 99, and
when not conspicuous in 99 the hairs on face are at least more numerous;
empodium between claws and pulvilli usually slightly longer and more
developed; hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 214-227)
Corsomyza Wied. (p. 714).
43. (42) Head in front not markedly broad, the facial region not conspicuously
broad, the sides of face and genae not very tumidly prominent, with
the inner margins of eyes down sides of facial region subparallel in 99?
at least, the head below about as broad as, or scarcely broader than,
vertex, and when broader, as in some gg, a conspicuous facial brush is
absent; antennae inserted much lower down, either just above buccal rim
or much less than half distancefrom buccalrim to front ocellus; pubescence
on body very much sparser, and the 99 sometimes almost bare, the erect
pubescence being very sparse, without a distinct, circular, and dense,
facial brush in both sexes; empodium less distinct and shorter . 44,
44, (45) Eyes in both sexes broadly separated above, the interocular space being
very much broader than ocellar tubercle, with the inner margins of eyes
parallel or subparallel in both sexes; buccal rim in facial part protruding
prominently and spout-like, especially its upper part; antennae inserted
higher up nearer middle of distance between buccal rim and front ocellus;
proboscis longer, and the palps more slender and relatively longer;
thorax with a distinct stoutish, macrochaetal bristle on each side in front
of wings; pleurae almost entirely bare and shining, even a small meta-
pleural tuft absent; wings comparatively shorter, the alula more reduced
and vestigial, the axillary lobe also much narrower and more reduced;
Jegs with much sparser hairs, and with only inconspicuous, or without
any, bristly hairs apically above last tarsal joint; hypopygium of ¢¢
(text-fig. 229) : é : : : Megapalpus Macq. (p. 759).
45, (44) Eyes in gg above much more narrowly separated, by width of tubercle,
or only a little more and very much narrower than in the 29, and with
the inner margins not parallel in gg; buccal rim not protruding and
spout-like in both sexes; antennae inserted almost immediately above
buccal rim; proboscis usually much shorter and palps less elongate and
usually thicker; thorax without any stouter or distinct macrochaetal
bristles in front of wings; pleurae with more, though sparse, hairs even
in 99 and with a small metapleural tuft usually present; wings distinctly
longer, the alula slightly more developed, broader and less vestigial and
the axillary lobe much broader, often markedly subtriangularly lobe-
like; legs with slightly more numerous hairs on femora, even in 99,
and last tarsal joint with a few, or at least one, long bristly hairs apically
above; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 230, 231, and 233)
Hyperusia Bezz. (p. 764).
46. (41) Facial region remarkably broad, markedly tumidly prominent or inflated,
the frons in front more tumidly prominent, sides of face (or face) and
genae very tumid or inflated; antennal joint 1 thickened or even
subbarrel-shaped and short or very short; proboscis very short and
confined to buccal cavity, or when slightly longer not projecting beyond
32
47.
(48
~—
Annals of the South African Museum.
antennae; buccal cavity situated more below head, due to inflated facial
region; hypopygium of $¢ (text-figs. 234-235, a, and 236 and 237) with
the beaked apical joints either more dorso-ventrally compressed and not
claw-shaped, or when claw-like distinctly less laterally compressed . 47.
Head with the front half of frons and sides above antennae very broad
and inflated, the most prominent part of inflated facial part thus above
antennae; antennae inserted immediately above buccal cavity, with
joint 1 more thickened and subbarrel-shaped, the two joints contiguous
basally, with joint 2 covered with a dense coat of fine, spinule-like
pubescence, with 3 clavate or distinctly more broadened apically;
proboscis slightly longer and more slender, the labella narrow, more
pointed and not fleshy; pubescence in $3 at least longer and denser,
with a well-developed, dense, circular, facial brush and with a small
metapleural tuft present; wings with 2 or 3 submarginal cells present;
legs without dense feathery pubescence on tibiae or at least on hind ones
and the last tarsal joint without, or with only inconspicuous, hairs
apically above; hypopygium of $3 (text-figs. 234 and 235, a) with the
beaked apical joints narrower, more claw-like, and more laterally
compressed . ‘ : : : Callynthrophora Schin. (p. 775).
48. (47) Head with the face, sides of face, and genal parts very broad and remark-
ably inflated, the entire facial part below antennae thus more inflated;
antennae inserted very high up, very much nearer front ocellus than
edge of buccal cavity, with joint 1 less thickened and even shorter, the
two widely separated at base, at least as wide as space between posterior
ocelli, without any visible coat of dense, spinule-like pubescence on
joint 2, with 3 more rod-like and not markedly dilated or clavate apically;
proboscis very short, stout, and practically confined to buccal cavity,
spinulated below and with the labella broad and fleshy (Muscid-like);
pubescence in gg at least distinctly shorter and sparser, without a
distinct and well marked off circular, facial brush, but with the hair
dense on lower parts of genae and lower part of face and without a
metapleural tuft; wings in known species with 3 submarginal cells
present; legs with denser pubescence and with dense feathery pubes-
cence on hind tibiae at least and with one or a few longish hairs apically
above on last hind tarsal joint; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 236 and
237) with the beaked apical joints broader in basal half and broadly
dorso-ventrally compressed, pubescent, and ending in a slender beak,
not claw-shaped , : : . Gnumyia Bezz. (p. 780).
49. (40) Head normal, not remarkably pial with the eyes in gg contiguous
or in contact above, the frons small or narrow, with the facial region
narrow, small or conical, not remarkably inflated or tumid and without
a circular brush of dense hairs, with the third antennal joints tapering
and ending in a terminal element or elements, not excavate or clavate
apically, last sternite in J not notched medially; thorax usually humped
in appearance and body with much sparser and shorter pubescence;
wings with only 2 submarginal cells present; hypopygium of known ¢¢
(text-figs. 238-246) with the beaked Kes joints not much laterally
compressed or claw-shaped ; . . 50.
50. (55) Body with the thorax more humped in appearance wie with longer and
denser pubescence on head, thorax, pleurae, coxae, and abdomen, and
OR ey Sr lel SA
‘
ea
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 33
also with scaling on body; head with the frons less convex, more or less
transversely depressed anteriorly, especially in 99, with the face less
conically prominent and not, or scarcely, demarcated from frontal part,
with the first antennal joints 2, or more, times as long as the second
joints; wings with the third longitudinal vein not bending towards
discoidal cell at level of discal cross vein and with the base of second
submarginal cell broader and more truncate; legs longer and more
slender, the tibiae with the spicules longer and more strongly developed
and the middle tibiae with a distinct, longer, apical spur below and with
the front coxae longer : : . 51 (Crocidium Group) (p. 785).
51. (54) Antennae much shorter, with joint 1 much shorter, much less than 6
times as long as 2, not thickened and with joints 1 and 2 combined very
much shorter than joint 3 (including terminal elements); Nie not
simulating that of a Therevid ; : ~. BOs
52. (53) Head with the occiput more normally concave, ath ‘tg inner margins
of eyes in 99 very distinctly diverging anteriorly, the frons becoming
wider anteriorly and the distance between eyes across buccal cavity
considerably broader than across face or frons in both sexes, with the
genae always present and distinct, comparatively broad or very broad,
the furrow on each side of buccal rims some distance away from inner
margins of eyes, with the frons and face sometimes brilliantly shining
and with a yellow transverse band across facial region in 99, with the
apical joints of palps slightly longer and clavate apically; wings less
elongate, spotted or hyaline, with the axillary lobe broader, triangularly
produced and rounded posteriorly, the alula broader and more lobately
rounded; halteres with the knobs much shorter and much less than 2
times as long as broad; body on the whole shorter and less elongate,
not resembling an Empid and the thorax less markedly humped; hypo-
pygium of g¢ (text-figs. 238-245) ‘ . Crocidium Lw. (p. 786).
53. (52) Head more spherical, the occiput less concave, with the inner margins
of eyes in 29 tending to be parallel or subparallel even down sides of
face and buccal cavity, with the frons, face, and distance across buccal
cavity more or less equal, the lower part of head across buccal cavity
thus not, or scarcely, broader than across frons, with the genae almost
absent or wanting, represented along inner margins of eyes only as a
narrow line, almost wanting or even obliterated at about middle and
only narrowly visible on each side above and below, the narrow groove
on each side of buccal cavity thus practically only separating the inner
margins of eyes from the buccal rims, with the frons and face not
smoothly shining and without a transverse yellowish band on facial
region in 99, with the apical joints of palps usually shorter and distinctly
more oval or ovate; wings more elongate, tinged or infuscated, with the
axillary lobe narrower, only rounded posteriorly and not triangularly
prominent, the alula more reduced, much narrower and only slightly
arcuately rounded posteriorly; halteres with the knobs more conspicuous
and more elongated, nearly or quite 2 times as long as broad; body more
elongate, more resembling that of an Empid or a Culex and with the
thorax even more markedly humped; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 246)
Adelogenys n. gen. (p. 811).
34 Annals of the South African Museum.
54. (51) Antennae elongate, with joint 1 conspicuously elongated, quite 6 times
as long as joint 2, somewhat thickened and with joints 1 and 2 combined
only slightly shorter than joint 3 (including terminal elements), body
with a marked resemblance to that of a Therevid
Apatomyza Wied. (p. 818).
(ex, descr. Wiedemann and Becker).
(50) Body with the thorax distinctly less convex and less humped in appear-
ance and with the pubescence very short and sparse, the head and body
almost bare and also without any scaling; head (text-fig. 247) with the
frons in 99 at least more convex, not depressed anteriorly, with the face
more conically prominent and distinctly more demarcated from frontal
part, with the first antennal joints shorter, less than 2 times as long as
second joints; wings with the third longitudinal vein bending towards
discoidal cell at level of discal cross vein and the second submarginal
cell angularly acute basally; legs stouter and much shorter, the spicules
on tibiae less strongly developed and the middle tibiae without a long
spur apically below and the front coxae very much shorter and plumper
Heterotropinae (Heterotropus Lw.) (p. 819).
56. (5) Wings sometimes with only 3 posterior cells present, and if 4 are present
the third antennal joints end apically in either an upper and a lower
spine-like process or in a subapical process, with or without a discoidal
cell; antennae with joint 3 ending apically either in an upper and a lower
spine-like process or in a subapical process or an upwardly directed apical
spine or process (if not, wing at least has only 3 posterior cells); genae
often with the hairs or bristly hairs aggregated in a forwardly and up-
wardly directed tuft or brush, and if without such a brush the third
antennal joint is modified; abdomen in 99 usually with segment 8
produced on each side below into a lobe-like process; thorax more often
more distinctly convex and humped in appearance 2 EO
57. (64) Head with the pubescence on genae on each side not concentnatee in a
forwardly and upwardly directed tuft or brush, with the face usually
very short, sometimes practically non-existent, with the first antennal
joints very short, never more than about 14 times as long as second
joints, with the third joints modified, ending apically in either an upper
and a lower spine-like process or in a subapical upper process or spine;
wings with 4 or with 3 posterior cells and with or without a discoidal
cell, with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell (when present) scarcely
and not markedly S-curved, without a knob-like thickening near base
of upper vein of second basal cell; abdomen in 99 without a distinct
lobe-like process or lappet ventrally on each side of segment 8; tarsi
without a patch or a clump of a few longer spines basally below on basal
joints; hypopygium of 3g (text-figs. 248-256 and 258-263) less compli-
cated, with the basal parts usually divided into two symmetrical parts,
with a distinct movable apical joint to each basal part and with the
aedeagal complex more Bombyliine . 58 (Phthiriinae) (p. 822).
58. (59) Wings with 4 posterior cells, with a discoidal cell always present, with
the second submarginal cell very obtuse basally, the upper vein sharply
bent at base; antennal joint 3 (text-figs. 248 and 253, a) more spindle-
shaped, with a distinct and often prominent. upper apical or subapical
Or
Or
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 395
spine-like process, often forming a symmetrical or unsymmetrical bifid
process with a distinct lower apical process or prominence, with con-
spicuous, short, bristly hairs on the joints above, especially in gd;
legs with distinct, though feeble, spicules distinctly visible on tibiae
and with the last tarsal joint not very distinctly or markedly thickened
or broader than the others; body in 9? sometimes with much yellow
even on head, thorax, and pleurae, and with the pubescence on the whole
denser and longer; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 248-256)
Phthiria Meig. (p. 824).
59. (58) Wings with only 3 posterior cells, with the discoidal cell sometimes
entirely absent, with the second submarginal cell distinctly much more
acute to very acute basally, the upper vein scarcely, or only slightly,
bent at base; antennal joint 3 (text-figs. 257 and 263) more oval or
equally broad throughout (from side), with a single subapical or apical
upwardly directed spine-like process just in front of which there is also
dorsally a depression or hollow lodging the terminal style, with only
fine and inconspicuous, or even without any, bristly hairs on the joints
above even in gg; legs without any distinctly visible spicules, but
apparently only covered with fine pubescence or short hairs and with
the last tarsal joint distinctly and visibly thickened and broader than
the other joints; body without yellow markings on head and thorax
and with the pubescence distinctly less developed, the greater part of
body being more often almost bare; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs.
258-263) . : : “ ; : : ; : ; . 60.
60. (63) Wings without a discoidal cell, with the second submarginal cell more
distinctly acute basally; eyes in gg in contact or separated above;
pubescence on body more conspicuously developed even if sparse, with
distinctly longer and more conspicuous hairs on coxae, femora, and
tibiae in both sexes; thorax comparatively broader and more sub-
globularly rounded; last abdominal sternite in gg more elongate and
scoop-like, narrowed or pointed apically; hypopygium of go (text-
figs. 258-262) . : : : : ; : : : om Ole
61. (62) Eyes in $¢ in actual contact for some distance, the upper facets being
coarser than the lower ones; pubescence on body more distinctly de-
veloped in both sexes, longer, that on legs also more conspicuous and
with a distinct row of longer hairs on outer side of tibiae in both sexes;
legs on the whole slightly longer; wings also slightly longer; palps
usually longer and more developed, the apical joint usually slightly
thicker than basal one : : . Apolysis Lw. s. str. (p. 848).
62. (61) Eyes in both sexes comparatively broadly separated, the upper facets
in gd not differentiated from lower ones; pubescence on body much
sparser and shorter in both sexes, that on legs distinctly shorter and
without a distinct row of distinctly longer hairs on tibiae; legs on the
whole stouter; wings also slightly shorter; palps very short, the apical
joint apparently not thicker than basal one
Apolysis Lw. (in part) (p. 848).
63. (60) Wings with a distinct discoidal cell present, with the base of second
submarginal cell more obtuse; eyes in fg in contact above; pubescence
on body very short, very sparse, the greater part of body practically
36
64. (57)
—
Annals of the South African Museum.
bare, with shorter and fewer hairs on coxae and only fine pubescence
on femora and tibiae; thorax slightly more elongate and narrower, more
humped in appearance; last sternite in gg not conically produced;
hypopygium of known ¢ (text-fig. 263, 6) . Oligodranes Lw. (p. 861).
Head with the pubescence on genae on each side produced into a forwardly
and upwardly directed tuft or brush, with the face usually distinct and
conical, with the first antennal joints usually longer than 14 times as
long as the second joints, with the third joints only tapering to a fine
and sharp point; wings always with only 3 posterior cells present and with
a discoidal cell always present, its apical cross vein very markedly
S-curved, always with some knob-like thickening near base of upper
vein of second basal cell; abdomen in 99 always witha lobe-like or lappet-
like process ventrally on each side of segment 8; tarsi with a patch or
clump of a few longer spines basally below on basal joints; hypopygium
of 3g (text-figs. 264-298) entirely different, more complicated, having
a single, undivided basal part, no distinctly movable apical joints, but
only apical lobes or processes to basal part and a differently constituted
aedeagal complex and accessory structures
65 (Geroninae n. subfam.) (p. 866).
65. (68) Body with the thorax markedly convex above, humped, the pleural parts
compressed and high; head more globular, the genae much narrower
and the distance from eye to eye across buccal cavity considerably
narrower, not, scarcely, or only a little, broader than across face; eyes in
3 in actual contact for a long distance or at least distinctly contiguous,
the line of contact rarely not impressed, with the frontal triangle usually
small, with the ocellar tubercle prominently pimple-like or tubercular
on vertex and the palps shorter; wings usually narrower and less elongate,
rarely with a tendency for base of second submarginal cell to be opposite
apex of discoidal cell, the distance from discal cross vein to base of second
submarginal cell thus rarely very much, or distinctly, shorter than from
discal cross vein to fork of second and third longitudinal veins; tibiae
with the spicules extending to near bases and not confined to apical
parts 5 : 66.
66. (67) Head with dense silvery white scaling and whitish hairs, or at least
with white hairs, on sides of frons, sides of face, on upper parts of genae
and along hind margins of eyes, without any black hairs on frons in 9?
or black hairs on antennae in both sexes, with the middle parts of genae
bare and with the genae sometimes gleaming ivory whitish or yellowish;
inner margins of eyes in gg scarcely, or not distinctly, sinuate opposite
bases of antennae; first antennal joints closer together, never longer
than about 3 times as long as the second joints and never dilated or
thickened at bases and without long, dense, and bushy hair; interocular
space in 9° broader, usually about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle;
wings never infuscated, the second submarginal cell much shorter, about
as broad apically as long along lower vein or at least never more than
2 times as long as broad apically, with the apical cross vein of discoidal
cell slightly S-curved and with the alula distinctly more developed,
produced and lobe-like or tongue-like; halteres rarely with the knobs
darkened above; pubescence with the erect hairs on body above in 3g
a
—
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 37
denser and slightly longer, never very dark or blackish on dorsum, those
on 2° above also distinctly denser and pale or whitish, never with black
intermixed hairs; hypopygium of jg (cf. text-figs. 264-280) with the
apical processes to basal part usually finger-like, tubercle-like, or boss-
like, with the central guide (C.G.), joined on to ramus (R.), usually more
separately visible, with a dorsal guide (D.G.) usualiy present and with
the basal end of aedeagus more distinctly spoon- or ladle-shaped
Geron Meig. (p. 867).
67. (66) Head without silvery white scaling and white hairs on sides of frons,
face, and upper parts of genae, with no silvery scaling behind eyes, the
face without any hairs, entirely bare, sides of frons also bare and with
only a duplicated row of short, blackish, bristly hairs on each side of
middle of frons in 29, with only the extreme upper parts of genae bare,
the middle and lower parts with long hairs, the genae never gleaming
ivory whitish and with entirely or predominantly blackish hairs on
first antennal joints in both sexes; inner margins of eyes in ¢¢ distinctly
and more conspicuously sinuate opposite bases of antennae; first antennal
joints distinctly wider apart, rarely about 3 times as long as second joints,
more often considerably more than 3 times, often markedly thickened
or dilated basally, especially in $g, and in jg more often also with very
long, conspicuous, bushy, black hair; interocular space on vertex in 29°
much narrower, never 2 times as broad as tubercle; wings sometimes
tinged cinereous, smoky, or even very darkly, with the second sub-
marginal cell always very much longer, distinctly much longer than
2 times, along lower vein, than broad apically and thus with the sides
more parallel, the apical cross vein of discoidal cell rarely not markedly
S-curved and with the alula distinctly less developed, only slightly lobe-
like and not arcuately prominent; halteres rarely with the knobs not
darkened or blackened above; pubescence with the erect hairs on body
above in g¢ less dense and on the whole shorter, always predominantly
dark or with much black hair above, those on 9Q distinctly shorter and
less dense and always with short, bristly, very dark or blackish hairs
on head, thorax, and scutellum above; hypopygium of j¢ (cf. text-figs.
281-295) with the apical processes of basal part more flattened, triangular,
or leaf-shaped, with the central guide (C.G.) usually not separately
distinct from base of aedeagus and that of the apically produced prong
or spine on each side above aedeagus, with usually more spines or prongs
at base of apical lobes of basal part and with the apical part of ramus (R.)
always produced into a spine, prong, or process
Amictogeron n. gen. (p. 918).
68. (65) Body with the thorax less markedly convex or humped above, the pleural
parts less high; head slightly more dorso-ventrally compressed, the
genae very broad, and the distance from eye to eye across buccal cavity
very much broader, considerably broader than across face or front part
of frons; eyes in ¢¢ with the inner margins not in actual contact for a
long distance, at narrowest part distinctly separated or only subcontiguous
by a space only as broad as front ocellus, with the frontal triangle thus
much larger, the line of subcontiguity (if present) not deeply impressed,
and the ocellar tubercle not markedly elevated and with the palps slightly
VOL. XXXIV. 4
38
Annals of the South African Museum.
longer and more slender; wings more elongate, with a tendency for base
of second submarginal cell to be more or less opposite apex of discoidal
cell, the distance from discal cross vein to base of second submarginal
cell thus much shorter than, rarely subequal to or as long as, distance
from discal vein to basal fork of second and third longitudinal veins; tibiae
with the small spicules practically confined to apical half or the apical part;
hypopygium of 3g (text-figs. 296-298) Pseudoamictus Big. (p. 958).
(Syn. =Pseudempis Bezz.)
69. (4) Head with the frons equally broad in both sexes, very broad and roundly
convex, with markedly broad ocellar tubercle, which is centrally grooved
posteriorly, with the ocelli widely separated and reduced, the posterior
ones small and reniform and the anterior one wanting or merely repre-
sented by a scar or puncture, with the lower apical part of first antennal
joints markedly tumid or tubercularly prominent, with distinct, dense,
and conspicuous scaling present on the upper or labral part of proboscis,
especially towards base; wings remarkably narrow, markedly narrow at
base and, relative to body, feebly developed; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 308) . ; ; Cythereinae (Oniromyia Bezz.) (p. 986).
70. (3) Wings (cf. text-figs. 300, 302, b, and 305, b) with the cells much reduced,
with only 1 submarginal cell present, the position of the second sub-
marginal cell being occupied by the first posterior cell, sometimes even
without a marginal cell or a discoidal cell; antennae normally and
conspicuously quadriarticulate, a distinct fourth joint being present;
head with the occipital region more markedly and sometimes prominently
and convexly developed, the eyes being, or tending to be, shifted far
forwards; body usually very small, with the pubescence almost entirely
absent, the greater part of body being almost bare; tibiae with practi-
cally only fine pubescence and no distinct spicules, and with the apical
spurs inconspicuous or very much reduced, and the basal part of hind
tarsi sometimes with a basal hook-like process below in some g@; last °
abdominal sternite in gg with the upper apical angle on each side
produced into a distinct spine-like or hook-like process (cf. text-figs.
301 and 304, a); hypopygium of g¢ (cf. text-figs. 301 and 304, b and
306 and 307) with a dorsal or ventral process or a flattened lateral process
on each side of the laterally compressed basal strut
71 (Cyrtosiinae) (p. 966).
71. (74) Wings (cf. text-figs. 300 and 302, b) with a distinct and normal marginal
cell present and without a discoidal cell; head below not sulcate longi-
tudinally; fourth antennal joints broad (cf. text-figs. 299 and 302, a),
more joint-like and not slender and style-like; body larger, more than
2 mm. long, and with a wing-length of much more than 2 mm., with the
pubescence, even if sparse, distinctly longer and more conspicuous and
with the integument, especially the black parts, more brilliantly shining;
hypopygium of gd (cf. text-figs. 301, b and 304, 6) without a medial
dorsal process or a lateral process on each side of basal strut «lies
72. (73) Body more slender, elongate, the thorax more roundly humped, with the
pubescence shorter and less developed; head elongate, with the occipital
region markedly convex and elongate, not flattened, the eyes shifted
forwards, with the head below produced posteriorly into a blunt, spine-
=
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 39
like process (cf. text-fig. 299) and the eyes touching or very nearly
touching below; frons foveately depressed in both sexes and the space
‘ on vertex equally broad in both sexes, the inner margins of eyes dis-
tinctly converging apically; antennae shorter and joint 3 comparatively
| broader (cf. text-fig. 299); proboscis more slender, with a very short
and pointed labella, with the palps not discernible; wings (cf. text-
fig. 300) with the microtrichiae on hind border markedly conspicuous
and with the fine hairs on surface distinct, with the first basal cell not
q shorter and very much narrower than second one, with the anal cell
open and the axillary lobe narrow; legs more slender, less conspicuously
pubescent, with the front and middle tibiae at least longer than the
femora and with the hind tarsi in fg normal; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-
fig. 301, 6) . : . Platypygus Lw. and Ceratolaemus n. subgen. of
Platypygus Lw. (pp. 968 and 969).
73. (72) Body more plump, not slender and elongate, the thorax less roundly
humped, with the pubescence, especially in gg, distinctly longer and
denser; head normal, subglobular, the occipital region flattened, short,
and normal, the eyes situated normally, with the head below short,
normal and not produced basally, and the eyes very broadly separated
below; frons not foveately depressed, very small in 3g, broad in 99,
the eyes in actual contact above in 3g, the inner margins of eyes in 9°
at least subparallel above; antennae (cf. text-fig. 302, a) more elongate
and joint 3 also more slender and elongate; proboscis plumper and
stouter, with longer and more developed labella, with the palps, though
small, discernible; wings (cf. text-fig. 302, b) with the microtrichiae
along hind border short and inconspicuous and without conspicuous,
fine hairs on surface, with the first basal cell much shorter and narrower
than second basal one, with the anal cell acute apically and provided
with a stalk and with the axillary lobe lobe-like and well developed;
legs stouter, relatively shorter, more conspicuously pubescent, with
the front and middle tibiae scarcely longer than femora and hind ones
even shorter, with the base of basal joint of hind tarsus (cf. text-fig. 303)
produced into a hook-like, curved process in gg; hypopygium of g$¢
(text-fig. 304, b) é 5 . Onchopelma n. gen. (p. 973).
74. (71) Wings (cf. text-fig. 305, 6) without a marginal cell and with or without
a discoidal cell; head below longitudinally sulcate; antennal joint 4
distinctly more slender and style-like (cf. text-fig. 305, a); body smaller,
less than 2 mm. long, and with a wing-length of only about 2 mm. or even
less, with the pubescence very short and less conspicuous and with the
integument duller and less shining; hypopygium of j¢ (text-figs. 306
and 307) with a median apically directed process and a flattened lateral
process on basal strut . . Empidideicus Beck. and Anomaloptilus
n. subgen. of Hmpidideicus (pp. 979 and 983).*
75. (2) Body simulating or mimicking that of Aculeate-Hymenoptera, such as
Sphex, Sceliphron, etc., or even Vespids, such as Belonogaster; meta-
sternal region strongly and broadly developed; abdomen markedly
long and with a slender stalk or petiole, ending in a club as in Aculeate-
* Doliopteryx n. gen. (See Appendix in part II) to come after Hmpidideicus.
40 Annals of the South African Museum.
Hymenopiera and Vespidae; legs, especially hind ones, abnormally elongate
and Sphegid or Vespid-like, and the front femora with an elliptical,
callus-like, and microscopically sculptured area; terminal lappets or
plates to last sternite (dorsal in position), which surrounds the aedeagal
complex of hypopygium of g¢ (cf. text-figs. 310, 311, 313, 314, 317,
319, 321-323, and 325-326), with a black, indurated, or hardened, micro-
scopically sculptured callus-area
Systropinae (Systropus Wied.) (pp. 990 and 991).
76. (1) Thorax with a distinctly visible, broad, and well marked off prothorax or
pronotal part, forming a conspicuous ring or collar in front of the meso-
notal part, the anterior part of which and the pronotal part as well
being provided with stoutish macrochaetal bristles; scutellum markedly
flattened; legs with the femora, especially hind ones, tending to be
markedly incrassate and narrowed apically and basally and with markedly
long and dense spines and dense, elongated, flattened, and fluted scaling
on the tibiae, especially the hind ones; antennae with very dense, con-
spicuous, and bushy scaling on all the joints; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-
figs. 327-332) . . Toxophorinae (Toxophora Meig.) (pp. 1028 and 1029).
Subfam. Bombylinae.
As is evident from the key, this subfamily includes no less than
24 genera and thus constitutes the largest subfamily in this division.
In contrast with the more or less constant and uniform characters
distinguishing the genera belonging to other well-defined subfamilies,
the genera grouped in this subfamily show no such uniformity. As
will be seen, several genera encompassed by the Bombyliinae are,
however, nevertheless referable to more or less distinct groups, which
may even be considered as separate tribes. Apart from the genera
Bombylius, Anastoechus, and Systoechus, which constitute the basic
elements of the subfamily, such groups as the Corsomyza-group
(Corsomyza, Megapalpus, Hyperusia, Callynthrophora, and Gnumyia),
the Crocidium-group (Crocidium, Adelogenys, and Apatomyza), the
Gonarthrus-group (Gonarthrus and Paratoxophora) and even the
Doliogethes-group (Doliogethes, Chasmoneura, and Lepidochlanus) are
separately sufficiently distinct in certain essentials to justify their
elevation to at least a tribal status. Other genera, such as Eury-
carenus, Sisyrophanus, Adelidea, Sosiomyia, Cheilohadrus, Othniomyia,
and Dischistus s.str., however, cannot be relegated to distinct groups
unless these are mono-generic groupings. For the sake of con-
venience all these groups are provisionally referred to the Bombyliinae
in this revision. There is no doubt that this subfamily thus contains
many heterogeneous elements, but it is equally clear that a proper
definition of the subfamily is only possible when the true systematic
positions of all the genera in the world, now included in it, have been
sy ape a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 41
elucidated. To a certain extent this is also true of other subfamilies,
and, as is evident from the key, there is no doubt that Crocidiwm and
A patomyza and Gonarthrus can no longer be retained in the Phthirwnae,
where certain important antennal and wing-characters are more or
less constant. Neither can the Corsomyza-group be referred to the
Palaearctic Usinae, as was done by Bezzi, for in the former genus
and its allies there are very striking differences. The characters of a
large subfamily, such as the Bombylinae, are not easy to define, but
the characters, referred to in the preceding key, will emphasise the
essential differences between the various groups which constitute this
subfamily and those of other subfamilies in this first division.
Gen. Bombylius Linn.
(Systema Naturae, ed. x, 606, 228, 1758; Loew, p. 181, Dipt. Faun.
Siidafr., 1, 1860; Becker, pp. 441 and 492, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad.
Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912; Bezzi, p. 6, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921; Bezzi, p. 30, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924; Paramonow, Mem. Acad. d. Sc. de l’ Ukraine, tom. i,
bea. 5, 1926; Hngel, p. 196, Die Fhegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 80
(Bombylidae), 1934.)
(Syn.=Choristus Walk., p. 197, Ins. Saund. Dipt. m, 1852;
syn. =Parisus Walk., p. 196, loc. cit.) .
There is no doubt that the genus is still at present not a well-defined
one, as is evident from the descriptions of the numerous Palaearctic and
Ethiopian species by Bezzi, Paramonow, and Engel. When, however,
a very large number of species is examined, it is almost impossible to
separate off series or groups which together can form a well marked off
subgenus or genus. Species, grading into neighbouring series or
groups in certain characters, are common and constitute the main
difficulty in dividing up this genus. Neither do the male genitalia
throw much light on the problem, for species with markedly distinct
genitalia are often found which in other respects obviously belong to
the same series. The genus at present may be looked upon as an
ageregate of often widely separated elements, which can be made to
grade into each other through intermediate species or connecting
links, and which display certain common characters of otherwise
disparate groups. Notwithstanding much disparity, there are certain
generic characters which, when taken together and not individually,
may be said to define the genus. These characters, which have been
agreed upon by such authors as Wiedemann, Macquart, Loew, Becker,
42 Annals of the South African Museum.
Bezzi, Paramonow, and Engel, have also been used in this paper for
the diagnosis of this genus. The chief characters of Bombylius may
be summarised as follows:—
Body usually bee-like in shape and appearance, with the thorax
rarely humped in appearance, and when showing a humped appearance
this is due to dense and shaggy pubescence, with the abdomen never
distinctly elongate, usually shortish and plump; pubescence usually
comparatively dense and sometimes remarkably dense, long, and
shagey, usually very dense on abdomen, thorax, and on facial region,
that in 9? not less dense or conspicuous than in gd, but the mystax on
head in front and on genal parts in dg sometimes denser and more
conspicuous, with distinct more bristly elements, bristles or even
stoutish macrochaetal bristles usually present on certain sites, such as
on genae, on thorax in front of wings, on post-alar calli, across hind
margin of scutellum, on mesopleuron, and in rows across hind margins
of the abdominal tergites, with such bristles, however, present or
absent from either the one or other site in the various species, with the
pleurae on the whole very hairy and a distinct metapleural tuft always
present, with depressed, finer scale-like pubescence present in many
species especially in the 99, with true scales usually not very well
developed, but are always present on the legs and even sometimes on
body below or even above, either sparsely or in spots or tufts, with the
pubescence very variable in colour and often gleaming sericeous,
silvery or deep golden in different positions and with the scaling, when
densely present on certain sites especially in 99, sometimes gleaming
silvery, reddish golden to golden. Hedd with the eyes in gd above
either in actual contact for some distance or contiguous or separated.
either narrowly by front part of ocellar tubercle, by the tubercle or
even by a space wider than the tubercle, always separated in 99 by a
space much or very much broader than the tubercle, with the upper
facets of eyes in Sg coarser than lower ones and very much so in forms
with the eyes in contact above; ocelli always present and situated in
form of a triangle on a slight boss-like or tubercle-like elevation;
frons in 99 either with a distinct and deepish transverse depression or
with a slight depression which is either more longitudinal or even
shallowly transverse and towards apical part of frons or it is convex
and without a depression; face moderately developed, rarely conically
prominent and rarely conspicuously produced; genae with the upper
part (sides of face) usually broad and well developed and the lower
part also broadish, but with the middle part often very narrow and
even almost linear or wanting where the groove between genae and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 43
buccal cavity is deepest; antennae with joint 2 always shorter, even if
only slightly, than joint 1 or joint 3, and with joints 1 and 2 always
with more or less conspicuous pubescence, sometimes remarkably
long in some species, with joint 1 rarely very much thickened, with
joint 3 variable in shape, usually bare, and if with indications of
pubescence this is inconspicuous, with the terminal elements of joint 3
sometimes visible as separate joints bearing a style, usually small and
appearing continuous with a stylar element which is always discernible
to a variable degree; proboscis always distinctly projecting beyond
buccal cavity or head, but otherwise variable in length and stoutness,
usually without, but sometimes with, distinctly visible spinules below
on labium, with the labella always more or less elongate and well
developed, sometimes markedly elongate and usually narrowish;
palps distinctly and obviously 2-jointed in the majority of species, the
joints separately visible, with either long or short hairs and never
without at least some hairs on apical joint. Thorax rarely as broad as
head at its broadest part, almost always much broader; wings
constantly with 4 posterior cells present, of which the first is always
closed and acute or subacute apically and there provided with a stalk,
variable in length, with the anal cell always open on the hind border,
with the discal cross vein either before, at, or beyond middle of dis-
coidal cell, never so near base as to make the first basal cell exactly
equal in length to second basal cell as is the case in Systoechus, with
only 2 submarginal cells (excepting only the subgenus Triplasius Lw.,
where 3 submarginal cells are present), with the basal comb usually
well developed but sometimes poorly developed and rarely entirely
vestigial or absent, with the alula usually also well developed and lobe-
like, never reduced and very narrow, with the axillary lobe also well
developed, with the wings themselves either hyaline, greyish hyaline,
tinged yellowish or brownish in part or entirely infuscated or spotted
and mottled to a variable extent. Abdomen with the genital segment
in 92 more or less always with some stoutish bristles or more often
spines on each side, connected with the ovipository functions of the
genital laminae. Legs always with spines on femora even if only on
middle and hind ones below, with the spines or spicules on tibiae
usually well developed on all the tibiae, with at least 3 rows on front
ones and 4 rows on middle and hind ones, with the apical spurs on
tibiae always more or less conspicuous; claws sickle-shaped and short,
strong or slender and sometimes even more straight, scarcely curved
downwards apically, with the pulvilli either long and well developed
in both sexes, or long only in $¢ or much reduced, vestigial in $3, and
td Annals of the South African Museum.
absent or very minute in 99, and in some cases practically wanting in
both sexes and with the apical hairs on last tarsal joint above never
conspicuously long as in Corsomyza and some other genera, more often
almost wanting; tarsi with the front ones in some 9? distinctly
thickened and thicker than the middle and hind ones. Hypopygivum
of 3d (cf. text-fig. 2 and figs. 6-77) extremely variable in shape, with
the beaked apical joints (Ap.Jt.) very variable, never with a subapical
lobe or with the outer part very angularly or lobularly prominent,
often elongate and sometimes broad and almost leaf-shaped, with the
apical part of the aedeagus (Ae.) never very broad and spout-like or
very slender and arcuately curved upwards, with or without a ventral
aedeagal process (V.Ae.Pr. or Ae.Pr.) below, with the dorsal part
sometimes produced basally into a strap-like process projecting
basally on each side, with the basal strut (Ba.Str.) assuming various
shapes. A comparison of the numerous figures with those of other,
and sometimes related, genera will give a much better conception of
the type of hypopygium found in this genus. Though there is some
considerable uniformity in the structure of the hypopygium in Bomby-
lius there are marked structural differences as well, as are evident from
the text-figures, and there is no justification in the case of the South
African forms for Engel’s statement that “Der Bau des Epipygiums
ist von erstaunlicher Gleichformigkeit.”
To supplement the above summary of the chief characters of
Bombylius, the reader is also referred to the summaries given by the
other authors mentioned above and particularly by Paramonow and
Engel. Owing to a marked superficial resemblance between many
species and the great difficulty in separating such species, the following
key is in many respects formidable, and the necessary enumeration of
specific differences makes the couplets almost descriptive. It is also
evident from this key that no individual or single character can be
used by itself alone, but that an ensemble of characters is, in many
cases, necessary to distinguish and separate the various species.
Key to the South African species of Bombylius seen and examined
by me.
A. (D) Pubescence on body moderately developed or shortish, not markedly long,
not giving the insects a marked puff-like appearance, that on abdomen
not markedly long and shaggy and when appearing shaggy usually only
so towards apex, that on sides at base rarely very long, that on first
antennal joints, face, and especially on lower parts of genae usually
without very conspicuous, long, stoutish, and stiff bristles, the pubes-
cence on thorax, when strongly developed, not very conspicuous and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 45
shaggy, with the bristles on abdomen either absent, poorly developed
or, when stoutish and distinct, not markedly long and conspicuous;
wings usually with the discoidal cell more narrowed apically, often acute
or subacute apically, rarely with an extensive pattern of dark infuscations,
large spots, or with a system of spots on cross veins and bases of other
veins, and when such infuscations or spots are present the pubescence
on abdomen is not markedly shaggy discally, and on sides and third
antennal joints are not markedly slender, with the squamal fringe usually
much shorter, composed only of fine hairs and without any distinct long
bristly hairs or even bristles, and with the basal comb usually moderately
developed; eyes in §¢ in contact above for a relatively long distance,
or for a short distance, or they are contiguous or subcontiguous, or they
are separated by the ocellar tubercle and not wider than tubercle, with
the upper facets always distinctly and sometimes very much coarser
than lower ones; frons in 99 with a more distinct transverse depression
or longitudinal depression; antennal joint 3 less markedly attenuated
apically and usually more thickened and relatively shorter; legs with
the claws more usually sickle-shaped, curved downwards apically, and
with the pulvilli rarely very poorly developed and not reaching at least
middle of claws; hypopygium of §j¢ with the beaked apical joints usually
bird-head shaped, triquetrous, elongated, or even very elongate and with
a long beak and rarely conspicuously depressed or hollowed out above
B.
B. (C) Legs very dark or black and with the spines and spicules always black,
and when legs are yellowish or the tibiae yellowish, the spines and spicules
at least are black; pubescence on body usually with much dark or black
hair or blackish bristly hairs and bristles, even if only on antennae and
face in gg, more often with silvery white scaling or scale-like hairs in
form of spots or patches on head or body in both sexes; eyes in §¢ in
actual contact above for a distance at least as long as ocellar tubercle
and sometimes even longer, with the upper facets always distinctly
much coarser than lower ones; frons in 99 usually with a more distinct
and usually deep transverse depression; hypopygium of gg with the
beaked apical joints more or less triquetrous basally, bird-head shaped,
and with a crown or tuft of conspicuous stiffish bristly hairs above and the
aedeagus usually without a ventral process . 5 . @ (Group 1).
a. (b) Pubescence with a conspicuous and broad longitudinal band or stripe of
frosty white hair-like scaling on each side of thorax above and with a
conspicuous broad, transverse band of white scaling on abdomen above
with the bristly elements, especially on thorax, well developed and long;
wings with a distinct pattern in which the front half is very dark blackish
brown or sooty black and with large conspicuous black spots on apical
cross veins of first and second basal cells and at base of second sub-
marginal cell and smaller spots or infusions at apex of first posterior cell
and also at bases of second and third posterior cells, with the end of
second longitudinal vein very rapidly bent upwards or very markedly
sinuate and with the discoidal cell markedly truncate apically; legs
with the tibiae and the tarsi distinctly paler, yellowish or pale yellowish
red é : 3 : : : : ; E 1 (Section 1).
46 Annals of the South African Museum.
1. (4) Wings without any appendices or stumps in marginal and second sub-
marginal cells, with the anterior darkly infuscated part or half more
or less well marked off from the posterior more hyaline part; pubescence
with the paler elements on pleurae and sides of venter more rufous or
reddish mauve in tint, with the transverse band of scaling on abdomen
above more demarcated and more conspicuously white, the white band on
side of thorax narrower and with darker scaling medially and discally
on thorax above and also on head above ; : é : aS) 2
2. (3) Wings with only 2 submarginal cells, with 4 dark spots in the more hyaline
posterior part: one at base of second submarginal cell, one at apex of first
posterior cell, one on cross vein between discoidal and second posterior
cells,and a smaller or minute one onvein at base of third posterior cell, and
also with 2 larger spots on apical cross veins of basal cells; pubescence
with the paler elements on sides of face, pleurae, and on sides of venter
more rufous, purplish, or mauvish reddish . 4 Q lateralis ¥. (p. 111).
3. (2) Wings with 2 or usually 3 submarginal cells, usually without rounded spots,
but with infuscations along basal parts of veins and cross veins of second
and third submarginal cells, along basal veins of second and third
posterior cells, often broken up into spots and often with a more distinct
spot near apex of vein between anal and axillary cells; pubescence
with the paler elements on sides of face, on pleurae and sides of venter
usually paler or more straw-coloured in certain lights
3 & bivittatus Lw. (Triplasius) (p. 114).
4. (1) Wings (text-fig. 5) with appendices or stumps in marginal and submarginal
cells, which are often irregular, sometimes joined on to margin of wing
and thus producing a reticulate appearance, with the anterior darker
part less marked off from the posterior part, which itself is also mottled
to a certain extent; pubescence with the paler elements on frons, on
sides of face, on pleurae, and on sides of venter distinctly paler and even
more straw-coloured whitish, with the transverse band of whitish scaling
on abdomen above more diffuse and the scaling towards apical part of
abdomen above more greyish, the white band on each side of thorax
distinctly broader and with a broad central band of greyish white scaling
on disc of thorax and also on frons . 2 namaquensis n. sp. (p. 114).
b. (a) Pubescence without any conspicuous longitudinal band of white scaling on
sides of thorax and without a broad, transverse band of white scaling on
abdomen above, with the bristly elements or bristles, on thorax especially,
shorter, less conspicuous and less shaggy; wings usually not uniformly
and darkly infuscated in front half and without conspicuous spots or
infuscations on cross veins and other veins and a darker anterior infusca-
tion if present almost confined to costal cell or more usually to base of
wings and alula, with the second longitudinal vein and vein between
submarginal cells distinctly less rapidly bent up at right angles apically
and with the discoidal cell more narrowed apically, subacute, or sometimes
even acute apically; legs either entirely black or entirely yellowish ¢.
(f) Legs predominantly or entirely black, and even tibiae, when not as black
as femora, are at least very dark blackish brown or very dark reddish
brown; wings not apparently elongate and narrowish, with the vein
between submarginal cells distinctly more S-curved, its base distinctly
abe
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 47
more sinuate or bent before meeting the first posterior cell, with the
second longitudinal vein more sinuous or bent upwards at its end, with
the base of wings up to first cross veins either markedly, truncately,
and conspicuously infuscated, or the basal part up to end of second basal
cell and including the costal cell very darkly infuscated; pubescence
always with much black hair or dark hair on the abdomen at least, and
if sparsely black-haired the base of wings at least are darkly and trunc-
ately infuscated and with the rest of the pubescence on body above
and below not uniformly or predominantly creamy yellowish, straw-
ccloured yellowish, pale yellowish to sericeous yellowish ; =<, Gk
d. (e) Antennae with joint 1 only about 1}~2 times as long as joint 2; eyes without
any or with only a very slight or feeble, scarcely perceptible, sinuosity
or emargination behind on each side; pubescence on thorax above
shorter and with a more shorn off appearance, that on sides of abdomen
not distinctly tuft-like and shaggy, that on first antennal joints and on
face distinctly very much shorter and even if dense not long and bushy
or shaggy, without any conspicuous spots or patches of brilliantly
shining silvery whitish scaling on head, thorax, or abdomen, and if patches
of coloured hairs or scaling are present as spots, these are dull and frosty
whitish and antennal joint 1 is very short; wings with the second longi-
tudinal vein straight and if slightly undulating antennal joint | at least
is short, with the discal cross vein usually just beyond or much beyond
middle of discoidal cell, rarely at about or near middle, and if near
middle antennal joint 1 is short or first longitudinal vein is straight,
with the basal comb usually well developed; hind femora usually with
more numerous spines below and these beginning before middle or near
base; hypopygium of $3 with the neck region of basal parts more slender
and more elongate, not broadened or arcuately dilated along lower
apical margin, and if broadened antennal joint 1 is short and pubescence
on it and face is not long and bushy . : : . 1 (Section 2).
1. (16) Wings with the second longitudinal vein straight and more rapidly bent
upwards at its end, with the basal comb more conspicuously developed;
hind margins of eyes scarcely perceptibly, or only feebly, sinuous or
emarginate; pubescence on occiput, on frons anteriorly, and on thorax
above very short and with a more distinct short and shorn-off appear-
ance, the whitish spots on each side of frons or on abdomen above if.
present not brilliantly shining silvery whitish, that on body above
usually not predominantly whitish and, if predominantly whitish, without
shining silvery whitish patches of scaling on abdomen above and with
that on pleurae and venter not coffee brownish to fulvous brownish;
hypopygium of $¢ with the neck region of basal parts longer and more
slender and its lower margin not arcuately dilated or broadened . 2.
2. (11) Larger forms, about 11-17 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
15-19 mm.; pubescence on thorax at least distinctly much shorter and
very close cropped in appearance, without lateral and medial spots of
white or fulvous depressed, hair-like scaling on abdomen above and
without a row of white or fulvous spots of hair-like scaling on each side
of venter, and if coloured spots or patches are present on abdomen above
these are composed of tufts of erect hairs as long as the other hairs and,
48 Annals of the South African Museum.
if silvery scale-like patches are present on venter, only the extreme base ~
of wings is truncately infuscated; wings with the dark infuscation
confined to base, more truncated, not extending beyond bases of first
and second basal cells and not reaching basal cross vein in costal cell
and the second basal cell or costal cell clear like rest of wings; scutellum
almost always with much reddish brown or ferruginous brownish ._ 3.
3. (4) Pubescence on abdomen above with a broad, conspicuous, transverse band
of orange golden hairs, that on basal side black and that on apical side
whitish to greyish white, that on thorax above and pleurae in g¢ black
and in 99 greyish white, due to black intermixed bristly hairs and bristles
3 2 bombiformis Bezz. (p. 116).
4, (3) Pubescence on abdomen above without any medial transverse band of
orange yellowish hairs, predominantly black on abdomen, only an apical
tuft white, yellowish or orange yellowish to golden yellowish or with a
central row of fulvous or orange yellowish spots or tufts on abdomen
above in both sexes, that on thorax above and on pleurae in ¢¢ and in
some 99, also black but more often greyish, whitish, yellowish-buff to
yellowish in 29 and with or without intermixed blackish elements . 5.
5. (6) Pubescence with the tuft at apex of abdomen predominantly snow white or
tinted with yellowish or orange yellowish only laterally below, not entirely
deep orange yellowish, that on thorax above and on front half of pleurae
in 29 either whitish, greyish white to dull yellowish and without any
black bristly hairs or bristles on occiput and front half of thorax or on
pleurae in 99, with the alular and squamal fringes pale or white in 99;
wings with the alula almost entirely blackish or dark as the basal in-
fuscation on wings in both sexes . 3 ‘ 3 & analis F. (p. 118).
6. (5) Pubescence with the tuft at apex of abdomen entirely deep yellowish or
deep orange yellowish or if with much black hair there is a central row
of large rounded tufts of orange yellowish hair on abdomen above, the
pubescence on thorax above in @@ dull greyish or bluish grey due to
numerous intermixed black elements, even on occiput and frons, that on
pleurae predominantly dark or blackish in 99, and even that on entire
thorax in 99 may also be black as in ¢¢, with the alular and squamal
fringes in both sexes dark or blackish; wings with the apical half or
two-thirds of alula distinctly less infuscated and more hyaline than at
base of wings in both sexes ‘ : aie
7. (10) Pubescence on abdomen without a central row of ieee rounded orange
yellowish or fulvous tufts in both sexes and without a row of whitish
or silvery whitish patches or spots on sides of venter in 99; wings with
the discoidal cell more acute or subacute apically, a longish apical cross
vein not being developed. : ‘ Mea
8. (9) Wings with the discoidal cell more pubenee apidally ana a a more distinct
apical cross vein; pubescence on thorax and pleurae in ¢¢ black, that
on frons, thorax above and upper parts of pleurae in 9Q greyish or bluish
grey due to numerous intermixed black bristly hairs and bristles, that
on pleurae in 9° dark brownish, and the apical tuft on abdomen in both
sexes less extensive and conspicuous; smaller form, about 12-15 mm.
long and with a wing-length of about 15-17 mm.
3 2 analis var. waterbergensis n. (p. 120).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 49
9. (8) Wings with the discoidal cell very acute apically and without, or scarcely,
any apical cross vein; pubescence entirely black above and below on
thorax in both sexes, and that on abdomen also predominantly black in
both sexes, but with the apical tuft of orange yellowish hair in both
sexes more extensive, broader, and more conspicwous; larger species,
more bulky, about 163-17 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
18-19 mm. ‘ ‘ ‘ 3 2 haemorrhoidalis Bezz. (p. 120).
10. (7) Pubescence on ahdoiticn above in both sexes with a central row of large
rounded tufts of orange yellowish or fulvous hair, and in 99 with a row
of small rounded dull silvery, whitish spots of hair-like scaling on each
side of venter, the pubescence on thorax above and on pleurae in f¢ en-
tirely black, but that on thorax above in 99 bluish grey due to numerous
intermixed black elements; wings with the discoidal cell truncate
apically, a well-developed apical cross vein being present
3 2 fulvonotatus Wied. (p. 121).
11. (2) Smaller species, not longer than about 11 mm. and with a wing-length
not longer than about 12 mm.; pubescence on thorax at least distinctly
longer and with a comparatively less shorn-off appearance, with distinct
lateral and central spots of either white or fulvous depressed hair-like
scaling on abdomen above in both sexes and with a row of spots or a
patch of depressed, hair-like, white or fulvous scaling on each side of
venter as well and in both sexes; wings, apart from the usual basal
infuscation, also with the costal cell and first basal cell or even the
basal parts of marginal and first submarginal cells infuscated or dis-
tinetly tinged or with the basal infuscation extending to apices of first
and second basal cells; scutellum entirely black as rest of body above
13.
12. (13) Pubescence on body above and below predominantly black in ¢ at least,
with only a spot at base of each wing, a central row of rounded spots
on abdomen above and 4 contiguous spots on each side of venter of deep
orange yellowish or fulvous scaling; wings with the costal cell and the
base up to middle of first basal cell and to end of second basal cell and
also the alula more or less sooty blackish, with the discal cross vein at
about, or scarcely beyond, middle of discoidal cell and with the alular
fringe entirely dark; antennae with oy 1 relatively shorter and less
than 2 times aslongas2 . : . 6 vansoni Hesse (p. 123).
13. (12) Pubescence on body above and below in both sexes predominantly white
or with much white hair, that on head, thorax in front, as 2 discal stripes
on thorax above, that on pleurae and on 3 rows of patches or spots on
abdomen above and on confluent spots on each side of venter white,
with the spots on abdomen composed of white scaling, with the bristly
elements towards apex of abdomen white-tipped, with the pubescence
on venter and even on coxae gleaming golden to yellowish or fulvous
golden; wings either with the extreme basal infuscation dark blackish
brown and the costal cell and basal half of first basal cell yellowish
brown or with a more extensive pattern in which the base is blackish
brown, the costal cell and basal half of first basal cell yellowish and
the basal halves of marginal and first submarginal cells and the apical
half of first basal cell brownish, the brownish even extending down apical
50
Annals of the South African Museum.
cross veins of second basal cell towards apex of anal cell, with the alula
more hyaline or also darkish with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond,
or much beyond, middle of discoidal cell and with the alular fringe with
much whitish hair; antennae with joint 1 relatively longer and quite
2 times as long as 2, and if shorter the pubescence on body is at least
whitish . : : ; : . 14.
14. (15) Wings with a more exeusive alan pabtierns counieitne of a very dark
1
5. (14
)
brown or blackish brown base, passing into a yellowish costal cell and
yellowish basal half of first basal cell and a brownish or even dark
brownish basal half of marginal cell, basal half of first submarginal cell
and apical half of first basal cell, these latter brownish infuscations
forming a characteristic quadrate dark patch which also faintly extends
down across apical cross veins of second basal cell towards apical part
of anal cell, with the veins in wings paler but with the apical cross veins
of basal cells distinctly more infuscated and spot-like, with the discal
cross vein considerably beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the alula
also darker and even more brownish; pubescence with the bristly
elements on coxae and to a certain extent also their pubescence deeper
yellowish golden or fulvous as on venter; eyes in gg almost touching
at a point a little in front of front ocellus, then rapidly diverging apically
3 2 hypoxanthus Lw. (p. 125).
(Syn. =plagiatus Bezz.)
Wings with only the extreme base very dark blackish brown and the
costal cell, narrow basal part of marginal cell and upper part of basal
half of first basal cell slightly yellowish to yellowish brownish, the
greater part of wings thus hyaline, with the veins on the whole distinctly
darker, and the apical cross veins of basal cells less distinctly spot-like,
with the discal cross vein only a little beyond middle of discoidal cell,
with the alula clearer; pubescence on venter also fulvous or yellowish,
but that on coxae much paler and more whitish; eyes in gg in actual
contact for a longer distance, at least as long as, or even slightly longer
than, ocellar tubercle before diverging apically
3 2 acroleucus Bezz. (p. 128).
16. (1) Wings with the second longitudinal vein undulating and less rapidly bent
i
upwards at its end, with the basal comb distinctly smaller and less
developed; hind margins of eyes distinctly more perceptibly and more
deeply sinuous or emarginate; pubescence on occiput, on frons anteriorly,
and even on thorax anteriorly slightly longer and more shaggy in appear-
ance, the whitish tufts on each side of frons and the patches of white
scaling on abdomen above more in form of brilliantly shining silvery
white scaling, with the pubescence on body above predominantly whitish,
that on pleurae and venter brownish, coffee brownish to dark fulvous
brownish; hypopygium of g with the neck region of basal parts much
shorter and less slender, its lower margin distinctly more arcuately
3 arnoldi n. sp. (p. 129).
dilated or broadened .
(d) Antennae with joint 1 distinctly sitet eee and much more than 2 times
as long as 2 and, if about 2 times as long as 2, with second longitudinal
vein undulating; eyes with a distinct and deeper, more perceptible
sinuosity or emargination behind on each side; pubescence on occiput
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 51
and thorax above distinctly longer, more bushy and shaggy, that on
sides of abdomen distinctly more tuft-like and bushy, relatively longer,
that on first antennal joints and face in both sexes distinctly denser,
longer, and more shaggy or bushy, with conspicuous spots or patches of
brilhantly shining silvery whitish scaling on head, thorax above and on
abdomen above and sometimes with opalescent, reddish or cinnabar
reddish scaling on abdomen above as well, especially in some 99; wings
with the second longitudinal vein undulating, with the discal cross vein
before middle of discoidal cell, rarely tending to be at about middle of
discoidal cell and, if near middle, the second longitudinal vein is
undulating, with the basal comb smaller and less developed; hind femora
usually with fewer spines below and these more or less confined to apical
half below; hypopygium of $¢ with the neck region of basal parts much
shorter and less slender, its lower margin distinctly broadened or arcuately
dilated. : , - | I(Section’3):
1. (2) Antennae with joint 1 very aire avenues aly about 2 times as long as 2;
pubescence on first antennal joints, face, occiput, and thorax above
distinctly much shorter, not very long and bushy or shaggy, pre-
dominantly white, that on abdomen distinctly shorter and not so con-
spicuously tuft-like on sides and also with much whitish hair, the apices
of the hairs, especially towards apex of abdomen, white-tipped, the
pubescence on pleurae and venter more brownish or rather more fulvous
brownish and with the patches or spots of silvery scaling on abdomen
above less obvious and more hidden by the rest of pubescence; wings
with the discal cross vein at about, or even just beyond, middle of
discoidal cell; hind femora with slightly more numerous spines, about
10-11, below and beginning from near base to apex
3 arnold n. sp. (p. 129).
2. (1) Antennae with joint 1 very much longer, elongate and longer than 2, at
least 3 or 4 times as long as 2; pubescence on first antennal joints,
on face, occiput, and thorax distinctly longer, more bushy or shaggy,
predominantly black or very dark on head at least, that on front part of
thorax may be paler, that on abdomen distinctly longer, more tuft-like
and bushy on sides even in 99, and also predominantly black or with
much dark hair, that on pleurae on the whole also darker and more often
also predominantly blackish and with the spots or patches of silvery
white scaling on abdomen above very conspicuous and striking; wings
with the discal cross vein distinctly before, or much before, middle of
discoidal cell; hind femora with fewer A below, and these more or
less confined to apical half . : : 3) 35
3. (6) Wings with a very extensive and conspicuous ee or Shean brown
pattern, extending to level of discal cross vein as follows: the basal half
of marginal cell, the base of first submarginal cell and a confluent spot
on discal cross vein, the medial part of first basal cell, the apical part
of second basal cell across its apical veins and the basal parts of anal
and axillary cells very dark blackish brown, the outer limits of this
infuscation being thus oblique and jagged, with the costal cell, base of
wings, the medial basal parts of first and second basal cells and to a
certain extent the extreme base of anal cell more yellowish or pale
52
10
Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish brown, with the apical part of first basal cell more or less
hyaline and with a distinct whitish spot at base of marginal cell and
another near apex of second basal cell, with the discoidal cell distinctly
more truncate apically, a fairly long apical cross vein being present;
hypopygium of ¢ with the lower edge in neck ee slightly less arcuately
broadened : : 3 5 A
(5) Wings with a distinct, though variable; flan infusion or - dnbusoatiee extending
down the vein between anal and fourth posterior cells towards hind
border of wing . ; : : 3 Q delicatus Wied. (p. 132).
(4) Wings without any infusion or cnbusention extending down the vein between
anal and fourth posterior cells
3 2 delicatus var. mutilatus Bezz. (p. 132).
. (3) Wings predominantly vitreous or glassy hyaline, without any extensive
dark pattern, only the base up to or near basal cross vein in costal cell
being truncately infuscated blackish brown, brownish, or yellowish
brown, with the discoidal cell distinctly more acute or subacute apically,
the apical cross vein being much shorter or sometimes even wanting;
hypopygium of $g with the lower outer margin in neck region of basal
parts more distinctly or typically arcuately broadened or dilated . 7.
(14) Pubescence on sides of abdomen without fulvous, yellowish, orange
yellowish or whitish hair or conspicuous tufts of longish silvery whitish
hair-like scales and without distinct and conspicuous reddish golden,
orange golden, cr even opalescent greenish or bluish hair-like scaling or
scales on scutellum and especially abdomen above, the hair on front
part of thorax in both sexes usually less extensively pale; squamal
fringe very dark or blackish in both sexes. : «1 ee
. (9) Pubescence on occiput, antennae, face, and genae diatinonty longer, that in
a tuft behind wings and above halteres on each side straw-coloured
whitish; antennae with joint 1 distinctly longer, quite 5, more than 4,
times as long as 2 and with joint 3 relatively shorter and subequal in
length to joints 1 and 2 combined; wings with the basal infuscation
and alula sooty blackish, with the veins very dark blackish brown, the
discoidal cell acute apically, and the axillary lobe rather narrowish
3 & plorans Bezz. (p. 134).
(8) Pubescence on occiput, antennae, face, and genae distinctly and compara-
welt
—
tively shorter, the tuft behind wings and above halteres entirely black;
antennae with joint 1 distinctly shorter and only about 4, or only a little
more, times as long as 2 and with 3 relatively longer and longer than 1
and 2 combined; wings with the basal infuscation and alula less dark,
more brownish or yellowish brown and, if black, antennal joints 1 and 3
are distinctly shorter, with the veins paler and even yellowish, with the
discoidal cell subacute, less acute and even with a very distinct apical
cross vein and with the axillary lobe distinctly broader and more sub-
angularly rounded opposite apical part of alula_. : «LO.
Proboscis longer, about 45-5 mm.; pubescence on body aloes) and below
predominantly or almost enue black, that on thorax in front in gg
less extensively pale or fulvous, and that on occiput and on thorax in
front in 99 more obscurely pale and more fulvous brown, but rather
sparse, with the silvery spots on body less developed; wings with the
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 53
veins darker brownish, with the basal infuscation darker and more
blackish brown . 3 , 3 2 melanolomus n. sp. (p. 135).
11. (10) Proboscis shorter, about 32-4 mm. joni pubescence on body above and
below, though predominantly black, with that on thorax in front in ¢¢
more extensively greyish white, straw-coloured yellowish to pale fulvous,
and in QQ also distinctly more extensively straw-coloured yellowish or
fulvous, and with the spots of silvery white scaling on body above in 99,
and on abdomen in jg more conspicuous and more developed; wings
with much paler and pale yellowish veins, and with a paler basal in-
fuscation . : : : 5 Ze
12. (13) Pubescence with the feisty haiti on occiput, sinberion half of thorax
and sides of thorax in 99 with more dark elements, only a small tuft of
fulvous hair on each humerus and anteriorly with the beginnings of 2
admedian stripes of silvery scaling, with the hair on thorax anteriorly
and more medially in g¢ greyish to very pale straw-coloured whitish
and without brownish golden scaling on disc of thorax in 99; interocular
space in 99 slightly broader and a little more than 2 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle; wings with the discal cross vein much before middle of
discoidal cell . ‘ i ; 3S Q lugens Bezz. (p. 137).
13. (12) Pubescence with the bristly Hai on occiput, the fine erect hairs on front
half of thorax, along sides of thorax above wings on each side and inter-
mixed ones on mesopleuron in @ straw-coloured yellowish but with
golden gleams, with the fine scaling on thorax brownish golden, with the
following spots of silvery white scaling: 4 on frons, a tuft on each side
of face, a small spot behind eyes, a spot on the humerus, another just in
front of wings, an admedian patch on each side in front and a small
admedian one on each side in line with those in front of wings, a large
spot on each side in front of scutellum, an elongate transverse patch at
base on each side of tergite 2, small central spots and a patch on each
side basally of tegrites 3-5; interocular space in @ slightly narrower,
only about 2 times as broad as tubercle; wings with the discal cross vein
just before middle of discoidal cell , 5 Q tucker n. sp. (p. 139).
14. (7) Pubescence on sides of abdomen with conspicuous and longish tufts of
silvery whitish hair-like scaling or with a conspicuous bushy tuft of
orange yellowish or yellowish hair, with sometimes conspicuous and
dense reddish golden, orange golden, or even opalescent greenish or bluish
scales on body above and especially scutellum and abdomen, the pubes-
cence on thorax in front, occiput, and pleurae, and sometimes even on
head with more extensive pale hair in both sexes; squamal fringe much
paler, yellowish or snow-white to silvery white. : ‘ ld:
15. (20) Pubescence on body above without conspicuous or dense depressed
reddish golden, deep golden, or purplish red hair-like scaling or even with
flattened opalescent greenish or bluish scaling in addition to spots of
silvery scaling, with pubescence on pleurae, in entire lower part of meta-
pleural tuft and predominantly on abdomen in both sexes black or very
dark and with the tufts of snow-white hairs or hair-like scaling on sides
basally of tergites 3 and 4 longer and more conspicuous and with the
silvery tuft on each side of face more extensive and more conspicuous
: 16.
VOL. XXXIV. 9)
54 Annals of the South African Museum.
16. (17) Pubescence with the tuft of snow-white hairs and silvery white hair-like
scales on sides of tergites 3 and 4 basally in g¢ longer, the pubescence
on occiput and front part of thorax in both sexes straw-coloured whitish
to yellowish; wings more blackish at base, with the discoidal cell more
often subacute and with the discal cross vein just before middle of dis-
coidal cell ; ; : 3 2 ornatus Wied. (p. 140).
17. (16) Pubescence with the tufts of white or silvery white hairs and scales on
sides of tergites 3 and 4 basally in $¢ shorter, the pubescence on occiput
and on thorax, especially in 99, black or predominantly black; wings
more yellowish at base and with the discal cross vein slightly nearer base
of discoidal cell . : : -) Ss
18. (19) Sternopleuron in 2 without a conspicuous pakan of diver goals
3 2 kilumandjaricus Bezz. nec Speis. (p. 140).
19. (18) Sternopleuron in 2 with a conspicuous patch of silvery white scales |
2 var. of ornatus Wied. (p. 142).
(Labelled as kilomandjaricus by Bezzi.)
20. (15) Pubescence on body above with distinct, conspicuous, and sometimes
dense, depressed reddish golden, deep golden, or purplish red hair-like
scaling, and in some forms even with flattened, opalescent greenish or
bluish scaling in addition to spots of silvery white scaling, with more
pale or even yellowish elements on body, the pubescence on pleurae, in
front lower part of metapleural tuft, and in some forms even on abdomen
with much or more pale hairs, with the tufts of silvery white hair-like
scales on sides basally of tergites 3 or 3 and 4 or 3-5, if present, distinctly
shorter and less conspicuous in both sexes and with the silvery tuft on
each side of face usually smaller and less extensive, and if conspicuous
the body has reddish golden or golden scaling above’. oe
21. (22) Pubescence in 9° at least with conspicuous flattened silvery white scaling
on mesopleuron, propleural parts, front coxae, femora, and the tibiae in
addition to the spots and tufts of silvery white scaling on head, thorax,
and abdomen above, with some flattened greenish, bluish, and purplish
red, opalescent scaling on body above, the pubescence on abdomen and
rest of body more straw-coloured, even that on first antennal joints and
venter below with more straw-coloured elements, the pubescence also
relatively shorter on antennae and also with some long, flattened, silvery
white scale-like hairs on sides of antennal joint 1
2 okahandjanus n. sp. (p. 148).
22. (21) Pubescence in both sexes without flattened silvery white scaling on
propleural parts, front coxae, femora, and tibiae, that on legs usually dark
though they may gleam greyish in certain lights, if with whitish ones on
pleurae body above with reddish golden or golden scaling, without any
flattened, greenish or bluish opalescent scales, the pubescence on first
antennal joints longer and blackish, that on abdomen with more black
hair or if with pale ones with a large tuft of orange hair on sides or with
deep golden scaling above without any conspicuous ay white scale-
like hairs on sides of antennal joint 1. : . 23.
23. (24) Pubescence on sides of abdomen predoienannln plese even if more
conspicuous in 34, with a more distinct and conspicuous tuft of silvery
white hair-like scales on sides basally of tergite 4 in gg, the pubescence
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 55
on thorax above in front more whitish or straw-coloured whitish, with
the fine depressed scaling on body above slightly duller and less reddish
golden, with some patches of dense silvery white scaling on each side
of venter in 99; wings with the basal infuscation paler and more yellowish,
only extreme base very dark and with the alula very pale, more sub-
opaquely whitish : ‘ : - 6 &rufiventris Macq. (p. 144).
24. (23) Pubescence on sides of abdomen in both sexes with a very conspicuous
tuft of orange yellowish to orange golden hair from base of tergites 2-4,
with only a few inconspicuous silvery whitish scales on sides basally of
3 and 4 in gg, more distinct on sides of abdomen in 99, the pubescence
on thorax above in front distinctly more yellowish to pale golden yellowish,
with the scaling on body above distinctly deeper reddish and gleaming
more reddish golden, with only dense fulvous hairs and very few silvery
scales on side of venter in 2; wings with the basal infuscation distinctly
darker and more dark brownish to blackish brown and with the alula
also distinctly darker and more brownish . : 3 & elegans Wied.
(Syn. =furiosus Walk.) (p. 145).
f. (c) Legs predominantly or entirely yellowish, and if femora are darkened they
are so only basally; wings apparently more elongate and narrowish in
appearance, with the vein between the submarginal cells distinctly less
S-curved and straighter, its base less sinuous or bent down before meeting
first posterior cell, with the second longitudinal vein slightly less sinuous
or bent upwards at its end, without a well-marked-off and truncated
basal infuscation and without more extensive very dark infuscations,
the base, costal cell, basal half of first basal cell, and the second basal cell
may, however, be slightly tinged more yellowish or yellowish brown than
rest of wings; pubescence on body above and below predominantly
whitish, straw-coloured yellowish, creamy yellowish to pale golden yellow-
ish and black elements may be present only on frons, antennae, and face
or as transverse bristles or even tufts of hair on sides of abdomen g.
g- (h) Wings with the first posterior cell not sharply and angularly acute apically,
normal and with a normally long stalk, with the vein separating sub-
marginal cells slightly more S-curved and not almost straight, with the
discal cross vein much or very much before middle of discoidal cell, the
first and second basal cells sometimes almost equal in length and almost
Systoechus-like; head with antennal joint 1 relatively shorter, less than
34 times as long as joint 2, with the interocular space in 92 very much
broader, very much more than 14—2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle,
with the frons in 99 very much broader and normally broadly diverging
apically, with the proboscis shorter and only about 4—5 mm. long, with
the facets on upper anterior part of eyes in 29 not remarkably coarser
and with face broader in both sexes; abdomen not truncated in appear-
ance and the last few segments not telescoped or tucked in below
segment 5; pubescence with that on face less dense and not overhanging
face in front and tuft-like, with the dark or blackish elements if present
on sides across hind margins of abdominal tergites less conspicuously
and markedly tuft-like, and if dense and suggesting tufts abdomen is not
truncated and first posterior cell is not apically acute, with the dark or
black transverse bristles across abdomen, in 9° at least, on the whole
56 Annals of the South African Museum.
stouter; hypopygium of known g¢ with the inner apical angles of basal
parts less prominent and with the beaked apical joints Bec to a
distinct sharp point or beak : : ‘ . 1 (Section 4).
1. (4) Wings with the discal cross vein very raven before middle of discoidal
cell, the first and second basal cells being almost equal and almost
Systoechus-like; pubescence on body, even in gg, more yellowish or
creamy yellowish, that on body below also more creamy yellowish and
not strikingly whitish, with less dense and tuft-like blackish elements
on sides of abdomen in 99, and sometimes without any blackish hairs on
sides of abdomen in gg; antennae sometimes reddish or yellowish, with
joint 1 appearing relatively shorter and with joint 3 sometimes slightly
more thickened or broadened basally; claws either sickle-shaped or
nearly straight, and the pulvilli short or reaching middle of claws . 2.
2. (3) Claws normally sickle-shaped, distinctly curved down apically, and the
pulvilli long, reaching and extending beyond middle of claws; antennae
entirely black, with joint 3 markedly club-shaped, very much broadened
basally; pubescence with a tuft of silvery whitish scaling on each side
of frons anteriorly in $¢ at least, without any black or dark bristly hairs
on post-alar calli and on sides of abdomen in §g; wings with the discoidal
cell acute apically; femora in gg darkened at base
3 permixtus n. sp. (p. 145).
3. (2) Claws almost straight, longer, and with the pulvilli short and confined to
base, not reaching middle of claws in both sexes; antennae with joints 1
and 2 and basal half or three-quarters of 3 pale yellowish red in both
sexes, with joint 3 slightly longer, more slender, and much less broadened
basally; pubescence with the tuft on each side of frons anteriorly more
yellowish or sericeous yellowish in both sexes, with a few intermixed
blackish hairs or bristly hairs on post-alar calli in both sexes, and also
with black bristles on scutellum and transversely across abdomen in 9;
wings with the discoidal cell subacute apically, a distinct apical cross
vein being present; femora in both sexes entirely yellowish
3 2 subacutus n. sp. (p. 148).
4. (1) Wings with the discal cross vein, though much before middle of discoidal
cell, farther away from its base, the first basal cell thus distinctly much
longer than, and not appearing subequal to, second basal cell; pubes-
cence on body paler and distinctly more whitish even in 99, that on body
below distinctly more contrastingly whitish, that on thorax above and
on abdomen above and even on venter however with some or much
yellowish brown or brownish golden, with denser and more numerous
black bristly hairs or bristles on sides of abdomen, especially on segment 3,
in addition to the dark transverse bristles and sometimes with more
numerous intermixed black bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, face,
and genae in some 99; antennae black, with joint 1 appearing relatively
longer and with joint 3 usually more slender and rod-like, only slightly
broadened basally; claws sickle-shaped and bent down apically, with
the pulvilli long in both sexes, reaching and extending beyond middle
of claws. : 4 : : : ‘ : ; ‘ Ok
5. (6) Pubescence on antennae, face, and genae with intermixed black hairs in
both sexes, that on sides of tergites 1 and 2 and more so on 3 with more
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 57
blackish elements, especially in 99; head with antennal joint 1 only
about 24 times as long as 2, with joint 3 more rod-like and less broadened
basally, with the interocular space in 99 slightly narrower and only
about 2 times as broad as tubercle, with the proboscis slightly more
obviously spinulated; hind femora with about 13 spines below
3 & cockerelli n. sp. (p. 149).
6. (5) Pubescence on antennae, face, and genae, in 99 at least, entirely whitish,
that on sides of tergite 1 white, and the black bristly hairs and hairs on
sides of tergites 2 and 3 less conspicuous in 99 at least; head with
antennal joint 1 quite 3 times as long as 2, with 3 slightly more distinctly
broadened basally, with the interocular space in 99 slightly broader,
about 24 times as broad as tubercle, with the proboscis more finely and
scarcely visibly spinulated; hind femora with only about 8-9 spines
below é Z : : ; ; Q karasanus n. sp. (p. 151).
h. (g) Wings with the first posterior cell attenuated and very sharply acute
apically and provided apically with a short stalk, with the vein between
submarginal cells almost straight, with the discal cross vein, though
also before middle of discoidal cell, distinctly nearer middle, the first
basal cell thus very much longer than second basal cell; head with
antennal joint 1 relatively longer, about 32-4 times as long as joint 2,
with the interocular space in 99 remarkably narrow, only about 14,
scarcely 2, times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the frons in 99°
remarkably narrow, the inner margins subparallel for a good distance
before gradually diverging apically, with the face in both sexes, but
especially in 29, also remarkably narrow, with the proboscis usually
more than 5 mm. long, with the anterior upper facets in eyes of 99
distinctly very much coarser; abdomen truncated in appearance, the
last few segments telescoped or tucked in below segment 5; pubescence
with that on face denser and overhanging face in front, tuft-like, with the
blackish elements on sides across hind margins of tergites 2-5 distinctly
and conspicuously tuft-like, with the transverse black bristly elements
on abdomen finer and less stoutish; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 21) with
the inner apical angle and process of basal parts long, prominently
produced, rounded apically, rabbit-ear like and with the beaked apical
joints broader, more flattened and strap-like, broadly rounded apically
& 2 mollis Bezz. (Section 5)
(Syn. =disjunctus Bezz.) (p. 153).
C (B) Legs entirely or predominantly yellowish and even if femora be darkened
the spines and spicules are always yellowish or pallid; pubescence on
body entirely or predominantly whitish, yellowish, or golden yellowish,
without any black hair on body, and when blackish or dark elements
are present they are found only in form of blackish transverse bristles
or bristly hairs across hind margins of the abdomen, without any tufts
or spots of resplendent, shining, silvery whitish scales on body; eyes in
6d rarely in actual contact for a distance as long as ocellar tubercle,
usually subcontiguous or more often separated by width of front ocellus,
front part of tubercle, or even by width of tubercle, with the upper facets
of eyes only distinctly and visibly coarser in forms with the eyes in sub-
contact; frons in 29 usually with a shallower transverse depression which
58
Annals of the South African Museum.
is sometimes very shallow and more medial, not markedly transverse;
hypopygium of §¢g with the beaked apical joints variable in shape,
elongated and narrowish, and when shortish and broadened not typical
bird-head shaped and not markedly triquetrous at base, with the bristly
hairs above on beaked joints usually not conspicuously concentrated and
tuft-like, and with or without a ventral aedeagal process 1 (Group 2).
1. (12) Antennae and proboscis predominantly or entirely yellowish, yellowish
red or pale reddish brown, with only the apex of proboscis darkened and
with antennal joint 3 always reddish or entirely reddish; wings with the
discal cross vein always distinctly much before middle of discoidal cell 2.
2. (7) Claws almost straight, with the pulvilli short, confined to base and not
reaching middle of claws; scutellum black or very dark; wings in gd
more extensively tinged yellowish or pale yellowish brown, only the
apical part being more hyaline, almost entirely hyaline in 99, with the
basal comb very vestigial, with the alula more reduced, poorly developed
and not prominently lobe-like, without any indication or trace of spot-
like infuscations on apical cross veins of basal cells; pubescence distinctly
longer and more fluffy, especially in gg, without any distinctly visible
stoutish bristles or bristly elements in front of wings or across hind
margins of abdomen in both sexes, predominantly sericeous whitish,
straw-coloured whitish to very pale sericeous yellowish in gg and pale
sericeous yellowish in 99; head with the face distinctly much shorter,
less developed and not spout-like, with the interocular space in $¢ as
broad as tubercle but sides less rapidly diverging anteriorly, the inter-
ocular space in 99 less than 3 times as broad as tubercle; smaller species,
about 34-6 mm. long and with a wing-length of 4-64 mm., with the
thorax more subglobularly prominent and abdomen more conditarmgt
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 22) without a ventral aedeagal process and
with the basal strut markedly or relatively more elongated . ge
3. (6) Face paler and more pallid or yellowish in both sexes; pleural parts in
both sexes usually with much red or even entirely reddish and red on
abdomen in gg conspicuous on sides and across hind margins, and often
entire apical part is reddish; pubescence in gg usually paler and more
sericeous whitish and even in 99 also paler; larger forms, about 4-6 mm.
long and with a wing-length of about 5-64 mm. . ; ota
4. (5) Abdomen in $3 more extensively and conspicuously reddish on sides, the
entire apical part being also almost entirely reddish; head with antennal
joint 3 tending to be pale yellowish red like 1 and 2 and with joint 1
apparently longer, with the proboscis usually stouter and less than 3 mm.
long; pubescence sericeous whitish or frosty whitish in g¢ and very
pale in 99 ; ; A , ; 3 & globulus Bezz. (p. 157).
(Typical Namaqualand forms.)
0. (4) Abdomen in 3g less extensively reddened on sides and the apex less
conspicuously red; head with antennal joint 3 tending to be more
brownish and with joint 1 apparently relatively shorter, with the proboscis
distinctly more slender and slightly longer, about 24-34 mm. long;
pubescence more pale creamy yellowish or pale sericeous yellowish in
both sexes ; : : aia . fb 8 globulus Bezz.
(Karoo form) (p. 158).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 59
6. (3) Face very dark or black in both sexes; pleural parts predominantly black
in both sexes and even abdomen in §¢ predominantly black; pubescence
in both sexes slightly more distinctly yellowish; small form, only about
33-4 mm. long and with a wing-length of only about 4-5 mm.
S$ 2 giobulus Bezz. (p. 159).
(Small Namaqualand form.)
7. (2) Claws normally sickle-shaped, their apices curved down, with the pulvilli
much longer, reaching and extending beyond middle of claws; scutellum
entirely pale ferruginous reddish; wings with the base, costal cell, basal
parts of marginal and first submarginal cells, more than basal half of
first basal cell and greater part of second basal cell tinged subopaquely
yellowish brown, the base being more yellowish, the rest of the wings in
both sexes hyaline, with the basal comb more conspicuously developed,
the alula distinctly more strongly developed and more lobate, with a
distinct, though sometimes faint, spot-like infuscation on apical cross
veins of basal cells; pubescence distinctly shorter and with a more
shorn off appearance on thorax in both sexes, that on face shorter and
sparser, with distinct macrochaetal bristles in front of wings and in 99
at least with transverse bristles on abdomen, predominantly deeper
yellowish, more golden to brownish or reddish golden in both sexes;
head with the face distinctly more prominent and produced, sometimes
more or less spout-like, with the interocular space in jg as broad as
front ocellus or front part of ocellar tubercle or even as broad as tubercle,
then more rapidly diverging apically, with the space in 92 about
34-41 times as broad as tubercle; larger species, about 6-12 mm. long
and with a wing-length of about 74-12} mm., with the thorax not
convexly prominent and abdomen not so markedly cordiform; hypo-
pygium of g¢ with a distinct ventral aedeagal process below . O°
8. (11) Proboscis remarkably long and straight, about 6-10 mm.; head with
the face markedly prominent, more produced and more spout-like,
with the interocular space in 99 relatively narrower, about 34, or a little
more, times as broad as tubercle, with antennal joint 3 longer and quite
13 times as long as 1 and 2 combined; pleurae with less yellowish, the
third antennal joints as pale as 1 and 2, the proboscis is more extensively
reddish, and in 9° the hind margins on side of abdomen are not reddened;
pubescence on frons and face much sparser and shorter, that on abdomen
above in both sexes denser and jn 9° with longish erect hairs in addition
to transverse bristles, that on pleurae pale pink mauvish and with the
bristles on body above not or scarcely gleaming whitish at their apices;
wings with the infuscated part slightly darker and more yellowish brown
or brownish, the infuscation more diffuse, and with the spot-like infusca-
tions on apical cross veins of basal cells more conspicuous; hind femora
with about 7-12 comparatively stout spines below; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 23) with the apex of aedeagus very slender and curved upwards
and with the ventral aedeagal process acute apically and curved down-
wards : ; ‘ : : : é 4 : : so EOE
9. (10) Wings with the dark brownish infuscation basally more diffuse, less marked
off, the basal half of marginal cell and first submarginal cell being also
infuscated, with the spots on cross veins also more diffuse; pubescence
60 Annals of the South African Museum.
in gg more golden or brownish golden and that towards apex of abdomen
more creamy yellowish, that on face sparse; hind femora with about
7-10 spines below ' : . 6 & eurhinatus Bezz. (p. 159).
10. (9) Wings with the dark prowuigh infuscation basally more distinctly marked
off, the basal half of marginal cell and first submarginal cell being almost
hyaline and the spots on cross veins less diffuse; pubescence in ¢ slightly
paler, more creamy yellowish and that towards apex of abdomen more
whitish, that on face slightly denser; hind femora with about 11-12
spines below. . 6 eurhinatus var. bechuanus Hesse (p. 162).
11. (8) Proboscis very much orion, only about 3-5 mm. long; head with the
face, though prominent, less produced, with the interocular space in 99
relatively broader, about 4—44 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with
antennal joint 3 slightly shorter and not 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined; pleurae with more yellowish in both sexes, the third antennal
joint usually darker and the proboscis also more extensively darkened
below and in 99 the hind margins on side of abdomen are distinctly
and broadly reddish; pubescence on frons and face denser and slightly
longer, that on occiput also longer, that on abdomen above, especially
in 99, distinctly less dense, shorter and with fewer long erect hairs and,
apart from transverse bristles, with dense depressed hair-like scaling,
that on pleurae slightly paler pinkish mauve and with the bristles on
body above more gleaming whitish at their apices; wings with the
infuscated part paler and more yellowish, less diffuse and with the spot-
like infuscations on cross veins less distinct; hind femora with about
5-8 more slender spines below; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 24) with the
apex of aedeagus straight and shorter, not curved upwards, and with the
ventral aedeagal process smaller, horizontal, and rounded apically
3 & brachyrrhynchus Bezz. (p. 162).
12. (1) Antennae and proboscis entirely or predominantly black, or antennal
joint 3 and by far the greater part of proboscis black, only the extreme
base of proboscis being sometimes yellowish, and if antennae are pre-
dominantly yellowish the position of discal cross vein is different; wings
with the discal cross vein at middle or distinctly beyond middle of
discoidal cell, and when rarely just before middle the antennae and
proboscis are predominantly black : 13.
3. (20) Wings with the first posterior cell distinctly and domotiten’ very y markedly
attenuated and acute apically,, provided with a very short stalk, this
stalk being usually very much shorter than rest of vein separating first
posterior and second submarginal cells, sometimes even absent and
the first posterior cell thus sessile or even almost opening on hind border,
with the vein between first and second posterior cells straight, never even
slightly sinuous or bent up at its end where it joins the part of third
longitudinal vein (M,+R,;) separating off the second submarginal cell
and with this latter vein always much straighter . ; . 14.
14, (15) Wings with the first posterior cell distinctly sessile on hind ‘ponden its
apical part thus less sharply acute, there being no stalk whatever, with
the discal cross vein at about the middle of discoidal cell, with the third
posterior cell (text-fig. 25, II1) more or less rhomboidal, all its sides
tending to be equal, with the basal comb poorly developed; scutellum
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 61
predominantly black, only narrowish hind margin reddish, and face,
head below, and pleurae also predominantly dark; pubescence longer
and that on thorax above in ¢ at least longer and more recumbent, not
with a shorn-off appearance, gleaming almost silvery whitish on body
above and entirely frosty white below; head with the eyes in $ separated
above by a space as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle or tubercle
itself, with antennal joint 3 markedly broadened near base, then more
rapidly narrowed along lower margin; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 26)
with the ventral aedeagal process recurved apically and with the basal
strut more broadish . : . 6 rhomboidalis n. sp. (p. 164).
5. (14) Wings with the first posterior ceil very sharply and angularly acute
apically, not roundly sessile on hind border but provided with either a
very short stalk or a longer one, with the discal cross vein distinctly
and even much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the third posterior
cell not markedly rhomboidal, its sides being markedly or normally
unequal in length, with the basal comb more strongly and more con-
spicuously developed; scutellum predominantly pale reddish yellow or
pale reddish brown, and face, head below, and pleural parts with more
yellowish; pubescence on body above distinctly shorter in both sexes,
that on thorax above in g¢ with a more shorn off appearance, dull
creamy whitish or yellowish to sericeous or golden yellowish, and if
gleaming whitish and almost frosty whitish below first posterior cell is
angularly acute and face is very pallid; head with the eyes in known
6d contiguous or subcontiguous above or only separated by front ocellus,
with antennal joint 3 less markedly and rapidly broadened below near
base, and if much broadened basally the apical part is more slender,
pubescence is yellowish above and (or) first posterior cell is angularly
acute apically; hypopygium of known g¢ with the ventral aedeagal
process, if present, differently shaped . : : . 16.
16. (17) Pubescence on body predominantly dull whitish or creamy and creamy
whitish, that below distinctly more whitish to chalky whitish, and that
towards apical part of abdomen in g¢ also distinctly more whitish;
abdomen with the reddish or yellowish red less extensive in both sexes,
the reddish on sides less conspicuous and reddish hind margins in ¢¢
almost absent; head markedly broad and the eyes markedly large,
especially in ¢g, with the interocular space in 99 broader and quite
24 times as broad as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, the eyes
subcontiguous or almost touching in front of tubercle in gg, with the
face relatively barer; wings with the first posterior cell even more
attenuately acute apically and its apical stalk shorter or even very short,
the cell being sometimes almost sessile; front tarsal joints in 92 not
markedly thickened; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 27) with the neck
region of basal parts dilated and prominently produced, with a down-
wardly directed spine on apical aspect of inner lobe (at base of apical
joints), without a complicated ventral aedeagal process
3S & sessilis Bezz. (p. 166).
17. (16) Pubescence on body predominantly or entirely yellowish, sericeous to
golden yellowish, that below only paler yellowish and, if more whitish,
that above at least is distinctly yellowish and that towards apex of
62
Annals of the South African Museum.
abdomen in known g¢ less whitish; abdomen with the pale yellowish
red distinctly more extensive in both sexes, the reddish on sides of
abdomen in both sexes very extensive and conspicuous, sometimes very
broad even in 99 and the red hind margins of segments in jg usually
broad and even pleurae in both sexes with more reddish; head not .
conspicuously broad, and the eyes, if large, not broadening the head
transversely, with the interocular space in 99 relative to antennal
joints 1 and 2 much narrower and the space sometimes remarkably
narrow, less than 24 times combined in length of joints 1 and 2, with
the eyes in known gg even more contiguous or in subcontact in front of
tubercle, with the face more densely haired; wings with the first posterior
cell more rapidly acute apically, its apical stalk slightly or distinctly
longer; front tarsal joints in QQ distinctly and markedly thickened;
hypopygium of known $3 with the lower margin of neck region of basal
parts not produced, and without a spine or apical aspect of inner margin
or lobe and with different aedeagal structures : : «ESE
18. (19) Head with the eyes in both sexes moderately large, vith the face dis-
tinctly longer, quite as long or longer than antennal joints 1 and 2
combined, with antennal joint 3 less broadened near base and less
markedly slender in apical part and with the basal terminal element
inconspicuous, with the interocular space in 99 very much broader, a
little more than 2 times as broad as combined length of antennal joints 1
and 2, with the frons in 99 distinctly very much broader and normal,
with the proboseis not visibly strigilose below; red on body, though
extensively developed, less extensive on abdomen, the greater part of
abdomen above in both sexes with much black and proboscis reddish
below; pubescence on the whole deeper yellowish to golden and that on
body below only paler yellowish, not whitish; wings with the discal
cross vein only a little, or sometimes scarcely, beyond middle of discoidal
cell and with the veins slightly paler yellowish or yellowish brown;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 28) with a very complex ventral aedeagal
process . : - 3d 2 mundus Lw. (p. 169).
19. (18) Head with the eyes nordanenbl tae in 2 at ae with the face much
shorter, distinctly shorter than combined length of antennal joints 1
and 2, less spout-like prominent, with antennal joint 3 remarkably broad
near base and then very rapidly narrowed to apex, the apical part very
slender and with the basal element of terminal elements conical and more
conspicuous, with the interocular space on vertex in 2 though nearly
3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, remarkably narrow and only about
subequal in length to combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with
the frons thus almost abnormally narrow, with the proboscis distinctly
and visibly strigilose below; red on abdomen even in 9 very extensively
developed, the disc predominantly reddish yellow and the black reduced
to a central row of triangular spots and the proboscis entirely black;
pubescence pale yellowish above, becoming gleaming golden yellowish
on abdomen, that on body below distinctly much paler and more chalky
whitish; wings with the discal cross vein very much beyond middle, at
apical third, of discoidal cell and the veins slightly darker and more
brownish . ‘ , ; ‘ . | Q atronotatus n. sp. (p. 171).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 63
20. (13) Wings with the first posterior cell distinctly less angularly acute apically,
never sharply angularly and attenuately acute apically, always provided
with a normally long stalk, this stalk being usually subequal or longer
in length to rest of vein separating first posterior and second submarginal
cells, with the vein between first and second posterier cells always tending
to be slightly sinuous or bent up at its end where it joins the part of third
longitudinal vein (M,+R,;) which separates off the second submarginal
cell and with this latter vein always bent, or pulled, basalwards where
vein between first and second posterior cells joins it : : 21.
21. (43) Abdomen above entirely black, and if hind margins tend to be reuidiah
they are narrowly so and only on last few segments, with the rows of
transverse bristles across hind margins of tegrites predominantly or
entirely very dark yellowish brown, brownish to black, or at least with
much darker bristles or numerous dark elements on some of the tergites
laterally or towards the apex : : 2a
22. (23) Legs with the femora in both sexes re doiiinantly or extensively
blackened; pubescence on body above comparatively very short and
dense, that on thorax, especially in §g, with a shorn-off appearance,
with the black bristly elements more densely and conspicuously present
on post-alar calli, on scutellum, and especially across hind margins of
segments where they are very conspicuous and dense, with these black
bristles sometimes flanked on the basal side by reddish brown to orange
brownish hairs, especially in 99; eyes in g¢ contiguous or in contact
above for some distance at least subequal to ocellar tubercle; proboscis
markedly long, about 5-8 mm. long; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 29)
with the ventral aedeagal process composed of 2 pointed projecting
plates 5 - 3d 8 impurus Lw. (p. 173).
23. (22) Legs with the iniord sativaly or predotninantly yellowish, and if darkened
then only so at extreme bases; pubescence on body above distinctly
much longer, that on thorax above even in gg longer, more bushy or
shaggy and without a closely cropped off appearance, with the black
bristly elements or bristles across hind margins of abdomen less dense,
less conspicuous, usually less numerous, and sometimes represented by
- only a few laterally or ventro-laterally near apex and without any deep
brownish or reddish brown hair flanking basal side of dark transverse
bristles; eyes in gg separated above even if only narrowly; proboscis
shorter and usually much shorter than 5 mm.; hypopygium of $$ without
a ventral aedeagal process, and if with a process this is differently shaped.
24.
24. (42) Pubescence on the whole apparently shorter, not markedly shaggy on
occiput and thorax, that on occiput and front part of thorax, when
viewed from side, not so markedly gleaming sericeous or silky whitish
and not contrasting collar-like with the more yellowish or whitish hair
on rest of thorax above, and if whitish second longitudinal vein is rapidly
bent up at end, with the bristly hairs or bristles on face and genae, on
sides of thorax in front of wing-bases, on post-alar calli, and across hind
margin of scutellum pale or coloured pale yellowish or whitish like rest
of pubescence on these sites; wings with the second longitudinal vein
distinctly or normally bent upwards at its end, i.e. almost at right angles
64
Annals of the South African Museum.
or very rapidly; face and head below rarely black, and if darkened the
wings are usually tinged mauvish brown or distinctly yellowish, and
second longitudinal vein is more rapidly bent up at end . : ~| ADs
25. (30) Wings distinctly and sometimes deeply tinged reddish or mauvish brown,
deeper and darker brownish or reddish brown towards costal and basal
parts, especially in gg; face, head below, and basal parts of femora
inclined to be darker and sometimes blackish; pubescence on body
above usually deeper yellowish, more brownish yellow, and if paler and
more creamy or creamy yellowish wings are at least tinged reddish or
mauvish brown, that on body below, though paler than above, duller
and not contrasting much with that above, that towards apex of abdomen
in both sexes also more yellowish, and if inclining to be distinctly whitish
wings are tinged reddish mauve; antennae with joint 1 longer, at least
4, or even more, times as long as 2 and sometimes darkened along upper
part; eyes in gg separated above by a space about as broad as front
part of ocellar tubercle or tubercle itself F 26.
26. (29) Pubescence on body above distinctly deeper welling to deep aolided
yellowish, with a distinct brownish or reddish brown tint in certain
lights, that on body below only paler yellowish not contrasting much
with that above, that towards apex of abdomen in both sexes more
yellowish; wings distinctly tinged deeper reddish or mauvish brown;
antennal joint 1 slightly longer, usually slightly more than 4 times as
long as 2; interocular space in gg broader, about as broad as ocellar
tubercle or broad front part of tubercle : die
27. (28) Face and head below much darker, almost black or “pies femora,
especially in g¢, distinctly darkened or blackened basally to about
middle and with the coxae and trochanters also darker; pubescence
tending to be darker and more brownish yellow, that on antennae and
face also darker and more reddish brown, with the dark or black trans-
verse bristles across abdomen darker and more conspicuous; antennae
relatively shorter and joint 3 slightly more attenuated apically and less
rod-like; wings in 99 apparently less tinged and less so than in fg
3 2 tinctipennis n. sp. var. thornei n. (p. 178).
28. (27) Face and head below paler and more yellowish or pallid; femora less ex-
29, (26
)
tensively darkened at bases in jg, almost entirely yellowish, the coxae and
trochanters also paler and more obscurely reddish yellow; pubescence on
the whole tending to be paler and that on antennae and face paler and
more pale yellowish, with less dark or less conspicuously dark transverse
bristles across abdomen; antennae apparently longer and with joint 3
more distinctly rod-like; wings in both sexes more equally and uniformly
tinged reddish or mauvish brown . 3 §& tinctipennis n. sp. (p. 176).
Pubescence on body above paler and more creamy yellowish and even
paler in $4, that on body below distinctly very much paler and more
distinctly whitish, contrasting with that above, that towards apical
part of abdomen distinctly more whitish and in §¢ almost white; wings
slightly less deeply reddish mauve; antennal joint 1 apparently slightly
shorter and only about 4 times as long as 2; interocular space in gg
narrower, about as broad as front ocellus or narrow front part of tubercle.
3 2 marginellus Bezz. (p. 180).
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 65
30. (25) Wings not distinctly tinged reddish mauvish or brownish mauvish,
usually greyish hyaline or subopaquely greyish hyaline and when with
yellowish brown, the tinge is only evident towards base; face, head
below, coxae, and trochanters more yellowish, yellowish red to yellowish
brown and if coxae and bases of femora are darkened the wings are not
tinged; pubescence on body above much paler yellowish, creamy
yellowish to whitish and even more so in certain lights, that on head in
front also paler and sometimes more whitish, that on pleurae and even
abdomen below paler, more distinctly whitish and contrasting with that
above, that towards apex of abdomen also more whitish, especially in
63; antennae with joint | tending to be shorter, scarcely, or less than,
4 times as long as 2, and sometimes also tending to be entirely dark
above; eyes in gg subcontiguous or contiguous above or separated only
narrowly by breadth of front ocellus . : é erat,
31. (34) Body with the abdominal tergites 2-7 or at least 5-7 nariowly margined
with reddish, tergite 7 being more broadly or even entirely reddish,
with the sternites also distinctly margined with reddish, with the face
and head below yellowish or pallid, and if dark in some gg the wings
are subopaquely greyish hyaline or greyish hyaline, with the legs, including
the coxae, entirely yellowish and with a tendency for a longitudinal
reddish infusion on pleurae; wings vitreous hyaline or distinctly more
ereyish or subopaquely greyish hyaline, having a distinct subopacity in
some instances; pubescence on the whole paler, distinctly more sericeous
whitish, especially on front part of thorax, that discally may be faintly
yellowish sericeous, that on abdomen also paler even if yellowish, that
on body below and basal part of venter on each side whiter and more
frosty white, contrasting with the more oe sericeous whitish or yellowish
pubescence above ; oe
32. (33) Abdomen with the narrow ae margins of alten 27 or a least 4-7
more distinctly and more conspicuously reddish, the last tergite in 99
sometimes entirely reddish, and the margins in §¢ also broader reddish
and reddish on pleurae more conspicuous; wings distinctly clearer, with
a much fainter whitish subopacity in certain lights, with fewer hairs
above on middle vein at extreme base; pubescence with the trans-
verse bristly elements across hind margins of tergites tending to be
less dark, less conspicuous, more golden brownish, the darkest ones more
evident towards apical part of abdomen; eyes in §¢ narrowly separated
by width of front ocellus; hypopygium of 3 with the aedeagus slightly
projecting apically beyond apices of basal parts, and with the beaked
apical joints oe less hairy above and their apices less bent down-
wards : : ; : 3d 2 imitator n. sp. (p. 185).
33. (32) Abdomen with the narrow hind margins of only tergites 5-7 very narrowly
reddish, the last tergite in 99 less reddish, and with the reddish hind
margins in gg even more obscure, and with the reddish on pleurae also
more obscure; wings distinctly and more typically subopaquely greyish,
showing a marked subopacity to whitish tint and with the hairs above
on middle vein at base denser and more conspicuous; pubescence
appearing paler and with the transverse bristly elements on abdomen
above distinctly darker, denser, and more conspicuous even from tergite 2,
66
Annals of the South African Museum.
appearing distinctly more dark brownish, even darker towards apical
part and there more evidently pale-tipped; eyes in fg contiguous above
in front of tubercle and narrower there than front ocellus; hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 34) with the aedeagus shorter and not reaching apices of
basal parts and with the beaked apical joints provided with longer and
denser hairs above, their apices slightly more bent downwards
3 2 fucatus Bezz. (p. 182).
(ex labelled specimens.)
34. (31) Body with the abdomen above entirely black in both sexes and the
venter also black or with only very narrow and obscure yellowish margins,
with the face and head below darker or black, and if yellowish abdomen
above is entirely black, with the coxae usually much darker or black
and even extreme bases of femora also darkened, especially in gg, with
the pleurae black, but if with reddish the red is more sutural; wings
more distinctly tinged yellowish basally and costally, especially in gg,
or even feebly reddish mauvish, a distinct subopaquely whitish tint not
evident, and if with a slight subopacity abdomen is entirely black above;
pubescence distinctly more creamy yellowish to golden yellowish, that
on body below, though paler than above, not so vividly whitish and so
contrasting with that above, and, if contrastingly white, abdomen above
is entirely black tenes ; , : 3 ; : 35 gd
oi 99
35. (38) Eyes in 3g narrowly separated by width of broad front ocellus or anterior
part of ocellar tubercle; head below not entirely black, but yellowish
anteriorly; pubescence with the pale or whitish hair on head below and
on pleural parts less extensive, that on pectus and coxae less white
and more straw-coloured than across pleurae, that on thorax above
apparently slightly longer, that on face and first antennal joints less
deeply yellowish and with the transverse black or dark bristly elements
on abdomen above more distinctly developed, more conspicuous, and
present at least on sides of tergites 2 to apex; wings with the yellowish
tinge towards base less evident, or wings may have a slight reddish
mauvish tinge and with the discal cross vein much beyond middle of
discoidal cell . : : . 36.
36. (37) Pubescence on body above distinctly deeper and more golden yellowish,
37. (36
—
that on abdomen above even more golden, that on venter also more
yellowish; coxae, trochanters, and bases of femora, of which at least
basal halves of front ones, black, and hind femora with about 7-8 spines
below; wings with the veins darker brownish . ¢ turneri n. sp. (p. 179).
Pubescence on body above distinctly much paler, more creamy yellowish,
that on abdomen above much paler and even becoming more whitish
towards apex, that on venter more whitish; coxae more reddish, ana
only the extreme bases of femora darkened, and hind femora with only
about 6 spines below; wings with the veins paler reddish brown
3 marginellus Bezz. (p. 180).
38. (35) Eyes in gg contiguous or subcontiguous in front of ocellar tubercle, the
space very slightly narrower than front ocellus and very much narrower
than front part of tubercle; head below entirely black; pubescence with
the hair on head below, on pleurae, coxae, and on each side of venter
- A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 67
basally extensively frosty white, that on thorax above slightly shorter
and less shaggy, that on face and first antennal joints more deeply and
more golden yellowish and with the transverse dark or blackish bristly
elements on abdomen above fewer, inconspicuous, and usually only
represented apically; wings with the yellowish tinge more pronounced
and with the discal cross vein at about the middle of the discoidal cell
39.
39. (40) Claws distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, near
apex, the pulvilli reaching bent down apices of claws; head with the
face distinctly shorter, subequal in length to combined length of antennal
joints 1 and 2 and the face also darker; pubescence predominantly
golden to deep golden yellowish above, that on abdomen golden yellowish
and scarcely paler towards apex, with the transverse bristles on abdomen
with more numerous dark ones on sides and towards apex, the pubes-
cence on thorax in front more sericeous yellowish; hypopygium (text-
OTS 7) as : ; : . 6 rXteroglaenus n. sp. (p. 190).
40. (39) Claws distinctly more sraictially and arcuately curved, the pulvilli not
reaching bent-down apices of claws; head with the face distinctly longer
and more prominent, longer than combined length of antennal joints 1
and 2, and the face also more extensively paler; pubescence on the whole
paler, that on front part of thorax more sericeous whitish, and that on
abdomen, especially towards apical part, distinctly very much paler and
almost whitish, with the transverse bristles across abdomen with fewer
or even without any darkish ones on sides and apically; hypopygium
(text-fig. 36) . : : 3 pseudopsis n. sp. (p. 188).
41. (41) Wings feebly tinged redial mauve and with a slight subopacity; pubes-
cence creamy yellowish above, more whitish below, that towards apical
part of abdomen slightly paler than on rest of body above, with the
transverse bristly elements across hind margins of tergites dark reddish
brown to dark brownish; face and head below darkish yellowish brown
and brownish, and the coxae and legs yellowish
2 marginellus Bezz. (p. 180).
42. (24) Pubescence on the whole more shaggy anteriorly on thorax and on
occiput, especially in gg, markedly and more conspicuously gleaming
silvery or silky whitish, contrasting more collar-like with the more
yellowish pubescence on rest of thorax, with the bristles on face and
genae, on sides of thorax in front of wings, on post-alar calli and across
hind margin of scutellum darker, more brownish, or blackish brown, their
bases even distinctly darker; wings with the second longitudinal vein
only gradually bending upwards at its end, thus distinctly less sinuous
at its end; face and head below entirely black
3 2 meltoni n. sp. (p. 191).
43. (21) Abdomen above either with distinctly more red on sides or across hind
margins or without any red, with the rows of transverse bristles across
hind margins, where present, entirely pale, whitish, yellowish, or golden
like the rest of pubescence on abdomen, no very dark or blackish bristly
elements being present 3 : ; . 44,
44. (77) Abdomen above entirely black, not lieeimstly eee niedously or extensively
red or reddish on sides and without reddish hind margins to tergites in
68 Annals of the South African Museum.
both sexes, and if red is present above it is obscure or confined to apical
parts ; ‘ : : : A : : 5 : 45 gd
A 99
45. (62) Eyes in fg contiguous, subcontiguous, just touching or almost in contact
above in front of ocellar tubercle, and if very ea separated not
broader than width of front ocellus. : . 46.
46. (55) Femora distinctly blackened at bases, to near riddle or beyortl middle
and with even the greater part of hind ones sometimes blackened; face,
head below, and entire antennae black or darkish, and if antennal joint 1
is reddish bases of femora are darkened, with the scutellum also less
extensively reddish, the greater part of base tending to be dark or
blackish . : 5 . 47.
47. (50) Femora more pr ionsively binekened 6 beyond micidle ande even hind
ones are blackened, only the apical parts of femora yellowish; claws
distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, at apex, and
the pulvilli more developed and reaching the bent apices of claws;
antennal joint 3 more spindle-shaped; eyes tending to be in actual
contact; hypopygium with the apical joints shorter and broader, not
slender and elongate, more leaf-shaped from a dorsal view and with a
ventral aedeagal process below aedeagus ; . 48.
48. (49) Pubescence distinctly much shorter, not shinuer « on thorax above but
with a cropped-off appearance, very pale sericeous yellowish above,
that on body below more whitish, that on disc of thorax and scutellum
deeper sericeous yellowish; scutellum with the hinder half of disc reddish,
and sides of abdomen with red; head with antennal joint 1 much shorter
and less than 2 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 slightly broader in
basal half and more rapidly attenuated apically, spindle-shaped, with the
proboscis more distinctly finely strigilose below; wings slightly broader
especially towards base, with the basal comb well developed and with
the first posterior cell tending to be more acute apically; hind femora
with about 8 spines below; hypopygium (text-fig. 48) with the ventral
aedeagal process in form of an apically projecting lobe below aedeagus;
larger form, about 8 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 8 mm.
3 muscoides n. sp. (p. 217)
(where red is obscure on abdomen.)
49. (48) Pubescence distinctly longer, distinctly longer and more shaggy on thorax
above and on abdomen, straw-coloured yellowish and with slight sericeous
gleams, that on body below, though paler than above, not so contrasting
whitish, that on occiput distinctly more whitish; scutellum predomi-
nantly black and with a scarcely perceptible rufous tint across hind
border and sides of abdomen entirely black; head with antennal joint 1
longer and at least 2 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 slightly less
broadened basally and less rapidly attenuated apically, the apical part
thus less slender, with the proboscis not visibly finely strigilose below;
wings slightly narrower, with the basal comb very poorly developed and
with the first posterior cell normal apically; hind femora with only
about 3 or 4 more slender spines below in apical half; hypopygium
(text-fig. 39) with the ventral aedeagal process in form of a broad,
flattened, vertical, lamellar plate on each side, converging apically;
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 69
smaller species, about 6 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
64mm. . : 3 kaokoénsis n. sp. (p. 193).
50. (47) Femora less Seiensively Hlaekeved and only at bases or in basal halves
of front and middle ones, the hind ones being entirely yellowish or only
obscurely darkened at extreme bases; claws distinctly less rapidly
curved down apically, more gradually curving down to apex and
apparently more slender, with the pulvilli also more slender, and though
reaching middle of claws and even extending slightly beyond middle,
they are actually shorter and do not touch the apices of claws; antennal
joint 3 more rod-like; eyes above more contiguous or subcontiguous or
touching for a shorter distance or narrowly separated by front ocellus;
hypopygium with the apical joints distinctly elongate, narrow, and
slender and without a ventral aedeagal process below aedeagus 51.
51. (52) Head with the face distinctly longer and more conically prominent,
longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, the facé also
more pallid, with the proboscis more distinctly yellowish below; pubes-
cence with that on face on the whole denser, that on disc of thorax and
on each side above wings and on scutellum scarcely with sericeous
yellowish gleams; slightly larger and more bulky form, about 84 mm.
long and with a wing-length of about 8 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 36)
3 pseudopsis n. sp. (p. 188).
52. (51) Head with the face distinctly shorter and less prominent, shorter or only
subequal in length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2, the face entirely |
black, with the proboscis also entirely black or with more obscure reddish
basally below; pubescence with that on face shorter and sparser, that on
disc of thorax and on each side above wings and on scutellum with
slightly more distinct sericeous yellowish gleams in certain lights;
slightly smaller forms, about 54-64 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 53-74 mm. ; : 5 G8
53. (54) Wings more distinctly tinged wallow in oaetall stud basal parts, with the
basal comb more strongly developed, with the second longitudinal vein
distinctly more gradually and less rapidly bent upwards at its end,
with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell;
head with antennal joint 1 predominantly reddish, only darkened above,
with joint 3 more broadened basally, less rod-like, with the proboscis
longer, about 34 mm. long and tending to be obscurely reddish below
at base; pubescence slightly shorter at least on thorax discally, very
pale yellowish sericeous on thorax, more whitish in front, that on scutellum
and abdomen above distinctly deeper sericeous yellowish to pale golden,
the bristly elements more gleaming golden and on sides even more golden,
that on body below whitish; legs with the femora only darkened
or blackened at extreme bases; larger form about 6} mm. long and with
a wing-length of about 74 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 40)
& anomalus n. sp. (p. 196).
54. (53) Wings more subopaquely whitish in basal and costal parts, with the
basal comb very poorly developed, with the second longitudinal vein
distinctly more rapidly, almost at right angles, bent up at its end, with
the discal cross vein at about, or even just before, middle of discoidal
cell; head with antennal joint 1 entirely black, with joint 3 distinctly
VOL. XXXIV. 6
2
70 Annals of the South African Museum.
more rod-like, only gradually thickened basally, with the proboscis
shorter, only about 24 mm. long and entirely black; pubescence slightly
more shaggy and longer, predominantly straw-coloured yellowish above,
appearing more sericeous whitish on thorax in front, that on abdomen
above less yellowish golden and the bristly elements not deeply gleaming
golden, that on body below also whitish but less contrasting with that
above; legs with the front and middle femora blackened to near, or
about, the middle and even hind ones darkened at extreme bases;
smaller form, about 53 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 54 mm.
3 extraneus n. sp. (p. 195).
55. (46) Femora entirely yellow; face, head below, and antennal joint 1, and to
a certain extent 2, and in some cases even 3, yellowish or yellowish red,
with the proboscis below usually also more extensively reddish and with
the scutellum more extensively and almost predominantly reddish, the
base or basal part more narrowly black : : : : . 56.
56. (61) Claws distinctly more gradually curving down to apices, narrower basally
when viewed from side and slightly longer, with the pulvilli on the
whole less developed, more slender, and scarcely reaching middle of
claws; hind femora with more than 6 spines below; head with the face
distinctly longer, distinctly and sometimes very much longer than
combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with antennal joint 3 and
to a certain extent 2 black, with the proboscis below basally distinctly
more extensively reddish; wings with a more distinctly yellowish tinge
in costal and basal parts, including first and second basal cells, and if not
distinctly tinged the veins at least are darker brownish or reddish brown;
pubescence becoming distinctly paler and more whitish towards apex of
abdomen above and venter, that on thorax in front from in front tending
to be more gleaming sericeous whitish in certain lights than sericeous
yellowish, and that on body below also appearing more whitish in certain
lights; hypopygium (text-figs. 35, 41, and 43) with the beaked apical
joints distinctly much longer and relatively more slender : » aoe
57. (60) Smaller forms, about 7-9 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
8-9 mm., less bulky in appearance; legs with the claws slightly shorter
and distinctly more curved and with the pulvilli tending to be longer and
at least reaching middle of claws, with only about 9 spines on hind femora
below and without any spines on front ones below; head with the
proboscis shorter, less than 5 mm. long, with antennal joint 3 relatively
shorter, less rapidly attenuated apically; pubescence distinctly longer
and not so obviously cropped off in appearance on thorax, that on first
antennal joints and face distinctly longer and less sericeous whitish, that
on abdomen above distinctly more shaggy and relatively longer and on
the whole sparser, that on body above, though also appearing yellowish,
less creamy yellowish, and that on sides of abdomen basally less distinctly
yellowish, and that in front of wings also less deeply yellowish in certain
lights; wings with the veins more dark brownish, and with the second
longitudinal vein more rapidly bent up at its end, and with the basal
comb slightly less developed; abdominal tergite 1 entirely black, like the
other tergites . : : , ; , ; : ; . Ber
58. (59) Head with the face much longer, more conically prominent, with antennal
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 71
joint 1 distinctly longer and quite 3 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3
thicker and more spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle; wings
broader, more distinctly and more extensively tinged yellowish in basal
two-thirds, with the discal cross vein at about the middle of discoidal
cell, the discoidal cell itself more truncate apically; pubescence paler and
more sericeous whitish above in certain lights, that on body below distinctly
more contrasting in whiteness with that above, there being no yellowish
or darkish bristly elements on coxae, that on face and genae longer,
denser, and gleaming deeper ochreous to orange golden; larger form,
about 9 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 9 mm.; hypopygium
(text-fig. 35) é ‘ 3 Barta sp. (p. 187).
59. (58) Head with the face very saith SfoRtie® not tending to be conically pro-
duced, with antennal joint ] shorter, only a very little longer than 2 times
as long as 2, with joint 3 distinctly more slender, gradually thickened
basally; wings narrower, vitreous hyaline and with only the costal cell,
first basal cell, base and alula subopaquely very pale yellowish, with
the discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell and the
latter less truncate apically; pubescence distinctly yellower and more
sericeous yellowish above, that on body below with only whitish hair
on head below and across middle parts of pleurae, less contrastingly
whitish, that on coxae more straw-coloured yellowish and with intermixed
darkish bristly elements, that on face and genae shorter, sparser, much
paler and more gleaming pale sericeous yellowish; smaller form, about
7 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 8 mm.; hypopygium
(text-fig. 41) : : : : 3 Aibiniandss 4 sp. (p. 198).
60. (57) Larger and more bulky species, Bout 10-11 mm. long, with a wing-
length of about 10-11 mm.; legs with the claws slightly longer and
even less curved and with the pulvilli rather shorter, not, or scarcely,
reaching middle of claws, with about 9-14 spines on hind femora below
and also with 1-3 spines on front ones below; head with the proboscis
longer, about 5-53 mm. long, with antennal joint 3 relatively longer,
distinctly more rapidly attenuated apically; pubescence distinctly
shorter, that on thorax above denser and with a short cropped-off
appearance, that on antennal joint 1 and on face shorter and more
sericeous whitish, that on abdomen above denser and shorter, creamy
yellowish on body above, that below more whitish, that on sides of
abdomen basally more ochreous yellowish in certain lights, and that in
front of wings also deeper yellowish; wings with the veins more reddish
brown, and with the second longitudinal vein rather less rapidly bent up
at its end, and with the basal comb more strongly developed; abdominal
tergite 1 sometimes distinctly reddened or reddish on sides; hypopygium
(text-fig. 43) : : ‘ ‘ ‘ 3 karooénsis n. sp. (p. 201).
(Syn. =ruficeps Bezz. nec Macq.)
61. (56) Claws distinctly and obviously more rapidly bent down, almost at right
angles, apically, distinctly broader at bases in profile, with the pulvilli
on the whole more developed, slightly broader, and at least reaching
or even extending beyond middle of claws; hind femora with only about
4-6 spines below; head with the face distinctly much shorter and scarcely
as long as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with antennal
72 Annals of the South African Museum.
joints 2 and 3 yellowish like joint 1, with the proboscis entirely black or
less extensively yellowish below basally; wings glassy hyaline, with
only the costal cell and base subopaquely almost whitish, with the veins
paler and more yellowish or pale yellowish brown; pubescence more
uniformly sericeous yellowish above, that towards apex of abdomen not,
or scarcely, paler, that on thorax in front more gleaming sericeous
yellowish, that on body below becoming almost imperceptibly paler and
more whitish than on body above and upper parts of pleurae; hypo-
pygium (text-fig. 42) with the beaked apical joints distinctly much
shorter and relatively broader. : do xanthocerus Bezz. (p. 200).
62. (45) Eyes in $¢ distinctly more broadly separated by width of broad front
part of ocellar tubercle or by the tubercle itself, thus much broader than
width of front ocellus . ; : : é : : . 63.
63. (66) Wings more hyaline, only tinged very pale yellowish or more subopaquely
whitish yellowish in costal cell and base or in basal two-thirds, not
brownish or reddish mauve, and rest of wing more hyaline, the veins
also less dark, with the discal cross vein only a little beyond middle of
discoidal cell; legs with the femora entirely yellowish, with the claws
more distinctly and rapidly curved down, almost at right angles, nearer
apex, and the pulvilli reaching bent-down apices of claws; head with the
face shorter, not convexly prominent and scarcely longer than combined
length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with antennal joint 1 shorter, scarcely
4, or even shorter than 3, times as long as 2, predominantly reddish, with
the proboscis more yellowish at base below; pubescence on the whole
very much paler above, with more sericeous whitish or very pale sericeous
yellowish gleams in certain lights, that towards apical part of abdomen,
distinctly more whitish, that on body below also paler and more whitish,
that on first antennal joints, face, occiput, and thorax in front on the
whole shorter and less bushy or shaggy, with the transverse bristly
elements on abdomen above very pale like rest of pubescence; hypo-
pygium (text-figs. 44 and 45) without any ventral process below aedeagus
64.
64. (65) Wings more elongate, more distinctly and more deeply tinged yellowish
or pale yellowish brown in costal and basal two-thirds, with the basal
comb more strongly developed; pubescence with more sericeous yellowish
gleams on thorax, that on abdomen on each side basally with a more
yellowish tint, that on pleurae appearing distinctly paler than that
above, with distinct macrochaetal bristles in front of wings; head with
antennal joint 1 relatively shorter and not quite 3 times as long as 2,
also slightly stouter, with joint 3 stouter and relatively shorter, with
the proboscis more extensively yellowish below; hypopygium (text-
fig. 45) with the beaked apical joints slightly more bent downwards
apically and the basal strut broader; larger form, about 6-7 mm., with a
wing-length of about 74-8 mm. . ; . & simulans n. sp. (p. 208).
65. (64) Wings comparatively shorter, almost entirely glassy hyaline, only the
costal cell, first basal cell, and base very faintly tinged subopaquely
whitish yellowish, and with the basal comb feeble; pubescence slightly
denser, on entire body distinctly more gleaming sericeous whitish and
that on body below only duller whitish than above, not very much paler
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 73
and without any visible macrochaetal bristles in front of wings; head
with antennal joint 1 slightly more slender and relatively longer, tending
to be 34, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with joint 3 more
slender and apparently longer and more rod-like, with the proboscis less
distinctly reddish below basally; hypopygium (text-fig. 44) with the
beaked apical joints slightly less rapidly bent downwards apically and
with the basal strut smallerand narrower . ¢ aemulusn. sp. (p. 204).
66. (63) Wings distinctly and sometimes quite darkly tinged brownish or brownish
67. (
=
i
mauve to even reddish mauve, the costal and basal part distinctly
darker and more brownish, with the veins darker and with the discal
cross vein very much beyond middle of discoidal cell; legs with the
bases or basal halves of front and middle femora darkened or blackened,
with the claws more gradually and arcuately curved, and the pulvilli less
developed, shortish or just falling short of middle of claws; head with the
face, in profile, longer and more convexly rounded, distinctly longer than
combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with antennal joint 1 almost
black, only brownish below, longer and quite 4, or even a little more,
times as long as 2, with the proboscis entirely black; pubescence distinctly
more yellowish, deeper sericeous yellowish, golden yellowish to even
slightly brownish golden above in certain lights, that on abdomen also
distinctly more pale to deep golden, that on body below more straw-
coloured yellowish to even yellowish, that on antennae, face, genae,
occiput, and thorax in front more shaggy or bushy, with the transverse
bristly elements across abdomen above also deeper yellowish, sometimes
tending to be more brownish golden; hypopygium (text-fig. 30, a and 6)
with a distinct and prominent ventral aedeagal process below aedeagus
in form of a vertical, flattened, shell-like plate on each side, which
converges and coalesces apically . S tinctipennis n. sp. (p. 176).
4) Claws distinctly more rapidly curved down, almost at right angles and
nearer apex, with the pulvilli slightly more developed and reaching bent
down apices of claws; head with the face distinctly shorter or at least
subequal in length to combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; wings
glassy hyaline, with the costal cell, basal half of first basal cell, and base
very pale, only subopaquely whitish and yellowish whitish, with the basal
comb very poorly developed and sometimes almost vestigial; pubescence
predominantly very pale, straw-coloured whitish, almost sericeous
whitish to pale sericeous yellowish above, and whitish or almost white
below, with the macrochaetal elements in front of wings wanting or not
strongly developed and the transverse bristles across abdomen on the
whole not very much differentiated; smaller forms, about 5-6; mm.
long and with a wing-length of about 6-7 mm. . . 68.
68. (73) Head with antennal joint 3, and to a certain extent 2, lack. with 3 more
rod-like or, if thickened, not tending to be spindle-shaped and not appearing
humped above just before middle, with the face much longer or at least
relatively longer, with the proboscis shorter, about 2-2} mm. long;
pubescence more whitish or paler, gleaming sericeous whitish to very
pale sericeous yellowish above, that towards apex of abdomen also
paler and more whitish, that on body below on the whole more whitish,
the pubescence above longer and more shaggy; abdomen with the hind
74
Annals of the South African Museum.
margins of sternites scarcely, or only very narrowly, yellowish, and the
hind margins of last few tergites not yellowish, and if tending to be
yellowish pubescence is very pale and antennal joint 3 is black; wings
with the second longitudinal vein tending to be more rapidly bent up at
itsend . d 2 ; :. “60:
69. (72) Head with antennal joint 1 iqnges about or opie 31 4 times as long as 2,
more slender, with joint 3 distinctly more slender and rod-like, tapering
apically, with the proboscis slightly less stout and more distinctly reddish
below at base, with the face and head below more pallid or yellowish;
pubescence on face, first antennal joints, occiput and thorax in front
distinctly longer and more bushy and on face also denser, that above
more gleaming sericeous whitish becoming more sericeous whitish towards
apex of abdomen; abdomen with the hind margins of the tergites black,
like rest of abdomen above, but last tergite may be yellowish apically
70.
70. (71) Pubescence on sides of thorax in front of wings and on upper part of
mesopleuron and that on sides of abdomen straw-coloured yellowish and
with sericeous gleams like rest of pubescence, that on sides of frons
anteriorly, on first antennal joints and face above very pale sericeous
yellowish; pleurae predominantly dark; wings with the veins paler and
more yellowish brown; thorax slightly more convex, appearing almost
subglobular . : : ; . 2 aemulus n. sp. (p. 204).
71. (70) Pubescence on sides of thier on upper part of mesopleuron in front of
72. (69
)
wings and that on sides of abdomen with a more distinct and deeper
yellowish tint, that on antennae, front part of frons and on face above also
deeper and even more pale golden; pleurae tending to have more reddish
above coxae; wings with the veins darker and more dark brown; thorax
less convexly prominent discally . : 2 montivagus n. sp. (p. 206).
Head with antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter and only about 24 times
as long as 2, relatively stouter, with joint 3 distinctly very much stouter,
broadest near base and then only gradually narrowed apically, with the
proboscis also relatively stouter and entirely black, with the face and
head below darker or at least more obscurely yellowish; pubescence on
head, occiput, and thorax in front distinctly shorter, tending to have a
cropped appearance, not shaggy and bushy, and that on face sparser,
that on body above gleaming more pale lemon yellowish, not paler
apically on abdomen; abdomen with the hind margins of the last few
tergites very narrowly pallid, and extreme sides of tergites below also
distinctly pallid ; 2 damarensis n. sp. (p. 207).
73. (68) Head with antennal joint 3 and. “ais joint 2 yellowish or pale reddish
yellow, and with joint 1 yellowish, with joint 3 not rod-like, tending
to be spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle, narrowed apically and
to a lesser extent basally, appearing humped above, due to the fact
that lower margin is more straight, with the face distinctly and relatively
much shorter, with the proboscis very much longer, 34-4 mm.; pubes-
cence very much shorter and with a more shorn off appearance on thorax,
not shaggy, distinctly deeper yellowish and gleaming sericeous to golden
yellowish above, not paler towards apex of abdomen, that on body below
only slightly paler than above, not contrastingly white; abdomen with
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 75
the hind margins of sternites distinctly more broadly yellowish and the
hind margins of tergites 4-7 more distinctly yellowish; wings with the
second. egos vein tending to be more gradually bent up at its
end . : : : Q xanthocerus Bezz. (p. 200).
74. (67) Claws siatinotlye more sect and more arcuately curved, with the
pulvilli tending to be less developed and shorter, just reaching the middle
of claws but not extending to their apices; head with the face distinctly
longer, more produced and longer than combined length of antennal
joints 1 and 2; wings more greyish hyaline, and with the base, first
basal cell, and costal cell more distinctly yellowish or wings are distinctly
and even deeply tinged reddish or brownish mauve, the base and costal
parts being darker, with the basal comb more strongly developed;
pubescence above predominantly deeper yellowish, deeper golden
yellowish, even tinted brownish or reddish golden in certain lights,
that below only paler yellowish but not sericeous or frosty whitish or
contrasting much with that above, with the macrochaetal bristles in
front of wings more strongly developed and more conspicuous, and the
transverse bristles across abdomen stouter, more conspicuous, and some-
times slightly darker reddish golden than rest of pubescence; larger
forms, about 7-11 mm. long, bulkier and with a wing-length of about
8-11 mm. . 75.
75. (76) Wings greyish fe alidies eaithy only ‘hte bases first Waka dail aid sostall cell
subopaquely yellowish, with the veins reddish yellow or pale reddish
brownish; head with the face slightly shorter, less convex, with antennal
joint 1 much shorter, only about 2, or a little more, times as long as 2,
with joint 3 broadened basally and tapering apically, with the proboscis
longer, about 5-54 mm. long; scutellum predominantly reddish, and
sides of tergite 1 usually also reddish; pubescence distinctly shorter,
that on thorax above with a shorn off appearance, that on abdomen
relatively very much shorter and not shaggy, the bristly elements across
hind margins of tergites denser and shorter and rest of pubescence on
abdomen above shorter than bristles and sparse, pale golden to deep
golden above, the transverse bristles not tending to be very dark; legs
with 1-3 spines on front femora and with about 9-14 spines on hind
ones below, with the claws tending to be slightly longer and less curved
and the pulvilli slightly shorter; larger and more bulky species, about
10-11 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 10-11 mm.
Q karooénsis n. sp. (p. 201).
76. (75) Wings distinctly and sometimes very deeply tinged reddish mauvish
or brownish mauvish, the costal and basal parts being darker, with
the veins darker reddish brown; head with the face longer and more
characteristically convex above, with antennal joint 1 much longer,
quite 4, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with 3 more rod-like,
less thickened basally and slightly more curved, with the proboscis on
the whole shorter, about 34-44 mm. long; scutellum with a broadish
basal triangular black spot and the hind margin blackish and with the
abdomen entirely black; pubescence longer and distinctly more shaggy,
that on abdomen much longer and more shaggy or bushy, the bristly
elements across abdomen, especially towards apex, very long, and rest
76 Annals of the South African Museum.
of pubescence, in form of erect hairs, also long and denser, also golden
to very deep golden above, sometimes even brownish or reddish golden,
the transverse bristles tending to be deeper reddish golden, inclining
even to brownish; legs without any spines on front femora below and
with about 6-12 spines on hind ones below, with the claws tending to be
more curved; less bulky species, about 7-943 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 8-10} mm. ; ; 2 tunctipennis n. sp. (p. 176).
77. (44) Abdomen above not entirely black, with distinct or sometimes broad
red or reddish on sides or with much more distinct or broader reddish
hind margins to tergites even discally or the entire abdomen may be
predominantly muddy yellowish or brownish ‘ : 78.
78. (115) Integument of body not reddish brown or muddy brown, aml oats
abdomen not muddy brown or reddish brown; wings not with a distinct
whitish subopacity . . 1nge
79. (84) Pubescence with characteristic, Spartin! snipes coarse, ee: crinkly,
curly or markedly woolly, matted, non-gleaming, frosty white hair on
occiput, thorax in front and on sides, on pleurae and on abdomen, denser
and more conspicuous on abdomen in gg, with the bristly hairs and
bristles on occiput, thorax and sides of thorax, on scutellum and across
hind margins of abdomen in 99 and to a certain extent on scutellum
and across abdomen in g¢ conspicuously gleaming, either deep golden
to reddish golden or silvery whitish and contrasting very much with the
non-gleaming crinkly white pubescence; wings with a distinct, though
sometimes faint, blackish or dark spot-like infuscation on apical cross
veins of basal cells and sometimes also at base of vein between sub-
marginal cells and across basal fork of second and third longitudinal
veins ; , -) (30;
80. (81) Femora entirely cellopauie in bore SEXES ; tage pallid or vellomaae and
antennal joint 1 paler and more distinctly yellowish; abdomen with
comparatively broad reddish hind margins on tergites 2-6; wings with
the veins paler . 3 ; ; 3 2 auriferus n. sp. (p. 210).
81. (80) Femora blackened at baten extensively blackened or almost entirely
black and even the tibiae sometimes darkened above; face darker and
sometimes very dark blackish brown and the antennae entirely dark or
black; abdomen with the hind margins of tergites more narrowly reddish
or only those of 3-6 reddish or feebly reddish; wings with the veins
darker ‘ 3 82.
2. (83) Femora predouinnitlsy piace caly fae apices yellowish fe Hiteee
yellowish, the spines on legs yellowish; scutellum predominantly reddish;
pubescence with the bristly elements on frons, antennae and face brownish
golden, those on disc of thorax and scutellum gleaming deep golden or
reddish golden and those transversely across tergites pale golden, the
bristly hairs on coxae pale golden; wings with the black spots very
conspicuous; antennal joint 1 slightly longer, about, or a little more
than, 3 times as long as2 . . GQ auriferus var. nigripes n. (p. 211).
83. (82) Femora with the front and middle ones blackened only in basal halves,
the hind ones entirely blackened, with the tibiae and tarsi also much
darkened or blackened above, the hind tarsi almost entirely dark, the
spines on legs whitish; scutellum predominantly black or dark, only
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 77
reddish across hind margin; pubescence with the bristly elements on
occiput, frons, antennae and face gleaming white, those on disc of thorax
and abdomen gleaming white, the bristly hairs on coxae sericeous whitish;
wings with the dark spots tending to be less distinct; antennal joint 1
slightly shorter, about 3 times as long as 2
2 auriferus var. melanus n. (p. 212).
84. (79) Pubescence without such characteristic, dense, matted, crinkly, non-
gleaming hairs on body above, whitish hair if present not crinkly or
woolly but more gleaming sericeous, with the bristly hairs and bristles
on body not gleaming golden or almost silvery whitish and not vividly
contrasting with the rest of the pubescence and, if gleaming golden,
without any background of dull frosty white crinkly pubescence; wings
without any distinct spot-like infuscations on the cross veins or other
veins : - : : : : : : : : S08
85. (102) Abdomen with the red more poorly developed, more inconspicuous,
only obscurely present on sides or narrowly across hind margins of last
2 or 3tergites . : ; ] ‘ . f86 33
\96 99
86. (89) Eyes distinctly and fairly broadly or more broadly separated above by
width of broad front ocellus or front part of tubercle or by the tubercle
itself; pubescence longer and more shaggy, that on thorax without a
distinct cropped off appearance and that on abdomen longer; last few
tergites more distinctly margined with red . ; : : 5) kes
87. (88) Smaller form, about 6-8 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 6-8 mm.;
head with the upper facets of eyes not markedly coarse, with the proboscis
much shorter, only about 3 mm. long; wings more hyaline and only
slightly subopaquely yellowish whitish at base, costal cell, and first basal
cell, not distinctly tinged yellowish in basal two-thirds and with the basal
comb less developed; pubescence predominantly whitish, more sericeous
whitish above, that on face and antennae also whitish, that on abdomen
towards apex with a pale sericeous yellowish sheen, with the transverse
bristly elements across abdomen, especially on sides towards apex,
darker and more reddish or brownish; legs with about 6-8 spines below
on hind femora, with the claws more gradually and arcuately curved
and the pulvilli slightly less developed . . & mitator n. sp. (p. 185).
88. (87) Larger and bulkier species, about 10 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 9 mm.; head with the upper facets of eyes rather markedly coarse
and the eyes rather large, with the proboscis much longer, about 53 mm.
long; wings with the basal two-thirds distinctly tinged yellowish, the
base and costal cell more subopaquely yellowish and with the basal
comb distinctly larger; pubescence distinctly more gleaming sericeous
yellowish above, that on antennae and face also more sericeous yellowish,
that on abdomen on the whole more sericeous yellowish, that on body
below distinctly more contrasting in whiteness with that above, with
the transverse bristly elements on abdomen not tending to be darker
than rest of pubescence; legs with about 11 spines below on hind femora,
with the claws distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost at right angles,
apically and the pulvilli slightly longer; hypopygium (text-fig. 46)
3 latipectus n. sp. (p. 212).
78 Annals of the South African Museum.
89. (86) Eyes contiguous or subcontiguous above, touching or almost touching
in front of ocellar tubercle, and if very narrowly or almost linearly
separated the inner margins of eyes are contiguous or subcontiguous
and space is narrower than width of front ocellus; pubescence distinctly
much shorter and with a cropped or shorn-off appearance on thorax, and
that on abdomen distinctly shorter and less shaggy; last few tergites
discally without or scarcely with reddish hind margins, but sides may be
sometimes distinctly reddish , 4 3 : : OO,
90. (93) Femora distinctly blackened at bases or even more extensively to beyond
middle; head with the antennae entirely dark or black and joint 3 more
spindle-shaped, the face very dark or black and with the proboscis
entirely black and its labial part more distinctly and finely strigilose;
wings with the second longitudinal vein more rapidly bent up, almost at
right angles, at its end, with the first posterior cell tending to be more
angularly acute apically; abdomen with the reddish on sides, though
sometimes obscure, more developed; hypopygium with the beaked
apical joints less elongate and less narrowish : : rae ile
91. (90) Femora more extensively blackened to beyond middle and sdmee entire
hind ones also black, the hind ones with about 7-8 spines below; head
with the eyes in actual contact or touching at a point a little distance in
front of tubercle and with the inner margins then rapidly diverging
apically, with antennal joint 3 more rapidly attenuate and slender
beyond. broadest part just before middle, with the proboscis shorter and
about 33 mm. long, with the face slightly longer, more or less subequal
in length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2; wings with the discal
cross vein only just beyond middle of discoidal cell; pubescence on body
below more distinctly and more contrastingly whitish than the sericeous
yellowish pubescence above; abdomen with the reddish on sides of
tergites 2 and 3 more evident; hypopygium (text-fig. 48) with a distinct
apically projecting lobe-like process below aedeagus
dS muscoides n. sp. (p. 217).
92. (90) Femora with only the front and middle ones distinctly darkened to near
middle, the hind ones predominantly or almost entirely yellowish and
with about 10 spines below; head with the eyes linearly separated, the
space narrower than the front ocellus, the space really formed by con-
tiguous inner margins and about as long as ocellar tubercle before
diverging apically, with antennal joint 3 less rapidly attenuate and
thicker beyond broader part just before middle, with the proboscis
slightly longer and about 4 mm. long, with the face relatively much
shorter and shorter than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2;
wings with the discal cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell;
pubescence on body below duller and more straw-coloured, becoming
gradually more yellowish towards upper part of pleurae and merging
into the sericeous yellowish pubescence above; abdomen with the reddish
on sides more obscure, more evident on sides apically; hypopygium
(text-fig. 47) without a distinct ventral aedeagal process
3 mermis n. sp. (p. 214).
93. (90) Femora entirely yellowish; head with antennal joint 1 and sometimes
‘
2 and 3 paler and yellowish, and joint 3 less spindle-shaped, the face,
94.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 79
head below, and basal part of proboscis below pale and yellowish or
pallid, the labial part of proboscis not visibly strigilose; wings with the
second longitudinal vein more gradually curved up at its end and with
the first posterior cell less obviously acute apically; abdomen almost
without any red on sides; hypopygium with the beaked apical joints
distinctly longer and sometimes very elongate and narrowish . cue:
(95) Smaller form, about 64-7 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
6-7 mm., less bulky; head with the face very short and even shorter
than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with the antennae
entirely yellowish, joint 3 being reddish yellow and less slenderly
attenuated apically, appearing more humped above before middle, with
the proboscis shorter and only about 33-4 mm. long and more black
below; wings with the basal comb much feebler, the discal cross vein
nearer middle of discoidal cell, the base, costal cell, and first basal cell
more subopaquely whitish yellowish and the veins paler; pubescence
slightly more yellowish above, that towards apex of abdomen not very
much paler, that on body below only slightly paler and more straw-
coloured than above; legs with the front femora unarmed and with only
about 4—6 spines on hind ones below, with the claws distinctly more
rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, near apex, and the pulvilli
reaching bent down apices; abdomen, if with reddish only so along
extreme sides of venter below; hypopygium (text-fig. 42) with the
beaked apical joints very much shorter and less elongate
3g xanthocerus Bezz. (p. 200).
95. (94) Larger and bulkier form, about 10-11 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 10-11 mm.; head with the face longer, more prominent, much
longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with antennal
joints 2 and 3 black, joint 3 more slenderly attenuated apically and not
so obviously humped above, the proboscis longer and about 5-54 mm.
long and more yellowish below; wings with the basal comb more strongly
and conspicuously developed, the discal cross vein much beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the base, costal cell, and first basal cell more yellowish
and the veins more reddish brown; pubescence slightly or tending to
be paler, more creamy yellowish above, that in front of wings and on
sides of abdomen more ochreous or deeper yellowish in certain lights,
that towards apical part distinctly gleaming paler and more sericeous
whitish, that on pectus and body low more distinctly whitish; legs with
about 1-3 spines on front femora below and about 9-14 spines on hind
ones below, with the claws more slender, distinctly more gradually and
more arcuately curved, and with the pulvilli scarcely, or about, reaching
middle of claws; abdomen with the sides of tergite 1 sometimes reddish;
hypopygium (text-fig. 43) with the beaked apical joints very elongate,
slender, and narrow . y ‘ 3 3d karooénsis n. sp. (p. 201).
(Syn. = ruficeps Bezz. nec Macq.)
96. (99) Claws distinctly more gradually or more arcuately curved, with the
pulvilli on the whole less developed, scarcely reaching, or just extending
beyond, middle of claws; head with the face relatively longer and slightly
or much longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with
the proboscis more extensively or distinctly reddish below, with the
80 Annals of the South African Museum.
interocular space on vertex relatively broader and distinctly more than
2 times the combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; wings with the
basal comb larger and more developed; pubescence with the bristly
elements across hind margins of abdomen tending to be darker, either
deeper golden or more brownish, ope at their bases, than the rest
of the pubescence ; Oi
97. (98) Smaller and less bulky species, about 6-8 mm. ise atl wath a wing-
length of about 6-8 mm.; pubescence distinctly much longer and more
shaggy, especially on abdomen, that on thorax above without a cropped-
off appearance, distinctly paler, sericeous whitish to pale sericeous
yellowish above, that on abdomen paler even if yellowish, that below
more markedly whitish and contrasting even with that above, with
the bristly transverse elements on abdomen tending to be markedly
or even conspicuously darker and more brownish especially towards
apical part of abdomen; abdomen with the hind margins of tergites
3 or 4-6 reddish and tergite 7 almost entirely reddish and a longitudinal
band across pleurae also reddish, the margins of tergites 5 and 6 usually
more broadly reddish; proboscis shorter than 5 mm.; hind femora with
only about 6-8 spines below ; ; . & tmitator n. sp. (p. 185).
98. (97) Larger and bulkier species, about 10-11 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 10-11 mm.; pubescence distinctly much shorter and less
shaggy, that on disc of thorax with a shorn off appearance and that on
abdomen very much shorter, not bushy or shaggy, distinctly more
yellowish to even deep golden yellowish above and even deeper yellowish
in front of wings and on sides of abdomen, not much paler apically, that
on body below, though paler, not so frosty white and not contrasting
markedly with that above, being more creamy whitish or yellowish, with
the transverse bristly elements on abdomen shorter, denser, and gleaming
golden, only their apices more gleaming sericeous whitish, the rest of
pubescence on abdomen above shorter than bristly elements; abdomen
practically with only the hind margins of tergites 6 and 7 and sometimes
sides of tergite 1 reddish and the pleurae more diffusely reddish and more
so on sternopleuron; proboscis longer, about 5-54 mm. long; hind femora
with more numerous spines, about 9-14, below
2 karooénsis n. sp. (p. 201).
99. (96) Claws distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer
apex, with the pulvilli longer and just reaching bent down apices of claws;
head with the face relatively shorter and subequal to or distinctly
shorter to combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with the proboscis
entirely black or only obscurely reddish below at extreme base, with
the interocular space distinctly relatively narrower, only about 2, or
distinctly much less, times combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2;
wings with the basal comb much reduced; pubescence with the bristly
elements across hind margins of tergites not deeper eiagt than rest
of pubescence . . 100.
100. (101) Head with antennal its 2 said 3 blacte with sinh 3 ok very spindle-
shaped, broadened basally and gradually narrowed apically, the apical
part not very slender, with the proboscis shorter, less than 3 mm. long,
with the face only yellowish in front; scutellum with a large triangular
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 81
black spot basally, the hind margins of last few tergites and those of
sternites more narrowly yellowish or pallid, the extreme sides of tergites
below also pallid; wings with the second longitudinal vein distinctly
more rapidly curved up at its end, almost at right angles; pubescence
distinctly paler above, very pale lemon yellowish and with sericeous
gleams to almost whitish sericeous, that on body below scarcely paler
than above, that on antennal joint 1 and face shorter and sparser; hind
femora with only about 4 spines below in apical half
Q damarensis n. sp. (p. 207).
101. (100) Head with all the antennal joints yellowish, joint 3 more reddish
yellow, somewhat spindle-shaped, more attenuated apically and appearing
somewhat humped above at broadest part just before middle, with the
proboscis longer, about 33-4 mm. long and sometimes slightly reddened
below at extreme base, with the entire face and head below pallid;
scutellum entirely or predominantly yellowish and with the hind margins
of last few tergites and the hind margins of sternites more broadly
yellowish; wings with the second longitudinal vein less rapidly curved
up at end; pubescence more yellowish to golden yellowish above, that
on pleurae creamy or very pale yellowish and towards pectus thus
distinctly paler than above, that on antennae and face denser and longer;
hind femora with about 4—6 spines from just before middle to apex
below : ; 2 xanthocerus Bezz. (p. 200).
102. (85) Abdomen with the ‘ed very coaupianonsly and extensively developed,
especially in $g, and also very broadly and conspicuously across hind
margins of most of the tergites and on sides in 99, the abdomen being
almost entirely or predominantly red in some cases : é if 103. 3d
(107. 29
103. (106) Head with the eyes contiguous or in contact above in front of ocellar
tubercle for a short distance, with antennal joint | distinctly shorter,
only about 2, or a very little more, times as long as 2, not much dark-
ened; pubescence much paler, very pale sericeous yellowish or gleaming
sericeous whitish above, that on abdomen also paler or with much paler
sericeous gleams, that on body below also markedly frosty whitish, that
on antennae and face sericeous whitish; abdomen with the reddish hind
margins of tergites also discally more developed; legs with the femora
darkened or blackened at bases or even to beyond middle, or at least
distinctly dark at extreme bases . : . 104.
104. (105) Head with antennal joint 1 shorter, seamealy 2 cds as fate as 2,
with joint 2 longer than broad, with 3 almost spindle-shaped, broadest
just before middle, then rapidly attenuated apically, with the face
relatively shorter, with the eyes in contact above for a distance nearly
as long as tubercle, with the proboscis about 3-3} mm. long and visibly
finely strigilose below; pubescence more uniformly sericeous whitish to
pale sericeous yellowish above; abdomen with the red on sides of tergites
2 and 3 much broader; wings with the first posterior cell distinctly more
angularly acute apically; legs with the femora more extensively darkened
or blackened to middle or even much beyond middle, and even hind
femora may be extensively blackened, with the claws distinctly more
rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex, and with the
82
Annals of the South African Museum.
pulvilli longer and reaching bent apices of claws; hypopygium (text-
fig. 48) with the beaked apical joints distinctly shorter, broader, and
more leaf-shaped, with a distinct lobe-like process below aedeagus
3 muscoides n. sp. (p. 217).
(Some forms of it.)
105. (104) Head with antennal joint 1 longer, a little more than 2 times as long
as joint 2, with 2 transverse, not elongate, with 3 not spindle-shaped,
only gradually broadened basally, more rod-like, with the face distinctly
longer, with the eyes in contact for a shorter distance in front of tubercle,
with the proboscis longer, about 33-43 mm., and not visibly strigilose
below; pubescence sericeous whitish on occiput and thorax above,
becoming distinctly more creamy yellowish to gleaming sericeous yellowish
on abdomen and scutellum, the bristly elements on scutellum and abdomen
more gleaming golden yellowish, that on body below also whitish ;
abdomen with the hind margins reddish, broadened on sides but not
very broad on sides of tergites 2 and 3; wings with the first posterior
cell normal apically; legs with the femora almost entirely yellowish,
only the extreme bases of front and middle ones slightly darkened, with
the claws distinctly more gradually or arcuately curved, and with the
pulvilli not reaching bent down apices of claws; hypopygium (text-
fig. 50) with the beaked apical joints elongate and narrowish and without
any process below aedeagus : : 3S pruinosulus n. sp. (p. 224).
106. (103) Head with the eyes separated above by width of front part of ocellar
tubercle, with antennal joint 1 distinctly longer, about 3-4 times as
long as 2, more darkened or even blackened above; pubescence distinctly
more yellowish, pale golden to deep golden yellowish above, that on ab-
domen also deep golden yellowish and with more golden gleams, that on
body below only a little paler yellowish or straw-coloured yellowish and
not frosty whitish, that on venter even very pale sericeous yellowish in
some specimens, that on antennae and face gleaming golden yellowish;
abdomen with the hind margins of tergites discally not reddish or more
narrowly and inconspicuously reddish, only distinctly reddish on sides
or even broadly reddish on sides; oe entirely yellowish; hypopygium
(text-fig. 49) . : : : 3 paterculus Walk. (p. 220).
107. (112) Head with the interocular space distinctly narrower, subequal to, or
LO8.
only a little broader than, length of antennal joint 3, not 14 times as
long, with the frons thus also narrower, with antennal joint 1 shorter,
only about 2 times as long as 2, relatively thicker, with 2 slightly less
transverse and usually longer than broad, with joint 3 distinctly more
spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle, slightly narrowed basally
and more rapidly apically, sometimes appearing slightly humped above
at broadest part; wings with a tendency for first posterior cell to be more
acute apically; abdomen with the red on sides usually more extensively
developed, and if less developed interocular space at least is narrower;
front tarsi tending to be more thickened, and if not interocular space is
narrow. ‘ : : . LOB:
(109) Red on body more conspic aie ne echansitely daseloneds present
as a large diffuse spot on each side of vertex on anterior part of frons,
antennal joints 1 and 2, the entire face and head below, greater part of
_A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 83
proboscis below, on the humeral part and even sides of thorax, on the
post-alar calli, the greater part of scutellum, almost the entire pleurae,
on the hind margins of all the tergites very broadly, the entire sides of
abdomen, and even entire apical half of abdomen above, and almost the
entire venter; wings with the discal cross vein at about middle or much
nearer middle of discoidal cell, and with the basal comb very small; legs
with only about 4—5 spines on hind femora below, with the front tarsal
joints not markedly thickened; proboscis not so visibly strigilose below
2 rufescens n. sp. (p. 216).
109. (108) Red on body not so extensively developed, not present on all these
sites, and not to the same conspicuous extent on abdomen or on pleurae,
much black being present on pleurae and abdomen, and frons almost
entirely black; wings with the discal cross vein distinctly, or even much,
beyond middle of discoidal cell and the basal comb larger; legs with
more than 5 spines on hind femora below, with the front tarsal joints
remarkably and conspicuously thickened; aaa distinctly more
visibly and finely strigilose below : : «L10:
110. (111) Head with the interocular space slightly narrower, clayey less than
2 times combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with the frons thus
_ narrower and inner margins of eyes almost subparallel, with antennal
joint 3 distinctly more spindle-shaped and more rapidly attenuated
apically, with the proboscis more visibly strigilose below and only about
3 mm. long, with the face tending to be only reddish anteriorly; abdomen
with the red or reddish less extensively developed, that on sides, even if
conspicuous, less broad and not broadly quadrate, and the hind margins
tending to be less broadly red, and pleurae with less red; wings with a
distinct tendency for first posterior cell to be more distinctly or markedly
angularly acute apically; pubescence on the whole tending to be paler
above, very pale sericeous yellowish, and with even more whitish sericeous
gleams in some specimens, that on body below apparently whiter to
frosty whitish; hind femora with about 7—9 spines below
2 muscoides n. sp. (p. 217).
111. (110) Head with the interocular space relatively broader, quite 2 times
combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, the frons thus slightly
broader and the inner margins of eyes slightly more diverging anteriorly,
with antennal joint 3 slightly less spindle-shaped and slightly less rapidly
narrowed apically, with the proboscis apparently even more finely
strigilose below and about 34-44 mm. long, with the face more extensively
yellowish or reddish; abdomen with the red on sides very extensively
and broadly developed, a broad more or less quadrangular salmon red
or reddish patch on each side of tergites 2-4 being conspicuous and
extending even discally, and the reddish hind margins discally also
sometimes tending to be broader and also with more red on pleurae;
wings with the first posterior cell on the whole less angularly acute
apically and sometimes even normal; pubescence on the whole deeper
yellowish sericeous or golden yellowish above, that on pleurae also more
straw-coloured, less markedly white; hind femora with about 8-12
spines below ‘ ; . & transitus n. sp. (p. 222).
112. (107) Head with the site noaulae space distinctly broader, distinctly much
84
Annals of the South African Museum.
broader than length of antennal joint 3, at least 1} times as long, with
the frons thus much broader, with antennal joint 1 distinctly longer,
about 23-3, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with 2 more transverse
and not longer than broad, with joint 3 not spindle-shaped, more rod-
like, tapering gradually from a broadened base; wings with the first
posterior cell more normally obtuse apically; abdomen with the red
on sides, though sometimes broadish, tending to be less extensively
developed, only the hind margins on sides of tergites being broader than
discally; front tarsi less markedly thickened : : ALI3.
113. (114) Claws distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost ot right angles,
nearer apex, the pulvilli appearing longer; pubescence on body above
distinctly more yellowish, golden yellowish to deep golden yellowish,
that on frons, antennae, and face distinctly more golden yellowish, that
on pleurae and pectus more straw-coloured yellowish to pale creamy
yellowish; red on abdomen, especially on sides, across hind margins
-broader and more extensive, with a longitudinal reddish band along
pleurae, and to a certain extent lower part of mesopleuron is also reddish,
with the scutellum almost entirely reddish; wings with the veins darker
and more dark brownish and the basal comb smaller; smaller species,
less bulky, about 5-8 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 54-8 mm.
2 paterculus Walk. (p. 220).
114. (113) Claws distinctly more gradually or arcuately curved, the pulvilli
115.
appearing shorter; pubescence distinctly paler and gleaming more
sericeous whitish on occiput and thorax above, even that on abdomen
gleaming more whitish or very pale sericeous yellowish in certain lights,
the depressed hair-like scaling and fine pubescence on abdomen above
whitish, the transverse bristles more golden but their apices gleaming
more whitish, pubescence on frons, face and antennae gleaming more
sericeous whitish but with paler yellowish tints, that on body below
distinctly more frosty whitish, especially on head below and pectus;
red on hind margins of tergites not conspicuously broadened on sides,
the red on sides thus less extensive, the red on pleurae absent or much
reduced, and the scutellum with a much broader black base; wings with
the veins more reddish or yellowish brown and on the whole paler, with
the basal comb larger; slightly larger and more bulky species, about
8-9 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 8-9 mm.
2 pruinosulus n. sp. (p. 224).
(78) Integument of body reddish brown or muddy brown and entire abdomen
muddy brown, reddish brown to ochreous or sienna brownish; wings
with a distinct subopacity and whitish tint . ; ; . 116.
116. (117) Larger and bulkier species, about 10 mm. long and ait a wing-length
of about 9 mm.; legs with denser and longer hairs on femora, with more
numerous, about 14-16, spines on hind femora below, with the claws
more slender, distinctly more gradually and arcuately curved, the pulvilli
distinctly shorter and not reaching apices of claws; head with the eyes
very narrowly separated above in g by a space as wide as front ocellus,
with the face distinctly longer and more prominent, much longer than
combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, with joint 3 more rod-like,
tapering to apex, the basal element of terminal style longer and more
Me
_A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 85
developed, with the proboscis longer, about 5 mm. long; pubescence
distinctly paler and more sericeous whitish on thorax in front, becoming
very faintly and feebly pale sericeous yellowish discally and on
scutellum, that on abdomen more sericeous whitish, the elements
transversely across hind margins tinted slightly pale yellowish in certain
lights, the pubescence on mesopleuron almost lemon yellowish, that on
body below also more or less gleaming sericeous whitish, the metapleural
tuft, hair on coxae, and on head below tending to be more contrastingly
whitish; wings on the whole with a more distinct whitish subopacity,
and the first posterior cell not tending to be angularly acute apically;
entire body sienna or muddy brownish, the thorax more reddish brownish,
without any conspicuous ivory whitish or yellowish hind margins to
tergites; hypopygium (text-fig. 51) with the beaked apical joints elongate
and narrow, without any process below aedeagus
3 pallescens n. sp. (p. 226).
117. (116) Smaller and less bulky species, about 7-8 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 7 mm.; legs with sparser and shorter hairs on femora
below in gd, with fewer and only about 3-4 slender spines below on
hind femora, with the claws distinctly more rapidly bent down, almost
at right angles, nearer apex, the pulvilli distinctly longer and reaching
bent-down apices of claws; head with the eyes in gg contiguous above
for a short distance in front of tubercle, with the face much shorter, less
prominent, slightly shorter than combined length of antennal joints 1
and 2, with joint 3 more spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle,
narrowed basally and more rapidly narrowed apically, with the terminal
basal element of style small, with the proboscis shorter and only about
2-24 mm. long; pubescence distinctly more yellowish or sericeous
yellowish above, even in gg, that towards apex of abdomen in gg
tending to become more creamy yellowish, more sericeous yellowish or
golden in 99, that below in both sexes very pale, straw-coloured whitish
to yellowish and even on pectus less markedly whitish; wings with a
feebler whitish subopacity and with the first posterior cell tending to
be angularly acute apically, especially in gg; abdomen and scutellum
more reddish brown, and rest of body slightly darker brownish and with
conspicuous ivory whitish hind margins on tergites which become slightly
broader apically and on sides and with the extreme sides of tergites pallid;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 52) with the beaked apical joints very much
shorter, broader, and more leaf-shaped, with a distinct medial, lobe-like
process ventrally below aedeagus . & & annuliventris n. sp. (p. 228).
D. (A) Pubescence on body more conspicuous, much longer, even markedly long,
giving the insects a markedly shaggy, bushy, puff-like, or brush-like
appearance, that on abdomen markedly long and shaggy, that on sides
and apical parts shaggy or tuft-like, that on first antennal joints, face,
and especially on lower parts of genae long and bushy and usually with
very conspicuous, long, stoutish bristles or bristly elements, the pubes-
cence on thorax rarely not shaggy, with the bristles on abdomen long,
stout, and usually very conspicuous and those on thorax also well
developed; wings with the discoidal cell usually distinctly more truncate
apically, the apical cross vein being long, more often with an extensive
VOL. XXXIV. 7
86
Annals of the South African Museum.
pattern of dark infuscations, large spots, or with a system of spots or
distinct spot-like infuscations on cross veins and along or on other veins,
the wings sometimes appearing mottled and, if without extensive in-
fuscations, the cross veins are at least spotted and pubescence on body
is long and very shaggy, with the squamal fringe usually longer and with
distinct stiffer bristly elements and with the basal comb strongly
developed; eyes in gd always separated above by at least width of
ocellar tubercle and sometimes by a space distinctly broader than
tubercle, with the upper facets of eyes scarcely, or only slightly, coarser
than lower ones; frons in 99 more convex and usually without a distinct
depression; antennal joint 3 usually longer, more distinctly and markedly
attenuated apically, rod-like in only a few species; legs with the claws
less curved, less markedly sickle-shaped, often almost straight or at
least straighter, and with the pulvilli poorly developed and confined to
base of claws in 99, scarcely reaching middle of claws in majority of gg,
long in only a few gd and even entirely absent in some g¢ and 99;
hypopygium of 3g with the beaked apical joints usually shorter, com-
paratively very much broadened basally, more often leaf-shaped, almost
always distinctly and deeply foveately depressed above, rarely elongate.
1. (Group 3.)
1. (66) Wings more infuscated, mottled, or extensively spotted, or if more hyaline
with more distinct and more conspicuous spots or spot-like infuscations
on cross veins of basal cells, at fork of second and third longitudinal
veins, at bases of veins between discoidal and third posterior cells and
between submarginal cells, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, and
sometimes at apex of first posterior cell or even near ends of other veins
in posterior part of wings, with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond
or much beyond middle of discoidal cell, and if at about middle wings are
extensively spotted; head with distinctly longer, more numerous, and
more conspicuous bristles, those on antennal joint 1 below long and
conspicuous, usually very much longer than the joint, with more numerous
and longer bristles on face in front, on genae and with a brush or tuft
of more numerous, longer, and more conspicuous ones on lower parts of
genae, with antennal joint 1 thickened, incrassate, or even barrel or
sub-barrel shaped, and if slender with at least long bristles or with more
numerous bristles on face and genae, with antennal joint 3 usually more
slender, with a more slender apical part or half, rarely rod-shaped, and
if so with joint 1 incrassate or with more and longer bristles on joint 1;
general pubescence on body longer, more shaggy or bushy, appearing
less fine, that on abdomen usually longer, more recumbent, more bushy,
and with longer bristles, the pubescence not tending to be erect and
puff-like on abdomen, that on squamal fringe longer and with distinct,
more numerous and longer intermixed bristles or bristly elements;
scutellum black in majority, red or reddish in only a few; pulvilli in fg
extending beyond, reaching middle or just falling short of middle of
claws and much reduced and confined to base of claws in 29, rarely very
vestigial or almost absent in both sexes, and when vestigial antennal
joint | is incrassate and bristles on face and genae are well developed,
with the claws usually less slender and more curved , ; othe
"1
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 87
2. (23) Wings with the anterior half up to end of costal cell, or end of marginal
cell, darkly infuscated yellowish brown, reddish brown, brownish to
very dark blackish brown or black, with this infuscation distinctly well
marked off or sharply marked off and delimited from posterior hyaline
or more hyaline part, without any conspicuous, large, rounded spots
in apical and posterior part, or without smaller, but outstanding and
contrasting spots on cross veins and bases of other veins in posterior
part, and when such spots are present they are situated along hind
border of infuscated anterior part or are only present as inconspicuous
infuscations along some of the posterior veins and are fewer, smaller,
and less outstanding . ; : Soe
3. (16) Wings with the anterior aituacatod pane sien pales aiid when dark,
then with more brownish, not markedly very dark brownish black or
black, with the darker infuscations or spots on apical cross veins of second
basal and discoidal cells faint or at least not conspicuous and contrasting
and rarely with a distinct infuscation at base of second submarginal —
cell, thus without 3 large conspicuous, outstanding, rounded black spots
along hind border of the anterior infuscated part, without an infuscation
at end of vein between submarginal cells, also without distinct, small,
rounded spots on veins in posterior hyaline part, these, when present,
very indistinct and in form of slight infuscations along some of the veins;
pubescence on body predominantly pale sericeous yellowish or whitish,
pale yellowish or ochreous or even reddish, but with much yellowish,
brownish yellow to brownish golden hair intermixed on head and thorax,
with the bristles on lower parts of genae entirely whitish, yellowish, pale
reddish brown or reddish, and usually without any black bristles on upper
parts of genae; claws, in g¢ at least, comparatively shorter, with the
apices not rapidly bent downwards, and with the pulvilli shorter, scarcely
or just reaching the middle of claws, but not extending much beyond
middle; hypopygium of gg with a prominent rim below at base
of aedeagus, but without a central carinate, ploughshare-like process
below aedeagus . . 4,
4. (9) Legs entirely yellowish, the femora soaréoiy demkenieal acalliys black bristly
hairs or bristles on body less developed and less conspicuous, the head
without any black bristles on frons, antennae, and sides of face, or with
only a few and inconspicuous intermixed ones, and with the black
bristles and hairs towards apex and sides of abdomen and on venter
absent or distinctly less developed and less conspicuous, with the basal
comb also predominantly or entirely yellowish, ochreous, or reddish
5.
5. (6) Bristles on occiput, frons, on antennae, face, on genae, thorax above and
laterally, on pleurae, in metapleural tuft, on scutellum and on abdomen
above, on coxae as well as the hairs in more or less 3 stripes on thorax
predominantly or entirely cadmium red to almost scarlet red, giving
the front part of body a red or purplish red appearance; pubescence on
thorax in ¢ at least shorter and with a shorn-off appearance; wings with
the anterior infuscated part more uniformly opaquely ochreous or
reddish, without the upper part in basal half of first basal cell or the
costal cell being paler yellowish white or opaquely whitish, with the
88 Annals of the South African Museum.
infuscations on cross veins fainter and less distinct, with the basal comb
distinctly smaller and the squamae fringed with much reddish hair
3 2 purpureus Bezz. (p. 231).
6. (5) All these bristles whitish, pale sericeous yellowish or ochreous yellowish like
rest of the hair and, when 3 stripes are present on thorax, they are com-
posed of brownish, ochreous, or slightly orange golden pubescence;
pubescence on thorax, even in 4, distinctly longer, with a less shorn-off
appearance; wings with the anterior infuscated part more yellowish
or yellowish brown, not uniform, but with a distinctly paler, pale
yellowish white or opaquely whitish, elongated spot along upper basal
part of first basal cell, with the infuscations on cross veins distinctly
darker and more conspicuous, with the basal comb yellowish or ochreous
yellow and more developed, and the squamae fringed with whitish or
ochreous yellowish hair : ; > ie
7. (8) Pubescence on body predomianely aehioele Fellow to oohnon golden,
more creamy on abdomen in 3, with the stouter bristles on head and
antennae entirely yellowish or brownish yellow, without black ones,
with distinctly fewer and often without any conspicuous black hairs
and bristles ventrolaterally towards apex of abdomen and on sides in
both sexes; antennal joint 3, especially in 2, broadest just before middle,
more rapidly narrowed apically and with only about the apical third
slender; proboscis shorter, about 4-44 mm. long; wings with the
infuscated part more yellowish, the opaquely whitish spot in first basal
cell less conspicuous, with the basal comb more ochreous and without
any very dark or black intermixed spines, with the squamal fringe creamy
yellowish to yellowish; halteres with paler and more yellowish knobs;
hind femora with fewer spines, about 7-9, below; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig.54) . : ; 5 3S 2 darling: n. sp. (p. 233).
8. (7) Pubescence on body predgaeman i very pale sericeous yellowish, even on
abdomen of 3, and, if ochreous hairs are present, they are not predominant
over entire body, with that on propleurae distinctly more sericeous
whitish, with the stouter bristles on head and antennae having a few
or even a large number of black intermixed ones, with the black ones
towards apex of abdomen, even in g, distinctly more numerous and
conspicuous; antennal joint 3 in both sexes slightly longer, broadest
much before middle or even near base, then distinctly more gradually
attenuated apically, the apical slender part also being much longer,
quite half, or even more, the length of joint; proboscis distinctly longer,
longer than 44 mm.; wings with the anterior infuscation tending to be
more pale brownish yellow, with the whitish opaque spot in first basal
cell more evident, with the basal comb usually more yellowish and often
with darker and even black spines, with the squamal fringe either entirely
whitish or in part creamy yellowish; halteres with more brownish or
brown knobs; hind femora usually with more than 9 spines below;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 53). ; : 3 2 micans F. (p. 230).
9. (4) Legs with the femora always darkened below or basally, even extensively
to beyond middle; black bristly hairs or bristles on body more numerous,
more developed, and always more conspicuous, the head always with
more numerous and conspicuous black bristles on frons, antennae and face
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 89
or sides of face, with the black bristly hairs or bristles on abdomen
laterally towards apex and on venter below always conspicuously
developed, those laterally towards apex appearing tuft-like, with the
basal comb entirely or predominantly black . : - 0:
10. (11) Antennal joint 3 broadest much before middle and nearer ae eae there
very gradually attenuated apically, the apical slender part being very
long, even in 9; wings with the anterior infuscation scarcely extending
beyond end of costal cell or only very slightly, with the greater part
of the apical part of marginal cell entirely hyaline, without any distinct
infuscations along veins in posterior hyaline part, especially at bases of
second submarginal and third posterior cells, and with the elongated
whitish opaque spot at bases of first and second basal cells and even in
the costal cell more conspicuously evident and visible; pubescence on
body above more gleaming and resplendent, sericeous whitish to yellowish,
with the 3 stripes of golden brownish hair on thorax, in 2 especially, more
conspicuous and more enhanced by the silvery stripes separating them;
larger and often distinctly more bulky species, ranging from 10-15 mm.
in length and with a wing-length of about 10-16 mm.
3 2 hypoleucus Wied.
(And its numerous forms) (p. 232).
11. (10) Antennal joint 3 broadest at about middle or even before middle, especially
in 99, from there more rapidly narrowed apically, the apical third or
fourth being very slender; wings with the anterior infuscation always
extending distinctly beyond costal cell, even to end of marginal cell,
only the extreme apical part of this latter cell being more or less hyaline,
often with some distinct, though feeble, infuscations in posterior part
and always with a slight, or even distinct, infuscation at bases of second
submarginal and third posterior cells, and with the whitish or yellowish
white opaque spots at bases of first and second basal cells or in costal cell
less conspicuous or even scarcely evident; pubescence on body above
duller in appearance, less resplendent or gleaming, but also whitish
yellowish to yellow, with the 3 darker stripes on thorax less conspicuously
visible and the rest of the hair on thorax less resplendent; smaller and
on the whole less bulky species, with an average length of ee less than
11 mm. and with a wing-length of about 53-11 mm. _ « EZ.
12. (13) Pubescence predominantly yellowish to golden yellowish, cee in 3 stripes
on thorax golden, only the sides gleaming more sericeous whitish, that
on sides of thorax in front of wings fulvous to orange golden, that
on abdomen above pale yellowish sericeous in 4, slightly more golden
in 9, with the stouter bristles on head and even on genae (excepting
the black ones on frons, antennae, and sides of face), and on thorax
more distinctly yellowish, some on sides of thorax in Q brownish,
with the bristly hairs on upper parts of pleurae, in metapleural tuft
and on lower parts of pleurae, coxae, sides of abdomen and venter
below golden, only the middle part above front coxae, the head below
and often upper part of metapleural tuft white-haired, with the black
hair laterally below on abdomen and on sides posteriorly more extensive
and more conspicuous; wings distinctly broader, with the infuscated
part more reddish brown, with the bases of first basal and costal cells less
90
Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish opaque; antennal joint 3 slightly longer and, in 9 especially,
with the apical part more slender, shorter, and more rapidly attenuated ;
femora less extensively blackened, only at bases or in basal halves;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 56); slightly bulkier and more compact
species. ’ : 3 2 melanurus Lw. (p. 236).
13. (12) Pubescence, font ude, preddininantly whitish or sericeous whitish to
14. (15
15. (14
)
~—
very pale sericeous yellowish, that on thorax above pale golden to brownish
golden, that on sides of thorax very pale yellowish or brownish, not
orange golden, the bristles there being reddish brown or pale yellowish,
that on abdomen paler or straw-coloured yellowish or slightly yellowish
sericeous, not deeply golden, with yellowish reflections in 9, in certain
lights, with the bristles on head, excluding black ones, those on thorax
and scutellum whitish or much paler yellowish or darker brownish to
reddish brown, with the hair on pleurae, those intermixed on sides of
abdomen basally more extensively or even entirely whitish, with the
bristly hairs on coxae straw-coloured yellowish or brownish, not golden,
and lower part of metapleural tuft straw-coloured yellowish or brownish,
with the black hair on abdomen slightly less extensive and less con-
Spicuous; wings distinctly narrower and more elongate, with the infusca-
tion either very pale yellowish brown or very dark, almost blackish
brown, without a reddish tinge, less uniform, but with the whitish or
pale yellowish white opaque spot in first basal cell and costal cell more
evident or even very distinct and often with the infuscation at bases of
second submarginal and third posterior cells more distinct; antennal
joint 3 distinctly shorter and in 29 with the slender apical part slightly
longer; femora distinctly more extensively blackened, almost entirely
so or to very much beyond middle; hypopygium of g¢ (text-fig. 55);
slightly narrower and more elongate and on the whole smaller species
14.
Pubescence on body appearing paler, with the bristles. paler, more whitish
to pale yellowish, those on occiput, thorax, sides of thorax, in lower part
of metapleural tuft and on coxae straw-coloured yellowish to very pale
yellowish, with comparatively fewer black bristles on frons, antennae,
and sides of face, those on genae always pale or even whitish, with the
hair on abdomen in 2 gleaming pale yellowish sericeous or even whitish
in certain lights; wings with the anterior infuscation paler and often
more yellowish brown, with the apical part of marginal cell more ex-
tensively hyaline, with the infuscations at bases of second submarginal
and third posterior cells less distinct, often scarcely visible, with a
tendency for first posterior cell to be narrow, elongate, and much longer
than second posterior cell; antennal joint 3 in 9 at least with a tendency
for the slender apical part to be slightly longer
3 2 hirtus Lw. (p. 235).
(Western forms.)
Pubescence on body appearing darker, but actually also predominantly
sericeous whitish, but with the bristles on front part of body reddish
brown, golden brown to brownish, those on occiput, thorax and especially
on sides of thorax, in lower part of metapleural tuft and on coxae reddish
brown to brownish, with distinctly more numerous and more extensive
~ A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 91
black bristles on frons, antennae, and sides of face, those on genae always
with some brownish tipped ones or pale reddish brown intermixed ones,
the hair on abdomen in 9 with a more bronzy or brownish golden sheen
in certain lights; wings with the anterior infuscation much darker, very
dark blackish brown, also more extensive in apical part of marginal cell,
often occupying entire apex and with more distinct infuscations at bases
of second submarginal and third posterior cells and often also along
apical cross vein of discoidal cell, with the first posterior cell usually
broader and shorter, subequal to or only slightly longer than second
posterior cell; antennal joint 3 in 9 at least with the slender apical part
less slender and slightly shorter . - 6 2 hrrius Lw. s. str. (p. 235).
(Eastern forms.)
16. (3) Wings with the anterior infuscation or infuscated part much darker, very
dark blackish brown to blackish, with the spots on apical cross veins
of second basal and discoidal cells and at base of second submarginal
cell much darker, larger, more rounded and more conspicuous, prominently
visible as a row of 3 conspicuous spots along hind border of anterior
infuscation, usually with a distinct infuscation at apex of vein separating
submarginal cells, rarely without more distinct and more rounded, small
spots on veins in posterior part of wing or at least on some of these;
pubescence on body predominantly white, with a silvery whitish sheen,
but with numerous dark or black bristles on front part and much black
hair on abdomen below, with the bristles on lower part of genae more
often with a few black intermixed ones and always with some black
bristly hairs along its upper parts; claws, in g¢ at least, comparatively
very elongate, their apices more rapidly bent downwards and with the
pulvilli much longer, extending to much beyond middle of claws; hypo-
pygium of g¢ with a distinct, central, ventral, carinate process below
aedeagus in its basal half, often projecting forwards like a ploughshare
Lie
17. (22) Spines on legs distinctly very dark blackish brown or black; pubescence
discally on thorax with numerous and often conspicuous dark or brownish
hairs, with the stout bristles on abdomen above darker, dark brownish,
reddish brown to black, though some towards the apex may also be paler
and more yellowish, with the pubescence on venter yellowish or brownish
yellow, with very little white and with the black hair on sides of abdomen
and at apex distinctly denser and more conspicuous, with the hair just
above wing-bases, especially in 2, more often yellowish to brownish
yellow; wings without any black spots in posterior part or with only 2
or 3 comparatively small ones at apex of first posterior cell and at bases
of second and third posterior cells, with the middle part of first sub-
marginal cell (between the 2 large black spots) entirely infuscated or
distinctly less hyaline; antennal joint 3 more slender and more attenuated
and slender in about apical third; aedeagus in jd (text-fig. 57) with a
short central, carinate process ventrally in basal half, scarcely projecting
apically . 3 ‘ A : : ; : : - 5) Les
18. (19) Wings without any spots in posterior hyaline part or with only a feeble
infuscation at base of fourth posterior cell; genae and lower parts of genae
always with some, or a good few, intermixed, black bristles; bristles
92 Annals of the South African Museum.
on abdomen above with very dark brownish to blackish ones, only those
at apex being slightly paler, those on front coxae also with distinct dark
brownish or blackish intermixed ones; hair above wings on each side of
thorax more brownish yellow, and hair on squamae yellowish brown and
the bristles on front part of thorax darker and more brownish
3 2 servillei Macq. (p. 237).
(Namaqualand and Karoo forms.)
19. (18) Wings always with black spots in posterior part, either on all three sites
or, if only on one, this spot is larger and more distinct; genae and lower
parts of genae without any black bristles or with only 2 or 3 black ones;
bristles on abdomen above paler, more pale brownish to brownish, the
apical ones often paler or with more distinct pale tips, those on front
coxae yellowish to pale yellowish brown; hair above wings on each side
of thorax paler yellowish or very pale, and squamal fringe whitish to
creamy, and the bristles on front part of thorax also i” paler and
more pale yellowish . : . 20:
20. (21) Wings with 3 distinct inbiacationd in postedce iealine eae genae and
front coxae without any dark or blackish bristles; bristles on abdomen
above in middle part darker brownish . 3 & serviller Macq. (p. 238).
(S. Cape and 8S. Karoo forms.)
21. (20) Wings usually with only 2 infuscations in posterior part, an indistinct
one at apex of first posterior cell and a large distinct one at base of fourth
posterior cell; lower parts of genae and front coxae sometimes with 2
or 3 dark or blackish bristles; bristles on abdomen above often much
paler and even more yellowish in middle part
3 & servillei Macq. (p. 238).
(Western and Eastern Province forms.)
22. (17) Spines on legs paler and more brownish or yellowish brown; pubescence
discally on thorax without any dark conspicuous hairs or with very few
and insignificant ones, with the stout bristles on abdomen above dis-
tinctly yellowish to very pale yellowish brown or red, with the pubescence
on venter predominantly whitish, only some bristles on sides being
slightly yellowish, with the black hair on sides of abdomen and at apex
comparatively less dense and less conspicuous, with the hair just above
wing-bases sericeous whitish like rest of hair; wings more constantly
with a large spot at base of third posterior cell and a smaller one at apex
of first posterior cell, but often also with a small one at apex of discoidal
cell, with the middle part of first submarginal cell (between the 2 large
spots) more extensively or almost entirely hyaline; antennal joint 3
distinctly less slender, more rod-like, the apical part less slender and
much shorter; aedeagus in g (text-fig. 58) with a longer, central, carinate
process ventrally in basal half, which is also prominently produced,
ploughshare-like apically. (Genae always with black bristles below
and upper part of metapleural tuft and the squamal fringe always
sericeous white.) ; : - 6 2 pentaspilus Bezz. (p. 239).
23. (2) Wings either extensively mottled or ae and with large, rounded spots
on cross veins, even if there is a well marked off anterior more darkly
infuscated costal part, or with an indistinctly marked off darker costal
and basal part and with small dark or black infuscations or spots on
-A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 93
cross veins and other veins, which are much darker, with the anterior
infuscation more prominent and outstanding, or the wings are almost
entirely hyaline or ip hyaline and with or without infuscations on
cross veins : 24.
24. (47) Legs with very dark ieieclcish Bowl 4 black: mabey blaak: spines;
wings with the more uniformly infuscated costal and basal parts darker,
more blackish brown to black, and usually more distinctly marked off
from rest of wing, the rest either with large, rounded, often contiguous
or confluent, dark blackish brown to black spots or with smaller dark
spots - : : : , aoe
25. (46) Wings Euenaiveli mottled or potted (c£. pl. 1) figs. 2; 3, and 4,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, and fig. 3, p. 59, The Bombyliidae of
the Ethiopian Region, by Bezzi), the spots large and conspicuous, the
costal and basal part very distinct, with the spots at apex of second
basal cell, on discal cross vein and, especially, at base of second sub-
marginal cell always conspicuously large and rounded, with infuscations
or spots always present, even if small, at ends of first longitudinal vein
and vein between submarginal cells and at apex of anal and axillary
cells; pubescence on thorax discally always with some golden, deep
golden or brownish golden hair, often in stripes and not entirely sericeous
or silvery whitish, with the black hair on abdomen laterally and ventrally
towards apex always more conspicuously tuft-like, visible from above,
and also more extensively developed laterally below < ; 20.
26. (41) Wings (pl. 1, figs. 2 and 3, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii) always with a
distinct spot, often large, at about middle of the more hyaline apical
part of marginal cell, which is usually contiguous or confluent with large
spot at base of second submarginal cell, with the spot at end of second
longitudinal vein also more rounded and less diffuse or elongated, the
second basal cell usually with a larger hyaline part or spot near its apex
(if not, then at least the apical part of marginal cell contains a distinct
spot at about the middle) ‘ 27.
27. (38) Wings with a pattern as figured (pl. 1, fe. 3, ee S. he Mus., Sil Sai
with large, rounded spots at apex of second basal cell, on discal cross
vein, at base of second submarginal cell, rounded ones at base of third
posterior cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, and at apex of anal
and axillary cells, with smaller ones at ends of second longitudinal vein
and vein between submarginal cells as well as distinct continuations of
the posterior spots along the posterior veins separating posterior cells,
with a very large, or at least moderately large, conspicuous spot at
apices of anal and axillary cells . : : 28.
28. (33) Wings with the rounded spot at apex of séeond pasa él sonaltient with
the very large, ovate, or elliptic, usually bipartite, spot at apex of anal
and axillary cells, this latter spot usually being distinctly larger, or at
least as large as the other, and not extending much into fourth posterior
cell and more removed from hind border of wing, thus more in an oblique
straight line with spot at apex of second basal cell and spot-like infusca-
tion at base of discoidal cell and middle of first basal cell, with the bases
of anal and axillary cells usually less extensively infuscated; pubescence
with the black hair on abdomen very conspicuous, more distinctly visible
94 Annals of the South African Museum.
from above, the entire apical part or half appearing as a black tuft;
hypopygium of gg without a complex, ventral, aedeagal process
below : ot 2.
9. (32) Forms with eating more numerous tale jpriatlesy on Baus espeuralle in
29, numerous intermixed yellowish, brownish yellow to reddish yellow
ones being present on occiput, front part of thorax, disc and base of
thorax, on scutellum and transversely across basal half of abdomen,
those towards apex of abdomen much longer-tipped, whitish or pallid,
with 3 stripes of paler brownish golden hair on thorax and also with
more yellowish intermixed hairs on sides of thorax; wings with spot at
apices of anal and axillary cells as large or larger than spot at apex of
second basal cell, very confluent with it . ; .| BO)
30. (31) Wings with the confluent spots at apex of second basal sali and apices
of anal and axillary cells not, or scarcely, confluent with anterior basal
infuscation, and with the large rounded spot on discal cross vein not
contiguous or confluent with the one at base of third posterior cell, the
spots tending to be less confluent, there being no distinct tendency for
wings to show 3 broad transverse dark bands
3S 2 megaspilus Bezz. s. str. (p. 240).
(And forms of it.)
31. (30) Wings with the confluent spots at apex of second basal cell and apices of
anal and axillary cells distinctly and broadly confluent with the basal
infuscation and with the larger, rounded spot on discal cross vein confluent
or touching one at base of third posterior cell, the other spots also tending
to be larger and more contiguous or confluent, there being thus a distinct
tendency for wings to show 3 transverse dark bands
3 2 megaspilus Bezz. (p. 240).
(Forms of it.)
32. (29) Form with less numerous pale bristles on body, the bristles on these sites
being predominantly dark or black, and even those in basal half on
abdomen either almost entirely black or at least much darker, with 3
stripes of much darker, more obscure, or more brownish hair on thorax
discally, with the hair on sides of thorax, apart from the black bristles,
distinctly less, or not, yellowish; wings with the spot at apex of anal and
axillary cells either large and confluent with one above it or often smaller,
more tripartite, and less confluent with large one at apex of second
basal cell . : . , : . fd @megaspilus Bezz. (p. 240).
(Forms of it.)
33. (28) Wings with the rounded spot at apex of second basal cell not broadly
confluent with the spot at apices of anal and axillary cells, either more
narrowly confluent or distinctly separated, the latter spot also much
smaller than the former, tripartite, divided into 3 spots and nearer or
immediately on the hind border of the wings, distinctly not in an oblique
straight line with both the spot at apex of second basal cell and the
spot-like infuscation at base of discoidal cell and middle of first basal
cell, with the bases of anal and axillary cells also distinctly more ex-
tensively infuscated if those spots are in contact; pubescence with the
black hair on abdomen distinctly less conspicuous from above and,
even in very dark forms, not so conspicuously visible from above as a
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 95
black tuft-like brush in apical half; hypopygium of known ¢¢ with a
complex, ventral, aedeagal process below . : : 34.
34, (35) Pubescence on body above with distinctly more numerous pale bristles
in 9, those on occiput, anterior part of thorax, sides of thorax above
wings, scutellum, and practically on entire abdomen paie yellowish brown
to reddish brown and, if darker on some of these sites, they are distinctly
paler on other sites, with the pubescence on disc of thorax in both sexes
more extensively brownish golden to fulvous brown, that on abdomen
in 2 distinctly more extensively pale, pale creamy to pale yellowish
brown, with pale brownish golden gleams in certain lights; wings with a
tendency to show 3 transverse bands of spots, owing to the tendency
for spots to be confluent or very near together, with the base of vein
separating discoidal and third posterior cells, though rapidly bent to
fourth posterior cell, not markedly or sharply bent at right angles and
never provided at angle so formed with a short appendix or stump;
proboscis comparatively longer, about 5-6 mm. long; legs with the
femora slightly less extensively blackened, and in some 99 not
darkened or only slightly so at bases
3 2 ammophilus n. sp. (p. 244).
35. (384) Pubescence on body above with either entirely black or blackish bristles
on sites mentioned or, if paler ones are present, these are comparatively
fewer and subordinate to the predominantly black ones in both sexes,
but especially on abdomen above, with the other pubescence on body
above either entirely or predominantly silvery whitish or, if darker, the
golden brownish hair on thorax is distinctly less extensive, that on
abdomen in 929 distinctly paler, more whitish, as in 3, or the pale
brownish golden hair is distinctly less developed and the bristles on
abdomen, however, always entirely black; wings with this tendency to
show 3 dark transverse bands either more distinct or much less evident,
with the base of vein separating discoidal and third posterior cells rarely
not sharply and angularly bent at right angles to fourth posterior cell,
and often with a distinct short stump or appendix at angle so formed;
proboscis relatively shorter, less than 6 mm.; legs always with the
femora in both sexes markedly blackened to much beyond middle and
more often only with the extreme apices yellowish 5 : . 36.
36. (37) Smaller forms, about 5-8 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 5-8 mm.;
pubescence appearing much darker from above, the disc of thorax above
with more brownish or dark brownish golden hair, also with distinct
brownish golden or brownish tipped hairs just above wings and in Q
with distinctly more brownish golden gleaming hairs on abdomen above,
with distinctly more extensive black hair on venter below, with the
bristles on thorax and scutellum entirely black, with the coxal bristles
predominantly or entirely black, and the bristles in mesopleural tuft also
predominantly very dark or black; wings with the spots more confluent
and comparatively larger, tending to form more or less 3 irregular
transverse black bands, with the tripartite spot at apices of anal and
axillary cells contiguous or confluent with spot at apex of second basal
cell, with a large and confluent spot at apex of first posterior cell, with the
base of vein separating discoidal and third posterior cells tending to be
96 Annals of the South African Museum.
less constantly bent at right angles, some specimens having this sinuosity
almost normal . : : 3 . 6 & hottentotus n. sp. (p. 241).
(And forms of it.)
37. (36) Larger species, about 834-11 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
8-11 mm.; pubescence appearing paler and more greyish or silvery
whitish above, that on disc of thorax with predominantly silvery whitish
hair, only very few yellowish ones being present, that above wings in 9
also whitish, that on abdomen above silvery whitish, shining silvery
whitish, that on venter also with more pale or whitish ones basally and
laterally, with distinctly intermixed yellowish to brownish bristles on
occiput, thorax, scutellum, and even across second abdominal segment in
some specimens, with the front coxal bristles and the intermixed ones on
the other coxae as well as bristles in metapleural tuft predominantly
yellowish; wings with the spots distinctly less contiguous or confluent
(text-fig. 61), more rounded and spot-like and not tending to form 3
typical cross bands, with the spot at apices of anal and axillary cells
always smaller and distinctly separated from large and rounded spot at
apex of second basal cell, with the spot at apex of first posterior cell
more often very small or absent and, if distinct, then not confluent with
the other big spot, with the base of vein separating discoidal and third
posterior cells more constantly and distinctly sharply bent at right
angles and provided with a short stump . 2 braunsi Bezz. (p. 246).
38. (27) Wings with a pattern as figured (Bezzi, pl. 1, fig. 2, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii), with spots also on the same sites, but with or without a very
small and insignificant spot at apex of anal cell, and without any, or only
minute and very indistinct, spots near apices of posterior veins, the spots
at bases of third and second posterior cells not produced or prolonged,
comma-like, along posterior veins, and also with the spot-like infuscation
at end of vein separating submarginal cells very small, absent, or in-
distinct . ‘ ; : : ; : : ° é . 39.
39. (40) Pubescence on dise of thorax usually with distinct sericeous yellowish or
slightly golden gleams, with a tuft of hair and bristles on post-alar calli.
distinctly gleaming brownish or yellowish golden, with some or more
numerous yellowish intermixed bristles on occiput, on each side in
humeral region, on coxae, and on sides of abdomen and venter towards
apex, with the dense hair on venter towards apex usually with more
dark brownish ones; wings with the infuscated parts and spots tending
to be more brownish or even yellowish brownish, a distinct, though
sometimes faint, spot always present at apex of anal cell and sometimes
with a tendency for spots to be present at ends of some of the posterior
veins, with the first longitudinal vein usually paler and more brownish or
reddish; spicules on tibiae tending to be entirely yellowish or brownish
or at least with some intermixed paler ones and the tibiae themselves
sometimes paler; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 64) with the inner apical
part of basal parts distinctly longer and more produced and the ventral
aedeagal process with 4 spines on it. 3 2 capensis Linn. (p. 251).
(And forms of it.)
40. (39) Pubescence on thorax silvery whitish like. the rest of the hairs above,
with the hair on post-alar calli also gleaming silvery whitish, with all the
_A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 917
bristly hairs and bristles on head and thorax, on coxae and abdomen
black, with the hair towards apex of venter appearing entirely or more
predominantly black; wings with the anterior infuscation and spots
much darker and sooty black, without a spot at apex of anal cell and
never with even indications of spots at ends of posterior veins and with
all the veins very dark or black; spicules on tibiae entirely black;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 65) with the inner apical part of basal parts
not prominent or produced, with the ventral aedeagal process slightly
different and having only 2 spines
3 2 neuwveldensis n. sp. (p. 253).
Al. (26) Wings (cf. text-fig. 62 in this paper, and Bezzi, pl. 1, fig. 4, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii) without a spot at about middle of apical part of marginal
cell, this part being either more hyaline or uniformly infuscated like
rest of cell, with only the apex of second longitudinal vein more darkened,
with the infuscation at end of vein separating submarginal cells not
rounded or distinctly spot-like, but in form of a more elongated terminal
infuscation, with the second basal cell entirely infuscated like rest of
base or with a small clear spot near its apex : - 2h.
42. (43) Large species, about 10-12 mm. long, with a wing- sieaati of about
11-123 mm.; pubescence on body above predominantly silvery whitish,
only that on disc of thorax slightly tinted yellowish or brownish golden,
that on abdomen above entirely shining silvery whitish, that on venter
and apex of abdomen black, with the bristles on body very stout and
strong, those on occiput shorter, those on sides of thorax, excluding the
black ones in front of wings on each side, on scutellum, and transversely
across abdominal segments 1-3 yellowish or reddish brown; wings
(text-fig. 62) with the posterior part distinctly more hyaline, with a
hyaline or clear spot near apex of second basal cell and another one near
apex of first basal cell, with the middle of apical part of marginal cell
tending to be more hyaline, with the spot at apices of anal and axillary
cells larger, more diffuse, contiguous or confluent with large spot at apex
of second basal cell, with the posterior spots on wing tending to be more
continued as distinct infuscations along posterior veins; proboscis long,
about 5-6 mm. long; legs with more numerous, about 9-10, longer and
stouter spines on hind femora below, with the claws more gradually
curved downwards apically and with the pulvilli shorter, just reaching
or only extending a very little beyond middle of claws; hypopygium
(text-fig. 63) . : ‘ . 6 fenestralis n. sp. (p. ai
43. (42) Small species, about 5-6 mm. long, eh a wing-length of about 5-6 mm.;
pubescence on body above not predominantly silvery white, that on
disc of thorax, scutellum, and abdomen above more distinctly pale
yellowish or straw-coloured yellowish, becoming more brownish towards
apex and even, when very pale, the abdomen shows yellowish gleams in
certain lights, with the hair on sides of abdomen towards apex and on
venter distinctly more brownish, very dark chocolate brownish, with the
bristles on body very slender and long, almost hair-like on abdomen,
those on occiput also long and slender, those on thorax darker and more
chocolate brownish or darker yellowish brown, those on abdomen tending
to be darker also; wings (cf. pl. 1, fig. 4, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii)
98
44, (45
—
Annals of the South African Museum.
with the anterior half or darker part chocolate brownish and posterior
part also distinctly tinged faintly brownish, with at least no clear spot
in second basal cell and without a distinct clear area in first basal cell,
with the apical part of marginal cell uniformly infuscated like rest of
cell, with the spot at apex of anal cell smaller and widely separated from
spot at apex of second basal cell, without any or with only very indistinct
infusions near apices of posterior veins, not continuous with the larger
spots; proboscis shorter in relation to body, less than 6 mm. long; legs
with much fewer, only about 4—7, more slender spines on hind femora below
with the claws slightly more rapidly bent downwards apically and with the
pulvilli distinctly longer, extending much beyond middle of claws . 44.
Pubescence on body distinctly tinted more pale brownish yellow, that on
abdomen above even darker, becoming more distinctly rusty brown
posteriorly, with the long bristles on occiput and thorax above (excluding
lateral ones in front of wings), those on scutellum and abdomen above
more yellowish brown, with the hair along upper parts of pleurae also
more distinctly yellowish; wings less pointed apically, with the front
half slightly darker, more chocolate brownish, with the spots at bases
of third and second posterior cells and apex of first posterior cell small,
much smaller than the other spots, without any spots at ends of posterior
veins and with scarcely a darker infuscation at apex of anal cell, with the
anal cell acute apically and not opening on hind border, with the second
longitudinal vein distinctly very undulating; antennal joint 3 slightly
shorter and less slender, broadest at about the middle; legs with only
about 4, much shorter and finer, spines on hind femora below from just
before middle to apex, with the claws slightly longer and distinctly more
rapidly bent downwards apically and with the pulvilli longer, nearly
reaching apex of claws ; ; i 3 punctatellus Bezz. (p. 255).
(Type specimen.)
45. (44) Pubescence on body almost entirely silvery whitish, that on abdomen
with a feeble yellowish sheen in certain lights, with the bristles on occiput,
on the rest of head, on thorax and abdomen above darker, very dark
chocolate brown, only those on scutellum and some intermixed ones
basally on abdomen paler and more yellowish, with the hair on venter
and towards apical part of abdomen also chocolate brownish, with that
on pleurae, excepting only yellowish metapleural bristles, entirely silvery
whitish; wings (cf. Bezzi, pl. 1, fig. 4, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, as
punctatellus) distinctly more pointed apically, with the anterior half not
quite so dark chocolate brown, with the spots at bases of third and second
posterior cells and at apex of first posterior cell comparatively large and
rounded, as large as the other spots, with a distinct, though diffuse,
infuscation at apex of anal cell and also with faint infuscations near
ends of posterior veins, with the anal cell normally opening on hind
border of wing and the second longitudinal vein straight to near bent-up
end, where there is a slight sinuosity (much straighter than in Bezzi’s
figure); antennal joint 3 very slender, slightly longer and more rod-like,
gradually attenuated from broadest part near base; legs with about 7,
longer spines, from near base to apex on hind femora below, the basal
spines being remarkably long, almost bristle-like, with the claws shorter,
_A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 99
only gradually curved downwards apically from about the middle and
with the pulvilli distinctly shorter, just extending a little beyond middle
of claws . : : : : . 6 punctatelloides n. sp. (p. 255).
(Labelled as punctatellus.)
46. (25) Wings (cf. Bezzi, p. 5, fig. 4, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region)
not extensively mottled or spotted, with the anterior infuscated costal
and basal part less distinctly marked off, the spots, even the larger ones
at apex of second basal cell, on discal cross vein and at base of second
submarginal cell, being comparatively smaller, and the others at bases
of second and third posterior cells much smaller, without any spot,
or only a very feeble one, at apex of first posterior cell, without any
infuscation at ends of second longitudinal vein and vein separating the
submarginal cells, thus with a more hyaline apical part or half of marginal
cell and entirely without any infuscations at apices of anal and axillary
cells; pubescence, excluding black or yellowish bristles on thorax and
scutellum, entirely silvery whitish on thorax, even discally, there being
no darker or golden hairs in form of stripes, the abdomen above, excluding
whitish-tipped black transverse bristles, with entirely silvery whitish
hair, with the black hair on extreme sides of abdomen and apically on
venter less extensively developed, not conspicuously visible from above
as a black apical tuft or lateral apical tufts, the venter also with compara-
tively more white hair : . Q punctifer Bezz. (p. 254).
7. (24) Legs with pale yellowish, pallid, prowiish yellow to reddish yellow spines;
wings if darkened with the darker infuscated anterior half or costal and
basal part or base paler, more pale brownish, yellowish brown or yellowish,
and not very distinctly or conspicuously marked off from more hyaline
posterior part, usually almost imperceptibly merging into hyaline part,
the posterior part of wings either with distinct, but smaller and less
conspicuous, spots (if larger ones are present, the spines on legs at least
are yellowish), or with much fewer or even without any spots, and the
entire wings may also be hyaline and unspotted . ‘ . 48.
48. (55) Pubescence not predominantly or entirely snow whitish, frosts whitish
or gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish or predominantly sericeous or
golden yellowish, usually appearing greyish sericeous due to an inter-
mixture of pale sericeous yellowish and sericeous whitish elements,
usually with some or numerous black or dark bristly hairs and bristles
on frons, antennal joint 1 below and on face and with more numerous
or more conspicuous black hairs in tufts on extreme sides of tergites
below and towards apex of abdomen; wings tinged more greyish or
cinereous, the costal and basal parts more brownish or greyish brown,
with the spot-like infuscations on cross veins and other veins more dis-
tinct, more conspicuous, larger and sometimes more rounded or diffuse,
the spots at base of third posterior cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal
cell and at apex of first posterior cell being always more or less distinct,
and if wings are not very greyish and spots not very conspicuous, pubes-
cence at least is not entirely snow white or golden; antennae with
joint 1, though thickened, not barrel or sub-barrel shaped, and with
joint 3 not dilated knob-like at base and not club-like; scutellum entirely
black and abdomen entirely black in both sexes. ‘ ‘ . 49.
100 Annals of the South African Museum.
49. (52) Wings with the spot-like infuscations at apex of first posterior cell, on
apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at base of third posterior cell small,
indistinct, and usually less conspicuous and without any infuscation or
distinct spot at ends of second longitudinal vein and the vein separating
submarginal cells or at apices of anal and axillary cells, with the discal
cross vein usually very much beyond middle of discoidal cell; head with
the eyes in gg distinctly more broadly separated above and at least 2 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in known 99 also
relatively broader and slightly broader than 2 times combined length
of antennal joints ] and 2; hypopygium of gd with the ramus on each
side not produced, and the central process below aedeagus merely raised or
produced into a short or long process and not raised arch-like ae) 0)
50. (51) Larger and bulkier species, about 13-15 mm. long, with a wing-length
of about 13-14 mm.; wings with the darker anterior part more blackish
brown, more distinct, and more extensive, extending up to end of marginal
cell, and this cell thus on the whole more infuscated, with the spots on
apical cross veins of basal cells and at base of vein between submarginal
cells larger, more rounded, darker, and more conspicuous, and with the
infuscations on posterior part of wings also more distinct, with the first
posterior cell broader and less acute apically; pubescence appearing
slightly more sericeous yellowish even in gg, the sericeous yellowish
bands on thorax more conspicuous, the pubescence on abdomen in §¢
scarcely more whitish, that in 92 more velvety sericeous yellowish, with
more black bristles on lower parts of genae; claws much stouter and with
the pulvilli broader and extending slightly beyond middle of claws in
3S; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 66) with the basal parts broad and
compact, the dorsal division between them deeply sunk in, with the
beaked apical joints more deeply and foveately depressed above, with the
ventral process below aedeagus in form of an apically produced basal
rim, blunt and not hiding the apical part of aedeagus
3 & obesus Bezz. (p. 256).
51. (50) Smaller and less bulky species, about 94 mm. long, with a wing-length
of about 84 mm.; wings less cinereous, with the costal and basal infusca-
tion paler, more pale yellowish brown, much fainter and distinctly less
extensive, the entire apical part or half of marginal cell being hyaline,
with the spots less conspicuous, much smaller, and even evanescent in
posterior part of wings, especially at apex of first posterior cell and on
apical cross vein of discoidal cell, with the first posterior cel] narrower
and distinctly more acute apically; pubescence in ¢ at least distinctly
paler and more sericeous whitish, that on thorax appearing more sericeous
whitish and even the sericeous yellowish elements on disc much fainter,
the pubescence on abdomen apparently more whitish, becoming even
paler apically, with fewer or only 2 or 3 darkish bristles on lower parts
of genae; claws distinctly more slender, with the pulvilli much narrower
and not reaching middle of claws; hypopygium (text-fig. 67) with the
basal parts less broad and compact and not deeply sulcately separated
above, with the beaked apical joints less depressed above, with the
ventral process below aedeagus much longer, lobe-like, and hiding the
apical part of aedeagus ; : 3 mollihirtus n. sp. (p. 258).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 101
52. (49) Wings with all the spot-like infuscations, though slightly duller, distinctly
larger, more rounded and more diffuse, those in posterior part of wings
scarcely smaller or less rounded than those on apical cross veins of basal
cells and at base of vein between submarginal cells, with distinct, though
sometimes faint, spots or infuscations at ends of second longitudinal
vein and the vein between submarginal cells, at apices of anal and
axillary cells and sometimes even with indications of spots even near
ends of the posterior veins, with the discal cross vein just, or sometimes
apparently scarcely, beyond middle of discoidal cell; head with the eyes
in §¢3 more narrowly separated above and distinctly less than 2 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in 29 also relatively
narrower and only about or less than 2 times as broad as combined
length of antennal joints 1 and 2; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 68) with
the ramus on each side produced into a pointed process and the central,
ventral process below aedeagus inverted U-shaped, projecting arch-like
and provided with flattened setae apically . : : . 53.
4) Pubescence with the 3 stripes on disc of thorax paler, very pale sericeous
yellowish or straw-coloured sericeous, with the black hair on sides of
abdomen and apical part more extensive and more conspicuous from
above, with all the stoutish bristles on head and body pale yellowish to
yellowish, there being no very dark and black bristles on lower parts
of genae and either none or only a few darkish ones on frons in 99, those
on abdomen also paler and more yellowish; wings with the spots more
distinct, with the spot at apices of anal and axillary cells also more
distinct and often also with faint, though distinct, small infuscations
near ends of veins separating posterior cells
3 2 zoutpansbergianus nN. sp. (p. 260).
54. (53) Pubescence with the 3 stripes on disc of thorax in 929 distinctly more
brownish golden and more conspicuous, with the black hair on sides of
abdomen laterally and apically less apparent and less conspicuous, with
all the bristles on lower parts of genae, all the longer and stouter ones
on face, sides of face, on antennae below, on frons, sides of thorax in
front of wings and some intermixed ones on coxae black, those on coxae
sometimes very dark brownish, with the rest ‘of the bristles on occiput,
thorax, and scutellum deeper yellowish, more yellowish brown to brownish,
and those on abdomen also more brownish yellow; wings with the spots
even duller and less distinct, the spot at apices of anal and axillary cells
being very faint and indistinct, without any or with evanescent infusca-
tions near ends of posterior veins
2 zoutpansbergianus var. occidentalis n. (p. 262).
55. (48) Pubescence on body predominantly or entirely snow white, frosty whitish,
and gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish or predominantly golden
yellowish, without any dark or blackish bristly hairs or bristles on antennal
joint 1 below, on face or genae and without any tufts of black hair on
sides of tergites ventrally below, or if with some black hairs on sides of
abdomen these are inconspicuous, and if with black transverse bristles on
abdomen rest of pubescence is entirely or predominantly snow whitish or
golden yellowish; wings either more hyaline and with a slightly whitish
tinge, greyish hyaline, or tinged reddish brownish with the costal and .
VOL. XXXIV. 8
102
Annals of the South African Museum.
basal parts more subopaquely whitish, yellowish, or reddish brownish, ©
with the spot-like infuscations on cross veins and other veins if present
usually less distinct and less conspicuous, and if conspicuous pubescence
on body is predominantly golden or snow white, with the spots at base
of third posterior cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at apex
of first posterior cell either absent or scarcely indicated and sometimes
without any spots on wings; antennae with joint 1 distinctly more
incrassate, more sub-barrel-shaped or even barrel-shaped, and with
joint 3 dilated or thickened knob-like at base, thus club-like, or at least
more distinctly thickened in basal half, and if very slender and not
club-like, joint 1 at least is incrassate and pubescence is snow whitish;
scutellum almost always with some red or reddish in 99 especially, but
black in some forms, and abdomen sometimes with the hind margins of
the tergites or the sides in j'¢ or in both sexes reddish . i . 56.
56. (59) Pubescence entirely or predominantly gleaming golden or very deep
57. (58
~—
sericeous yellowish; wings distinctly more extensively and more deeply
tinged yellowish or reddish brownish in basal two-thirds, the costal cell
and basal parts being even darker or deeper and more subopaquely
yellowish or yellowish brownish, with the basal comb yellowish or ochreous
yellowish; body with more reddish in both sexes, the scutellum being
almost entirely red, the hind margins of tergites and sides of abdomen
more broadly, conspicuously, and more constantly red in both sexes,
with antennal joint 1 usually also with much red and the legs entirely
yellowish in both sexes; proboscis distinctly longer, about 4-6 mm.;
smallish to rather bulky forms, about 8-14 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 10-15 mm. : : . Node
Wings relatively shorter, more Sremieh’ hyaline: swith ae costal cell and
basal half tinged subopaquely pale yellowish to pale ochreous yellowish,
with only spot-like infuscations at fork of second longitudinal vein, on
apical cross veins of basal cells and at base of vein beween submarginal
cells, there being no distinct infuscations in posterior part of wings,
with the veins slightly paler and more yellowish, with the base of vein
between discoidal cell and third posterior cell less constantly bent at
right angles to fourth posterior cell and more often without a stump;
pubescence tending to be more golden and slightly deeper yellowish
above, that on pleurae scarcely paler than above, the metapleural tuft
more golden yellowish, that on venter also not much paler, almost more
ochreous to orange laterally in 29, without any black or dark hairs on
sides of abdomen ventrally below in both sexes; scutellum usually more
extensively red; antennal joint 1 shorter and only about 2} times as
long as 2 and with the long slender part of 3 apparently slightly more
slender and slightly more dilated at apex; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 69)
3 & spinibarbus Bezz. (p. 263).
Wings relatively much longer, more distinctly and more extensively
tinged yellowish or reddish brownish, even the posterior part slightly
tinged and not hyaline, the costal and basal half becoming deeper reddish
brown, with, in addition to the same 4 spot-like infuscations, which are
darker and more conspicuous, also distinct, though small, infuscations
at apex of first posterior cell and on apical cross vein of discoidal cell,
-A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 103
with the veins darker and more reddish brown to dark brownish, with
the base of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells more often
and more constantly bent at right angles to fourth posterior cell and there
provided with a short stump; pubescence on body above tending to be
paler yellowish or paler golden, more gleaming deep seviceous yellowish,
that towards apex of abdomen in g¢ even paler sericeous yellowish,
that on head below and pleurae distinctly more contrastingly whitish,
that in metapleural tuft also paler and even whitish, that on venter
laterally near base also whitish, and that on extreme sides of abdomen
and towards apex, in some 99 especially, with tufts or with some or
numerous blackish brown to blackish hairs; scutellum usually less
extensively reddened, there being a distinct blackish hind border;
antennal joint 1 longer and quite 3, or even a little more, times as long
as 2 and with the long slender part of 3 relatively less slender and the
apex slightly less apparently dilated . . ¢ 2 angulosus Bezz. (p. 265).
59. (56) Pubescence entirely or predominantly snow whitish, frosty whitish and
gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish; wings more hyaline or vitreous
hyaline, with a faint, but distinct, whitish tint in certain lights, but
with the basal part and costal cell sometimes subopaquely pale yellowish,
pale yellowish whitish to whitish, with the basal comb entirely snow
whitish or with the spines black; body usually with less reddish, the
scutellum sometimes entirely black in both sexes, or black in some ¢4,
or with the red distinctly less extensive in both sexes, the abdomen
with less red on sides and sometimes entirely black in both sexes, with
the femora in gg tending to be blackened at bases, sometimes more
extensively blackened, and sometimes the legs are entirely dark or black
in both sexes; proboscis shorter about 1-4 mm. long; very small to
medium-sized species, about 3-11 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 3-10 mm. ; : f : : : : : 77 a0ty:
60. (63) Very small species, about 3-54 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 3-5 mm.; wings feebly developed, their bases much narrower and
slender, with the alula more reduced and not projecting lobe-like, with
the axillary lobe relatively also much narrower and not lobately rounded,
with the basal comb very feebly developed, almost absent, the wings
hyaline, with a faint milky whitish tint and without any spots on cross
veins or other veins; pubescence on body above and below dull frosty
or chalky white, without sheen, comparatively less dense, but longer
and more shaggy, that on occiput, thorax, and abdomen in both sexes
being markedly long, with the individual hairs stouter, stiffer, more
woolly in appearance and markedly and visibly fimbriate at their apices
and showing a “‘singed-off”’ appearance, without any distinct and stouter
or more bristle-like ones being present, those on ocellar tubercle and on
sides of frons, in 99 especially, dark or blackish; head with the eyes in
SoS separated above by width of ocellar tubercle only, the interocular
space on vertex in 99 also relatively narrower and slightly less than
2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the frons and face in both
sexes also narrower, with antennal joint 1, though thickened, less
incrassate or barrel-shaped, with joint 3 thickened in basal half and more
gradually narrowed apically, with the proboscis yellowish or reddish
104
61. (62
62. (61
)
)
Annals of the South African Museum.
for greater part of its length, only about 1-2 mm. long; scutellum black;
legs with the spines on femora and spicules on tibiae poorly developed,
the hind femora with only about 2-3 spines in apical half below and
front and middle tibiae with very feeble, scarcely visible, spicules;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 70) with the beaked apical joints very small,
the basal parts subglobular and basal strut very narrow 5 2 Gls
Wings slightly less subopaquely whitish in certain lights, the veins
darker and more dark brownish to blackish brown, the alula and axillary
lobe apparently slightly less developed; head with the face in both
sexes black or very dark, with the proboscis slightly shorter, about
1-14 mm. long, with antennal joint 1 apparently less thickend and with
joint 3 more rapidly tapering apically, the apical part slightly more
slender; abdomen only pallid or reddish along extreme sides and at
apex and on venter, the hind margins of tergites discally not very
broadly pallid even in fg; legs with at least the last 3 or 4 tarsal joints
blackened ; . & 2 minusculus n. sp. (p. 266).
Wings slightly more visibly, tated subopaquely whitish, the veins paler
and more yellowish or pallid, the alula and axillary lobe apparently
slightly broader; head with the face in J more yellowish, with the proboscis
slightly longer and about 2 mm. long, with antennal joint 1 pallid and
apparently slightly more incrassate, with joint 3 slightly longer and more
gradually narrowed apically, the apical part less slender; abdomen in ¢
almost entirely very pale brownish yellow, paler and more yellowish on
sides, with the hind margins of the tergites discally broadly ivory yellowish
or yellowish, broader on sides and on venter, and with even the thorax
above and scutellum tending to be more dark brownish; legs with only
the last 2 tarsal joints blackened ;
go minusculus var. pallidiventris nu. (p. 268).
63. (60) Larger to moderately large species, about 7-11 mm. long and with a
wing-length of about 7-10 mm.; wings normally developed, their bases
normally broad, the alula and axillary lobe normally lobe-like and broad,
the basal comb strongly developed, the wings vitreous hyaline and with
sometimes even a stronger milky whitish tint, with the base and costal
cell even more subopaquely whitish or distinctly subopaquely pale
yellowish and with distinct and fairly conspicuous spot-like infuscations
at base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells,
on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, at bases of veins between discoidal
and third posterior cells and submarginal cells, and sometimes even at
apex of first posterior cell; pubescence on body silvery whitish and with
distinct sericeous or silvery gleams, comparatively denser and, though
shaggy, shorter, that on occiput and thorax relative to body shorter
and not so erect and bushy, less woolly, the individual hairs and bristles
not visibly dilated or fimbriate at their apices, the pubescence on face
longer, with distinct and stouter bristles on antennae below, face, genae,
on occiput, sides of thorax, scutellum, and transversely across abdomen,
the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons yellowish or also
blackish and sometimes the bristles on thorax and on abdomen are darker
or even black; head with the eyes in gd separated above by a space
much broader than ocellar tubercle, the interocular space in 9? also
‘A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 105
relatively broader and quite 3, or even,a little more, times as broad as
tubercle, the frons and face in both sexes broader, with antennal joint 1
more distinctly incrassate, especially in $¢, with joint 3 either more
knob-like thickened at base or very slender and slightly thickened just
beyond middle, with the proboscis black and about 3-4 mm. long;
scutellum mostly reddish, though black in some specimens; legs with
the spines on femora and spicules on tibiae well and strongly developed,
the hind femora with about 5-11 spines below; hypopygium of $¢ with
the beaked apical joints longer and more developed, the basal parts
not or less subglobular and the basal strut broader : . 64.
64. (65) Legs predominantly yellowish, only the bases or basal parts of femora in
66 darkened or blackened, with sparse and shorter hairs on femora below,
with the spines on femora on the whole shorter and the spicules on tibiae
much shorter, with the claws slightly more curved and the pulvilli longer,
just falling short of middle of claws in gg, and visible at bases of claws
in 29; wings less tinted whitish in certain lights, with the costal cell,
base, basal part of marginal cell, basal half of first basal cell, and to a
certain extent even second basal cell distinctly tinged subopaquely
yellowish or yellowish whitish, the veins in this region and the first
longitudinal vein also yellowish, with the basal comb snow white, with
the discal cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the knobs
of halteres pale yellowish; head with antennal joint 1 in §¢ less tubercular
below and with shorter bristles below joint 1, with joint 3 shorter and
characteristically club-shaped, the basal part being dilated knob-like,
with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons basally
yellowish or pale yellowish brownish, with the bristles on face more
numerous and with a distinct tuft of longish and stoutish bristles on
lower part of genae; pubescence with all the hairs and bristles on thorax,
scutellum, and abdomen white; abdomen with the sides or hind margins
of tergites laterally reddish to a variable extent in §¢ at least, and with
the apical angles of last sternite in g¢ less ee hypopygium of g
(text-fig. 71). : : 3 2 volucer n. sp. (p. 269).
5. (64) Legs predominantly black or dakk in hook sexes, only the tibiae may be
slightly more brownish in some specimens, the femora black, with denser
and longer hair on femora below in ¢¢ especially, with the spines on
femora distinctly longer and the spicules on tibiae long and conspicuous,
with the claws almost straight and slightly longer, and with the pulvilli
minute and vestigial in both sexes; wings distinctly more whitish in
certain lights, with the base, costal cell, and basal part of first basal cell
subopaquely whitish, the veins conspicuously dark blackish brown or
black right to base, the costal veins also conspicuously dark, with the
basal comb black, with the discal cross vein very much beyond middle,
at about apical third, of discoidal cell, with the knobs of halteres dark
brownish or blackish brown in both sexes; head with antennal joint l,
in §¢ especially, provided with tubercle-like prominences, each bearing
a very long and conspicuous bristle, with joint 3 much longer and more
slender, not thickened at base, being slightly thickened and broadest
just beyond middle, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides
of frons basally blackish or black, with the stout bristles on face fewer
106 Annals of the South African Museum.
and with a much stouter tuft of finer bristly hairs only on lower parts of
genae; pubescence predominantly also silvery whitish above and below,
but with a tuft of yellowish, yellowish brown to dark chocolate brownish
hairs at apex of abdomen, with the bristles towards apex of abdomen in
$3 more yellowish, and those on sides of abdomen and apically in 99
very dark blackish brown to black, and with the bristles on thorax,
post-alar calli, and scutellum in 99 golden yellowish to pale brownish
golden; abdomen entirely black in both sexes, and with the apical angles
of last sternite in ¢ much produced; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 72)
3S F leucolasius n. sp. (p. 272).
66. (1) Wings not mottled, extensively infuscated or spotted, usually distinctly
more hyaline even if costal and basal part be slightly tinged yellowish,
with the spot-like infuscations less conspicuous or distinct, usually much
fainter and fewer, with the discal cross vein distinctly before middle
of discoidal cell, and if wings are darkly infuscated basally or with well-
defined spot-like infuscations the discal vein is before middle of discoidal
cell, or if discal cross vein is at about middle antennal joint 1 is not
incrassate; head with the pubescence, though dense and shaggy, without
any or with much shorter, fewer, and less conspicuous bristles on antennal
joint 1 below, such bristles not very much longer than the joint, with
fewer and usually shorter bristles on face and genae and without a con-
spicuous brush or tuft of numerous long bristles on lower parts of genae,
with antennal joint 1 more slender, less thickened, and not barrel-shaped,
and if tending to be stoutish without long and conspicuous bristles below,
with joint 3 distinctly thicker and more rod-shaped; general pubescence
on front part of body usually shorter, finer, and less shaggy, that on
abdomen appearing finer, more erect, and characteristically puff-like or
bottle brush-like, that in squamal fringe shorter, finer, and without
stoutish or stiffer bristly elements; scutellum predominantly red or
reddish or with much red; pulvilli very much reduced, minute, vestigial,
or scarcely visible, even absent in both sexes and, where visible, they are
confined to base and not reaching the middle of claws in both sexes,
with the claws usually more slender, usually less curved, and even sub-
straight . : ; : A ‘ 4 : : : ./ Ot:
67. (78) Head normally broad, distinctly narrower than broadest part of thorax,
with the facial region narrower and normally broad, with the interocular
space in 99° much narrower and less than 4 times as broad as ocellar
tubercle, with antennal joint 3 not club-shaped but more rod-like or
only gradually tapering apically; pulvilli vestigial, very minute, almost
invisible, and confined to extreme base of claws in both sexes; wings less
distinctly tinged yellowish or brownish in basal half in $g, and if very
distinctly tinged, head at least is not remarkably broad, with the costal
cell and base in 33 usually faintly tinged subopaquely pale reddish
yellowish or reddish brownish, with the spot-like infuscations sometimes
wanting, and if indicated are less evident and practically only present at
base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells, and
at base of vein between submarginal cells, rarely, and then only very
indistinctly, on other veins, with the discal cross vein, though also before
middle, nearer middle of discoidal cell, and if not the spots are incon-
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 107
spicuous and fewer; pubescence on front part of body denser and
distinctly longer, that on thorax much longer, denser, and more erect,
denser on disc, that on face and genae longer and more bushy, the bristly
elements longer, more conspicuous, and more numerous, that on pleurae
slightly longer and more shaggy, that on abdomen distinctly longer,
denser, and finer, erect and bottle brush-like in appearance, the hair
entirely white on abdomen, or when dark chocolate brownish ones are
present they are mostly confined to apical part of abdomen and
tergites 5-7, in species with brown hair, not entirely white haired, with
all the bristles on abdomen in 929 not dark, and if so the pubescence at
apex of abdomen is also dark, with fulvous brownish tufts of hair if
present differently arranged or confined to last few tergites and with
the transverse bristles across tergites 2-4 not all dark or black, and if so
in some 99 other characters do not conform; hypopygium of ¢¢ with
the beaked apical joints more elongate : : . 68.
68. (73) Species with much yellowish brown, fulvous biewa to dnecolAte brown
hair on thorax, scutellum, or transversely on some abdominal segments
in addition to frosty white hair, with the bristly hairs and bristles on
head above, occiput, thorax, mesopleuron, and transversely across some
segments of abdomen and venter ranging from yellowish, through
yellowish brown to reddish brown and chocolate brown, the darker ones
or dark-tipped ones usually on scutellum and abdomen; wings always
tinged pale reddish yellow to pale reddish brown in costal and basal
parts, even if only very slightly, with the rest also more often faintly
tinged reddish, not markedly milky whitish, with at least a more distinct
darker infuscation at fork of second longitudinal vein, on apical cross
vein of second basal cell and on discal cross vein, and sometimes also at
base of second submarginal cell, at base of vein between discoidal and
third posterior cells and even very feebly on apical cross vein of discoidal
cell, with the basal comb always dark blackish brown or even black
spined ; 3 a GE
69. (70) Pubescence on body eh fie hae on alles of thera, viewed Ohi above,
chocolate brown in some g¢ to greyish brown in g¢ and 99, when
viewed from side, extensively brownish golden, golden to pale reddish
golden, that on scutellum even deeper brownish golden to fulvous brown,
that on head above pale yellowish brown to brownish, with deep golden
brownish hair on abdominal segment 1, with more chocolate brownish
hair at the apex of abdomen in §¢ and segments 5 and 6 and apex in 929,
the rest of hair snow white, with that on pectus in ¢¢ also brownish
yellow, and that in metapleural tuft tinted yellowish, with the bristles
on frons, thorax, and mesopleuron yellowish brown, reddish brown to
brownish, and those on dark-haired segments of abdomen with more
than their apical halves chocolate brown, with those on rest of abdomen
white, those on coxae yellowish to brownish; wings tinged reddish or
yellowish brown only in costal cell and base, with only 3 darker infusca-
tions in basal half, with the discal cross vein much before middle of
discoidal cell; interocular space in §¢ broader than tubercle, in 2° just.
about 3, or a very little more, times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 1
shorter, especially in gg, and with the apical part of joint 3 less slender;
108
Annals of the South African Museum.
femora less extensively blackened, especially front and middle ones;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 73) with the inner apical angle of basal
parts in neck region slightly more prominently projecting and without
a slightly ledge-like ventral aedeagal process
3 8 peringueyt Bezz. (p. 275).
70. (69) Pubescence on disc of thorax in both sexes predominantly white, without
any, or with only very few, yellowish hairs, usually entirely white, that
on scutellum paler, more straw-coloured yellowish to golden, with usually
brownish-tipped hairs on segments 4, 5, and apex of abdomen in 99 in
addition to those on segment 1 above and below, with the rest of the
hair frosty white, with that on pleurae, pectus, and in metapleural tuft
in both sexes white like rest of hair on head in front and below, with the
bristles on frons, thorax, and mesopleuron usually paler, more yellowish,
and, when darker, rest of hair on thorax is entirely white, with the bristles
on scutellum also more yellowish, with yellowish-based dark brownish
or chocolate brown, stout bristles transversely on all the abdominal
segments from 2, more so in 99, without any entirely white bristles even
in gg, those on coxae being entirely white or whitish in both sexes;
wings either more feebly tinged yellowish in costal and basal parts in 29,
or distinctly more extensively tinged brownish in basal halves as in
some ¢¢, with usually, in addition to the 3 darker infuscations, also
with a distinct infuscation at base of second submarginal cell, often
also at base of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells and even
very faintly on ajical cross vein of discoidal cell in some specimens,
with the discal cross vein at about middle, or immediately before middle,
or even just beyond middle, of discoidal cell; interocular space in gg
narrower, as broad as tubercle, in 99 slightly broader, about 3-34 times
as broad as tubercle, antennal joint 1 slightly proportionally longer,
distinctly more so in g¢, and with the apical part of 3 slightly more
slender and attenuated; femora, including front and middle ones, more
extensively blackened to very much beyond middle; hypopygium of g¢
(text-fig. 74) with the inner apical angle of basal parts slightly less
prominent and without a distinct ledge-like ventral aedeagal process —
vi
71. (72) Wings distinctly more subopaquely yellowish, more distinctly tinged
reddish brown in basal part up to end of costal cell and across middle
of first posterior cell to apex of anal cell in g, with the infuscations
on cross veins and veins more distinct, with the second longitudinal
vein more bent upwards at end; bristly hairs and bristles on head above
and on thorax paler and more yellowish, the hairs on scutellum, tergite 1,
and tergites 4 and 5 slightly paler and more yellowish; abdomen in ¢
with distinct red on sides and venter also pale yellowish red, and scutellum
more extensively red; proboscis longer, about 3-4 mm. long and antennal
joint 3 less rod-shaped ; ; - & & nigripecten Bezz. (p. 277).
72. (71) Wings on the whole clearer and more greyish hyaline, in both sexes only
slightly more subopaquely cinereous brownish or yellowish in basal
and costal part, with the infuscations on cross veins less conspicuous,
with the second longitudinal vein less bent upwards at its end; bristly
hairs and bristles on head above and on thorax deeper yellowish to
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 109
brownish, the hairs on scutellum, tergite 1, and sides of tergites 4 and 5
darker and more chocolate brownish; abdomen in ¢¢ entirely black, and
scutellum more obscurely reddish on disc; proboscis shorter, about
2-24 mm. long, and antennal joint 3 more slender and more rod-like
3 Q nigripecten var. conctutus n. (p. 279).
73. (68) Entirely or predominantly frosty white or snow white haired species,
with only the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and frons yellowish or
brownish in ¢¢, or if some brownish hairs are present, they are found
only towards apex of abdomen, all the other hair above and below
being entirely white, with all the bristles on body, even in forms with
slight brownish hair on abdomen, entirely white or at least without any
black or dark bristles on abdomen even if pale yellowish ones are present
on thorax; wings entirely hyaline, with a distinct subopaquely milky
whitish tint, the costal cell and base being more subopaquely whitish,
with the infuscations at fork of second longitudinal vein, on discal cross
vein, and on apical cross vein of second basal cell practically only repre-
sented as blackened parts of the veins, thus feebler, with the other spots
not developed or, if slightly indicated at base of vein between submarginal
cells and at base of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells, the
wings are at least milky whitish, with the basal comb entirely white,
whitish, or very pale yellowish . . 74,
74. (75) Pubescence and bristles on entire bodys sccludine aly the yellowish
or brownish hairs on ocellar tubercle and frons, frosty or snow white;
wings usually with only distinct blackish infuscations along discal cross
vein, apical cross vein of second basal cell and at base (fork) of third
longitudinal vein, with the basal comb entirely frosty white; sides of
abdomen, or even venter, in both sexes more black
3S 2 molitor Wied. (p. 280).
(Syn. =argentifer Walk.)
75. (74) Pubescence and bristles on body not entirely frosty white, with the
bristles on thorax and scutellum yellowish or even with distinct pale
brownish or chocolate brownish hairs, which are pale yellowish at their
bases on abdominal segments 4-7; wings with the same 3 infuscations
but also with slight, but distinct, infuscations at base of vein separating
submarginal cells and at base of vein between discoidal and third posterior
cells, with the basal comb more creamy or more yellowish; sides of
abdomen, especially towards apex and on venter often more reddish
76.
76. (77) Pubescence with the bristles on thorax and abdomen entirely white,
with the hairs transversely on abdominal segments 4—7 in 2 pale brownish
or chocolate brownish, but with yellowish bases; wings with the 3
infuscations, in basal half, more diffuse and more confined to veins alone,
with the discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell, the discoidal
cell being truncate apically; sides of abdomen even in 2 more distinctly
reddish: )(= : : ; ‘ : & 2 molitor Wied. (p. 282).
(Western Province var.)
77. (76) Pubescence with the bristles in front of wings and on posterior calli on
thorax and on scutellum distinctly yellowish, those on abdomen as well
as all the hair entirely white; wings with the 3 infuscations in basal
110 Annals of the South African Museum.
half confined to the veins, not diffuse, with the discal cross vein distinctly
before middle of discoidal cell, and the discoidal cell less broadly truncate
apically; sides of abdomen in g at least black
3 molitor Wied. (p. 282).
(S.W. African Form.)
78. (67) Head remarkably broad, quite as broad as, or even broader than, broadest
part of thorax, with the facial region in both sexes, but especially in 99,
also remarkably broad, with the interocular space in 29 broader and more
than 4 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with antennal joint 3 club-
shaped, much thickened in basal half and then rapidly narrowed, the
apical half or more being very slender; pulvilli, though short, more
distinctly developed and longer, visible at bases of claws in both sexes
or even extending to near middle of claws; wings more distinctly sub-
opaquely yellowish or yellowish brownish in §¢ in basal half from end
of costal cell across to end of anal cell, with the spot-like infuscations at
base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells, at
bases of the veins separating discoidal and third posterior and sub-
marginal cells, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, and sometimes even
at apex of first posterior cell more evident, distinct, and more conspicuous,
with the discal cross vein tending to be much nearer base of discoidal
cell; pubescence on front part of body distinctly much shorter, that on
thorax much shorter, finer, and more recumbent, sparser on disc, that on
face and genae shorter and with more scaly elements, the bristly elements
shorter and fewer, that on pleurae shorter, less shaggy, and more woolly
in appearance, that on abdomen less dense, shorter, less fine and erect,
and less bottle brush-like, the fine pubescence on tergites 5-7 in both
sexes, and apical bristles in gg white, the bristles may be brownish in
some 99, but with fulvous brownish or brownish tufts of hairs on sides
of tergites 2 and 3, or 2-4, or 3-4, and fulvous or brownish short pubes-
cence discally across some of these medial tergites in some specimens,
and with the bristles across tergites 2-4 in both sexes dark or at least
yellowish brown; hypopygium of jg with the beaked apical joints much
shorter. ; : . : : : 3 : : ty is
79. (80) Head with the eyes above in g more narrowly separated by width of
ocellar tubercle, the upper facets very coarse, with the interocular space
in & very broad and at least 64 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with
antennal joint 1 slender and longer, about or at least 4 times as long as 2,
with joint 3 relatively shorter, with more or less its basal half broadened,
the slender apical part being distinctly shorter, with the proboscis only
about 4, or less than 6, mm. long; wings more hyaline, with the costal
cell and basal part from end of costal cell to apex of anal cell in ¢ at
least tinged paler yellowish brown, with the middle parts of cells in
non-infuscated part not greyish and without distinct whitish bordering
the veins, with the discal cross vein even slightly nearer base of discoidal
cell and with the second longitudinal vein more rapidly turned up at its
end; pubescence without any distinct or very dark brownish golden
short hairs on sides of thorax in front of wings and discally on each side,
with the bristles on venter dark, brownish, or blackish brown, with the
tuft of fulvous brownish hairs on each side of tergites 2 and 3 in ¢ less
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 111
conspicuous; claws with the pulvilli in g longer though not quite reaching
middle of claws, in 9 confined to base; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 76)
o & bezzit n. sp. (p. 282).
(Syn. =molitor Bezz. nec Wied.)
80. (79) Head with the eyes above in ¢ more broadly separated, the space nearly
2 times as broad as tubercle, the upper facets distinctly less coarse, with
antennal joint 1 much shorter and only about 2 times as long as 2, with
3 relatively longer, more club-shaped, and less than basal half thickened,
the apical slender part thus very much longer, with the proboscis longer,
about 6 mm. long; wings in g with the basal part from end of costal
cell and across to apex of anal cell darker brownish, becoming more
yellowish basally, with the middle of the cells in clearer part more greyish
and with a distinct subopaquely whitish border along veins in this part,
with the discal cross vein apparently less near base of discoidal cell and
with the second longitudinal vein less rapidly turned up at its end;
pubescence with distinct fulvous brown or brownish golden short hairs
on sides of thorax in front of wings and discally on each side, with the
bristles on venter whitish, with the tuft of fulvous brownish hairs on
sides of abdomen more conspicuous, and bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle
and base of frons darker; claws with the pulvilli very short and confined
to base of claws in g; hypopygium (text-fig. 77)
¢ anastoechoides n. sp. (p. 286).
GROUP I.
SECTION I.
B. lateralis ¥F.
(Wiedemann, p. 337, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. i, Table IV., fig. 5;
Loew, p. 182, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 8, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This species is very easily recognised and is also one of the most
striking South African species. Its chief characters are:—
Body, including scutellum, predominantly black; head below and
face sometimes brownish; pleurae usually dark reddish brown or with
reddish brown infusions; legs with the femora black, with the tibiae
and greater part of tarsi yellowish brown or yellowish, the apical parts
of tarsi blackish; pubescence fairly dense, that on sides of abdomen
markedly dense and tuft-like, that on first antennal joints, face, head
below, sides of thorax, pectus and on venter also fairly long and denser
than on thorax and abdomen discally, the pubescence predominantly
dark or black, even the black hair, however, with a brownish, mauvish,
or dark rufous tint in certain lights, that on sides of frons towards
112 Annals of the South African Museum.
apex with gleaming reddish golden intermixed hairs, with intermixed
reddish golden hairs on sides of face and genae, and also with burnished
reddish golden hairs on sides of first antennal joints, with the shortish
bristly hairs lower down on occiput also gleaming rufous or brownish
golden in certain lights, the pubescence on pleurae and especially that,
very densely, on sides of venter, when viewed obliquely from in front,
gleaming rufous to purplish red, that in metapleural tuft with an
admixture of much black hair, with intermixed rufous or reddish
golden and black bristly hairs on coxae, the longer hairs and bristly
hairs or bristles on thorax above, scutellum, abdomen above and on
venter black, with the shorter and finer hairs or scale-like hairs on
thorax above, sides of thorax and on scutellum fulvous or reddish to
brownish golden in certain lights, with a patch or tuft of hair-like
scaling on each side of frons anteriorly, a broad patch on each side of
head behind eyes in line with a fairly broad stripe or band on each
side of thorax and extending to the base, contrastingly frosty white
and very conspicuous, with the scaling on abdomen above depressed
and in form of a conspicuous broadish transverse band of frosty white
or cretaceous white scaling across the apical part of tergite 2 and
basal part of tergite 3, and with the rest of the scaling on abdomen
above dark but dirty yellowish or dull ochreous yellowish in certain
lights especially in apical half of abdomen, with the scaling on femora
dark but with a dull greyish or greasy sheen in certain lights, that on
tibiae paler and more whitish; wings as depicted by Wiedemann
(Table IV., fig. 5, loc. cit.), with the front half up to end of marginal
cell and including alula very dark blackish brown to sooty black,
the posterior half hyaline to greyish hyaline but with black spots, the
spots arranged as follows: a large one on apical cross vein of second
basal cell, another large one on discal cross vein, a fairly large one at
base of second submarginal cell, and smaller ones at apex of first
posterior cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at base of third
posterior cell, and also with a distinct spot-like darker infuscation in
apical part of second basal cell (this latter spot and the large one on
apical cross vein of second basal cell with a pale spot between them),
with the hyaline hinder part of wing sometimes showing darkish in-
fusions in the cells, with the veins black or very dark brownish, with
the discal cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
second longitudinal vein very rapidly bent or curved hook-like up-
wards at end, with the basal comb black, with the fringe of the alula
gleaming sericeous whitish to yellowish, with the squamae opaquely
very dark blackish brown to black and also fringed with pale sericeous
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 113
whitish or yellowish hairs; halteres very dark or blackish and with
blackish knobs. Head with the eyes not visibly sinuate along hind
margins, contiguous above in $¢ for a short distance about equal to,
or a little longer than, length of ocellar tubercle, the interocular space
in 92 on vertex about 34, to nearly 4, times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 about 24-3 times as long as 2, that of $¢ being
usually only about 24 times, with joint 2 longer than broad, with 3 in
33 almost 1} times as long as | and 2 combined, in 99 slightly shorter,
almost rod-like, but slightly thicker just before middle or nearer base,
ending apically in a distinct conical joint-like basal element, a second
short joint-like element, and a terminal style; proboscis rather stoutish,
very finely spinulate below, about 3-44 mm. long; palps short and
thick. Abdomen rather dorso-ventrally flattened and broad, ovate,
with the transverse bristles slender. Legs with bristly hairs on
femora below, more developed in 33; middle femora with about 2—4
spines in apical half in front and 1 or 2 behind; hind femora with
about 5—10 spines from near base to apex below and with some spines
on outer side apically, with all these spines grooved; claws slender,
somewhat compressed, rather long, very much curved downwards
apically, with the pulvilli well developed and broad. Hypopygivum of
3 (text-fig.2. Side view (a), ventral view (5), and dorsal view (c)) with
somewhat sparse, but longish, bristly hairs on dorsum of basal parts
(Ba.Pt.), with the inner apical angles (I.Ap.A.) of basal parts pro-
jecting prominently apically and provided along their dorsal margins
with a row of fine, spine-like bristles; beaked apical joints (Ap.Jt.)
more or less triquetrous, the sides dorsally more carinate, the inner
side provided dorsally with a tuft or crest of spine-like hairs, longer
than the other hairs on the dorsum, with the beak or apical part acute
and slightly curved outwards; aedeagus (Ae.) with a long slender and
straight apical part, nearly reaching the bases of beaked apical joints,
with the base broad, bell-shaped, and with the basally directed aedeagal
strut on each side dorsal to middle part (M.Pt.) not visibly projecting
basally beyond and above lateral struts (L.Str.); middle part (M.Pt.)
prominent and knob-like; lateral struts (L.Str.) strap-like, hollowed
out below and curved as shown in figure (6); basal strut (Ba.Str.) fan-
shaped in profile and with its dorsal margin deeply cut out (seen in
dotted outline).
Length of body: about 74-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-12 mm.
Locality South Western Cape Province to Namaqualand. (In the
Imperial Institute, British, Transvaal, and South African Museums.)
114 Annals of the South African Museum.
B. (Triplasius) bivittatus Lw.
(P. 181, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p.8, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921.)
This species is apparently an Eastern Province representative of
lateralis, differing from lateralis in having 3 submarginal cells in the
wings and more extensive infuscations along the veins and cross veins
in the more hyaline part of wings. In other respects this species is
very similar to lateralis. Loew placed it in a new genus Triplasius,
but as this new genus does not differ from Bombylius lateralis, except
in having 3 submarginal cells, there is very little structural evidence
in support of Triplasius as a separate genus. As these two species of
Bombylius are to a certain extent peculiar and different from the more
typical representatives of the genus, it is more desirable to refer
lateralis to Triplasius as well and thus have them together as was
stated by Bezzi. Provisionally Triplasius may be considered as a
subgenus of Bombylius. The undescribed ¢ of bivittatus differs from
the 2 in having the eyes contiguous above for a distance about equal
to the length of the ocellar tubercle. The hypopygium of the 3 is very
similar to that of lateralis, but differs in having slightly more numerous,
finer and shorter hairs on basal parts above, with the basal processes
of basal parts longer, with the inner apical angles in neck region com-
paratively broader in profile, more rounded and less acute; beaked
apical joints apparently narrower and the beak less curved sideways.
Locality.—Eastern Province. (In the British, Transvaal, and
South African Museums.)
12 B. namaquensis n. sp.
This specimen very closely resembles lateralis and bivittatus, and a
comparative description of it is as follows :—
Body also black; pleurae with infusions of dark brownish; legs
with the femora also black and the tibiae and greater part of tarsi pale
yellowish brown; pubescence on body as in lateralis, also predom-
inantly black, but with the fine scale-like hairs on frons, on first
antennal joints above and on sides of face whitish, the bristly hairs on
lower part of occiput straw-coloured whitish, the fine hair-like scaling
on dise of thorax predominantly greyish white, only those in bands
along the inner side of white bands rufous or reddish golden, the fine
erect, somewhat sparse hairs on thorax above and the bristles on sides
in front of wings black as in the other two species, the pubescence on
A es
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 115
pleurae distinctly paler than in lateralis, straw-coloured, and that on
sides of venter also much paler and straw-coloured, not rufous, even
that on venter paler, the hairs on coxae composed of black bristly
hairs and shorter straw-coloured hairs, with a similar, but distinctly
broader, band of dense frosty white hair-like scaling on each side of
thorax, in line with a similar patch behind each eye and also a similar
tuft on each side of antennae, with the scaling on abdomen above
predominantly greyish white, the white on disc thus much more
extensive, with numerous intermixed whitish hairs on side of scutellum,
with the scaling on femora appearing even a little paler in certain
lights than in lateralis; wings (text-fig. 5) with a distinctly more |
Text-Fic. 5.—Wing of Bombylius namaquensis n. sp.
marbled or mottled appearance, the anterior part, however, also dark
blackish brown, but the posterior part more mottled as shown in
figure, darkish infuscations and infusions being present along the
course of the veins, with the veins dark blackish brown to black, with
3 submarginal cells indicated, with the second longitudinal vein from
beyond middle and opposite end of costal cell with 2 or 3 (3 on right
wing) appendices, projecting perpendicularly into marginal cell, the
vein itself being irregular and sinuous there, with short stumps on
vein separating second and third submarginal cells as well (in the
right wing one appendix is even joined on to end of second longitudinal
vein, thus cutting off another smaller cell at apex of wing), with the
first posterior cell longer and narrower than in lateralis or bivittatus,
with the discal cross vein at about middle, not markedly much beyond
middle, of discoidal cell, with the fringe of alula also pale sericeous
yellowish, with the squamae opaquely very dark blackish brown but
fringed with straw-coloured hairs; halteres and their knobs dark as in
the other two species. Head with the interocular space quite 4 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 1 also about 3 times
as long as 2, with 3 comparatively shorter than in lateralis and much
less than 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, otherwise as in the
116 Annals of the South African Museum.
latter species; proboscis about 4mm. long. Legs with about 4 spines
on middle femora in front and 2 behind; hind femora with about 11-13
spines below, the spines themselves shghtly stouter than in lateralis.
Type in the South African Museum. 1
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 11 mm.
Locality.— Namaqualand: Garies (Mus. ages June 1930).
The fact that in this species the veins in the apical part of wings are
very unstable, giving off appendices and even cutting off separate
apical cells and also that, according to Ricardo (p. 89, Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist. (7), vii, 1901), the veinlet forming the supernumerary cell in
bivittatus is sometimes wanting, is still more evidence in support of
Bezzi’s contention that the veins in the apical part of the wings in this
section of Bombylius are unstable and not of generic value.
SECTION 2.
B. bombiformis Bezz.
(P. 34, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, fig. 1, 1924.)
This is one of the most strikingly coloured species in this category.
It seems to occur only in the northern parts of the Union of South
Africa and in the Rhodesias. Bezzi has fully described both the g and
the 2 and has givena drawing of a9. Thespeciesis characterised by its
large size, the predominantly black body and legs, though the scutellum
is ferruginous reddish laterally, by the presence of a broad transverse
band of orange golden pubescence on abdomen above across tergite 2
and basal part of 3 in both sexes, but apparently slightly broader in 99.
Pubescence short on thorax, that on tergite 1 and especially on sides
black, that at apical part of abdomen in both sexes white, that on
venter black, only that at apex white, that on first antennal joints,
face, thorax above and below, on scutellum and legs in g¢ entirely
black, but with a dark brownish tint in certain lights, that on frons,
antennae, face, thorax, front half of pleurae and predominantly on,
front and middle coxae in 9? predominantly hoary white, appearing
greyish, due to black intermixed bristles on occiput, bristly hairs on
thorax above, black bristles and macrochaetal bristles, mesopleural
bristles, black post-alar bristles, the pubescence and bristles on
scutellum and predominantly in metapleural tuft in 99 as well as hair
on legs and especially hind ones in 39 also black; metapleurae to a
great extent bare and often showing through dark brownish or
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 117
brownish; wings greyish hyaline, with the basal part and alula
brownish, the alula, however, less brownish and more cinereous, with
the basal comb in 3¢ black, in 99 black-spined but covered above with
white pubescence, with the fringe of the alula more or less gleaming
pale brownish, the part of fringe near base white in 92 but very dark
brown in 63, with the veins brownish to reddish brown, with the
discal cross vein beyond middle of discoidal cell and apex of discoidal
cell acute or subacute, a short apical cross vein being sometimes
present, with the squamae opaquely very dark blackish brown,
TExt-Fic. 6.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ of Bombylius
: bombiformis Bezz.
fringed with white hair in 99 and blackish hair in §g; halteres dark
and with very dark brown or blackish brown knobs in both sexes.
Head with the eyes in $d in actual contact above for a distance at least
as long as ocellar tubercle, separated above on vertex in 9? by a space
a little more than 2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1
relatively short, only about 14—2 times as long as 2, with joint 3 thus
appearing elongate and more than 2 times as long as land 2 combined,
gradually narrowed apically, ending in a conical basal element bearing
a short style; proboscis stoutish, about 5-64 mm. long; palps com-
paratively short and with some longish, bristle-lke hairs on outer
lower side. Legs with dense shortish hair on femora, more con-
spicuous in gg, without any spines on front femora; middle femora
with 2-8 spines in front and 2-4 behind; hind femora usually with
numerous spines, 10—20, below from base to apex on outer side and a
few on inner side towards apex. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 6, showing
VOL. XXXIV. S)
118 Annals of the South African Museum.
side and ventral views) with the beaked apical joints triquetrous or
triangular; aedeagus short and stumpy and without a ventral process.
Length of body: about 95-15 mm.
Length of wing: about 13-17 mm.
Locality—North Transvaal, South and North Rhodesia, and
Nyasaland. (In the Transvaal and South African Museums.)
B. analis ¥.
(Loew, p. 183, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr. i, 1860; Bezzi, p. 36, The
Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This is one of the most conspicuous and easily recognisable species
in the southern Ethiopian Region. The body is usually predom-
inantly black, the scutellum dark ferruginous reddish and even the
abdomen and pleurae sometimes appearing dark ferruginous reddish
through the pubescence; legs usually entirely dark, but when denuded
the tibiae and tarsi are very dark reddish brown; pubescence dense,
that on thorax in both sexes short and with a “shorn off” appearance,
predominantly sooty black in $$ and with a brownish tint in certain
lights, that on abdomen from apex of tergite 3 or from tergite 4 to
apex snow white in 3g, but sometimes with an orange yellowish tint
at bases of these white hairs especially on sides of abdomen below,
that on frons, first antennal joints, face, entire thorax above and front
half of pleurae in 99 dull whitish, greyish white to ochreous yellowish,
that on disc of thorax usually with a slightly more yellowish tint even
‘in 9° with dull whitish pubescence, that on greater part of abdomen
and on scutellum in 9? black as in 33, but the pubescence on apical
part from tergite 4 to apex, as in 3g, snow white but with distinctly
more conspicuous or even with entirely orange or reddish orange
pubescence ventrally and apically on each side, and sometimes even
the entire apical pubescence is yellowish or ochreous yellowish, with
the short bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle in some 939, the macrochaetal
bristles in front of wings, the post-alar bristles and the erect inter-
mixed hairs towards base of thorax above in all 99 black, and in some
forms there are numerous blackish hairs on thorax above, blackish
bristles on occiput and with much dark hair and black bristles on
pleurae, with the bristly hairs on front and hind coxae and sometimes
also on middle ones in 92 predominantly black as in gg, with the
metapleural tuft predominantly black; wings greyish hyaline and
sometimes with a distinct and faint yellowish tinge, with the base and
alula very dark blackish brown to almost black, with the basal comb
-A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 119
entirely black in $3, the spines black in 99, but with much whitish or
ereyish yellow scaling above in 99, with the fringe of the alula brownish
to greyish brown in g3, much paler and more whitish to even snow
whitish in 99, with the veins pale reddish yellow te pale brownish
yellow in both sexes and thus enhancing the yellowish tinge of wings,
with the discal cross much beyond middle of discoidal cell, the short
apical cross vein of the latter usually present, with the squamae
opaquely almost black, fringed with dark hairs in $¢ and pale or even
whitish hairs in 99; halteres dark and with dark knobs in both sexes.
TExt-Fic. 7.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ of Bombylius
analis F.
Head with the eyes above in $¢ in actual contact for a distance at least
equal in length to ocellar tubercle, separated on vertex in 99 by a space
a very little more than 2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 short, only about 14-2 times as long as 2, with 3 more than
2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, much broadened basally, more
rapidly narrowed from about middle to apex, in some gg almost club-
shaped in profile, in some 9° even narrowed rapidly only near apex,
ending apically in a nodular basal element, a second small conical
joint, itself passing into a shortish or blunt stylar element; proboscis
stoutish, about 6-7 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 7) with
the basal parts more or less smooth, slightly shagreened above,
rugulose on narrow neck region, more so near apical part below, with
the inner apical angles or processes projecting bluntly beyond bases
of beaked apical joints and with the spine-like bristles along its dorsal
120 Annals of the South African Museum.
margin stoutish; aedeagus with the apical part not reaching apex of
basal parts, the apex narrow and slightly bent downwards; beaked
apical joints triquetrous, the edges being carinate and with a crest of
dense setae-like spines on inner margin, longer basally, with the rest
of the dorsum of the joints above setiferously punctured.
Length of body: about 11-15 mm.
Length of wing: about 14-17 mm.
Locality.— Whole Southern Africa, including South West Africa.
(In the Imperial Institute, British, Transvaal, Natal, and South
African Museums.)
This common species, contrary to Bezzi’s statement, is not constant
in the colour of the pubescence on the head, thorax above, and at apex
of abdomen. Some gd have the apical tuft of snow white hairs
entirely white, others have reddish or orange yellow developed to a
variable extent on sides of this tuft below, and in some the apical tuft
is almost predominantly fulvous (see below). Some 92 have pre-
dominantly whitish to greyish white pubescence on thorax above, and
in others again the entire disc of thorax is distinctly more yellow-
haired even ochreous tinted. The apical tuft on abdomen may also
be distinctly yellowish or with much orange or reddish yellow tinted
hairs. One ¢ and two 99 from the Waterberg Dist. (v. Jutrzencka,
1898-99) in the Transvaal even differ so much from the more typical
forms that they may be considered as a distinct variety waterbergensis:
1 3 2 99 B. analis var. waterbergensis n.
From the more typical analis this variety differs in having the
apical tuft of hair on abdomen entirely orange yellowish in both sexes,
in having the whitish pubescence on thorax and upper parts of pleurae
in 92 more greyish in appearance due to the presence of intermixed
black bristly hairs on occiput and all over the thorax above, the
bristles on mesopleuron also predominantly black, the greater part
of pleurae not white-haired in front half as in analis s.str. but dark,
consisting of brownish hairs intermixed with greyish ones, in having
the alular and squamal fringes dark or dark brownish in both sexes
and not white as in 99 of analis s. str.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
B. haemorrhoidalis Bezz.
(P. 9, Ann. 8, Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This is a very characteristic species, superficially much resembling a
large analis ¥’. and easily recognised by the predominantly sooty black
“A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 121
pubescence in both sexes, only the apical tuft on abdomen in both
sexes is golden orange yellowish. Wings greyish hyaline as in analis,
the basal comb, the alular, and squamal fringes in both sexes, however,
black or dark brownish, with the discoidal cell distinctly acute
apically. Moreover, the species is distinctly larger and bulkier, about
163-17 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 18-19 mm. Hypo-
TeExt-Fic. 8.—Side and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius haemorrhoidalis Bezz.
pygium of $ (text-fig. 8) with the aedeagus not reaching apex of basal
parts, the apical part straight and slender.
Locality —S. Rhodesia. (In the South African Museum.)
Bezzi (p. 9, loc. cit.) mistook the Q-specimen from “Salisbury
(Jack, 20/3/14)” fora g. On p. 33, in his key in the Bombyliidae of
the Ethiopian Region, he states that the 2 has whitish hair on the
thorax, but on p. 36 he states that the 2 is black-haired like the 2.
B. fulvonotatus Wied.
(P. 332, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828.)
This species appears to be fairly common in the South Western and
Western parts of the Cape Province, in the Orange Free State, and is
also found in the Transvaal. Superficially it very closely resembles
analis in the general shape of the body and the black pubescence.
Both $3 and 99 are, however, at once distinguished from analis by
the presence of a central row of orange golden or fulvous spots on the
abdomen above and the absence of an apical patch or tuft of snow
white or extensive yellowish hairs. The pubescence on thorax above
122 Annals of the South African Museum.
in 99 appears bluish grey due to much intermixed black bristly hairs
and bristles, with the hair on first antennal joints and face in 92 also
black as in Jd, the pubescence on pleurae in 99, but with some spots of
silvery scaling on each side of venter, blackasin Jd; wings asin analis,
greyish hyaline, with the base and to a certain extent the alula very
dark blackish brown, with the basal comb black in both sexes, with
the alular and squamal fringes dark, brownish to blackish brown in
both sexes, with the veins pale yellowish brown to pale reddish brown,
TExt-FiG. 9.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius fulvonotatus Wied.
giving the wings a faint brownish or yellowish tinge, with the apical
cross vein of discoidal cell on the whole distinctly longer than in analis,
the cell thus more truncate apically; halteres and their knobs dark in
both sexes; head much as in analis and the antennal joints also very
similar, but with the proboscis on the average longer even reaching
9mm.inlengthinsome specimens. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 9) differs
in many respects from that of analis, with a large patch of setae on
dorsum of basal parts and with long setae on outer ventral aspect of
neck region and along ventral margin to about the middle, with the
inner apical angles in neck region not projecting beyond bases of
beaked apical joints, provided along their dorsal edges with about
13-14 stouter spine-like setae; beaked apical joints also more or less
triquetrous, hollowed out basally below, the edges sharply carinate,
the dorsal edge slightly broader and provided with a feeble crest of
spines, with the beak smooth, comparatively broad, not very sharply
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 123
pointed; aedeagus with the apical part elongate, not reaching apices
of the inner apical angles of basal parts; lateral struts short and broad;
basal strut fan-shaped.
In the Imperial Institute, the Transvaal and South African
Museums.
2 63 B. vansoni Hesse.
(P. 161, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvii, 1936.)
Black; integument of body above, anteriorly below on propleurae
and venter with a dark bluish submetallic sheen; legs shining black:
the hair on body and spines on legs velvety black; the hairs towards
apex of abdomen from about segment 4 with whitish apices, only
sparsely so on segment 4; a spot of scale-like hairs at base of basal
comb of wings, five rounded spots of dense, scale-like hairs along mid-
dorsal line of abdomen above (one each on segments 2-6 on their
apical halves) and laterally below, on each side, four contiguous spots
of denser scale-like hairs in a row on segments 2—5 (thus forming an
elongate band), golden yellow or fulvous; palps blackish brown; eyes
purplish black; pulvill pallid; wings with the basal parts up to basal
cross vein of fourth posterior cell and more or less in anal and axillary
cells infuscated dark blackish brown, darker towards the base, the
apical halves of anal and axillary cells and apical half of costal cell
being only slightly infuscated, very nearly hyaline, with the alula
duller, more lamp black, with the translucent spot near apex of second
basal cell and beyond base of discoidal cell slightly dull bluish white,
with the veins very dark brown, the second longitudinal vein being
more brown and the basal parts of the rest of the veins much darker,
with the rest of the wings hyaline; halteres dark brown, with the
edges of apical cup pallid inside.
Head with the narrow inner margins of the eyes above contiguous at
a point just before ocellar tubercle, then gradually diverging to a point
about as far forwards from anterior ocellus as length of ocellar tubercle,
from there the margins diverge more rapidly; frons with depressed
hairs, on each side along margins of eyes, projecting anteriorly as tufts
at bases of antennae; face bare medially and the hairs laterally not
too dense; antennae with joint 3 about twice as long as | and 2
combined, compressed laterally in basal half, broadest basally, thence
gradually narrowed to near apex, the apical third being still less
narrowed, nearly parallel and slender, with the style short and slender,
with joint 2 longer than broad; proboscis about 44 mm. long, straight;
palps with the hairs short.
124 Annals of the South African Museum.
Thorax with the anterior part above convex, the apical part being
very nearly perpendicularly declivous (as in anals F.), with the hair
dense, short, and furry as in analis, slightly less dense and shorter on
disc, but leaving no bare part, with numerous chaetae in front of wing
bases, of which a few are longer than the others and at least 2 are very
long; mesopleuron with numerous bristles; wings with the second
longitudinal vein straight, but less deeply sinuate at end than in
fulvonotatus Wied. and analis F., with base of second submarginal cell
much shorter than in the above-mentioned species, with the first
posterior cell comparatively more obtuse apically, with the discal
cross vein scarcely beyond middle of discoidal cell in type, at about
middle in paratype, with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell about as
long as discal cross vein and much longer than in fulvonotatus and
analis, with the third posterior cell comparatively much narrower, the
apex being much narrower than apex of fourth posterior cell, with the
basal vein of second posterior cell meeting base of second submarginal
cell nearer fork of third longitudinal vein and not at about middle as in
fulvonotatus, with the basal comb black; metapleural tuft black.
Abdomen with the hair denser apically, becoming longer and sparser
and more bristle-like towards apex and the sides apically, especially on
hind margins of segments, dense below on venter.
Legs with the depressed scales on femora and tibiae black and
shining; front femora, apart from the slender hairs, with 4 to 7 short
spines on lower outer surfaces and 2 to 4 on the inner surfaces below;
middle femora with numerous spines below, more or less in two rows,
the outer with about 9-10 long and short ones beginning near base and
an inner row with about 8-9 shorter spines beginning at about middle;
hind femora with numerous spines below from near base to apex, more
or less also arranged in two rows; tarsi with the pulvill shorter than
the claws.
Hypopygium as shown in text-fig. 10, and compared with that of
fulwonotatus (text-fig. 9) it differs in that the basal parts are more
compact, the neck region of basal part shorter and less slender, with
the beaked apical joint having the beak more acute and more pointed,
with the aedeagus broadening more rapidly basally; lateral struts
longer and more slender and the posterior aedeagal struts better
developed and visible basally; basal strut is also different. Compared
with that of analis (text-fig. 7) it will be seen that the beak of beaked
apical joint is less slender, much shorter, and the apical spines less
developed; the aedeagus is more slender and not bent downwards at
apex; the lateral struts are longer and narrower, etc.
~
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 125
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-104 mm.
Locality.— Gemsbok Pan (Vernay-Lang, Kalahari Exy., 23-4-5/5/30)
(Type); Kuke Pan (Vernay-Lang, Kalahari Exp., 21—30/3/30).
This species obviously belongs to the analis-section, yet it differs in
having the eyes in the 9 very nearly touching at a point in front of
TExtT-FIG. 10.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of g of Bombylius
vansont Hesse.
ocellar tubercle and the margins of the eyes from thence not parallel.
It is related to analis F. and fulvonotatus Wied., from both of which it
differs, apart from the differences in wing-venation already mentioned,
in not having the eyes contiguous above and in having the black basal
infuscation on the wings more extensive and not sharply demarcated
along bases of second basal and anal cells. From analis it differs in
having fulvous spots on the abdomen and no white tuft of hair at
apex; the front femora have short spines, etc. From fulvonotatus
it differs in being smaller, in having fulvous spots laterally on abdomen
below, a fulvous spot at base of wing comb, ete.
B. hypoxanthus Lw.
(P. 12, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863; syn.=plagiatus Bezz., p. 469,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
From Bezzi’s description of the @ of plagiatus it is evident that he
had the same species as that of Loew before him, and there is no doubt
126 Annals of the South African Museum.
that plagiatus Bezz. is a synonym of hypoxanthus Lw. The Q type of
plagiatus Bezz. is not in the South African Museum, but another ? in
the collection from the Eastern Province agrees in every respect with
Bezzi’s description and also with that of Loew.
The species is briefly characterised as follows: Body, including
scutellum and legs, black, the tibiae and tarsi, when denuded, however,
very dark reddish brown; pubescence dense but on the whole shortish,
that on thorax above with a cropped-off appearance especially in the
3 (as yet undescribed), predominantly white on body, that in a tuft on
each side of thorax in front of wings and in 3 longitudinal bands on
thorax in front (the greater part of disc being bare towards base), that
on ocellar tubercle, that to a large extent on scutellum, that on sides
of abdomen, more or less in tufts and the macrochaetal bristles, post-
alar bristles, scutellar bristles, and transverse bristles on abdomen
(where not denuded) black, the bristles towards apex of abdomen
whitish apically, with the white hair-like scaling, apart from white
pubescence on thorax, head, and pleurae, more or less arranged as 2
spots basally on thorax in front of scutellum, as a large patch basally
on each side of tergites 2 and 3, as a conspicuous elongate patch on
each side of tergites 2 and 3 (on ventral aspect), as a small central
patch apically on tergite 2, a larger one discally and also centrally at
apex of tergite 3, and then a broad transverse patch on tergites 4-5
and to a certain extent on 6, with the finer scaling on rest of abdomen
above in 9° at least dark or blackish, gleaming graphite-like, with the
pubescence on venter in both sexes gleaming golden or fulvous
yellowish, and with the pubescence on coxae in both sexes also fulvous
or gleaming golden yellowish, with the scaling on femora dark and
gleaming greasy brownish in certain lights; wings hyaline but with
the base, basal halves of marginal and first submarginal cells, and
slightly more than apical half of first basal cell, and a fainter infusion
along apical veins of second basal cell and down vein between fourth
posterior and anal cells brownish or brown, the costal cell, basal half
of first basal cell, and upper basal parts of second basal cell subopaquely
yellowish (the yellow thus separating the brown infuscations), with
the alula also more cinereous than more hyaline part of wing, with the
basal comb black-spined but covered with whitish scaling, with the
veins reddish brown, the apical cross veins of first and second basal
cells distinctly more darkened and spot-like, with the discal cross
vein very much beyond middle of discoidal cell and the latter truncate
apically, with the alular fringe and fringe of opaquely dark brownish
squamae pale or whitish; halteres dark brownish and with dark
~ A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 127
brownish knobs in both sexes. Head with the eyes above in ¢ sub-
contiguous for a short distance, subequal in length to ocellar tubercle,
widely separated in 99 by a space quite 3 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 short, about 14 times as long as 2, with 2 longer
than broad, with 3 quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, laterally
compressed, broadest a little before base, then gradually narrowed
apically, ending apically in a short basal joint-like element and a
second more conical joint which itself ends in a styler element;
proboscis about 4-54 mm. long. Legs without any visible spines on
TExT-FIG. 11.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of § of Bombylius
hypoxanthus Lw. ( =plagiatus Bezz.).
front femora below; middle ones with about 8-11 spines in front and
5—6 (usually small ones) behind; hind femora with about 15-17 spines
from base to apex below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 11) with the
neck region of basal parts not slender, short, and with the inner apical
angles projecting prominently, without a row of distinct spines above,
with fewer hairs on dorsum of basal parts than in acroleucus; beaked
apical joints slightly thicker and more triquetrous basally, with the
apex more acute and longer; aedeagus with a more slender apical part,
extending almost to level of base of apical joints, straighter; lateral
struts broad, but shorter than in acroleucus.
Length of body: about 8-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 94-12 mm.
Locality EHastern Cape Province, O.F.S., and Transvaal. (In the
Transvaal and South African Museums.)
128 Annals of the South African Museum.
B. acroleucus Bezz.
(P. 9, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
Bezzi based his description of this species on a somewhat denuded 2
in the South African Museum. With a series of $¢ and 2° before me
I am able to supplement Bezzi’s description. Superficially this species
resembles hyporanthus Lw.in having an entirely black body, scutellum,
and legs, in having predominantly white pubescence on the body
which is practically distributed in the same way, that on abdomen
arranged in the same way: a large patch on each side of tergites 2
and 3 basally, a very large elongated patch on tergites 2 and 3 on
TExtT-FIG. 12.—Side view and left ventral view of basal parts and ventral view
of genital armature of ¢ of Bombylius acroleucus Bezz.
ventral side, a central row of spots apically on tergites 2-4, and also a
patch on each side nearer middle on tergites 4 and 5; black bristles
distributed in the same way, those towards apex of abdomen as in
hypoxanthus with their apical parts also whitish, with the pubescence
on venter also fulvous, but the coxal bristles and hairs whitish and not
deep fulvous or golden; wings predominantly glassy hyaline and with
only the extreme base dark brownish and the costal cell and first
basal cell subopaquely yellowish, with the alula greyish hyaline, with
the veins distinctly much darker and more blackish brown than in
hypoxanthus, with the discal cross vein much nearer middle of dis-
coidal cell, the dark brownish opaque squamae also white-fringed;
halteres also dark and with dark knobs in both sexes. Head with the
-
>»
_ A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 129
eyes above in $¢ (as yet undescribed) in actual contact for a distance
subequal to length of ocellar tubercle, separated in 92 by a space
about 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 short, about
2 times as long as 2, with 2 slightly longer than broad, with 3 more
than 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadened basally, more
rapidly narrowed apically in $3, with the terminal elements as in
hypoxanthus; proboscis about 5-6 mm. long. Legs sometimes with
1 or 2 small spines on outer side of front femora; middle ones with
about 8—10 irregularly arranged spines on front side and about 4-6
behind; hind femora with about 12—22 spines below from base to apex
and arranged more or less in two irregular rows. Hypopygium ot 3
(text-fig. 12) with the base of basal parts broad, the neck region
comparatively slender and narrow, the inner apical angles blunt,
searcely projecting, with short dense bristly hairs on dorsum and no
distinct apical spines; beaked apical joints more or less flattened, the
dorsal edges slightly carinate, the basal half above of inner edges with
longish and dense hairs, denser than those at base, with the apex acute,
shghtly curved downwards; aedeagus falling far short of inner apical
angles, the apical half slightly directed downwards; lateral struts very
broad, their apices being very broad, flattened, and rounded.
Length of body: about 83-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 94-12 mm.
Locality —Karoo: Van Wyk’s Vlei, Cradock, Murraysburg, Middel-
burg, Graaff- Reinet, and Willowmore; Namaqualand: Bowes-
dorp. (In the Imperial Institute, Transvaal and South African
Museums.)
SEcTIoNn 3.
4 335 B. arnoldi nu. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black; pleurae, where denuded, showing
through brownish to dark blackish brown; legs predominantly black,
but with the tibiae, when denuded, very dark reddish brown or
blackish brown and the basal parts of tarsi also obscurely very dark
reddish brown; pubescence on the whole dense, but shortish, that
on abdomen slightly longer than on thorax, that on face dense, but
distinctly shorter than in the ornatus-series, more like that of acro-
leucus and hypoxanthus, that on thorax above, though shortish, not
with a cropped-off appearance as in the analis-series, that on face, sides
of face, on first antennal joits below, in a scaly tuft on each side of
frons, that on occiput, thorax in front above, and also along sides above
130 Annals of the South African Museum.
wings, very sparsely on disc, that at base of thorax, that in a con-
spicuous tuft behind wing-bases on each side (upper part of meta-
pleural tuft), and that on abdomen above, more distinct towards
apex, white, appearing hoary or greyish white in certain lights, that on
face more distinctly gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish, with the
dense scaling behind eyes, a patch of more elongate scaling on each
side at base of tergite 2, a smaller and more indistinct patch on each
side at base of tergite 3 and a central row of sparse scales, aggregated
posteriorly into distinct round patches on tergites 5-7, gleaming
silvery white, with the pubescence on head below sparse and whitish,
that on pleural parts and on coxae dull brownish or coffee brownish
but sometimes with a dull greyish brown shade in certain lights, that
in lower part of metapleural tuft, that on sides of abdomen more or less
in basal half, and that on sides of venter to apex much darker, very
dark blackish brown to black, but having a distinct blackish brown
tint in certain lights, that on venter predominantly also very dark
brownish to blackish brown, but with some pale intermixed hairs or
even sparse tuft-like whitish hairs in basal half, with the bases of
individual hairs on abdomen above dark blackish brown and those
towards base and on sides basally with only the extreme tips pale or
whitish and those discally towards apex of abdomen almost or entirely
whitish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, those on each side
anteriorly on frons and the finer ones on first antennal joints above
blackish brown to black, the macrochaetal bristles in front of wings,
the post-alar bristles, and scutellar bristles black, the shortish hair on
femora below also very dark or blackish, with the scaling on legs dark
but gleaming greasily greyish brown or graphite-like in certain lights;
wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent, with the base very dark brownish
to dark blackish brown, the alula more greyish cinereous, with the
basal comb very dark blackish brown to black, with the veins yellowish
brown, the costal veins and those in apical part usually darker
brownish and those at extreme base in dark basal part also dark
brownish, with the second longitudinal vein undulating, with the
discal cross being only very slightly beyond middle of discoidal cell,
appearing almost at middle, with the discoidal cell itself subacute or
even acute apically, with the alular fringe dark and brownish, with
the squamae very dark opaquely blackish brown, but fringed with
conspicuous and contrasting almost silvery white hairs; halteres very
dark blackish brown, with dark knobs. Head with the eyes above in
contact for a distance at least 14 times as long as ocellar tubercle;
frons with the central groove, vanishing anteriorly; antennae with
_A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 131
jomt 1 short, about 2 times as long as 2, with 3 a little longer than
2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, laterally compressed and in
profile gradually narrowed apically, broadest near base, the apical
part slender, ending apically in a conical basal element bearing a short
style; proboscis about 4-5 mm. long, but even reaching a length of
7 mm. im one specimen, very finely spinulated below; palps short,
stoutish, and with longish black hairs on sides. Legs without any
spines on front femora below; middle ones with about 1 or 2 shortish
spies in front; hind ones with about 10-11 spines from near base to
Texr-ric. 13.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius arnoldi n. sp.
apex of which 5 or 6 are more concenirated near apex; claws with
their apices rather rapidly bent downwards. Hypopygium (texi-fig.
13) with the inner apical angles or processes in neck region of basal
paris only slightly projecting apically, with longish bristly hairs along
its upper margin, with the lower margin of basal paris in neck region
arcuately delated or broadened: beaked apical jomts more or less
dorso-venirally compressed, the edges carinate, the mner edge with
a dense row of backwardly directed spies, the apex acute; aedeagus
with the apical part nearly reaching the apices of basal parts, slender
and straight, the aedeagal pari not visibly produced basally on each
side above the middle part; basal strut scarcely projecting beyond
bases of basal paris.
Type m the Rhodesian Museum, paratypes im the Transvaal and
Lensth of body: about 83-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
132 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Sawmills (Rhod. Mus. 12/12/26) (Type);
Sawmills (Stevenson, 10/12/26).
This is an interesting species in that without doubt it belongs to the
ornatus-section, but it also shows relationships with preceding series,
such as acroleucus and hypoxanthus in the analis-section. In certain
respects it seems to represent a sort of bridging species. With the
analis-section it agrees in the short first antennal joints, in the position
of the discal cross vein (which itself is thus in between the two sections),
and in the spines on hind femora beginning nearer base. With the
ornatus-section it agrees in having an undulating second longitudinal
vein, in having distinct patches of silvery scaling on abdomen, and
in the marked dilation of lower margin in neck region of basal parts
of hypopygium. The species is named after Dr. G. Arnold, the
Director of the Rhodesian Museum, who kindly placed many interest-
ing Bombyliuds at my disposal.
B. delicatus Wied.
(P. 640, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. Nachtr. 11, 1830, and var. mutilatus
Bezz., p. 10, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
There seems to be no specific or structural difference between
mutilatus Bezz. and delicatus Wied., except that in mutilatus there is
no infuscation along the sixth longitudinal vein as in delicatus. A long
series, however, shows that this band is variable in its extent and
intensity, often being distinct as in delicatus s.str. (in specimens
from Portuguese Hast Africa, Zululand, Natal, Transvaal, and
S.W. Africa), and extending only slightly in certain specimens, which
may be considered as intermediate or transitional. It is, however,
entirely absent in the var. mutilatus (mostly from the Hastern Cape
Province, O.F.S., Natal, and even Zululand).
The species is characterised by a type of wing (see that of mutilatus
figured by Bezzi on Pl. I, fig. 1, loc. cit.), the basal dark brownish
infuscation of which extends nearly to end of costal cell and then
obliquely hindwards to basal third of anal and axillary cells, including
also the alula and giving off a spot on discal cross vein and in delicatus
s. str., the infusion also extends to a variable extent down the vein
separating the fourth posterior and anal cells. Across the middle
part this dark infuscation is broadly more yellowish and there is a clear
spot at base of marginal cell and another near apex of second basal
cell; discoidal cell is rather truncate apically, the cross vein being
sometimes quite as long as discal cross vein. The pubescence on body
a
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 133
is predominantly black in both sexes, even anteriorly on thorax, with
the following spots of brilliantly shining silvery white scaling: a tuft
on each side of face, a smaller spot on each side of frons anteriorly, a
spot in slight sinuosity on eyes behind, larger in 99, a humeral spot on
each side of thorax and in line with them in 99 and some 34, 2 adme-
dian elongated patches in front, a spot on each side in front of wings 1n
both sexes and in 9? and some g¢ 2 discal spots more or less in line
with them, a spot (often absent or very small) on each side above
wings, sometimes a spot on post-alar calli on each side, a larger spot
TEext-r1c. 14.—Side view and ventral view in part of hypopygium of ¢
Bombylius delicatus Wied. (mutilatus Bezz.).
on each side at base of thorax in front of scutellum, a central row of
large spots at apices of abdominal tergites, conspicuous transverse
patches on each side at base of tergites 2-7 in both sexes and also with
some silvery gleaming scales on pleurae, with the scaling on legs dark
graphite-like, gleaming greyish, or greasy. Head with the eyes above
in gd in actual contact for a distance subequal to ocellar tubercle,
the interocular space on vertex in 9? a little more than 2 times as
broad as tubercle; frons in 99 tending to be shining black; antennae
with joint 1 quite 5 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 14 times as long as
1 and 2 combined, somewhat laterally compressed and tending to be
broad and strap-like, ending apically on the outer aspect in a distinct
nodular or conical basal element, itself passing into a fine style;
proboscis about 34-4 mm. long. Legs slender and with about 4—7 spines
in apical half below on hind ones. Hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 14)
VOL. XXXIV. 10
134 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the basal parts in mutilatus having only a few long hairs;
aedeagus long, straight, and slender, projecting slightly beyond apices
of basal part; beaked apical joints long and slender.
Length of body: about 33-6} mm.
Length of wing: about 44-8 mm.
Locality—Cape Province, O.F.S., Transvaal, Natal, Zululand,
Portuguese East Africa, Rhodesia, and South West Africa. (In the
Imperial Institute, British, Natal, Albany, Transvaal, and South
African Museums.)
B. plorans Bezz.
(P. 39, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This species described, from the Chirinda Forest, by Bezzi is
characterised as follows: Entire body, scutellum, and legs black, the
tibiae may, however, be more blackish brown or very dark reddish
brown; pubescence on head and face rather long and dense, pre-
dominantly black, that across front part of thorax greyish to pale
greyish brown in $3, gleaming more brownish in 99, that in front of
wings in 99 on each side more tuft-like and more conspicuous, that on
middle part of pleurae in 92 also gleaming yellowish brown, with only
a few sparse greyish or pale greyish brownish ones on pleurae in 3d,
that on rest of body above entirely black in both sexes, but with a
characteristic tuft of pale straw-coloured hairs on each side above
halteres and behind base of wings in both sexes, with a small spot of
silvery scaling on each side of frons and a larger one on each side of
face in both sexes, that in 99 being larger and more conspicuous, with
some sparse, almost silvery, scaling across front part of thorax in
both sexes, with some silvery scaling on each side of abdomen at
bases of tergites 2-5 in both sexes, the spot on tergites 2 and 4 and 5
more conspicuous, the latter two even tuft-like and with very narrow
cross bands of silvery scaling on venter; wings more greyish hyaline,
iridescent, with the base and alula very dark, almost sooty-black,
with the veins black, with the discoidal cell more or less acute or very
acute apically, the wings themselves narrowish, with the squamae also
black and fringed with entirely black hair; halteres black and with
black knobs. Head with the eyes in contact above in 33, the inter-
ocular space in 99 about 2 times as broad as tubercle; eyes in both
sexes with the hind margin slightly sinuate; antennae with joint 3
subequal in length to joints 1 and 2 combined, with 3 rod-like, ending
in a style on its outer apical aspect; proboscis about 34-4 mm. long.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 135
Legs slender and longish; hind femora with about 3-4 spines below
in apical half. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 15) with rather longish
hairs on dorsum of basal parts, the neck region of basal parts
slightly arcuately produced (in profile); beaked apical joints some-
Text-Fic. 15.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of § Bombylius
plorans Bezz.
what triangular, their upper, inner dorsal edge provided with a tuft of
longish hairs; aedeagus slightly projecting beyond apices of basal parts.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia. (In the Rhodesian and South African
Museums, in the Imperial Institute and Rhodesian Agricultural Dept.)
1 $12 B. melanolomus n. sp.
Body and scutellum entirely black; legs with the femora black, the
tibiae scarcely less black, but when denuded with a very dark blackish
brown tint; pubescence dense as in other species of the ornatus and
plorans series, that on antennae and face slightly shorter than in
plorans, that on thorax discally dense and shortish, that on sides of
abdomen long, dense, and shaggy as in other species in this series,
predominantly black above and below, that on thorax in front on g
straw-coloured yellowish to obscure yellowish brownish, that in front
on thorax in 2 almost entirely black, but with a few, scarcely per-
ceptible, gleaming brownish hairs on humeral part and medially in
136 Annals of the South African Museum.
front, with the shorter bristly hairs lower down on occiput in Q
distinctly reddish brown or rufous brown in certain lights, with the
pubescence on pleurae in both sexes entirely black, but showing very
dark blackish brown or purplish tints in certain lights, without any
tuft of whitish hairs behind wings, with a small tuft of silvery white
scaling on each side of frons anteriorly in both sexes, another larger
tuft on each side of face, more conspicuous in 9, a few silvery scales in
sinuosity behind eyes, especially in 2, with a few silvery scales near
humeral part on each side and 2 admedian spots of very sparse silvery
scaling in line with them in 9, but with only very sparse and feeble
scattered pale scales across middle of thorax in front in g, with some
silvery scaling apically and medially on abdomen above in both
sexes, a small patch of silvery scaling on each side basally of tergite 2
and a few silvery scales laterally on hind margins of tergites 3-5 in 9,
without any visible silvery scaling on venter in both sexes, with the
fine depressed dark scaling on abdomen above in @ at least glittering
and gleaming whitish or silvery in certain lights, with the dark scaling
on femora graphite-like, gleaming greyish, or greasy in certain lights;
wings glassy hyaline, with the base and alula very dark blackish brown
or black, with the veins very dark brown, almost black in 2, with the
apical part of discoidal cell subacute, a very short cross vein being
present, with the squamae black and the fringe entirely black;
halteres blackish and with blackish knobs. Head with the eyes in 3
in contact above for a short distance a little shorter than ocellar
tubercle, the interocular space in 9 about 2 times as broad as tubercle
on vertex, with the hind margins of eyes on side sinuous; antennae
with joint 1 quite 4 times as long as 2, with 3 less than 14, about
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, more or less rod-like, but
shightly stouter in 9; proboscis rather long, about 44-5 mm. Legs
slightly stouter in 9, with 4—5 spines in apical half below on outer side
on hind femora. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 16) similar to that of
plorans (cf. text-fig. 15), but beaked apical joints slightly shorter, neck
region of basal parts slightly more rounded, the aedeagus less rapidly
narrowed, and basal strut much less incised along its dorsal margin.
Holotype in the Rhodesian Museum, allotype in the Rhodesian
Agricultural Dept.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 73-84 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Cloudlands; Vumbu Mts. (6—17/4/23)
(g-type); Umtali (Agr. Dept., Dec. 1934) (?-type).
Notwithstanding the fact that the base of the wings in ¢ is slightly
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 137
more brownish and the veins are less black, I am of opinion that these
two specimens belong to the same species. From plorans this species
differs in having relatively shorter pubescence on face and antennae,
shorter first antennal joints, no tuft of whitish hais behind wings,
Text-Fic. 16.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ of Bombylius
melanolomus n. sp.
relatively longer proboscis, entirely dark pubescence on pleurae and
relatively broader wings. From lugens Bezz. (p. 40, The Bombyliidae
of the Ethiopian Region, 1924) it differs, according to the description,
in having less silvery ornamentation on body in @ at least, no con-
spicuous humeral patch of fulvous hairs in 9, and much darker to
black veins in wings in both sexes. The 3-holotype was labelled by
Brunetti as a 2 of plorans Bezz.
6 53 12 B. lugens Bezz.
(P. 40, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
Provisionally these seven specimens from South West Africa are
referred to lugens with the description of which they agree more than
with any other species in this category. As these specimens are some-
what denuded, and the @ entirely denuded, undamaged material of the
same species may eventually prove to be separate from lugens, in which
case the species would, however, very closely resemble the latter.
The specimens are characterised as follows:—Body, including legs,
entirely black, only the tibiae, in the denuded state, are more dark
138 Annals of the South African Museum.
reddish brown; pubescence dense as in other species in this series,
that on first antennal joints and face, however, markedly dense and
distinctly shorter than in plorans and much denser than in melano-
lomus, predominantly black above and below, that on front part of
thorax in J¢ straw-coloured yellowish, with sericeous gleams in certain
lights, appearing greyish in certain positions and appearing paler
medially in front, that on pleurae entirely black but like that on sides
of abdomen and venter having a very dark blackish brown or purplish
brown tint in certain positions, without any whitish tuft behind wings,
Text-ric. 17.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and apical or dorsal
view of beaked apical joint of ¢ Bombylius lugens Bezz.
with a small tuft of silvery scaling on each side and just in front of
ocellar tubercle in 9, with a tuft on each side of frons anteriorly and a
larger one on each side of face in both sexes, the latter tuft more
conspicuous in ¢, without any silvery scaling visible on thorax in
front in gd ( denuded), with a central row of small spots of silvery
scales at apices of tergites on abdomen above in 3, and also indica-
tions of silvery scaling on each side at bases of tergites 2-4 in some
33 at least; wings glassy hyaline, iridescent, with the base and alula
pale yellowish brown to pale brownish, with the veins pale yellowish
and very much paler than in plorans or melanolomus, with the discoidal
cell acute or subacute apically, with the squamae opaquely dark
blackish brown and fringed with black hair; halteres very dark or
blackish and with almost black knobs. Head with the eyes also
sinuous behind as in other species in this category, in contact above in
33 for a distance subequal in length to ocellar tubercle, the interocular
space in § a little more than 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 9
- A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 139
with the transverse depression rather pronounced; antennae with
joint 1 not quite 4 times as long as 2, thus relatively shorter than in
melanolomus and distinctly much shorter than in plorans, with joint
3 proportionally longer than in melanolomus and much longer in
relation to 1 and 2 than in plorans, but as in melanolomus not quite
1} times as long as 1 and 2 combined; proboscis about 32 mm. long
and thus much shorter than in melanolomus. Legs slender and also
with graphite-like or greasy greyish scaling; hind femora with about
4—5 spines in apical half on outer side. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 17),
with the inner apical angles in neck region of basal parts not produced
beyond bases of beaked apical joints, apparently without a row of
stout spines along its upper edge; beaked apical joints with their
apices comparatively blunt and curved slightly outwards; aedeagus
with the apical part long, straight, and slender, reaching level of
apical processes of basal part.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-74 mm.
Locality. — 8.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp.,
March 1925).
1 Q@ B. tuckeri n. sp.
Black; pleurae, where denuded, more dark reddish brown; legs
with the femora black, the tibiae more dark blackish brown; pub-
escence as dense as in other species in this series, the bristles on
scutellum apparently more prominent than in the preceding three
species, the pubescence predominantly black above and below, that
on lower part of occiput, on thorax in front and to a certain extent
along sides above wings gleaming sericeous brownish or fulvous, but
intermixed with dark hairs, with the fine scaling on thorax above
especially in front and across base gleaming golden brownish, with
some sparse pubescence on pleurae also fulvous or brownish golden
in certain lights, with a small spot of silvery scaling on each side just
in front of ocellar tubercle, a larger spot on each side of frons anteriorly
and a more conspicuous silvery tuft on each side of face, with some
silvery white scaling on each side behind eyes, with a brilliantly
shining silvery white spot of scaling on each side at humerus and in line
with them 2 admedian patches in front, with a spot of silvery white
scaling on each side in front of wing-bases and in line with them 2
discal patches and with a roundish spot of brilliantly shining silvery
white scales on each side at base of thorax in front of scutellum, with
an elongated transverse patch of silvery white scaling on each side at
140 Annals of the South African Museum.
base of tergite 2, and much smaller patches on each side at base of
tergites 3-6, and also with indications of a central row of small silvery
white patches at apices of the tergites, with the fine, hair-like, de-
pressed scaling on abdomen above dark, but gleaming brassy or even
opalescent in certain lights, without any whitish tuft of hairs behind
wings, with the scaling on legs dark and graphite-like, gleaming
ereyish; wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent, with the base and alula
blackish brown, with the veins brown to dark brownish, with the
discoidal cell subacute apically, the cross vein very short however,
with the squamae very dark blackish brown and fringed with black
hair; halteres dark brownish, with the knobs blackish. Head with
the eyes slightly sinuate behind, separated above on vertex by a space
about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons rather rapidly
widening apically; antennae with joint 1 a little more than 4 times
as long as 2, with 3 only a little longer than 1 and 2 combined, subrod-
like, but apparently thickest at about middle, ending apically in a
small, conical basal element bearing a style; proboscis about 4 mm.
long. Legs with about 4 spines in apical half on hind femora.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 64 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Grootfontein (Lightfoot, Dec. 1918).
B. ornatus Wied.
(P. 345, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828; Bezzi, p. 42,
The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This species is apparently very common throughout Southern Africa
and South West Africa, and there is no doubt that it also appears to be
variable. According to Bezzi (pp. 42 and 43, loc. cit., and p. 11, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921), there seems to be very little difference
between the go of ornatus and kilimandjaricus Speis. From labelled
specimens in the South African Museum, the 3¢ of ornatus differ from
those of kilimandjaricus (as labelled by Bezzi) chiefly by having the
tuft of white scales on sides of tergite 4 slightly longer and more
brush-like, the apex of discoidal cell more subacute and the base of
wings usually slightly darker. The hypopygium shows practically no
differences, except that in that of ornatus there seem to be fewer and
shorter hairs on the beaked apical joints, the apices of the beaked
apical joints appear comparatively shorter, and the apical part of the
aedeagus also appears to be slightly shorter and less slender. The
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 141
chief difference between 99 of ornatus and kiliamandjaricus, according
to Bezzi, is, however, the absence of fulvous hair on the occiput in
kilimandjaricus. Whether specimens labelled as kilimandjaricus by
Bezzi are specifically identical with the g-kilimandjaricus described by
Speiser from Kilimandjaro (see p. 75, Zool. Kilimandjaro-Meru.,
Exp. II, 1905-1906) is doubtful. Speiser states that the base of the
wings and including the alula is blackish grey, and the silvery scaling
on sides of abdomen is on last 2 tergites. In all the specimens before
me the alula is distinctly subopaquely whitish, only the squamae being
blackish, and the long white scaling on sides of abdomen is practically
confined on each side of base of tergite 4, though tergite 2 also has a
small patch of depressed silvery scaling on each side basally. Pro-
visionally I prefer to consider all the specimens before me as belonging
to ornatus, a species which is variable to a great extent. The species
ornatus is very characteristic and chiefly characterised by having an
entirely black body, scutellum, and legs in both sexes, by having the
pubescence in gd predominantly black, but that on occiput, front
part of thorax, and to a certain extent sparsely on scutellum straw-
coloured whitish to yellowish, appearing greyish to even slightly more
fulvous in certain lights, that on occiput and front part in typical 99
also more or less fulvous or more straw-coloured yellowish, usually
more yellowish than in $3, with the following patches of brilliantly
gleaming and very conspicuous silvery scaling on body: a tuft on each
side of face in both sexes, but broader in 99, a small tuft on each side
of frons in 66, a tuft on each side of frons in front and another one
nearer middle and towards base of frons on each side in 99, a few
silvery scales on sides of head behind eyes in gg and a much broader
and more conspicuous patch in 9?, a humeral patch on each side and a
small patch on each side in front of wings in 99, a basal patch on
thorax on each side in front of scutellum in 92, some scaling on
scutellum in gd, a central row of spots on abdomen above in both
sexes, becoming larger apically in $3, a spot on each side at base of
tergite 2 in both sexes, a conspicuous tuft of hair-like scales and
depressed scales on each side of tergite 4 in both sexes (extending
obliquely down on tergites 5 and 6), and the transverse scaling across
hind margins of sternites especially on sides and especially in 30,
with the pubescence on pleurae sometimes having a distinct coffee-
brownish tint in certain lights and with the fringe of the squamae
strikingly white in both sexes and the upper anterior part of meta-
pleural tuft also strikingly white; wings vitreous hyaline but the base
yellowish brown, appearing more blackish at extreme base, with the
142 Annals of the South African Museum.
alula subopaquely whitish, with the veins yellowish to yellowish
brown, the costal vein darker, with the discal cross vein just before
the middle of discoidal cell and apex of discoidal cell either sub-
acute or very acute (an apical cross vein practically wanting), with
the halteres and knobs black; head with the hind margin of eyes on
side distinctly, though only slightly, sinuate or emarginate, the eyes
in actual contact above in 3g for a distance at least as long as ocellar
TEext-Fic. 18.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of 3 of Bombylius
ornatus Wied.
tubercle, separated in 99 quite 2 times as broad as tubercle, with the
third antennal joints more or less rod-like, not very much thickened
basally, with the proboscis long and slender 44-6 mm. long. Hypo-
pygium of 3 (text-fig. 18) more or less typical of this series, with the
hairs on dorsum of basal parts shorter than in plorans, the beaked
apical joints, as in other species of this section, provided with a crest
of bristly hairs on inner upper side.
Locality.—Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Transvaal, O.F.S.,
S.E. Africa, and S.W. Africa. (In the Imp. Institute, the Deutsches
Entomologisches Institut, the British, Transvaal, Durban, Natal,
and 8. Afr. Museums.)
One 9-specimen from Kimberley, which Bezzi referred to kil-
mandjaricus (see p. 11, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii), differs from the
more or less typical 99 of ornatus in having 2 shortened silvery stripes
discally and centrally on thorax in front, in having all the pubescence
on occiput and thorax in front black, in having the silvery scaling on
sides of tergites 4-6 shorter, and in having a conspicuous patch of
-A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 148
silvery white scaling on upper half of the sternopleuron. There is no
doubt that this specimen differs much from the typical forms and is
also different from the Nyasaland @ described as kilumandjaricus by
Bezzi (p. 43, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region). In view of
the fact that the sternopleuron is adorned with a very conspicuous
patch of silvery scales, this specimen really ought to be referred to a
new species, but as the specimen is unique and g¢ are wanting it is
provisionally referred to a variety of ornatus.
1 2 B. okahandjanus nu. sp.
A somewhat denuded 9-specimen in the British Museum, obviously
belonging to the ornatus-series, is characterised by the following
characters :—
Body entirely black; legs with the femora black and the tibiae
very dark reddish brown, almost black; pubescence straw-coloured
whitish on antennal joint 1, thorax in front, on pleural parts, in
metapleural tuft and venter below laterally, some on occiput and that
towards disc of thorax inclining to yellowish, with the hairs on
antennal joint 1 comparatively short for this group, fine and not
dense, with the bristly hairs on tubercle, frons and genae, the bristles
in front of wing-bases and bristly hairs on abdomen above (as far as
these have not been denuded in this specimen) black, with silvery
white scale-like, flattened hairs in form of a tuft on each side of frons
anteriorly, on each side of face (densely), a few on each side of antennal
joint 1, a dense patch behind eyes, a spot or patch on humeral angles,
in an elongated patch in front of wing-bases, some finer ones towards
middle on each side of thorax anteriorly in form of a longitudinal band,
dense ones on mesopleuron, some on propleural parts, at base laterally
of abdominal segment 2, as tufts on sides of segments 4 and 5 and along
sides of venter, conspicuously present and even densely on coxae,
femora, and tibiae, especially along lower surfaces, with distinct
indications of, and some still adhering, resplendent greenish, bluish,
metallic and iridescent, broadish, flattened scales on thorax and
scutellum, and purplish red or pinkish ones on abdomen above; wings
glassy hyaline, with iridescence, the base, costal cell, and alula sub-
opaquely yellowish and the extreme base black, with the basal comb
black, but also showing yellowish scaling, the veins pale yellowish
brown, with the discal cross vein just before middle of discoidal cell,
and the discoidal cell acute apically, with the squamae opaquely
blackish brown basally and more whitish towards margin, fringed
144 Annals of the South African Museum.
with white hairs. Head with the interocular space about 2 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 5 times as long
as 2, with 3 subrod-like, thicker than 1, subequal to, or scarcely
longer than 1 and 2 combined. Legs with about 3-4 shortish
spines on hind femora below from just before or about the middle
to apex.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Okahandja (Turner, 12—18/12/27).
Hasily recognised by the extensive silvery white scaling on legs and
front parts of pleural regions below and by the presence of greenish,
bluish, and purplish red, broadish scales on body above as in some
species of Chasmoneura. From ornatus it differs in the presence of
silvery white scaling on the legs, bluish, greenish, and purplish red ones
scattered on body above and also by the pale, short, and finer hairs on
first antennal joints.
B. rufiventris Macq.
(Macquart, p. 116, Dipt. Exot. Suppl. i, 45, 1846; Bezzi,
p. 12, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This species is easily recognised by the whitish hair on the thorax in
front in g, the presence of reddish or reddish yellow, depressed scaling
on scutellum and disc of abdomen above, especially in. The 9 also
has conspicuous spots of silvery white scales on the thorax as well as
on the abdomen. From ornatus it may be distinguished by the paler
pubescence on body above, the less developed patch of white hair
laterally on the abdomen, and the presence of reddish scaling on
abdomen above. Hypopygium of 3 does not differ much from those
of the other species in this series, with the smooth basal parts provided
dorsally with a tuft of longish hairs, with the inner apical parts in neck
region not produced; beaked apical joints provided with longish
hairs above, longer on inner aspect and slightly longitudinally de-
pressed above; aedeagus projecting very slightly beyond apices of
basal parts; basal strut racket-shaped and not projecting beyond
bases of basal parts.
Locality.—S.K. Africa: Natal, Zululand, and East Transvaal. (In
the Transvaal, Natal, British, and S.A. Museums and in Imp.
Institute.)
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 145
B. elegans Wied.
(P. 342, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; Paramonow, pp. 73 and 74,
Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev. No. 11, 1931; syn. =furiosus Walk., p. 286,
Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., vol. v (n. ser.), 1860.)
From both Wiedemann and Paramonow’s descriptions there is no
doubt that furiosus Walk. is a synonym of elegans Wied. This species
is easily distinguished from all other species in the ornatus-series by
the characteristic tuft of fulvous or orange yellow hairs on each side
of the abdomen, the yellowish brown pubescence on thorax in front,
and the extensive development of golden brown or reddish golden
scaling on scutellum and disc of abdomen, especially in 99, in addition
to the bright silvery white spots on thorax and abdomen in 99. It
can only be confused with auricomus Bezz. (p. 44, The Bombyliidae
of the Ethiopian Region), described from Abyssinia, but also reported
from Natal. This latter species, according to the short description,
is, however, entirely or predominantly yellowish-haired.
Locality.—S8.H. Africa: 8.K. Cape, Natal, and Zululand. (In the
British, Natal, Transvaal, and S.A. Museums and Imp. Institute.)
SECTION 4.
3 33 B. permiztus n. sp.
Body, including proboscis, black; hind margins of abdominal
segments above, especially laterally, often obscure reddish, the hind
margins of ventral segments narrowly pallid to reddish, with the
apical parts of exposed genitalia reddish; legs yellowish, with the
basal half of front femora and extreme basal parts of middle and hind
ones dark brownish to blackish brown, the last 3 or 4 tarsal joints also
darkened, the apices of the claws and the spines on the legs black;
pubescence pale, soft yellowish white, that on occiput and front part
of thorax, in certain lights paler and more whitish, that on sides of
abdomen in basal half distinctly more pale yellowish, becoming very
pale yellowish white, almost white, apically; fine bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, on first antennal joints and on face
blackish, with a patch of depressed pubescent hair-like scaling, on
each side of antennal joints, shining silvery white; hair below head
and on pectoral regions whiter than above, that on sides of pleurae,
however, in front of wings a soft pale yellowish white, which, in cer-
tain lights, is distinctly yellowish, the metapleural tuft being almost
white, with the hair on venter laterally whiter than on abdomen
146 Annals of the South African Museum.
above; fine depressed pubescence on body above, especially on
abdomen, very pale yellowish white; macrochaetae in front of wings
yellowish; wings hyaline, but with an almost imperceptible and very
faint yellowish tinge towards base, the costal cell, base, alula and part
of first basal cell being more distinctly yellowish, with the small spines
of basal comb brownish black and the hair-like scaling behind them
yellowish white, the squamae opaquely yellowish and with white
fringes, the veins yellowish to yellowish brown, becoming paler and
more yellowish towards base; halteres yellowish, with yellowish
knobs. Head with the inner margins of the eyes above in contact for
a distance subequal to or a little longer than length of ocellar tubercle,
diverging posteriorly and embracing the tubercle and very rapidly
anteriorly; eyes with the upper facets distinctly coarser and more so
anteriorly; frons with a distinct, central, and comparatively broad
depression; face with the mystax comparatively well developed;
occiput with the hair short; antennae with joint 1 comparatively
short and not thickened, about or nearly 24 times as long as 2, with
2 longer than broad, with 3 (terminal joints excluded) a little less or
about 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slightly constricted at
base, compressed in basal half and, seen from side, club-shaped, being
broadest in basal half or third, broadest across basal fourth, more or
less rapidly narrowed to middle and from there parallel, the apex,
however, being broadened again, with the basal terminal joint com-
paratively long, narrower basally than apex of 3, gradually attenuated
and longer than the comparatively short and stout style; palps dark
brownish, comparatively long and slender; proboscis about 4-5 mm.
long, the numerous spinules below distinctly visible. Thorax com-
paratively convex discally, with 3 or 4 distinct macrochaetae on each
side in front of wings, the bristles on posterior calli and scutellum very
feeble; wings with a comparatively poorly developed basal comb, the
second longitudinal vein only slightly undulating, discal cross vein
very much before middle of discoidal cell (almost Systoechus-like, the
first basal cell being only slightly longer than the second), the discoidal
cell acute apically and the alula comparatively large. Abdomen with
the hair fine and soft and without any distinct stouter hairs or bristles
across hind margins. Legs with longish hair on front and middle
femora below and basally only on hind ones; front femora with an
insignificant spine on outer lower and apical aspect; middle ones with
1 or 2 feeble spines in front; hind femora with about 8-10 spines
below from near base to apex or at least from before middle and with
about 3-5, often pallid, spines on inner apical aspect below; claws
-A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 147
more or less rapidly curved downwards from about middle to apex and
the pulvilli just reaching curved apices. Hypopygium (text-fig. 19)
with the basal parts provided dorsally with hairs in punctures, with
the neck region narrow and not dilated along its lower inner margin,
with the inner dorsal margin raised slightly crest-like, produced
apically as long inner apical processes, projecting much beyond bases
of apical beaked joints, broad and strap-like with rounded apices
Text-Fic. 19.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium, dorsal view of inner
apical process, and dorsal view of beaked apical joint of ¢ Bombylius permixtus
Nn. Sp.
(shown also from dorsal aspect); beaked apical joints more or less
elongate, armed above with a crown of dense spine-like hairs, produced
apically into a-long slender pointed beak; aedeagus not reaching bases
of apical joints, without any distinct ventral aedeagal process, but
with basal part below slightly projecting and raised, the basally
directed aedeagal struts visibly projecting; lateral struts shoe-horn
shaped; basal strut projecting beyond bases of basal parts, racket-
shaped, but with a deep dorsal sinuosity, the dorsal part of which is
pointed and projecting.
Type in the 8. Afr. Museum.
Length of body : about 74-8 mm.
Length of wing : about 8-8} mm.
Locality. —S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp.,
March 1925).
148 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 3 3 9° B. subacutus n. sp.
Together with permiztus, there are a 3$-specimen and 3 9? from
other localities, which also belong to this section. The ¢ differs from
permixtus in having a slightly more yellowish pubescence in certain
lights on the thorax and a distinctly more golden yellow patch on
each side of antennae, a few distinct dark hairs are present on each
posterior callus; first, second, and basal half of third antennal joints
are reddish yellow, the third joint is comparatively much less thickened
in basal half and there also less broad, more distinctly hairy, and the
apex less dilated than in permixtus; coarser facets on eyes above
slightly more extensive; palps yellowish, only the apices being
darkened; metapleural tuft distinctly more yellowish; wings with a
feeble cinereous or greyish tinge, with the costal cell, first basal cell,
extreme base and alula distinctly darker, more yellowish brown, and
there are distinct infuscations just below fork of second and third
longitudinal veins, on discal cross vein and on basal cross vein of fourth
posterior cell; the veins are also comparatively darker towards base,
the squamae also with a shghtly more yellowish fringe, the apex of
discoidal cell much less acute and the cross vein distinct but short;
legs entirely yellowish, only the last two tarsal joints blackish, the
middle femora with | or 2 distinct apical spines above and the lateral
anterior ones insignificant, the hind ones with about 10-11 spines
below, the claws comparatively longer, not sickle-shaped and almost
straight, only very slightly bent; pulvilli very small, confined to base,
almost invisible; abdomen with a few intermixed dark hairs laterally.
Hypopygium like that of permiatus, but the dorsum of basal parts
with comparatively fewer hairs; beaked apical joints with relatively
longer and sharper beaks; lateral struts comparatively narrower and
the basal strut more chopper-shaped, less broad, the dorsal sinuosity
less deep.
The three somewhat denuded ?-specimens, which I take to belong
to the same species, differ from the g-holotype in having only the
extreme apex of third antennal joint blackish and the joint itself
comparatively more thickened in basal two-thirds; face reddish;
macrochaetae in front of wings and bristles on posterior calli stouter,
stronger developed and more reddish or orange golden; bristles on
scutellum stouter and blackish; abdomen above with distinct stouter
and longer bristles in transverse rows across hind margins; these are
composed of yellowish and blackish ones intermixed, the venter with
blackish ones towards apex; interocular space less than 3 times, only
_ A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 149
a little more than 2 times, as wide as ocellar tubercle; frons with more
extensive yellowish golden pubescence, more or less concentrated as a
more whitish patch on each side of antennae; the bristles on ocellar
tubercle, sides of frons, on antennae and in mystax yellowish, only a
few bristles blackish on sides of genae above; wings with the cinereous
tinge more evident and the costal and basal infuscations slightly more
reddish brown; legs with the 10-11 spines below on hind femora
much stouter.
Types in the 8. Afr. Museum.
Length of body: about 7-84 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10} mm.
Locality. — 8.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp.,
March 1925) (Holotype); Kamanyab (Mus. Exp., March 1925)
(Allotype); Kaross (Mus. Exp., February 1925).
1 g, 1 9 B. cockerell, n. sp.
Black; narrow front margin of face and the buccal rims pale
yellowish brown; legs predominantly yellowish, the trochanters and
coxae being much darker and more brownish, with the upper apical
surfaces of the femora and upper parts of the tibiae more or less
blackish-scaled, with the spines black, the last 3 or 4 apical tarsal
joints as well as apices of the claws black; pubescence predominantly
whitish, with, however, some depressed and also shortish erect
yellowish or pale brownish golden pubescence on thorax above
towards front part and also basally in 9 at least (as far as the hair
above has not been denuded in this 2 specimen), with the short
depressed pubescence on abdomen above (as far as it is still visible) as
well as some longer hairs on sides of segment 3 and intermixed ones
towards apex on segments 5-7 in Q, also pale brownish golden or
yellowish sericeous, with the pubescence on body below predominantly
and markedly whitish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons,
on antennal joint 1 above and intermixed on face and genae (denser
on genae) in both sexes, some intermixed bristly hairs on sides of
segments 1 and 2, distinctly more numerous and conspicuous ones on
sides of 3 and numerous transverse ones apically on 5-7 in at least,
black (most of the bristles on abdomen above have been denuded, but
apparently are dark posteriorly, becoming paler towards base and that
of g is entirely denuded), with the bristles in front of wing-bases
sienna brownish; wings vitreous hyaline, with the base, costal cell
and basal half of first basal cell subopaquely yellowish white, slightly
VOL. XXXIV. 11
150 Annals of the South African Museum.
more distinctly yellowish at base, with the basal comb black, the veins
dark brownish, becoming paler towards base, with the discal cross
vein a little before middle of discoidal cell, the squamae whitish
opaque, dark-bordered, and white fringed; halteres pale yellowish,
with the knobs dark blackish brown above and laterally. Head with
the interocular space, at narrowest part in 2, about 2 times as broad as
tubercle, in ¢ in contact
above; antennae black,
with joint 3 scarcely
broadened basally,
rapidly tapering only in
apical fourth, with
scattered short hairs
visible above in certain
positions, with at least
the first terminal joint
distinctly separately
visible and with 2 and
3 fused but prominent;
proboscis about 5 mm.
long and with the fine
spinules on its surface
rather distinctly visible.
Legs without any spines
on front femora below,
with about 1 spine on
middle ones in front
and with about 13 spines on hind ones below from near base to
apex and with rather numerous spines apically above on hind ones;
claws rather rapidly bent downwards apically and with the pulvilli
about reaching the apices of claws. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 20)
showing dorsal, lateral, and ventral views of the raised crest-like inner
apical dorsal margin (Cr.) in neck region of basal parts which is very
prominent in this species; dorsum of basal parts with setiferous
punctures; aedeagus with a bell-shaped base and no process below.
Types in the Imperial Institute of Entomology.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 93 mm.
Locality.—N.W. Karoo: Calvinia (Mrs. Cockerell, 11-16/11/31)
(Holotype). 8. Karoo near Oudtshoorn (Mrs. Cockerell, 1/11/31)
(Allotype).
TEXxtT-FIG. 20.—Side view and half of ventral view of
hypopygium of 3 of Bombylius cockerelli n. sp.
_A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 151
This species is easily recognised by its predominantly whitish
pubescence, yellowish legs, which have black spines, etc. It appears
to be a Karoo representative of this section with yellowish, but black
spined, legs and pale coloured pubescence to which permixtus and
subacutus from 8.W. Africa also belong. The $ specimen, though
very much denuded, obviously belongs to this species.
1 2 B. karasanus n. sp.
Body, including scutellum and antennae, black; legs yellowish red,
the extreme apices of femora (or knees) and apical parts of tarsi,
however, darkened, with the spines on femora and the spicules on
tibiae and tarsi black and with a tendency for the minute scaling on
outer surfaces of the tibiae to be black, the scaling on femora, however,
sericeous whitish; pubescence not very dense and long, that on
abdomen towards apex the longest, that on frons, face, and genae not
very dense, predominantly sericeous whitish, the scaling along inner
margins of eyes more silvery, with the dense bristly hairs on occiput
appearing more whitish in certain lights, the hair on thorax above
comparatively sparse and whitish, but appearing greyish in certain
lights, that on sides in front of wings gleaming more sericeous, the
more woolly pubescence on pleurae duller and frosty white, the
bristly hairs on coxae, however, gleaming sericeous whitish, with the
sparse hair-like depressed scaling on thorax sericeous yellowish but
frosty whitish on the two whitish longitudinal lines over disc, with the
pubescence on abdomen (as far as this is not denuded) composed of
depressed, flattened, frosty white scaling and sericeous yellowish to
golden scaling and silvery or sericeous whitish gleaming hairs and
bristly hairs the bases of which are distinctly golden yellow towards
apex at least and intermixed with which there are transversely
towards apex blackish hairs and also distinct blackish hairs on sides of
abdomen, on tergites 2 and 3, the short erect hair on sides of tergite 1
entirely white, with the dense scaling and hairs on venter pre-
dominantly white and that on extreme sides of abdomen also white,
with the macrochaetal bristles on each side in front of wings gleaming
reddish yellow, the feebler bristles on post-alar calli and across hind
margin of scutellum predominantly whitish, their bases however more
yellowish, without any distinct and stout transverse bristles across
hind margins of abdomen; wings rather elongate, having the shape
characteristic for permixtus, subacutus and cockerelli, glassy hyaline,
the base, alula, and costal cell more subopaquely whitish, with the
152 Annals of the South African Museum.
basal comb black, with the veins dark blackish brown, becoming more
brownish to yellowish brown towards base, the veins at base being
yellowish brown excepting the dark costal vein, with the discal cross
vein much before middle of discoidal cell, the discoidal cell subacute
apically, the apical cross vein short but distinct as in subacutus, with
the squamae subopaquely whitish and fringed with white hairs;
halteres pale yellowish brown, with the knobs very dark brown above.
Head with the interocular space on vertex about 24 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 1 slightly thicker apically than
basally, about 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 (including terminal
elements) quite 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadest near
base (profile), then gradually narrowed apically, the apical half,
however, equally thick and rod-like, with the terminal elements well
developed as in subacutus and the other species in this series, composed
of more or less 3 distinct and separately visible elements, a short
basal joint, a longer second joint, and a bluntish short stylar element;
proboscis long, about 5 mm. long, the apical lobes of labella broadish
and rounded, the proboscis itself apparently less spinulose than in the
other species; palps dark, but whitish-haired. Legs without any
spines on front and middle femora; hind ones with about 8-9 spines
from near base to apex on outer side below and 1 or 2 smallish ones
on inner side towards apex; claws curved down apically and the
pulvilli well developed, extending to middle, or even slightly beyond
middle, of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 9$ mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Great Karas Mts.
(Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This species is easily distinguished from subacutus by the black
antennae, black face, predominantly whitish pubescence, dark veins
in wings and claws which are distinctly curved down apically and
which have well developed pulvili. From permiztus it may be
distinguished by the more whitish pubescence above and below, the
more rod-shaped third antennal joints, darker wing-venation, and less
acute discoidal cell. From cockerelli, which it more closely resembles,
it may be distinguished by having an entirely black face, absence of
black hairs on antennae, face, and genae, slightly broader interocular
space, slightly more basally thickened third antennal joints, and
slightly less obviously spinulated proboscis.
The above four species together show a mixture of characters,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 153
which show affinities with members of section 3, such as the presence
of silvery patches on each side of antennae (permiztus and subacutus),
the acuteness of the discoidal cell and the position of the discal cross
vein, which is even nearer the base of the cell. With members of
group 2, they agree in being yellow or whitish-haired, having yellow
legs, etc. To a certain extent they also show affinities with the
mollis-series in having black spines on the legs. The wings are
peculiar in that they are relatively elongate and narrowish in all
four species.
SECTION 5.
B. mollis Bezz.
(P. 15, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Bezzi, p. 54, The Bomby-
lidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924; syn.=disjunctus Bezz.,
p. 15, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviu, and p. 54, loc. cit.)
In the collections before me there is, in addition to the 3-type
of mollis and a 2 specimen from Salisbury (24/4/17) labelled as a
3-disjunctus Bezz. by Bezzi, a series of 3g and 92 which obviously
belong to the same species. The 33 agree in every respect with the
3-type of mollis and the 99 with the 9-specimen of disjunctus (mistaken
for a g by Bezzi) and also with the long description of disjunctus
(Bezzi, pp. 54-55, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region). There
is no doubt that Bezzi did not examine the genital segment of the
Q-specimen in the South African Museum, which he referred to a
3-disyunctus. Owing to the fact that in mollis the terminal abdominal
segments are somewhat telescoped, a mistake in distinguishing the
sexes is easily made. As this species is practically unique in having
the interocular space in 99 very narrow, there is no doubt that all
Bezzi’s specimens of disjunctus from Nyasaland, Abyssinia, Kenya,
Uganda, and Natal described as $9 of disjunctus will, on examination,
prove to be 99 and moreover the 99 of mollis. The interesting com-
ments of Bezzi on p. 54 (loc. cit.): “. . . The following description
also applies in most points to the preceding species (i.e. mollis), and it
would seem that the two species exist side by side; yet it 1s very
curious to note that in both cases, as in all the known species of the
B. mollis-series, only males are known . . .”’ seem to support my
contention that disjunctus Bezz. is a synonym of mollis Bezz. of which
it represents the female sex. This species, as based on the 3-type and
the series of ¢¢ and 92 from southern Africa, is characterised as
follows: Body, including scutellum, black, with the pleurae some-
154 Annals of the South African Museum.
times infused with reddish brown or yellowish brown around the
sutures, with the abdomen characteristically cordiform in shape,
broad, its apical part appearing truncated due to the terminal seg-
ments being telescoped or tucked in under segment 5; legs yellowish,
only the knees on outer side may be darkened and the apical parts of
tarsi also darkened, with the spines on femora below and the spicules
on tibiae and tarsi black; pubescence dense, but not markedly long,
that on thorax above with a somewhat shorn off appearance, especially
in gS, that on sides of abdomen the longest and tuft-like opposite the
segments, that on body above predominantly creamy yellowish,
greyish yellow to pale golden yellowish, that on pleurae, especially
lower part, and on coxae paler, appearing more creamy whitish in
certain lights, that on face gleaming more sericeous yellowish, that on
genae more brownish, that on face in ¢¢ with distinct dark or blackish
hairs projecting apically beyond apices of pale hairs, the hairs on lower
parts of genae in both sexes also predominantly dark, but more so in
dd, and in 3 also with a row of dark hairs or some dark hairs on sides
of face, with the bristly hairs on first antennal joints in gd predom-
inantly dark blackish brown, in 92 with more numerous yellowish or
pale ones, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and on sides of frons in
both sexes very dark blackish brown or black, with intermixed fine
erect hairs on disc of thorax and basally, intermixed bristly hairs on
post-alar calli, on disc and across hind margin of scutellum and the
transverse bristly hairs across hind margins of abdominal tergites
from 2 to apex, denser, longer, and more conspicuously tuft-like on
sides of tergites 2-4, black, the bases of the black hairs on abdomen at
least paler and more yellowish in certain lights, with the 2 macrochaetal
bristles in front of wings yellowish, with the pubescence on venter
predominantly pale creamy yellowish, appearing whiter along sides
where the pubescence is also denser and longer, with the fine depressed
scaling on frons in 99 brassy or golden yellowish, that on thorax above,
on scutellum and much denser to very dense on abdomen above,
gleaming brassy to golden yellowish, with the scaling on legs dull
whitish, but with feeble yellowish tints in certain lights; wings rather
narrowish and pointed, especially in 3g, vitreous hyaline to even
slightly greyish hyaline, the basal part, costal cell, bases of marginal
and first submarginal cells, the greater part of first basal cell, to
a certain extent the second basal cell and extreme base of anal cell in
$3 usually darker and tinged more subopaquely yellowish brown or
yellowish than in 99 where it is more subopaquely greyish, with the
basal comb poorly developed and blackish but with pale scaling above,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 155
with the veins brownish yellow to dark brownish and even very dark
brownish in some specimens, the costal and first longitudinal veins
usually appearing darker, with the first posterior cell sharply and
angularly acute apically, the stalk shortish with the discal cross vein
before or even much before middle of discoidal cell, with the discoidal
cell subacute apically, with the alula more greyish hyaline than hyaline
part of wing, its fringe darkish, but the much longer hairs near base
yellowish, with the anal cell comparatively not very broad, with the
squamae subopaquely yellowish brown or pale yellowish brown and
fringed with creamy yellowish hair; halteres pale yellowish brown,
with very pale yellowish spherical knobs. Head with the eyes above
in $3 in actual contact for a distance at least as long as length of
ocellar tubercle or at least subequal to its length, separated above on
vertex in 92 by a space which is remarkably narrow, at narrowest
part only about 14-14 times as broad as narrowish tubercle, the inner
margins of eyes then subparallel for a distance nearly or quite 2 times
as long as ocellar tubercle before they gradually diverge apically, the
frons in 9° thus narrow and elongate; eyes in 99 with the facets in
upper anterior part very much coarser than on rest of eye, and also
unique in being distinctly coarser than in gg; face in 99 also remark-
able in being slightly narrower than in gg; antennae with joint 1
about 33-4 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, broadest before middle, narrowed apically and slightly more
so dorsally, the joint in profile thus appearing slightly humped, the
apical part slender, ending apically in a distinct nodular and joint-like
basal element, passing into a second conical joint-like element which
itself passes into the somewhat blunt stylar element; proboscis long,
about 54-64 mm. long; palps short, thick and with longish hairs on
side. Legs with sparse and longish hairs on femora below, without
any spines below on front femora; middle ones with some minute ones
below; hind femora with from 5-11 spines below from just before, or
even from, middle to apex (the gd usually with more numerous spines)
on outer side and a row of small ones on inner side; claws sickle-
shaped and the pulvilli well developed; anterior tarsi in 92 with the
joints not modified or thickened. Hypopygiwm of 3 (text-fig. 21) is
characterised by the well-developed inner apical angles or processes
of basal parts, which are broad, flattened, projecting prominently
beyond beaked apical joints and are rounded apically, provided with
dense, short hairs along dorsal margins; beaked apical joints remark-
able in that they are more or less laterally compressed, flattened in
apical half, and their apices are bluntly rounded and not acutely
156 Annals of the South African Museum.
pointed as in other species of Bombylius; aedeagus with the apex not
projecting beyond bases of beaked apical joints, broad in basal half.
In the Imperial Institute, British, Natal, Transvaal, and South
African Museums.
Length of body : about 8-10 mm.
Length of wing : about 8-9 mm.
Locality—_S.E. Cape Province, Karoo, Natal, Transvaal, Rhodesia,
and, according to Bezzi, Hast and Central Africa.
The species is easily recognisable by its cordiform abdomen, its
narrow interocular space in 99, the tufts of black hair on sides of
TEext-Fic. 21.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius mollis Bezz.
‘abdomen, and by the apically acute first posterior cell. There is no
doubt that this species, which is so widely distributed in Africa and
southern Africa, is variable to a certain extent, especially in the
colour of its pubescence and the intensity of the darker basal infusca-
tion or tinge in the wings of the gg. Even the discal cross vein is not
always and constantly situated at one place. In one $ from the Karoo
the discal cross vein is even at about the middle and not just or even
much before middle of discoidal cell as in the majority of specimens.
The number of spines on hind femora is also variable. This species
is retained in the nubilus-section, to which Bezzi referred it, but as
there are no other species in the collections before me which can be
placed with it, mollis at present is the only South African repre-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 157
sentative of this section. Whether it really does come in the same
category as the Palaearctic nubilus Mik. and pilirostris Lw. and the
Tropical African species erythrocerus Bezz., neithokris Jaenn., paral-
lelus Bezz., terminatus Beck., femoralis Bezz., and melanopus Bezz.
I am not able to state without having seen representatives of these
species.
GROUP 2.
B. globulus Bezz.
(P. 17, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
A very long series of this species before me shows that it is subject
to local and regional variations, ranging from very small individuals
to comparatively fairly large specimens. The chief characteristics
of this small species are:—
Body appearing humped owing to the longish, shaggy pubescence
on anterior half of thorax, is predominantly black above and even
below, with the antennae or sometimes only joints 1 and 2, sometimes
the face, the greater part of proboscis, the sides of abdomen broadly
in $3, the hind margins of apical abdominal segments in 99, the
pleural parts to a varying extent (more often only sutural parts),
and the legs yellowish to pale yellowish red or reddish; pubescence
rather long, dense, and shaggy, varying from silvery whitish on thorax
and abdomen above in $¢ to sericeous yellowish or even distinctly
yellowish in some g¢ and in majority of 92, that on pleurae and body
below paler and usually more distinctly whitish in both sexes, that on
abdomen above in some 99 also less yellowish than on thorax, that on
ocellar tubercle, frons, antennae, and face also ranging from straw-
coloured whitish to distinctly yellowish; wings rather narrowish and
elongate, apparently more so in g6, clear-hyaline in 99 or only very
shghtly tinged yellowish at extreme base, distinctly and conspicuously
tinged yellowish to pale yellowish brown in 3d, only the apical part
beyond or from apical part of first posterior cell being more hyaline,
the yellow also deeper towards base and sometimes very much so in
some $3, the veins brownish, becoming paler towards base, with the
discal cross vein distinctly before middle of discoidal cell. Head with
the eyes in $¢ separated above by width of ocellar tubercle, in 92 by
a space a little less than 3 times as broad as tubercle; eyes usually
reddish or purplish red; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined
subequal to or even distinctly shorter than 3, with 3 often darkened,
158 Annals of the South African Museum.
broadest nearer base, not compressed, rapidly narrowed apically,
the apical part or half being slender, often giving the joints a distinct
club-shape, with the terminal style slender and straight; proboscis
varying in length from 2-4 mm., the labella usually blackened; palps
shortish and pallid. Legs with about 3-5 slender spines in apical half
on hind femora. Hypopygiwm of 3 (text-fig. 22) with the beaked
apical joints having their apices usually bent downwards and then
TExtT-Fic. 22.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium, dorsal view of beaked
apical joint, and side view of base of basal strut of J Bombylius globulus Bezz.
outwards, and basal strut long and bat-shaped and with a distinct
dorsal process at base (shown between the two figures).
Length of body : about 34-6 mm.
Length of wing : about 4-6} mm.
Locality — Namaqualand, Nieuwveld Karoo, South and South
Hastern or Little Karoo. (In the Imperial Institute, British,
Transvaal, and South African Museums.)
The typical form from Namaqualand usually has the pubescence on
body of gg above silvery or silky whitish, the antennae usually
entirely pallid or yellowish, and the reddish on sides of abdomen,
especially in $3, very extensive, and the proboscis tends to be shorter.
A series of specimens from “Teekloof” in the escarpment between
Nieuwveld Karoo and Gouph Karoo differs in having the pubescence
in both gg and 92 yellowish to pale golden yellowish, darkish third
antennal joints, and more extensively red or even entirely reddish
pleurae and venter. Specimens from Worcester and Matjiesfontein
in the British Museum differ from the typical Namaqualand form in
having the abdomen in 33 less extensively reddened on the side, and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 159
the apex is also less conspicuously red, the dark third antennal joints
appear to be slightly shorter, the pubescence is also more yellowish, and
the proboscis is on the whole longer as in the Teekloof series. Finally
there is a very small form, 33-4 mm. long, having yellowish pubescence
in both sexes, almost entirely black abdomen in both sexes, black
pleurae and apparently slightly longer wings. B. globulus is one of
the commonest Bombyliids in some parts of Namaqualand and
the Karoo. It usually settles on the sand and is also very fond of
frequenting the flowers of Mesembryanthemums.
B. eurhinatus Bezz.
(E16. Anais. Afe. Mus., vok xviii, 1921.)
This species was described by Bezzi from three 9° in the collection
of the South African Museum, one 2 of which was named eurhinatus
by Bigot but was not described. In the material before me there are
both 99 and 36, the latter as yet undescribed. The characters of this
interesting species are as follows: Body black, but with the occiput
just behind ocellar tubercle in 92, the frons, antennae, face, genae,
head below, greater part or entire proboscis, palps, to a certain extent
propleural part in both sexes, mesopleural and metapleural infusions
especially in 99, the humeral part on each side especially in 99, the
post-alar calli and the greater part of scutellum in both sexes, the sides
of abdomen very broadly in 33, margins on sides of tergites in some
09, the last tergite in both sexes or in some 99 at least greater part of
last tergite, the greater part of venter in Jd, the broadish hind margins
of most of the sternites in 99 or at least basally or apically, the coxae
and legs yellowish to pale reddish yellow, the apical part or apical
undersurface of the proboscis and the last tarsal joints may be
darkened, the apical part and in g¢ the front femora are sometimes
darkened basally; pubescence on the whole sparse and shortish on
head in both sexes, predominantly yellowish to fulvous yellowish, that
towards apex of abdomen both on sides and above becoming paler,
more creamy yellowish to whitish, that on thorax in front and on sides
in front of wings with reddish or pale purplish reddish gleams in certain
lights, that on pleurae with distinct pale pink mauvish gleams
especially along middle, that on head below paler and more whitish,
that on coxae more pale yellowish, but also with admixed pale pink
mauvish elements in some specimens, that (slightly tuft-like) above
front coxae and sometimes extending on to sternopleuron gleaming
more whitish in some specimens, that on venter pale pink mauvish
160 Annals of the South African Museum.
or pale reddish mauvish to fulvous, but with the bristly hairs basally
gleaming more whitish, with the shortish ocellar bristly hairs, the short
bristles on frons laterally, the bristly hairs on first antennal joints, the
sparse and short bristles on sides and front part of face, the macro-
chaetal bristles in front of wings, the mesopleural bristles, the longish
post-alar bristles, longish scutellar bristles, and the transverse ones on
abdomen gleaming pale reddish yellow, those on abdomen, however,
paler and more sericeous yellowish and even paler apically, the short
and fine depressed pubescence on head gleaming sericeous yellowish
to pale golden yellowish, the scaling on legs gleaming very pale
yellowish white to whitish; wings glassy hyaline, but with the
base, costal cell, basal half of marginal cell, base of first submarginal
cell, more than basal half of first basal cell, and greater part of second
basal cell tinged subopaquely brownish, ochreous yellowish to brownish
yellow, the base being more or paler yellowish, with an indication of
a darker brownish infusion in first basal cell opposite base of third
longitudinal cell and darker spot-like infuscations on apical cross veins
of first and second basal cells, with the basal comb predominantly
yellowish or reddish yellow, with the veins yellowish to pale reddish
yellow, becoming slightiy darker towards apex of wing, with the discal
cross vein much before middle of discoidal cell and apical cross vein of
discoidal cell quite as long or even longer than discal cross vein, with
the squamae opaquely yellowish to yellowish brown and fringed with
yellowish or fulvous hairs; halteres pale yellowish brown, with very
pale yellowish knobs in both sexes. Head with the eyes above in 3g
separated at narrowest part by a space a little narrower than ocellar
tubercle, sometimes only as broad as front part of tubercle or even as
broad as large front ocellus, very broadly separated in 99 by a space
on vertex quite 34, or even a little more, times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 from 4-43 times as long as 2, with 3 quite
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, almost rod-like, very gradually
narrowed apically, ending in a small basal element passing into a short
stylar part; face well developed, somewhat prominent, projecting
spout-like; proboscis remarkably long, about 6-10 mm. long, usually
projecting straight forwards, spinulated below, especially basally;
palps distinctly and visibly two-jointed, the apical joint shorter and
the basal joint somewhat arcuately curved inwards, its apical part
broadened and flattened. Legs with some hairs basally below on
femora in gg; middle femora with about 1-3 spines in front below
and sometimes with 1 spine behind; hind femora with about 7-10
spines below from near base to apex; front tarsi in 9? with joints 2-5
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 161
slightly thicker and more hairy than middle tarsi or front ones in 3g.
Hypopygvum of 3 (text-fig. 23) is slightly different from the usual type
in that the aedeagus has a ventral aedeagal process (V.Ae.Pr.) which
is narrowed apically and projects downwards, the slender apical part
of the aedeagus itself is bent upwards and projects much beyond the
beaked apical joints, the aedeagal strut on each side above middle
part is long and strap-like, projecting visibly basally above lateral
TExt-Fic. 23.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius eurhinatus Bezz.
struts; beaked apical joints without visible bristles; basal strut pole-
axe shaped. In the Imperial Institute and South African Museum.
Length of body : about 7-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 74-124 mm.
Locality. West Cape Province and Namaqualand.
This species is very easily recognisable by its remarkably long
proboscis, basally infuscated wings, reddish antennae, etc. From
Macquart’s description of rufus Macq. (p. 91, Dipt. Exot. 1, Tab. VI,
fig. 5, et Tab. VII, fig. 3, 1840) it appears that either rufus is very
near this species or may even be the same, in which case eurhinatus
Bezz. would become a synonym of rufus. The species appears to be
shightly variable in size and in the length of the proboscis. A 3
specimen from Kasane in Bechuanaland does not differ much from
the typical Namaqualand forms, except that the dark brown infusca-
162 Annals of the South African Museum.
tion basally on the wings is less diffuse, more perceptibly demarcated,
the basal half of marginal cell and first submarginal cell being almost
hyaline and the infuscations on the cross veins less diffused; spines
on hind femora below more numerous (11-12); the erect hair on body
is also slightly less golden, more pale yellowish white or creamy
whitish above in certain lights, and those at apex of abdomen are also
more white, those on face slightly more dense and the bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle and in a tuft on each side of frons anteriorly and even
on first antennal joints above slightly darker and more brownish;
proboscis is only about 6 mm. long. This specimen was described by
me as a distinct variety bechuanus Hesse (see p. 163, Ann. Trans. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1936), and is in the Transvaal Museum.
B. brachyrrhynchus Bezz.
(Py lo, Ann, S. Atc. Mus., vol. xvam, 19218)
This species is very near eurhinatus, differing, however, in having
more extensive yellowish infusions on the pleurae, the entire pleurae
in both sexes sometimes extensively yellowish and more so than in
eurhinatus, in having the third antennal joints distinctly darker,
usually blackish or very dark reddish brown, the proboscis is more
extensively darkened or blackened below and in having the sides of
abdomen or at least the hind margins on sides of the tergites even in 29
distinctly and broadly reddish or yellowish; pubescence on frons and
face distinctly denser and slightly longer in both sexes, even that on
occiput relatively longer, that on abdomen above, in 99 at least,
distinctly less dense and shorter, with much fewer erect hairs, com-
posed of transverse rows of gleaming bristles across hind margins and
depressed deep golden yellowish fine hairs and scaling, which even on
sides of body are not so long as the bristles and as in eurhinatus, with
the colour of the general pubescence the same as that of eurhinatus
but on the whole paler and more whitish on pleurae and body below
especially on coxal parts, though also with a feeble pinkish mauve tint
as in eurhinatus, with the bristles on body more gleaming whitish at
their apices; wings with the basal darker part much paler yellowish,
and this subopaque yellowish practically absent from basal parts of
marginal and first submarginal cells, thus less diffuse, with the darker
spot-like infuscations also indicated as in eurhinatus and with a
tendency for first posterior cell to be more acute apically than in
eurhinatus; head with the eyes above in 33 separated by a space about
as broad as front ocellus, the interocular space in 99 relatively broader
A Revision of the Bombyluidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 163
than in eurhinatus and quite 4—44 times as broad as tubercle, with
antennal joint 1 about 4 times as long as 2, but with 3 relatively
shorter, only a little longer than, and not 14 times as long as, 1 and 2
combined, with the proboscis usually more extensively darkened
below and very much shorter, only about 3-5 mm. long, with the face
on the whole less produced, with the palps as in eurhinatus and with
the basal joint also arcuately curved inwards, the palps, however,
more slender; legs with the last 2 tarsal joints darkened, with 2-3
TEext-Fic. 24.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢
Bombylius brachyrrhynchus Bezz.
spines on middle femora in front and 1—2 behind, with 5-8 more slender
spines on hind femora below and with the front tarsi in 99 also slightly
thickened but less conspicuously hairy than in eurhinatus. Hypo-
pyguum of g (text-fig. 24) is different from that of eurhinatus in that
the apical part of aedeagus is shorter, projecting only slightly beyond
the inner apical angles of basal parts; aedeagus with the base com-
pressed, with a ventral aedeagal process in form of a platform-like
plate with a small process on each side projecting backwards, with
the dorsal basally directed aedeagal strut on each side above middle
part elongate, strap-like, projecting basally, but this strut narrower
than in eurhinatus; basal strut is shorter, broader posteriorly, and
more fan-shaped.
In the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 74-9 mm.
164 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locahty.—Namaqualand, Bushmanland, and Gouph Karoo.
Both eurhinatus and brachyrrhynchus difter from all other species of
Bombylius in this section in certain salient features, such as the
infuscation in basal and costal parts in wings, the presence or indita-
tions of spot-like infuscations on the cross veins, and the peculiar
structures of the hypopygium. A separate section should really be
established to contain them.
1 3 B. rhomboidalis n. sp.
Black, with dull whitish bloom on integument, more evident below;
hind margin of scutellum indistinctly, hind margins of abdominal
segments above and below and the genital segment reddish, the apical
TExt-F1IG. 25.—Wing of Bombylius rhomboidalis n. sp.
margins medially on venter more ivory whitish; legs with the femora,
tibiae, and basal halves of tarsi yellowish, the apical parts of tarsi
more brownish; pubescence dense on thorax, somewhat sparse and
shortish on face, predominantly white, that on thorax above gleaming
silvery white, that on abdomen more sericeous whitish, with the
depressed pubescence on frons gleaming more sericeous yellowish, the
hairs on face also with more sericeous yellowish gleams in certain
lights, the pubescence on body below duller and frosty white, with
the macrochaetal bristles in front of wings, the post-alar bristles and
the scutellar bristles gleaming sericeous yellowish, those on abdomen
sericeous white, with the fine depressed hair-like scaling on body above
pale sericeous yellowish, but gleaming more brassy yellowish in certain —
lights and much denser on abdomen above, the depressed pubescence
and scaling on venter whitish, the scaling on legs whitish; wings
(text-fig. 25) feebly greyish hyaline, with the base and costal cell
subopaquely whitish, with the veins brownish, becoming pale yellowish
in basal half, the costal and first longitudinal veins yellowish, the veins
at extreme base even paler yellowish, the apical cross veins of basal
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 165
cells shghtly but distinctly darkened, with the basal comb very poorly
developed and yellowish, with the discal cross vein at about middle
of discoidal cell, with the second longitudinal vein undulating, with
the first posterior cell (I) much longer than discoidal cell, attenuated
apically, sessile on hind border apically and not stalked, with the third
posterior cell (III) rhomboidal, its four sides being more or less equal
in length, with the second and fourth posterior cells equal in length
on hind border of wing, with the squamae opaquely whitish and white-
fringed; halteres very pale yellowish white, with almost white knobs.
~
NA eS eT
=~
a Seat ae
TExt-Fic. 26.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius rhomboidalis n. sp. .
Head with the eyes above separated by a space about as broad as front
part of ocellar tubercle for a distance subequal in length to tubercle;
face rather short; antennae with joint 1 short, only about 2 times as
long as 2, with 3 nearly or quite 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
broadest just before middle (view in profile), from there narrowed
apically along lower edge, the upper edge being almost straight, the
joint thus appearing humped below, ending apically in a conical basal
element passing into a bluntish style; proboscis about 3 mm. long.
Legs without any distinct hairs on femora below, with 1 or 2 spines
below on each side near apex on middle femora; hind femora with
about 8 pallid spines below from near base to apex; claws curved
downwards apically and the pulvilli nearly as long as claws. Hypo-
pyguum (text-fig. 26) with the basal parts compact and broad, the
inner apical angles or processes of basal parts inconspicuous, with
VOL. XXXIV. 12
166 Annals of the South African Museum.
inconspicuous hairs on dorsum, but longer ones around base of beaked
joints; beaked apical joints considerably flattened, depressed or
hollowed out above, smooth, the pointed apex directed upwards and
outwards; aedeagus with the slender apex flattened, straight, pro-
jecting much beyond beaked apical joints, the basal part produced
apically into a downwardly directed, flattened, tongue-like ventral
process, the apical part of which is slightly narrowed and recurved,
with the dorsal basally directed strut on each side above middle part
flattened, pointed, and visibly projecting basally above lateral struts;
lateral struts shoe-horn shaped; basal strut ham-shaped, the dorsal
margin more rounded than the ventral one.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Kamanyab (Mus. Exp.,
March 1925).
This species differs from related species in this category and all
the other species in this group in having the first posterior cell almost
opening on the hind border of the wing. There is no stalk apically
to this cell. The second posterior cell is rhomboidal. The black
antennae, predominantly black scutellum, shorter face, peculiar first
posterior cell, and silvery pubescence on thorax separate it from
sessilis Bezz.
B. sessilis Bezz.
(P. 19; Annes Aire: Mus.) vol) xviii 921)
This interesting species was described by Bezzi from a single 9
from Bushmanland. As I have before me a long series of 92 from
S.W. Africa and also a single g-specimen from the Karoo, I am able
to give a fuller description. As this g shows the characteristic
features of this species, I have no doubt that it belongs to this species.
Body black; face and head below, antennal joint | in 99, coxae and
legs yellowish to pale ochreous yellow, the last 3 or 4 tarsal joints
blackish brown, and apices of claws black; scutellum, excluding the
narrow black base, and the narrow hind margins of abdominal seg-
ments 3 or 4~7 in 99 (broader laterally and even on segment 2), and
broader lateral margins of segments in g, as well as broader hind
margins of venter in both sexes and often infusions on pleurae pale
yellowish red to reddish; wings hyaline, but with a faint subopaquely
whitish tint in certain lights, the base, costal cell, and basal half of first
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 167
basal cell sightly more subopaquely yellowish, the base being more
distinctly yellowish, with the veins reddish brown to dark brownish,
becoming paler and more yellowish towards base and along first
longitudinal vein, especially in 3, with the basal comb well developed
and yellowish, the spines often more brownish, with the first posterior
cell markedly elongate and attenuated apically, provided with a very
short stalk, shghtly longer in 3, with the discal cross vein much beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae comparatively large,
subopaquely yellowish white and white-fringed; halteres yellowish,
with whitish knobs; pubescence straw-coloured yellowish to creamy
yellowish on body above in 99, slightly more straw-coloured yellowish
on thorax in 3, that on abdomen in $ more white and in 99 only more
whitish along sides, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in 99
more creamy yellowish, but with sericeous whitish gleams towards
their apices, with the short, depressed pubescence on thorax and
abdomen above creamy whitish to creamy yellowish and more evident
in 92, with the pubescence on frons in 99 deep ochreous yellow, almost
white in g, that on body below entirely chalky or cretaceous white
and comparatively dense, with the bristles in front of wings and on
scutellum slightly more pale sericeous yellowish in $ and almost
whitish in 99, with the pubescence on entire body above and on
pleurae appearing considerably paler owing to pale greyish white
or whitish integumentary bloom. Head markedly broad, distinctly
more apparent in g; eyes in 3g very large, the inner margins above in
Sin contact or contiguous for a little distance, slightly less than length
of tubercle, then rapidly diverging apically, with the interocular space
in 99 very broad, about 3-34 times as broad as tubercle on vertex and
then gradually diverging apically; frons in g distinctly depressed and
only slightly so in 99; face and genae almost entirely bare, short
bristly hairs being present only on sides above; antennae with joint
1 short, about 2 times as long as joint 2 in g and not quite 2 times in
29, with joint 3 remarkably broadened in basal half and conspicuously
thin and slender in apical half in 2, more gradually attenuated in $
and also less broad basally, often distinctly covered with fine, whitish,
depressed, scale-like pubescence above; proboscis about 4-5 mm.
long, entirely black and comparatively stout; palps pallid, the apical
joint short and directed upwards. Legs with white scaling on femora
and without long pubescent hairs below; front femora unarmed
below; middle ones with about 4—5 small spines below; hind ones with
about 7—9 longer spines below from near base to apex; claws slightly
longer in 3, rather rapidly curved downwards apically in both sexes.
168 Annals of the South African Museum.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 27) with the basal parts compact and
broad, the dorsum with fine and longish hairs, the inner apical
processes of basal parts just visible, with the inner apical part in neck
region, bounding the beaked apical joints basally, with a distinct
downwardly directed spine or spine-like process (Sp.) on its ventral
apical aspect, on each side, of apical part of aedeagus; neck region
round base of beaked apical joints slightly produced lip-like outwardly
Text-Fic. 27.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Bombylius sessilis Bezz.
and there punctured and covered with short spine-like hairs; beaked
apical joints feebly developed, much reduced, flattened, and with
inconspicuous spinules above, punctured, and with some hairs below
near base, the apex feebly pointed; aedeagus with the apical part
projecting beyond basal parts, the basal part produced forwards and
downwards into a ventral aedeagal process, slightly carinate centrally
in front, with the dorsal aedeagal struts broad and shoe-horn shaped;
basal strut very narrow.
Length of body: about 8-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10 mm.
Locality—Central Karoo, Bushmanland, N.W. Cape, and Great
Namaqualand (from Aus.). (In the British and 8.A. Museums.)
This is a very characteristic and remarkable species, easily recog-
nised by the attenuated and very acute first posterior cell, remarkably
broad head, almost bare face and genae.and peculiar hypopygium.
Like some other species of Bombylidae, it is widely distributed in
- A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 169
the dry and semi-arid parts of §. Africa and S.W. Africa, somewhat
similar to the distribution of Systoechus xerophilus n. sp., which is
known to parasitise the egg-pods of the brown locust.
B. mundus Lw.
(P. 13, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863; Bezzi, p. 18, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
A few specimens in the 8. Afr. Museum were referred to mundus by
Bezzi. One 9 was labelled as picticornis by Bigot. It is very doubtful,
indeed, whether these specimens belong to the same species as that
described by Loew. Loew’s very short description is in this case
unsatisfactory and practically useless for purposes of determination.
Bezzi’s identification also rests mostly on assumption, and at present
I can only redescribe this species and retain it provisionally in mundus.
Black; frons, antennal joints 1 and 2, face, proboscis below, head below,
propleural part, a longitudinal band across pleurae, the sutural parts
of pleurae or even the greater part of pleurae, the postalar callosities,
the scutellum, the hind margins of the abdominal tergites, the sides
broadly of abdomen, almost entire apical tergites and the venter pale
yellowish red to salmon pinkish, even the entire body below some-
times reddish; legs, including coxae and trochanters, predominantly
yellowish or pale reddish yellow, only a spot on trochanters black, the
last or two last tarsal joints darkened and apices of claws blackish;
pubescence dense, rather shortish in both sexes, with a cropped-off
appearance on thorax, more evident in $¢, that on occiput even in 92
also shortish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen, even in 99,
short and scarcely longer than the pubescence, with the pubescence
above pale creamy yellowish to pale golden in 33, gleaming pale
golden yellowish even to deeper golden in 99, that on occiput, front
part of thorax and towards apical part of abdomen, in some 3¢
distinctly more sericeous whitish in certain lights, in fact that towards
apex of abdomen in ¢¢ distinctly gleaming whitish, that on head and
face in gg also paler and more sericeous whitish or pale sericeous
yellowish, more gleaming pale golden yellowish in 99, that on body
below in both sexes only very slightly or scarcely paler than above,
only duller, even that on venter only slightly paler yellowish, that on
sides of abdomen basally slightly richer yellowish than discally, with
the stoutish macrochaetal bristles, the post-alar ones, those on
scutellum and the transverse ones on abdomen gleaming yellowish in
33S, to gleaming deep golden in 99, their apices gleaming more whitish,
170 Annals of the South African Museum.
those on venter also yellowish to golden; wings hyaline, with the base
and costal cell slightly more subopaquely whitish, with the basal
comb small and yellowish, the veins usually yellowish, but sometimes
more reddish and even brownish in some specimens, all becoming
paler basally, with the discal cross vein tending to be nearer middle,
slightly beyond or even a good distance beyond middle of discoidai
TExt-FIG. 28.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and dorsal or apical
view of beaked apical joint of § Bombylius mundus Lw.
in sessilis and provided with a short stalk, with the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish, its fringe pale creamy or whitish; halteres pale
yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes above in gg
contiguous for a little distance in front of ocellar tubercle, then at
first gradually diverging apically, the interocular space in 99 about 3,
or a little more, times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint |
about 2 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 14 times as long as | and 2
combined, gradually narrowed apically, the first terminal joint conical
and bearing an equally long style; proboscis about 4-5 mm. long;
palps yellowish, with short apical joints. Legs without any spines on
front femora below; middle ones with about 4-6 anteriorly below;
hind ones with about 8-10 from near base to apex below; claws
slender, curved downwards, and with the pulvilli extending to beyond
middle of claws; front tarsi thickened in 99. Hypopygium of 3 (text-
fig. 28) with the beaked apical joints comparatively small ending in a
sharp downwardly and outwardly directed apical beak, the outer
apical angle prominent; aedeagus with the slender apical part pro-
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 171
jecting slightly beyond beaked apical joints (when retracted), provided
ventrally with a very remarkable ventral aedeagal process, the basal
part of which is directed downwards as a vertical, lamellate plate or
keel, the base of which is connected on each side with the lateral rami,
the apical part, again, is in the shape of a broad, flattened, slightly
bilobate, horizontal plate, projecting forwards and hiding the aedeagus
and beaked apical joints, its lower surface is roughly shagreened, even
minutely spined laterally; dorso-basal aedeagal struts broad, strap-
hike, but attenuated towards their apices and do not quite reach bases
of basal parts; basal strut comparatively narrow and bat-shaped.
In the South African Museum.
Length of body : about 7-94 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Locality.—North Namaqualand, Bushmanland, and Karoo.
Hasily recognised by the shape of first posterior cell in wing, the
extensive red on body, and the yellowish pubescence.
1 Q B. atronotatus nu. sp.
Body with the occiput, eyes, frons, third antennal joints, proboscis,
thorax above, parts of pleurae and a central row of large, triangular
spots (narrowed apically) on abdomen above, to a certain extent
tergites 5-7 and infusions on venter, black, with antennal joints 1 and
2, face and head below, sides of thorax above wings, to a certain
extent transversely across base of thorax, the entire scutellum, the
humeral part of thorax, propleural part, pteropleural and metapleural
infusions, the greater part of abdomen above and hind margins of
sternites and the genital segment pale yellowish red or reddish; legs,
including coxae, almost entirely yellowish, only apical parts of tarsi
more brownish and apices of claws black; pubescence shortish on
front part of body, that on thorax above with a slightly cropped-off
appearance, that on face also shortish, very pale sericeous yellowish
above, that on sides of thorax appearing almost whitish in certain
lights, that on disc of thorax and scutellum gleaming more golden,
that on abdomen above more gleaming golden yellowish, the macro-
chaetal bristles, post-alar bristles, scutellar bristles, and those trans-
versely across abdomen deep golden yellowish, the depressed hair-like
scaling on body above gleaming pale golden yellowish, but apparently
more whitish on thorax in front, the pubescence on head below,
pleurae, coxae, in metapleural tuft, sides of abdomen basally and on
venter basally more whitish, that on head below, coxae, and lower
172 Annals of the South African Museum. —
parts of pleurae distinctly more frosty whitish, with the scaling on
legs whitish but showing yellowish tints in certain lights; wings
greyish hyaline, the base, costal cell and to a certain extent first basal
cell more subopaquely yellowish whitish, with the basal comb ochreous
yellowish, the veins reddish brown, becoming more yellowish basally,
with the discal cross vein very much beyond middle and nearer apex
of discoidal cell, with the first posterior cell sharply angularly acute
apically, provided with a shortish apical stalk, which is much shorter
than rest of this vein separating the second submarginal cell from first
posterior cell, with the squamae subopaquely yellowish and fringed
with whitish hair which gleam sericeous yellowish in certain lights;
halteres yellowish, with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the
eyes rather large, prominent, and convex, with the interocular space
on vertex remarkably narrow, about subequal to combined length of
antennal joints 1 and 2, or scarcely a little more than 2 times as broad
as ocellar tubercle; frons thus also narrowish, its sides only very
gradually diverging apically; face short and shorter than combined
length of antennal joints 1 and 2; facial and buccal regions also
remarkably narrow; antennae with joint 1 very short, only about
14 times as long as 2, with 2 elongate and longer than broad, with 3
more or less spindle-shaped, broadest at about basal third, narrowed
basally, but more rapidly and attenuately towards apex, ending
apically in a conical basal element bearing a short stylar element;
proboscis stoutish, about 4 mm. long, its labial part below finely and
visibly strigilose; palps short and yellowish. Legs with about 3 or 4
spines on each side below on middle femora; hind ones with about
12 spines from near base to apex below, which appear to be alternately
long and short; front tarsal joints slightly thickened; claws dis-
tinctly rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex and the
pulvill just reaching bent down apices of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body : about 11 mm.
Length of wing : about 94 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Exp.,
February 1925).
This species is easily recognised by the almost entirely reddish
abdomen which has a central row of black triangular spots, by the
comparatively narrow interocular space and frons and by the acutely
pointed first posterior cell. The narrow interocular space is reminis-
cent of the 9 of mollis. From other species with much red on the
abdomen it differs in this narrow type of interocular space, more
- A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 173
angularly acute first posterior cell and the row of triangular black spots
on abdomen above. From an unknown locality Walker (p. 278,
List. Dipt. Ins. Brit. Mus., pt. 1, 1849) described.a species inornatus
which, according to his description, has also a series of black spots on
the abdomen above. From his vague description it is, however,
impossible to identify his species or to state whether atronotatus is
identical with inornatus. In the former species antennal joint 3 is,
however, spindle-shaped and not linear, and is distinctly much more
than 2 times as long as joint 1, and the knees and tarsi are not piceous,
as in Walker’s species.
B. wmpurus Lw.
(P. 12, Wien. Ent. Monat., vu, 1863; Bezzi, p. 18,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
For the identity of this species I have to rely on a specimen labelled
as impurus Lw. by Bezzi. This $-specimen also agrees with Loew’s
very brief description. As Loew’s description may be applicable to
other species as well, and as neither Loew nor Bezzi had a series of
both $$ and 99 to describe from, it is advisable to redescribe these
specimens which I am also provisionally referring to as impurus.
Black; antennae also entirely black, but joint 1 in some 92 some-
times slightly dull brownish below or on inner sides; extreme front
edge of face sometimes slightly dull brownish or yellowish brown;
slightly inflated sides of buccal cavity dull yellowish; palps yellowish
brown; extreme base of proboscis below slightly or obscurely reddish,
and greater part of scutellum and to a certain extent posterior calli
ferruginous red; abdomen entirely black, only hind margins of
sternites pallid or yellowish, less so in some specimens; legs yellowish,
with the femora blackened to beyond or much beyond the middle in 3g
and in some 99, the greater part of the hind ones being dark, in other 99
femora are blackened in at least the basal halves, with the hind tarsi
sometimes more brownish than yellowish in both sexes, and with the
last two joints of all the tarsi and apices of the claws distinctly black
or very dark; pubescence on the whole markedly dense and short,
that on thorax above very dense, fine, and shortish, with a cropped-off
or shorn-off appearance, more evident in 3d, that on abdomen, especi-
ally in 3d, fine and dense and not markedly long, distinctly longer and
slightly more shaggy in 99, with the transverse rows of bristles across
hind margins of tergites well developed, dense and close together, only
narrowly interrupted discally and even there arranged in more than
174 Annals of the South African Museum.
one row, only those towards apex in 99 slightly longer than the rest of
pubescence, with the pubescence on frons and face also tending to be
shortish, that on frons and face in 3$¢ sericeous to almost silvery
whitish, that on face in 9? whitish, the bristly hairs and bristles and
depressed pubescence on frons in 99 sericeous yellowish to gleaming
golden, the pubescence on antennal joint 1 in 92 also yellowish and
the longer hairs on joint 1 below in g¢ pale sericeous yellowish, the
pubescence on body above pale creamy yellowish to pale soft yellowish
in gd, more yellowish to gleaming golden yellowish in 99, that on
occiput in gg at least more sericeous whitish and even that on front
part of thorax appearing more whitish in certain lights, that on each
side just below posterior calli and behind wings whitish, more frosty
whitish in gg, that towards apex and on sides of abdomen from
segment 4 to apex whitish even in 9? and that on rest of abdomen
above in $¢ with sericeous whitish gleams, especially discally, in
certain lights, that on sides of abdomen basally, in 99 especially, more
yellowish even orange yellowish in some specimens, that on body
below much paler than above, white on head below, on coxae and
pectoral regions and basal part of venter, becoming more creamy
yellowish to yellowish along upper parts of pleurae, that in front and
just below wing-bases appearing deeper yellowish, that in metapleural
tuft almost white again in certain lights, that on venter dull whitish,
becoming slightly more straw-coloured yellowish to yellowish apically,
with an elongated patch of dense, woolly, or crinkly frosty white hair
on each side of venter showing through the hairs, with the macro-
chaetal bristles, those on posterior calli and across hind margin of
scutellum very deep yellowish, reddish, reddish brown to brownish,
their tips gleaming sericeous, with the transverse bristles on abdomen
from segment 2 to 7 very dark blackish brown to black and pale-
tipped, flanked in front of each row by reddish brownish or deeper
yellowish bristly hairs and bristles especially in 99, with the bristles
on venter sparser but also blackish and pale-tipped; wings rather
narrowish, hyaline but with a slight milky whitish tint in certain
positions in some specimens, with the basal comb yellowish, yellowish
brown to even brownish in some 99, with the veins reddish brown or
brownish becoming paler towards base, with the base and costal cell
subopaquely very pale yellowish or yellowish white, with the discal
cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
opaquely very pale yellowish white and fringed with creamy hairs;
halteres with yellowish to yellowish brown knobs. Head with the
eyes in gg contiguous or touching for a short distance in front of front
_ A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 175
ocellus subequal or nearly as long as tubercle; with the interocular
space in 99 about 3-34 times as broad as tubercle; eyes in $¢ slightly
flattened above and with very coarse facets above; antennae with
joint 1 short, about 3, or a little more (even less), times as long as 2,
with 3 stoutish, broadest in basal half nearer base, subspindle shaped,
gradually narrowed apically and also slightly narrowed at base, with
the first terminal joint conical and distinctly visible, ending in the
style; proboscis long, about 5-8 mm. long, with the labella elongate;
palps well developed
and with the apical
joints short. Legs with-
out any spines on front
femora below; middle
ones with about 1-3
spines in front below;
hind ones with about
9-15 spines below from
near base to apex,
sometimes irregularly
arranged in large 99;
claws arcuately curved TExT-FIG. 29.—Side view and half of ventral view of
hypopygium of 3 Bombylius impurus Lw.
downwards apically
and with the pulvilli just falling short of the middle in both sexes.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 29) with the inner apical angles or
processes of basal parts prominent, projecting and flattened; aedeagus
straight, its apex sharp, provided at base below with a conical
ventral aedeagal process on each side in the form of a downwardly
and apically projecting plate, the outer edge of which is carinate
and arcuate (side view in text-fig. 29) and the apex of which is rather
acute.
In the Albany and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 9-14 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-13 mm.
Locality—Bushmanland: Jakhals Water (Lightfoot, October 1911).
Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., September 1930). Nieuw-
veld Karoo: Victoria West Distr. (Mus. Staff, March 1931). Karoo:
Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, March 1931). N.H. Karoo: Aliwal
North (Leppan, April 1904). O.F.S. (according to Loew). 8S. Karoo:
Montagu (Barnard, October 1919). E. Karoo: Grahamstown
Region.
176 Annals of the South African Museum.
2 33 9 99 B. tinctupennis n. sp.
Body black; antennal joint | in 9, face and head below in Q, extreme
base of proboscis, greater part of scutellum (excepting the black base
and hind border) yellowish red, reddish, or ferruginous red; antennal
joint 1, face and head below in ¢ very dark reddish brown to blackish;
legs reddish yellow to yellowish, the coxae obscure reddish to blackish,
the bases of the femora in g distinctly blackened, the last 2 tarsal
joints blackened and the last one entirely black; pubescence above
comparatively long, dense, and shaggy, especially on the abdomen,
in both sexes, pale sericeous yellow, yellow, deep yellow to deep
golden, almost orange golden, often with a slight brownish yellow
tint in certain lights, that on thorax in front in ¢ slightly paler
sericeous yellowish, that towards apex of abdomen scarcely paler
than on rest of body, that on head coloured like rest of body above,
with the macrochaetae on thorax and bristly hairs transversely on
abdomen slightly longer than the long recumbent hair and scarcely
darker, or only very slightly deeper golden yellowish, than rest of hair,
with the pubescence on body below not much paler than that above,
appearing paler in specimens which are also paler above, with, however,
the hair on head below, just above coxae, sometimes on the pectus and
at base of venter distinctly more whitish, especially in g, the meta-
pleural tuft and upper parts of pleurae inclining to colour of body
above, with the short depressed hair on body above sparse and paler
yellowish, that on frons in ? slightly more yellowish; wings distinctly
and comparatively deeply tinged mauvish brown, slightly deeper in g
and only the apical and posterior parts in both sexes slightly less deeply
tinged, with the base, costal cell, basal half of first basal cell and even
base of second basal cell more subopaquely yellowish brown, with the
veins dark reddish brown, becoming more reddish along chief longi-
tudinal veins and towards base, with the basal comb well developed,
yellowish to deep yellowish or pale reddish yellow, with the squamae
opaquely brownish, pale yellowish haired and with a fairly con-
spicuous tuft of pubescent hair at base of wings above, with the discal
cross vein much beyond the middle of discoidal cell and with the
second longitudinal vein comparatively straight; halteres yellowish
to pale reddish brown, with pale yellowish brown to pale brownish
knobs. Head with the eyes in 3 separated above by width of ocellar
tubercle, in 9 a little more than 3 to even 3 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 a little more than 4,:to almost 5, times as long
as joint 2, with joint 3 comparatively slender and rod-like, more so
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 177
in g, not straight, but gradually curved; proboscis comparatively
stout, about 35-5 mm. long; palps yellowish, with the shorter apical
joint darkened and with some very long hairs on sides of joint 1.
Legs with comparatively dense, but fine, hairs on femera below; front
femora unarmed; middle ones with about 1-3 fairly long. spines
below; hind ones with about 6-12 long spines below, the basal ones
often exceptionally long, often irregularly in 2 rows towards base and
with about 3-6 spines in apical part on outer upper aspect; claws
TExT-FIG. 30.—(a) Side view and part of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
Bombylius tinctipennis n. sp. (6) Side view of that of ¢ Bombylius tunctupennis
var. thornei n.
gradually curved downwards and with the pulvilli extending to middle
or a little beyond middle of claws. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 30, a)
with the inner apical angle or process of basal parts prominently
produced and elongate; beaked apical joints as shown in figure,
slightly depressed above and with a crest of longish hairs, more
prominent along outer dorsal part, the beak directed slightly down-
wards and outwards; aedeagus with a prominent ventral, vertical,
flattened, shell-like process on each side, convergent anteriorly and
there fused under apical part of aedeagus, continuous posteriorly
with the lateral ramus, on each side, to basal parts; basal strut
bat-shaped.
Types in the British Museum, paratypes in the Transvaal and
South African Museums.
Length of body: about 7-95 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-104 mm.
178 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality. —S.W. Cape Province: Cape Town; lLion’s Head
(Turner, August 1920) (Types); Stellenbosch (Theron, Brauns, and
Lightfoot); Malmesbury (Brauns, October 1926); Hottentot’s Holland
Mts. (Barnard, 4000 feet alt., January 1933). 8S. Karoo: Swartberg
Pass (Barnard, 5000-6000 feet alt., November 1929).
An easily recognisable species by the mauvishly tinged wings, dense
and long yellowish to deep golden pubescence, slender and rod-like
third antennal joints, and long spines on hind femora. There is no
doubt that the species shows colour variations and slight structural
aberrations in the various areas of its distribution, and quite a distinct
variety seems to occur along the Western Coastal region up to Nama-
qualand and in Northern Karoo, viz. :—
10 3d 28 99 B. tinctipennis var. thornei n.
This variety is without doubt the western, north western, and
northern representative of tonctupennis s.str., from which it is super-
ficially almost indistinguishable. It differs, on the whole, in being
smaller and less bulky; head with the face and head below dark or
blackish in both sexes, with antennal joint 1 darker, less vividly
reddish even in 99, with more black above, even entirely black, also
distinctly more slender and even comparatively longer, quite 6 times
as long as joint 2, with joint 3 relatively shorter, less rod-like, and more
attenuated apically and slightly straighter, with the proboscis usually
entirely black, at least less constantly reddish at base below, less stout
and about 3-4 mm. long, with the interocular space in @ slightly
broader, often quite 4 times as broad as tubercle, with the palps
entirely dark; pubescence on body above having a slightly darker
and more yellowish brown tint, that on antennae, face and genae
distinctly more golden brownish in both sexes, that on abdomen not
entirely golden, but with distinct transverse rows of darker, sometimes
very dark blackish brown to black, bristly hairs across hind margins of
segments in both sexes, that on body below slightly darker and less
pale, the whitish hair above coxae less evident and that on pectus
even more yellowish and with numerous dark or blackish hairs on
venter as well; wings tinged to the same extent, but in @ slightly less
so towards base than in typical form, without or with only a few and
insignificant and shorter pubescent hairs above basally on middle
vein, with the first posterior cell tending to be even more subacute
apically, with the squamae even darker opaquely brownish; legs with
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 179
the coxae and trochanters darker and more often black, the femora
more distinctly and extensively blackened basally even in 99, and the
front and middle ones in ¢ blackened to at least the middle and even
beyond, with the tarsi also more extensively darkened apically, with
about 2-4 spines on
middle femora below and
about 5-9 on hind ones
below. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 30, 6 and fig. 31)
scarcely different from
that of tinctipennis s.str.
(cf. text-fig. 30,a),withthe /
lateral struts, however, \ \{
slightly narrower, the
basal strut also narrower.
Types in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about
6-85 mm. Text-Fic. 31.—Half of ventral view and side view
Lenoth of wine: about % Bypopygium of ¢ Bombylius tinctipennis var.
8 8° thornei Nn.
7-9 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., September
1930) (Types); Garies (Mus. Exp., June 1930). Western Cape
Province: Citrusdal; Modderfontein (Brauns, 15/10/28). N. Karoo:
Venterstad and Burghersdorp (Mus. Staff, October 1935). Nieuwveld
Karoo: Beaufort West Distr. (Mus. Staff, October 1935).
1 3 B. turneri nu. sp.
This species resembles tinctupennis, with which it may be compared.
From the ¢ of tinctipennis it differs in being smaller, narrower, and less
bulky; head with the front part of face and anterior lower part of
head below paler and more yellowish brown, with the eyes separated
above by width of front part of tubercle, with the first antennal joints
comparatively shorter, only about 4 times as long as joint 2, with
joint 3 less rod-like, slightly more thickened basally, with the pro-
boscis slender, even slightly more reddened below towards base, about
45 mm. long, with the pubescence on antennae and face much shorter
and less shaggy; wings entirely greyish hyaline, not deeply tinged
mauvish brown, only the costal cell and base being slightly more
subopaquely whitish, with the veins dark blackish brown, becoming
180 Annals of the South African Museum.
paler towards base and along main longitudinal veins, with the dis-
cal cross vein also much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
basal comb distinctly smaller; scutellum with the red less extensive,
only present discally towards hind part; pubescence on body slightly
more vividly golden when seen from side, apparently slightly shorter
on occiput and abdomen, that on abdomen not entirely yellow, but
with conspicuous and numerous black bristles
across hind margins, more evident towards
apex, with the rest of the abdominal hair
y becoming distinctly paler laterally and towards
by SN apex, that on head and thorax below dis-
AN \ tinctly more extensively white, even the
SS metapleural tuft being more whitish; legs
Hh Se, with the pubescent hairs on femora below
ah. SZ distinctly shorter and less dense, with the
AG ae front and middle femora more extensively
. blackened basally to about the middle, the
WS hind ones also blackened at base, with the
Tai
tarsi more extensively darkened, especially
Text-Fic. 32.—Side view the hind ones, with only 1 spine on middle
Ce Pee a sor ones below and with about 7-8 shorter spines
apical joint of g Bom- on hind femora below and without any lateral
byliits HEN Nesp: spines apically on outer aspect. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 32) is, however, entirely different from that of tenctepennis
(cf. text-figs. 30 and 31), with the beaked apical joints elongate
and slender, longer and more slender than in tinctipennis; aedeagus
without any ventral process, with the dorsal basally directed aedeagal
struts short; basal strut bat-shaped.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Cape Province: Cape Peninsula; Camps Bay
(Turner, 1/20/1920).
B. marginellus Bezz.
(P. 20, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
In addition to the 9-type, from Matjiesfontein, there are a 2 and
what I take to be the undescribed 3 before me. Bezzi’s description
may be supplemented by the following fuller description :—
Body black; scutellum reddish, but with a large basal black spot
_A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 181
and black hind part, especially in 2; antennal joint 1 reddish, some-
what linearly darkened above in 9, entirely dark above in g; face and
head below dark reddish brown; legs pale ochreous yellow to pale
reddish yellow, the extreme bases of femora darkened, more brownish,
especially in 3, with the last 2 tarsal joints also darkened; proboscis
distinctly reddish brown below; pubescence above, from side, creamy
yellowish to pale yellowish on thorax in 2, much paler and more creamy
in §, becoming more whitish towards occiput and in front, that on
abdomen above very
pale creamy whitish to
yellowish in ¢ and also
slightly paler than on
thorax in 9, even paler
apically, that on thorax
below _ straw-coloured
yellowish to pale yellow-
ish white, that along
middle parts of pleurae
above coxae whitish, the
metapleural tuft straw-
coloured whitish to
whitish, the hair on
pectus straw-coloured
yellowish, that on venter TExt-FIc. 33.—Half of ventral view and side view of
“He : hypopygium of § Bombylius marginellus Bezz.
whitish at base and hog te 4
distinctly yellowish on rest, that on sides of venter more creamy, with
the dense, short, depressed pubescence on sides of venter, especially
in g, showing through as snow white hair, with the hairs on head above
in 2 pale yellowish and with a slight rufous tint in certain lights, that
on face and genae comparatively dense, longish, and yellowish, more
creamy whitish in g, with the macrochaetal bristles and also bristles on
upper part of mesopleuron in 9, the posterior callar bristles and those
on scutellum pale rufous yellow in 2, more pale yellowish in 3, with
the long transverse bristles across hind margins of abdomen very dark
reddish brown in @ and even blackish in $, more conspicuous and
longer laterally and towards apex in both sexes; wings greyish
hyaline, with a distinct subopaque tint, with the base, costal cell, and
basal half of first basal cell more subopaquely pale yellowish brown,
the base being more yellowish, with the veins reddish brown, becoming
paler and more reddish along main longitudinal veins, with the basal
comb pale yellowish in ¢ and slightly more reddish yellow in 9, with
VOL. XXXIV. 13
182 Annals of the South African Museum.
the opaquely whitish squamae margined blackish brown and fringed
pale yellowish to whitish or creamy; halteres yellowish, with whitish
knobs. Head with the eyes in 3 separated above, at narrowest part,
by front part of ocellar tubercle, with the space in 2 about 34 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 slender, about 4, or even a
little more, times as long as 2, with joint 3 almost rod-like, only
slightly, or scarcely, broader basally and more so in g; proboscis
about 4 mm. long; palps with some long hairs on basal joints, the
apical joints darker. Legs with longish pubescent hairs basally below
on femora in both sexes and with the front femora unarmed below;
middle ones with about 2-3 spines below; hind ones with about 6-8
comparatively long spines below from near base to apex. Hypo-
pygium of 3 (text-fig. 33) with the basal parts inconspicuously haired,
the side feebly striate, the inner apical angles only slightly projecting;
beaked apical joints comparatively elongate, the apex acutely pointed
downwards; aedeagus with the very slender apical part not reaching
inner apical angles, feebly bent upwards apically, without a ventral
aedeagal process; lateral struts broad and flattened; basal strut
comparatively small, racket-shaped, and projecting a little beyond
base of basal parts.
Length of body: about 8-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein and Hopefield. (In the South
African Museum.)
B. fucatus Bezz.
(In key, p. 14, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921; note on p. 72,
Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922; in key, p. 47,
The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
Nowhere, except in keys and notes, does Bezzi give any description
of this species. In “ Broteria”’ (loc. cit.) he states that he intended to
describe it in his work “No. 4” on the Bombyludae of the Hungarian
Museum, and, moreover, states that the species is represented in the
Budapest Museum and in his own private collections. Apart from
the vague references to it in keys (loc. cit.), this species appears to me
to exist only as a name, and its intended description has never been
published. The Transvaal Museum is in possession of 4 92 and 1 4,
of which 3 99 and the 3 were formerly in the possession of the late
Dr. Brauns, and which he collected at Willowmore. The 3 is labelled
“38 Bezzi”’ and also as “ Bombylius fucatus” in Brauns’ handwriting.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 183
The 3 99 were included in this species but were unlabelled, except for
one specimen which had a small label “‘ Bezzi I. 5.” The other 2 from
“Bloemfontein, 25/3/21,” collected by H. E. Irving, was formerly in
possession of Mr. Munro of the Government Entemological Depart-
ment and is labelled “Bombylius fucatus Bezz.’’ This latter @ is,
however, entirely specifically different from the g-specimen (“38
Bezzi”) and does not run down in Bezzi’s keys to fucatus. It is in
fact a separate species, which is described in this paper as transitus
n. sp. It has distinct very broad red in the sides of the abdomen and
an apically acute first posterior cell. The small 9, labelled “‘ Bezzi I.
5.” and placed with fucatus (3 “3S Bezzi’’), is also a different species
and is in fact a 9 of paterculus Walk., as defined by Bezzi and myself
in this paper. We are thus left with 2 99 and the labelled ¢ (‘38
Bezzi’’), which obviously belong to the same species. In addition,
there are also present 2 other 92 from Willowmore and 2 92 in the
British Museum which are also referable to this species. It is thus
evident that Bezzi included no less than 3 specifically different species
in fucatus. In view of this the only procedure is either to take the
labelled 2-specimen from Bloemfontein as the typical fucatus, in which
case my transitus n. sp. becomes a synonym, or to take the g-specimen
and 99 from Brauns’ collection as representing fucatus. As Bezzi
himself refers to this species as coming from Willowmore (Broteria,
loc. cit.), and as the g was labelled by Bezzi as “38 Bezzi,” it appears
more than likely that these specimens constitute part of the original
batch forwarded to Bezzi. These specimens are thus taken as
representing fucatus Bezz. and as having the following characters :—
Body black, with antennal joint 1 and to a certain extent 2 in 99,
the face, genae, and head below in 9%, the narrow front margin of face
and anterior part of head below in 4, the base of proboscis below, the
greater part of scutellum in both sexes, sometimes the narrow hind
margins of tergites 4—7 or 5-7 in 99, the hind margins of the sternites
and sometimes the sutural parts of the pleurae in 29, yellowish red or
reddish, with the antennae in ¢ entirely dark or black; legs, including
coxae, almost entirely yellowish in both sexes, the bases of femora in
$ slightly darkened, only the last 2 tarsal joints darkened and apical
parts of claws black; pubescence rather longish and shaggy, without a
shorn-off appearance on thorax even in 4, that on antennae and face
in ¢ sericeous yellowish and pale sericeous yellowish to golden
yellowish in 99, that on occiput and thorax in front in $ gleaming
sericeous and almost silvery whitish, distinctly more yellowish and
sericeous yellowish to even pale golden in 99, that on disc of thorax,
184 Annals of the South African Museum.
scutellum, and abdomen above distinctly deeper sericeous yellowish
in both sexes but slightly paler sericeous yellowish in 3 and in some
29 even with more golden gleams, that on head below, body below, in
metapleural tuft, and basally on each side of venter frosty whitish in
both sexes, contrasting with that on body above, with, the bristly
elements on frons, on mesopleuron in front of wings, the macrochaetal
bristles, those on post-alar calli and on scutellum in 992 gleaming deep
sericeous yellowish, golden yellowish to even fulvous golden, with the
transverse bristles across
hind margins of abdomen
above distinctly darker,
more dark brownish, be-
coming even dark blackish
brown towards apex of
abdomen, the apices of
individual bristles gleaming
whitish in certain lights,
with the fine, depressed,
hair-like scaling on abdomen
above straw-coloured
yellowish in J, more seri-
Tsxt-ric. 34.—Side view and half of ventral ceous yellowish to pale
view of hypopygium of g Bombylius fucatus brassy yellowish in 99, that
aaa on frons in 99 slightly gleam-
ing whitish to sericeous yellowish, with the scaling on legs whitish;
wings shining and with a distinct whitish subopacity, the base and costal
cell more subopaquely pale yellowish whitish, with the basal comb
creamy yellowish, the veins brownish or dark brownish, becoming
more yellowish basally and along first longitudinal vein, with the discal
cross vein beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish white to yellowish, narrowly dark-bordered and fringed
with white hair; halteres yellowish, with ivory whitish knobs. Head
with the eyes in g touching above just in front of ocellar tubercle, then
gradually diverging for a little distance before rapidly diverging
apically, the eyes slightly flattened above, with the interocular space
in 99 on vertex about 34-4 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; face
a little longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2;
antennae with joint | about 3, or a little more, times as long as 2, with
2 rather transverse, with 3 about, or a little less than, 14 times as long
as 1 and 2 combined, rod-like, cylindrical, and only gradually tapering
apically, ending in a very minute basal element bearing a slender style,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 185
directed upwards; proboscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs with longish
hairs on femora below, with about 2-3 spines in apical half below on
middle ones; hind femora with about 5-9 spines below from near base
to apex below; claws sickle-shaped, gradually and arcuately curved,
the pulvill not reaching bent down apices of claws; front tarsal joints
in 99 slightly thickened and hairy. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 34)
with the inner apical parts of basal parts projecting slightly; beaked
apical joints elongate, narrowish, and sharply pointed apically, the
apices bent downwards; aedeagus without any ventral process below;
basal strut with a deep sinuosity along its dorsal edge.
In the Transvaal, British, and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 6-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
Locality.— Little Karoo and South Cape Province.
The species is easily recognised by the dark transverse bristles on
abdomen and the slightly whitish subopaque wings. From other
species with darkish bristles it is separated by the characters given in
the key.
233 7 99 B. wmitator n. sp.
Body black, with the anterior part of frons, the entire face, genae,
and head below, antennal joints 1 and 2, base of proboscis below,
greater part of scutellum, hind margins of tergites 3-7 or at least 5-7,
hind margins of sternites and a longitudinal band along pleurae above
coxae reddish or reddish yellow; legs, including coxae, entirely
yellowish, only a spot on trochanters, the last 2 tarsal joints and
apices of claws black; pubescence rather longish, dense and shaggy,
longer on abdomen, that on occiput and thorax above gleaming
sericeous whitish in ¢¢ and also in some 99, but other 2° with a more
sericeous yellowish to even more pale golden sheen, that on disc of
thorax, on scutellum, and on abdomen in g¢ gleaming slightly more
sericeous yellowish than in front, that on abdomen discally even more
distinct, more distinctly and deeper sericeous yellowish in 99, even
that on sides of thorax above wings in 99 sericeous yellowish, that on
sides of abdomen in some 99 in certain lights appearing deep sericeous
yellowish, that on head below, body below, in metapleural tuft and at
base of venter laterally contrastingly frosty whitish, that towards
apex of abdomen in g¢ also apparently more whitish, that on antennae
and face sericeous whitish in gd, sericeous whitish to sericeous
yellowish, and even pale golden in 99, with the frontal bristles, the
macrochaetal bristles, those on post-alar calli and on scutellum
186 Annals of the South African Museum.
gleaming sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish in 99, with the
transverse bristles across abdomen deeper golden to reddish or
brownish golden, becoming even more blackish brown towards apex
in some specimens, those discally above in basal half at least tending
to be paler and more yellowish, with the bristly elements on each
side of venter apically also dark, especially in 99, with the fine,
depressed hair-like scaling on frons in 99 gleaming sericeous yellowish,
that on abdomen above more whitish to pale yellowish, the scaling on
legs whitish; wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent, but with a very feeble
and almost imperceptible subopacity in certain lights, with the base
costal cell, and basal half of first basal cell subopaquely whitish to
pale yellowish whitish, with the basal comb yellowish, the veins dark
brownish, becoming yellowish at base, with the discal cross vein a
little to quite a good distance beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
squamae subopaquely pale yellowish or pellucid yellowish, narrowly
dark-bordered and fringed with whitish hair; halteres yellowish,
with almost whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in gd separated
above by a space about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, with
the interocular space in 99 quite 3$, or a little more, times as broad as
tubercle; face a little longer than combined length of antennal joints
1 and 2; antennae with joint 1 about 3, or very little more, times as
long as 2, with 2 shortish and transverse, with 3 about 134, or a little
less, times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually narrowed apically,
the basal part in some 99 slightly thicker than in gg where the joint
is almost rod-like, ending apically in a small conical element passing
into a short style; proboscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs with sparse
but longish hairs on femora below in g¢ especially, with 2-3 spines on
middle femora in front; hind femora with about 6-8 spines below from
near base to apex; claws slender, gradually and arcuately curved, the
pulvill not reaching their bent down apices; front tarsal joints in 92
only slightly thickened. Hypopygiuwm of 3 much like that of fucatus
(cf. text-fig. 34) but with much fewer and finer hairs above on basal
parts; beaked apical joints also elongate and narrowish, but slightly
shorter than in fucatus; aedeagus slightly longer and the apex extend-
ing slightly beyond apices of inner apical angles of basal parts; basal
strut slightly shorter, less broad and less deep and angularly incised
along its dorsal edge.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
Locality. Namaqualand: Garies Distr. Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
_ A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 187
November 1931) (Types); Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp.,
November 1931).
This species is very near fucatus Bezz., from which it may be
distinguished by the much clearer and more hyaline wings, the fewer
or less dark blackish brown bristly elements on abdomen, more
conspicuous red on abdomen and on pleurae, and distinctly more
broadly separated eyes in 3d. |
1 3 B. aurimystax n. sp.
Black; antennal joints 1 and 2, face, base of proboscis below,
greater part of scutellum and narrow hind margins of venter reddish;
legs predominantly
yellowish, the apical part
of tarsi blackened and
apices of claws black;
pubescence dense, that
on abdomen somewhat
shaggy and that on disc
of thorax appearing
slightly cropped off, that
on occiput, thorax in
front and sides very
pale sericeous whitish,
appearing whiter in
certain lights, that on
disc of thorax with a
shightly more sericeous
yellowish gleam, that Txrxr-ric. 35.—Side view and half of ventral view
of hypopygium of § Bombylius aurimystax n. sp. _
on abdomen whitish or
sericeous whitish, without any dark bristles on sides or apically, that
on frons, antennal joint 1, face and genae sericeous yellowish, becom-
ing more golden yellowish on frons, apical part of face and on genae,
the mystax, in fact, markedly gleaming golden with even a touch of
orange, that on head below and body below more obviously white
than above, that on venter very pale yellowish, whiter on sides but
even slightly ochreous apically; wings greyish hyaline, with a slight
yellowish tinge which becomes more evident and distinct basally, the
base, costal cell, with the basal comb pale yellowish, the veins yellowish
brown, becoming more yellowish towards base, with the discal cross
vein just at about middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae opaquely
188 Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish, brownish-bordered, and fringed with white hair; halteres
yellowish, with almost whitish knobs. Head with the inner margins
of eyes above subcontiguous for a short distance subequal to length of
tubercle, the narrow space narrower than front ocellus; frons slightly
depressed centrally; face tumidly prominent and produced; antennae
with joint 1 about 3 times as long as 2, with 3 broadest just before
middle, gradually narrowed apically, and also slightly narrowed at
base; proboscis about 34 mm. long. Legs with longish hairs basally
on the femora, without any spines below on front femora; middle
ones with about 2 spines in front in apical part; hind femora with
about 9 spines from near base to apex; claws slender, gradually
curved downwards apically, with the pulvilli not reaching apices of
claws. Hypopygium (text-fig. 35) like that of latipectus, the long and
slender beaked apical joints, however, relatively slightly longer;
aedeagus slightly shorter and the apical part more slender and much
shorter; basal strut slightly narrower, longer, and projecting con-
siderably beyond bases of basal parts.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality.— Namaqualand: Garies (Mus. Exp., June 1930).
2 33 B. pseudopsis n. sp.
Body predominantly black, with antennal joint 1 yellowish, but
darkened above, with only front part of face tending to be yellowish,
the head below black or very dark, with the base of proboscis below
yellowish, with the hinder part or half of scutellum ferruginous
reddish and hind margins of sternites also reddish; legs predominantly
yellowish, but bases of front and middle femora blackish or darkened
and last two tarsal joints and apical part of claws also darkened;
pubescence dense, tending to be shortish and with a slightly shorn off
appearance on thorax, that on first antennal joints and face rather
dense, that on body above predominantly pale, gleaming sericeous
whitish and with scarcely any touch of sericeous yellowish, that on
abdomen also very pale, almost whitish, that towards apex even more
apparently whitish, that on sides towards base with a more straw-
coloured yellowish tint to even creamy yellowish, that on head below,
pleurae, pectus, and sides of venter basally frosty whitish, that in
front of wings tinted slightly more yellowish in certain lights, that on
face distinctly more yellowish and gleaming sericeous yellowish to very
_ A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 189
pale golden, that on venter laterally also more yellowish, with some
or a few or even without any darker and more brownish bristly
elements transversely across abdomen, especially towards apex on
side; wings greyish hyaline, with the basal two-thirds distinctly,
though faintly, tinged yellowish, the base and costal cell being more
subopaquely yellowish whitish, with the basal comb ochreous
yellowish, the veins brownish but becoming yellowish towards base,
with the discal cross vein tending to be at about middle of discoidal
cell, with the squamae opaquely
yellowish, narrowly dark-bordered
and fringed with whitish hair;
halteres yellowish, with very pale
and almost whitish knobs. Head
with the eyes subcontiguous above,
the narrow space scarcely as broad
as front ocellus, the length of
space even shorter than length
of ocellar tubercle; face rather
conically prominent, much as in
aurimystax, distinctly longer than
combined length of antennal joints
1 and 2; antennae with joint 1
quite 3 timesas long as 2, with Trxr-ric. 36.—Dorsal view of beaked
joint 2 transverse, with 3 about, Se 4 Bead tins Mae ae
or even a little more than, 1}
times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slender and rod-like, gradually
tapering apically, ending in a small conical terminal element bearing
a short style; proboscis about 34 mm. long. Legs with fine and
longish white hairs on femora below, with about 7—9 spines on
hind ones below; claws gradually and arcuately curved, the pulvill
not reaching their bent-down apices. Hypopygium (text-fig. 36) very
much like that of aurimystax, but with the aedeagus not so bent
downwards apically and with the apices of beaked apical joints more
bent downwards and with a smaller basal strut.
Type in the South African Museum and paratype in the Imperial
Institute.
Length of body : about 8 mm.
Length of wing : about 8 mm.
Locality —Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., November 1931)
(Type). Karoo: Graaff-Reinet (Ogilvie, 24—27/10/31).
Almost inseparable from aurimystax, but differing, however, in not
190 Annals of the South African Museum.
having subspindle-shaped third antennal joints, in having a darker
head below, and in having a slightly less prominent face. From
icteroglaenus it differs in having a longer face, much paler pubescence,
and much fewer dark hairs on abdomen and more gradually curved
claws.
1 3 B. wcteroglaenus nu. sp.
Body black, with the first antennal joints yellowish, but darkened
above, the face dark, but front margin or front part more brownish,
TExt-Fric. 37.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ of Bombylius
icteroglaenus N. sp.
the head below also obscurely dark brownish, with the base of pro-
boscis below also obscure reddish brown, the hinder half of scutellum
ferruginous reddish and hind margins of sternites yellowish; legs
predominantly yellowish, the bases of front and middle femora slightly
darkened or blackened and last two tarsal joints also blackened;
pubescence dense on thorax and shortish, with a slight shorn off
appearance, that on thorax in front gleaming very pale sericeous
yellowish, that on disc, sides of thorax above wings, on scutellum and
predominantly on abdomen above pale golden to even deep golden
yellowish, that on abdomen especially gleaming deep golden yellowish,
that on first antennal joints and face with slight sericeous yellowish
gleams, that on head below and body below frosty whitish, that on
sides of venter basally more straw-coloured, that towards apex of
venter more yellowish, with the transverse bristly elements across
tergites, especially on sides, distinctly darker and more brownish
golden to even blackish brown or dark reddish brown; wings greyish
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 191
hyaline, with the basal two-thirds very faintly tinged yellowish, the
base and costal cell more subopaquely yellowish whitish, the basal
comb yellowish, with the veins dark brownish, slightly more reddish
or yellowish brown basally, with the discal cross vein at about middle
of discoidal cell, with the squamae opaquely yellowish, narrowly
dark-bordered and fringed with creamy hairs; halteres yellowish
brown, with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes narrowly
separated above by a short space about as wide as front ocellus; face
subequal in length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2, not prominent;
antennae with joint 1 a little more than 3 times as long as 2, with 2
transverse, with 3 not quite 14 times as long as | and 2 combined, very
slender and rod-like, only gradually tapering apically, ending apically
in a small conical element bearing a short style; proboscis about
34 mm. long. Legs with sparse hairs on femora below and with about
7 spines below on hind ones; claws distinctly more rapidly bent
down, almost at right angles, near apex, and the pulvilli reaching their
bent-down apices. Hypopygium (text-fig. 37) with the beaked apical
joints also elongate and pointed.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm.
Locality —_ Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., November 1931).
This species differs from aurimystax in having a very much shorter
‘ and darker face, more slender third antennal joints, more golden or
yellowish pubescence on abdomen, and more rapidly curved claws.
It is nearer to pseudopsis, from which it differs by the more golden
pubescence, shorter face, and claws which are more rapidly bent down
nearer apex.
1 3 4 92 B. meltoni n. sp.
Body entirely black; hind part of scutellum (excepting black
triangular basal spot) reddish brown; antennal joint 1 obscurely
reddish below; legs yellowish, the coxae, trochanters, and extreme
bases of the femora black, the last 2 tarsal joints and apices of claws
also black; pubescence rather dense and shaggy on front part of
thorax, that on occiput, front part and humeral part of thorax
markedly gleaming silvery or silky whitish, especially in g, thus con-
trasting collar-like with the more yellowish pubescence on disc of
thorax, that on rest of thorax above and on abdomen above pale
sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish, especially on base of thorax
and on scutellum in 99, that on frons anteriorly in 99 whitish, with
25 Annals of the South African Museum.
the hairs on face predominantly pale yellowish, the hair on head
below, pleural regions, in metapleural tuft, sides of tergite 1, on venter
and even sides towards apex of abdomen in both sexes white and
contrasting with that on body above, the hair and bristly hairs on
coxae also white, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, on antennae
below, the bristles on face in front and upper parts of genae dark even
slightly brownish in 99, slightly paler and only those on face brownish
basally in 3, with the bristles or bristly hairs on sides of thorax in
TExt-FIG. 38.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
Bombylius meltoni n. sp.
front of wing-bases, including macrochaetae, the post-alar bristles,
those across hind margin of scutellum distinctly much darker than
rest of pubescence, brownish to blackish brown, especially those on
posterior calli and scutellum; all these bristles are usually much
darkened towards their bases, with the transverse bristles across hind
margins of abdominal tergites from 2 to apex and especially on sides
conspicuously black, those towards apex tipped whitish; wings greyish
hyaline, the base and costal cell subopaquely yellowish white, with the
veins dark blackish brown, becoming slightly paler and more yellowish
basally, with the second longitudinal vein sightly undulating and only
very gradually bending upwards at its end, with the first posterior cell
more or less subacute apically, with the discal cross vein just beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae subopaquely dirty yellowish
white, dark margined and fringed with white hairs; halteres with
whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in 3 above separated by a space,
at narrowest part, as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, the
interocular space in 9? a little less than 4 times as broad as tubercle;
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 193
antennae with joint | a little more than 3 times as long as joint 2,
with joint 3 almost rod-like only a little thicker at base, with their
terminal styles shghtly bent upwards hook-like and showing a small
but distinct basal joint or element from which they arise; proboscis
about 25-34 mm. long; palps with the basal joints pallid and longer
than apical ones. Legs with spines apically above on the femora;
front femora without any spines below; middle ones with about
2 spines in apical part in front; hind ones with about 4—7 spines from
just before middle to apex, the basal ones more or less slender, bristle-
like, and long; claws slender and gradually curved to apex, the pulvilli
reaching or extending a little beyond middle. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 38) with the beaked apical joints elongate and narrowish,
without any ventral aedeagal process and with the lateral struts
broadish.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-8} mm.
Locality. Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort W. to Victoria West
Distr.; Melton Wold Estate (Mus. Staff, October 1935) (Types).
Namaqualand: Nieuwoudtville (Mus. Staff, September 1936).
This species is peculiar in the series with black transverse bristles
on abdomen in having the second longitudinal vein slightly undulating
and only gradually bent upwards at its end.
1 3 B. kaokoénsis un. sp.
Body, including antennae, face, head below, proboscis, and scutellum
black, with the hinder part of scutellum, however, very obscurely
darkly rufous and the abdomen entirely black; legs with the femora
darkened or blackish to much beyond the middle, even the hind ones
predominantly blackish, the apical parts of the femora and the tibiae
and tarsi yellowish, the apical parts of the tarsi more brownish;
pubescence rather longish and shaggy, predominantly straw-coloured
yellowish above and with sericeous gleams, that on abdomen with
slightly more sericeous yellowish gleams discally in certain lights,
that on occiput appearing almost whitish in certain lights, that on
body below distinctly more frosty whitish, with the scaling on legs
whitish; wings hyaline, with the costal cell and basal two-thirds
faintly, but distinctly, tinged yellowish, with the basal comb yellowish
and very poorly developed, with the veins brownish, becoming more
yellowish towards base, with the discal cross vein a little beyond
194 Annals of the South African Museum.
middle of discoidal cell, the first posterior cell normal apically, with
the squamae subopaquely yellowish whitish and fringed with whitish
hair; halteres with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes
slightly flattened above, in actual contact above for a short distance
in front of ocellar tubercle, then gradually diverging for a very short
distance before more rapidly diverging apically; face subequal in
length to combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with
joint 1 quite 24 times as long as 2, with 2 subglobular, with 3 more or
TExtT-FIG. 39.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of 3
Bombylius kaokoénsis n. sp.
less spindle-shaped but broadest nearer base, more rapidly attenuated
apically than basally, ending apically in a small conical element
bearing a short style; proboscis slender and about 2mm. long. Legs
slender and with only about 4 or 5 slender spines on hind ones below;
claws distinctly rapidly curved down, almost at right angles, nearer
apex, with the pulvilli long and reaching bent-down apices of claws.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 39) resembles that of tinctipennis (cf. text-figs.
30 and 31), with the inner apical angles of basal parts triangularly
projecting; beaked apical joints not elongate, but not very broad
basally, leaf-shaped and depressed above; aedeagus with the apical
part slender, just about reaching apices of inner apical angles of basal
parts, with a large, lamellate ventral process on each side and pro-
jecting vertically downwards; basal strut more or less chopper-shaped.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 63 mm.
_A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 195
Locality—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Exp.,
February 1925).
This species differs from inermis in having longer and more shaggy
pubescence, black scutellum, more extensively blackened femora, and
entirely different type of hypopygium.
1 $ B. extraneus nu. sp.
Black, even antennae, face and proboscis entirely black; scutellum
with only the hinder part discally reddish, the red, however, less
extensive than is usual in this series; legs with the coxae, trochanters,
basal halves of front and middle femora and bases of hind ones
blackened or black, and the last two tarsal joints also darkened;
pubescence rather shaggy, not with a cropped appearance on thorax
above, fairly dense, predominantly straw-coloured yellowish above,
appearing more sericeous whitish on thorax in front when viewed
from in front, but also appearing more yellowish on disc of thorax in
certain lights, that on abdomen above even distinctly more sericeous
yellowish in certain lights, especially that towards apex, without any
dark transverse rows of bristles on abdomen above, with the pubes-
cence on frons and face pale yellowish, that on face tending to be
deeper sericeous yellowish, that on head below, pleurae and pectus,
and base of venter white, the longish hairs on femora also whitish,
with the scaling on legs very pale yellowish white, appearing almost
white on dark parts, the spines and spicules pale yellowish; wings
greyish hyaline, becoming slightly subopaquely yellowish whitish in
costal cell and base, with the veins blackish brown, becoming paler
towards base, with the discal cross vein distinctly just before middle
of discoidal cell, with the first posterior cell tending to be narrow, with
the basal comb small and yellowish, with the squamae opaquely
yellowish and fringed with almost whitish hairs; halteres yellowish,
with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes above almost touching,
separated by a very narrow space, even narrower than front ocellus,
the inner margins at first gradually diverging for a short distance, then
rapidly; antennae with joint 1 quite 3 times as long as 2, with 3
subrod-like, gradually thickened basally, the terminal style short
and straight; proboscis about 24 mm. long. Legs without any spines
on front femora below; middle ones without any or apparently with
only 1 spine apically on anterior aspect, hind femora with about 4-5
slender spines from about middle to apex; claws slender, gradually
curved downwards apically, the pulvilli not reaching the apices.
196 Annals of the South African Museum.
Hypopygivum resembles that of meltoni (cf. text-fig. 38), with the
beaked apical joints also elongate and similarly shaped, with the
aedeagus, lateral struts, and even basal strut similarly shaped, only
the inner apical parts of basal parts bounding the beaked apical
joints on the inside distinctly longer and more projecting, and also
with slightly denser hairs on the basal parts.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body : about 54 mm.
Length of wing : about 53 mm.
Locality. Escarpment between Nieuwveld and Gouph Karoo:
Fraserburg Distr., Teekloof (Mus. Staff, November 1935).
This species is peculiar in that the discal cross vein is a little, but
distinctly, before the middle of discoidal cell in this specimen. In
this respect it should really be included in the globulus and eurhinatus
series. It may, however, be easily separated from the former series
by the predominantly black body, entirely black antennae, black
proboscis, black abdomen, black face, etc.
1 3 B. anomalus n. sp.
Body, including face and head below, black; scutellum ferruginous
reddish on hinder half, and first antennal joints yellowish, though
darkened above, the narrowish hind margins of sternites also reddish
and proboscis below reddish brownish; legs with the femora blackened
at bases, and apical parts of tarsi brownish; pubescence dense and
shortish on thorax above and with a shorn-off appearance, longer on
abdomen, predominantly whitish sericeous on occiput and thorax in
front, becoming more gleaming yellowish sericeous on abdomen above,
even more golden on abdomen, but paler again towards apex, with the
transverse bristly elements on abdomen slightly deeper golden and
even tending to be darker on sides towards apex, the pubescence on
face and antennae more pale golden to golden, that on body below, in
metapleural tuft and on sides of venter basally more whitish to frosty
whitish, the hair on sides of tergite 1 also more whitish, the scaling on
legs whitish; wings vitreous hyaline, with the basal two-thirds faintly
tinged yellowish, the costal cell and base more subopaquely yellowish
whitish, with the basal comb small and yellowish, the veins reddish
brown, paler basally, the first longitudinal vein reddish yellow, with the
discal cross vein only a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
second longitudinal vein only gradually curved up at its end, with
the squamae subopaquely yellowish, dark-margined and fringed with
- A Revision of the Bombyluidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 197
creamy yellowish hairs; halteres yellowish brown and with very pale
knobs. Head with the eyes contiguous above for a short distance
scarcely as long as ocellar tubercle; face slightly longer than combined
length of antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with joint 1 about 3 times
as long as 2, with 2 globular, with 3 about 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, gradually narrowed apically, ending in a conical terminal
element bearing a style; proboscis about 34 mm. long. Legs with
about 2 spines in front on middle femora below and with about 6 spines
Trext-Fic. 40.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of 3
Bombylius anomalus n. sp.
on hind ones below; claws gradually and arcuately curved, the
pulvilli not reaching their apices. Hypopygiwm (text-fig. 40) with the
inner apical angles or processes of basal parts only slightly projecting:
beaked apical joints elongate, narrowish, their apices acute and bent
downwards, pubescent above; aedeagus without a ventral process
below, the apical part straight; lateral struts comparatively broad
and short; basal strut bat-shaped.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body : about 63 mm.
Length of wing : about 73 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
November 1931).
This species resembles aurimystax, but is slightly smaller, with the
wings more hyaline in apical part, with the discal cross vein distinctly
beyond middle of discoidal cell, the eyes are more subcontiguous
VOL. XXXIV. 14
198 Annals of the South African Museum.
above, the face is very much shorter and not so conically produced,
and the femora are more distinctly darkened basally.
1 g B. calvimiensis n. sp.
Body black; antennal joints 1 and 2, face, genae, front part of head
below, base of proboscis below, greater part of scutellum, propleural
part above front coxae, and to a certain extent sutural parts of pleurae
above middle coxae ferruginous red; legs reddish yellow, only the
last 2 tarsal joints darker and more brownish, with the claws black
from before middle; pubescence fine and dense, not with a very close
shorn-off appearance on the thorax, rather long on abdomen, that on
face not very dense and not very long, that on front coxae dense and
shaggy, that on occiput and body above yellowish, gleaming sericeous
yellowish, but becoming distinctly paler and more whitish towards
apex of abdomen, that on ocellar tubercle, antennae, face, and genae
deeper yellowish and gleaming more golden, that on head below more
contrastingly whitish, that on pleurae duller than above but straw-
coloured yellowish, the hair below wing-bases and in metapleural tuft
being distinctly more whitish, the yellowish hairs on coxae, especially
front ones, and on the trochanters with intermixed dark or brownish
- ones, with the pubescence on venter dense and paler than on thorax
in front, more straw-coloured, that on sides appearing very pale and
becoming distinctly more whitish apically, with the fine but dense
hairs on front and middle femora below predominantly straw-coloured
yellowish but with intermixed darkish or more brownish ones, especi-
ally near base, with the macrochaetal bristles (2) on each side in front
of wings pale yellowish and without any distinct stout transverse
bristles on abdomen; wings vitreous hyaline, with the costal cell, first
basal cell, base and alula subopaquely pale yellowish, with the basal
comb yellow and appearing golden in certain lights, with the veins
dark brownish, becoming more yellowish basally, the costal vein and
first longitudinal vein being more reddish yellow, with the discal cross
vein a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae sub-
opaquely yellowish and fringed with almost whitish hairs which gleam
creamy yellowish in certain lights; halteres yellowish, with very pale
yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes above narrowly separated by
a short space about as wide as front ocellus just in front of ocellus;
face slightly conically prominent from side; antennae with joint 1
short, only a very little longer than 2 times as long as 2, with 3 at least
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually narrowed apically,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 199
ending apically in a short joint-like basal element bearing a fine style,
with the bases of first antennal joints situated on a slightly raised
front part of frons; proboscis about 4 mm. long. Legs slender,
without any spines on front femora; middle ones with about 3 slender
bristle-like spines in apical half in front and 2 behind; hind femora
with about 9 slender spines from just before middle to apex on outer
side below; claws gradually curved down apically, with the pulvill
just about reaching middle of claws. Hypopygiwm (text-fig. 41)
Trext-Fic. 41.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of § of Bombylius
calviniensis n. sp.
with the beaked apical joints narrow and elongate as in the other
species in this series.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality —N. Western Karoo: Calvinia (Mus. Exp., September
1936).
This species very closely resembles such species as aurimystaz,
pseudopsis, and anomalus. From the latter it may at once be dis-
tinguished by having the face and lower part of head reddish, shorter
first antennal joints, less whitish pubescence on pleurae and pectus,
paler pubescence on abdomen, and the wings less distinctly tinged
yellowish in basal half. From pseudopsis it differs in having no trace
of transverse blackish or dark bristly hairs or bristles on abdomen,
more yellowish pubescence on pectus and pleurae, and the wings not
distinctly tinged yellowish in basal half. From aurimystax it differs
200 Annals of the South African Museum.
in not having the basal two-thirds of wings tinged yellowish,
discal cross vein not at about middle of discoidal cell, more yellowish
pubescence on pectus, slightly broader interocular space which is also
much shorter and a less conical face.
B. xanthocerus Bezz.
(P. 19, Ann. S) Ate: Mus, vol) xvi 19213)
This species, the ¢ of which Bezzi described very shortly, is also
represented in the still undescribed 9-sex. The species is character-
ised as follows :—
Body predominantly black; the entire antennae, the face and head
below, sometimes extreme base of proboscis below, the entire scutellum
slight sutural infusions on pleurae, especially in 99, the narrowish hind ©
margins of tergites 4-6 in some 99 especially and hind margins of
sternites yellowish; legs almost entirely yellowish, even the coxae are
yellowish, only the trochanters have a black spot, and last 2 tarsal
joints and apices of claws are blackish; pubescence dense and shortish,
that on thorax, especially in $3, with a shorn-off appearance, that on
abdomen also not shaggy in both sexes, predominantly gleaming
sericeous yellowish to pale golden yellowish above, that towards apex
of abdomen in $¢ not much paler, that on first antennal joints and
face in gg even more sericeous whitish, more sericeous yellowish in
29, that on sides of abdomen basally, especially in 92, deeper golden
yellowish, that on head below, pleurae, pectus, and on each side of
venter basally paler yellowish than above, the palest pectoral pubes-
cence gradually grading into the yellowish hair on body above, with
the bristly elements on body yellowish like rest of pubescence; wings
glassy hyaline, iridescent, with the base, costal cell, and basal part of
first basal cell subopaquely whitish yellowish, with the basal comb
small and yellowish, the veins brownish, becoming paler and yellowish
basally, with the discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal
cell, with the second longitudinal vein gradually curved up at its end,
with the squamae subopaquely pale yellowish and fringed with pale
yellowish hair, which appear more creamy in certain lights; halteres
yellowish and with almost whitish knobs. Head with the eyes above
in gS in contact for a short distance, subequal in length to ocellar
tubercle, with the interocular space on vertex in 99 rather narrowish,
only about 1} times as broad as combined length of antennal joints
1 and 2, the inner margins gradually diverging apically; face rather
short and shorter than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2;
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 201
antennae with joint 1 shortish, only about 25 times as long, with
2 slightly longer than broad, with 3 quite, or even a little more
than, 1; times as long as 1 and 2 combined, more or less spindle-
shaped, broadest just before middle
and more slender apically, the joint
appearing slightly humped above at broad-
est part, ending apically in a distinct
conical element bearing an upwardly
directed short style; proboscis about
3-4 mm.; palps slender, with the apical
joint rather long and slender. Legs with
longish hairs on femora below, with about
2 slender spines on middle femora in front
and about 4-6 slender spines on hind ones
below; claws rapidly bent down, almost
at right angles, nearer apex, and the
pulvili reaching their bent-down apices;
front tarsal joints in 99 hairy and only
very slightly thickened. Hypopygiwm of Tee Ry eT ne se
S$ (text-fig. 42) with the inner apical hypopygium and dorsal view
angles of basal parts somewhat angularly Tae SiGe Cae
acute; beaked apical joints not slender
and very elongate, slightly depressed above; aedeagus without a
process ventrally below.
In the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 64-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Bushmaniand.
Easily distinguished by the entirely reddish or yellowish antennae,
the slightly humped third antennal joints, the short face, and pale
yellowish pubescence on body. Except in the colour of the pub-
escence this species has no connection with mundus Lw.
1 3 5 92 B. karooénsis n. sp.
(Syn. =ruficeps Bezz. nec Macq. 3.)
The ¢ of this species was referred to ruficeps Macq. (pp. 88 and 89,
Dipt. Exot. ii, Table VII, fig. 5, 1840) by Bezzi (p. 21, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii). Macquart’s poor description of a 2 gives no clue
to the identity of this species, except its large size, and his figure of a
wing does not refer to his ruficeps, but to Fabricius’ micans, a species
202 Annals of the South African Museum.
referred to group 3 in this paper. This species of Macquart, as well
as other large S. African species of his, such as albiventris, flaviceps,
aurantiacus, and rufus (pp. 87, 88, 89, and 91, loc. cit.), are all in-
determinable from his brief and vague descriptions and confused
figures. Unless Bezzi has had access to Macquart’s type, I fail to see
how he was able to refer this g-specimen to ruficeps. In view of the
fact that all these specimens are from the Karoo and the N.W. Cape
Province, localities where the Bombyliid-fauna is poorly known, even
at present, it is improbable that Macquart’s species can be referred
to a typical Karoo-species, such as this. The characters of this
species are :—
Black; antennal joint 1 (also 2 in 9), face and front part of head
below, basal joints of palps, proboscis below, and scutellum pale
yellowish, pale reddish yellow to reddish, the scutellum being more
ferruginous red; pleurae, especially in 9, often slightly reddish above
the coxae, and first abdominal segment on side reddish to obscure
reddish, with the apical segment in 2 often also reddishy and hind
margins of ventral segments 1-3 more or less broadly pale yellowish
white, but the apical sternite in 2 more reddish; coxae and legs pale
ochreous yellow to reddish yellow, the coxae in ¢ being slightly more
obscure reddish, and the bases of the femora in the ¢ slightly darkened,
with the last tarsal joints also distinctly blackened in both sexes;
pubescence on body above, from side, creamy yellowish, pale yellowish
to pale golden yellow in 9, paler and more creamy yellowish in 3, that
on occiput and thorax in front in ¢ almost gleaming sericeous whitish,
that on abdomen in @ creamy yellow, distinctly yellow to golden
yellow, much paler and almost white apically in 3, but more yellowish
basally on each side, with the bristles in front of wing-bases, those on
mesopleuron in 9, the scutellar bristles and the transverse bristles on
abdomen in 2 pale yellowish to pale golden yellow, paler in 3, with the
pubescence on frons, antennae, and face pale sericeous yellowish to
pale golden in 9, almost sericeous white in 3, that on head below in
both sexes sericeous white, that on pleurae creamy yellowish, slightly
paler in 3, that on upper parts of pleurae in both sexes slightly more
yellowish, the entire pleural parts in 3, however, appearing paler and
more sericeous in certain lights, that on venter creamy yellowish
in g and some 99, and slightly more yellowish to even ochreous
yellowish in 9, with the short and depressed pubescence on body above
pale sericeous yellow in 2 and more sericeous whitish in g, more or less
arranged densely and transversely across bases of segments and along
dorsal line in 9 especially; wings hyaline, but with a distinct feeble
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 203
subopaquely milky whitish tint, with the base, costal cell, basal half
of first basal cell, and extreme base of second basal cell more sub-
opaquely yellowish, with the basal comb large and well developed,
sericeous yellowish to yellow, with the veins pale reddish yellow,
especially along main veins and towards base, often more brownish
towards their apices, with the opaquely yellowish squamae fringed
with pale creamy whitish hair, with the discal cross vein much beyond
middle of discoidal cell and with the second longitudinal vein slightly
TExt-FIG. 43.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of J
Bombylius karooénsis n. sp.
undulating; halteres yellowish and with almost white knobs. Head
with the eyes in g¢ above just touching in front of tubercle, then
gradually diverging for a short distance before a more rapid divergence
in front, with the interocular space in 9 about 3, or a little more, times
as broad as tubercle; eyes in ¢ more or less slightly flattened above;
antennae with joint 1 very short, about 24-3 times as long as joint 2,
with joint 3 broadest near base, more so in 9, then rapidly attenuated
apically, the apical slender part being markedly slender and also
slightly longer in 3, with the terminal joints not distinctly separately
visible, but conically broadened at base and ending in a short style;
proboscis about 5-54 mm. long, comparatively stout. Legs with
fairly longish pubescent hairs on femora below basally; front femora
with about 2-3 spines below and often with | spine on outer hind part;
middle ones with about 5-6 spines in apical half below and 2-4 on
outer apical aspect; hind ones with about 10-15 fairly stout spines
below from near base to apex, with the 2 towards base often placed
204 Annals of the South African Museum.
transversely as a pair; front tarsal joints in 2 compact and hairy, but
not markedly thickened; claws only gradually and slightly curved
downwards apically, with the pulvilli shortish and not extending
much beyond middle of claws. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 43), with
the inner apical angles of basal parts prominent, projecting and pro-
vided dorsally with short hairs; beaked apical joints comparatively
long and slender; aedeagus with the slender apical part projecting
slightly beyond the apical angles of basal parts, without a ventral
process.
Types in the South African Museum; paratypes in the Transvaal
Museum, Imperial Institute, and British Museum.
Length of body: about 10-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-11 mm.
Localityi—_N.W. Cape Province: Bushmanland; Jakhals Water
(Lightfoot, October, 1911) (Types). Karoo: Graaff-Reinet (Mackie, .
24-27/10/31) (Imp. Institute). 8. Eastern Karoo: Willowmore
(Brauns, October 1921). 8. Karoo: Worcester (Turner, September
1928 (British Museum).
Easily recognised by its large and bulky size, its dense yellowish
pubescence, attenuated third antennal joints, only slightly curved
claws, and short pulvilli. It is one of the largest species of Bombylius
in this group.
13192 B. aemulus nu. sp.
Body predominantly black, with antennal joint 1 and to a certain
extent 2, the face and head below in 9, the face in front and head
below in 3, the base of proboscis below obscurely, the greater hinder
part of scutellum, the hind margins of sternites in both sexes, and an
obscure infusion on pleurae in 9 reddish yellow or yellowish; legs
almost entirely yellowish in both sexes, only the last 2 tarsal joints
blackish; pubescence somewhat dense and shaggy, that on thorax
above not with a shorn off appearance, that on abdomen also longish,
that on face dense and longish, with the bristly elements poorly
developed, no distinct stoutish macrochaetal bristles being evident
and rest of bristles not very stiff or stoutish, more like rest of pub-
escence, predominantly gleaming sericeous whitish above in 3 and
scarcely less whitish, feebly sericeous yellowish in 2, that on abdomen
and towards apex, in g especially, almost white, that on scutellum and
disc of thorax in 2 with a very faint sericeous yellowish tint, that on
face also with a very feeble sericeous yellowish tint in certain lights,
that on body below frosty whitish in both sexes; wings glassy hyaline,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 205
iridescent, with the basal two-thirds in 3 very delicately and feebly
tinged yellowish, the base and costal cell in both sexes subopaquely
yellowish whitish, with the basal comb very feebly developed and
yellowish whitish, the veins brownish in apical half but pale yellowish
in basal half including costal veins, with the discal cross vein just
beyond, or a little beyond, middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
subopaquely pale ochreous yellowish like base of wing and fringed
with white hairs; halteres yellowish, with very pale yellowish or
almost whitish knobs. Head
with the eyes above in ¢
separated by a space about
as broad as front part of
tubercle, the interocular space
in 2 about 3 times as broad
as ocellar tubercle; face
shortish, a little shorter than
combined length of antennal
joints 1 and 2; antennae
with joint 1 slender, quite
3, or even a little more, times
as long as 2, with 2 globular, |
with 3 a little less than Is Trxt-Fic. 44.—Side view and half of ventral
times as long as 1 and 2 _ viewof hypopygium of J Bombylius aemulus
combined, slender, almost ™ *P’
rod-like, tapering apically and ending in a very small conical
terminal element bearing a minute style; proboscis about 2 mm.
long. Legs with fairly longish hairs on femora below, especially
in g, with about 3-7 spines on hind femora below; front tarsi
in 9 slightly thickened; claws rapidly bent down, almost at right
angles, nearer apex, and pulvilli reaching their bent-down apices.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 44) with the inner apical angles or processes
of basal parts projecting slightly; beaked apical joints elongate,
narrowish, acutely pointed; aedeagus without a ventral process
below; basal strut not very broad and more or less racket-shaped.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality. — Western Cape Province: Olifant’s River Valley
(between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam) (Mus. Exp., November
1931).
This species resembles globulus in the rather convex thorax which,
206 Annals of the South African Museum.
together with the pubescence, appears subglobular. It differs, how-
ever, in not having a reddish proboscis, its less yellowish wings, and
entirely different type of hypopygium.
3 99 B. montivagus n. sp.
Black; antennal joint 1, face in front, genae and head below and
scutellum yellowish to pale reddish yellow, the scutellum being more
ferruginous red and blackened at base; antennal joint 2 obscurely
reddish brown to blackish; pleurae often with a reddish infusion
above coxae and the posterior calli obscure reddish; venter with the
narrow hind margins of segments pallid and often with the last tergite
yellowish and pale reddish yellow apically; legs, including the coxae
and trochanters, pale yellowish to pale yellowish reddish, the last 2
tarsal joints and apices of claws blackish brown to black; pubescence
on body above long and recumbent, that on occiput and thorax in
front being long, straw-coloured yellowish above, that on antennae
and face being more pale sericeous yellow, with the tuft in front of
wings more creamy yellowish in certain lights, that on abdomen
laterally towards base also more creamy yellowish, that towards apex
laterally and above more straw-coloured, that on head below, on
pleural and pectoral parts and base of venter sericeous whitish,
becoming duller whitish and more straw-coloured whitish towards
upper parts of pleurae, the metapleural tuft being more straw-
coloured whitish, that on greater part of venter straw-coloured
yellowish, inclining to creamy yellowish laterally, with the bristles in
front of wings straw-coloured yellowish to whitish, with apparently
no stiffer bristles on upper part of mesopleuron; wings hyaline, but
with a very faint milky whitish tint in certain lights, with the costal
cell, basal half of first basal cell, and base more subopaquely whitish
to very pale yellowish white, with the basal comb small and whitish,
with the veins dark brown, becoming paler and even more yellowish
towards base and along main longitudinal veins, with the second
longitudinal vein more or less straight, with the discal cross vein
beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the opaquely whitish to faintly
yellowish squamae fringed whitish; halteres yellowish, with almost
white knobs. Head with the interocular space, at narrowest part,
about 3, or even more, times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennal
joint 1 slender, comparatively long, at least 34 times as long as the
subglobular second joint, with joint 3 slender, not much thicker than
joint 1, at least 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, almost rod-like,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 207
broadest just before middle, but not much broader than rest of the
joint, very gradually more narrowed apically, with the conically
thickened basal part of terminal joints about as long as the style (the
different joints not being separately visible); palps with the basal
joints pallid; proboscis about 2-24 mm. long. Legs with longish and
slender hairs on femora basally below, without any spines on front
and middle ones below, and with about 3-5 slender spines in apical half
below on hind femora; claws with the apices rather rapidly bent
downwards and the puivilli as long as claws.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 54-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Cape Province: Ceres (Turner, 1500 feet alt.,
January 1921) (Type); Ceres (Turner, November 1920); Worcester
(Turner, December 1933).
A smallish species which resembles the 2 of aemulus to such an
extent that it is almost inseparable, but as the ¢ is still unknown these
specimens are provisionally referred to a separate species. From the
allotype-aemulus these 99 differ in having slightly more yellowish
pubescence, in having distinctly more yellowish hair in front of wings,
less convex thorax, more reddish on pleurae, and darker wing-venation.
From 99 of zmitator they differ in having an entirely black abdomen,
longer first antennal joints, more slender third antennal joints, and no
dark or blackish transverse bristles on abdomen.
2 92 B. damarensis n. sp.
Body black; antennal joint 1, front part of face, genae, head below,
the very narrow hind margins of last few tergites, the extreme sides
of tergites (seen from below), and the narrow hind margins of sternites
pallid or yellowish; scutellum pale yellowish red, the base black;
legs very pale yellowish, the coxae obscurely reddish brown and last
2 or 3 tarsal joints blackish brown; pubescence comparatively short,
pale sericeous yellowish to very pale golden yellowish above, that on
frons more pale golden to ochreous yellowish, that on abdomen above
more distinctly golden yellowish, that on head below whitish, that on
pleurae only a little paler yellowish than on body above, becoming
slightly paler towards pectus and appearing more whitish when
viewed from obliquely in front, with the thoracic, scutellar, and
abdominal bristles coloured like rest of pubescence; wings hyaline,
but with a faint whitish subopacity, the base being more subopaquely
208 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish to pale yellowish white and the costal cell more whitish, the
veins brownish, more yellowish basally, the basal comb yellowish
and small, with the discal cross vein tending to be at about the middle
or slightly beyond the middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
opaquely pale yellowish white and fringed with very pale yellowish
or creamy yellowish hair; halteres yellowish, with almost white
knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex, at narrowest
part, about 3, or very little more, times as broad as ocellar tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 short, only about 24 times as long as the trans-
verse joint 2, with jot 3 comparatively stoutish, broadest a little
before middle and then more gradually narrowed apically than
basally, the apical part not being very slender, quite 2 times as long as
joints 1 and 2 combined, with the terminal elements in form of a
conical element bearing a short style; face somewhat sparsely haired,
short, and subequal in length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2;
proboscis comparatively stout, about 2 mm. long, and entirely black.
Legs with some sparse hairs on femora below basally, without any
spines on front femora below; middle ones with about 1 spine below;
hind femora with about 3-4 slender, pallid spines in apical half below;
claws rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex, and the
pulvilli reaching their bent-down apices; front tarsal joints slightly
thickened, more compact, and hairy.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 63-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Damaraland; Okahandja (Turner,
1-12/1/28, and the Type, 13-19/1/28).
2 33 B. sumulans n. sp.
Body black, with the thorax somewhat convex, with the face and
head below also predominantly black, with the first and to a certain
extent second antennal joints yellowish, the first sometimes slightly
darkened above, with the proboscis yellowish below and even above
basally, with the greater part of scutellum ferruginous reddish and
hind margins of sternites yellowish, the abdomen above entirely
black; legs predominantly yellowish, only the last two tarsal joints —
and apices of claws blackish; pubescence dense and longish, that on
abdomen more shaggy, that on first antennal joints and face dense,
that on body above predominantly pale creamy yellowish and with
sericeous gleams, that on each side on thorax in front sometimes even
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 209
gleaming more sericeous whitish in certain lights, that on abdomen
becoming paler and more whitish towards apex, but on sides basally
more sericeous yellowish, that tuft-like on each side in front of wings
also appearing more sericeous yellowish in certain lights, that on face
with yellowish or faint sericeous yellowish gleams, that on body below
contrastingly frosty whitish, without any dark bristly elements on
abdomen; wings greyish hyaline, with the basal two-thirds very
faintly but distinctly tinged yellowish, the costal and basal part more
subopaquely yellowish, with
the basal comb yellowish,
the veins dark brownish,
becoming paler and more
yellowish towards base and
along costal and subcostal
veins, with the discal cross
vein a little beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the
squamae subopaquely pale
yellowish, narrowly dark-
bordered and fringed with
creamy hairs; halteres yel-
lowish and with almost
white knobs. Head with
the eves narrowly separated TExtT-FIG. 45.—Side view and half of ventral
2 : view of hypopygium of § Bombylius simulans
n. sp.
above by a space as broad
as front half or part of
ocellar tubercle; face about as long as or slightly shorter than com-
bined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with joint 1 nearly
or about 3 times as long as 2, with 2 transverse, with 3 a little less than
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slightly thickened just before
middle and more rapidly narrowed apically than basally, ending
apically in a rather distinct conical terminal element bearing a short
style; proboscis about 3 mm. long, slender. Legs with rather dense
hairs on femora below, with about 1-2 spines in apical half on middle
femora below; hind ones with about 5-8 slender spines below: claws
rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex, and with the
pulvilli reaching their bent-down apices. Hypopygium (text-fig. 45)
with the inner apical angles of basal parts slightly projecting; beaked
apical joints elongate, narrowish, and acutely pointed apically, their
apices bent downwards. The hypopygium much resembles those of
other species in which the beaked apical joints are elongated.
210 Annals of the South African Museum.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 73-8 mm.
Locality—_Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., September
1930).
Superficially this species resembles aemulus in the subglobular
thorax, from which it differs in having more yellowish pubescence
above, more distinctly tinged wings, larger basal comb, and less
slender third antennal joints.
1 3 4 99 B. auriferus n. sp.
Body, including proboscis, antennal joint 3, narrow base of
scutellum and the coxae in part, black; antennal joints 1 and 2,
greater part of face, scutellum, hind margins of abdominal segments
above, fairly broad in some 99, broader in J, slightly broader on sides
in some 99, and distinctly broader on sides of tergite 2 in 3, and broad
-hind margins of sternites and genital segment, pale reddish; legs,
excepting only brownish coxae and last 2 tarsal joints, pale yellowish;
pubescence with characteristic and peculiar, crinkly or woolly, some-
what matted, white hair on occiput, thorax anteriorly and on sides, on
abdomen, and on pleurae, much denser in 3, especially on front and
sides of thorax and on abdomen, the pubescence on disc of thorax,
especially in 3, with a cropped appearance, with the hairs on frons,
antennal joint 1 below, on face and genae silvery whitish, the short
bristly hairs and bristles on occiput and on disc of thorax in ¢ also
gleaming silky whitish, the hairs on coxae also gleaming silky whitish,
with the shortish bristles on occiput, ocellar tubercle and sides of frons,
on thorax above and sides of thorax, the macrochaetal bristles, the
post-alar bristles, the longer bristles on hind part of scutellum and
fairly densely and transversely across hind margins of tergites in 99
gleaming golden to reddish golden, those on abdomen especially
reddish golden, with the macrochaetae, post-alar, and scutellar bristles
and dense transverse bristles on abdomen in the g paler golden yellow,
their apices more silvery in certain lights and even the short ones on
dise of thorax in $ with slightly golden bases, with the pubescence on
venter in both sexes silvery or silky whitish, the hair-like scaling on
legs white, and the spines on femora and spicules on tibiae yellowish
with shght golden gleams; wings hyaline, the base, costal cell, and base
of first basal cell very pale subopaquely yellowish, the veins pale
yellowish, becoming slightly darker apically and with a distinct
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 211
blackish infuscation on discal cross vein and on apical cross vein of
second basal cell and indications at base of vein between discoidal and
third posterior cells and at apex of first posterior cell, with the discal
cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
opaquely pale yellowish, almost whitish and fringed with white hair;
halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes in 3
separated above, at narrowest part about as broad as ocellar tubercle,
the inner margins rapidly diverging apically, with the interocular
space in 9 nearly 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1
about 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 about 14 times as long as 1 and
2 combined, broadest near base and then gradually narrowed apically,
the terminal style short and straight; proboscis about 3-5 mm. long
(slightly longer and more slender in 3); palps distinctly 2-jointed, the
apical joint shorter and slightly clavate apically, the basal joint
stouter. Legs with about 2-3 spines on lower front face in apical
half of middle femora; hind femora with about 5-6 spines below from
near base to apex; pulvilli shorter than claws, the latter gradually and
arcuately curved. The hypopygium of this single 3-specimen is
unfortunately damaged.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-84 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality —Bushmanland; Jakhals Water (Lightfoot. October
1911) (Types); Henkries (Lightfoot, October 1911). Namaqualand:
Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., November 1936). Little Karoo: Willow-
more (Brauns, 25/11/21). (In the Transvaal Museum.)
This beautiful species is very characteristic and may be easily
recognised by its crinkly, woolly, white hair and slight infuscations on
cross veins. From paterculus Walk. it may be distinguished by all
these characters and also by the front tarsi which in the 2° are not
visibly thickened.
1 2 B. auriferus var. nigripes n.
A 9-specimen from Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, ix/1928) in the Trans-
vaal Museum, which is unfortunately a bit damaged, differs from the
type 2 in having the interocular space comparatively slightly broader,
joints 1 and 2 of the antennae also black, joint 1 relatively longer, the
femora are black, the red on hind margins of abdominal segments less
distinct, the black infuscations on cross veins very distinct and
striking and also with an infuscation at base of second longitudinal
212 Annals of the South African Museum.
more distinct, the base of vein between axillary and anal cells also
distinctly infuscated, the discal cross vein is distinctly much beyond
middle of discoidal cell, the cell is also longer than first posterior cell,
the legs with about 9 spines on hind femora below, bristles on abdomen
above are slightly paler, more yellowish, less golden, and hair on body
below more yellowish. Owing to the lack of more material and as
this specimen does not differ structurally from the 2 allotype and
paratypes, I prefer to regard it at present as only a new variety. A
Q-specimen from Murraysburg in the South African Museum is much
like var. nigripes, but has predominantly yellow legs but black antennae
and black face.
1 2 B. auriferus var. melanus n.
Similarly there is in the British Museum a very denuded ?-specimen,
from Prince Albert Road (Turner, November 1931), which, in the
absence of a 3, can be regarded at present as still another variety of
auriferus. This specimen differs from the 9-types of auriferus s. str.
and its var. nigripes in having the femora, and especially the hind
ones, more extensively blackened, the tibiae also darkened above and
the hind ones almost entirely so, the hind tarsi too are entirely
darkened, with the spines on the legs whitish, not yellowish; face and
head below dark; scutellum much more blackened, only the hind part
being reddish; reddish hind margins of abdomen narrower and much
less conspicuous; antennal joints 1 and 2 also darkened as in var.
nigripes, but joint 1 is distinctly shorter, only about 3 times as long as
joint 2; wings more like that of auriferus s. str., with the blackish or
dark spots much less distinct than in var. nigripes, with the veins,
however, slightly darker than in type form; pubescence (as far as this
is not denuded) apparently more uniformly white above, that on
tubercle, frons, and face, including bristly hairs, entirely white, very
shining and gleaming silvery whitish in certain lights, that on body
above apparently also whiter and not golden or deep golden and with
the hair on coxae also silvery whitish as in the type form.
Type in the British Museum.
1 g B. latipectus n. sp.
Body black, with antennal joints 1 and 2 yellowish, the face above
and front part of head below yellowish, the base of proboscis below also
yellowish reddish, with the greater part of scutellum, the hind margins
of tergites on sides and the hind margins of sternites more broadly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 213
reddish; legs almost entirely yellowish, only the coxae to a certain
extent, the last 2 tarsal joints, and apical parts of claws black;
pubescence dense, rather longish on thorax, slightly longer and
more shaggy on abdomen, predominantly gleaming pale sericeous
yellowish above, scarcely paler sericeous yellowish towards apex of
abdomen, that on sides of abdomen and in front of wings appearing
more pale golden only in certain lights, that on head below, pectus,
pleurae, and to a certain extent base of venter on each side con-
trastingly frosty whitish,
with the macrochaetal
bristles, post-alar bristles,
scutellar bristles, and those
across tergites coloured
like rest of pubescence
above, with the hairs on
femora and scaling on legs
whitish; wings greyish
hyaline, with the basal
two-thirds distinctly
tinged yellowish, the base,
costal cell, basal half of
marginal cell, and part of
the first basal cell more TEXT-FIc. 46.—Haltf of ventral view and side view
subopaquely yellowish of hypopygium of § Bombylius latipectus n. sp.
whitish, with the basal comb rather strongly developed and yellowish,
the veins dark brownish apically, becoming yellowish to pale yellowish
reddish towards base, the first longitudinal vein yellowish, with the
discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell and discoidal cell
rather truncate apically, with the squamae subopaquely yellowish and
fringed with whitish hair; halteres pale yellowish brown, with very
pale yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes separated above by a space
about as broad as narrow front part of ocellar tubercle or broad front
ocellus, with the eyes rather large and upper facets rather coarse;
face longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae
with joint 1 short, only a little more than 2, or about 23 times as long
transverse joint 2 (with 3 missing in specimen); proboscis rather long,
about 54 mm. long; palps with the shorter apical joint clavate.
Thorax comparatively large and well developed, much longer than
broad, nearly as long as combined scutellum and abdomen. Legs with
longish hairs on femora below; middle femora with about 4—7 spines
in front below and about 2-3 behind; hind femora with about 11
WOES XXIV: 15
214 Annals of the South African Museum.
gleaming golden spines below from near base to apex; claws rather
strongly developed, rather rapidly bent down, almost at right angles,
nearer apex and with the pulvilli extending beyond middle of claws,
but not reaching their bent down apices. Hypopygium (text-fig. 46)
with the inner apical angles of basal parts angularly projecting;
beaked apical joints elongated, narrowish, with acute apices which
are directed downwards and outwards and with longish hairs on
beaked joints above towards their bases; aedeagus without a ventral
process below; basal strut somewhat racket-shaped.
Type in the South Africa Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Localityi— Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., September
1930).
This species is recognised by its rather large and well-developed
thorax, somewhat subopaquely greyish hyaline and yellowish-tinged
wings, reddish hind margins on sides of tergites, long proboscis and
strong claws. From aurimystaz it differs in having a shorter and less
produced face and separated eyes, reddish hind margins on sides of
abdomen, and more rapidly bent-down claws.
1 g B. wmermis n. sp.
Body black, with the face, entire antennae, proboscis and head
below also black; scutellum, hind margins on sides of tergites 2, 3,
and to a certain extent 4, hind margins of sternites 1-3 and apical
part of genital segment reddish; legs with the coxae and bases of
femora and at least basal half of front femora blackish, the apical
parts of femora, the tibiae, and tarsi yellowish, the hind tarsi and ~
apical parts of the others slightly more brownish; pubescence shortish
on occiput and thorax above, where it is dense and with a shorn-off
appearance, not very long on abdomen, pale yellowish on body
above, gleaming sericeous yellowish in certain lights, becoming paler
towards apex of abdomen, that on face and antennae also yellowish,
that on pleurae, head below, and coxae only paler than above and
more straw-coloured yellowish, becoming distinctly more whitish on
pectus, that on venter paler yellowish, but slightly more whitish on
sides basally, with the sparse and fine depressed pubescence above
gleaming whitish or sericeous yellowish in different lights, the scaling
on legs whitish, with the bristly elements, excepting only post-alar
bristles, poorly developed and not differing from rest of pubescence;
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 215
wings vitreous hyaline, with the costal cell and base subopaquely
yellowish whitish, with the basal comb yellowish, the veins dark
brownish, paler basally, with the discal cross vein beyond middle of
discoidal cell, the first posterior cell rather acute apically, with the
squamae subopaquely yellowish white and fringed with creamy
yellowish hairs; halteres pale yellowish brown, with very pale
yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes contiguous above, at least
inner margins are contiguous, but nevertheless appearing narrowly
separated by a narrow space
about as broad as front ocellus
for a distance at least as long
as ocellar tubercle; face rather
short and shorter than com-
bined length of antennal joints
1 and 2; antennae with joint
1 shortish, only about 2 times
as long as 2, with 2 longer
than broad, with joint 3 spindle-
shaped, broadest just before
middle, more rapidly narrowed
apically than basally, ending ;
apically in a very small conical [yx-p1¢, 47.—Side view and half of ven-
element bearing a short style; tral view of hypopygium of 3 Bombylius
: imermis N. Sp.
proboscis about 4 mm. long,
its labial part below finely but visibly strigilose. Legs with shortish
hairs on femora below, without any spines on front femora below;
middle ones with about 2-3 short spines on each side below
nearer apex; hind femora with about 10 spines below from near
- base to apex; claws distinctly rapidly bent down, almost at right
angles, nearer apex, with the pulvilli reaching apices of claws.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 47) with the basal parts rather broadish in neck
region, with longish hairs dorsally on each part, with the inner apical
angles of basal parts projecting prominently, with the beaked apical
joints broad and leaf-like, their apices curved downwards and slightly
outwards; aedeagus with scarcely a distinct ventral process below.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality.—Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 25/11/22).
216 Annals of the South African Museum.
2 99 B. rufescens n. sp.
Body with the eyes, greater part of occiput, third antennal joints,
proboscis above and apically below, thorax above, base of scutellum,
and basal parts of tergites 2-3 or 4 black, with a spot on each side
of ocellar tubercle, anterior part of frons, entire face, genae and head
below, antennal joints 1 and 2, greater part of proboscis below,
humeral part and even sides of thorax above on each side above and
in front of wings, the post-alar calli, obscurely across base of thorax,
greater part of scutellum, the very broad hind margins of all the
tergites and even greater part of apical half of abdomen above, the
entire sides of abdomen, the greater part or entire pleurae and greater
part or entire venter reddish yellow to reddish; legs, including
coxae, entirely yellowish or reddish yellow; pubescence shortish,
predominantly straw-coloured to whitish on thorax above, that on
abdomen slightly more yellowish to sericeous yellowish, the macro-
chaetal bristles, post-alar bristles and those on scutellum and trans-
versely on abdomen above even deeper yellowish, gleaming more
golden to deep golden yellowish, the pubescence on head above,
antennae and face golden yellowish to yellowish sericeous, that on
head below and body below whitish, that on sides of abdomen basally
sometimes also whitish in certain lights, that on venter whitish,
especially towards base, with the depressed, fine scaling on abdomen
above whitish to pale sericeous yellowish, even more golden towards
apex, sericeous yellowish to golden on frons, more distinctly whitish
on thorax above; wings hyaline, but with a slight whitish subopacity
in certain lights, with the base, costal cell, and basal half of first basal
cell more subopaquely very pale yellowish whitish, with the basal
comb very small, reduced and yellowish, the veins reddish or reddish
brown and paler, more yellowish reddish basally, with the discal
cross vein at about, or just beyond, middle of discoidal cell, with
the squamae opaquely yellowish white and fringed with creamy or
sericeous hairs; halteres yellowish and with very pale yellowish
knobs. Head with the interocular space comparatively narrow,
about 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle or about 2 times as broad
as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; face shortish and
subequal in length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae
with joint 1 short, only about, or scarcely, 24 times as long as joint 2,
with 2 transverse, with 3 subspindle-shaped, broadest near base,
gradually narrowed apically, ending apically in a small conical basal
element, somewhat on dorsal side of apex of joint 3, which terminates
- A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 217
in a style; proboscis about 24 mm. long. Legs with sparse and
shortish hairs on femora below, with about 2 spines in front on middle
femora and about 4—5 spines more or less in apicai half on hind ones
below; front tarsal joints hairy but not appreciably thickened;
claws rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex,
and with the pulvilli reaching their bent-down apices.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Warmbad (Mus. Exp.,
Feb. 1925).
Kasily recognised and distinguished from all other species by the
extensive red on body and especially on abdomen and pleurae. From
atronotatus it differs in being smaller, in not having the black on
abdomen in a series of spots, and in not having an angularly acute
first posterior cell.
2 $3 9 92 B. muscoides n. sp.
Body black,with antennal joints | and 2 in $¢ sometimes blackish or
dark, with antennal joints | and 2 in 99, front margin or front part of
face in both sexes, front part of head below, especally in females, greater
part of or entire scutellum, hind margins of all the tergites in 99 and
some gd, or at least hind margins of tergites 2—7 in 99, much broadened
on sides and even very broad, the broad sides of tergites 2 and 3 in
some g¢ or obscure sides of tergites 2 and 3 in gg, the hind margins
of the sternites in both sexes, and infusions on the pleurae to a variable
extent, especially on metapleurae and especially in some 99, but also
in some $4, yellowish red or pale reddish; legs with the coxae,
femora, tibiae, and greater part of tarsi in 92 yellowish, the apical
half of hind tarsi or even entire hind tarsi and the last 2 joints of
the others darkened and more brownish, with the coxae, trochanters,
and femora to very much beyond the middle, and almost entire hind
femora distinctly blackened in some 3d, only the apices of femora,
the tibiae, and basal parts of tarsi being yellowish, with the femora
and especially the hind ones in some 3g, however, less extensively
darkened, with almost entire hind tarsi in $$ usually more brownish,
with the spines and spicules in both sexes usually almost pallid, even
tending to be whitish; pubescence shortish, denser on thorax in
3d and with a cropped off appearance, that on abdomen in g¢ denser
and longer than in 99, that on antennal joint 1 below tending to be
218 Annals of the South African Museum.
long in both sexes, that on face not very dense and even sparser in
29, with the transverse bristles across hind margins of tergites in
92 more distinct and conspicuous and longer than rest of shortish or
the depressed pubescence on abdomen, with the pubescence on body
above gleaming sericeous whitish in some g3 to pale sericeous
yellowish in others, that in 99 pale sericeous yellowish to almost
pale golden yellowish, that on head below and body below whitish
to frosty whitish, distinctly contrasting in whiteness with that on
body above, that on venter straw-coloured to whitish, with the
macrochaetal, post-alar, scutellar, and transverse bristles on abdomen
in 99 especially deeper yellowish or gleaming golden yellowish, with
the depressed, fine scaling on frons, thorax, and densely on abdomen
above in 99 pale, gleaming pale sericeous yellowish to brassy yellow-
ish, that on venter more whitish, the scaling on legs whitish; wings
vitreous hyaline, with a very faint whitish subopacity in certain
lights in some specimens, with the basal part up to end of costal
cell in some $¢ with a very faint touch of yellowish, with the base,
costal cell, and basal half of first basal cell in both sexes subopaquely
whitish to pale yellowish whitish with the basal comb yellowish,
the veins brownish, becoming paler and more yellowish basally, with
the discal cross vein a little or even a good distance beyond middle
of discoidal cell, and with the first posterior cell distinctly angularly
acute in some specimens and more so in 3g, with the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish white to pale yellowish and fringed with whitish to
creamy hairs; halteres yellowish and with whitish knobs. Head
with the eyes in gg in contact above for a short distance, slightly
less than, or about, length of ocellar tubercle from where the inner
margins diverge gradually at first and then more rapidly, with the
interocular space on vertex in 99 rather narrow and less than 2 times
as broad as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2, the inner
margins only gradually diverging apically, the frons thus also com-
paratively narrow; facial region comparatively narrowish, the face
shortish and shorter than combined length of antennal joints 1 and
2; antennae with joint 1 shortish, only about 14 times, sometimes a
little longer and almost 2 times, as long as 2, with 2 rather elongate
and distinctly longer than broad, with joint 3 more or less distinctly
spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle, then less narrowed
basally than apically, more attenuately narrowed apically, especially
in $g, ending apically in a distinct conical element bearing a short
style; proboscis rather stoutish, about 3 mm. long, entirely black
or dark, its labial part distinctly and visibly finely strigilose. Legs
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 219
with only shortish hairs on femora below, without any visible spines
on front femora below, with about 2—4 on middle ones in front and
with about 7—9 spines on hind ones from near base to apex; claws
rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer apex, and with the
pulvili reaching their bent-down apices; front tarsal joints in 99
comparatively conspicuously thickened. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig.
48) with the inner apical angles or processes of basal parts prominently
projecting apically and provided with setae above and below; beaked
TExtT-FIc. 48.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of 3
Bombylius muscoides n. sp.
apical joints leaf-shaped, broadish, their apices acute and directed
slightly outwards and downwards, slightly depressed above; aedeagus
with the slender apical part not reaching apices of inner apical angles
of basal parts, the aedeagus with a median ventral lobe-like process
which is bluntly pointed apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-8 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Kamanyab (Mus. Exp.,
March 1925) (Holotype); Kamanyab (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1925);
Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp., March 1925) (Allotype); Kaross (Mus.
Exp., Feb. 1925): Ovamboland; Ondongua (Mus. Exp., Jan.
1923): Damaralanc; Outjo (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1925).
This species is easily recognised by its spindle-shaped third antennal
joints, narrow interocular space and frons in 99, red hind margins
220 Annals of the South African Museum.
of tergites, blackened femora in 33, apically acute first posterior
cell, etc. The species appears to be slightly variable, especially in
the $3, in the colour of the pubescence, blackened femora, and in
the extensiveness of the red on abdomen. The 99 bear some super-
ficial resemblance to members of Muscid-flies.
B. paterculus Walk.
(P. 196, Insect. Saund. Dipt. mi, Tab. V, fig. 8, 1852.)
Walker’s original description of this species 1s so vague and un-
satisfactory that it is impossible to determine his species. It was
referred by him to Parisus, a genus which he erected to contain it
and which was subsequently sunk as a synonym of Bombylius. For
the identity of this species there is nothing to rely upon except a
9-specimen, in the South African Museum, labelled and determined by
Bezzi as paterculus, and also from the keys and short notes in the
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvin, pp. 14 and 20 and in The Bombyliudae
of the Ethiopian Region, p. 47. The identity of this species is thus
very doubtful, and what is referred to it in this paper may prove to
be an entirely different species from that described by Walker. In
view of the fact that there are several species in South Africa with red
hind margins to the abdomen, reference to this character, as a dis-
tinguishing feature of paterculus, is valueless. According to Walker’s
description, apparently only the tip of the abdomen of his specimen
is reddish (““tawny”’), and he states nothing about the hind margins
being red. Walker’s description may thus refer to any of the species
with reddish hind margins and reddish apices to the abdomen
dealt with in this paper, including even the specimens referred to
fucatus Bezz. and wmitator n. sp. The specimens, which are pro-
visionally referred to paterculus in this paper and agreeing with
Bezzi’s labelled specimen, agree in the following particulars :—
Body black; antennal joint 1 and often 2, face and head below, the
proboscis below, the scutellum, posterior calli, the propleurae, upper
part of sternopleuron on to hypopleuron and the posterior part of
mesopleuron to a variable extent, the narrow or broadish hind margins
of abdominal segments above, the sides of abdomen fairly broadly
and constantly, and the hind margins of ventral segments reddish;
legs entirely yellowish in both sexes, excepting only the black two
last tarsal joints and apices of claws; pubescence somewhat shortish
and shorn off in appearance above in gg, with distinct transverse
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 221
rows of bristles visible on the abdomen in 9 at least, yellowish
sericeous, pale golden yellow to deep golden, that on body below
slightly paler than above, especially just above the coxae, but often
scarcely whitish even there, that on face yellow to deep golden
yellowish even in some 3¢, often, however, more sericeous yellowish,
with the bristles on body yellow or slightly more golden yellow than
the rest of the hair, with the depressed pubescence on abdomen
above also yellowish; integument usually with a slightly bluish
submetallic sheen, shining through under
the greyish bloom; wings tinged distinctly
yellowish to pale yellowish brown in 33,
leaving only the apices and hind border
more hyaline, more hyaline in 99, with
the veins reddish yellow to even dark
brownish, becoming paler towards base,
with the squamae opaquely yellowish to
pale yellowish brown and fringed with
yellowish hairs. Head with the eyes in
33 separated above, at narrowest point,
‘about as broad as narrow front part of
tubercle or as broad as front ocellus, then
rapidly diverging anteriorly, in 9° about, ee pak me ken
or even more than, 34 times as broad hypopygium and_ ventral
as tubercle; proboscis . about 3-4 mm. a ame pais ats
long; antennae with joint 1 shortish,
about 24 to 3 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 about, or a
little less than, 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadest in
basal half, gradually tapering apically, but not markedly broadened
basally as in transitus n. sp., with the style short and often yellowish.
Wings with the discal cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal
cell and with the second longitudinal vein more or less straight and
the first posterior cell usually more obtuse than in transitus apically.
Legs with pubescent hairs on femora below, especially in 6, without
any spines on front femora below, with about 1-2 spines on anterior
lower face of middle ones and with about 5-9 (usually about 5-7)
spines on hind ones below; front tarsal joints in Q distinctly, though
slightly, thickened; claws rather rapidly curved downwards at their
apices, and the pulvilli extending a little beyond middle of claws.
Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 49) with a slight process below aedeagus.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 53-8 mm.
222 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality. — Cape Province to Port Elizabeth, Southern Karoo,
Western Cape Province to Namaqualand and even south O.F.S. (In
the Imperial Institute, Transvaal, British and South African Museums.)
An attempt is made in the key to distinguish this species from
nearly related species such as transitus n. sp. and prusimosulus n. sp.
described below.
9 99 B. transitus n. sp.
Body black, with antennal joints 1 and 2, face, genae, head below,
sometimes extreme base of proboscis obscurely, post-alar calli, entire
scutellum, hind margins of tergites, discally narrow and very broad
on sides and more extensively so on sides of tergites 1-4, a more or
less longitudinal band along pleurae above coxae, the greater part
of metapleural part and the broad hind margins, or even entire
sternites reddish or reddish yellow; legs, including coxae, almost
entirely yellowish, only apical parts of tarsi more brownish; pub-
escence shortish but not with a closely cropped appearance on thorax,
predominantly pale sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish above,
that on abdomen even more yellowish, that on frons, antennae, and
face pale sericeous yellowish to deeper sericeous yellowish, that on
sides of abdomen appearing deeper yellowish to slightly fulvous, due
to the reddish integument showing through, that on head below and
body below whitish to straw-coloured whitish and contrasting with
that on body above, that on venter basally also whitish, with the
bristly elements on abdomen gleaming pale golden yellowish to even
deep golden, with the fine, depressed, dense scaling on abdomen
above sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish, gleaming sericeous
yellowish on frons, and paler or more whitish on thorax in front,
with the scaling on legs whitish; wings vitreous hyaline, with the
base, costal cell, and basal half of first basal cell subopaquely whitish
to yellowish whitish, the basal comb yellowish, the veins dark
brownish to reddish brown, paler and more pale yellowish red to
yellowish basally and along first longitudinal vein, with the discal
cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with a tendency for
first posterior cell to be acute or angularly acute apically in some
specimens, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed with
creamy yellowish to pale sericeous yellowish hairs; halteres yellowish
and with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space
on vertex a little more than 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle or
only a little more than 2 times combined length of antennal joints
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 223
1 and 2; face short and subequal in length to, or even shorter than,
combined antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with joint 1 short, only
about 2, or a little more, times as long as 2, with 2 tending to be a
little longer than broad, with 3 almost spindle-shaped, broadest
a little before middle, narrowed basally but more attenuately apically ;
proboscis about 33-43 mm. long, its labial part very finely strigilose.
Legs with only shortish hairs on femora below; middle femora with
about 4 spines in front below; hind ones with about 8-12 spines
below from near base to apex; front tarsal joints rather conspicuously
thickened; claws rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, nearer
apex and pulvill reaching their bent down apices.
Type in the Transvaal Museum, paratypes in the British and
South African Museums.
Length of body: about 63-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-74 mm.
Locality.—West Transvaal: Delarey (Brauns, Jan. 1917) (Type).
Great Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Exp., March 1931). N.E.
Karoo: Aliwal North (Turner, Dec. 1922); Lady Grey (Nel, Dec.
1924). O.F.S.: Bloemfontein (Irving, 25/3/21). South West Africa:
Outjo (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1925).
This species is quite distinct and easily recognisable by the extensive
red on the sides of abdomen, which is usually conspicuous as a broad,
conspicuous, quadrangular red patch on each side from tergite 2-4,
the red even sometimes extending on to disc. The red if not in a
quadrangular patch is at least broad and extensive on these tergites.
The species is fairly widely distributed and is thus to a certain extent
slightly variable, the red on sides being more extensive in some speci-
mens. The red appears to be more extensive in specimens from the
Transvaal, O.F.S., and South West Africa, and in these specimens the
first posterior cell is also more acute apically.
The 9-paratype from Bloemfontein was labelled ‘ Bombylius
fucatus” by Bezzi. This specific determination is obviously wrong,
for fucatus, according to Bezzi in his keys, has no red hind margins
on the abdominal segments. In Bezzi’s keys it runs down to pater-
culus Walk. and not fucatus Bezz. From 99 of paterculus Walk., as
defined in this paper and according to Bezzi, it differs in having a
distinctly narrower interocular space, which is only about 2 times as
broad as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2 or slightly less
than 14 times as long as antennal joint 3 (slightly more than 2 times
as broad as joints 1 and 2 combined or as broad as about 1} times
length of joint 3 in paterculus), in having antennal joint 1 distinctly
224 Annals of the South African Museum.
shorter and not quite 24-3 times as long as 2, in having joint 3
distinctly broader just before middle and thus more subspindle-
shaped, in having the proboscis entirely black and more visibly
finely strigilose below, in having the red on sides of tergites 2-4
broader and more conspicuous, the first posterior cell on the whole
more acute apically and the front tarsal joints on the whole more
thickened. From the 9 of pruinosulus n. sp. (below) it differs in
having more extensive red on sides of abdomen, narrower interocular
space, shorter first antennal joints, more spindle-shaped third antennal
joints, claws which are more rapidly bent down near apex, etc.
1g¢1 92 B. pruinosulus n. sp.
Black, with a pale bluish grey bloom, especially on thorax, above;
anterior part of face in both sexes and to a certain extent front part
of head below in 9, antennal joint 1 and to a certain extent 2, the
scutellum (excepting only a broadish black basal macula), the narrow
hind margins of abdomen above, which are more broadened on sides
and the hind margins of ventral segments reddish, the extreme
apical margins of the segments above, however, more ivory whitish
and the hind margins on venter in g at least more distinctly ivory
yellowish; proboscis below and the palps also yellowish or pale
yellowish brown; legs yellowish, with the coxae and basal parts of
front and middle femora in g, however, more brownish or darkened,
with the apices of the tarsi also brownish in both sexes; pubescence
short and with a shorn-off appearance above on thorax in g especially,
pale sericeous or silvery whitish above on front part of body in 4,
more straw-coloured in 9, that on scutellum and abdomen above
gleaming pale sericeous yellowish in 3, tending to be more yellowish
laterally and becoming more whitish apically, slightly more yellowish
in 2 due to the more yellowish transverse bristles on abdomen,
especially on the sides, that on face gleaming whitish sericeous in g,
slightly more yellowish sericeous in 2, and that on frons in 2 more
yellowish, with the bristles in front of wing-bases in 9, and on scutellum
in both sexes more distinctly yellowish, with the hair on head below
and thorax below markedly white, almost frosty white, especially in
d, contrasting much with that above, that in metapleural parts also
markedly whitish, and that on venter whitish in 3, becoming more
yellowish towards apex in 2; wings slightly subopaquely whitish, but
distinctly tinged yellowish at base, in costal cell, and across to apex
of second basal cell and including second basal cell in g, more hyaline
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 225
in 2, squamae opaquely pale yellowish white and fringed with whitish
hairs; halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with the
eyes 1n ¢ 1n contact above in front of tubercle for & distance less than
the length of tubercle, then rapidly diverging anteriorly, the eyes
somewhat flattened above and with the upper facets much coarser
than lower ones, with the interocular space in @ a little more than 3
times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 3, or a little
more, times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 tapering gradually to
TeExt-F1G. 50.—Ventral and side view of hypopygium and dorsal view of
beaked apical joint of § Bombylius pruinosulus n. sp.
apex; proboscis about 34-4} mm. long. Legs with longish white
hairs on femora below, especially in 3, without any spines on front
femora below, with about 2 or 3 spines on middle ones below and
with about 8-9 spines on hind ones below from near base to apex;
claws rather slender in 3, rather gradually curved downwards apically
in both sexes, with the pulvilli extending to beyond middle of claws.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 50) resembles that of marginellus, aemulus,
anomalus, etc., in the long and slender-beaked apical joints and in
having no ventral aedeagal process.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
Locality Bushmanland: Jakhals Water (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911).
The $ of this species is certainly distinct from that of the species
which I referred to paterculus in having the eyes in actual contact
above and in the silvery whitish pubescence above. The Q is not
226 Annals of the South African Museum.
very easily separated from paterculus. It appears to differ in having
a darker face, predominantly black pleural parts, no extensive broad
red on sides of abdomen, claws which are gradually and arcuately
curved, in having a larger basal comb to wings and in being slightly
larger.
1 $ B. pallescens n. sp.
Entire body and to a certain extent proboscis below muddy or
sienna brownish, the scutellum and abdomen above slightly paler and
more ochreous brownish, with the hind margins of the tergites showing
narrowly through more dark brownish; face, antennal joints 1 and 2,
genae, head below, and venter even paler and more yellowish brownish,
the ‘hind margins of sternites pale yellowish whitish; antennal joint
3, greater part of proboscis above, and to a certain extent the eyes
black; legs with the coxae brownish yellow, the bases of front and
middle femora pale brownish yellowish, their apical parts, the hind
femora and the tibiae and tarsi more yellowish, only the last 2 tarsal
joints and apical part of claws blackish, with the spines and spicules
gleaming golden; pubescence dense and shortish, that on thorax
above with a more or less shorn-off appearance, that on abdomen
dense, predominantly gleaming velvety sericeous whitish on body
above, that on sides of thorax above wings and on scutellum with
very faint sericeous yellowish gleams in certain lights, that on
abdomen tending to become more distinctly snow whitish apically,
that on ocellar tubercle, antennal joint 1 and face gleaming pale
sericeous yellowish, that tuft or puff-like on mesopleuron in front of
wings appearing more yellowish than pubescence on thorax above,
the pubescence on head below and on entire body below and in
metapleural tuft more contrasting and frosty whitish though gleam-
ing sericeous, with the scaling on legs whitish; wings shining, with a
distinct whitish subopacity which is more pronounced than in any
of the preceding species, with the base and costal cell more distinctly
subopaquely whitish, with the basal comb well developed and yellow-
ish but gleaming whitish in certain lights, the veins very pale brownish
yellowish or appearing pallid, with the discal cross vein a good distance
beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the second longitudinal vein
not very rapidly bent up at its end, with the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish and densely fringed with almost snow white hair;
halteres very pale yellowish white and with whitish knobs. Head
with the eyes narrowly separated above by width of front ocellus for
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 227
a very short distance, the inner margins then rapidly diverging
apically; face rather longish and much longer than combined length
of antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with joint 1 short, only about
3 times as long as 2, with 2 transverse, with 3, including terminal
elements, quite 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slightly curved,
gradually narrowed apically, but rod-like to much beyond middle,
ending apically in a rather conspicuous conical basal element passing
into a shortish style; proboscis about 5 mm. long. Legs with dense
hair on front and middle
femora below, with 1
spine below towards
apex on front femora;
middle ones with about
3 spines in apical half
below in front; hind
femora with about 13-14
spines below from near
base to apex, those be-
fore middle tending to
be arranged in 2 rows,
with 7-8 more widely
separated spines in a
row On inner side below;
claws gradually and
arcuately curved, the
pulvili rather shortish just about reaching, or extending a little
beyond, middle of claws. Hypopygium (text-fig. 51) with the beaked
apical joints elongate and narrowish, their apices acute and bent
downwards, their dorsal surfaces not very hairy; aedeagus with the
apical part slender and without any ventral process below.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality.—Little Karoo: Calitzdorp Distr.; Matjesvlei (Brauns,
Oct. 1921).
This unique specimen differs from all the preceding species in its
muddy brownish or sienna brownish integument and subopaquely
whitish wings. The integumentary colour appears to be natural
and not due to the incomplete chitinisation or oxidation of teneral
forms.
Text-Fic. 51.—Half of ventral view and side view
of hypopygium of $ Bombylius pallescens n. sp.
228 Annals of the South African Museum.
13412 B. annuliwentris n. sp.
Integument of body more or less castaneous brownish; the thorax
and pleural parts dark brownish; the scutellum and abdomen paler
and more reddish or sienna brownish, the posterior calli on thorax
and hind margins of scutellum even slightly paler; antennal joints
1 and 2, face, genae, and head below yellowish, the face being slightly
darker than the pallid antennal joints; antennal joint 3, eyes and
proboscis black, the latter slightly tinted reddish brown below;
hind margins of abdominal segments above ivory-whitish, more
distinct and conspicuous from segment 3 to apex, the margins on
last 3 or 4 segments being also broader, all slightly more broadened
on extreme sides where fold, between tergites and sternites, is also
very pale, pallid to yellowish, with the hind margins of ventral
segments also more broadly ivory whitish to yellowish; legs almost
pallid, very pale yellowish, with a very slight pale yellowish brown
tint towards bases of femora in 3, with the spines pallid and the last
2 tarsal joints and apex of claws brownish; pubescence comparatively
short, pubescent, and not very long on occiput and thorax, soft pale
yellowish from side, that on occiput and thorax in ¢ slightly paler
and, in certain lights, more creamy, that on antennae and head in
front on both sexes very pale sericeous yellowish to straw-coloured
yellowish, that on thorax above in 2 with a slightly more golden tint,
that on abdomen above distinctly deeper yellowish to golden yellow
and with golden gleams in 9, much paler and more creamy yellowish
in 3, with whitish gleams in certain lights and with that towards
apex distinctly paler, the sides also appearing paler in certain lights,
that on body below distinctly more whitish, becoming almost white
on head below and pectus, that towards upper parts of pleurae and
in metapleural tuft and on venter inclining to creamy yellowish,
appearing even paler in certain lights, that on sides of venter in 3
being distinctly more whitish, comparatively sparse on venter in both
sexes, with the bristly hairs and bristles on thorax in front of wings,
on posterior calli, on scutellum and transversely on abdomen coloured
like the hair and more distinct in 9, with the shorter, fine depressed or
subdepressed pubescence on body above very pale and sparse, almost
whitish in 3, much denser, especially on abdomen, in 2 and distinctly
more yellow, that on frons in 2 pale golden, more whitish sericeous
in g; wings vitreous hyaline but with a distinct subopaque milky
whitish tint, the base, costal cell, and basal half of first basal cell slightly
more subopaquely whitish, the base being even very pale yellowish
white, with the basal comb yellowish, the veins brownish, becoming
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 229
more pallid or yellowish towards extreme base, with the first posterior
cell tending to be acute apically in g, with the discal cross vein a
little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the opaquely yellowish to
pale yellowish brown squamae fringed with creamy yellowish hair;
halteres yellowish, with whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in 3
contiguous above for a distance about as long as ocellar tubercle,
then diverging apically for a slightly shorter distance before diverging
more rapidly, in 2 slightly more than 3 times as broad as tubercle ;
antennae with joint 1 com-
paratively short, and in ¢
only about 2 times as long
as joint 2 and about 24
times as long as 2 in 9, with
joint 3 almost 2 times as
long as 1 and 2 combined,
broad basally, but broadest
just before middle and
broader in Q, then rapidly
attenuated apically, with
indications of fine whitish
pubescence above towards
base, with the first terminal Noe”
joints situated obliquely on Terxt-ric. 52.—Side view of hypopygium and
apex of 3, scarcely narrower Ee nail _ aes CE eres
than apex of 3, rapidly pro-
longed into a slender style, the other joints (2 and 3 itself) not separately
visible; proboscis comparatively stoutish, about 2-24 mm. long. Legs
with only shortish and not conspicuous or long hairs basally below on
femora; front femora unarmed below; middle ones with about 1 or 3
spines below; hind ones with about 4 spines below from about the
middle to apex; front tarsal joints in 9 compact and hairy, but not
much thickened; claws with the apices rather rapidly bent downwards
and with the pulvilli reaching apices of claws. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 52) with the beaked apical joints broad and flattened,
slightly depressed above, the beak curved downwards and outwards;
aedeagus with a medial lobe-like ventral aedeagal process below.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 7-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Damaraland; Okahandja (Turner,
1—12/1/1928).
VOL Xai, 16
230 Annals of the South African Museum.
This species is easily recognised by its castaneous brown colour,
more reddish brown abdomen, of which the hind margins are ivory
whitish or yellowish, the shortish, soft, and pale yellowish to pale
golden yellow hair. From pallescens it differs in being smaller, in.
having the eyes contiguous above in g, shorter face, more spindle-
shaped third antennal joints, shorter proboscis, more rapidly curved
claws, etc.
GROUP 3.
B. mcans F¥.
(Loew, p. 184, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr. 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 25,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This and the following species are easily recognisable and character-
ised by the long sericeous or silvery gleaming, dense, and shaggy
pubescence and well-developed bristles on the body and the more or
less dimidiate wings, in which the anterior half is reddish brown,
yellowish brown to brownish. They are also fairly large and striking
Bombyliids, with predominantly yellowish femora and with fewer
black hairs or bristles on body.
B. micans is characterised by having predominantly pale sericeous
yellowish to very pale ochreous yellowish, gleaming pubescence above,
which shows more or less three gleaming ochreous brownish or golden
stripes on disc of thorax, with few black hairs or bristles on body,
and these only on frons, sides of face above, on antennal joint 1 below,
and sparsely intermixed tuft-like on sides of abdomen towards apex;
wings with the basal comb yellowish and anterior yellowish brown
infuscation extending into and occupying even greater part of
marginal cell; legs entirely or predominantly yellowish, the femora
not distinctly blackened at base.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 53) is chiefly distinguished by the very
prominent basal, somewhat indented, ridge on ventral part of
aedeagus; beaked apical joints broad and foliate in basal half,
deeply and foveately depressed above; inner apical part of basal
part on inner side of beaked apical joints prominent; basal strut has
a distinct ledge-like lateral process on each side near base.
The species appears to be slightly variable, and there appears to be
a West Coast form, from Namaqualand, characterised by having more
ochreous pubescence, no black bristles on ocellar tubercle, no black
ones intermixed on frons, on sides of face or below joint 1 of the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 231
antennae, with the hair on coxae also more ochreous, and the legs
entirely yellow. A southern more typical form has paler and more
sericeous yellowish or lemon yellowish pubescence, with distinct
black intermixed bristles on tubercle, frons, antennae below, and on
TExt-F1c. 53.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and apical view of
beaked apical joint of ¢ Bombylius micans F.
sides of face, with paler hair on coxae, and with the bases of femora
sometimes darkened at extreme bases.
Locahity.— Western Cape Province to Namaqualand. (In the
Transvaal and South African Museums.)
B. purpureus Bezz.
(Pe25. Ann, 5. Ate, Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
This beautifully coloured species has been fully described by Bezzi.
It is very near micans, but is chiefly characterised by its beautiful
livery, which consists of gleaming sericeous yellowish to pale golden
yellowish pubescence of which 3 bands on disc of thorax, the bristles
on genae, intermixed ones on face, on antennal joint 1, on frons, on
232 Annals of the South African Museum.
ocellar tubercle, on occiput, front part of thorax, those on sides of
thorax, on mesopleuron, on posterior calli, on scutellum and the
transverse bristles on abdomen (especially in 99) and to a certain
extent those in upper part of metapleural tuft, on coxae and venter
gleaming orange red, blood red to purplish red and with even trans-
verse hairs on disc of abdomen in 99 gleaming fiery red, with only a
few black hairs on antennae below and some tufts on side of abdomen;
wings with the basal comb also red, with the anterior infuscation on
wings more uniformly ochreous brownish than in mcans, and the
squamae fringed with much reddish hair; legs entirely yellowish,
without any black on femora, and with the spines reddish. Hypopy-
gum of ¢ like that of micans, with the beaked apical joints, however,
more flattened, only flattened above and not deeply foveately
depressed, also more gradually narrowed to a downwardly and
outwardly directed beak; basal strut is longer.
In the South African Museum.
Locality.—Namaqualand.
B. hypoleucus Wied.
(P. 340, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828; Loew, p. 185, Dipt. Faun.
Stidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 25, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This is a very common species in the Western Province, Karoo, and
Namaqualand, and may easily be confused with micans. Super-
ficially it is almost indistinguishable from the latter. It differs,
however, in important details. The general pubescence is paler,
more gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish, with the brownish golden
gleaming bands on thorax in 99 at least more conspicuous, with the
bristles on thorax usually darker yellowish and even more brownish,
especially in 99, with distinctly more numerous black bristly hairs
and bristles on head, and with more numerous and more conspicuous
tufts of black hairs and bristles on sides and apex of abdomen; wings
with the basal comb black and not yellowish or ochreous, the brownish
infuscation in anterior part also darker and not so extensive in
marginal cell, the apical part of this cell hyaline; legs with the bases
or even greater part of femora always blackened, sometimes even
extensively. Hypopygium of 3 differs from that of micans in that
the hairs on basal parts are distinctly longer, the apical part of
aedeagus is also longer and stouter and the basal strut is comparatively
longer.
From Macquart’s description of dimidiatus (p. 90, Dipt. Exot. u,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 233
1840), it is almost certain that he had before him a form of hypoleucus
or melanurus Lw. From the long series of hypoleucus before me it
is evident that this widely distributed species is variable in the colour
of its pubescence and the intensity or extensiveness of the black on
the femora. Present in most of the collections.
1312 B. darlings nu. sp.
According to Loew’s description of mcans F., it is evident that
these specimens, labelled by Bezzi as micans (p. 25, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii), do not belong to micans in the strict sense. I prefer to
refer them to a separate species, which, however, does not differ very
greatly from ochreous-haired forms of micans.
Body black, but with a bluish metallic and slightly bronzy sheen,
especially on thorax and scutellum; bristles on sides of frons, on
sides of face, and on joint 1 of antennae below, on anterior parts of
thorax above, on sides in front of wing-bases (especially in 2) more
ochreous or reddish yellow, that on sides of frons and face with the
tips shightly inclining to brownish, those on occiput, some on thorax
and behind wing-bases as well as those on scutellum yellowish, those
on abdomen much paler, more yellowish white and more whitish
in g, hairs of mystax and bristles on genae pale yellowish white,
those on thorax and abdomen above and on sides or upper parts of
pleurae rich ochreous yellow, with a golden sheen, but more whitish
in ¢ and also more pale yellowish white on abdomen of 3, with a
tendency for those on sides of thorax and along upper parts of pleural
regions as well as in distinct stripes above on thorax of 9 to be more
orange yellow or more orange golden; flat scale-like pubescence
around margins of eyes posteriorly and hair on lower parts of genae
and head below snow white, those above front coxae on propleurae
and to a certain extent on meso- and meta-pleurae in the middle and
metapleural tuft, whitish, with the bristles and hairs on coxae and
pectoral regions more yellowish, some long hairs on side of abdomen
and below near apex in 9 black and intermixed with dense yellowish
ones, in ¢ with only a few scattered and scarcely visible black ones;
wings hyaline, but with the anterior half up to discal cross vein and
apex of second basal cell infuscated with pale yellowish brown, the
infuscation not reaching the apex of marginal cell, with the base of
costal cell and basal part of first basal cell and a roundish spot near
apex of second basal cell feebly shining through opaquely whitish,
with the basal comb yellowish and the fringes of squamae and alulae
234 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish, with the infuscation on discal cross vein and basal cross vein
of fourth posterior cell slightly darker than the rest of wing and these
parts of the veins distinctly darker brownish black, with the rest of
the veins dark brown, becoming paler and more yellowish basally;
halteres yellowish, with the knobs paler and more whitish; legs and
spines entirely yellowish, only the apical parts of tarsi dark blackish
brown. Head with the interocular space in 2 about subequal to
length of antennae or a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle,
in § much narrower, only about half as broad and only slightly
broader than ocellar tubercle; an-
tennae with joint 3 scarcely longer
than 1 and 2 combined in 9, a little
longer in 3, broadest just before
middle in, then gradually narrowed
basally, shghtly more rapidly ap-
ically, with the apical part slender
and less than a third the length of
joint and feebly dilated at apex, in
the g the broadest part is about at
middle and the joint is comparatively
shorter, more gradually narrowed
TEx-ric. 54.—Side view and half of @Pically, with the style very slender
ventral view of hypopygium of g and feebly curved; proboscis slender
ee aa ET and straight, more so and longer
in 3, about 4-44 mm. long; genae with stout bristles and shorter, more
slender ones on its lower parts, better developed in 2; occiput with the
bristles longer and stouter in the 9. Legs with 3-4 spines in apical
anterior part of middle femora; hind ones with 7-9 spines below from
near base to apex; claws in ¢ slightly longer and more slender than in
2. Hypopygium (text-fig. 54) with the lower margin of neck region of
basal parts dilated, with dorsum of basal part finely haired; beaked
apical joint hollowed out above, the apex acute, not very long,
directed outwards and slightly upwards; aedeagus with the slender
apex directed downwards, without a ventral aedeagal process, but
the base subquadrate and the rim, continuous with the rami, not so
prominent as in micans, with the dorsal basally directed aedeagal
struts just visibly projecting; lateral struts narrow, slightly broadened
apically; basal strut racket-shaped, projecting some distance beyond
bases of basal parts.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9-10 mm.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 235
Length of wing: about 10 mm.
Locality.—Cape Province: Darling (L. P. 1905).
From micans it is distinguished by the ochreous, more orange
yellow pubescence, by not having any black hairs on head, by the
shorter proboscis, the absence of extensive black hair on the abdomen,
the shape of third antennal joints, which are broadest before middle or
at middle and with a very short apical slender part as in melanurus
and firtus, and: which is also much shorter than in micans. The
hypopygvum also differs in that the basal parts are more slender,
the beaked apical joints smaller and with their apices shorter, directed
outwards and upwards, the aedeagus with the apical part more
slender and directed downwards and the basal strut comparatively
longer. From melanurus it differs by not having black hair or
bristles on the head, by its deeper ochreous and more orange
yellow pubescence, and without any extensive black hair on sides of
abdomen, etc.
B. lirtus Lw.
(P. 185, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860.)
Specimens in the South African Museum, from Namaqualand and
N.W. Karoo, labelled by Bezzi as hirtus, do not strictly agree with
Loew’s description. A long series of specimens from George District,
however, seems to agree much better with this description. It is
thus evident that at least two distinct forms are found in South
Africa: a western form occurring more or less in Namaqualand,
N.W. Karoo, Central Karoo and the Western Province, and an
Kastern form from the 8.E. Coastal regions towards the Hastern
Province. These two forms are roughly separated by the characters
given in the key. The Western form differs from the Hastern form
in having paler, more yellowish white hair on the head, also less black
hair on the sides of frons and face, with the hair on thorax above
comparatively paler and without any dark brownish golden stripes,
the bristles on thorax pale yellowish and not dark reddish brown;
the pectoral and pleural regions with less white hair; hair on abdomen
above in 2 more whitish sericeous, not subgolden or bronzy; wings
with the infuscation in front half more yellowish, the basal part of
costal cell and first basal cell not distinctly shining through whitish
opaque and, moreover, first posterior cell is comparatively narrow
and elongate and much longer than second posterior cell, whereas
in hirtus (Hastern form) it is distinctly and comparatively broader
236 Annals of the South African Museum.
and shorter, only very slightly longer than second posterior cell.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 55) with the beaked apical joints depressed
above, but not roundly foveate, the apices bent downwards and
slightly outwards, acute; aedeagus with the slender apical part not
reaching inner apical processes, the basal rim, continuous with rami,
TExtT-FIG. 55.—Side view and part of ventral view of hypopygium of $
Bombylius hirtus Lw.
not very prominent, with posterior aedeagal struts visibly projecting
posteriorly; lateral struts slender, rod-like; basal strut projecting
considerably beyond bases of basal parts. The hypopygium of the
Western form has slightly shorter hair on basal parts, and lower apical
margin of neck region is more dilated, and the neck region is com-
paratively more slender, with the aedeagus more powerful, its basal
rim more prominent.
In the Transvaal, British and South African Museums.
B. melanurus Lw.
(P. 186, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Paramonow, p. 73,
Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev., No. 11, 1931.)
A series of $g and 99 from Calvinia, Namaqualand and the Western
Province, in the Transvaal, British and South African Museums,
agree very well with Loew’s description of this species, not recorded
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 237
by Bezzi in his two monographs. The smaller forms resemble hirtus
and can be distinguished from forms of this species by the characters
given in the key. It is easily recognised by the predominant golden
yellowish hair and by the more conspicuous and denser black hair on
the sides, apex, and venter below of abdomen, by the more yellowish
hair on head below and pectorial regions, by the darker brownish
infuscation on anterior
part of wings, compara-
tively short and broad
first posterior cell, etc.
Larger specimens _ tre-
semble forms of hypo-
leucus, from which they
may, however, be at
once distinguished by
the shape of the third
antennal joint, which is
thickest just before or
at about the middle,
the apical part being
slender, more _ slender
and much shorter than
in h i ii eh TrExt-Fic. 56.—Half of ventral view and side view
In hypoleucus, Where the Baie ae ibn of ti Bombglius Makimira Te
broadest part is in basal
half and near base; infuscation on front part of wing being more
uniform, leaving very little of apical part of marginal cell hyaline
and by the opaque whitish spot at‘base of first basal cell being absent
or obsolescent (very conspicuous in hypoleucus), etc. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 56) with the beaked apical joints flattened, only slightly
hollowed out above, with the beak relatively short, bent downwards
and shghtly outwards; aedeagus with the apical part projecting
slightly beyond inner apical processes and with the apex slightly
bent upwards, the base very prominent; lateral struts comparatively
broad, the apices broadened; basal strut comparatively long, pro-
jecting considerably beyond bases of basal parts.
B. servillec Macq.
(P. 88, Dipt. Exot. ii, Tab. VII, fig. 5, 1840, and Bezzi,
p. 25, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This species, characterised by the black spines on the legs and
blackish brown infuscated anterior part of wings, as well as 3 constant,
238 Annals of the South African Museum.
rounded black spots on hind border of infuscated part and by the
predominantly white and black pubescence, is a variable species, and
at least three forms are distinguishable in the long series before me.
The three forms are separated by the characters given in the key, but
these characters are by no means typical for any form, bridging and
transitional forms being frequent. There is a Northern and Karoo
form, in Namaqualand, the N.W. Karoo and also Central Karoo,
without any or with only very feeble indications of infuscations on
Trxt-Fic. 57.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of $
Bombylius serviller Macq.
the hyaline part of wing, with numerous, but variable, black or
blackish bristles on genae, lower parts of genae, and anterior coxae.
The two other, or Southern and Eastern forms, from the Western
and Hastern Provinces, Southern Karoo and South Coastal regions,
have more distinct infuscations on posterior half of wings, which are,
however, more constantly present as 3 spots in some Western Province
and coastal forms, without any black bristles on genae and front
coxae and with an entirely white upper part of metapleural tuft,
whereas in the third form there are usually only 2 infuscations, of
which the one at the base of fourth posterior cell is larger and more
constant than small one at apex of first posterior cell, with often a
few black bristles on lower parts of genae and front coxae, with the
bristles on abdomen above in the middle usually yellowish (in some
Eastern Province specimens there is a tendency, in individuals of this
third form, to be without black bristles on lower parts of genae and
the front coxae, to have a slightly smaller spot at base of fourth
posterior cell, and to have the bristles on abdomen above slightly
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 239
darker). Hypopygium (text-fig. 57) of the Southern form (Western
Province form with large spot at base of fourth posterior cell) with
the beaked apical joint like that of micans, hypoleucus, etc., but much
less, and only feebly, depressed above and also more dorso-ventrally
compressed; aedeagus more or less as shown in figure, with the
apical part slender and reaching inner apical processes, with the
ventral basal part prominent, projecting downwards as a lamellar,
central carinate, ploughshare-like process, bearing a few very short
setae anteriorly, with a prominent sharp process on each side towards
anterior part of basal part; lateral struts comparatively slender,
rod-like, the apices slightly bent downwards.
In the Transvaal, British and South African Museums and Imperial
Institute.
B. pentasprilus Bezz.
(P. 29, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, Pl. I, fig. 5.)
The undescribed 9 resembles the ¢ in all respects except that the
eyes above are separated by a space about 3, or a little more, times
width of ocellar tubercle, the third antennal
joint has the apical part less slender and
comparatively shorter and more gradually
narrowed apically; the occipital bristles
and bristles on thorax distinctly longer
and the bristles on abdomen above slightly
darker, and the claws, as in 99 of servillez,
much shorter. ’
This species is without doubt very closely
Trext-ric. 58.—Side and ven- related to servillex and cannot be con-
ae a eae trasted with obesus and punctifer as Bezzi
has done in his keys and descriptions.
The species, as a matter of fact, may be easily confused with
serville, and can only be separated by the characters given in the
key. Hypopygium (text-fig. 58) differs from that of serville: in that
the beaked apical joints are less depressed above; aedeagus with
the central lamellar ploughshare-like process longer and much
produced anteriorly, somewhat like that of fenestralis n. sp.
(cf. text-fig. 63), with more and longer setae at its apex and the
lateral carinate ridge on each side on bases of rami more prominent;
lateral struts a little shorter; basal strut slightly longer.
240 Annals of the South African Museum.
B. megaspilus Bezz.
(P. 26, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, Pl. I, fig. 3, and p. 59,
The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, fig. 3.)
This species, although easily recognised by its characteristically
mottled or spotted wings, may easily be confused with very similarly
spotted, but entirely different species, such as ammophilus n. sp. and
hottentotus n. sp. described and distinguished below. The species
megaspilus itself is unstable in certain characters, wing-pattern, etc.,
and at least one of these forms may almost be considered as a separate
species. This unstability is most likely due to the fact that the
species probably parasitises more than one host, even in the same
area or region. In the series before me there are no less than 3
more or less distinct forms, which, however, are by no means constant
in their characters. These are: (a) The type form, g¢ and 99,
from “‘Giftsberg, Van Rhynsdorp, 8. Namaqualand,’ described and
figured by Bezzi; (b) a Namaqualand form from “‘ Kamieskroon,”’
which is distinctly more whitish than the type form, with feebler
and much less distinct yellowish hair on the disc of the thorax above
and on sides in front of wings, with distinctly darker, even blackish
bristles on scutellum and often distinctly black ones on hind margins
of abdomen above, with the black hair on sides of abdomen and
towards its apex much less extensive, with the spines on the legs
often paler, more brownish, with a tendency for the large spot at
base of fourth posterior cell to be more often confluent and continuous
with infuscation at base of first basal cell and anterior basal part,
with the infuscations along veins separating posterior cells 2 and 3
and 3 and 4 smaller, spot-like, and less developed, with the interocular
space in gd slightly, but distinctly, broader than in type forms, the
third antennal joints distinctly more slender, less thickened, in basal
half, more rod-like in $¢ and also more slender in $9, with the claws
in g3 slightly shorter, gradually curved to apex from about the
middle and not rapidly curved downwards at apex only, and with the
pulvilli also shghtly shorter, with the hypopygium as shown in text-
fig. 59, differing from that of the type form in having slightly shorter
and fewer hairs on basal parts, with the ventral basal ridge or rim
of the aedeagus, continuous with the rami on each side, more promi-
nently and angularly produced forwards, inverted V-shaped; (c) a
form, extending from the Western Province on the West to Namaqua-
land, is chiefly distinguished by the more extensive black hair on
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 241
the abdomen, darker bristles on body, slightly darker and larger
spots on wings, of which the confluent spots at apex of anal and
axillary cells and at base of fourth posterior cell are continuous with
the anterior and basal infuscation, etc. In all other respects this
last form differs very little from the typical form. These forms are
more or less distinguished in the key, and do not show constant
differences but grade into each other. Hypopygium is like that of
a. b
TExtT-FIG. 59.—(a) Side and half of ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius
megaspilus Bezz. (b) Aedeagus from below and side of the typical form.
the form shown in text-fig. 59, a, with the basal parts sometimes
fairly long-haired, with the lower apical margin of neck region promi-
nently dilated and the inner apical processes projecting; beaked
apical joint longitudinally depressed in basal half, the acute apical
part sharp, comparatively short; aedeagus of typical form (text-fig.
59, b) with the slender apical part not reaching apex of inner apical
processes, with the ventral basal ridge or rim, continuous with the
rami, more blunt and less produced than in the Namaqualand form.
In the Transvaal and South African Museums.
3 oso 16 92 B. hottentotus n. sp.
This species resembles megaspilus very closely, and may easily be
mistaken for a small specimen of the latter. Compared with mega-
spilus, it is very much smaller, and is as follows:—
Body, like that of megaspilus, biack; legs yellowish, with the
242 Annals of the South African Museum.
bases of the femora or their basal halves and the spines black;
general effect of pubescence on body darker, more pale brownish,
due to pale brownish yellow or subgolden hairs intermixed with
black ones, the white hair above antennal joint 1, on occiput,
anterior parts of mystax, genae, head below, on thorax and
especially sides of abdomen much less extensive and less evident,
with the hair on disc of thorax slightly darker, more brownish,
the whitish hair on pleural regions less extensive, appearing
more greyish, the scutellar bristles dark brownish or blackish, not
yellowish, the black hair on abdomen comparatively more extensive,
the white hair above of megaspilus being replaced by more pale
yellowish brown to pale brownish sericeous hair, with the transverse
bristles on hind margins above much darker, dark brownish or blackish,
those towards apex tipped whitish, the hair and bristles on abdomen
as a whole comparatively less dense and shorter; venter with the
bristles darker and not distinctly or prominently yellowish laterally,
with the central tuft of white hair at apex of abdomen shorter and
not so conspicuous; wings with the same pattern of blackish brown
spots (ef. fig. 3, p. 59, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region),
but the spots are comparatively larger and more confluent and with
the following differences: spot at apices of anal and axillary cells
more transversely situated (1.e. more or less in line with long axis of
wing) and more often in form of 3 confluent or contiguous spots,
usually smaller than in megaspilus and more often distinctly separated
from large spot at base of fourth posterior cell, with this large spot
confluent and continuous with infuscation at base of discoidal and
first basal cells, with the clear area near apex of second basal cell
usually small, even minute, and not continuous with clear area in
anal cell, with the large rounded spot at base of third posterior cell
confluent and continuous with large one on discal cross vein and
anterior infuscated part of wing, with the large rounded spot on base
of vein between submarginal cells confluent with spot at apex of
first posterior cell and rounded spot at about middle of hyaline part
of marginal cell, with this latter spot almost always rounded and not
connected with small rounded spot at end of second longitudinal vein
by an extensive infuscation along the vein as in megaspilus, with the
spot at apex of vein between submarginal cells usually rounded and
not elongate (the large spots on the wing are thus more or less arranged
in 3 transverse bands across wing). Head with the eyes in gd
separated above by a space a little more than width of ocellar tubercle,
but less than 14 times as wide, in 99 about 34, or even a little more,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 243
times as wide as tubercle; antennae with joint 3 in Jd comparatively
shorter than in megaspilus, slender, almost rod-like, slightly thickened
at about middle and there often slightly bent, about 14 times, or a
little less as long as 1 and 2 combined, often with conspicuous flat
white scaling, in 92 comparatively less slender and more conspicuously
thickened at about middle, much less than 14 times as long as 1 and
2 combined, more often subequal to them, with the style slender and
straight; proboscis about 3-5 mm. long, relatively shorter than in
megaspilus. Wings with
- the vein between discoidal
and third posterior cells
constantly more or less
bent at right angles at its
base to meet the fourth
posterior cell and provided
at the bend with a short
stump. Legs with 6-9
spines on hind femora be-
low near base to apex,
those towards base being
often very long and slender,
more slender than in TEXT-FIG. 60.—Side view and half of ventral view
of hypopygium of $ Bombylius hottentotus n. sp.
megaspilus; claws gradu-
ally curved from about middle in the gg, not bent down apically
only as in megaspilus (type form); pulvilli well developed, extending
beyond middle of claws in 3g, in 92 much shorter and confined
to base. Hypopygium (text-fig. 60) differs specifically from that
of megaspilus (see text-fig. 59) chiefly in the structure of the
ventral aedeagal process, which is in the form of a central arch-like
process bearing two flattened spine-like setae * on each side
apically and connected on each side with the lateral rami, which
project as flattened lobe-like processes on each side and which
are also fused on each side to basal part of aedeagus, with the
slender apical part of aedeagus projecting beyond level of inner
apical processes, with feeble dorsal basally directed aedeagal struts
just visible projecting; lateral struts short and lobe-like; basal
strut feeble, racket-shaped, and not projecting beyond bases of
basal parts. (In the structure of the ventral aedeagal process this
species comes in the category of ammophilus, zoutpansbergianus, and
to a certain extent capensis.)
* Setae slightly exaggerated in figure.—(Author.)
244 Annals of the South African Museum.
Types in the Transvaal Museum and some paratypes in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-8 mm.
Locality. Namaqualand: Van Rhynsdorp (van Son, July—Aug.
1927) (Types); Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, Aug. 1927); Garies (S. Afr.
Mus. Staff, June 1930); Kamieskroon (Mus. Staff, June 1930 and
Sept. 1930); O’okiep. Saldanha Bay (Sept. 1913, L. P.).
This species 1s very variable in size and also in the nature of the
vein between the discoidal and third posterior cells, which in a few
specimens tend to be normal. The size is probably dependent upon
the amount and nature of the larval nutrition during its parasitic
existence, an existence which in itself is precarious in a desert, dry,
and drought-stricken area. A g and 92 from “? O’okiep” differ from
the types in being slightly more distinctly whitish haired on the body,
the black hair on abdomen is less extensive, with the vein between
the discoidal and third posterior cells without an appendix at base.
It probably only represents a local form.
1 3 6 99 B. ammophilus n. sp.
This species also closely resembles megaspilus, but is even closer to
hottentotus.
Body black; legs yellowish, the femora either entirely yellowish or
blackened basally or even beyond middle; pubescence in g on occiput,
on joint 1 of the antennae above, face anteriorly, sides of genae,
head below, anterior parts and sides of thorax above, on practically
the entire abdomen above and on the pleural regions in part white,
that on disc of thorax (in form of 3 short and broad stripes) and on
scutellum and sides above wings pale brownish golden, with the
bristles and hairs on propleurae and lower parts of metapleurae
yellowish brown, the rest of the bristles on head, frons, sides of face,
on antennae below, on genae, thorax above, coxae, the transverse
bristles on hind margins of abdomen above black, only those towards
the apex tipped with white, with the hair on sides of abdomen and
at apex black, with the short pubescence on venter white, the other
hairs being black, only those on sides more brownish; the 99 with
the hair on head is as in the 3, but the bristles on occiput more pale
yellowish brown, the bristles on genae often paler too, with some
bristles on lower parts of genae also brownish to blackish, with the
hair on thorax above whitish anteriorly, yellowish to brownish on
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 245
disc, that on scutellum and greater part of abdomen above pale
yellowish white, having a sericeous golden or bronzy sheen in certain
lights, the hair on sides below and at apex of abdomen black, with
the bristles on the thorax above and scutellum more yellowish brown,
intermixed antero-laterally with dark brownish ones, those on pro-
pleurae very pale reddish brown, those on abdomen above yellowish,
brownish to dark brownish, those near apex and on the sides darker
brown and tipped yellowish, with those on sides of venter yellowish
or ochreous and intermixed with black ones, the hair on abdomen
comparatively shorter and less extensive than in megaspilus; wings
with the anterior infuscation and spots slightly darker than in
megaspilus, more blackish brown, with a pattern similar to that of
megaspilus (see text-fig. 3 in The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region, p. 59), but even more like that of hottentotus, with the spots
larger and more confluent like that of the latter, with the spot at
apices of anal and axillary cells also smaller than in megaspilus, more
or less in form of 3 contiguous spots, situated in line with the long
axis of wing, scarcely touching and never confluent with large spot at
base of fourth posterior cell, with this latter spot larger and also
confluent and continuous with infuscation at base of discoidal and
basal part of first basal cells and with anterior infuscation as in
hottentotus, with the clear area near apex of second basal cell com-
paratively small and more often not confluent with clear area in
anal cell as in megaspilus, with the large rounded spot at base of third
posterior cell larger and never widely separated from large spot on
discal cross vein, but just touching, even confluent with it in some
specimens as in hottentotus, with the large rounded spot at base of
vein between submarginal cells joined to large rounded spot at about
middle of hyaline apical part of marginal cell and just touching or
even connected with a spot (much larger than in megaspilus) at apex
of first posterior cell, with the spot at apex of second longitudinal
vein more often rounded as in hottentotus and more often not connected
to the middle spot by an extensive infuscation along apical part of
the vein; basal comb black; squamae in 2 with very pale yellowish
white fringes, in § more whitish. Head with the eyes in the 3
separated above by a space a little wider than ocellar tubercle, about
as wide as in some forms of megaspilus, in 99 about 33 times as wide
as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 3 a little longer than 1 and 2
combined in 3, subequal in 92, more thickened basally in $ than in
megaspilus, broadest in $ nearer base, the apical third more slender
than in megaspilus, in 99 thickest at about middle and the apical
VOL. XXXIV. 17
246 Annals of the South African Museum.
part more slender than in the latter, the style is slightly longer;
proboscis about 5-6 mm. long, with a tendency to be bent downwards
apically. Wungs with the vein between discoidal and third posterior
cells not bent sharply at right angles at its base and not provided with
a stump. Legs with 3-6 black spines on anterior lateral surface of
middle femora in apical half; hind femora with 8-12 black spines
below from near base to apex, with those nearer base longer and in 3
slightly more slender; claws in $ comparatively more slender and
shorter than in megaspilus, more like that of hottentotus, more or less
gradually curved from about middle, whereas in megaspilus (type form)
only the apex is curved downwards; pulvilli shorter, but extending
slightly beyond middle of claws, in 9? confined to base. Hypopygivum
also different from that of megaspilus, almost identical with that of
hottentotus, with the lower apical margin of the neck region more
dilated than in the latter; aedeagus with the same ventral aedeagal
process, but the anterior process of the lateral rami on each side
slightly more bluntly rounded and the apical slender part of aedeagus
shorter; lateral struts also slender and rod-like; basal strut slightly
narrower and less broad towards the apex.
Types in the Transvaal Museum and some paratypes in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 10-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-12 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Van Rhynsdorp (van Son, July—Aug.
1927) (Holotype); Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, Aug. 1927) (Allotype);
Klipfontein (Lightfoot, Aug. 1890); Garies (Mus. Staff, June 1930).
This species is so closely related to hottentotus that it may almost
be considered as a variety or race of this species. The characters
given in the key, and especially the size and the paler bristles and
more pale yellowish pubescence, however, separate it from hottentotus.
7 99 B. braunsi Bezz. (as labelled by Brauns from material
sent to Bezzi).
As in the case of some other species of Bombyliidae of Bezzi,
this specific name has a shadowy existence in keys and short notes,
without any detailed description existing. Inthe Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, it is mentioned in the key on p. 23 and its description is
forecasted on p. 27 (loc. cit.). Again in 1922, in Broteria, vol. xx,
fasc. II (Ser. Zool.), p. 72, it remains still undescribed, but apparently
some specimens have now been named as such, while in “‘ The Bomby-
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 247
ludae of the Ethiopian Region” it once more enters the keys as an
already described species on p.57. I can find no reference in literature
that the material in the Hungarian Museum was ever described, as
forecasted. The keys are of no use in running down suspected
specimens of this species, so I am forced to rely on specimens labelled
as such by Brauns and Bezzi. Some of these specimens mentioned
in Broteria in Brauns’ private collection, now housed in the Trans-
vaal Museum, are now before me in the form of two distinctly and
obviously different species, both 99, and both from “ Willowmore
(collected in Aug. 1921 and Sept. 1919).” The labelled 9, collected
in August 1921, is apparently the undescribed species braunsi, but
the other 2 agrees in every respect with the 2 type of punctifer Bezz.
in the South African Museum. This latter 2 may be made to run
down to braunsi in Bezzi’s keys, but the former 9, as well as 5 other
specimens, all have a distinct and large spot at apex of anal and
axillary cells, and the hind border of the wing has distinct infuscations
on the veins. In view of this, there remains no other way but to
describe these specimens as braunsi unless the type exists somewhere
and may prove to be yet another species, such as a race of capensis
or some other undescribed form.
This species is so near megaspilus that a comparative description
will suffice to make its identity clear. Compared with the typical
form of this species the general pubescence on the body is of the same
colour and sheen, the brownish golden stripes on the thorax above
are not present or evident, the bristles on occiput and antero-lateral
parts of thorax darker, more blackish, a few along the sides in front
of wings and intermixed with the other pale reddish brown like those
on scutellum, the bristles on abdomen above distinctly black, the
posterior ones long and also tipped whitish, but the white tips shorter,
the white hair on the abdomen much more extensive and denser, and
the black hair above and below and along sides towards apex much
less conspicuous, less developed and shorter, the hair on venter
comparatively darker, less yellowish or pale brownish, the bristles on
middle and hind coxae predominantly black; wings as shown in *
text-fig. 61, with the middle spot in apical part of marginal cell
comparatively larger, the spot at apex of anal and axillary cells
shightly smaller, but constantly present and not fused or confluent
with large rounded spot at base of fourth posterior cell, this spot
* The outline and shape of the wing are not correctly shown in this figure;
the outline and shape in reality being more like that of megaspilus. (See Bezzi’s
text-fig. 3.)—(Author.)
248 Annals of the South African Museum.
moreover is always confluent with basal infuscation of first basal
cell (usually separated in megaspilus), with the spot on discal cross
vein and at base of third posterior cell confluent or contiguous, not
separated, with the infuscation along veins separating posterior cells
2 and 3 and 3 and 4 variable, but less distinct and smaller. Head
with the interocular space 3, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle,
with joint 3 of the antennae straighter and comparatively shorter,
with the apical fourth, or often a little more, distinctly more slender
(joint being more rapidly narrowed to this slender part); proboscis
much shorter, about 4 mm. long; genae with fewer black bristles.
.
TEext-Fic. 61.—Wing of Bombylius braunsi Bezz.
Wings with the vein between the discoidal and third posterior cells
sharply bent at right angles at its base and there usually provided
with a distinct stump or appendix. Legs with 8-12 spines below
from near base to apex on hind femora, those near base also a little
longer.
Labelled specimen in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 83-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-11 mm.
Locality—Southern Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Aug. 1921, 1925,
and Sept. 1921); Robertson (Nothling, Oct. 1930); Worcester (Turner
34/10/1928) (British Museum).
This species may prove to be only a variety of megaspilus, and it
is necessary to examine the hypopygium of a g in order to settle this.
The constancy of the appendix at base of the vein separating the
discoidal and third posterior cells, as well as other characters, however,
definitely separate it from megaspilus.
3 33 B. fenestrahs n. sp.
This species is also very near megaspilus as far as external characters
are concerned. Compared with this latter species, it is found to be
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 249
comparatively larger; the colour and general effects of the pubescence
on the body are more or less the same, the sheen of the hairs on the
thorax above is more silvery and sericeous white in certain lights,
with the brownish golden stripes on the thorax above scarcely visible
or only feebly developed, with the hair on each side in front of wing
bases not brownish, but whitish, with that on pleural and pectoral
regions more whitish, the white hair on abdomen more conspicuous
and more extensive and the black less extensive, the hair on the
whole comparatively less dense on the abdomen and mystax with
more white hair and the black bristles and hairs on frons stouter,
TExtT-FIG. 62.—Wing of Bombylius fenestralis n. sp.
the bristles on thorax anteriorly, antero-laterally, and behind wing
bases and on scutellum pale reddish brown or yellowish red, but
paler and not dark brownish as in megaspilus; bristles laterally on
sides of thorax, or along upper parts of pleurae also black, the bristles
on abdomen above across hind margins of segments 1-3 pale yellowish
or brownish and those from segment 4 to apex black, but tipped with
whitish or yellowish white, all much longer than the hair and com-
paratively longer than in megaspilus, with a central tuft of white
hairs at apex of abdomen; wings as shown in text-fig. 62, with
the anterior dark brownish black infuscation extending to apex of
marginal cell, only the medial part of this apical part being slightly
less infuscated, more translucent, but not hyaline, without any
middle spot or infuscation, only the end of second longitudinal vein
being infuscated, with the infuscation at apices of anal and axillary
cells smaller, less spot-like and more diffuse, and not contiguous or
scarcely confluent with large spot at base of fourth posterior cell,
with a larger hyaline area in anal cell and only a small hyaline spot
near apex of second basal cell, with the large spot at base of fourth
posterior cell confluent with basal infuscated part of anterior part of
250 Annals of the South African Museum.
wing, with the spots on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and base
of third posterior cell comparatively smaller and either more feebly
or faintly continued along veins separating posterior cells, but not
so distinctly as in megaspilus, with the discoidal cell very broad and
anal cell more broadly open on hind border; legs with the femora
comparatively less darkened in basal half. Head with the inter-
ocular space in $g much broader than in megaspilus, very nearly 2
times as broad and thus much broader than width of ocellar tubercle;
TrExtT-FIG. 63.—Side view, half of ventral view and dorsal view of beaked
apical joint of hypopygium of g Bombylius fenestralis n. sp.
antennae with joint 1 relatively shorter and thicker, with the slender
apical part of joint 3 longer, slightly less slender, with the slender
style also long and straight; proboscis a little longer, about 5-6 mm.
long. Legs comparatively much longer; femora with 3-5 black
spines on anterior lateral aspect in apical half of middle ones and
8-10 comparatively stouter and shorter spines below on hind ones
from near base to apex; claws comparatively shorter and less stout
and more or less curved from near base to apex, not straight for more
than two-thirds of its length as in megaspilus; pulvill shorter, only
a little longer than half the length of claws. Hypopygium (text-fig.
63) with the outer lower margin of neck region of basal parts dilated,
with the inner apical processes flattened and somewhat concave
towards beaked apical joints; beaked apical joint more or less sunk
in apical part of basal part, foveately hollowed out above, the apex
acute and slender, slightly bent downwards, the fovea elongate and
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 251
bounded by carinate or ridge-like edges which, along the outer side,
are broad and produced apically into a blunt process, not bent down-
wards (the joint is thus bifid apically); aedeagus with the apical part
short, about reaching apex of inner apical process, with its base
prominently projecting downwards and provided with a central
forwardly and upwardly directed ventral aedeagal process, latterly
compressed and ploughshare-like, with the basal dorsal aedeagal
struts visibly projecting basally; lateral struts narrow, almost rod-
shaped, but broadened basally; basal strut almost bat-shaped.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 11-124 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West. Distr. (Mus. Staff,
Oct. 1935). Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Staff, Sept. 1930)
(Type).
This species, owing to its distinct structural differences in the more
widely separated eyes, broader thorax, different claws and differently
shaped aedeagus and beaked apical joints of the hypopygium, can-
not even be considered as a variety of megaspilus; it is an entirely
different species.
B. capensis Linn.
(P. 1009, Syst. Natur. Ed., xu. IT. 3, 1767; Wiedemann, p. 351,
Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; Bezzi, p. 26, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mise vole xvi 1921 Pl. I, fie. 2.)
Descriptions of capensis Linn. are so unsatisfactory that deter-
minations from them are impossible, and I have to take Bezzi’s
labelled specimen as a representative of this species. The identity of
this species thus remains very doubtful, especially when it is evident
that the descriptions of Linnzeus and Wiedemann are also applicable
to several other species with spotted wings such as serviller Macq.,
pentaspilus Bezz., braunst Bezz. (in lit.), punctifer Bezz., etc. The
chief characteristics of capensis, as defined here, are :—
Body entirely black; legs with the tibiae and more than basal
parts of tarsi yellowish, with the extreme apices of femora also
yellowish, with the 6-9 slender, bristle-like spines on hind femora
below black or blackish, the spicules on tibiae predominantly or
entirely yellowish, yellowish brown or pale brownish; pubescence
long, dense and shaggy as in other species in this group, predominantly
whitish or silvery whitish, that on disc of thorax more or less gleaming
252 Annals of the South African Museum.
sericeous yellowish or brownish golden in certain lights, more so on
sides, but sometimes scarcely discernible, with the tuft of hairs on
post-alar calli on each side almost always gleaming golden or brownish
golden in certain lights, with the bristly hairs and bristles on head,
thorax and abdomen predominantly black, the dense tuft-like hairs
on sides of abdomen towards apex and also on each side of a silvery
white apical tuft black, with, however, much dark brownish or
blackish brown ones on
sides of venter apically,
with some or numerous
intermixed bristles on
occiput, on humeral
part on each side, the
entire metapleural tuft,
some or numerous
bristles on coxae and
many on each side of
venter or sides of ab-
domen yellowish, with
pale intermixed hairs
and bristles on venter;
wings as figured by
Bezzi (loc. cit., Pl. I, fig. 2) but usually without spots at ends of
posterior veins, but always with a diffuse spot at apex of anal and
axillary cells, with the anterior infuscation and spots yellowish brown
to coffee brownish and with the first longitudinal vein and bases of
the others usually pale brownish or pale reddish brown, with the spots
on apical cross veins of first and second basal cells, at base of third
posterior cell and at base vf vein separating submarginal cells usually
large, rounded and conspicuous, the one on apical cross vein of
discoidal cell also large but those at end of second longitudinal vein
and at about middle of apical part of marginal cell smaller, that at
end of somewhat acute first posterior cell minute or small, and that
at end of vein separating submarginal cells very faint. Hypopygium
of g (text-fig. 64) resembling that of hottentotus, ammophilus, and
zoutpansbergianus, where the rami on each side are continued apically
and where a central, raised or arch-like ventral aedeagal process is
present; inner apical part of basal parts slightly projecting; aedeagal
process shaped as shown in figure and with 4 spines on it.
Length of body: about 6-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-13 mm.
TEext-Fic. 64.—Side view and half of ventral view
of hypopygium of g§ Bombylius capensis Linn.
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 253
Locahity.—_Namaqualand, S. Karoo and Little Karoo. (In the
Transvaal and South African Museums.)
There is no doubt that the species is slightly variable, the large
specimens from Namaqualand having larger spots on the wings and
also with indications of distinct spots at ends of some of the posterior
veins. The spicules on the tibiae in some specimens are also pre-
dominantly or entirely dark or black.
2 3g 11 92 B. nieuwveldensis n. sp.
It is with much hesitation that I refer these insects to a separate
species. Hxternally there is very little to distinguish them from
TExtT-FIG. 65.—Side view and part of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
of Bombylius nieuwveldensis n. sp.
capensis, but as the hypopygium of the ¢ is structurally slightly
different, showing specific differences, they are referred to a separate
species.
From capensis these specimens differ in having the pubescence on
body above markedly gleaming silvery whitish, without any yellowish
sericeous gleaming pubescence on disc of thorax or in a tuft on
post-alar calli, with all the bristly hairs and bristles on head, thorax,
scutellum and abdomen above black, without any or with very
much fewer yellowish bristles on occiput, humeral region and coxae,
with those in metapleural tuft also yellowish, with the hair on sides
of abdomen and towards apex of venter more intensely black, having
254 Annals of the South African Museum.
no dark coffee brownish sheen, but also with intermixed pale bristles,
with the dark parts and spots on wings much darker and sooty black,
without any spot at apex of anal cell and without even indications of
spots at ends of posterior veins, with all the veins much darker and
very dark blackish brown or black and with the first posterior cell
tending to be less markedly acute apically, with the tibiae slightly
darker and more brownish, not pale yellowish and with the spicules
on the tibiae entirely black, the spicules on hind tibiae also appearing
denser. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 65) differs from that of capensis
(cf. text-fig. 64) in having the inner apical parts of basal parts not
distinctly produced and not projecting beyond beaked apical parts;
ventral aedeagal process also slightly shaped differently and having
only 1 spine on each side and not 4 as in capensis.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-10 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West. Distr.; Leeukloof
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
B. punctifer Bezz.
(P. 28, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921, and p. 59,
The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, fig. 4.)
This species can be easily recognised by the characters given in
the key, namely :—
The wings are not extensively mottled, with the dark brownish
infuscation in anterior costal and basal parts distinctly less marked
off from hyaline part, without any infuscations at ends of second
longitudinal vein and vein separating submarginal cells and with the
apical part of marginal cell more hyaline than in other species in
this category, there being also no spot or infuscation at apices of
anal and axillary cells; pubescence, excluding black or yellowish
bristles on thorax and scutellum, entirely silvery whitish, even discally
on thorax, with that on abdomen above also entirely silvery white,
the black hair on extreme sides and sides of venter being less exten-
sively developed and scarcely visible from above, with transverse
rows of whitish or pale-tipped black bristles across segments 2 to
apex. The 3 of this species has not yet been taken.
Locality.—Southern and South-Eastern Karoo and Namaqualand.
In the Transvaal, British and South African Museums.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 255
B. punctatellus Bezz.
(P. 27, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This small species is represented by the unique 3-type specimen in
the South African Museum. It is easily distinguished from all other
species, with more or less mottled wings, by the characters given in
the key, but chiefly by the infuscation of the wings, which super-
ficially resembles that found in servillex Macq. and pentaspilus Bezz.
The wings have the same anterior dark blackish brown infuscation,
extending up to end of marginal cell, 3 similar large, rounded spots
along the posterior border of the infuscation and 3 much smaller
spots in posterior part; the more hyaline part of wings is, however,
not entirely hyaline but slightly cinereous greyish and the anal cell
is very acute apically, provided with a very short stalk and thus not
opening widely on hind border. The abdomen, in this insect, has
extensive chocolate brown hair laterally, especially towards apex,
with the pale-tipped, transverse bristles, as well as those on sides of
thorax and on scutellum, brownish, becoming darker towards apex
of abdomen. The third antennal joints are broadest at about the
middle, scarcely more narrowed apically than basally and the face
is poorly developed; the head itself is somewhat dorso-ventrally
compressed. The spines on legs are comparatively slender and poorly
developed for this group, there being only about 4 spines on hind
femora below.
Locality.—No locality label, but probably Karoo or N.W. Cape
Province.
B. punctatelloides n. sp.
(Syn. = punctatellus Bezz. in part.)
There is no doubt that this g-specimen, referred to by Bezzi on
p. 28, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921, as belonging to punctatellus,
is specifically distinct from punctatellus. From the type of the latter
species it differs in the following points :—
Pubescence on body more predominantly silvery whitish, there
being no dark intermixed hairs on disc of thorax and that on abdomen
with distinctly less chocolate brown ones laterally and apically,
being more extensively whitish above, that on sides of thorax in
front of wings, in mesopleural tuft and even in upper parts of meta-
pleural tuft more whitish, with the slender bristles on head, thorax,
scutellum and transversely on abdomen much darker, deeper chocolate
256 Annals of the South African Museum.
brown; wings (figured by Bezzi as that of punctatellus on PI. I,
fig. 4, loc. cit.) differing in having the spots at apex of first posterior
cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at base of third posterior
cell very large and rounded, as large as the 3 anterior spots, also
with a much more distinct infuscation at apex of anal cell and even
with faint indications near ends of veins separating second, third, and
fourth posterior cells, with the second longitudinal vein not undulating
and only very slightly sinuous above last spot in the first row, with
the discal cross vein only very little beyond middle of discoidal cell
and with the anal cell normally opening on the hind border. Head
with the interocular space slightly broader, quite 2 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle, with the third antennal joints distinctly longer,
more slender and rod-like, tapering gradually from a slightly broader
base. Legs with about 7 (not 4) longer spines from near base to apex
on hind femora below, with the basal ones remarkably long and
slender, almost bristle-like, with the claws distinctly shorter and less
slender, more gradually curved downwards from about middle to
apex and not rapidly bent downwards near apex, with the pulvilli
distinctly shorter, only extending a very little beyond the middle of
claws. The apical part of the abdomen was unfortunately damaged,
so the hypopygium cannot be described for this specimen.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—No locality label, but probably also from the Cape
Province.
B. obesus Bezz.
(R229) Ann Siac sine avolxa ie ehO2i1.))
From several specimens of both sexes before me and some named
specimens in the Transvaal Museum, I am able to identify this species
correctly. The 9-specimen from “Isipingo” to which Bezzi refers is,
however, not from that locality in Natal but from ‘‘Upington”
in the N.W. Cape Province. The writing on the label is quite legible.
Moreover it is not obesus, but an entirely different species. It is a
variety of a new species, zoutpansbergianus, described by me in this
paper. B. obesus is a fairly bulky species, superficially resembling
hypoleucus, and is characterised by having predominantly sericeous
whitish, gleaming pubescence above and also across pleural parts,
with numerous intermixed black bristles on frons, antennae below,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 257
sides of face, on genae, on sides of thorax in front of wing-bases and
tufts of black hair on sides of abdomen and at apex, where they are
very dense and conspicuous, with the bristles on occiput, on thorax
in front, on sides of thorax and intermixed on mesopleuron, on posterior
ealli, on scutellum, the long ones transversely across abdomen above,
some on genae and front part of face, those on coxae and some on
venter yellowish, ochreous yellow to reddish yellow, those in 99
usually more reddish yellow, with the pubescence on abdomen above
more conspicuously gleaming sericeous, with a few darkish bristles on
a. b. Cz
TExt-Fic. 66.—(a) Half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius obesus
Bezz. (6) Half of dorsal view of hypopygium of g Bombylius obesus Bezz.
(c) Side view of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius obesus Bezz.
coxae and some on venter; wings greyish hyaline, with the base,
costal cell, greater part of marginal cell, base of first submarginal
cell, basal half of first basal cell, upper part of second basal cell,
extreme bases of anal and axillary cells and the alula brownish to
dark brownish, this infuscation not well marked off from more hyaline
part of wing, with distinct dark spots on apical cross vein of second
basal cell, on apical cross vein of first basal cell, at base of vein between
submarginal cells, at apex of first posterior cell, on apical cross vein
of discoidal cell and at base of third posterior cell, with the basal
comb black, the veins very dark blackish brown or almost black,
the discal cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell. Head
with the interocular space in g¢ broad, quite 2 times as broad as
tubercle, in 92 also broad and about 4 times as broad as tubercle.
Legs with the femora black in g¢ and in 99 also black or much
darkened; claws slender and long in gd, gradually curved, with the
258 Annals of the South African Museum.
pulvilli flattened and well developed in $g, reaching middle of claws,
confined to base in 99. Hypopygium of g (text-fig. 66, a, b, and c)
with the basal parts compact, broad, and short, with much hair,
dorsally more or less convexly raised along line of junction (text-fig.
66, 6), the neck region markedly short and broad, with the inner
dorsal margin in neck region very broad, concave on side of beaked
apical joints, rounded apically, the lower apical part of neck region
projecting lobe-like; beaked apical joints sunk in basal part, with a
large, deep, rounded foveate depression on upper inner aspect, their
apices not very acute; aedeagus with the apical part slender, the
base prominent and medially conically produced forwards; lateral
struts comparatively short.
Locality.—_Namaqualand, Central and Southern Karoo. (In the
Transvaal and South African Museums.)
1 $ B. mollihirtus n. sp.
Body black; hind margins of ventral segments and genital segment
pale yellowish white; pubescence on occiput, thorax above, scutellum,
abdomen above and upper parts of pleural regions soft and furry,
very pale greyish white, with a dull whitish sericeous or silvery sheen
in certain lights, that on disc of thorax with a feeble yellowish sheen,
that on abdomen above, on sides and towards apex more silvery
white in certain lights, that in mystax, on genae, head below, near
pectoral regions, in metapleural tuft, on venter and centrally above
at apex of abdomen white, the bristly hairs on frons, sides of face,
below joint 1 of antennae, a few on genae and its lower parts, the
bristles along upper parts of mesopleuron, basal comb of wings,
some hairs intermixed on sides of abdomen and the denser and longer
tuft-like hair towards apex and on sides below black, those towards
end of abdomen with a dark blackish brown sheen in certain lights,
the hairs on ocellar tubercle, antennae above and the bristly hairs or
bristles on occiput very pale yellowish, the bristles on genae, anterior
part of thorax and laterally behind wings, on scutellum, the transverse
rows on hind margins of abdomen, on posterior part of mesopleuron,
those below on metapleural tuft and the spines on legs deeper
yellowish, the bristles towards apex of abdomen black or dark brown-
ish black with paler, more yellowish tips and those on sides of venter
whitish, the bristly hairs on coxae yellowish and intermixed with the
others; wings faintly infuscated on anterior half up to end of costal
cell, discal cross vein and up to apex of second basal cell with pale
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 259
greyish brownish, with the costal cell shining through more sub-
opaquely whitish, with the rest of the wing translucent and with a
feeble milky white tint in certain lights, with the veins dark brownish,
paler brownish basally, with faint, diffuse and indistinct infuscations
on apical cross vein of second basal cell, discal cross vein, base of
vein between discoidal and third posterior cells, apical cross vein of
discoidal cell, base of vein between submarginal cells and an evanes-
cent one at apex of first posterior cell, with the parts of the veins
on these sites distinctly
darkened, more black-
ish brown, with the
fringes of the squamae
and alulae whitish;
halteres brownish; legs
yellowish brown, with
the femora blackish to
beyond the middle and
the apical parts of tarsi
more brownish, the
apical two-thirds of
claws black. Head with
the eyes broadly separ- TEXxtT-FIG. 67.—Side view and half of ventral view of
hypopygium of g Bombylius mollihirtus n. sp.
ated above, very nearly
2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 3 only a
little longer than 1 and 2 combined, distinctly broadened in basal
half, broadest nearer base, thence fairly rapidly narrowed to straight
and slender apical half, with the style slender and feebly curved,
with the upper apical part of joint 2, as in many other species in
this section, more or less prominent, almost projecting; genae with
a few bristles or bristly hairs along its lower part; proboscis about
4mm.long. Legs with a longish spine beyond middle along posterior
face and a shorter one opposite on anterior face of front femora;
middle femora with 2 or 3 spines anteriorly beyond middle and a
single long one posteriorly; hind femora with 5-6 spines below from
near base to apex; claws comparatively short and slender, curved
from near base, with the pulvilli scarcely reaching the middle of
claws. Hypopygium (text-fig. 67) with the lower apical part of neck
region of basal parts subangularly dilated; beaked apical joint
flattened, depressed above, but not foveately hollowed out, the apex
acute, bent downwards (more slender than is shown in figure);
aedeagus with the slender apical part hidden and above ventral
260 Annals of the South African Museum.
aedeagal process, which is in the form of a medial forwardly projecting
pointed process, armed with setae apically and almost reaching level
of inner apical processes, with the base flattened and broad, continuous
on each side with the rami, with the dorsal basally directed aedeagal
struts just visibly projecting; lateral struts feeble; basal strut small,
bat-shaped.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 93 mm.
Length of wing: about 84 mm.
~ Locality—Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Oct. 1911).
This species resembles a small specimen of obesus, from which it is
separated by the characters givenin the key. From zoutpansbergianus
n. sp. it differs chiefly in the more broadly separated eyes, less spotted
wings, and other characters given in the key.
3 gd 9 92 B. zoutpansbergianus n. sp.
Body black, with the hind margins of ventral segments pallid or
pale ochreous yellow to yellowish white, more extensive in gd, the
entire venter in the holotype being yellowish; pubescence on occiput,
thorax above, scutellum and abdomen above whitish, with a silvery
sheen when viewed from the side or in front, from above with a greyish
tint, more distinctly white in 3g, and in 99 with a feeble indication of
- yellowish stripes on disc of thorax, the sides of thorax in front of
wings also with a feeble yellowish tint, that above on antennae, in
mystax, on face, sides of genae, head below, pleural regions, meta-
pleural tuft, sides of venter in basal half snow white, that on sides
of abdomen, sides towards apex and in apical tuft with black hair,
denser, longer and more distinct towards apex and in apical tuft and
in certain lights with a distinct blackish brown tint, with the black
hair in basal half of abdomen more extensive in the $4, the bristles
and bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, below joint 1 of antennae, sides
of face, on genae pale yellowish white, yellowish to pale yellowish
brown, with the fine bristles on sides of frons often much darker,
more brownish black, the bristles on occiput, thorax above, scutellum,
mesopleuron, in metapleural tuft below, on coxae, the longer ones
on basal comb of wings, on abdomen above and below and the spines
on legs deeper yellowish to reddish yellow or pale brownish yellow,
slightly paler, more whitish in the ¢ holotype, with the bristles
towards apex of abdomen and venter distinctly more whitish in gd,
with the tips of bristles towards apex distinctly more whitish, with a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 261
few bristles on genae often distinctly whitish; wings with the anterior
half, even up to end of marginal cell, basal half of first submarginal
cell, basal three-quarters of first basal cell, second basal cell (excepting
clear spot towards apex) and base of anal cell tinged pale yellowish
brown or pale brownish, with the rest of wing translucent, subhyaline,
the apical part of marginal cell being slightly less hyaline, with a
large rounded spot on basal cross vein of fourth posterior cell, on
discal cross vein and a very distinct one at base of vein separating
submarginal cells, with a slightly smaller spot on apical cross vein of
discoidal cell and at base of third posterior cell, with a diffuse spot
at end of second longitudinal vein and at end of vein separating
submarginal cells, with a variable infuscation at apices of anal and
axillary cells, and smaller, indistinct, and often absent, spots at apex
of first posterior cell and at ends of veins separating posterior cells
2 and 3 and 3 and 4, with the veins dark brownish to brownish black,
the basal parts being paler, more reddish brown, with the bristles
on basal comb predominantly black, with the fringes of squamae and
alulae white; halteres pale yellowish brown, with dark brownish
black knobs; legs with the femora black to much beyond middle,
covered with whitish scales; claws in the 99 almost entirely black, in
$3 with blackish apices. Head with the eyes in gd separated above
by about 14 times width of ocellar tubercle, a little more than 38,
nearly 4 in some 99, times width of tubercle in 92 and about 3 times
as broad as in gg; antennae with joint 3, often with white scales,
comparatively longer in 33, slender, almost rod-like in some 34,
scarcely broadened basally, in 99 more distinctly broadened in basal
half and in some 99 being broadest a little before middle, gradually
narrowed apically, with the apical slender part more distinct in
some gd, with the dorsal apical part of joint 2 bluntly projecting,
almost spine-like in some specimens; genae with a few distinct but
slender bristles on lower aspect; proboscis more or less straight,
only the apex slightly bent upwards, about 4 mm. long in gg and 4-5
mm. in 99. Wings with a tendency for vein between discoidal and
third posterior cells to be slightly or sharply bent at right angles at
base in some specimens and there to be provided with an indication
of a short stump (with this is also correlated a similar tendency for
vein between the submarginal cells to be bent at right angles at its
base), with the discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal
cell. Legs with about 3-4 spines on anterior face from middle to
apex and 1 spine on postero-lateral aspect of middle femora; hind
femora with about 6-8 spines below from near base to apex, stouter
VOL. XXXIV. 18
262 Annals of the South African Museum.
and longer in 99, the ones nearer base being longer and more slender;
claws much longer and comparatively more slender in gg, curved
from about middle; pulvilli long in $3, reaching and extending
beyond middle of claws, feeble and scarcely visible in 99. Hypo-
pygium of g (text-fig. 68) with the basal parts compact, but not
to such an extent as in obesus, with the lower apical margin of
neck region dilated, the inner apical processes projecting distinctly,
the hairs on dorsum sparse and short; beaked apical joints slightly
elongate, flattened and
depressed above; aede-
agus with the slender
apical part not reaching
the level of inner apical
processes and not visible
from below, hidden by
the basal part of
aedeagus, which is de-
veloped as a_ ventral
aedeagal process, pro-
jecting downwards and
TEXT-FIG. 68.—Side view and half of ventral view slightly apically in form
of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius zoutpansbergianus of a central inverted
ee U-shaped arch, pro-
vided apically with flattened spines and connected laterally with the
rami, which are also produced on each side anteriorly into a pointed
process, the outer side of which is higher and slightly carinate;
lateral struts comparatively short and rod-like, projecting backwards;
basal strut not projecting beyond bases of basal parts.
Types in the Transvaal Museum and some paratypes in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-11 mm.
Locality.—N.K. Transvaal: Zoutpansberg Distr. (Breyer, 7 and
8/1916).
2 99 B. zoutpansbergianus var. occidentalis n.
(Syn =obesus Bezz. in part.)
Two 99, in the South African Museum from “ Keimoes, Gordonia
(K. Barnard, July 1925)” and ‘“‘Upington”’ (this latter labelled by
Bezzi as obesus and mentioned as coming from “Isipingo” on p. 29,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 263
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii), agree in every respect with zoutpans- —
bergianus except for the following details, mentioned also in the key:
The bristles and bristly hairs on sides of frons, on antennae below,
sides of face and mystax, all the longer bristles on genae, sides of
thorax and along upper parts of mesopleuron black; basal comb
predominantly black and with few yellowish bristles; thorax above
with 3 distinct pale brownish golden stripes; bristles on thorax
slightly more reddish brown and the bristles on abdomen also
distinctly darker, more reddish brown; evanescent spot-like infus-
cations on veins separating posterior cells 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 much
smaller or wanting, and the body is slightly longer, about 12 mm.
This form can scarcely be elevated to specific rank, and I refer it
to a new Western variety occidentalis occurring in the extreme N.W.
Cape Province and Southern Kalahari. The wing-pattern of zout-
pansbergianus resembles that of punctifer Bezz., but the anterior
infuscation is slightly less dark, the ends of second longitudinal vein
and vein between submarginal cells with a distinct spot, apices of
anal and axillary cells with a faint spot and ends of veins separating
posterior cells 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 often with faint spots.
B. spimbarbus Bezz.
(P. 30, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This striking species, described by Bezzi from 2 $¢ in the South
African Museum, is represented by both §¢ and the as yet undescribed
29 in the collections before me. The species may be easily recognised
by the following characters :—
Body black, with the greater part of scutellum, the hind margins
of the tergites, broader on sides in both sexes, but apparently broader
on sides of abdomen in gd and the hind margins of sternites red
or reddish, with antennal joint 1 sometimes also tending to be partly
reddened and even with the sutural parts of pleurae sometimes
reddish; legs entirely yellowish in both sexes, only the apical parts
of tarsi becoming darker and the apical parts of claws blackish;
pubescence dense, long and shaggy on abdomen, that on thorax
above very dense and shorter than on abdomen, that on head dense
and bushy, the stouter and conspicuous bristles well developed on
occiput, antennae below, on face in front and brush-like on lower
parts of genae, the bristly elements on rest of body and especially
on abdomen also prominent, the entire pubescence on body above
and below golden yellowish to deep golden and gleaming golden,
264 Annals of the South African Museum.
that on abdomen in certain lights appearing paler and gleaming
more sericeous yellowish, the dense scaling along anterior and hind
margins of eyes and the pubescence on head below more dull whitish
or creamy, the pubescence on body below scarcely paler yellowish
than on body above, the bristly elements on coxae and pubescence
on sides of venter and sides of abdomen above, especially in 99,
even more ochreous yellowish; wings greyish hyaline posteriorly
and apically, but the costal cell and basal half from end of costal cell
A
WT
(fag the
TExtT-FIG. 69.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
Bombylius spinibarbus Bezz.
across to middle region of anal cell tinged yellowish to ochreous
yellowish, being more subopaque towards base and in costal cell,
with the basal comb yellowish to ochreous yellowish, the veins
yellowish, becoming more brownish in apical part of wings, with
distinct darker and more brownish spot-like indications at base of
third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells, and at
base of vein between submarginal cells, with the discal cross vein a
little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the first posterior cell
tending to be somewhat acute apically and sometimes with a tendency
for vein between discoidal and third posterior cells to be sharply
bent at its base and there to be provided with an insignificant stump;
halteres yellowish and with almost whitish knobs. Head with the
eyes in gd rather broadly separated above by a space nearly or
quite 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space
A Revision of the Bombylirdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 265
on vertex in 9° a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 thickened, incrassate or barrel-shaped, quite
25 times as long as 2, with 2 longer than broad, its wpper apical part
slightly projecting, with 3 club-like, thickened and knob-like at base,
then slender and rod-like to apex, the apex itself slightly broadened
and ending in a slender style; proboscis about 4-64 mm. long.
Legs without any bristly hairs on femora below; front femora with
2 or 3 spines in front in some specimens; middle femora with about
3-6 spines in front and about 2 behind; hind ones with about 8-10
longish spines from near base to apex below and a few on outer side
apically, those below sometimes irregularly arranged; tibiae with the
spicules, especially on front and middle ones, rather numerous and
not widely separated; claws gradually curved and with the pulvill
in gd extending to about middle of claws, in 99 slightly shorter;
front tarsal joints in 99 hairy but not much thickened. Hypopygium
of 3 (text-fig. 69) with the neck region of basal parts slightly arcuately
broadened along its lower margin; beaked apical joints ovate, their
apices curved downwards and slightly outwards, their upper surfaces
slightly depressed; aedeagus with the apical slender part slightly
curved upwards, the basal part broad and bell-shaped, its basal
Tim continuous on each side with ramus from each basal part;
lateral struts slender; basal strut somewhat bat-shaped and elongate.
In the Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 83-135 mm.
Length of wing: about 84-13 mm.
Locality.—South Western Cape Province.
B. angulosus Bezz.
(P. 31, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
This species is so closely related to spinibarbus that a full description
is unnecessary. Compared with spinibarbus it differs as follows :—
Pubescence on the whole distinctly paler yellowish, gleaming much
paler and more pale velvety sericeous yellowish, appearing even
more creamy yellowish in $¢, that on abdomen in 3¢ especially
becoming distinctly paler yellowish towards apex, the general effects
above in both sexes more resplendent and gleaming pale sericeous
yellowish in certain lights, that on body below distinctly more dull
whitish, more chalky whitish and distinctly contrasting with yellowish
pubescence above, that in metapleural tuft and sides of venter more
distinctly whitish, the bristly elements on coxae are, however, also
266 Annals of the South African Museum.
deep yellowish and contrasting with white pubescence on pleurae
and head below, with distinct tufts of blackish brown or chocolate
brown hair along extreme sides of abdomen (seen from ventral view)
in 99, these however sometimes very sparse or even wanting in some
92; wings relatively longer, on the whole more extensively tinged
yellowish brownish or reddish brownish, becoming fainter and more
hyaline apically and posteriorly and darker basally, with the same
spot-like, but darker and more distinct, infuscations and in addition
also spot-like infuscations on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, at
base of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells and some-
times even at apex of first posterior cell and with the vein between
discoidal and third posterior cells more constantly bent at right
angles at its base and provided with a more constant and longer
stump; head with antennal joint 1 slightly longer and quite 3, or
even a little more, times as long as 2, with 2 less elongate and more
subglobular and with slender part of 3 apparently slightly longer,
with the proboscis about 34-6 mm. long. Hypopygiwm of 3 differs
from that of spimbarbus practically only in that the hair on basal
parts is longer and denser and the basal strut slightly broader. The
species 1s very variable in size, some specimens being quite smallish
and some specimens have even paler and more sericeous whitish
gleaming pubescence.
In the British, Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 74-14 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-15 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo, Karoo and Namaqualand.
13 gd 36 92 B. minusculus n. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black, with whitish bloom on integu-
ment above; antennal joints 1 and 2 in some specimens, the palps,
basal half or two-thirds of proboscis, extreme sides of abdominal
tergites, very narrow and almost indistinct hind margins of tergites
towards apex, especially in $g, broader and sometimes very broad
hind margins of sternites and the genital segment pallid or yellowish;
legs pale yellowish to even almost pallid, the bases or basal halves
of femora in some specimens and especially in gg darkened, with
the last 2 or 3 or even 4 tarsal joints dark brownish to black and the
apical halves of claws black, with the spines on legs whitish; pubes-
cence relatively sparse but long and shaggy, especially in 99, where
it is very long and shaggy on occiput, thorax in front, on scutellum
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 267
and abdomen, that on front part of body in g¢ distinctly much
shorter than in 99, that on occiput in 92 very shaggy, long and
conspicuous, the pubescence rather coarse and entirely dull snow or
chalky white above and below, without any or a feeble sheen and
tending to be erect on scutellum and abdomen, without any distinct
differentiation into stouter elements such as bristles, but with a
shorter sparse pubescence visible on abdomen and also with distinct
flattened scaling along hind margins of eyes and along sides of genae,
with the individual hairs on body distinctly fimbriate apically, giving
“singed off” appearance, with the hairs on
ocellar tubercle and a few on sides of frons in 99 yellowish to brownish,
those on ocellar tubercle in gd yellowish, the pubescence on face and
genae also not differentiated into stouter and finer elements, but all
the hairs equally coarse and fimbriate apically, with the scaling on
legs cretaceous whitish and dense; wings hyaline, iridescent and
with a feeble milky whitish tint in certain lights especially in costal
cell and at base, where they are subopaquely whitish, rather feebly
developed, the base narrowish, with the alula somewhat reduced
and not very lobate, the axillary lobe also narrowish and not so
arcuately lobate as in other species of Bombylius, with the basal
comb vestigial and represented only by a small tuft of white hairs,
with the veins dark blackish brown, the costal and first longitudinal
veins yellowish or yellowish brown, with the discal cross vein at
about middle, or just before middle or even much before middle,
of discoidal cell, the discoidal cell truncate apically, with the second
longitudinal vein tending to be undulating, with the squamae rather
small, opaquely whitish. Head with the eyes in gd separated above
by about the width of ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in
99 about, or slightly less than, 2 times as broad as broadish tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 visibly thickened to even slightly barrel-shaped,
quite 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 about as long as, or slightly
longer than, joints 1 and 2 combined, thickened in basal half or
more, broadest just before base, rather rapidly narrowed apically,
the apical part being slender and straight, often pallid at tip and
ending in a relatively long, slender stylar element; proboscis shortish
and about 1-14 mm. long; palps slender and shortish, visibly 2-
jointed. Legs comparatively slender, without any hairs on femora
below and with only 2 or 3 feeble, separated spines from about middle
to apex on hind ones below; tibiae with the spicules on front and
middle ones very feebly developed or wanting and those on hind
tibiae much less and more sparsely developed than in other species;
the entire pubescence a
268 Annals of the South African Museum.
claws arcuately curved and with the pulvilli extending to about
middle of claws in ¢¢ and slightly shorter in 99; front tarsal joints
in 99 slightly more hairy than middle ones but scarcely thicker.
Types in the South African Museum and paratypes in the British
Museum and Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 3-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 3-5 mm.
TExt-Fic. 70.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of 3
Bombylius minusculus n. sp.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936)
(Types); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); Nieuwoudtville
(Ogilvie, 18—22/11/31). S.W. Karoo: Ceres, 1500 ft. alt. (Turner,
Dec. 1920).
This species is apparently slightly variable in size and colour
characters, but these differences are negligible except in the case of
a ¢ in the British Museum which appears to represent a distinct
variety as follows:—
1 3 B. minusculus var. pallidiwentris n.
This single g-specimen can only represent a variety of minusculus.
It differs from the typical form in the following points:—The entire
abdomen is very pale brownish yellow, slightly more yellowish on
sides, with the hind margins of the segments above broadly ivory
whitish to yellowish, broader laterally and on venter; thorax and
scutellum even more brownish than black; face, antennal joint 1
and front part of frons pallid. Head with antennal joint 1 slightly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 269
more thickened and joint 3 slightly longer, broadest nearer base,
distinctly more gradually narrowed apically, the apical slender part
distinctly less slender than in the typical form, with the proboscis
slightly longer, about 2mm. long. Wings distinctly slightly more sub-
opaquely tinted milky whitish, with the veins slightly paler and
more pallid, even the costal veins paler, with the alula and axillary
lobe slightly broader and more normally lobe-like and the wings also
apparently broader. Leys also with about 3 spines on hind femora
below, with the pulvilli a little more evident, extending a little beyond
the middle of claws. Hypopygium of 3 of variety (text-fig. 70),
and of the typical form, with the basal parts compact, very broad and
short, somewhat like that of obesus, with the neck region very short,
practically absent, with the dorsum covered with very fine hairs
which are somewhat sparse, with the inner apical angles of basal
parts broad and truncated; beaked apical joints comparatively
very small, insignificant, scarcely depressed above, their apices
slender and bent downwards; aedeagus with the slender rod-like
apical-part slightly extending beyond level of apical angles of basal
parts, with the dorsal basally directed aedeagal struts visibly pro-
jecting on each side of basal strut, with the basal part of aedeagus
broad and bell-shaped and without a ventral process below; lateral
struts narrow and basal strut as shown in figure.
Type of variety in the British Museum.
Length of variety: about 54 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 6—15/10/1928).
This species, including the variety, is very remarkable in many
respects and ought strictly to be separated from the genus Bombylius
s. str. or at least referred to a subgenus of the latter. The peculiar,
coarse, fimbriate hairs on its body constitute a remarkable character
only developed in another species of a new genus described further on.
The feeble wings with a reduced alula and axillary lobe constitute
still another aberrant character. These insects are feeble fliers and
are usually found hovering over and settling on the warm sand during
the hottest part of the day.
12 3d 9 92 B. volucer n. sp.
Body black, with the scutellum almost entirely reddish or reddish
only across hinder part or even entirely black in some specimens,
with the sides of hind margins of tergites more or less broadly reddish
270 Annals of the South African Museum.
in $d, black in 92 or with only sides of tergite 2 reddish, with the
hind margins of sternites in gg broadly or sometimes even predomin-
antly yellowish or reddish, the extreme edges being more ivory
whitish, with the yellowish hind margins of sternites in 99 narrower,
with the genital segment also yellowish or reddish yellow to brownish
in both sexes; legs yellowish, the femora almost entirely yellowish
or only darkened at extreme bases in both sexes, but especially in
some gd, in others darkened to near middle and with the apical
parts of tarsi dark brownish and the apical parts of claws black;
pubescence dense, and shaggy shortish on thorax above and more so
in $¢ than in 99, that on abdomen longer, recumbent and shaggy
in appearance, that on face dense and bushy as in other species in
this series, the stouter bristly elements long and conspicuous on
antennal joint 1 below, face and genae and in a brush-like tuft on
lower parts of genae, the pubescence above and below on entire
body silvery whitish and gleaming silvery or sericeous whitish, only
that on body below less gleaming, with all the bristly elements on
thorax and across abdomen also entirely white, with the pubescence
on ocellar tubercle and on sides of frons in both sexes yellowish to
brownish, sometimes even darker in 99, with the scaling on legs
white; wings vitreous hyaline, with the base, costal cell, basal part
of marginal cell, basal half of first basal cell, second basal cell, base
of anal cell and alula tinged subopaquely pale yellowish whitish to
yellowish in both sexes, with the parts of veins in this area yellowish,
becoming more brownish to very dark brownish towards apical part
of wings, the base of first longitudinal vein and that of costal vein,
however, also brownish, with distinct and dark spot-like infuscations
at base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells,
at bases of veins separating discoidal and third posterior cells and
submarginal cells, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and to a
variable extent at apex of first posterior cell, with the basal comb
white, with the discal cross vein at about middle, or slightly beyond
middle, of discoidal cell, with a tendency for vein between discoidal
and third posterior cells to be sharply bent at its base and sometimes
provided where with an indication of a stump, with the squamae
opaquely yellowish and fringed with white hair; halteres yellowish
to yellowish brown, with very pale yellowish to almost whitish knobs.
Head with the eyes in gg separated above on vertex by a space
nearly or quite 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular
space in 99 on vertex a little more than 3 to about 34 times as broad
as tubercle; frons not depressed in 99; antennae with joint | in-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 271
crassate, sub-barrel-shaped or spindle-shaped, slightly knobbly below
where bristles are inserted, sometimes more so towards apical part
below, with the upper apical part of the joint slightly produced,
quite 4, or even a little more, times as long as 2 along dorsal part,
with 2 produced apically above to a variable extent, with joint 3
subequal to or slightly longer than joints 1 and 2 combined, distinctly
club-shaped, markedly thickened basally and broadest just before base,
then rapidly narrowed apically into a long slender part, which is slightly
OY 47
TExt-F1c. 71.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
of Bombylius volucer n. sp.
dilated and pallid at apex, the apex ending in a slender style; pro-
boscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs without any hairs on femora below
and with the front femora unarmed below; middle ones with 2 or
3 spines on antero-lateral aspect; hind femora with about 6-9 slender
spines below from near base to apex; claws gradually arcuately
curved, with the pulvilli in $¢ just about reaching or just falling
short of middle of claws, shorter in 92 and more confined to base;
front tarsal joints in 9° hairy and scarcely much thicker than middle
ones. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 71) with the basal parts fairly
densely, but not long, haired above; beaked apical joints broad in
basal half, leaf-shaped, tapering to a slender beak which is directed
downwards and slightly outwards; aedeagus with the apical slender
272 Annals of the South African Museum.
part projecting very slightly beyond the inner apical angles of basal
parts, broad and bell-shaped basally as in spunibarbus; lateral struts
slender; basal strut elongate and bat-shaped.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-104 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality.x— Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., November
1931) (Types); Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp., November
1931).
This species is easily recognised by its entirely gleaming silvery or
sericeous whitish pubescence, in which respect it can only be confused
with leucolasius n. sp. (below) and the various forms of molitor Wied.
From leucolasius it may at once be distinguished by the absenee of
a yellowish or brownish tuft at apex of abdomen, the characteristically
club-shaped third antennal joints, longer pulvilli, ete. From molitor
it differs in having club-shaped third antennal joints, incrassate
first antennal joints, a tuft of distinct bristles on lower parts of
genae, more widely separated eyes in §g, more distinct spots on wings,
longer pulvilli, more recumbent and not fine and erect bottle brush-
like or puff-like pubescence on abdomen, etc. In nature this species
is a very rapid flier. It has the habit of hovering in the air, about
four to seven feet above the ground, producing a very high-pitched
monotonous hum, darting away with almost lightning rapidity to
some other position a little farther away and remaining there station-
ary again while producing this hum. When settling in the warm
sand or on the flowers of Mesembryanthemums it is a very conspicuous
insect.
1 g 3 992 B. leucolasius n. sp.
Body black; scutellum in this ¢ also entirely black, but more than
hind half in 99 ferruginous red; legs with the femora predominantly
black in both sexes, only the extreme apices or knees yellowish
brown, with the tibiae dark or darkish in both sexes, almost entirely
blackish in 3, more dark brownish in 99, or the undersurfaces in 9°
may be even yellowish brownish and the upper surfaces blackish,
with the tarsi very dark in g and sometimes more dark brownish
in 99 but becoming darker apically in both sexes; pubescence very
dense, fluffy and shaggy, especially in 3, long, shaggy and dense on
abdomen, with distinct and longish bristles on first antennal joints
below, on face, genae and lower parts of genae, the latter, however,
not so prominent as in volucer, on occiput, thorax in front, sides of
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 273
thorax, on upper part of mesopleuron, on post-alar calli, across hind
margin of scutellum and across hind margins of abdomen, where
they are very long especially towards apex, with the pubescence
predominantly silvery white above and less gleaming and more
frosty white below, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and
basal part and sides of frons very dark blackish brown or coffee
brownish in both sexes, with the bristles and hair in g predominantly
white, the bristles on post-alar calli and those towards apex of abdomen
slightly yellowish or appearing more yellowish in certain lights,
and with the hairs at apex of abdomen in ¢ also yellowish, with
the stoutish bristles on thorax in front and on sides, on post-alar calli
and on scutellum in 99 even distinctly more reddish yellow, those
transversely on sides of abdomen in 92 and especially apically con-
spicuous, dark blackish brown and tipped yellowish and with the
apical tuft of hairs in 99 also dark blackish brown, with the rest of
the pubescence in 99 as in J silvery whitish, with the scaling on legs
silvery whitish and with the spines and spicules in both sexes very
pale, pallid or very pale yellowish and in some specimens the spicules
on tibiae are almost whitish; wings vitreous hyaline, becoming
milky whitish in basal half, the base, costal cell and alula being more
subopaquely whitish, with basal comb black, but with white scales
above and a tuft of longish white hairs over it, with the veins very
dark blackish brown, becoming black towards apical parts of wings,
with black spot-like infuscations at fork of second and third longi-
tudinal veins, on apical cross veins of basal cells, at base of second
submarginal cell and a very faint one at base of third posterior cell,
with the discal cross vein very much beyond middle of discoidal cell,
with the squamae subopaquely whitish, black-bordered and fringed
with long and dense sericeous white hairs; halteres yellowish brown
to brownish, with very dark blackish brown knobs in both sexes.
Head with the interocular space on vertex in g broad, at least 1}
times as broad as broad tubercle, about 3 times as broad as tubercle
in 99; frons slightly convex in ¢ and with a slight medial depression
in 99; face broadish, but not projecting, densely covered with hairs
and intermixed bristles; antennae with joint 1 distinctly thickened
and in ¢ even distinctly incrassate, thickest across middle, about 3,
or a very little more, times as long as 2, with the lower surface of it
in ¢ knobbly or tubercular, the tubercles bearing long stoutish
bristles, less knobbly in 99, with joint 2 slightly longer than broad,
with at least one blackish short bristle above in addition to white
hairs, evident in the 99, with joint 3 slender, elongate, quite 1} times
274 Annals of the South African Museum.
as long as 1 and 2 combined and more slender in d, relatively shorter
in 99, arising from a broadish base in both sexes, then narrowed,
becoming broader again at about the middle before gradually narrow-
ing to apex, ending in a shortish and feeble style, with the upper
surface showing traces of white scaling; proboscis about 34-4 mm.
long, rather stoutish; palps short, black and distinctly 2-jointed.
Abdomen in 3 with the apical angles of last sternite angularly produced.
Legs with longish hairs on femora below, especially in 3, without any
TExtT-FIG. 72.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ of Bombylius
leucolasius n. sp.
spines on front femora below but with some lateral spines apically
on each side; front and middle femora also narrowed apically;
middle femora in addition to subapical spines with 1 or 2 spines in
front; hind femora with about 10-11 long, slender spines from about
middle to apex in g more or less arranged in two irregular rows, in
22 with about 5-7 longish spines in a single row; tibiae with the
spicules markedly long; claws slender, long, almost straight, with
the pulvilli wanting in 99, vestigial and scarcely visible at extreme
base of claws in 3. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 72) with a distinct
and conspicuous lobe-like or tongue-shaped, apically projecting,
ventral process below aedeagus; beaked apical joints slightly
broadened, shaped as shown to right of middle figure and depressed
above. 3
Types in the South African Museum.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 275
Length of body: about 8-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality.—_N.W. Karoo: Calvinia (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1936).
This beautifully white-haired species can only be confused with
volucer n. sp., molitor Wied. and its varieties and with minusculus n. sp.
From minusculus it may at once be distinguished by its very much
larger size, non-fimbriate hairs and black legs. From volucer, which
it resembles in the incrassate first antennal joints in ¢ and broad
interocular space in g, it may be readily distinguished in both sexes
by its almost entirely dark or black legs, black femora at least, non-
club-like third antennal joints, black basal comb, black veins in
wings, a discal cross vein which is very much beyond middle of
discoidal cell, different hypopygium, more reduced pulvilli and
distinctly more produced apical angles of last sternite in g. From
molitor and its varieties it may be distinguished by the broader
interocular space in g, more incrassate first antennal joints, pre-
dominantly black femora and even darker tibiae, much darker and
black veins in wings, the discal cross vein much beyond middle of
discoidal cell, black basal comb, dark blackish brown knobs to halteres
and more angularly produced apical angles of last sternite in 3.
B. peringueyt Bezz.
CE aa Ann. 5. Ate. Mus. vol. xvuix Pl. 1, fig. 6;,1921.)
This and the following two species with their varieties are peculiar
in that the pubescence on abdomen is very dense and fine, standing
up erect, puff-lke or bottle brush-like, that on facial region, though
dense and shaggy, has fewer bristles on face in front and on lower
parts of genae. There are no distinct and stout projecting bristles.
The first antennal joints are not markedly incrassate and the third
joints are not club-shaped. The discal cross vein is much before
middle of discoidal cell and the spot-like infuscations on cross veins
and other veins are fewer and less conspicuous and the pulvilli are
almost invisible or wanting in both sexes. In all these characters
these species differ from the previous spinibarbus, angulosus and
volucer-seties.
This species peringueyi is one of the most beautiful species of
Bombylius and is easily recognised by the fine puff-like pubescence on
the abdomen, which is for the greater part strikingly snow or frosty
white, but that on tergite 1 and at apex of abdomen in $¢ and on
tergite 1 and at apex and also on tergites 4 and 5 in 99 deep chocolate
276 Annals of the South African Museum.
brownish, that on thorax above and scutellum in gd appearing
chocolate brown from above, more gleaming pale golden brownish
from side, that on front part even more gleaming whitish in some
specimens, that on thorax above in 92 appearing more greyish brown
from above, but from side that in front is more gleaming whitish
and that discally more gleaming fulvous, that on pleurae in 3g
fulvous, more brownish on coxae and touched with whitish along
middle, in $2 with distinctly more whitish pubescence on pleurae,
that on facial region and
head below in both sexes
chalky or cretaceous white,
with the bristles on thorax
in front and sides in front of
wings reddish or reddish
brown in both sexes, those
on posterior calli and on
scutellum darker and more
chocolate brownish, those on
occiput yellowish in 99 and |
more whitish in $4, those on
face in gd gleaming whitish,
more yellowish in 99, those
Tuxt-ric. 73.—Side view and half of ventral transversely across hind
view of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius perin- margins of tergites gleaming
gueyt Bezz.
whitish in white-haired parts
and dark brownish or chocolate brownish across tergites with chocolate
coloured pubescence, the bases of individual dark coloured bristles
being, however, yellowish, those on venter whitish in basal part and
yellowish, but brown-tipped, on sides and towards apex; wings
greyish hyaline, but with a faint, but distinct, greyish reddish tinge
in certain lights due to reddish brown veins, the costal cell and base
subopaquely pale yellowish, the basal parts in Jd with even a more
distinct pale yellowish brownish tinge, with very faint and scarcely
perceptible spot-like infuscations at base of third longitudinal vein
and on apical cross veins of basal cells, with the basal comb chocolate
brownish in ¢¢ and sometimes more fulvous brownish in 99, with the
discal cross vein much before middle of discoidal cell, with the
squamae opaquely yellowish brown to yellowish and fringed with
fulvous hairs in gg and paler, more yellowish hair in 99; halteres
with pale yellowish knobs, sometimes more yellowish brown in gd.
Head with the eyes in 3¢ separated above by a space a little broader
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 277
than the ocellar tubercle, the interocular space on vertex in 9? quite
3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 slender, quite
3 times as long as 2, appearing slightly longer in 99, with joint 3
rod-like, gradually tapering apically, broadest a little before base
and ending apically in a minute stylar element; proboscis about
4-5 mm. long. Legs with the femora darkened in 3¢ to beyond or
much beyond middle, only basally in 99, the hind ones being pre-
dominantly dark in both sexes, with the tibiae and tarsi predominantly
yellowish in both sexes, with about 2 or 3 spines on inner side and
2 or 3 on outer side apically on front femora; middle ones with about
2-4 spines in front and some apical spines on sides; hind femora with
about 8-11 well-developed spines below from near base to apex in
addition to lateral apical spines; claws slender, almost straight and
in both sexes without any distinctly visible pulvili; tibiae with rather
numerous spicules; front tarsal joints in 99 not modified. Hypo-
pyguum of 3 (text-fig. 73) with the inner apical angles of basal parts
very prominent, rounded apically; beaked apical joints, elongate,
but broadened and leaf-like, acute apically; aedeagus without a
process below.
In the Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 10-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 104-114 mm..
Locality.— Karoo, Namaqualand and Bushmanland.
B. mgripecten Bezz.
(P. 32, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
In addition to the g-type there are 3 99 in the South African
Museum. As the 9 of this species is still undescribed, the following
supplementary description may be added to Bezzi’s description :—
Body in 992 black as on 3, the abdomen above, however, entirely
black and without red on the sides as in g; legs with the femora
blackened to much beyond middle in both sexes, only the apices
yellowish, the tibiae and tarsi predominantly yellowish, only apical
parts of tarsi darkened and claws predominantly black; pubescence
dense and fine, that on abdomen, as in peringueyz, dense, fine, erect
and pufi-like, the bristles on antennae below and on face in front
not very long as in spinibarbus-series and without a tuft of bristles on
lower parts of genae, pubescence predominantly gleaming sericeous
or silvery white above on occiput and thorax in both sexes, that on
face, genae, head below, entire pleural parts and base of venter on
VOL. XXXIV. 19
278 Annals of the South African Museum.
each side snow or frosty whitish, that on tergites 2, 3 and 6 in 99
conspicuously sericeous white, that on scutellum in both sexes gleaming
pale yellowish brown or fulvous, that across tergite 1 in both sexes
slightly more fulvous brownish, that across tergites 4, 5 and 7 in
29 pale yellowish, but tipped dark chocolate brownish, with, however,
shortish snow white, erect hair-like scaling across the hind margins
of most of the tergites visible as a sort of undergrowth, with the
pubescence on abdomen in g more predominantly whitish, only that
across tergite 5 tipped chocolate brownish, the pubescence on ocellar
tubercle and sides of frons basally in both sexes yellowish brownish,
with the bristly elements on antennae below and face in both sexes
gleaming whitish, those on thorax in front and sides, on upper parts
of mesopleuron, post-alar calli and scutellum very pale yellowish or
tinted yellowish in g, deeper golden yellowish to reddish golden in
29, with the stoutish bristles on abdomen in ¢ on tergites 3 to 5
yellowish and with their apical halves brownish, those across basal
tergites much paler and tinted pale yellowish and those apically
more whitish, with all the transverse bristles across hind margins of
all the tergites from 2 in 99 chocolate brown, only their bases yellowish,
these bristles longer towards apex of abdomen, with the bristles on
venter also chocolate brown, their bases yellowish and more so in 6,
the scaling on legs dense and gleaming white; wings in ¢ tinged
rather deeply yellowish brownish up to end of costal cell and across
middle of marginal, first submarginal and first posterior cells, across
apical part of discoidal cell to anal cell, the infuscation, however, not
well marked off but imperceptibly merging into more hyaline apical
and posterior parts, the base of costal cell and base of wings more
subopaquely yellowish brown, the wings more greyish hyaline in 99,
only the base, costal cell, and basal half of first basal cell being more
subopaquely tinged yellowish, with distinct brownish spot-like in-
fuscations at base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of
basal cells and indistinctly at bases of the veins separating discoidal
and third posterior cells and the 2 submarginal cells and sometimes
even faintly on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, all these infuscations
apparently more distinct in 3, with the veins reddish brown, slightly
darker towards apical part of wings, with the discal cross vein just
before middle of discoidal cell sometimes tending to be even at about
middle, with the basal comb black, with the squamae opaquely
yellowish, dark bordered and fringed with whitish to pale creamy
hairs, including a few brownish bristly elements; halteres yellowish
brown to brownish and with pale yellowish to sometimes slightly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 279
yellowish brownish knobs. Head with the eyes in ¢ separated above
by the width of ocellar tubercle, the space in 9° about 34-31 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 slender, not thickened,
quite 4, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with 3 only about
1+ times as long as 1 and 2 combined, almost rod-like, the apical
third being more slender; proboscis about 4 mm. long. Legs with
longish hairs on femora below basally, longer in 3, without any
visible spines on front
ones below; middle
femora with about 2
spines in front below
and hind femora with
about 7-9 spines below
from near base to apex;
claws slender, substraight
and with the pulvilli
wanting in both sexes;
front tarsal joints in 9?
slightly more hairy than
middle ones but scarcely
thicker, practically un-
modified. Hypopygium
of 3 (text-fig. 74) re-
sembles that of peringueyt
and molitor in having
comparatively elongate beaked apical joints and prominently
rounded and slightly produced inner apical angles of basal parts;
aedeagus with the slender apical part nearly reaching level of the
inner apical angles of basal parts, with the basal rim, connecting
the rami on each side, sharply and flatly projecting like a ventral
aedeagal process.
In the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 82-94 mm.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Bushmanland.
TEXxtT-FIG. 74.—Side view and half of ventral view
of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius nigripecten Bezz.
3 6d 5 99 B. nigripecten var. conctutus nu.
From the typical forms of nigripecten this new variety differs in
being smaller, in having the entire abdomen black, without even an
indication of reddish on sides in $4, with the venter also much darker
280 Annals of the South African Museum.
and only obscurely brownish along middle in gg; scutellum in both
sexes also less extensively reddish, only obscurely dark reddish
discally or towards hind margin; pubescence with the bristles on
sides of thorax darker, deeper or more brownish yellow to even dark
brownish, those on abdomen chocolate brownish but with less of
their bases yellowish and with some discally on tergite 2 yellowish
and not dark brownish, with the hair or bristly hairs on frons,
scutellum, sides of tergite 1 and sides of tergites 4 and 5 slightly
darker and more chocolate brownish than in nigripecten, those on
tergites 4 and 5 distinctly tipped more brownish; wings less distinctly
tinged yellowish brownish in 34, less subopaque, more greyish hyaline,
only slightly subopaque towards base and subopaquely yellowish in
costal cell, the infuscations on cross veins also much less distinct in
33, only the basal 3 and the one at base of vein separating the sub-
marginal cells being perceptible, with the discal cross vein also
tending to be nearer base than middle of discoidal cell. Head with
antennal joint 1 about 4 times as long as 2, with joint 3 slightly more
slender and rod-like than in the typical form and with the interocular
space in 99 sometimes quite 33 times as broad as tubercle; proboscis
slightly shorter, only about 2-2; mm. long (3-4 mm. in typical
nigripecten). Legs with about 5-7 spines on hand femora below
(7-9 in mgripecten).
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the Imperial
Institute of Entomology and in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 7-73 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-7 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria W.—Beaufort West. Distr.
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935) (Types). C. Karoo: Graaff-Reinet (Ogilvie,
24-27/10/31). 8. Karoo: N.E. of Touw’s River (Turner, 26/10/28).
B. molitor Wied.
(P. 632, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. Dipt. 11, 1830; Bezzi, p. 34, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Paramonow, p. 73, Trav. Mus.
Zool. Kiev, No. 11, 1931; as syn. argentifer Walk., p. 276, List.
Dipt. Brit. Mus., part ul, 1849; Bezzi according to specimens
labelled by Bigot, p. 34, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii.)
Wiedemann’s description of this species, supplemented by Para-
monow’s description of Wiedemann’s type 3 and other specimens,
shows beyond doubt that Walker’s argentifer is a synonym of molitor.
Bezzi (p. 61, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924) also
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 281
refers in a footnote to Speiser’s contention that the two species are
identical. The species is easily recognisable by its entirely snow
white pubescence and milky whitish tinted wings, only the hair on
ocellar tubercle and base of frons on each side being slightly brownish
in $g and the pubescence on tergites 4-7 in some 9-varieties is slightly
yellowish or tipped brownish. The pubescence on abdomen is
characteristic for this series, and is dense, fine, erect and puff-like or
bottle brush-like. The spot-like infuscations in wings at base of
third longitudinal vein and
on apical cross veins of basal
cells are fainter and much
less distinct than in other
white-haired species of Bom-
bylius. The legs have the
femora entirely yellowish or
they may be darkened or
blackened to beyond middle
in both sexes, their apices
and the tibiae and tarsi being
yellowish, with the claws sub-
straight and the pulvilli
wanting in both sexes. The
head has the eyes in $9 Text-ric. 75.—Side view and half of ventral
separated above by width of eee on Ys
ocellar tubercle, the inter-
ocular space in 99 quite 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 slender, slightly more than 3 times as long as 2, with
3 rod-like and only slightly tapering apically; face and antennae
below with stoutish bristles, but without a brush or tuft of stout
bristles on lower parts of genae; proboscis about 3-45 mm. long,
entirely black. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 75) is much like that of
nigripecten, but the hair on basal parts is slightly more dense and
longer towards the neck region above; beaked apical joints slightly
shorter and their apices shorter and less sharp; aedeagus slightly
shorter and its basal part less elongate, the lip-like process below
projecting slightly more and the basal strut slightly narrower and
more rounded posteriorly.
The species appears to be slightly variable especially in the presence
or absence of yellowish pubescence on abdomen or yellowish bristly
elements on body. Some 99 especially differ from the typical and
entirely white-haired 9? in having some yellowish and dark-tipped
282 Annals of the South African Museum.
pubescence at apical part of abdomen and in some specimens especi-
ally on tergites 4 and 5 or 4-7. The wings in some $9 with such
dark hairs also show more distinct and slightly more conspicuous
spot-like infuscations, and in addition to the usual three spots also
faint ones at bases of veins between discoidal and third posterior ~
cells and the 2 submarginal cells and the basal comb may be slightly
yellowish. The sides of abdominal segments may also be reddish
in such 9? as they may be in some gd, the femora being entirely
yellowish in both sexes. There is also a single g specimen from
Okahandja in the British Museum which differs from the typical 3g
in having the bristles in front of wings on each side, those on post-
alar calli and on scutellum distinctly tinted yellowish, in having the
Spines on legs also slightly more yellowish, the extreme sides of
abdomen and venter apically tending to be reddish, etc. The slight
varieties are separated by the essential characters given in the key.
This species can only be confused with minusculus, volucer and
leucolasius. From minusculus it can at once be distinguished by its
much larger size, non-fimbriate and gleaming pubescence, more
slender first antennal joints and absence of pulvilli. From volucer
it is distinguished by the slender first antennal joints, the rod-like
and not club-like third antennal joints, the absence of stoutish
bristles on lower parts of genae, the less spotted wings in which discal
cross vein is before middle of discoidal cell and the absence of pulvilli.
From leucolasius it may be distinguished by the non-incrassate first
antennal joints, the absence of long bristles on first antennal joints
below, the much paler wing-venation, the fewer and less conspicuous
spots in wings in which the discal cross vein is also before middle,
not very much beyond middle, of discoidal cell, the absence of black
transverse bristles on abdomen in 92, and the paler or yellowish
tibiae, etc.
In the British and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 7-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality—South Western Cape Province, Karoo, Namaqualand
and South West Africa.
1G 1 2 8. beez10 un. sp.
(Syn. =molitor Bezz. nec Wied., p. 34, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921.)
These specimens were referred to molitor Wied. by Bezzi. A
careful comparison of these specimens with Wiedemann’s description
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 283
of moltor (p. 632, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. Dipt., ii, 1830) shows
that these insects are entirely different. Wiedemann states that his
$-specimen is entirely covered with white hair, has vehreous yellowish
legs and uninfuscated wings, whereas in the above specimens there
are dark bristles across the tergites, tufts of chocolate brownish
hair on sides of abdomen, the entire femora are blackened and the
wings in the ¢ are tinged yellowish brownish in costal cell and more
or less in the basal half. In view of these differences and other
important characters, I propose to refer these specimens provisionally
to Bombylius and to a separate and distinct species bezzi1 having the
following characters :—
Body black, with the hind part or half of scutellum reddish brown,
the medial part of sternites reddish brown, more extensive in 4,
with the hind margins of sternites ivory whitish, with the apical
parts of third antennal joints yellowish; legs with the femora in
both sexes black, only their apices yellowish, the tibiae and tarsi
yellowish, but the hind tibiae tending to be more brownish yellow
above, the apices of tarsi also slightly more brownish and the greater
part of claws blackish, with the spines and spicules on legs pallid or
very pale yellowish; pubescence on the whole shortish, that on
thorax above, apart from the bristly elements, fine, shortish and
recumbent, sparse discally, that on abdomen denser and slightly
longer in ¢ than in 9, the bristles on abdomen in 2 longer than pub-
escence and apically even longer, the fine hairs towards apex in both
sexes longer than basally, with the pubescence on facial region dense
and predominantly in form of scales or scale-like hairs, the pub-
escence on face relatively shortish, the bristly elements round upper
part of buccal cavity fewer and shorter than in the spinebarbus,
angulosus and volucer-series, and the lower parts of genae with only
hairs and without a brush of stiff bristles, the pubescence on body
predominantly white, dull cretaceous or chalky whitish on face and
head below and on pleurae and sides of abdomen basally, more gleaming
sericeous or silvery whitish above, that basally on tergite 1 tinted
yellowish, that in tuft-like patches on sides of tergites 2 and 3 in g
and 2-4 in 2 dark chocolate brownish, slightly paler and more fulvous
in 3g, with the fine hairs across hind margins discally on tergites 2-3
in ¢ pale yellowish brownish, in 2 much paler discally and with a
more silvery sheen, the pubescence on venter in 9 fulvous brownish,
but much paler in g and with denser snow whitish pubescence on
each side of venter basally, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle
and basal part of frons yellowish in g, much darker and chocolate
284 | Annals of the South African Museum.
brownish in 9, with the bristles on thorax in front in $ yellowish or
gleaming pale golden yellowish, those on post-alar calli and scutellum
in ¢ slightly deeper yellowish, the bristles on occiput, thorax and
scutellum in 9 reddish brown and those transversely on all the tergites
in © dark reddish brown to chocolate brownish, those towards apex
being intermixed with white ones, with the transverse bristles across
tergites 2 and 3 in 3 pale yellowish brown and those towards apex
entirely white like rest of pubescence there, with the bristles on
venter very dark chocolate brown in both sexes, with the scaling along
the centre of abdomen above and concentrated in apical part in 2 snow
white, visible as a central stripe, with the dense scaling around eyes
chalky whitish, the finer scaling across vertex in @ dull yellowish
brownish, with the dense scaling on legs chalky or cretaceous whitish;
wings vitreous hyaline, more extensively so in 92, with the base,
costal cell and from its end obliquely across to about middle of anal
cell in g distinctly tinged subopaquely pale yellowish brownish,
but with only the base, costal cell and more or less basal half of first
basal cell in 9 subopaquely yellowish, with the basal comb yellowish
in g, chocolate brownish in 9, with the veins reddish brown, but
paler and more yellowish in infuscated area, the first longitudinal
vein yellowish, with distinct dark brownish spot-like infuscations at
base of third longitudinal vein, on apical cross veins of basal cells,
at bases of veins separating the discoidal and third posterior cells
and submarginal cells, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and faintly
at apex of first posterior cell, with the discal cross vein very near
base of discoidal cell, making first basal cell only a little longer than
second one, with a tendency for vein between submarginal cells to
be sharply bent at its base and there with an indication of a short
stump, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed with white
hair; halteres yellowish brown or brownish and with pale yellowish
knobs. Head remarkably broad, quite as broad as or even slightly
broader than broadest part of thorax, rotundately rounded in front,
especially in 9; eyes comparatively large and convex in 6, the inter-
ocular space at narrowest part above about as broad as front part
of ocellar tubercle, the upper facets markedly coarser than lower
ones and rather well marked off from finer ones in lower part, with
the eyes smaller in 2 and remarkably broadly separated on vertex, the
interocular space being quite 64 times as broad as tubercle; frons
remarkably broad in 9, transverse and convex; facial region very
broad in 2 and in g also relatively broader than in other species of
Bombylius; antennae with joint 1 slender, quite 4 times as long as 2
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 285
and without long and stoutish bristles below as in preceding species,
with 2 only slightly longer than broad, its upper apical part only
slightly prominent, with 3 more or less club-shaped, thickened in
basal half, the apical half being slender, ending in a fine, slender
stylar element; proboscis about 4 mm. long; palps shortish and
slightly clavate apically, separate joints not being visible. Legs
with shortish, but distinct, hairs on femora below basally, apparently
without any spines below on front femora; middle ones with about
3 spines in front; hind ones
with about 5-6 spines below
from just before middle to
apex; claws gradually arcu-
ately curved, the pulvill in 3
just falling short of middle of
claws, confined to base in Q.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 76)
with the inner apical angles
of basal parts prominently
projecting and the outer
apical angles equally pro-
minent; beaked apical joints
broadened in basal half,
leaf-shaped, tapering apically, Txt-ric. 76.—Side view and half of ventral
the apical beak turned out- Pe: hypopygium of g¢ Bombylius bezzuw
wards, with a foveate depres- |
sion above in basal half of joints; aedeagus with the apex not
reaching level of inner apical parts of basal parts, with the basal halt
more or less tumid on each side; lateral struts slender and rod-like;
basal strut feebly developed.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9-104 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-10 mm.
Locality Namaqualand (Bushmanland): Jakhals Water (Light-
foot, Oct. 1911) (Holotype); Henkries (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911)
(Allotype).
This is a very remarkable species of Bombylius and is easily recog-
nised by the very broad head, very broad interocular space in Q,
broad facial region, the chocolate brownish transverse bristles across
entire abdomen in ? and across tergites in basal half in g and tufts
of dark pubescence on sides of abdomen in both sexes and by the
discal cross vein which is nearer base of discoidal cell than in the
286 Annals of the South African Museum.
majority of other species of Bombylius. This species and the following
species anastoechoides n. sp. appear to represent bridging or transi-
tional species between Bombylius and Anastoechus, agreeing with the
former in having the first basal cell not exactly equal to second basal
cell in length and with the latter in having a broad head, broad
interocular space in 9, broad frons and the general nature of the
pubescence which is distinctly more like that of Anastoechus. There
is even a superficial resemblance between these species and species
of Anastoechus, such as erinaceus and macrophthalmus. In fact if
characters, such as a remarkably broad head, frons and interocular
space and general nature of pubescence alone be taken as diagnostic
characters of Anastoechus and not the position of the discal cross
vein in wings, both this and the following species ought to be included
in the genus Anastoechus. Both these species are found in a very
interesting ecological environment in which the vegetation is pre-
dominantly or almost entirely composed of succulents, Mesembry-
anthemums and xerophytic plants, usually of small stature, where
there is much aridity and barrenness, high diurnal temperatures,
a low humidity and a very low rainfall.
1 g B. anastoechoides n. sp.
Black; antennal joint 1 to a large extent especially below, face,
more than hind half of scutellum, the hind margins of tergites on
extreme sides of abdomen below and the hind margins of venter
ferruginous or reddish yellow; legs with the femora black, their
apices yellowish, with the front and middle tibiae predominantly
yellowish, the hind tibiae predominantly dark brownish or blackish,
only the bases slightly more yellowish, with the hind tarsi pre-
dominantly dark, the greater part of front and middle ones yellowish,
only the apical part dark and the claws dark, with the spicules and
spurs on tibiae pallid and the spines on the femora more golden
yellowish; pubescence very dense and shortish, very dense and
Anastoechus-like on facial region, body below and on venter, that on
face, sides of face and genae frosty white and in form of distinct
white bristles on first antennal joints below, on face and genae inter-
mixed with denser scale-like hairs, with the flattened scaling behind
eyes and dense pubescence on head below also frosty white, the
dense woolly pubescence on pleurae, coxae and the pubescence on
venter frosty white, the hairs on occiput, the more or less depressed
ones on thorax in front, sides of thorax, on scutellum and on tergite 1
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 287
also white but distinctly gleaming silvery whitish, the dense erect
hairs on ocellar tubercle and basal part of frons dark coffee brownish,
with the shortish depressed pubescence on disc of thorax (where not
denuded), especially along sides and also along extreme sides in front
of wings gleaming brownish golden, with the stoutish bristles on
occiput, front part and sides of thorax, on upper part of mesopleuron
in front of wings, the macrochaetal bristles, a few bristles on each
side above wings and the last two bristles on post-alar calli dark
reddish brown, one macrochaetal bristle in front of wing-base and
most of those on post-alar calli, however, white, with the mesopleural
bristles just below wing-base predominantly whitish but with some
pale yellowish intermixed ones, with the metapleural tuft pale
yellowish, with the pubescence on abdomen dense and long, long and
tuft-like apically, predominantly white, but with a tuft of pale
yellowish brown hair and blackish brown bristly hairs on each side
across hind margins of tergites 2 and 3 and a transverse band of
gleaming brownish golden hair-like scaling across hind margins of
tergites 2 and 3, with the stoutish transverse bristles across hind
margins of tergites white, but those on sides of tergites 2 and 3 and
some on sides of 4 dark blackish brown, with the bristles on venter
whitish and with the flattened scaling on legs white; wings with the
well-developed basal comb blackish brown but covered with white
hair-like scaling, with the basal half of wings up to end of costal
cell and across apical cross veins of basal cells to apical part of anal
cell yellowish brownish, becoming more subopaquely whitish towards
base and in costal cell, with the rest of the wings milky whitish, the
milky white occurring broadly along each side of the veins, the
middle parts of the cells thus appearing darker and more greyish,
with the veins blackish brown, becoming more brownish or yellowish
along apical part of costal vein, along first longitudinal vein, at base
and along vein between second basal and anal cells, with faint, but
distinct, spot-like darkish infusions at apex of costal cell, on apical
cross veins of basal cells, at apex of anal cell, at base of third posterior
cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, at base of second sub-
marginal cell and to a lesser extent at end of second longitudinal
vein, with the discal cross vein much before middle of discoidal cell,
the discoidal cell narrowish and truncate apically, with a tendency
for vein between submarginal cells to be rapidly bent down at right
angles at its base to meet the first posterior cell and to be provided
at this bend with a short stump, the alula yellowish brown like basal
half of wing, but fringed with white hairs, with the squamae sub-
288 Annals of the South African Museum.
opaquely pale yellowish, brownish-bordered and fringed with white
hairs which gleam creamy yellowish in certain lights; halteres
yellowish brown, with the cup of knob ivory yellowish, but lower
part of knob more brownish. Head very broad and across eyes
scarcely narrower than across broadest part of thorax, with the eyes
broadly separated above, much broader than the ocellar tubercle,
about 2 times as broad as tubercle, with the upper facets of eyes
only a little coarser than those in lower half; frons large, rapidly
Trxt-Fic. 77.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ Bombylius
anastoechoides n. sp.
broadening apically; sides of face and upper parts of genae very
broad; face broad and rounded; buccal cavity broad; proboscis
longish and stoutish, about 6 mm. long; palps yellowish, short and
stoutish; antennae with joint 1 shortish, only about 2 times as long
as 2, with 3 constricted ring-like at base, club-shaped, broadest in
slightly less than basal half, then narrow straight and slender to
apex, the terminal style fine and directed upwards. Legs without
any spines below on front femora; middle femora with about 3
spines in apical half in front and 1 small one behind; hind femora
with about 7 spines on outer side below from near base to apex and
1 or 2 on inner side apically, the apical one of which is prominent
and with sometimes 2 subapical spines on outer side above; claws
substraight, only slightly curved, slender, with the pulvilli much
reduced, vestigial and confined to base of claws and scarcely visible.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 77) differs from that of bezzii in having
the beaked apical joints differently shaped, the outer apical part
being angularly produced, giving the joint a spanner-like shape,
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 289
and the inner and outer apical angles of basal parts not so produced
as in bezzi.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 10} mm.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Knersvlakte, between Van Rhynsdorp
and Nieuwe Rust (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
Superficially this insect bears a marked resemblance to species of
Anastoechus, from which genus it may, however, be at once dis-
tinguished by the longer first basal cell. Its position in the genus
Bombylius is nevertheless anomalous, and together with bezzii it
appears to be transitional between Bombylius and Anastoechus, and
is provisionally placed in the former. From the ¢ of bezzii it differs
in having a broader interocular space on vertex, shorter first antennal
joints, in having the basal halves of wings more distinctly yellowish
brown and the apical halves more milky whitish along the veins, in
having distinctly more reduced pulvilli, etc.
The following species, described from Southern Africa, have not
been included in the above key and descriptions, owing to the fact
that they are either not represented in any of the collections before
me or, if represented, have been unwittingly redescribed by me and
other authors, due to the very unsatisfactory and misleading original
descriptions. The descriptions of older authors, such as Walker and
especially Macquart, who described quite a number of Cape species,
are so brief and inadequate that identification of their species is
impossible without an examination of the original types, if these are
still in existence. There is no doubt that many of Macquart’s
descriptions of large and bulky Cape species may possibly refer to
some of the more common forms referred to group 3 and which have
been described by Fabricius, Wiedemann, Loew and Bezzi:—
B. albwentris Macq., p. 87, Dipt. Exot. u, Table VI, fig. 5 and
Table VII, fig. 5, 1840.
B. aurantiacus Macq., p. 89, Dipt. Exot. 1, Table VI, fig. 2 and
Table VII, fig. 5, 1840.
B. bifidus Bezz., p. 61, The Bombyhidae of the Ethiopian Region,
1924.
B. dimidiatus Macq., p. 90, Dipt. Exot. u, Table VII, fig. 5,
1840 (?=hypoleucus Wied. or melanurus Lw.).
B. flaviceps Macq., p. 88, Dipt. Exot. 1, Table VI, fig. 4 and
Table VII, fig. 5, 1840.
290 Annals of the South African Museum.
B. flavus Macq., p. 96, Dipt. Exot. 11, Table VII, fig. 5, 1840.
B. inornatus Walk., p. 278, List. Dipt. Brit. Mus., u, 1849 (2 S.
Africa).
B. ruficeps Macq., p. 88, Dipt. Exot. 1, Table VII, fig. 5, 1840.
B. rufus Macq., p. 91, Dipt. Exot. u, Table VI, fig. 5 and Table
VII, fig. 3, 1840 (? =eurhinatus Bezz.).
B. simplicipennis Bezz., p. 59, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924.
B. tinctus Walk., p. 277, List. Dipt. Brit. Mus., 1, 1849 (28. Africa).
Gen. Anastoechus Ost. Sack.
(P. 251, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv., mi, 1877; Becker, p. 50, Ann. Mus:
Nat. Hung., vol. xiv, pt. 1, 1916; Bezzi, p. 46, Ann. 8. Af
Mus., vol. xviii, 1921 and p. 72, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924; Paramonow, p. 74, Mem. Acad. d. Sc. de l’Ukraine,
tom. xv, livr. 3, 19380; Engel, p. 287, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg.
Lief., 87 (Bombylidae), 1935.)
This genus is based ow an American species and was first established
by Osten Sacken in 1877. Subsequently Becker and Paramonow
referred certain Kuropean and Palaearctic species, originally described
as species of Systoechus or Bombylius, to Anastoechus. Becker
especially recapitulated a list of differences, based on Osten Sacken’s
definition, between Systoechus and Anastoechus (loc. cit., 1916).
Wiedemann was the first to describe a South African species, which
is referable to Anastoechus (see under rubricosus (Wied.)). Loew
(p. 188, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860) described a species cervinus as
belonging to Systoechus and Bezzi subsequently described 10 species
from the Ethiopian Region. Together with the new species described
in this paper, there are at least 20 species of this genus known from
Southern Africa and the Ethiopian Region. Whether the African
species are strictly generically identical with the North American
ones, on which the genus is based, is a point which can only be cleared
up by a comparative study of representatives from not only America
but the Palaearctic region as well. Authors, such as Loew and
Becker, were at first not at all sure whether Anastoechus should be
placed as a synonym of Systoechus or not. Becker (loc. cit., 1916)
gave a list of differences between the two genera but also stated that
these differences were not always constant in the Palaearctic forms
at least. The African forms before me are sufficiently distinct in
certain essentials that they may easily be separated from both Bomby-
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 291
lus and Systoechus. From Bombylius this genus may at once be
separated by the position of the discal cross vein in the wing, which
is very near base of discoidal cell, making the first basal cell equal in
length to the second basal cell, by the broad and squat head, which
across the eyes is comparatively broader, as broad or even broader
than broadest part of thorax and which is rotundately rounded in
front, by the very broad interocular space in many 99 and by the
presence of more conspicuous contrasting cretaceous white or chalky
white, woolly or scale-like pubescence on body below and by the more
conspicuous and longer bristles towards apical part of abdomen.
The beaked apical joints of the hypopygium are also more constantly
broad and leaf-shaped, their dorsum foveately hollowed out or
depressed. If the wing character be not taken as an essential differ-
ence it is evident that there are species of Bombylius which cannot
satisfactorily be separated from Anastoechus by the other characters
alone. Under Bombylius I have provisionally placed two species
bezz11 and anastoechoides which in most of the characters agree with
Anastoechus, but in the position of the discal cross vein they agree
with some species of Bombylius. They may even be taken as species
transitional between Bombylius and Anastoechus. Strictly speaking
they should be included in Anastoechus but this would entail a modifi-
cation of the generic character relating to the position of the discal
cross vein which is constant in position in all the other known
Ethiopian and Palaearctic species.
From the following genus Systoechus, the genus Anastoechus is
more easily separated. Compared with Systoechus it differs in the
following essentials:—The head is distinctly broader, at least as
broad, or slightly broader than broadest part of thorax, with the
interocular space in 92 usually much broader relative to breadth of
ocellar tubercle, with the frons in 92 convex and without any trans-
verse depression and without a distinct central furrow in 33, these
latter two characters have not been mentioned as differences by
previous authors; legs with the claws more often almost straight or
only feebly or slightly curved, rarely much curved and with the
pulvilli in both sexes never extending beyond middle of claws,
usually confined to base, but in some $¢ just falling short of middle
of claws; wings with the discoidal cell usually broader and more
truncate apically, the sides of the cell almost parallel, with the
squamae more distinctly bilobed; pubescence on head below and on
body below always markedly and contrastingly chalky or cretaceous
white. Hypopygium of $3 with the aedeagus never falcate or sickle-
292 Annals of the South African Museum.
shaped, its lower part not produced into a sharp keel and never with
a stylet-like or rod-like process on each side below (see text-figs.
78-91).
Gen. Systoechus Lw.
(P. 34, Neue Beitr., in, 1855; Becker, pp. 50 and 60, Ann. Mus.
Nat. Hung., vol. xiv, pt. i, 1916; Bezzi, p. 36, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921 and p. 62, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924; Engel, p. 278, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 87
(Bombylidae), 1935.)
This genus differs from Bombylius chiefly in having the discal cross
vein nearer base of discoidal cell so that the first basal cell is equal in
length to the second basal cell in all the known species. In other
characters it differs from Bombylius only relatively; the pubescence
on body being relatively shorter, less shaggy or bushy, that on
abdomen on the whole shorter and less shaggy or tuft-like, the trans-
verse bristles less conspicuous and less developed; frons in 99 always
with a distinct transverse depression and in $¢ with a central furrow
developed to a variable extent; claws on the whole more constantly
curved down apically nearer apex and with the claws more constantly
extending beyond middle in both sexes. From Anastoechus it is
separated by the essentials given above and in the key. From both
Bombylius and Anastoechus it differs by the entirely different type
of aedeagus or structures associated with the aedeagus in the hypo-
pygium of the gg. These differences are very characteristic and
very constant in the genus (see text-figs. 92-142). The aedeagus is
either sickle-shaped and with a characteristic flattened keel below
or the eadeagus is normal but has on each side a stylet-like, rod-like,
clavate or even racket-shaped process projecting apically from a
girdle-like or bridge-like basal part which is continuous on each side
with the lateral ramus to each basal part. The beaked apical joints
are usually elongate, narrowish, somewhat laterally compressed and
not foveately depressed above. In the following key the species of
both Anastoechus and Systoechus are dealt with under separate
divisions in the same key, and to make certain that some variable
species will be recognised they sometimes occur in different parts of
the key. The characters of species of Systoechus are so uniform
that even the best of keys are very unsatisfactory, and unless the
couplets are practically descriptive it is almost impossible to separate
species which are very constant and uniform in external characters.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 293
The genus Systoechus in Southern Africa is remarkably rich in species,
and some species, such as zerophilus n. sp., acridophagus n. sp. and
waltont n. sp., are of economical importance in that their larval
stages feed on the eggs in the egg-packets of the Brown Trek-locust
or Swarm-locust, Locustana pardalina, which has become a serious
problem in this country.
Key to the S. African species of Anastoechus and Systoechus.
A. (B) Head across eyes markedly broad, at least as broad, or slightly broader
than broadest part of thorax, with the interocular space in 99 usually
conspicuously broad, the frons in 92 without a transverse depression
or furrow and without a distinct central furrow in ¢¢; first terminal
joint at apex of antennal joint 3 usually not visible, either minute or
wanting; legs with the spines and spicules, especially on tibiae, entirely
pallid or yellowish, with the claws more often almost straight, only
feebly or slightly curved, rarely distinctly much sickle-shaped and with
the pulvilli always short, either confined to base, basal third or fourth
or in some §g just reaching middle of claws; pubescence on head below
and body below markedly and contrastingly frosty or chalky white;
proboscis without any distinctly visible spinules on labium below;
wings with the discoidal cell very broad apically, truncate, the apical
cross vein always long and usually longer than the discal cross vein
and with the sides of the cell almost parallel; squamae more distinctly
bilobed, the smaller lobe, nearest thorax, being often conspicuous and
comparatively large; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 78-91) with the
beaked apical joints in many species very broad in basal two-thirds,
leaf-shaped, the narrow and pointed beak being very rapidly narrowed
from the broadened part, the dorsum of beaked joints foveately hollowed
out or depressed, with the aedeagus never falcate and the lateral rami
never produced anteriorly on each side of aedeagus into rod-like or stylet-
like processes, but only with or without a ventral forwardly produced
process at base below and continuous with the lateral part
(Anastoechus Ost. Sack.) (p. 347).
1. (36) Pubescence on body not very short, usually long and shaggy in appearance,
often long, that on thorax longer, at least not with a very short closely
cropped-off appearance, that on occiput, head above, antennal joints
and face longer and distinctly more shaggy, more puff-like, not in form
of broadish, short and scale-like hairs, and the bristly hairs and bristles
on abdomen also longer and more recumbent; antennal joint 1 in g¢
distinctly longer, more than 2 or 24 times as long as joint 2 and in 9°
usually more than 3 times as long as 2; face in front distinctly less
conically produced, more rounded and always with longish hairs, bristly
hairs or even stoutish bristles on face in front and often also on genae;
proboscis usually shorter and not much longer than 5 mm.; wings
with the vein between anal and axillary cells tending to be straighter
for the greater part of its length, with the squamae smaller, less developed
VOL. XXXIV. 20
294 Annals of the South African Museum.
and the fringe more conspicuous, consisting of longer hairs, as long as,
or even much longer than, squaamae_. F seas
2. (23) Antennal joint 3 either club-shaped, the base bene -Equiellly broadened, or
rod-like, slender, or merely tapering to apex, not more rapidly narrowed
below than above from the broad base to give it a characteristically
curved or slightly humped appearance; pubescence on body markedly
long and shaggy, that on occiput, frons, antennae and especially on face,
sides of face and lower parts of genae shaggy and longish, with numerous
long and often stout curved bristles on face in front and on genae and
with long bristly hairs or distinct bristles on lower parts of genae, the
hair on thorax above with a less obvious cropped-off appearance especially
in gg; hypopygium of $¢ (text-figs. 78-84) usually with the beaked
apical joints broad in basal two-thirds, depressed or foveately depressed.
dorsally and not deeply sunk in between the outer apical and inner apical
parts of neck region of basal parts : 3 5, Se
3. (6) Wings with more or less the anterior half pale vollowah iow to brownish
yellow up to end, or slightly beyond apex, of marginal cell, with this
infuscation extending posteriorly across base of second submarginal
cell to include greater part of first posterior cell, extreme base of discoidal
cell, into base of fourth posterior cell and basal half of anal cell; pubes-
cence predominantly straw-coloured yellowish, creamy yellowish to
golden yellow above, with the bristles on face, sides of face and lower
parts of genae distinctly more numerous and those on lower parts of
genae markedly developed and stout, with the bases of the brownish or
purplish brown bristles on abdomen more extensively yellowish; antennal
joint 1 and entire legs pale yellowish to pale reddish yellow, the sides of
abdomen extensively and broadly, even the hind margins, red, even in
29; interocular space in 99 comparatively narrow, only about 3 times,
or only very slightly more, as broad as ocellar tubercle; hind femora
with more numerous and often irregularly disposed spines below . 4.
4. (5) Larger forms, about 6-14 mm., mostly golden yellow haired, the body less
elongate; red on sides of abdomen and across hind margins more
extensive and broader; wings vitreous hyaline in posterior half, with
the lower apical part or half of first posterior cell and apical half of
anal cell distinctly clear hyaline, without even a faint infuscation along
apical stalk of first posterior cell and along vein between third and fourth
posterior cells, and the apical part of fourth posterior cell is clear hyaline;
legs with more spines, 7-19, on hind femora below; hypopygium with
longer and denser hairs along dorsal apical part of basal parts
3 2 deserticolus n. sp. (and
forms of it) (p. 347).
5. (4) Smaller form, about 54-7 mm., mostly whitish to pale yellowish haired
above, the body more elongate; red on sides of abdomen and across
hind margins more reduced, the red margins towards apex less con-
spicuous; wings darker, the posterior half distinctly more greyish or
cinereous, with a faint infuscation along apical stalk of first posterior
cell and along vein between third and fourth posterior cells, with the
first posterior cell almost entirely infuscated and apical half of anal cell
less clear, the infuscation at apical part of second basal cell, basal half
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 295
of fourth posterior cell and base of third posterior cell more diffused,
almost the entire fourth posterior cell being tinged; legs with apparently
fewer spines, 5-8, on hind femora below; hypopygium of ¢ with shorter
and less dense hairs along dorsal apical part of basal parts
& 2 deserticolus var. coloratus n. (p. 352).
6. (3) Wings not so infuscated, either entirely hyaline, vitreous hyaline or infus-
cated in basal half in J¢ or with a darker yellowish or yellowish basal
and costal part not distinctly dimidiately marked off; pubescence either
frosty or silvery white or sericeous yellowish above or appearing greyish
due to an admixture of brownish bristles, with the bristles on face, sides
of face, though also dense, slightly less numerous, those on lower parts
of genae especially less conspicuous and stout, with the bristles on
abdomen either entirely white or less extensively pale at their bases when
dark; antennal joint 1 dark or black, rarely entirely pallid or yellowish
and when so the hair on body is white; legs usually with the femora
blackened or darkened towards bases or even entirely blackish and if
not black then at least much darker than tibiae; abdomen entirely
black in both sexes or with the red usually confined to sides above in $d
or it may even be only obscurely visible apically; interocular space
in 99 broader, distinctly very much more than 3 times as broad as
tubercle; hind femora with fewer spines below and these usually in a
single row : : Brae
7. (14) Pubescence entirely Sleamiiag meee ahi or feosty. white, only the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle, the bristles on frons being dark blackish brown
or deep yellowish, all the bristles on body being silvery whitish; scutellum
entirely black or at least obscure brownish and not distinctly ferruginous
reddish; wings either hyaline and with a milky whitish tint or when with
darker basal half then at least with the rest more hyaline : Neg:
8. (13) Antennal joint 1 longer, more than 3 or 4 times as long as joint 2 and
with joint 3 subequal to joints 1 and 2 combined and not tending to be
distinctly broadened just before middle; squamae dark or black-bordered
and halteres rarely with yellowish knobs; abdomen in both sexes entirely
black or dark above; interocular space in 99, in relation to tubercle,
about 444 times as broad as tubercle; bristly hairs and bristles on face
in front longer, more conspicuous and more shaggy; hind femora usually
with more than 5 spines below and these nearer together. Jee eae
9. (12) Interocular space in gg very much narrower, much less than 2 times as
broad as ocellar tubercle, in 92 quite 44 times as broad as tubercle;
wings in gd, as in 99, entirely hyaline, only the costal cell, base and
first basal cell subopaquely whitish : : : = lO:
10. (11) Body above entirely black; antennal joints 1 mide? blackish or at least
very dark blackish brown; frons and face black; wings with the veins
dark brownish to blackish brown; legs with the femora blackened to
near apices; interocular space in gg only very slightly broader than
ocellar tubercle; halteres dark brown and with dark knobs; face in
dg, from in front, apparently narrower; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fee 195 G) ie. ; : : . 3d Q argyrocomus n. sp. (p. 353).
11. (10) Body above dark romans antennal joints 1 and 2 yellowish, the third
black but tipped brownish; frons and face, scutellum and pleural parts
296
Annals of the South African Museum.
more reddish brown; wings with the veins more yellowish; legs with the
upper surfaces of the femora brownish; interocular space in g about
14 times as broad as tubercle; halteres yellowish, with ivory whitish
knobs; face from in front much broader : g nitens n. sp. (p. 355).
12. (9) Interocular space in jg remarkably broad, at least 2 times as broad as
broadish tubercle, in 99 only about, or nearly, 4 times as broad as
tubercle; wings in §g with a broadish brownish or smoky brownish
band across basal halves of marginal, first submarginal, first posterior,
discoidal and fourth posterior cells, the base of wings being more sub-
opaquely pale yellowish white, in 99 hyaline, but with the costal cell,
base and first basal cell slightly pale yellowish white; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 80) . : : ; 3 2 pruinosus n. sp. (p. 356).
13. (8) Antennal joint 1 much shontar only a little more than 3 times as long as
joint 2 and 3, distinctly much longer than 1 and 2 combined and tending
to be broadest just before middle; squamae yellow-bordered and halteres
with very pale yellowish knobs; abdomen in 99° usually with the hind
margins of last 2 tergites pallid or reddish; interocular space, in relation
to tubercle, nearly or quite 5 times as broad as tubercle; bristly hairs
and bristles on face in front shorter and less shaggily conspicuous; hind
femora usually with only about 4 or 5 separated spines below
2 leucosoma Bezz. (p. 357).
14. (7) Pubescence not entirely gleaming silvery whitish above, some or numerous
dark-tipped, blackish brown or purplish brown or black bristles being
present above, on head above as well as transversely across hind margins
of abdomen and even also on thorax; scutellum usually with some red
even if only discally . : . Loi
15. (22) Pubescence with the bristles on seein? some on insane soit J, inter-
16. (19
i
mixed ones on thorax in front, sides of thorax, on scutellum and those
very densely and conspicuously across hind margins of tergites con-
spicuously dark, blackish brown or purplish black, with the pubescence
on face distinctly more shaggy and with conspicuous bristles on face
and genae; wings distinctly tinged, even if only slightly, subopaquely
ereyish mauvish, mauvish brownish and more so in costal and basal parts
in gg, or wings may have a dark infuscation in basal half in gg and there
may even be indications of spot-like infuscations on cross veins, with the
basal comb dark and veins very dark; pulvilli in g¢ longer, at least
reaching middle of claws . . V6:
Interocular space in 3g Biaedee at Ie lu fines as ubanel as ocellar
tubercle, in 92 about 4 times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 3
gradually tapering and not truncated sucker-like at apex; wings in both
sexes distinctly tinged mauvish or smoky mauvish, becoming darker and
more reddish brown or brownish towards base and costal margin, especially
in $3, without any distinct indications of spot-like infuscations on cross
veins; pubescence above without any or with much fewer dark purplish
brown-tipped hairs on thorax, scutellum and transversely behind the
dark transverse bristles on abdomen and with the chalky white flattened
scaling on abdomen absent or less evident; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs.
81 and 82) sometimes with long tuft-like hairs on dorsal margins of inner
apical parts of basal parts . : : ; : ‘ : s ive
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 297
17. (18) Sides of abdomen less broadly or conspicuously reddish in §¢; pubes-
cence above more gleaming silvery whitish; wings with the darker
basal and costal parts more distinctly reddish brown and the veins more
reddish. : : : 3 2 ervnaceus Bezz. (p. 358).
18. (17) Sides of abdomen more Subudadly and more conspicuously reddish in ¢3;
pubescence above gleaming distinctly more sericeous yellowish to golden
yellowish; wings with the darker basal part more brownish, the reddish
mauve tinge less conspicuous and the veins distinctly darker, more
blackish brown . : : : . 6 & flavosericatus n. sp. (p. 359).
19. (16) Interocular space in gg narrower, only about as broad as tubercle, in
992 remarkably broad, about 6—7 times as broad as tubercle, the head
thus very broad, as broad as, or even broader than, thorax; antennal
joint 3 more slender and rod-like, truncated and sucker-like at apex;
wings in gg with the basal half dark brownish across to fourth posterior
cell, the basal part, however, being more yellowish, in 92 subopaquely
slightly greyish or cinereous, with faint spot-like infuscations indicated
on cross veins; pubescence with numerous and conspicuous dark or
purplish-tipped bristly hairs on front part of thorax, disc of thorax,
on scutellum and transversely across tergites just behind transverse
dark bristles on abdomen and with the chalky white flattened scaling
on abdomen above and sides dense and conspicuous, more or less
arranged transversely; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 83) without such
a tuft of very long hairs on dorsal inner margin of neck region of
basal parts : 2 20.
20. (21) Pubescence with pale en polden or Gack Browns. tipped: transverse
hairs on practically all the tergites just behind the transverse blackish
bristles, with these transverse bristles longer and very dark on all the
segments but distinctly darker towards apex; scutellum entirely black
or at least very dark and abdomen also entirely dark or black; wings in
¢ brownish up to end of costal cell and across to base of third posterior
cell, the basal parts, however, more yellowish across first and second
basal cells and in costal cell, in 9 tinged cinereous but darker and more
yellowish in basal part, costal cell, base and in first basal cell and with
the spot-like infuscations on cross veins sometimes very distinct, with the
basal comb in both sexes dark brownish; halteres with whitish knobs;
interocular space in @ a little more than 6 times as broad as tubercle;
hind femora with about 5-8 spines below
3 2 macrophthalmus Bezz. (p. 361).
21. (20) Pubescence with the pale yellowish brown to fulvous hairs less extensively
developed, more evident transversely across tergites 2, 5, and 6 especially
on sides, with the transverse bristles on abdomen apparently very dark
only posteriorly and laterally from tergites 3-5, the apical ones paler
again; scutellum distinctly ferruginous red on disc and the extreme
sides of abdomen towards apex obscurely reddish; wings in 2 apparently
more greyish, tinged slightly yellowish only at base and in costal part
and in first basal cell, with the basal comb more yellowish; halteres
with the knobs more pale reddish brown; interocular space at least
7 times as broad as tubercle; hind femora with only about 4 spines below
2 eurystephus n. sp. (p. 364).
298
22.
Annals of the South African Museum.
(15) Pubescence with the bristles on body above predominantly very pale
creamy yellowish, only the bristles on head above dark and some inter-
mixed transverse bristles towards apex of abdomen dark-tipped, the
latter distinctly less numerous, with the pubescence on face denser,
more woolly, especially in g, the bristly hairs and bristles on face and
genae poorly developed; wings not dark, but subopaquely greyish
hyaline in both sexes and also having a slight milky tint in certain lights,
with the base and costal parts subopaquely whitish or very pale yellowish
white, the basal comb very pale yellowish, the veins pale yellowish red
and without any indications of spot-like infuscations on cross veins;
pulvilli short and confined to base in both sexes; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 84) . : : : 3 2 innocuus Bezz. (p. 365).
23. (2) Antennal joint 3 thickened a base (from side), with the base more broadened
below and the lower margin more distinctly and characteristically
rapidly narrowed towards apex from this broad part, the dorsal margin
thus appearing humped, the joint not distinctly rod-like; pubescence
less shaggy in appearance, shorter, that on face especially, on sides of
face and genae shorter, denser, and distinctly more woolly, the bristles
and bristly hairs on face and genae short and inconspicuous, the hair
on thorax above, especially in gg, with a more distinct cropped-off
appearance; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 85-89) usually with the
beaked apical joints narrower and more slender, not or scarcely depressed
above and usually deeply sunk in between the apical inner and outer
parts of basal parts . : . 24,
4. (31) Pulvilli in both sexes confined ie base of caeeh inieroealate space in 9°
at least 43-5 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; wings in both sexes with
a distinct subopacity, either greyish, yellowish to faint yellowish brownish
and in gg without a more or less well marked off yellowish brown or
yellowish basal half; pubescence in both sexes always with some, even
if only a few, darkish, blackish brown or purplish black ee transverse
bristles on abdomen . : 25.
25. (26) Legs with the femora blackened ie beyonal raiddlley and hind ones alfiese
entirely black; antennal joint 3 more slender, almost rod-like, only a
little thickened basally, scarcely very distinctly more rapidly narrowed
along lower margin; wings more subopaquely greyish hyaline and with
a more whitish tint, with the basal comb whitish; pubescence above
predominantly very pale creamy whitish or yellowish and with the
bristles on face in front slightly more developed and longer, more evident;
red on sides of abdomen on the whole less developed even in §3
3 2 mnocuus Bezz. (p. 365).
26. (25) Legs entirely yellowish; antennal joint 3 distinctly more broadened
towards base, broader below and from there distinctly more rapidly
narrowed apically along lower margin; wings distinctly subopaquely
yellowish to yellowish brownish, with even a faint mauvish tinge, the
basal comb having darker spines; pubescence on body above distinctly
more yellowish, ranging from creamy yellowish to sericeous yellowish
and even deep golden yellowish and with the bristly elements on face in
front inconspicuous and shorter, the pubescence on facial part being
characteristically more woolly and denser even in 99; red on sides of
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 299
abdomen in both sexes more extensively developed and even very
extensive . 27.
27. (30) Wings subopaquely Fellewish to spate sellowish esi phasis a feeble
mauvish tinge, with the veins not appearing very dark or conspicuous
against the background; pubescence slightly more yellowish and even
deep golden yellowish : F : : 28.
28. (29) Red on sides of abdomen less estonewe: pubescence with fewer, or only
a few, dark-tipped transverse bristles across abdomen in $3; interocular
space in gd tending to be a little broader than ocellar tubercle; inter-
ocular space in 99 tending to be slightly narrower, about 44 times as
broad as tubercle ; 5 : - 6 & phaleratus n. sp. (p. 366).
29. (28) Red on sides of abdomen more extensive and sometimes very much
developed; pubescence in both sexes with more numerous transverse
dark or blackish-tipped bristles on abdomen; interocular space in $¢
tending to be only as broad as tubercle; interocular space in 992
apparently slightly broader, at least 5 times as broad as tubercle
3 2 phaleratus n. sp. (p. 368).
(Forms of it.)
30. (27) Wings apparently more distinctly subopaquely yellowish, the yellowish
in costal part and base more evident, with the veins appearing very
dark and conspicuous against the background, due to slight pale yellowish
brownish infuscations along their course, especially at the middle;
pubescence more uniformly creamy yellow above
3S phaleratus var. albicerus n. (p. 368).
31. (24) Pulvilli at least reaching middle of claws in jg and even in 9? more
evident at base and even in some 99 also extending to near or to middle
of claws; interocular space in 99 slightly narrower or very much narrower,
only about 3-4 times as broad as tubercle; wings in 99 clearer and more
hyaline, only the costal and basal parts yellowish or pale yellowish brown,
in known g¢ hyaline, but with a well marked off yellowish brown to
brownish basal half, the base of which is yellowish; pubescence in both
sexes without any black or dark transverse bristles on abdomen . 32.
32. (35) Legs with the femora distinctly blackened to beyond or much beyond
middle; pubescence above paler, predominantly whitish, gleaming
sericeous whitish and only very feebly pale sericeous yellowish on disc
of thorax; interocular space in 2 broader, a little more than 4 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle; scutellum with the red much reduced or
even obscure as two maculae 33.
33. (34) Pubescence on body above almost entirely sericeous whitishs wings with
the basal half in ¢ slightly darker and more brownish; antennal joint 1
scarcely 3 times as long as joint 2 in f and about 3 times as long as 2 in 2
and with joint 3 slightly longer . . od 2 sericophorus n. sp. (p. 370).
34. (33) Pubescence above tending to be slightly pale sericeous yellowish on disc
of thorax at least; wings with the basal half in J slightly paler and more
yellowish and even faintly yellowish; antennal joint 1 quite 3 times as
long as 2 in ¢ and with joint 3 apparently slightly shorter
& sericophorus var. congruens n. (p. 371).
35. (32) Legs predominantly yellowish and if femora are darkened then only very
obscurely at extreme bases; pubescence above distinctly more yellowish,
300 Annals of the South African Museum.
sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish; interocular space in 9 narrower,
only a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; scutellum more
distinctly reddish on hind half . . @ dolosus n. sp. (p. 372).
36. (1) Pubescence on body above markedly short, fine, with a very distinct
closely cropped or shorn-off appearance, especially on the thorax above
in both sexes, that on occiput, head above, antennal joint 1 and on face
very short in gg and in 99 also short and not shaggy, not puff-like,
that on sides of face, face in front and on genae in form of dense, closely
packed or superimposed, short, broadish, flattened, scale-like, pre-
dominantly cretaceous white hairs, that on abdomen above also shorter,
denser and more velvety or matted in appearance, the transverse bristles
being comparatively shorter, denser, and stouter in both sexes; antennal
joint 1 in gg distinctly shorter, only about 24 times, or even distinctly
less, as long as joint 2 and in 9 also shorter and 3, or less, times as long
as 2; face in front distinctly more conically produced and prominent,
bearing some short, stoutish, curved bristles in 99, less distinct in gg,
the lower parts of genae without any long bristly hairs or bristles; pro-
boscis usually longer and more than 5 mm. long; wings with a tendency
for vein between anal and axillary cells to be more undulating, with the
squamae comparatively large, being broad and well developed, its fringe
being much denser and very much shorter than the squamae » eae
37. (40) Interocular space in @g very narrow, at narrowest part very much
narrower than length of antennal joint 1; eyes with the upper facets in
6d very coarse and eyes very large; interocular space in 9° very broad,
very considerably broader than 2 times as long as antennal joints 1 and 2
combined; wings with the uninfuscated parts hyaline or only very
feebly greyish, with the infuscated basal half more demarcated and the
darker middle band in ¢¢ more evident; transverse rows of bristles
across hind margins of abdomen in g¢ whitish or pale yellowish and the
transverse rows of hairs behind them of the same colour as the rest of
the hair, with the bristles in 9° either whitish or reddish brown, slightly
shorter and less conspicuous, with the transverse hairs behind them
whitish or very pale yellowish, scarcely tipped darker and also less
evident . 5 : ; , ; : : 4 - . o8s
38. (39) Pubescence on body above paler, more whitish, with that on thorax
above whitish, that on abdomen above distinctly more whitish and not
so yellowish, with the bristles on thorax, scutellum and across hind
margins of abdomen whitish to pale yellowish white in both sexes and
if darkened on abdomen in some 99 without dark-tipped hairs behind
them; antennal joint 1 dark or blackish; hind margins and sides of
abdomen in 99 less extensively red; femora with the extreme bases
and more or less the upper surface of the hind ones blackened; inter-
ocular space in gg narrow, at narrowest part about as broad as front
part of ocellar tubercle, with the upper facets of eyes very coarse; wings
in $3 apparently more hyaline, with the infuscated part paler and less
evident, the costal cell, base, first and second basal cells, greater part of
anal cell and alula almost subopaquely whitish, with the wing almost
entirely hyaline in 99, the infuscation only faintly indicated along front
margin. : ‘ : ; 3d P leucochroicus n. sp. (p. 373).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 301
39. (38) Pubescence above more yellowish to golden, that on thorax and occiput
ochreous yellow to brownish golden, that on abdomen above more creamy
yellow to yellow, with the bristles on thorax and scutellum yellowish in
36d, reddish yellow to brownish in 99, the transverse bristles on abdomen
in 99 dark brownish black or dark reddish brown and with yellowish
bases, with the transverse hairs behind them distinctly yellowish to
fulvous; antennal joint 1 yellow; hind margins and sides of abdomen
in 9° more broadly red; femora entirely pale ochreous yellow in both
sexes; interocular space in ¢¢ broader, 2 times as broad, about as broad
as ocellar tubercle posteriorly, with the upper facets of eyes distinctly
less coarse; wings in §¢ with the infuscated part darker, broader, more
brownish and the costal and basal parts more distinctly subopaquely
yellowish, with the brownish tinged front part in 9° also more distinct
3 & varipecten Bezz. (p. 376).
40. (37) Interocular space in J¢ broader, at narrowest part at least subequal to
or even longer than length of antennal joint 1; eyes with the upper facets
in gd only very slightly coarser than lower ones and eyes also smaller;
interocular space in 9? comparatively narrower, not much more than
2 times as long as antennal joints 1 and 2 combined; wings with the
uninfuscated parts also distinctly tinged more subopaquely greyish,
with the infuscated basal half more distinctly merging into rest of wing
and with the darker middle part in 3g scarcely evident; transverse
bristles on abdomen in ¢¢ as in 9 dark reddish brown or blackish brown
and with the transverse hairs behind them distinctly yellowish or fulvous
and tipped brownish and with these bands of hair and bristles long and
more conspicuous 5 : ‘ : : 5 : : 5 Galle
41. (42) Pubescence above more ochreous yellow and that on abdomen above
distinctly more yellowish, that on body below duller greyish white, with
the mesopleural and metapleural bristles and metapleural tuft straw-
coloured or creamy yellowish, with the hair and bristles on sides of frons
anteriorly, on antennae below and face in front yellowish to ochreous,
with the transverse bristles on abdomen above practically only with
their apices or apical parts reddish brown or brownish, also shorter and
less dense, with the transverse hair behind these less dense and yellowish
brown; antennal joint 1 reddish brown in 9@ at least; reddish hind
margins of abdomen in 99 narrower; wings distinctly duller and more
tinged with greyish, with the brownish infuscated part almost imper-
ceptibly merging into greyish apical part, with the basal comb yellowish
to pale yellowish brown; hind femora with about 9-12 spines below;
hypopygium of g with the basal strut slightly longer and projecting
much beyond bases of basal parts, with the ventral basal process below
aedeagus more slender and less produced apically
3 8 rubricosus (Wied.) (p. 378).
(Syn. = cervinus Lw.)
42. (41) Pubescence above more yellowish and that on abdomen distinctly more
whitish or white, that on body below more frosty or chalky white, with
the mesopleural and metapleural bristles and the metapleural tuft pure
white, with the hair and bristles on sides of frons in front, on antennae
below and face in front entirely pure white, with the transverse bristles
302
Annals of the South African Museum.
on abdomen almost entirely purplish black and also longer and more
conspicuous, with the transverse rows of hairs behind these denser and
much darker brownish, their tips even darker; antennal joint 1 much
darker in 99; reddish hind margins of abdomen in 99 broader and also
broader on sides; wings more hyaline and only slightly tinged greyish,
with the brownish infuscated basal half more distinctly marked off from
the apical hyaline part, with the basal comb purplish black to black;
hind femora with about 5-9 spines below; hypopygium of 3 with the
basal strut shorter, only slightly projecting posteriorly, with the ventral
basal process below aedeagus broader and more produced apically
6 & fuscianulatus n. sp. (p. 380).
B. (A) Head across eyes usually less markedly broad, more often narrower than
broadest part of thorax, with the interocular space in 99 in majority of
species distinctly much narrower, the frons in 992 always with a distinct
transverse depression or furrow and in g¢ almost always with a central
furrow even if only indicated posteriorly; first terminal joint at apex of
antennal joint 3 almost always distinct and often comparatively long;
legs with the spines, especially on tibiae, not always pallid or yellowish,
with the claws almost always sickle-shaped, either rapidly curved down-
wards from about middle or more gradually, rarely very slightly curved
downwards, with the pulvilli usually long in both sexes, extending much
beyond middle of claws and more often reaching the bent apices; pubes-
cence on head below, face, pectoral and pleural regions rarely markedly
contrasting frosty or cretaceous white; proboscis always with spinules
below on labium, sometimes very distinctly visible but often just visible;
wings with the discoidal cell, on the whole, distinctly more acute apically,
with the apical cross vein usually shorter than discal cross vein and,
even if equal or subequal to it, the sides of the cell are, in by far the
greater number of species, more converging towards apex; squamae
distinctly less bilobed, often scarcely bilobed, the smaller lobe being
very small and insignificant, often being only indicated; hypopygium of
33 with the beaked apical joints never markedly broadened basally,
not leaf-shaped, more elongate and narrow, without any or with only
a very feeble and shallow depression above, more gradually narrowed
and attenuated apically, with the aedeagus either falcate (cf. text-figs.
92-142), its ventral part being produced into a thin, lamellate, flattened,
keel-like process and the anterior parts of the lateral ramus from basal
parts simply fused to base of aedeagus to form a sort of ridge or girdle,
or the aedeagus is not falcate but with a movable, stylet-like, clavate,
rod-like or racket-shaped process formed as a continuation of the ramus
on each side from the basal parts in addition to the girdle-like or arch-
like ridge across base through which the penis proper passes
(Systoechus Lw.) (p. 382).
1. (74) All or the majority of the spines or spicules below in the lower outer row
on front and middle tibiae, or at least on the front ones, and also the lower
long and short apical spurs or spines on front and middle tibiae as well
as the spines behind on middle femora, dark or black like rest of the spines
on legs; pallid spines, when present on front tibiae, are minute, incon-
spicuous and present on lower inner row only ‘ e ° » me
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 303
2. (7) Claws only gradually or more gradually curved, with the pulvilli in both
sexes shorter, not reaching or just falling short of middle of claws; head
with the eyes in $¢ more broadly separated on vertex and quite 14 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the proboscis usuaily long and even
reaching 13 mm., its labial part below with very dense, conspicuous
and relatively long spinules, giving it a coarse and scabrous appearance,
those towards base being denser and more conspicuous and this basal
part itself more conspicuously transversely wrinkled or ridged; pubes-
cence either entirely velvety black or very dark velvety blackish brown
or when not there are 2 broad vertical bands of gleaming fulvous brown
pubescence separating a very characteristic broad band of silvery whitish
hair, from below base of wing to between front and middle coxae, and
another band of silvery white hair at base of venter and tergite 1 and
another anteriorly, extending from below head and propleural parts to
behind eyes; hypopygium of jg with dense and conspicuous, stoutish,
bristly hairs on apical two-thirds of basal parts; large and bulky species,
about 13-164 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 14-16 mm. © 3.
3. (6) Pubescence on body above and below entirely deep velvety black or very
dark and deep velvety blackish brown; wings tinged smoky blackish,
becoming very dark sooty black or coal black in front half, the veins black,
with the squamae darker, very dark blackish brown or blackish and the
halteres blackish, only the cups pale or whitish; legs entirely black or
dark and with very dark blackish brown or coal black scaling; proboscis
slightly shorter, 7-10 mm. long and with the spinules below tending to be
slightly less coarse; face, head below, pleural parts and in g¢ sides of
abdomen darker and more dark brownish or obscurely blackish brown;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 92) without a conspicuous ridge on side of
each basal part and with the mane or crest of shortish, bristly hairs on
apical two-thirds of basal parts shorter and less conspicuous, with the
beaked apical joints shorter and less slender and with a distinct and long
rod-like process on each side below aedeagus from the ramus on each
side . : : ; : : : ; : : ‘ ay 1A.
4, (5) Pubescence distinctly more deep velvety black or entirely velvety black;
wings with the anterior and basal darker part slightly more extensive; —
legs with the scaling more coal black . 3 2 fuligineus Lw. (p. 382).
(Western Province form.)
5. (4) Pubescence distinctly more deep velvety blackish brown; wings with the
anterior and basal darker part slightly less extensive; legs with the
scaling tending to be more blackish brown 6 @ fuligineus Lw. (p. 383).
(Karoo and O.F.S. form.)
6. (3) Pubescence on body above in $¢ predominantly gleaming greyish sericeous,
appearing more velvety sericeous whitish on abdomen above, that on
thorax with whitish gleaming longitudinal stripes, that on thorax in 29°
brownish golden or fulvous, separated by 4 more sericeous whitish stripes,
that across base of thorax and on occiput also gleaming greyish sericeous,
that on abdomen above in 9 with fulvous or brownish golden tints, but
with more greyish or whitish sericeous gleams on sides of the tergites,
that on head in front gleaming pale greyish sericeous, the bristly elements
reddish golden to brownish, the pubescence on body below very char-
304
Annals of the South African Museum.
acteristic, in form of 2 broadish perpendicular bands of brownish golden
-or fulvous pubescence separating the contrasting silvery whitish hair on
head below, propectus and behind eyes from a broad perpendicular band
of very conspicuous silvery pubescence extending down from below
base of wings to pectus between front and middle coxae, and from the
silvery white pubescence at base of venter and on tergite 1, with the
bristles on thorax in front of wings reddish, those on post-alar calli more
whitish to very pale reddish yellow, those on abdomen reddish brown in
99 and reddish brown on sides in gg, pubescence on venter fulvous or
brownish golden, more so in gg; wings tinged reddish or greyish, the
front half darker and more subopaquely reddish brown, the veins reddish
brown to brownish, the squamae opaquely reddish brown and the halteres
with more yellowish or pale yellowish brown knobs; legs pale reddish
brown, the scaling greyish or greyish yellow; proboscis slightly longer,
about 11-13 mm. and with the spinules below more conspicuous and
relatively coarser; face, head below, pleural parts and in g¢ sides of
abdomen paler and more reddish yellow; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 93)
with a very conspicuous ridge on each side of each basal part and with
the mane or crest of spines on apical two-thirds of basal parts longer,
denser and more conspicuous, with the beaked apical joints longer and
more slender and without any process on side of aedeagus
3 2 scabrirostris Bezz. (p. 384).
7. (2) Claws more rapidly bent down nearer apex, with the pulvilli longer in both
sexes, reaching, or extending beyond, middle of claws; head with the
eyes in gd above either in subcontact, very narrowly separated or if
broadly separated the space is scarcely broader than ocellar tubercle,
with the proboscis usually shorter and if very long not spinulated to the
same extent below, the spinules, when present, less conspicuous and
sometimes scarcely visible; pubescence not entirely velvety black above
and below and without a very characteristic perpendicular band of silvery
white hair on pleurae, which is marked off on each side by a band of
fulvous or golden brown hair from the other silvery white hair on head
below and base of venter, the pubescence on pleurae being uniformly
whitish, yellowish or golden, its whitish elements not vertically well
marked off by brownish golden hair; hypopygium of ¢¢ without a very
conspicuous and dense mane or crest of shortish or long bristly hairs on
basal parts, with either a sharp, ventral keel to aedeagus or with a stylet-
like, rod-like or clavate process on each side; smaller and less bulky
species, and if very large and bulky the claws are more rapidly curved
down apically and the eyes are more narrowly separated : nana
8. (53) Scutellum predominantly red or ferruginous red, or at least with distinct
and extensive red on disc; face, especially in $3, usually more conically
prominent and with the pubescence usually less dense, shorter and more
often sparse in both sexes; sides of abdomen in g¢ rarely entirely black
and if black scutellum is red; face yellowish, reddish or brownish, rarely
black ; , ; «
9. (40) Face and genae predominantly pallid, yellowish or reddish brownish and
to a certain extent head below anteriorly is similarly coloured; sides of
abdomen in gg more extensively and broader reddish or reddened . 10.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 305
10. (17) Antennal joint 3 more distinctly club-shaped, its apical half or more
11. (14
)
slender and attenuated, comparatively rapidly narrowed from the
broadest part in basal half or near base, the joint relatively longer, its
length to 1 and 2 combined 4:3 or 5:4 or even moire, ending apically
in an inconspicuous, scarcely visible, basal element bearing the style
1
Large and bulky species, about 13-17 mm. long and with a wing-length
of about 16-19 mm.; wings, though tinged cinereous or greyish hyaline,
on the whole less dark, the anterior yellowish brownish, brownish or
reddish brownish infuscation less extensive, less dark, with the second
basal cell, the greater part or entire discoidal ceil in both sexes clearer
and more hyaline or greyish hyaline like rest of hinder part of wing;
head with the proboscis very much longer than 6 mm., with the face
longer and longer than combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2;
pubescence on body predominantly paler, gleaming greyish sericeous or
golden yellowish to deep golden, that on sides of abdomen in basal half
even in 99 not deep fulvous brownish or brownish, with the transverse
bristles across hind margins of tergites 1-4 not blackish brown or
darkened and if a few dark ones are present in gg they are on
extreme sides, pubescence on body below, along pleurae and basal part
of venter on each side with more whitish or pale elements, that on
disc of thorax tending to show longitudinal stripes of paler gleaming
elements; legs darker, predominantly blackish or very dark blackish
brown : : oe 4c
12. (13) Pubescence on body paler, very pale greyish white, creamy yellowish,
gleaming more sericeous whitish especially on abdomen in 4, that
towards apex and on sides even in 9Q sericeous whitish, that along
middle parts of pleurae, on metapleural tuft, on squamae and sides of
venter more extensively and more conspicuously whitish, that on disc
of thorax in §¢ especially shorter and with a more shorn-off appearance,
the bristles on thorax, scutellum and on abdomen whitish in g¢ and
whitish to very pale sericeous yellowish in 99 and sometimes with a few
darkish ones on sides of abdomen in some gg, the bristly elements on
antennal joint 1 predominantly whitish or pale yellowish; interocular
space on vertex in gg comparatively narrower, as broad as ocellar
tubercle; wings with the dark yellowish brown or brownish anterior
infuscation slightly less extensive and more marked off, the apices of
wings in gg more pointed; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 94)
3 & bechuanus Hesse (p. 387).
13. (12) Pubescence on body gleaming golden yellow to deep golden yellow, that
on abdomen in both sexes golden yellowish, though more brassy yellowish
in gg without any sericeous whitish gleams, that on pleurae, in meta-
pleural tuft, on squamae and sides of venter with more yellowish hair,
that on coxae more yellowish or golden, that on sides of abdomen in 992
especially deeper golden, that on disc of thorax, though also short,
distinctly with a less closely cropped appearance, the bristles on thorax,
scutellum and on abdomen golden yellowish to deep golden, the bristly
elements on antennal joint 1 predominantly black; interocular space in
66 slightly broader and slightly broader than tubercle; wings with the
306
Annals of the South African Museum.
more reddish brown anterior infuscation slightly more diffuse, the apices
of wings in g¢ less pointed; hypopygium of ¢ (cf. text-fig. 94)
3d 2 goliath Bezz. (p. 390).
14. (11) Smaller and less bulky species, only about 8-13 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 9-13 mm.; wings distinctly darker, more deeply tinged
mauvish or reddish brown, much darker in the anterior half, this anterior
darker part more extensive, the second basal cell and the basal and upper
parts of discoidal cell also included in darker part; head with the proboscis
not longer than 6 mm. and even shorter, with the face distinctly shorter
and only about, scarcely longer or even shorter than combined length of
antennal joints 1 and 2; pubescence predominantly deep velvety reddish
brown or fulvous brown to chocolate brownish and, when paler towards
apical part of abdomen, gleaming deeper golden or more brownish golden,
that on sides of abdomen in basal half, especially in 99, deep fulvous
brownish, with the transverse bristles on at least tergites 1-4 darker
reddish brown to chocolate brownish, especially on sides and with the
bristly elements on frons, thorax and scutellum also similarly coloured,
the pubescence on body below predominantly rufous or deep golden
brownish, only the squamal fringe, the upper part of metapleural tuft,
that on head below and on sides of venter basally gleaming more pale
sericeous in certain lights, that on disc of thorax not with very pale
sericeous bands; legs pale reddish brownish to brownish . 2) ilar
15. (16) Pubescence slightly paler, more yellowish brown, that on thorax in front
more yellowish in certain lights, that towards apex of abdomen in both
sexes distinctly paler and even in 992 gleaming more yellowish, that in
squamal fringe and upper parts of metapleural tuft gleaming almost
whitish sericeous in certain lights, that on sides of venter basally with
some pale, almost whitish sericeous elements, with the bristly elements
on body paler, more yellowish brownish or reddish brownish, with only
the transverse bristles across tergites 1-4 dark; legs paler and more pale
reddish brownish or yellowish red; wings with the darker mauvish or
brown anterior half more marked off; antennae with joint 2 more elongate
and distinctly longer than broad, with joint 1 thus relatively shorter and
only about 2 times as long as 2, with 3 relatively longer, distinctly more
slender and longer in apical part . - & §kalaharicus Hesse (p. 392).
16. (15) Pubescence on entire body distinctly darker brownish, dark chocolate
brownish, only that on occiput in certain lights more yellowish, that on
abdomen darker and more chocolate brownish even on sides and apically
there being no pale hair apically, that on pleurae scarcely paler, being
coffee brownish, that in squamal fringe and metapleural tuft and base
of venter distinctly darker and brownish, not gleaming almost sericeous
whitish, with the bristly elements on head, thorax and scutellum darker
and more chocolate brownish and with all the bristles across hind margins
of all the tergites very dark chocolate brown, moreover the pubescence
on abdomen is apparently slightly shorter; legs darker, entirely chocolate
brownish; wings apparently more uniformly tinted mauvish brownish,
the darker front part more imperceptibly passing into less tinged part;
antennae with joint 2 slightly shorter and only a little broader than long,
with joint 1 also relatively a little longer and slightly more than 2 times
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 307
as long as 2, with 3 relatively shorter, the apical part less slender and
shorter. : : : : . QS namaquensis n. sp. (p. 394).
(Syn. =fuligineus Bezz. nec Lw.)
17. (10) Antennal joint 3 less distinctly club-shaped, with less than its apical
half slender and there distinctly less slender, usually more gradually
narrowed from broadened basal part, the joint usually relatively shorter,
being subequal to 1 and 2 combined or if longer only a little longer and
if much longer the apical slender part is shorter and thicker, ending
apically in a more distinctly visible or more conspicuous terminal ele-
ment bearing a style . : af (US:
18. (25) Wings distinctly more darkly aid more nittornls, favged rmantwiéls brownish
or reddish brownish throughout, the basal part up to end of costal cell
and across to ends of basal cells darker brownish or mauvish brownish,
this darker part distinctly more diffuse and not well marked off from the
less infuscated part; pubescence above, especially in 99, with more
brownish or brownish golden hair or at least with yellowish brown hairs
on disc of thorax and abdomen and if not, wings at least are more uniformly
tinged ; ; : elOe
19. (20) Larger species, BED 9- ul mm. ie thas a a wing- ences of about
10-11 mm.; antennal joint 3 distinctly club-shaped, dilated or knob-like
basally, more than apical half slender, ending apically in a longish terminal
basal element bearing the style; pubescence tending to be pale in both
sexes, that in jg predominantly gleaming silvery to greyish white above,
that in 29 on disc of thorax slightly tinted yellowish, the fine pubescence
on abdomen in 29° gleaming sericeous or greyish whitish, that on body
below predominantly whitish in both sexes, that on sides of thorax in
front of wings ochreous brownish, that towards apex of venter in 3g
also ochreous brownish, the bristly elements on frons, face, sides of thorax
and transversely on all the tergites and on coxae in both sexes dark
reddish brown to brownish; legs dark or blackish brown, with dense
greyish white hair-like scaling . ‘ 3 2 fumitinctus n. sp. (p. 442).
(Slight var. of it.)
20. (19) Smaller forms, usually less than 9 mm. long and with a wing-length of
less than 10 mm.; antennal joint 3, less club-shaped, less rapidly thickened
basally and the apical part less slender and shorter, ending in a much
shorter basal terminal element; pubescence, especially in 99, distinctly
much darker, deeper and more extensively yellowish, pale golden brownish
to chocolate brownish or with more numerous yellowish or brownish
golden elements and if predominantly sericeous whitish in some gd,
antennal joint 3 is not club-like, that on disc of thorax in 92 more
distinctly yellowish or brownish golden, that on abdomen in 92 more
yellowish or brownish and if white in J¢ antennal joint 3 is not club-like,
that on body below usually less extensively whitish, the bristly elements
on thorax and abdomen especially darker and more numerous and if
pale or not dark antennal joint 3 is not club-like; legs chocolate brownish,
brownish or even yellowish in some 99 or the femora may be darkened
eal le
21. (24) Pubescence distinctly darker in 92 at least, more brownish golden to
chocolate brownish, that on body below without or with less whitish
308
23.
Annals of the South African Museum.
elements, the bristly hairs on frons, antennae, face, on thorax, scutellum
and abdomen predominantly very dark brownish, blackish brown or
chocolate brownish; wings on the whole more darkly tinged mauvish
brownish or brownish; face darker and more reddish brown; legs dark
brownish or chocolate brown; antennal joint 3 more rapidly narrowed
apically, the apical part on the whole more slender ; - ze
2. (23) Slightly larger species, about 83 mm. long, with a wing- leaate of about
9mm.; pubescence predominantly darker, very dark or velvety chocolate
brown, that on abdomen darker and more coffee brownish, that on body
below predominantly chocolate brownish; antennae with joint | rela-
tively shorter, about 23 times as long as 2, with 3 longer than | and 2
combined, less rapidly narrowed apically, the apical slender part also
longer; wings with the second longitudinal vein tending to be more
rapidly bent up at its end, with the squamal fringe darker
2 namaquensis n. sp. (p. 394).
(Syn. =fuligineus Bezz. nec Lw.)
(22) Slightly smaller species, about 7 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
8 mm.; pubescence slightly paler, gleaming paler golden brownish,
with more golden gleams, that on abdomen gleaming more fulvous
brownish to golden in certain lights, that on body below with more
gleaming greyish sericeous whitish hair along middle of pleurae and base
of venter on each side; antennae with joint 1 relatively longer and
quite 3 times as long as 2, with 3 distinctly shorter, subequal to 1 and 2
combined, more rapidly narrowed apically, the apical slender part more
slender and shorter; wings with the second longitudinal vein tending to
be more gradually curved up at its end, with the squamal fringe and
metapleural tuft paler and more yellowish . Q badius n. sp. (p. 398).
24. (21) Pubescence in both sexes very much paler, predominantly gleaming
25.
sericeous whitish in gg, that on abdomen even appearing more silvery,
that on body above in 29 sericeous yellowish to gleaming golden yellowish,
that on body below in both sexes more extensively gleaming greyish
or sericeous whitish, even the coxal bristles pale, the hair in front of wings
and in gg towards apex of venter ochreous, the bristly elements on
frons, thorax and across all the tergites in 9° reddish brownish to brown,
those on thorax, scutellum and on entire abdomen in g¢ sericeous
whitish, those on face and genae in both sexes pale yellowish sericeous
or yellowish, not dark; wings on the whole slightly less darkly tinged
and with a slight tendency for the anterior and basal darker part to be
more distinctly marked off; face much paler, pale reddish yellow or
yellowish; legs entirely or predominantly yellowish in 29, but the femora
blackened or darkened, sometimes to beyond middle in ¢@; antennal
joint 3 only gradually narrowed apically; hypopygium of 4 (text-
figs 96). : ; 3 2 aberrans n. sp. (p. 395).
(18) Wings either greyish biyelline for fhe greater part or distinctly less tinged,
only infuscated yellowish brown, brownish or reddish in basal and costal
parts or more distinctly and more darkly tinged coffee brown or mauvish
brown in basal part up to end of basal cells and across to end of costal
cell and in costal cell, this infuscation, however, distinctly delimited and
well marked off from the more hyaline part even in 99; pubescence
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 309
above, even in 99, distinctly paler, predominantly whitish, straw-coloured
yellowish, yellowish to golden yellow and, if darker or more fulvous,
then wings have a well marked off basal infuscation : . 26.
26. (35) Wings infuscated coffee brown, reddish brown to cca brown in
anterior basal half in costal cell and basal part up to end of basal cells
and across to end of costal cell, the greater part of second basal cell
and basal parts of anal and axillary cells not being clearer and less
infuscated than the dark basal parts, with the apical cross veins of
basal cells more distinctly infuscated; face and genae predominantly
paler, pallid, pale Santen to very pale reddish yellow or ie
brown : 27.
27. (32) Pubescence nba in both sexes “mpleeallly short “hid especially in 3d
with a short cropped or shorn-off appearance on thorax, with the bristly
hairs and bristles on head and especially on face less dense, shorter,
poorly developed and not long and stoutish or stiff, that on genae not
conspicuously extending down into the furrow between eyes and buccal
cavity, with the pubescence on abdomen in ¢¢ more pelt-like, the bristles
much shorter; legs more darkened and femora in ¢¢ extensively darkened
or blackened to beyond middle or even entirely and even in 9292 with
certain surfaces darkened or covered with blackish scaling; antennae
with joint 1 distinctly shorter, only a little more, or distinctly much
shorter, than 3 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 comparatively
stouter, subrod-like or gradually narrowed to apex in Jg, more broadened
basally in 99 than in 3g; Le eae with the spinules below distinctly
visible and denser. 2 A asis
28. (31) Pubescence predominantly = creamy Avellewiain or syhitish to golden
yellowish, that on apex of abdomen in §¢ paler and more creamy whitish,
with the hair in front of wings on each side distinctly deeper yellowish
or more fulvous to deep golden, with the bristles in front of wings,
on scutellum and on abdomen whitish, straw-coloured yellowish to pale
golden, only a few blackish ones being present on sides of tergites 4 and
5 in gd and some laterally also on sides of 5-7 in 99, with the coxal
bristles even in 99 straw-coloured yellowish to golden, with the hairs
on antennae above yellowish; wings with the infuscated part slightly
paler and more coffee brownish or yellowish brown, with the veins paler
brownish; proboscis with the spinules below distinctly denser and more
hair-like, visible; palps paler and more brownish . ipa:
29. (30) Pale creamy whitish, creamy yellowish to pale srollowwisll: naived forms,
the §¢ being slightly paler, the pubescence on abdomen above being
more straw-coloured whitish, paler in gg; proboscis usually longer
than 6 mm.; wings with the basal infuscation coffee brown; antennal
joints 1 and 2 in 29 almost black; bristles on frons and face dark blackish
brown to black; hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 97)
3 8 albidus Lw. (p. 398).
30. (29) Distinctly golden yellow-haired form, in 2 at least, with golden sheen,
the pubescence on sides of thorax in front of wings even more orange
golden or fulvous, that on abdomen above more or less uniformly golden,
the hair on pectoral region and coxae not creamy or sericeous but pale
golden yellow, the transverse bristles on abdomen more golden or
VOL. XXXIV. 21
310
Annals of the South African Museum.
brownish yellow; proboscis about 6 mm. long; wings with the basal
infuscation paler and more yellowish brown; antennal joints 1 and 2
distinctly darker, dark reddish brown; bristles on frons and face also
more reddish brown . . . GQ albidus var. auripilus n. (p. 401).
31. (28) Pubescence predominantly white or silvery white, appearing greyish
from above, that on disc of thorax in 929 slightly yellowish or pale
brownish, with the hair on abdomen above silvery whitish in both sexes,
more apparent in g4, those across hind margin of tergite 2 with a slight
yellowish tint and also along extreme sides towards apex in some 99,
with the hair in front of wings entirely white, only the numerous bristles
there in 9° being brownish to dark brown, with the hair on body below
also more silvery whitish, but also with ochreous or fulvous brown ones
near apex of venter in jd especially, with the bristles on sides of thorax,
on posterior calli, scutellum and transversely across all the abdominal
segments as well as intermixed bristles on coxae and a few on each side
of propleurae in front of front coxae dark golden brown to black in 99,
those on thorax more golden brown, with the thoracic and scutellar
bristles and almost all those on abdomen in gg whitish, only some
on sides of tergites 4 and 5 being blackish or black, with the hairs on
antennae above dark or blackish; wings with the infuscated part dis-
tinctly darker and more mauvish brown, with the veins also darker
brownish; proboscis with the spinules below less distinctly visible and
only so near base; palps more blackish brown
3 & polioleucus n. sp. (p. 401).
32. (27) Pubescence above distinctly longer and more shaggy even in 3, slightly
33. (34
~—
more recumbent, without a very striking cropped or shorn-off appearance
on thorax, with the bristles on face and genae longer, denser and more
conspicuously developed, sometimes markedly stout, rigid, stiff and
brush-like, well developed and conspicuous even in the furrow separating
eyes from buccal cavity, with the pubescence on abdomen not pelt-like
but distinctly longer, more shaggy and more recumbent, the bristles
being also longer; legs much paler yellowish, the femora entirely yellow
or only slightly darkened along upper surfaces; antennae with joint 1
distinctly longer, quite 3, or even considerably more than 3, times as
long as 2, with joint 3 more rapidly attenuated apically from broad
basal half, the apical part or third being comparatively more slender or
very slender; proboscis with the spinules below almost indiscernible,
very minute and less dense 5 : é 5 ; ; . do.
Wings with the costal and basal dark brownish or mauvish brown in-
fuscation more extensive and diffuse, extending into basal parts of first
posterior and discoidal cells and into basal half of anal cell and less
delimited from greyish hyaline part; pubescence longer and more shaggy,
with the bristles in front of wings dark reddish brown and the hairs there
fulvous or brownish golden, with the transverse bristles laterally on
abdominal segments 3-5 at least with distinct stouter blackish brown or
black bristles, with the bristles on face in front and sides distinctly denser
and with only a few or without any yellowish intermixed ones, with well-
developed pubescent hairs on femora below basally; antennal joint 1
longer and much longer than 4 times as long as joint 2; sides of abdomen
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 311
less extensively red, the red not extending much dorsally; spines on
hind femora below comparatively long and slender
3 tumidifrons Bezz. (p. 414).
34. (33) Wings with the costal and basal coffee brownish infuscation less extensive
and less diffuse, distinctly delimited from clear part, the infuscation
ceasing at apical cross veins of first and second basal cells, which veins
also show a much more distinct darkish infuscation, with the bases of
first posterior and discoidal cells and even basal part of anal cell clear;
pubescence slightly shorter, with the bristles in front of wing bases pale
yellowish and the hairs there only a little more yellowish than the creamy
yellowish ones on disc, with the transverse bristles on abdomen above
entirely creamy yellowish, without any blackish ones, with the bristles
on face and sides of face less dense and less numerous and with numerous
yellowish ones intermixed, with the pubescent hairs at bases of femora
below less developed; antennal joint 1 much shorter, only about 4 times
as long as 2; sides of abdomen more extensively reddened, the red
extending considerably dorsally; spines on hind femora below much
shorter. : 3 rhodesianus n. sp. (p. 414).
35. (26) Wings more snitoemly Piboadadely greyish hyaline, only the extreme
base, costal cell and first basal cell being tinged yellowish or pale yellowish
brown, the entire second basal cell, anal and axillary cells being greyish
hyaline like rest of wing, with the apical cross veins of first and second
basal cells not or scarcely showing any distinct infuscations; face,
genae or face at least duller and darker or more obscure reddish brown
and often so only anteriorly or on sides ; . 36.
36. (39) Larger species, longer than 64 mm. and with a wing- sloniotli longer than
7 mm.; pubescence comparatively short, especially on thorax, showing
a closely cropped or shorn-off appearance, more distinct in $9, with that
on body below markedly or more strikingly white or whitish, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen above in both sexes predominantly or
entirely very dark blackish brown or black, with those on thorax in
some $¢ also darker reddish or golden brownish; wings with the basal
comb strongly developed; legs with more numerous, more than 5, spines
on hind femora below, with a tendency for some of the apical spicules in
lower outer row on front and middle tibiae to be pallid or yellowish,
with the claws tending to be less sharply bent downwards apically;
interocular space in gg very narrow, at narrowest part about as broad
as, or only a very little broader than, front ocellus, the eyes somewhat
flattened above and the upper facets very coarse; antennal joint 3 more
slender, gradually tapering from a broadened base ; sole
37. (38) Pubescence above in ¢, when viewed from side, more silvery Bice with
the hair on disc of thorax, the hair and bristles in front of wings, bristles
on posterior calli and scutellum in ¢ pale reddish brown to brownish,
that on head below and body below more uniformly silvery white, with
the coxal bristles also silvery white, the hair on abdomen above more
pale fulvous, those transversely across hind margins more silvery whitish
in certain lights, with the bristly hairs and bristles on frons and face
dark reddish brown; legs entirely pale ochreous yellow, with whitish
scaling, with the front femora unarmed or with only a feeble spine behind;
312
Annals of the South African Museum.
face and head below paler brownish and antennal joints 1 and 2 more
distinctly dark brownish or reddish brown
3 spinithorax Bezz. (p. 406).
38. (37) Pubescence above, when viewed from side, duller and more straw-coloured
yellowish in gg and more uniformly yellowish to pale golden yellowish
in 99, the hair on disc of thorax, bristly hairs and bristles in front of
wings, on posterior calli and scutellum pale straw-coloured yellowish in
66 and slightly deeper yellowish in 99, with that on head below, pleural
and pectoral regions and sides of venter frosty or chalky white, con-
trasting markedly with that above, with the coxal bristles straw-coloured
yellowish, with the hair on abdomen above paler and more straw-coloured
yellowish to very pale yellowish in jg and more uniformly yellowish in
29, those transversely across segments scarcely paler in g¢ and entirely
yellowish in 99, with the bristly hairs and bristles on frons and face black
in both sexes; legs more brownish yellow, with the femora blackened
basally in g¢, with black scaling on front faces in addition to the whitish
scaling and with often 2-3 distinct spines in front and behind on front
femora; face and head below almost entirely black or very dark brownish
and antennal joints 1 and 2 black in both sexes
Certain forms of albipectus n. sp. (p. 486).
39. (36) Small species, about 54-63 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
6-7 mm.; pubescence on body above distinctly longer and more
recumbent, not with a very distinct shorn-off appearance on thorax,
entirely very pale yellowish or straw-coloured yellowish, only the apical
part of abdomen in some 99 being slightly more yellowish, with all
the bristles on thorax and abdomen entirely yellowish like rest of hair,
only the bristly hairs on head above, some intermixed on face and a few
inconspicuous ones on sides of abdomen in ¢ blackish, with the hair
on body below scarcely paler than that above and not frosty white or
silvery; wings with the basal comb poorly developed; legs with only
about 5 spines on hind femora below, with the apical parts of claws more
sharply curved downwards, with all the spicules in lower outer row on
front and middle tibiae black; interocular space in g broader and dis-
tinctly much broader than front ocellus, the eyes not flattened above
and the upper facets not markedly coarser than lower ones; antennal
joint 3 much shorter, about as long as 1 and 2 combined, more rapidly
narrowed from a comparatively broader base
3 & transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 417).
40. (9) Face, head below and also, to a certain extent, the genae predominantly
4],
or entirely very dark or black; sides of abdomen in 3 entirely black
or at least distinctly less extensively reddened } ‘ «A
(42) Wings with an anterior well marked off or delimited acifteel brown in-
fuscation in costal cell and at base, extending up to apices of basal cells
and across to end of costal cell, the second basal cell and basal parts of
anal and axillary cells being as darkly infuscated as costal and basal
parts, the rest of wings greyish hyaline; pubescence predominantly
silvery whitish in both sexes, only the venter apically and along sides
slightly yellowish, with 3 distinct, strong, black macrochaetae on each
side in front of wing-bases, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in
»
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 3138
9° entirely or predominantly black, whitish in jd, only a few or some
dark or blackish ones being present on sides of segments 4 and 5 in gg;
abdomen in §¢ entirely black on sides, and scutellum in $¢ also tending
to be blackish or even entirely black; legs with the femora entirely
black in both sexes or at least in 99° also much darkened, with the tibiae
dark brownish or brownish yellow ; 3 & neglectus n. sp. (p. 404).
42. (41) Wings either almost entirely subopaquely greyish hyaline, the costal
cell and base alone being tinged yellowish or pale yellowish brown or
the wings are more diffusely tinged faintly mauvish brown or faintly
cinereous, becoming darker towards base and in costal cell, but without
a distinctly and sharply delimited basal and costal infuscation and with
the greater part of the second basal and even anal and axillary cells
distinctly clearer than costal and basal parts; pubescence silvery whitish,
straw-coloured yellowish, golden yellowish to deep golden and, when
silvery whitish, always with numerous black bristles on thorax in front
of wing-bases or with those on abdomen, even in §¢, with more numerous
or predominantly black ones; abdomen in gg usually with some red
on sides and, if not, then all the bristles are at least dark or black, with
the scutellum either entirely red or sometimes also obscurely reddish
discally; legs with the femora less extensively darkened or entirely
yellowish in §g, predominantly yellow also in 99, rarely entirely darkened
and, if so, then tibiae are also black and thorax has more numerous
black bristles. : 43.
43. (52) Pubescence on body not Pecdominantly Sine miieieh ee and slow
in both sexes and, if silvery whitish in gg, then at least with some
yellowish hair in front of wings or on sides of abdomen and venter, with
the stoutish bristles on thorax, scutellum and transversely across abdomen
not all entirely black in 99; legs in 29 not entirely black; sides of
abdomen in ¢¢ always with some red or reddish; face tending to be
more conically prominent; interocular space in known 99 narrower,
distinctly much less than 5 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; wings not
tinged cinereous and without an almost sooty blackish or blackish brown
infuscation towards base especially in QQ... ‘ 44,
- 44, (49) Pubescence with the hair on pleural regions, mataplenial fate aia sides
of venter straw-coloured yellowish, yellowish or sericeous yellowish, not
markedly contrasting with that on body above or very gleaming silvery
whitish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen entirely straw-coloured
yellowish or yellow like rest of hair or pale reddish, reddish yellow to
reddish brown and not black; antennal joint 3, especially in 299, markedly
thickened basally in basal third and then very or more rapidly narrowed
along lower or inner side, thus producing a more distinct angular or sub-
angular prominence; sides of abdomen in known $3 more distinctly
and more broadly red, the venter paler reddish; legs with the pubescent
hairs on femora below in $¢ poorly developed or absent : . 40.
45. (48) Larger species, about 8-10 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
8-10 mm.; pubescence on body predominantly deep yellowish, chrome
yellowish to deep golden yellow, often with marked golden or sericeous
gleams, distinctly shorter and with a cropped or shorn-off appearance
even in 99, with the blackish bristly hairs on face in front in both sexes
314
Annals of the South African Museum.
tending to be denser and stiffer and more brush-like; proboscis longer,
about 4-5 mm. long and with the minute spinules below more visible;
wings either entirely faintly tinged mauvish or at least with the base,
costal cell and first basal cell distinctly darker brownish, with the basal
comb distinctly larger and more developed; antennal joint 3 distinctly
much longer than 1 and 2 combined; legs with the femora in g¢ more
extensively darkened even to beyond middle and in 99 also often ex-
tensively darkened along front surfaces by black hair-like scaling, with
the tibiae also darkened by black scaling and hind femora with more
than 4 or 5 spines below. ; 46.
46. (47) Wings slightly longer in relation to body, distinctly, though faintly,
tinged mauvish, with the costal cell, base, first basal cell, basal part of
second basal cell and even extreme base of anal cell darker mauvish
brown; pubescence on body above often more gleaming golden yellow
or sericeous yellow, with that on pleural parts only slightly paler yellowish
than above, with at least some or all the transverse bristles, especially
on sides, of abdomen pale reddish yellow, reddish to reddish brown;
legs with the femora in §¢ only blackened or darkened towards base,
the greater part of hind ones being yellowish and in 2 only darkened by
blackish scaling along upper or front surfaces; slightly smaller form,
about 8-10 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 8-10 mm.; hypopygium
of g (text-fig. 101) . : : . 6 2 bombycinus n. sp. (p. 407).
47. (46) Wings slightly shorter in relation to body, more greyish hyaline, only
the base, costal cell, first basal cell and extreme bases of second basal and
anal cells brownish; pubescence above with the golden yellow hair
slightly duller and less gleaming, with that on pleurae, across middle,
slightly duller and distinctly paler and more straw-coloured whitish or
whitish in certain lights, with all the transverse bristles on abdomen
entirely yellow like rest of hair in both sexes, the hair towards apex of
venter in g, however, slightly more brownish; legs with all the femora
in g blackened to much beyond middle, with the bases of front ones in
2 and the upper surfaces of the others also darkened with the tibiae in
the g, especially hind ones, also more darkened; slightly larger form,
about 9-10 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 84-9 mm.; hypopygium
of gf (text-fig. 102) . : 3 2 bombycinus var. bedfordi n. (p. 410).
48. (45) Smaller species, about 54-64 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
6-7 mm.; pubescence on body, including all the bristles (excepting
only a few inconspicuous dark or blackish intermixed ones on sides of
abdomen in g¢ and on head above in both sexes) much paler, straw-
coloured yellowish or whitish, only slightly yellowish at apex of abdomen
in some 929, distinctly duller, slightly longer and more recumbent and
without a marked shorn-off appearance, with the blackish brown bristly
hairs on face less dense and distinctly less stiff; proboscis shorter, less
than 4 or 5 mm. long, with the spinules below almost invisible; wings
greyish hyaline and with the costal cell and basal parts paler and more
yellowish, pale yellowish brown, with the basal comb distinctly smaller
and poorly developed; antennal joint 3 shorter, only a very little or
scarcely longer than 1 and 2 combined; legs more uniformly yellowish,
only the basal half of front femora and extreme bases of the others
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 315
darkened, not blackened along upper surfaces, the tibiae on the whole
distinctly more yellowish and the hind femora with only about 4 or 5
spines below. : : 3 2 transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 417).
49. (44) Pubescence with the hair on ‘pleural regions, metapleural tuft and sides
of venter markedly frosty white or gleaming silvery whitish, thus either
markedly contrasting with pubescence above or more conspicuously
silvery, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in both sexes distinctly
darker, very dark blackish brown or black and also more conspicuous;
antennal joint 3 not markedly thickened in basal third to form a sub-
angular or angular prominence on lower side; sides of abdomen in ¢¢
almost entirely black or much more indistinctly reddened, the venter
also darker; legs with the ao ai hairs on femora below basally in
3d more evident : ; iy 450:
50. (51) Smaller species, about 5}-7 mm. — arith a wing- Jeneth of about
53-7 mm.; pubescence on body sericeous whitish on thorax, more
yellowish in front of wings and on disc, more gleaming yellowish on
abdomen above especially on sides, with more distinctly pale sericeous
yellowish hair on venter laterally and more ochreous ones in ¢ towards
apex, with silvery whitish hair on pleurae and sides of venter and upper
part of metapleural tuft being more gleaming sericeous yellowish, with
the bristles in front of wings, on scutellum and transversely on abdomen
in both sexes black; wings greyish hyaline, the costal cell, base, first
basal cell and to a certain extent the second basal cell distinctly darker
and more brownish, with the basal comb smaller; scutellum tending to
be entirely black in $ and often with an obscure reddish tint discally in
Q; sides of abdomen in ¢ scarcely obscure reddish; interocular space in
3S broader, about as broad as ocellar tubercle, the eyes not markedly
flattened above and the upper facets only slightly coarser than those
below; legs with the front and middle femora darker and more brownish
and with only about 5-6 spines on hind ones below; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig 109) without a lateral process on each side of aedeagus
3 2 lightfooti n. sp. (p. 430).
51. (50) Larger species, about 8-11 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
9-12 mm.; pubescence above creamy whitish to pale yellowish in gd,
more uniformly yellowish to golden yellowish in 99, that on abdomen
laterally in g¢ also yellowish, with the hair on head below, pleural
regions and sides of venter markedly frosty or chalky white and markedly
contrasting with that above (Anastoechus-like), with the bristles in front
of wings, on posterior calli and scutellum yellowish in both sexes and
those transversely across abdomen black, stout and conspicuous; wings
greyish hyaline, with the base, costal cell and first basal cell more ochreous
yellowish, not brownish, with the basal comb more strongly developed;
scutellum predominantly ferruginous red in both sexes; sides of abdomen
in §¢ distinctly and more broadly red; interocular space in gd very
narrow, at narrowest part about as broad as, or only very little broader
than, front ocellus, the eyes markedly flattened above, large and with
the upper facets very coarse; legs with the front and middle femora in
Sd darker at base, only those of 929 entirely yellowish or, if slightly
darkened by blackish scaling, then along upper surfaces, with more
316
Annals of the South African Museum.
numerous and more than 6 spines on hind ones below; hypopygium of
6 (text-fig. 134) with a distinct clavate process on each side of aedeagus
formed by the forward continuation of the ramus from basal part on
each side. 3 & albipectus n. sp. (especially some 9-specimens with
dark spines on tibiae below) (p. 486).
52. (43) Pubescence on body predominantly silvery whitish, without any yellow
or yellowish tinted hair in front of wing-bases or on sides of abdomen,
with the bristles on head, thorax in front of wings, on scutellum and
transversely across abdomen entirely black in known Q at least; legs
entirely black; sides of abdomen black; face tending to be more bluntly
rounded in front; interocular space in 9 broader, nearly 5 times as broad
as tubercle; wings with a slight, but distinct, cinereous tinge, the costal
and basal parts being distinctly more sooty black or at least deep blackish
brown. (Scutellum almost entirely black; antennal joint 1 only a little
more than 3 times as long as 2) 2 leucostictus n. sp. (p. 416).
53. (8) Scutellum entirely or predominantly black, without any red or only with
very obscure and indistinct reddish discally; face tending to be less
conically prominent and with the pubescence denser, longer and more
shaggy in both sexes; sides of abdomen in gg never red; face always
entirely or predominantly very dark or black 3 : ‘ . 54.
54. (69) Wings distinctly and more diffusely tinged smoky cinereous, coffee brownish
to mauvish brown, more so in gd, distinctly more deeply so towards
base and slightly deeper in $¢, the darker basal part imperceptibly
merging into less infuscated part, thus not well marked off, with the
greater part of wing not greyish hyaline; pubescence, especially in 3d,
distinctly longer and more recumbent, that on thorax with a less cropped
or shorn-off appearance, with the hair on abdomen also longer and less
pelt-like, with the bristles in 29 also longer, more conspicuous and much
longer than the hair; sides of face somewhat tumid : ; OD
55. (56) Wings tinged more smoky or cinereous, becoming darker and more
56. (55
)
blackish brown or sooty at base, in costal cell and first and second basal
cells; pubescence above and below entirely silvery white, with, however,
all the bristles on head, thorax in front of wings and laterally, on scutellum
and transversely across abdomen black; scutellum in 9 with a very
slight rufous tint discally behind; legs entirely black; interocular
space in 2 very broad, nearly 5 times as broad as ocellar tubercle or
distance from lateral ocellus to margin of eye on each side is much longer
than antennal joint | ‘ : Q leucostictus n. sp. (p. 416).
Wings tinged more brownish, coffee brownish or mauvish brown, the
darker basal and costal parts being darker mauvish brown and not
blackish; pubescence on body not entirely silvery whitish, even in gg,
but always with some creamy yellowish or yellowish hair on sides of
thorax or on disc above or on sides of abdomen or on venter below,
with the bristles not entirely black on all these sites; scutellum entirely
black; legs yellowish or brownish or with the tibiae and tarsi in part
yellowish or brownish and, when entirely black, all the bristles on body
at least are not black; interocular space in known 9 narrower, distinctly
less than 5 times as broad as tubercle or the distance between lateral ocellus
and eye is shorter or only subequal to length of first antennal joints . 57.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 317
57. (68) Pubescence on body below, even in gg, always with some or much
whitish, straw-coloured or yellowish hair and always with some silvery
whitish, yellowish or golden yellowish depressed pubescence on frons
and face; wings in g¢ with the costal and basal infuscation more ex-
tensive, with the basal comb more developed; halteres with the knobs
paler or whitish; antennal joint 3 broader and more distinctly thickened
basally; interocular space in $g, at narrowest part, broader than front
ocellus, more or less half as long as antennal joint 1; legs not uniformly
dark brown, the femora in 34, if darkened, at least much darker than the
tibiae, with more than 4 or 5 spines on hind ones below which begin
nearer base; hypopygium of gg with the ventral part of aedeagus
distinctly produced into a ventral keel-like plate; larger forms usually
not less than 6 mm. long and with a wing-length of not less than 6 mm.
58.
58. (67) Pubescence on body predominantly whitish, creamy whitish or yellowish
in gg and also with much paler or whitish hair on thorax in front and
on pleurae and sides of abdomen even in 929, always with much silvery
whitish or white hair on pleurae in both sexes; antennal joint 1 distinctly
shorter, scarcely and not more than 3 times as long as joint 2 in ¢¢ at
least, with joint 3 less rapidly narrowed fila the apical third not
being very slender . . 59.
59. (66) Smaller forms, about 5-8 mm. iGhg. with a wing- lense of abou
6-8 mm.; pubescence in g¢ at least predominantly sericeous or silvery
whitish or white, with that towards apex of abdomen distinctly whiter
and more silvery white, with sericeous yellowish, straw-coloured yellowish,
pale yellowish or even fulvous hair on sides of thorax in front of wings
and on abdomen in 29, with the hair on face distinctly less dense, sparser,
the pale hairs less conspicuously developed and not very pubescent
and concentrated round buccal cavity, with some dark bristles in front
of wings in both sexes and without any, with only a few or with the dark
or blackish bristles on sides of abdominal segments in §¢ less developed,
distinct only on 2 and 3; wings less strongly developed, less broad basally
in gg, with the alula and axillary lobe not so markedly broad and
conspicuously lobe-like, with the basal comb slightly smaller; re either
entirely yellowish or entirely black : : = 160:
60. (65) Pubescence with deeper yellowish or fulvous pollowrish eee in front of
wings, on mesopleuron, discally on thorax and on each side just above
wings and on sides of abdomen to a certain extent in both sexes, but more
extensively fulvous or sericeous yellow on abdomen in 29, with the
dark or black bristly hairs on face more numerous and more conspicuous,
with or without blackish bristles on sides of abdomen in $4, with dark
or black bristles laterally on segments 2-6 and also discally on 3-6 in
29; interocular space in 99, relative to tubercle, slightly broader, nearly
4, quite 34, times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennal joint 1 in 992
red or reddish; legs almost entirely yellowish, with the femora blackened
in §¢ to a variable extent or even entirely, predominantly or entirely
yellowish in 99; wings in both sexes tinged slightly darker mauvish
and the basal infuscation apparently also darker and more extensive
61.
318 Annals of the South African Museum.
61. (64) Bristly hairs on face and genae and the transverse bristles on abdomen,
especially laterally and towards apex, in 99 at least, distinctly darker,
more blackish brown to black; face tending to be darker or even entirely
blackish . : : : : ; ; : : ‘ . 2:
62. (63) Legs with the femora, especially front and middle ones, blackened to a
variable extent in $j, the hind ones being almost entirely yellowish, with
the legs in QQ entirely yellowish; abdomen in $¢ with almost entirely
silvery white hair, without any dark or blackish bristles on sides of
segments 2 and 3 and also without conspicuous yellowish hairs on these
segments laterally . ; . & & nigripes var. plebeius n. (p. 421).
63. (62) Legs, on the whole, much darker, almost entirely black, the tibiae scarcely
less dark than the femora and the hind femora also entirely black in g¢
at least; abdomen in gg with some more conspicuous fulvous hairs
laterally and with distinct dark or black bristles or bristly hairs laterally
on segments 2 and 3 . ‘ . So nigripes var. plebeius n. (p. 421).
(Form of it.)
64. (61) Bristly hairs on sides of face and genae predominantly and the transverse
bristles on sides and towards apex of abdomen, in 9 at least, distinctly
paler, pale yellowish brownish, those on face often gleaming brownish
golden and those towards apex of abdomen darker again; face tending
to be more distinctly reddish brown on sides
Q nigripes var. plebeius n. (p. 421).
(Form of it.)
65. (60) Pubescence in gg predominantly straw-coloured whitish to white, with
only slightly and much paler yellowish hair in front of wings and on
mesopleuron, that on abdomen entirely white, with paler yellowish or
more straw-coloured hair in front of wings, on disc of thorax in 929 also,
that on abdomen in 99 sericeous yellow to pale golden yellowish, with
the black bristly hairs on face less numerous, the paler ones more con-
spicuous, without any black bristles on sides of abdomen in $g, with
only black bristles laterally in 99, those discally on 3-6 distinctly paler;
interocular space in 99, relative to tubercle, slightly narrower, only a
little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 1 in 9 black;
legs in both sexes entirely very dark or black, the femora entirely black
even in 99; wings slightly less darkly tinged, the darker basal infuscation
apparently slightly less extensive . & 2 ngripes Lw.s. str. (p. 419).
66. (59) Slightly larger form, about 9 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
10 mm.; pubescence in ¢ at least predominantly more creamy yellowish
and slightly duller, only sericeous whitish on abdomen above, with
that on sides in front of wings scarcely deeper creamy yellowish, with
the hair on face distinctly much denser, the pale hairs distinctly more
numerous, conspicuously developed and concentrated around the buccal
cavity, without any dark bristles in front of wings, but with more con-
spicuous black bristles laterally on most of the abdominal segments; wings
markedly developed, being markedly broad towards base, the axillary
and alular lobes being very broad and lobe-like, with the basal comb also
larger; legs entirely black . . nigripes var. nomteleénsis (p. 424).
67. (58) Pubescence on body deep fulvous or golden brownish, more orange
golden when viewed from side, that on abdomen above pale orange
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 319
golden, with that on body below yellowish golden, only the head below
white, with the transverse bristles on abdomen laterally on segments
2-5 blackish brown; antennal joint 1 longer, slightly more than 3 times
as long as joint 2, with joint 3 distinctly more rapidly narrowed apically
from broad base, the apical third at least being more slender. (Wings
well developed, very broad basally and with the axillary lobe very large;
legs with the femora black and the tibiae dark brownish)
3 stevensoni n. sp. (p. 425).
68. (57) Pubescence on entire body below rusty brown to blackish brown, even the
mesopleural tuft being blackish brown, with only black bristly hairs
on head and no pale or whitish depressed hairs; wings with the costal
and basal darker infuscated part less extensive, with the basal comb
small and poorly developed; halteres darker and with brownish knobs;
antennal joint 3 more rod-like, only very little broader basally than
apically; interocular space in J, at narrowest part, only about as broad
as front ocellus, distinctly much narrower than half as long as antennal
joint 1; legs uniformly dark brownish, with only about 4 or 5 spines in
apical half on hind femora below; hypopygium (text-fig. 108) without
any distinct flattened, ventral keel below sickle-shaped aedeagus;
smaller species, about 54 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 5 mm.
3g fusciventris n. sp. (p. 426).
69. (54) Wings distinctly less diffusely tinged, only the base, costal cell, first and
second basal cells or only the costal cell, base and first basal cell being
darkly tinged or coloured yellowish brown, brownish to mauvish brown,
the greater part of wing being thus more greyish hyaline and more
distinctly or even well marked off from dark basal infuscation; pubes-
cence, especially in $g, shorter, more pubescent, that on thorax above
more cropped or shorn off in appearance, that on abdomen shorter, more
pelt-like and gleaming in gg, with the bristles in 9? shorter and less
conspicuous; sides of face not tending to be tumid and if slightly tumid
wings are less tinged . : : : : 3 é ‘ ne KOE
70. (73) Pubescence predominantly silvery whitish, that on abdomen in g¢
shining silvery white, that on abdomen in 92 also with more sericeous
whitish hair, that on sides being more yellowish sericeous, that on pleurae
more extensively silvery whitish, with the metapleural tuft and squamal
fringe silvery whitish, without any dark or black bristles on abdomen
in $d or with only a few inconspicuous ones on sides of segments 4 and 5,
with black transverse bristles on abdomen in 99 or with at least dark
ones laterally towards apex; legs with the femora in both sexes exten-
sively or entirely black or dark or the entire legs may be dark, the tibiae
being scarcely or only slightly paler than the femora; hypopygium of
3d with a well-developed ventral, keel-like plate below aedeagus . 71.
71. (72) Wings with the costal and basal infuscation coffee brownish, more con-
spicuous and extending to apices of basal cells and across to end of costal
cell, well marked off from more hyaline part of wing and even more so
in gg; interocular space in $¢ broader, about as broad as ocellar tubercle
or as broad as more than half length of antennal joint 1, about 3 times
as broad as tubercle in 99; eyes in gg with the upper facets almost
imperceptibly coarser than lower ones; proboscis longer, about 5-6 mm,
320
Annals of the South African Museum.
long; pubescence almost entirely silvery whitish in both sexes, with
no pale yellowish hair in front of wings or on mesopleuron and with
scarcely any sericeous yellow hair on abdomen above in 29, with 3 stout,
distinct, black macrochaetae in front of the wings in both sexes and with
often all the transverse bristles on abdomen in 99 as well as those on
scutellum black, but only a few intermixed dark or black ones laterally
on segments 4 and 5 in gg, with the bristly hairs on face in both sexes
sparser; scutellum tending to be more reddish in some ¢¢ and in 99
often entirely reddish; slightly larger species, about 8-10 mm. long,
with a wing-length of about 8-10 mm. 3 2 neglectus n. sp. (p. 404).
72. (71) Wings with the costal and basal infuscation paler, more pale brownish,
distinctly less extensive, the apical parts of first and second basal cells
or even greater part of second basal cell clearer and less dark than basal
infuscation, with this infuscation also less well marked off from greyish
hyaline part and even less so in 99; interocular space in g¢ distinctly
narrower, only about as broad as front part of tubercle or much less than
half length of first antennal joints, in 29 distinctly more than 3 times as
broad as tubercle; eyes in §¢ with the upper facets distinctly coarser
than lower ones; proboscis shorter, only about 3-4 mm. long; pubescence
with some yellowish or sericeous yellowish hair on sides of thorax even
in some gg and often extensively on abdomen above and laterally in 29,
without any black bristles in front of wings and without any black ones
laterally on abdomen in $4, those on abdomen in fg being predominantly
yellowish, those laterally towards apex and apically in some 99 often
darker, even brownish to blackish brown, those on scutellum yellowish,
with the black bristly hairs on face distinctly much denser and more
conspicuously developed; scutellum entirely black in both sexes; smaller
species, about 6-84 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 6-74 mm.
3 2 argyroleucus n. sp. (p. 428).
73. (70) Pubescence not predominantly or entirely silvery whitish, more yellowish
from above and, when viewed from the side, that on occiput, sides of
thorax in front of wings and down the propleurae, that on dise of thorax
and scutellum, that in metapleural tuft, on squamae, greater part of
abdomen above even in ¢ and apical part of venter, especially in 9,
rich creamy yellow to gleaming pale yellowish brown, with only the
middle part of pleurae and base of venter and abdomen silvery whitish,
especially in J, with some macrochaetae in front of wings, the posterior
callar bristles, scutellar bristles and all the transverse bristles on abdomen
in both sexes dark blackish brown to black; legs on the whole paler and
more yellowish brown to brownish, the front femora being dark and the
apical parts of the tibiae and also the entire tarsi almost black; hypo-
pygium of ¢ (text-fig. 109) without a well-developed, flattened, vertical,
keel-like plate below aedeagus. (Wings with the costal cell, base, first
basal cell and to a certain extent the second basal cell darker, yellowish
brown and more soin fg) . ; : 3 & lightfooti n. sp. (p. 430).
74. (1) All the spines or spicules in lower outer row and the longer lower apical
spines or spurs on front and middle tibiae as well as the spines behind on
middle femora entirely or predominantly pallid or yellowish, not black
like the rest of the spicules . : : : ; é : «WOR
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 321
75. (128) Wings distinctly, though often faintly, tinged more extensively yellowish
brown, brownish, coffee brownish to mauvish brown, in basal part this
infuscation usually distinctly more diffuse or extensive, occupying the
costal cell, base, first basal cell, second basal cell to a varying extent,
even bases of marginal cell, first posterior cell and discoidal cell as well
as extreme bases of anal and axillary cells and also alula, with the second
basal cell never entirely or for its greater part clear or hyaline, being
always distinctly more subopaque or darkly tinged than discoidal
cell, with the rest of wing in a large number of species distinctly tinged
greyish, feebly or faintly mauvish brown to darker mauvish . s AG:
76. (91) Wings with the second basal cell entirely or almost entirely and distinctly
infuseated to the same extent as costal cell, basc and first basal cell,
the infuscated basal part thus much darker and more distinctly con-
spicuous and delimited from rest of wing, especially in the g¢ Baa a
77. (82) Scutellum entirely red or reddish or at least with the greater part or more
than half of the disc red in both sexes; sides of abdomen in known ¢¢
always with more extensive red or reddish; femora in 99 never entirely
black or blackish brown; black transverse bristles on abdomen more
developed, in both sexes encroaching much on disc above towards
midline, even in gg, with at least those above on segments 4-7 pre-
dominantly or entirely black : : : a ‘ ‘ Sal ioe
78. (79) Larger species, about 10-13 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
103-14 mm.; pubescence on pleural and pectoral regions straw-coloured
yellowish, yellowish to very pale golden yellowish, that on body above
yellowish to golden, even deep golden yellow, with predominantly pale
yellowish bristly hairs on face in 99, only a few intermixed ones in front
being black; sides of abdomen in gg obscurely reddish; proboscis
longer, about 6-8 mm. long, with the fine hair-like spinules below dense
and more distinctly visible; wings distinctly more greyish hyaline,
with the basal and costal yellowish brown to reddish brown infuscation
more distinctly delimited from rest of wing
3 2 inordinatus n. sp. (p. 481).
(Syn. = mizxtus Bezz. nec Wied.)
79. (78) Smaller species, about 7-9 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
8-94 mm.; pubescence on pectus and pleurae distinctly paler and more
straw-coloured whitish or white, that on body above less golden yellow,
more pale yellowish white to very pale yellowish, with distinctly more
numerous and denser black bristly hairs on face in 99; sides of abdomen
in known §¢ more extensively and more distinctly reddened; proboscis
shorter, about 4-5 mm. long, with the spinules below finer, less dense
and less distinctly visible; wings more distinctly slightly more darkly
tinged mauvish or dark mauvish, with the basal and costal infuscation
slightly darker, dark brownish to mauvish brown and also slightly more
diffused . F : ‘ é : : : : : - 80.
80. (81) Wings very darkly tinged mauvish, the costal and basal infuscation dark
mauvish brown; the bristles and macrochaetae in front of wings, on
posterior calli, scutellum and transversely across abdomen all black;
antennal joint 3 less slender, shorter, not longer than joints 1 and 2
combined, the apical part thickened on inner side; face with a tendency
322
Annais of the South African Museum.
to be obscurely reddish on the sides and above; tibiae with the upper
outer row of spines on front ones entirely black like the inner or front
upper row 5 : Q badipennis n. sp. (p. 435).
81. (80) Wings only very ieobly fiiaced iaarsele the costal and basal infuscation
more brownish; the bristles and macrochaetae in front of wings, the
posterior callar ones on thorax and those on scutellum pale yellowish
or whitish, only those on abdomen being black; antennal joint 3 in 99
comparatively more slender and longer, longer than joints 1 and 2
combined, the apical part more slender and longer, without a thickened
part below, with joint 3 almost rod-like in $3, scarcely thicker basally;
face entirely black; tibiae more often, especially in 99, with the spines
in upper outer row on front ones entirely pallid or with a large number
of pallid ones; sides of abdomen in ¢¢ extensively red; femora blackened
to beyond middle in jg; pubescence above paler than in 99, more
straw-coloured yellowish or whitish . ¢ 2 canipectus n. sp. (p. 436).
82. (77) Scutellum entirely black, much darkened or only very feebly and obscurely
tinted reddish, with the red, if developed, occupying not more than the
posterior half of disc or with a large basal black spot; sides of abdomen
in known g¢ entirely black or with the red very obscure; femora in
22 usually, as in gg, blackish brown or black; black transverse bristles
on abdomen developed only on sides or extreme sides and extending
towards middle above only on last 2 or 3 segments : 4 -) See
83. (88) Legs entirely dark, black or blackish, even the tibiae, when not entirely
84. (87
85. (86
~—
)
black, are at least dark brownish or with blackish scaling and not pale
ochreous yellow ‘ . 84.
Wings entirely tinged amok or maaaiale the dostal and basal infasonee
dark sepia or blackish brown and with a mauvish tint, the squamae
brownish and knobs of halteres brownish; spines on hind femora below
and on hind tibiae black and spines on front tibiae above well developed;
pubescence with the bristly hairs on face predominantly black and with
only a few or without any pale intermixed ones, that on body above in
known 99 straw-coloured whitish as in g¢ or only slightly darker than
the g¢ in front of wings on each side; interocular space in known 929°
slightly narrower, less than 4 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennal
joint 1 slightly shorter, only about 4, or even less, times as long as joint 2
85.
Larger species, about 7-9 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 6-8 mm.;
pubescence above and below in both sexes sericeous whitish to straw-
coloured whitish or that above pale sericeous yellowish, that on sides of
venter towards apex pale ochreous yellowish, with the bristly hairs on
face intermixed with pale ones, more so in 99; wings very slightly tinged
more darkly, the costal and basal darker infuscation slightly less extensive,
not extending much into bases of first posterior and discoidal cells, the
first posterior cell not very acute apically; halteres with the knobs pale
brownish yellow to pale yellowish; scutellum always with a slight rufous
tint or even reddish, especially in 99; face slightly more produced and
less bluntly rounded in front; antennal joint 3 slightly longer and dis-
tinctly thickened in basal half, the apical part being moderately slender ;
interocular space in g¢ slightly broader, about as broad as tubercle;
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 323
proboscis longer, about 4-44 mm.; hind femora with about 6-9 spines
below; hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 112) with a broadish clavate process
on each side of aedeagus. é : 3S 2 montanus n. sp. (p. 438).
86. (85) Smaller species, about 53 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
5 mm.; pubescence in ¢ silky whitish on thorax above, straw-coloured
yellowish or even whitish on abdomen above, that on body below darker,
even entirely dark velvety fulvous brownish or blackish brown, with
the hairs and bristles in front of wings also blackish brown, with the
bristly hairs on face entirely black and without any intermixed pale
ones; wings tinged slightly less darkly, the costal and basal darker
infuscation slightly more extensive, distinctly extending into basal halves
of first posterior and discoidal cells, the first posterior cell distinctly
more acute apically; halteres dark brownish, with dark brown knobs;
scutellum entirely black; face slightly more rounded in front; antennal
joint 3 distinctly shorter and more rod-like; interocular space in ¢ nar-
rower, at narrowest part only about as broad as front part of tubercle;
proboscis shorter, only about 2 mm. long; hind femora with only about
4 or 5 spines below; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 108) with the aedeagus
sickle-shaped, without a distinct ventral keel and without a process on
each side . ‘ ‘ 6 fusciventris n. sp. (p. 426).
87. (84) Wings greyish healing, amily the sdutal and basal parts darker and more
pale yellowish brown and less conspicuous, the squamae yellowish and
knobs of halteres yellowish; spines on hind femora below and on hind
tibiae yellowish brown to brownish, the spicules on front tibiae very
small and poorly developed; pubescence with the bristly hairs on face
with black and pale ones intermixed more or less in equal proportions,
that on body of 2 above distinctly more yellowish, with sericeous or
brassy yellow gleams; interocular space in 2 distinctly broader, at leasi
4 times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint | slightly longer, more than
4 times as long as joint 2. (Pubescence on abdomen with slender blackish
brown to black bristles on sides of segments 2-4 in § and 2-7 in Q;
hind femora with only about 4 or 6 spines below; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 113) with a clavate process on each side of aedeagus.)
3 2 power n. sp. (p. 440).
(Syn. = nigripes Bezz. nec Lw.)
88. (83) Legs not entirely dark or black, the front and middle femora in the 33
blackened to beyond middle, if darkened in 99, then only at extreme
bases or in basal halves of front ones, with the tibiae in both sexes dis-
tinctly paler and pale yellowish or pale ochreous yellowish . 5 ek
89. (90) Smaller species, about 64 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
6 mm.; pubescence on body above less dense, straw-coloured whitish
or yellowish, that on dise of thorax and on occiput being more sericeous
whitish, that on body below whitish, with the hair on face less dense,
with only a few and inconspicuous dark bristles on sides of abdomen in
d and without any in 9; wings with the costal and basal infuscation
darker and more brownish; antennae with joint 1 much shorter, less
than 4 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 also much shorter, compara-
tively broader and more rapidly thickened basally, the apical part shorter
and thicker; interocular space in ¢ slightly narrower, not quite 2 times
324
Annals of the South African Museum.
as broad as front ocellus, only about 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9;
scutellum with the basal half at least black, in ¢ slightly more so, with
the black base not angularly produced posteriorly; hind femora with only
about 4 or 5 spines below . : 3 2 transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 417).
90. (89) Larger species, about 74-10 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
7-8 mm.; pubescence above much denser, distinctly more yellowish,
yellowish sericeous to golden yellowish in 99, more creamy yellowish
in §g, that on thorax in front, even in some $4, more yellowish tinted,
that on body below scarcely paler than above, only more creamy yellowish
in some §¢, with the hair on face, in $¢ especially, very dense, with
more numerous, longer and more conspicuous black bristles on sides of
abdomen in both sexes; wings with the costal and basal infuscation
more reddish brown or yellowish brown; antennae with joint 1 slightly
longer, at least 4 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3, especially in gg,
longer and more gradually thickened basally, the apical part compara-
tively more slender and longer; interocular space in fg distinctly broader,
about as broad as front part of tubercle, quite 2 times as broad as front
ocellus, quite 34 times as broad as tubercle in 9; scutellum with the black
basal part produced angularly towards hind margin, almost dividing
the red into two maculae; hind femora with at least 5-9 spines below
3 2 brunnibasis n. sp. (p. 495).
91. (76) Wings with the second basal cell much clearer, only feebly tinged and
then distinctly not to the same extent as costal cell, base and first basal
cell, being, however, distinctly tinged or more subopaque and slightly
darker than the discoidal cell, with the infuscated basal part cf wings
more diffuse, less distinctly contrasting with, or delimited from, the rest
of wing . «| 2s
2. (93) Wings soa peaativele daniel taped caaramiek or sitele the canta cell,
base and first basal cell being very dark mauvish brown; pubescence
dull greyish in front and silvery whitish on abdomen from above, from
side that on thorax is silvery whitish and greyish silvery white on abdomen
in $d, slightly more subgolden on disc of thorax in 99, with the hair in
front of wings pale brownish fulvous in both sexes, that on venter towards
apex pale brownish fulvous in gg, that on body below in both sexes
silvery whitish, with the coxal bristles predominantly brownish to blackish
brown, with the transverse bristles across abdomen in both sexes entirely
brownish black; face and head below brownish or reddish brown; sides
of abdomen in g¢ broadly reddish brown; legs in both sexes entirely
blackish brown to black; antennal joint 3 club-shaped, broadest at about
basal third, rapidly narrowed apically, more than the apical half being
slender, with the first terminal joint well developed and comparatively
long ; ; . 6 fumitinctus n. sp. (p. 442).
93. (92) Wings distinctly, less Aare tinged, only faintly and feebly mauvish,
more often greyish hyaline for the greater part, with the costal and basal
darker infuscated part also less dark mauvish brown, often more brownish
to pale yellowish brown; pubescence above whitish, yellowish to golden
yellowish, not distinctly or predominantly silvery white on abdomen
above, the hair being straw-coloured yellowish, creamy yellowish to
golden yellowish, with the hair and bristles in front of wings not fulvous
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 325
brown, that towards apex of venter in $4, if darker, then yellowish or
ochreous, that on body below ranging from more extensive silvery whitish
to golden yellowish, with the coxal bristles never brownish or blackish
brown, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in 4¢ either not dark
or blackish or only so laterally, those on greater part of disc above being
whitish or yellowish, rarely with all or most of the bristles above in both
sexes blackish, though these may sometimes be reddish brown to golden;
sides of abdomen in gg entirely black, obscurely reddish or at least with
the red much less extensive and confined to extreme sides; legs not
entirely black and, if so, the scutellum is also black, more often pre-
dominantly yellow; antennal joint 3 not typically club-shaped, distinctly
less rapidly narrowed from base, usually less than the apical half being
slender, with the first terminal joint rarely long and pista, and if
so the entire pubescence is not silvery whitish . : ain QAe
94. (99) Smaller species, usually not more than 7 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 64-7 mm.; scutellum entirely black or tending to be predominantly
dark; legs entirely black or very dark blackish brown or the bases of
the femora are black even in 99, with the tibiae comparatively slender
and the spicules on front ones above usually small and poorly developed
and not very numerous, with fewer spines, about 4-6, on hind femora
below, beginning at about middle or just before middle; interocular
space in 9° sometimes quite 4 times as broad as tubercle; sides of
abdomen in gg without any red; wings with the basal comb poorly
developed, the spines less dense and much shorter . : : = Go:
95. (98) Legs in both sexes entirely very dark blackish or blackish brown, with the
spines on hind femora below brownish; scutellum entirely black; inter-
ocular space in 99 broader, more than 3, quite 4, times as broad as
ocellar tubercle; pubescence on body below tending to be more yellowish
or sericeous yellowish and that on body above in 29 more brassy yellowish
96.
96. (97) Wings with the first posterior cell distinctly less acute apically; pubes-
cence with fewer black bristly hairs on frons, antennae and face and with
distinct black transverse bristles across hind margins of abdomen even
if only a few in both sexes . 4 ; . 3d & poweri n. sp. (p. 440).
97. (96) Wings with the first posterior cell distinctly more acute or pointed apically ;
pubescence on head above and in front predominantly black or at least
with much fewer yellowish hairs and without any trace of black trans-
verse bristles on abdomen in both sexes . d 2 faustus n. sp. (p. 444).
98. (95) Legs predominantly yellowish in both sexes, only the bases of femora
darkened, with the spines on hind femora black; scutellum with some
obscure reddish and if darkened as in ¢ the legs at least are yellowish;
interocular space in 2 distinctly narrower, not much more than 3 times
as broad as tubercle; pubescence on body below not much paler than
above and that above in 2 paler and more pale sericeous yellowish like
that of g, with a few darkish bristles on sides of abdomen in some
specimens ‘ F : 3 & transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 417).
99. (94) Larger species, more ‘ee 7 mm. long and with a wing-length of more
than 7 mm.; scutellum always with extensive and conspicuous red;
legs never entirely black or dark, yellowish, but with the femora in jg
VOL. XXXIV. 22
326
Annals of the South African Museum.
sometimes blackened or darkened, with the tibiae less slender and the
spicules above on front ones more numerous, longer and better developed,
usually with more than 6, spines on hind femora below, beginning much
nearer base; interocular space in 99 not very much more than 3 times
as broad as tubercle; sides of abdomen in gg usually with some red and,
if not, then scutellum is at least distinctly red; wings with the basal
comb distinctly larger, the spines denser and longer : . 100.
100. (103) Abdomen above without any very dark, dark reddish pion or black
bristles even laterally in both sexes, these bristles being, like the rest of
them on thorax, scutellum and abdomen, yellowish, pale golden yellow
or very pale reddish or reddish yellow; legs entirely pale ochreous to
pale reddish yellow in both sexes 4 : = Ode
101. (102) Wings distinctly tinged mauvish, with tthe Botta anal basal darker
part more darkly brownish yellow and more diffuse; pubescence above
more uniformly and entirely pale golden yellow to golden, with that
in front of wings scarcely deeper yellowish, that on body below scarcely
paler, that on mesopleurae and sides of venter basally not being con-
spicuously silvery whitish, that towards apex on venter in gd pale
ochreous yellow, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in both sexes
entirely yellow; interocular space in gg, at narrowest part, about as
broad as front part of tubercle, a little more than 3 times as broad as
tubercle in 99, with the eyes in §¢ not flattened above and the upper
facets only slightly coarser than lower ones; antennae with joint 1 very
short, scarcely 2 times in fg, and only about 24 times as long as joint 2
in 99, with 3 slightly shorter and more broadened in basal half, the apical
slender part short, with the first terminal joint markedly long; proboscis
short, about 3-5 mm. long; sides of abdomen in ¢¢ obscurely and not
very extensively reddish; front femora with only about 1-3 spines in
front and behind : ‘ : : . 3d 8 aureus n. sp. (p. 446).
(And forms of it.)
102. (101) Wings only greyish hyaline, not distinctly tinged mauvish, with the
costal and basal darker part only yellowish and much less extensive;
pubescence above slightly deeper golden and with even slight fulvous
gleams, especially in gg, with that in front of wings distinctly deeper
yellowish and even more orange fulvous, that on body below with an
almost silvery white vertical band on mesopleurae and also with con-
spicuous silvery white hair on sides of venter near base, that towards
apex of venter in ¢¢ often more fulvous or brownish golden, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen slightly deeper and more reddish yellow;
interocular space in gg, at narrowest part, scarcely broader than front
ocellus, in 2 quite 34 times as broad as tubercle, with the eyes slightly
flattened above and with the upper facets very coarse; antennae with
joint 1 longer, quite 3 times as long as joint 2, with 3 more elongate,
less thickened basally and with the slender part long, with the first
terminal joint not markedly long; proboscis longer, more than 5 mm.
long; sides of abdomen in ¢¢ broadly and extensively reddened; front
femora with more, at least more than 3 spines in front and behind
3 & ventricosus Bezz. (p. 449).
(Some forms of it.)
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 327
103. (100) Abdomen above always with some black or dark bristles, either with a
few on sides even if only with 1 or 2 or with more numerous ones especially
towards apex, with these bristles entirely black, dark brownish to dark
reddish or reddish; legs with the femora in some ¢¢ blackened basally
or to beyond middle and if entirely yellowish the sides of the abdomen
at least with some blackish bristles : : : ; ? . 104.
104. (111) Abdomen with the transverse bristles across hind margins of tergites
above predominantly yellowish, dark yellowish brown, brownish or
reddish and if dark blackish brown or blackish ones are present, these are
inconspicuous and found only as a few or very few laterally on extreme
sides and ventrally towards apex in both sexes and they are usually
pale-tipped; pubescence predominantly brassy or golden yellowish:
sides of abdomen in gg more extensively reddish; antennal joint 1 in
992 with a tendency to be obscurely reddish or dark reddish brown on
certain surfaces . : : : : : 5 4 : . 105.
105. (106) Larger and bulkier species, about 11-13 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 11-12 mm.; wings more vitreous hyaline, only the base,
costal cell and first basal cell subopaquely yellowish or ochreous yellowish,
with the veins paler yellowish brown or brownish; head with the eyes in
gd distinctly flattened above and even in 92 more flattened above,
separated in gg by a narrower space, only about as broad as narrow front
part of ocellar tubercle or even front ocellus; legs entirely yellowish in
both sexes and even the tarsi scarcely darkened, with distinctly more
numerous spines on middle femora below and with more, about 10-14
spines on hind ones below; sides of abdomen in §¢ more broadly or
extensively reddish; pubescence on the whole deeper gleaming golden,
with a more conspicuous and more contrasting band of sericeous whitish
hair down middle of pleurae, the hair on face tending to be denser and
less brush-like in front in gg and even more bushy in 929, with fewer
dark bristles laterally on sides of abdomen
3S & ventricosus Bezz. (p 449).
(Some forms of it.)
106. (105) Smaller and less bulky forms, about 6-114 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 6-10 mm.; wings distinctly, though sometimes faintly,
tinged mauvish, greyish mauvish, brownish or even reddish, the costal
and basal parts slightly more brownish and if yellowish or ochreous
wings are at least not hyaline, the veins usually darker or more reddish;
head with the eyes in gg and 99 not tending to be flattened above and
in gd usually more broadly separated by width of ocellar tubercle and
if narrowish the eyes are not flattened above; legs with the femora in
dg at least darkened or blackened basally to a variable extent and if
entirely yellowish the tarsi are darkened in both sexes, with much fewer
spines on middle femora below and less than 10 on hind ones below;
sides of abdomen in ¢¢ usually less broadly reddish on sides; pubescence,
even if golden, gleaming less markedly and with either a less marked
vertical band of whitish pubescence down middle of pleurae or with the
whitish more diffused, with more numerous and sometimes more reddish-
tinted bristles on sides of abdomen and with the hair on face tending to be
concentrated brush-like in front and if not wings are at least tinged . 107.
328 Annals of the South African Museum.
107. (108) Pubescence shorter, with a more closely cropped-off appearance on
disc of thorax, that on abdomen shorter, less shaggy, the bristles towards
apex shorter and scarcely or not much longer than length of antennae,
that on face, especially the darker elements, more concentrated brush-
like or tuft-like in front, that on pleurae only slightly paler than above,
not contrasting or with a more contrasting whitish vertical band down
middle of pleurae, that on body above also sometimes more brassy or
sericeous yellowish; head with the face much darker or black, with the
proboscis shorter, only about 4-5 mm. long, the spinules below finer,
with antennal joint 3 shorter, only a very little longer than or subequal
in length to joints 1 and 2 combined, its inner margin at broadest part
near base slightly bulging, ending apically in a scarcely visible and
inconspicuous terminal basal element bearing a style; legs with the
femora, even in 99, slightly more darkened
3 & bombycinus var. pallidispinis n. (p. 410).
108. (107) Pubescence slightly longer, with a less closely shorn-off appearance on
thorax, that on abdomen slightly longer, appearing more shaggy, the
pubescence and bristles towards apex at least as long or longer than
antennae, that on face slightly more dense, with apparently fewer dark
bristly elements which do not tend to be concentrated brush-like or
tuft-like in front, that on pleurae distinctly more extensively and more
contrastingly whitish or with at least the middle part of pleurae vertically
more whitish-haired, that on body above deeper and more gleaming
golden; head with the face, genae and to a certain extent the head below
yellowish or yellowish brown, with the proboscis longer, about 5-8 mm.
long, the spinules below more visible, with antennal joint 3 relatively
longer, appearing more humped above in basal half and ending apically
in a distinctly longer and more conspicuous terminal basal element
bearing a style; legs with the femora either entirely yellowish in both
sexes or darkened basally in some ¢¢ to a lesser extent . : . 109.
109. (110) Wings distinctly more darkly tinged and more mauvish, the base and
costal cell slightly darker and more brownish, the veins much darker and
towards apical part almost black, the basal comb more strongly developed;
pubescence slightly deeper gleaming golden above, with the sericeous
whitish or whitish hair on pleurae more concentrated in a vertical band
down middle of pleurae and with the darker bristles on abdomen or sides
of abdomen darker and more brownish; head with the interocular space
in $d broader and as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the proboscis slightly
longer, about 7-8 mm. long, with antennal joint | relatively longer and
quite 3, or a little more, times as long as 2 and with the terminal basal
element of joint 3 longer; legs with the femora in $¢ at least entirely
yellowish . - 6 monticolanus n. sp. (p. 411).
110. (109) Wings tinged diapinothy nondist or reddish greyish, appearing clearer,
the base and costal part distinctly more yellowish or ochreous yellowish,
the veins much paler and more reddish, the basal comb much smaller;
pubescence slightly paler golden above, with the sericeous whitish or
more whitish pubescence on pleurae more extensive and more contrasting
and with the darker bristles on abdomen paler and more reddish or even
reddish; head with the interocular space in ¢¢ distinctly narrower and
ee a
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 329
only about as broad as front ocellus or front part of ocellar tubercle,
with the proboscis slightly shorter and about 5-7 mm. long, with antennal
joint 1 relatively shorter and only about, or scarcely, 3 times as long as 2
and with the terminal basal element of 3 slightly shorter; legs with the
femora in §¢ at least darkened at bases
3S 2 subcontiguus n. sp. (p. 455).
111. (104) Abdomen with the transverse bristles across hind margins of tergites
always with conspicuous and dark blackish brown or black ones, either
on most of the tergites laterally and towards apex or even discally or
they are more numerous on at least some of the tergites laterally in both
sexes; pubescence not always golden and if golden the darker elements
on abdomen are more blackish and more conspicuous; sides of abdomen
in gd usually less extensively or more obscurely reddish, sometimes
entirely black; antennal joint 1 entirely black in both sexes and if
tending to be yellowish brownish the darker bristles on abdomen are
darker and more numerous . ‘ . alia
112. (123) Antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter, witely about 4 ime as long as
joint 2, more often much shorter; legs with the femora in §¢ either
entirely black or more extensively blackened to much beyond middle
and their bases tending to be darkened even in some 29; sides of abdomen
in gd usually with some red, even if only very obscurely; pubescence
with the hair on pleural parts, head below and sides of venter on the
whole paler, more whitish, more sericeous whitish or at least more con-
spicuously or more markedly contrasting with that on body above,
with the darker or black transverse bristles on abdomen, especially
in 99, encroaching more on the disc above towards apex; wings, apart
from the basal and costal infuscation, tending to be more distinctly,
even though faintly, tinged reddish, mauvish or brownish mauvish and
usually with the discoidal cell more truncate apically, the apical cross
vein rarely very much shorter than discal cross vein; hypopygium of j¢
with the process on each side of aedeagus very much flattened and
broadened, leaf-like or racket-shaped in apical part, where it is also
slightly depressed and spoon-like : : : : . 113.
113. (118) Pubescence on body distinctly longer, more sneeee, that on frons,
antennae and face longer, finer and more bushy, especially in jg, that on
thorax above not with a closely cropped appearance, that on abdomen
much more shaggy and longer, that on body below not markedly con-
trasting with that on body above, that in front of wings and, in jg, that
towards apical part of venter not or less distinctly deeper yellowish or
ochreous; head with the eyes separated above in g¢ by a slightly broader
space, about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle or broader than
length of antennal joint 2, the upper facets thus less coarse, with antennal
joint | relatively longer, at least 3 times as Pa as 2; Me more slender
and with longer hairs on femora below : : . 114.
114. (115) Pubescence on body above gleaming pale sericeous yellowish to
yellowish, that on sides of abdomen with a slightly deeper yellowish tint,
that on antennae and face even slightly longer in g, with fewer dark
bristles on sides of abdomen in ¢, that on body below paler than above;
wings less darkly tinged and more reddish mauvish, the veins paler and
330
Annals of the South African Museum.
more reddish, the basal comb slightly larger; scutellum more extensively
reddish and sides of abdomen in § also with more reddish, the legs with
the femora even in ¢ less extensively darkened and then more sienna
brownish; head with the interocular space in ¢ slightly narrower, the
inner margins of eyes bounding this space and tubercle much longer,
with antennal joint | distinctly longer and nearly 4 times as long as 2
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 118) . : . 6 altivolans n. sp. (p. 450).
115. (114) Pubescence above paler and gleaming more sericeous whitish in both
sexes, that below scarcely paler, that on sides of abdomen in g¢ also
more whitish, and even in 99 only feebly tinted yellowish, the entire
pubescence thus more whitish, that on antennae and face slightly shorter,
with more numerous and more conspicuous blackish or black bristles on
sides and towards apical part of abdomen in both sexes; wings slightly
darker, the costal and basal part darker subopaquely brownish, the
veins darker and the basal comb smaller; scutellum almost entirely
black in §¢ or obscurely reddish in both sexes and sides of abdomen in
$d entirely black and legs in both sexes tending to be darker, the femora
at least much darker in both sexes; head with the interocular space on
vertex in §¢ slightly broader, the inner margins of eyes bounding the
tubercle much shorter, with antennal joint 1 shorter, only about 3, or a
little more, times as long as 2; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 112) . 116.
116. (117) Wings on the whole darker, more distinctly subopaquely mauvish or
smoky mauvish, with the basal and costal darker brownish iofuscation
slightly more extensive, extending more into second basal cell; pubes-
cence without any distinct more yellowish hairs on each side in front
of wings and without a few intermixed dark ones in this tuft
3S 2 montanus n. sp. (p. 438).
117. (116) Wings less darkly mauvish, with the basal and costal part slightly paler
brownish, the second basal cell much clearer; pubescence with a distinct
more yellowish tuft in front of wing bases, containing distinct intermixed
blackish hairs . ‘ 3 montanus (slight var.) (p. 440).
118. (113) Pubescence on body distinotly tel shorter, not shaggy, that on frons,
antennae and face shorter and more brush-like, that on thorax above
with a shorn-off appearance in g¢ especially, that on abdomen less
shaggy and shorter, that on body below more markedly contrastingly
whitish than above, that in front of wings and, in ¢4, that towards apex
of venter deeper or more ochreous yellowish; head with the eyes more
narrowly separated above in gg by a space only about as broad or a
little broader than front ocellus or not broader than antennal joint 2 is
long, the upper facets thus coarser, with antennal joint 1 relatively
shorter, slightly less, or distinctly less, than 3 times as long as 2; legs
stouter and with shorter hairs on femora below. : ¥ » LOE
119. (120) Legs with the femora almost entirely or entirely black in gg, blackened
to much beyond middle in 99; pubescence predominantly sericeous
whitish in $g, sericeous whitish to creamy yellowish above in 99, that
towards apical part and sides of venter only feebly yellowish in 3g, not
markedly ochreous yellowish to ochreous brownish, that on pleurae,
pectus and sides of venter basally not so contrastingly gleaming sericeous
whitish . : : : . & & affinis var. discrepans n. (p. 455).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 331
120. (119) Legs with only the bases or basal halves of femora black in ¢¢, or at
least with the apical parts more yellowish, only blackened or darkened
at bases in 99, or a greater part of the apices yellowish or even entirely
yellowish in 99; pubescence predominantly creamy yellowish to even
golden yellowish above in 3g and yellowish or golden in 99, that
towards apex and sides of venter in g¢ distinctly more ochreous
yellowish to ochreous brownish, that on pleurae, pectus, metapleural
tuft and sides of venter basally more gleaming sericeous whitish,
thus more contrasting with the yellowish pubescence and that in front
of wings on each side more distinctly yellowish to orange in some
specimens ‘ : ; é 3 : 5 ; , 5 Pall
121. (122) Interocular space in §¢ slightly broader and narrowest part much
shorter than length of ocellar tubercle; legs with the femora in both
sexes more extensively darkened basally; pubescence slightly longer,
that on antennae predominantly black, that on dise of thorax with a
less shorn-off appearance in g¢ at least and that on disc in QQ also
slightly longer, with the bristles on abdomen distinctly longer in both
sexes and black in 99; wings with the basal infuscation slightly darker
brownish and the veins also darker; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 119, a and b) ' 5 : : . 6 QP affinis n. sp. (p. 452).
122. (121) Interocular space in ¢ distinctly narrower and narrowest part subequal
in length to tubercle; legs in ¢ at least only darkened at extreme bases
of femora, entirely yellowish in 29; pubescence shorter, that on antennae
below with more numerous yellowish hairs, that on disc of thorax in $
with a more cropped-off appearance and that in 99 also apparently
shorter, with the bristles on abdomen apparently shorter in both sexes
and reddish in 99; wings with the basal infuscation slightly paler
brownish and the veins paler reddish brown to reddish; hypopygium
of g (text-fig. 121) . 5 ‘ . 3d & subcontiguus n. sp. (p. 455).
123. (112) Antennal joint 1 distinctly longer, at least 4 or more times as long as
joint 2; legs with the femora in gg predominantly yellowish, only the
bases being blackened, entirely yellowish in 99; sides of abdomen in 3g
entirely black like rest of abdomen; pubescence with the hair on pleural
parts and even base of venter less conspicuously white and contrasting,
with the black transverse bristles on abdomen only extending to the
midline above on last few segments (5-7); wings more distinctly greyish
hyaline, not distinctly tinged mauvish, only the base, costal cell, first
basal cell and extreme base (to a variable extent) being yellowish brown,
brownish or mauvish brown, with the discoidal cell usually more subacute
apically, the apical cross vein being usually shorter than the discal
cross vein; hypopygium in §¢ with the process on each side of aedeagus
slender and narrow throughout, its apical part not conspicuously
broadened and leaf-like : ; ; i ‘ : ; . 124,
124. (127) Interocular space in gg much narrower, only about as broad as front
ocellus, tending to be only about 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99;
antennae with joint 1 slightly shorter, only about 34-4 times as long as
joint 2, with joint 3 less rapidly narrowed towards apex or with a shorter
apical slender part, the joint on the whole shorter; wings tending to be
distinctly darker and more brownish at base, in costal cell, first basal cell
332 Annals of the South African Museum.
and even in second basal cell to a variable extent, with the veins much
darker, very dark blackish brown to almost black . : 125;
125. (126) Pubescence on body predominantly more yellowish, creamy 7 yelliswial
to pale yellowish golden in both sexes, that towards apex of abdomen
only slightly paler and creamy whitish to yellowish; scutellum usually
more extensively reddened or entirely reddish; legs with the femora in
6d only darkened at extreme bases in some specimens, the hind ones
being entirely yellowish . . & & silvaticus var. turner n. (p. 500).
126. (125) Pubescence on body entirely or predominantly whitish, straw-coloured
whitish to pale straw-coloured yellowish in both sexes, that towards apex
of abdomen in gg and even 99 distinctly more white; scutellum with a
tendency to be less red and sometimes only so discally; legs with the
femora in g¢ often darkened to about middle
3 8 silvaticus var. turneri n. (p. 500).
(Pale form.)
127. (124) Interocular space in §¢ slightly broader and distinctly broader than
front ocellus, about 14-2 times as broad as front ocellus, tending to be a
little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with joint |
distinctly longer, about 4-5, or more, times as long as joint 2, with joint 3
usually distinctly more rapidly narrowed apically, the apical slender
part usually more slender and longer; wings either less dark in costal
cell and base or, when distinctly darkish, it is less conspicuous, with the
veins slightly less dark and more brownish
3 & silvaticus n. sp. (p. 497).
128. (75) Wings distinctly less extensively or diffusely infuscated at base, this
whitish, pale yellowish white, pale yellowish, pale brownish yellow to
brownish basal infuscation confined to the base, costal cell, first basal
cell and often the alula, never extending into bases of first posterior and
discoidal cells and with the second basal cell always entirely or for the
greater part clear or hyaline or greyish hyaline like the rest of the wings,
never darker than discoidal cell, with the rest of wing more often hyaline
or greyish hyaline, rarely distinctly tinged mauvish or brownish mauvish
129.
129. (172) Abdomen in both sexes entirely with whitish, yellowish, golden
yellowish, reddish to reddish brown bristles discally or on sides, without
any conspicuous or extensive black bristles on sides and, if such are
present, only very few, 1 or 2, are found laterally near apex in gd and a
few in 9 also confined to sides apically : : . 130.
130. (133) Legs with all the spines and spicules entirely vellowian or pallid;
pubescence entirely brilliantly gleaming silvery whitish above and entirely
or predominantly so below, without any dark or blackish bristles or
bristly hairs on any part of body, without distinct stouter bristly hairs
on face or on frons; eyes in known ¢ in actual contact above for a distance
at least as long as tubercle, the upper facets very much coarser than
lower ones ; : . 131.
131. (1382) Legs entirely very diel or blacks the scipulesey very nbouly developed,
especially on front tibiae and with the 9-10 spines on hind femora below
slightly flattened and adpressed to femora; antennae with joint 1
relatively longer, quite 3 times as long as 2 and with 3 quite 14 times as
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 333
long as 1 and 2 combined; pubescence on the whole short, fine and
pubescent; slightly larger, about 8 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 8mm. . . 3 argyropogonus n. sp. (p. 458).
132. (131) Legs with only ve fede ee blackish brown, the tibiae being
distinctly yellowish, the spicules on tibiae less poorly developed, and
the 3—4 spines on hind femora more slender, not flattened and not slightly
adpressed to femora; antennae with joint 1 relatively shorter, only a
little more than 2 times as long as 2 and with 3 also shorter and only
a little longer than 1 and 2 combined; pubescence on the whole slightly
longer and more shaggy; slightly smaller, about 5 mm. long, with a
wing-leneth of 5 mm. : - 2 candidus n. sp. (p. 459).
133. (130) Legs with all the spines and sities not cutively yellowish, predomi-
nantly black, and those on hind tibiae always black and even some on
front and middle tibiae black; pubescence not entirely silvery whitish
above and below, always with some or numerous intermixed dark or
black bristly hairs or bristles on frons in 99 and on face in both sexes,
and even with blackish or dark transverse bristles on abdomen, always
with some stouter hairs or bristles on frons and face; eyes in §¢ never
in actual contact above, either very narrowly separated or widely
separated, the upper facets not so obviously and Rae ce, coarser
than lower ones : . 134.
134. (139) Wings distinctly, ioueli faintly: dotnseiniees more oe tinged
mauvish or mauvish brown throughout, with the base, costal cell and
first basal cell slightly darker and more subopaquely or opaquely yellowish
or pale yellowish brown; antennal joint 1 much shorter, only about
2-3 times as long as joint 2 : : . 135.
135. (138) Antennae with joint 3 comparatively sors sia or tadbequal to, or
only very slightly longer than 1 and 2 combined, more rapidly broadened
basally, especially in 99, and more so along inner or lower side, thus
forming a subangular prominence just before middle, with the first
terminal joint bearing style small and insignificant; legs with the femora
in gd always darkened or blackened basally to even beyond middle
and even darkened in 99 along front and upper surfaces, with the tarsi
and even certain surfaces of the tibiae darkened; interocular space in
6S broader, about as broad as ocellar tubercle; pubescence with the
mauvish black bristly hairs on face slightly shorter but more densely
concentrated and brush-like on face in front and the hair on frons in 92
not reddish or orange; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 101) . : . 136.
136. (137) Pubescence on body tending to be predominantly yellowish, brassy to
golden yellowish, with some or numerous transverse bristles on sides
of abdomen pale reddish, reddish yellow to reddish brown in both sexes;
legs with the femora in g¢ usually less extensively darkened and less
so in 99, even entirely yellow in 99 and usually with more than 5 spines
on hind ones below; sides of abdomen in ¢¢ usually more extensively
and broadly red; scutellum tending to be more extensively red
db bombycinus var. pallidispinis n. (p. 410).
137. (136) Pubescence on body tending to be paler, often very pale sericeous
yellowish to whitish, with all the bristles on side of abdomen paler,
whitish or yellowish; legs with almost, or the entire, femora in ¢¢
ood
Annals of the South African Museum.
blackened and even the tibiae more darkened, the femora in 99 often
also entirely dark and even blackish in basal halves, usually with fewer
spines, 4-6, on hind ones below; sides of abdomen in gg scarcely
reddened; scutellum tending to be much more obscurely reddened
discally, often almost entirely dark in jg
3 Q bombycinus n. sp. (Variety) (p. 407).
138. (135) Antennae with joint 3 longer and distinctly longer than 1 and 2
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
combined, less rapidly broadened basally and not markedly subangularly
prominent below nearer base, with the first terminal joint usually
markedly elongate and conspicuous; legs in both sexes entirely pale
ochreous yellow, the femora not or scarcely darkened along certain
surfaces and only the apical parts of tarsi darkened; interocular space
in gg much narrower, only about as broad as narrow front part of
tubercle; pubescence on body above and below entirely deep golden
yellow and all the bristles on abdomen golden yellow, with the black
bristly hairs on face slightly longer and more distributed on face and
not tending to be concentrated in front and depressed pubescence on
frons and face in 2° deep orange golden; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 116)
& 2 aureus n. sp. (p. 446).
(134) Wings only feebly subopaquely greyish hyaline or hyaline, not tinged
mauvish throughout, though the base and costal parts may be subopaquely
yellowish or even darker; antennal joint 1 aii) hain longer and
longer than 3 times as long as joint 2 . ; 5 . 140.
(161) All or the majority of the spines or spicules in fies upper outer row
on the front tibiae black, not pallid or yellowish like those in the lower
outer row; spines on hind femora below, in both sexes, entirely black;
transverse rows of bristles on abdomen rarely without some black ones
laterally, especially towards apex of abdomen in 99 and, in majority
of species, with a few, even if only 1 or 2, bes es. ones laterally
towards apexin gg also. : : ; . 141.
(152) Abdomen without any or with only 1 or 2 or very few, inconspicuous
dark or blackish, pale-tipped bristles laterally near apical end in gg and
without any or with a few more pale-tipped black ones in 99 laterally
and more or less confined to apical part of abdomen 5 . . 142.
(145) Legs entirely very dark or black in both sexes or the femora in §¢ at
least almost entirely black or the apical parts of hind tibiae and the
entire hind tarsi in 9° at least are blackish; pubescence with the bristly
hairs on frons, antennae and face predominantly or almost entirely
black, without any black or darkish transverse bristles on abdomen in
both sexes : . 143.
(144) Legs entirely very danies or laa in Lipa sexes, with fe spines on
hind femora below more brownish and with the spicules on front tibiae
above more poorly developed; wings distinctly with yellowish brown
in costal cell, base, first basal cell and even slightly in second basal cell,
with the first posterior cell distinctly more acute apically; scutellum
entirely black and sides of abdomen also entirely black; interocular
space in 9 quite 4 times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 1 relatively
longer, quite or nearly 4 times as long as 2; proboscis only about 3 mm.
long . : ; , : ; ; 3 2 faustus n. sp. (p. 444).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 335
144. (143) Legs with the femora black in § and the apices of hind tibiae and the
hind tarsi darkened in both sexes, with the spines on hind femora below
black and with the spicules on front tibiae well developed; wings with
only the base, costal cell and part of first basal cell subopaquely very
pale yellowish brownish or yellowish, with the first posterior cell distinctly
less acute and normal apically; scutellum with red discally and sides
of abdomen in ¢ slightly reddish; interocular space in 9 less than 4 times
as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 1 shorter, only about, or scarcely,
3 times as long as 2; proboscis longer, about 34-4 mm. long
So 2 salticolus n. sp. (p. 460).
145. (142) Legs entirely yellowish in both sexes or if darkened in g¢ then only
at base, with the apical parts of hind tibiae never blackened and at least
basal parts of tarsi yellowish even in 99; pubescence with distinctly
more numerous yellowish bristly hairs on head in both sexes, usually
with a few or some darker and even blackish bristles on sides of abdomen
even if only towards apex in 9° . . 146.
146. (147) Larger species, 11-13 mm. long, Bane a wing- length of about l1- 12 mm.;
pubescence above deeper and more uniformly golden yellow or even
more fulvous, with deep golden gleams, that towards apex of abdomen
in gd less whitish and also more golden, that in front of wings deep
golden yellow to orange golden or fulvous, with a conspicuous contrasting
vertical band of silvery white pubescence on mesopleural part and also
with a conspicuous silvery whitish patch on each side at base of venter;
wings slightly more greyish hyaline, with the costal and basal parts
more pale yellowish brown, with the basal comb large and strongly
developed; sides of abdomen in $¢ very broadly and extensively red;
interocular space in g¢ about as broad as, or scarcely broader than,
front ocellus; eyes in g¢ distinctly more flattened above and the upper
facets very coarse; legs with the front and middle femora armed below
with numerous spines in front and behind in both sexes and with more
numerous, about 9-14, spines on hind ones below
S 2 ventricosus Bezz. (p. 449).
(Some forms of it.)
147. (146) Smaller species, about 63-114 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
6-10 mm.; pubescence above ranging from sericeous whitish to pale
yellowish sericeous in ¢g, pale creamy yellowish to pale golden yellowish
in 9° and with sericeous or brassy gleams, that on apical part of abdomen
in $¢ paler and often almost white, that on sides in front of wings only
slightly deeper or more yellowish than above, that on pleural parts and
base of venter either uniformly paler yellowish or whitish, without
distinct contrasting bands or very conspicuous silvery whitish hair on
pleurae and venter; wings entirely hyaline or vitreous hyaline, with
only the base, costal cell and first basal cell very pale whitish or yellowish,
with the basal comb less strongly developed; sides of abdomen in gg
entirely black or very obscurely and indistinctly reddened; interocular
space in g¢¢ slightly broader, about as broad as front part of tubercle,
broader than front ocellus; eyes in gd not markedly flattened above
and with the upper facets not very conspicuously coarser than lower
ones; legs without or with only 1, or at least much fewer, spines in front
336 Annals of the South African Museum.
and behind on front and middle femora and with usually fewer, not more
than 10, spines on hind ones below : ? : : : . 148.
148. (151) Pubescence shorter, denser and, on thorax above, comparatively
shorter, varying from whitish sericeous to creamy yellowish or to brassy
and even golden yellowish, tending, however, to be more constantly
creamy yellowish or pale brassy yellow, with the bristly black hairs
on frons and sides of face in gg distinctly shorter or about subequal
to antennal joint 3, without any or with only a very few dark bristles
laterally and ventrally towards apex of abdomen in both sexes; antennal
joint 3, including terminal joints, always longer than 1 and 2 combined,
thickened near base and very gradually narrowed to apex; legs com-
paratively thicker; hypopygium of §g with the arch, formed by lateral-
rami from basal parts, at base of aedeagus, well developed and raised,
with the clavate process on each side of aedeagus shorter and the lateral
struts less developed . ‘ : : fe : : 5 . 149.
149. (150) Larger forms, 8-114 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 84-10 mm.;
proboscis more than 3 mm. long; antennal joints 1 and 2 black and 3
longer and, comparatively more slender apically, with the first terminal
joint well developed; legs with the front femora more often armed with
a few small spines in front and behind; sides of abdomen in g¢ entirely
black; face in front with denser and more numerous yellowish hairs in
64; interocular space in §g comparatively broader, at narrowest part
about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle; wings broader and
distinctly much broader towards base than apically; hypopygium of J
with the inner apical angle or process not projecting beyond apices of
basal parts, with the basal strut very broad, racket-shaped and with
a deep angular dorsal sinuosity . ; . & 2 mtus Wied. (p. 501).
(Variety of it.)
150. (149) Smaller form, about 64-8 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
6-7 mm.; proboscis shorter, about 3 mm. long; antennal joints 1 and 2
more brownish, and 3 shorter, thicker apically and with the first terminal
joint minute and scarcely discernible; legs with the front femora un-
armed; sides of abdomen in g¢ often distinctly, though feebly, reddish
towards apex; face in front with the hair distinctly less dense, with
fewer and more inconspicuous yellowish hairs; interocular space com-
paratively narrower, at narrowest part subequal to or scarcely broader
than front ocellus; wings distinctly narrower and towards base scarcely
much broader than apically; hypopygium of g with the inner apical
angle slightly more developed and distinctly projecting beyond apices
of basal parts, with the basal strut narrower and its dorsal sinuosity
less deep and angular , : ; 3 2 marshalli Par. (p. 462).
151. (148) Pubescence distinctly longer, more recumbent and slightly less dense,
longer on thorax above, paler, more whitish to straw-coloured whitish
or yellowish, that on abdomen in 3g whiter towards apex, with the black
bristly hairs on frons and face in gg distinctly longer than antennal
joint 3, without any or with more darkish bristles towards apex of
abdomen, especially in 99; antennal joint 3, including terminal joints,
more often distinctly shorter than 1 and 2 combined, distinctly more
club-shaped, comparatively much broader in basal third or fourth, from
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 337
where they are slightly more rapidly narrowed apically to slightly
beyond middle; legs comparatively more slender and the tibiae longer;
hypopygium of § with the arch at base of aedeagus less raised and less
developed, with the clavate process, on each side of aedeagus, longer and
projecting more : : = . 6 Q anthophilus n. sp. (p. 466).
152. (141) Abdomen always with a good few, a large number or at least with more
numerous and more conspicuous, more than | or 2, black or dark bristles
laterally and ventrally on last few segments in $g, always with more and
a variable number of distinct and conspicuous black bristles on sides
towards apex or from segments 2-6 in 99°. : : . 153.
153. (154) Scutellum entirely black; legs in both sexes entirely black or very
dark blackish brown, with the spines on hind femora below and on hind
tibiae yellowish brown to brownish, with the spicules on front tibiae
above small, sparse and comparatively poorly developed; face ap-
parently more truncate and slightly less conical in front; interocular
space in 9° very broad, at least 4 times as broad as tubercle; antennal
joint 3 in g¢ at least short and rod-like; wings more greyish hyaline,
with the costal and basal darker parts darker and more brownish, slightly
more extensive and even slightly extending into second basal cell, more
distinctly infuscated in gg: hind femora with only about 4 or 6 spines
below : ‘ : 2 : : - & 2 poweri n. sp. (p. 440).
154. (153) Scutellum red or reddish; legs not entirely black or dark, entirely
yellowish or with the femora darkened only at extreme bases in some 64,
with the spines on hind femora and tibiae black, with the spicules on
front tibiae above as well developed as on middle ones, also more
numerous; face slightly more conically prominent in front; interocular
space in 9° narrower, distinctly less than 4 times as broad as tubercle;
antennal joint 3 longer and even very long, distinctly thickened basally
and gradually narrowed apically; wings more hyaline, with the costal
and basal parts very pale yellowish white to yellowish, the yellowish
confined to costal cell, base and first basal cell, not extending into
second basal cell; hind femora usually with more than 5 spines below
155.
155. (156) Larger form, about 11-13 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
11-12 mm.; pubescence deeper and more distinctly deep golden or orange
golden, with golden gleams, that on sides in front of wings, especially
in §¢. also deeper golden and more orange fulvous, that on mesopleural
part with a conspicuous vertical band of silvery whitish hair and that
at base of venter similarly silvery white, with the transverse bristles
on abdomen slightly deeper yellowish in 29 and in both sexes often
with more blackish or dark ones laterally and apically; sides of abdomen
in $$ very broadly red; interocular space in §¢ very narrow, as broad
as, or scarcely broader than, front ocellus; eyes in gg more distinctly
flattened above and with the upper facets very coarse; wings slightly
more greyish hyaline in certain lights and considerably broader at base
in $3, with the costal and basal darker parts deeper yellowish to pale
yellowish brown, slightly more extensive and extending into extreme
bases of second basal and anal cells, with the basal comb more strongly
developed and the squamal fringe more orange fulvous; legs with more
338 Annals of the South African Museum.
numerous spines in front and behind on front and middle femora and
with slightly more numerous, 9-14, spines on hind ones below
Certain $¢ 29 ventricosus Bezz. (p. 449).
156. (155) Comparatively smaller and less bulky species, about 6-114 mm. long,
with a wing-length of about 5-10 mm.; pubescence ranging from almost
sericeous whitish to pale creamy yellowish or straw-coloured yellow in
gd, creamy yellowish, brassy yellow to pale golden yellowish in 99 and
with more sericeous gleams in both sexes, that on sides in front of wings
not or not so fulvous or orange golden, that on pleural parts and sides
of venter basally more uniformly paler yellowish or more whitish and
without a very distinct vertical silvery band, with the transverse bristles
on abdomen, in 39 at least, paler and more whitish or pale yellowish
and with fewer black ones intermixed laterally in both sexes; sides of
abdomen in gg entirely black or only very indistinctly and obscurely
reddish towards apex; interocular space in g¢ broader, a little or much
broader than front ocellus; eyes in jg not very visibly flattened above
and with the upper facets only a little more coarse than lower ones;
wings entirely hyaline or vitreous hyaline, scarcely broader basally
even in gg and the apex is more rounded, with the costal cell, base and
first basal cell being alone subopaquely whitish or feebly yellowish
white, with the basal comb less developed and even poorly in some
forms, with the squamal fringe not orange fulvous; legs with fewer
spines in front and behind on front and middle femora and hind ones
also with fewer, usually less than 10, spines below ; : LT,
157. (160) Slightly larger forms, about 74-114 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 7-10 mm.; proboscis longer, more than 3 mm. long; antennae
darker and more blackish brown or black; face and head below black;
frons in gg with the central furrow more or less well developed and
distinct throughout its length, with the frontal triangle in gg larger and
broader, the inner margins of eyes very rapidly diverging apically, with
the distance across bases of antennae equal to or subequal to width of
eyes at same level; dark bristly hairs on frons and face black in jg and
very dark blackish brown to black in 99, that on face in front denser and
predominantly yellowish in 99; black bristles on abdomen in 99 present
only on sides; front femora armed or unarmed below . . 158.
158. (159) Legs with the femora in g blackened to middle or to | middle,
without any apical spines above on front and middle femora, the front
ones unarmed below and the hind ones with about 5-7 spines below;
interocular space in 4 slightly broader, at least 2 times as broad as front
ocellus, with the inner margin of eye from hind angle to point of diver-
gence in front much shorter, equal to or subequal to 2 times narrowest
part of interocular space; antennae with joint 1 more than 4 times as
long as joint 2, with 3 shorter, less thickened basally and more rod-
shaped; pubescence on body above and below more silvery whitish and
that on abdomen above distinctly purer silvery white and the pectus
also with whiter hair; wings with the basal comb more feebly developed,
the basal spines being much shorter than length of first antennal joint,
with a tendency for discoidal cell to be more obtuse or truncate apically
3 deceptus n. sp. (p. 506).
(Karoo-form det. albidus Bezz. nec Lw.)
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 339
159. (158) Legs with the femora in g¢¢ as in 99 entirely yellow or only slightly
darkened at extreme bases, more often with a few small spines above
apically on front and middle femora, the front ones often armed below
with 1 or 2 spines in front and behind and the hind ones usually with
about 5-9 spines below; interocular space in g¢ distinctly narrower,
less than 2 times as broad as front ocellus, with the inner margin of eye,
on each side of tubercle, from hind angle to point of divergence anteriorly
distinctly much longer than 2 times the interocular space; antennae
with joint 1 only about 4, or less than 4, times as long as joint 2, with 3
longer and distinctly more thickened basally and less rod-shaped even
in gg; pubescence above and below more creamy yellowish or even
yellowish in jg, more golden yellowish in 99, that on abdomen above
in gg more creamy yellowish and that on pectoral part, even in ¢¢,
less silvery whitish; wings with the basal comb better developed, the
spines being at least equal to or subequal to length of first antennal
joint, with the discoidal cell tending to be less obtuse and often distinctly
more subacute apically ; : : - 6 2 meatus Wied. (p. 501).
(Some forms of it.)
160. (157) Slightly smaller form, about 6-7 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
5-64 mm.; proboscis much shorter, 23-3 mm. long; antennae paler
and more reddish brown; face paler and more reddish brown; frons in
6 with the central furrow less distinct and indicated only posteriorly,
with the frontal triangle in g smaller, the inner margins of eyes less
rapidly diverging apically, the distance across bases of antennae being
distinctly much less than width of eyes at same level; bristly hairs on
frons and face in g brownish or reddish purple and reddish or fulvous
brown in 9, that on face in front less dense, being predominantly more
orange to orange fulvous, especially in 2; black or dark bristles on sides
of abdomen in 9 at least more numerous and even found discally above
on segment 6; front femora unarmed below
3S P exiguus n. sp. (p. 464).
(Syn. = ctenopterus Bezz. nec Mik.)
161. (140) All or the majority of the spines or spicules in the upper outer row
on the front tibiae pallid or yellowish like those in the lower outer row;
spines on hind femora below, especially in 29, more often also with a few
or a large number of pallid or yellowish ones; transverse rows of bristles
on abdomen above entirely whitish or yellowish in both sexes, rarely dark
and if so they are more reddish, pale reddish brown to brownish . 162.
162. (165) Pubescence whitish sericeous, straw-coloured whitish or yellowish to
very pale creamy yellowish in both sexes, that on abdomen towards apex
in both sexes always almost entirely white, with the transverse bristles
on abdomen in both sexes entirely white or whitish, only those towards
apex in some 99 sometimes slightly brownish, but without any golden
ones; sides of abdomen in known g¢ entirely black; legs with the femora,
in known 64, blackened to much beyond middle . : liGae
163. (164) Pubescence entirely whitish sericeous, straw-coloured to Baie creamy
yellowish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in both sexes entirely
white or whitish, that on pleurae and pectus, sides of venter, in meta-
pleural tuft and in squamal fringe distinctly whiter; wings with a
340
Annals of the South African Museum.
distinct, but faint, subopaquely whitish tint, with extreme base sub-
opaquely whitish to very pale yellowish white; face in 99 at least with
comparatively fewer black hairs, the pale ones predominating and are
also denser, with that in gg even denser, black, more greyish in front
due to intermixed pale ones; legs with the spines on hind femora below,
especially in 99, often with some or a large number of pallid or whitish
ones; antennae black ; 5 . 6 & xerophilus n. sp. (p. 467).
164. (163) Pubescence more distinctly straw-coloured whitish or yellowish, with
the transverse bristles on abdomen in @ at least not entirely white,
brownish on sides and towards apex, hair on pleurae and pectus, sides of
venter much duller and inclining more towards straw-coloured yellowish,
that in metapleural tuft and squamal fringe more distinctly creamy
yellowish; wings more vitreous hyaline, less distinctly tinted whitish,
more subopaquely and feebly reddish, with the extreme base slightly
more pale ochreous yellow; face in 2 with slightly more numerous
very dark reddish brown hairs, with fewer pale ones which are distinctly
more whitish and less dense; legs with 1 or 2 reddish yellow or brownish
spines in addition to blackish ones; antennae with joint 3 more brownish
2 ngribarbus v. falsus n. (p. 485).
165. (162) Pubescence more distinctly yellow, yellow sericeous to pale golden
yellow and even deep lemon yellow to ochreous yellow, not whitish,
that on abdomen apically in both sexes pale yellowish to yellow, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen in both sexes entirely yellow or golden
and in some 9@ reddish yellow to brownish or reddish near apex, the rest
of these, however, entirely yellow; sides of abdomen in gg always with
some distinct red or reddish; legs entirely yellow or only darkened in
basal halves of femora in some ¢¢ , . 166.
166. (169) Antennae almost entirely pale reddish brown or ello in both
sexes, with the third joints, if darker, distinctly paler reddish brown or
brownish, not distinctly black; pubescence slightly paler, more sulphur
yellow to pale golden yellow, with the hair on face less dense and with
the black hairs, in ¢¢, intermixed with more numerous and more con-
spicuous paler yellowish or golden ones, with the transverse bristles on
abdomen in both sexes entirely yellowish or golden like rest of hair;
face in front reddish or brownish; legs entirely pale ochreous yellow or
yellowish in both sexes, with the front tarsi in 92 not comparatively
short, distinctly very much longer than front tibiae . ‘ . 16K,
167. (168) Wings faintly, but distinctly, tinged mauvish or reddish brownish;
pubescence above in g pale yellow, more golden in 9, with a more ochreous
yellow apical tuft on abdomen; face less distinctly reddish brown in
front; interocular space in ¢ distinctly broader, at narrowest part, as
broad as front part of ocellar tubercle or about as broad as length of
antennal joint 2, about 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9, with the upper
facets in eyes in 3 only imperceptibly coarser than lower ones; proboscis
slightly shorter, about 33-4 mm. long; legs with the majority of spines,
especially on middle and hind ones, and the spines on hind femora below
black; hypopygium of g with the process, on each side of aedeagus,
flattened and considerably broadened, leaf-like apically
3 8 rufiarticularis n. sp. (p. 480).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 341
168. (167) Wings less tinged, almost vitreous hyaline and with a feeble whitish
tint in certain lights; pubescence above in ¢ more sulphur or lemon
yellow and more golden in 9, without the apical part of abdomen being
more ochreous yellow; face more extensively and more distinctly
yellowish to reddish brown; interocular space in ¢ distinctly narrower,
at narrowest part, as broad as front ocellus or considerably narrower than
length of antennal joint 2, more than 3 times as broad tubercle in 9,
with the upper facets in eyes in g markedly coarser than lower ones;
proboscis longer, about 4-43 mm. long; legs with almost all the spines
yellowish to pale yellowish brown; hypopygium of ¢$ with the process,
on each side of aedeagus, not characteristically broadened and leaf-like
apically . ; ; : 3 & chlamydicterus n. sp. (p. 482).
169. (166) Antennae entirely black or at least not reddish brown or yellowish in
36d, but joints 1 and 2 may be yellowish in some 29; pubescence deeper
yellowish and more often ochreous or fulvous yellow, with the hair on
face denser and longer, with more numerous and more predominantly
black ones in gg, the pale ones being visible only round buccal rim in
front, with the transverse bristles on abdomen, in 29 at least, deeper
yellow, often more golden reddish and even brownish towards apex;
face entirely black; legs with the basal parts of femora in ¢¢ black;
with the front tarsi in 92 comparatively short, almost equal to or only
slightly longer than front tibiae . : ; 5 LOS
170. (171) Antennae entirely black or very dark reddish beowind in Hoth sexes; sides
of abdomen in §g with some red or reddish; pubescence on body below,
especially in 99, distinctly paler and more whitish, with the transverse
bristles on abdomen in ¢¢ either entirely yellowish or with a few darker
yellowish or reddish ones laterally near apex and with distinctly deeper,
more reddish yellow, reddish brown and even distinctly brownish ones
laterally and ventro-apically in 29; interocular space in 29 usually slightly
narrower, scarcely 3$ times as broad as tubercle; legs with the majority
of the spines on middle and hind femora below and those above on middle
tibiae black; wings with a tendency for discoidal cell to be slightly
less acute or subacute apically ; - fo 2 ngribarbus Lw. (p. 483).
(Including forms.)
171. (170) Antennae entirely black in $g, but with joints 1 and 2 yellowish in 99;
sides of abdomen in g¢ black; pubescence on body below, especially
in 99, more yellowish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen in both
sexes entirely yellow and not darker ventro-apically; interocular space
in 29 slightly broader, quite 34 times as broad as tubercle; legs with the
majority of the spines on middle and hind femora and on middle tibiae
above yellowish; wings with a tendency for discoidal cell to be more
acute apically . é : : . 6 Qchrystallinus Bezz. (p. 486).
(Ex. descr. and labelled 9.)
172. (129) Abdomen with distinct and more conspicuous transverse dark or black
bristles across hind margins of most of the segments on sides in both
sexes and these bristles in both sexes often not entirely confined to
extreme sides, with those in 99 more often also found on disc laterally
above of even segments 2-4 and usually with some or even most of those
on segments 5 and 6 discally above also dark or black . : . EIS:
VOL. XXXIV. 23
342 Annals of the South African Museum.
173. (174) All or the majority of the spines or spicules in the upper outer row on
the front tibiae pallid or yellowish like those in lower outer row; pubes-
cence above, especially on abdomen, more ochreous yellow and even
more so apically in 9; legs with the front tarsi in 99 markedly short,
almost subequal to front tibiae; antennal joint 3 tending to be more
brownish . . Some 9 forms of nigribarbus Lw. var. falsus n. (p. 485).
174. (173) All the spines or spicules in upper outer row on front tibiae entirely
black; pubescence above, especially on abdomen, usually paler and more
yellowish, not deep ochreous and the apex not deeper yellowish in 99
or gd; legs with the front tarsi in 92 much longer than front tibiae;
antennae entirely black é ; : ; . 175.
175. (178) Pubescence on head below, pectus, laterals parts of pleauaal the meta-
pleural tuft and sides of venter conspicuously frosty or chalky white,
markedly contrasting with the straw-coloured whitish or yellowish to
brassy or golden yellowish pubescence on body above . i . 176.
176. (177) Pubescence above pale straw-coloured yellowish to creamy yellowish
in $d, pale yellowish to brassy or golden yellowish in 99, with the frosty
white hair below less extensive and concentrated more on propleurae,
pleural regions and sides of venter, with the sides in front of wings pale
yellowish haired in fg and pale golden yellowish in 29, with the transverse
bristles on abdomen tending to be irregularly arranged in two rows
across hind margins, with the coxal bristles in 9° straw-coloured yellowish
to yellowish; legs more dark brownish, the front faces of femora and
tibiae darkened by black hair-like scaling, with about 9-10 spines on
hind ones below; interocular space in g¢ very nearly in contact, subequal
to width of front ocellus, in 99 more than 3 times as broad as tubercle;
wings distinctly greyish hyaline, the extreme base and costal cell yellowish
brown to brownish, with upper part of fringe on squamae ochreous,
containing some intermixed dark hairs
3 2 albipectus n. sp. (p. 486).
(Syn. = miatus Bezz. nec Wied.)
177. (176) Pubescence above more uniformly paler and more whitish, with frosty
whitish hair below more extensive and occupying the entire body below,
with that on sides in front of wings paler, dull straw-coloured whitish
and not yellow, with the transverse bristles on abdomen apparently less
dense and with a tendency for the rows to be single dorsally, with the
coxal bristles entirely frosty or chalky white; legs paler, pale ochreous
yellow, the front faces of the femora and tibiae without extensive or
conspicuous black scaling, with about 6 spines on hind femora below;
interocular space in 9 about or scarcely 3 times as broad as tubercle;
wings clear hyaline, the base and costal part subopaquely pale yellowish
white or whitish, with the fringe of squamae entirely white
2 canescens n. sp. (p. 489).
178. (175) Pubescence on head below, pectus, pleurae, in metapleural tuft and
sides of venter not strikingly or conspicuously frosty or chalky white
and, if whitish, not contrasting sharply (Anastoechus-like) with the
pubescence above, with that on the body below, excepting head, whitish,
pale yellowish white to pale yellowish and almost always, even when
whitish with a slight yellowish tint A : : : é . 179.
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 3438
179. (180) Abdomen with the transverse rows of black bristles on sides containing
fewer black ones, less extensive and also less conspicuous, pale-tipped
and confined more to extreme sides and ventro-apically in 99, being
entirely absent above dorsally on segments 5 and 6; bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle in 92 with more numerous and often predominantly
pale yellowish or pale brownish intermixed ones; legs with the femora
entirely yellow in both sexes or at least without very distinct black basal
parts in 3g : : : ‘ , . 6 2 mixtus Wied. (p. 501).
(Some forms of it.)
180. (179) Abdomen with the transverse bristles having more numerous, more
conspicuous and also more extensive black bristles on sides, these ex-
tending laterally above also, especially in 99, are rarely pale-tipped and
always present on segments 5 and 6 above dorsally in 9° even if only a
few; bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle in 9° usually predominantly black
or at least with fewer pale intermixed ones; legs with the femora in ¢¢
always blackened at bases, in basal halves or even to oe middle
and even blackened basally in some 29 : : : . 181.
181. (188) Comparatively larger species, bulkier, about 8-12 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 83-114 mm.; legs with either the entire femora
dark blackish brown or black or, at least, with the basal halves of front
and middle ones and bases of hind ones distinctly blackened or darkened
in both sexes; sides of abdomen in g¢ always with distinct red or reddish;
antennal joint 1 shorter, scarcely 4, or a little more, times as long as
joint 2; basal comb of wings well developed, the spines nearer its base
being longer than the length of antennal joint 1; transverse bristles on
abdomen, in known $3, very or comparatively narrowly interrupted
dorsally and, when more broadly interrupted on segments 2 and 3, the
bristles are not confined to the extreme sides, with the black ones more
numerous and conspicuous in both sexes, extending almost or to the
dorsal interruption on most of the segments, especially in 99 . 182.
182. (185) Pubescence very pale sericeous, straw-coloured yellowish, dull whitish
or straw-coloured whitish above, with sericeous or silky gleams, that on
body below paler, more whitish or dull straw-coloured whitish, with the
coxal bristles also paler and more whitish, with the transverse bristles on
abdomen comparatively broadly interrupted dorsally on segments 2
and 3, the interruption being slightly more or about a third of width of
segments; interocular space in known gd distinctly narrower, at
narrowest part about as broad as or only a very little broader than,
front ocellus, in known 99 distinctly 3 or a little more than 3 times as
broad as tubercle; wings with the squamal fringe whitish; halteres with
slightly more brownish knobs; sides of abdomen, in known ¢Q, less
extensively red, the red being confined more to extreme sides; tarsi with
only the last 2 joints of front and middle ones black i . 183.
183. (184) Pubescence above more straw-coloured yellowish, with sericeous
gleams, with the black transverse bristles on abdomen slightly pale-
tipped; legs with the femora only darkened at bases; wings more
distinctly subopaquely whitish, with the costal cell, base and first basal
cell more subopaquely whitish, with the veins darker and more blackish
brown, the first longitudinal vein being darker brownish to black, with
Annals of the South African Museum.
the discoidal cell tending to be more subacute apically; hind femora with
slightly more, about 9, spines below . dg acridophagus n. sp. (p. 474).
184. (183) Pubescence above and below paler and more dull whitish or straw-
coloured, that on abdomen above also more whitish and with the black
transverse bristles not pale-tipped; legs with the femora in 9 distinctly
more extensively blackened to near apex; wings more greyish hyaline,
with the base, costal cell and first basal cell distinctly more subopaquely
yellowish or ochreous, with the veins very pale yellowish brown, with the
first longitudinal vein very pale yellowish brown and with the discoidal
cell tending to be more obtuse apically; hind femora with only about
7 spines below . : E : , 2 damarensis n. sp. (p. 490).
(Syn. = miztus Bezz. nec Wied.)
185. (182) Pubescence distinctly more yellowish, dull yellowish, brassy yellow to
golden yellow, with brassy to golden or deep golden gleams, that on
body below distinctly less white, more yellowish and not much paler
than above, with the coxal bristles pale yellowish to yellow, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen distinctly more narrowly interrupted
dorsally above on segments 2 and 3, the interruption being distinctly
less than a third of the width of segments; interocular space in gd, at
narrowest part, slightly broader, distinctly and much broader than front
ocellus, about as broad as front part of tubercle, about 3 times as broad
as tubercle in 99; wings with the squamal fringe more yellowish or
yellow; halteres with distinctly more whitish knobs; sides of abdomen
in g¢ distinctly more extensively reddened; tarsi with at least the last
3 or 4 joints of front and middle ones black . ; : é . 186.
186. (187) Pubescence pale or dull yellowish, with dull brassy gleams, that on
apical part of abdomen paler, inclining to whitish, with the hair on face,
in gg at least, less developed, shorter and the bristly hairs on head above
distinctly shorter, with the transverse bristles on abdomen on segments 2
and 3 more narrowly interrupted dorsally and, in 99, with only the
extreme lateral ones on segments 2-4 black, with pale yellowish or
yellowish white bristles on venter; legs with the femora darkened or
blackened only in basal halves or at extreme bases in both sexes, the
front surfaces may be darkened by blackish scaling, without any apical
spines above on front and middle femora and front ones unarmed;
interocular space in gg, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part
of tubercle, with the upper facets of eyes in gg less coarse; antennal
joint 3, in 9° at least, with the apical part more slender; proboscis
with the spinules below not or scarcely visible; wings with the base,
costal cell and first basal cell much paler, subopaquely very pale yellowish
brown or even yellowish white, with the squamal fringe very pale
yellowish white or creamy yellowish; hypopygium of 3 with the process,
on each side of aedeagus, flattened, broadened and racket-shaped apically
3 2 eremophilus Hesse (p. 492).
187. (186) Pubescence distinctly more pale golden to deep golden, with more
golden gleams, that on apical part of abdomen, especially in 99, less
whitish and more golden, with the hair on face, in gg at least, slightly
longer, denser and more conspicuous, and the bristly hairs on head above
longer and those on antennae also denser, with the transverse bristles
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 345
ee ee
on abdominal segments 2 and 3 dorsally very much more broadly inter-
rupted above and, in both sexes, with all the bristles in the rows entirely
black, with black transverse bristles on venter; legs with the entire
femora, excepting only the apices, dark brownish black to black in both
a sexes, with the front surfaces of both the front pairs and the tibiae even
| more darkened by black scaling, with the front and middle ones often
armed above with apical spmes, the front ones also armed below with
about 24 short spines; interocular space in gg, at narrowest part,
much narrower and only about as broad as front part of tubercle, the
tubercle itself being smaller, with the upper facets of eyes in J¢ distinctly
more coarse and distinctly coarser than lower ones; antennal joint 3
with the apical part comparatively thick and distinctly less slender;
proboscis with the spinules on labium below dense and distinctly visible;
wings with the base, costal cell and first basal cell much darker, yellowish
brown to brownish, with the squamae darker and its fringe distinctly
more subfulvous or yellowish; hypopygium of $ with the process, on
each side of aedeagus, narrow, a gi and not broadened, clavate or
racket-like apically . - 6 2 walioni n. sp. (p. 493).
188. (181) Comparatively smaller species, = bulky: usually about 6-103 mm
long, with a wing-length of about 7-9 mm.; legs with the femora in 20
entirely yellowish, blackened in bases or in basal halves or even entirely
in some $¢; sides of abdomen in f¢ without any red; antennal joint 1
usually at least 4, or even distinctly more, times as long as jomt 2; basal
comb of wings less strongly developed, even very small, with the spines
nearer base much shorter and never or very rarely longer than antennal
joint 1; transverse bristles on abdomen in $¢ very broadly interrupted
dorsally and on segments 2 and 3 only found on extreme sides, with the
black ones in both sexes less conspicuous, less numerous and more
confined to the sides, the greater number of those sie above being
whitish or yellowish even in 9° . : . 189.
189. (196) Interocular space in g¢ distinctly narrower, aii as broad as front
ocellus or only a very little broader at narrowest part, with the inner
margins of eyes, on each side of tubercle, in $¢ from their hind angle to
point of divergence in front, longer, at least 2, or much longer than 2,
times the width of interocular space or at least 2 length of antennal
joint 1; legs in $¢ with the femora entirely iach or distinctly less
extensively darkened, the hind ones being not extensively or entirely
black; last abdominal tergite in both sexes with black bristles or bristly
hairs on each side and, when not very distinct, the interocular space in
do at least is narrow and the black bristles on abdomen in 29 are pale-
tipped; wings more often distinctly darker in costal cell and at base,
being usually more brownish; antennae with joint 1, on the whole,
slightly longer, about 4-5, or even more, times as long as joint 2, with 3
usually distinctly more broadened basally or at least more rapidly
narrowed towards apex and without or with only a few intermixed pale
hairs on jomt 1 m 99° : : : . 190.
190. (193) Interocular space in $¢ much narrower, silky sherk as broad as front
ocellus, in 99 tending to be narrower, not very much more than 3 times
as broad as tubercle; antennae with joimt | slightly shorter, only about
346
Annals of the South African Museum.
33-4 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 less rapidly narrowed towards
apex or with a shorter apical slender part, the joint, on the whole, shorter;
wings tending to be distinctly darker and more brownish at base, in
costal cell, first basal cell and even in second basal cell to a variable
extent, with the veins much darker, very dark blackish brown to almost
black : ; » Le
191. (192) Pubescence on body predominantly more yellowish, creamy yellowish
to pale golden yellowish in both sexes, that towards apex of abdomen
only slightly paler, creamy whitish or yellowish; scutellum usually more
extensively reddened or entirely reddish; legs with the femora in gd
only darkened in some specimens at extreme bases, the hind ones being
entirely yellowish ; . 6 2 silvaticus n. sp. var. turnert n. (p. 500).
192. (191) Pubescence on body entirely or predominantly whitish, straw-coloured
whitish to straw-coloured yellowish in both sexes, that towards apex of
abdomen in both sexes distinctly more white; scutellum with a tendency
to be less red and sometimes only so discally; legs with the femora in
33 often darkened to about middle
3 2 silvaticus n. sp. var. turneri n. (p. 500).
(Pale-haired form.)
193. (190) Interocular space in §¢ slightly broader and distinctly broader than
front ocellus, about 14—2 times as broad as front ocellus, in 99 tending to
be a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1
either distinctly longer, 4-5 or slightly more, times as long as joint 2 or,
if shorter than 5 times, the interocular space in g¢ is broader and black
bristles on abdomen in 99 are pale-tipped, with joint 3 usually distinctly
more rapidly narrowed apically, the apical slender part usually more
slender and longer; wings either distinctly less dark in costal cell and
base or when distinctly darkish the dark is less conspicuous, with the
veins less dark and more brownish ‘ . 194.
194. (195) Abdomen with distinct, black, not pale-tipped bristles towards apex
on segments above as well as laterally on the other segments in both
sexes and always with black bristles or bristly hairs on sides of last
tergite; wings with the costal cell, base, first basal cell and often even
base of second basal cell more distinctly yellowish brown or yellowish,
with the veins darker and more brownish; antennal joint 1 distinctly
longer, about 44-5, or even slightly more, times as long as joint 2; hind
margins of ventral segments entirely black or only very obscurely pallid;
frons in gg without a distinct tuft of pale hairs just in front of tubercle
and ocellar tubercle in 99 with predominantly, or entirely, black hairs
3 2 silvaticus n. sp. (p. 497).
(And forms of it.)
195. (194) Abdomen without any black bristles towards apex above in both sexes
or a very few in 9° and without any or only a few inconspicuous blackish
bristly hairs on sides of last tergite with the black bristles on sides of
abdomen in both sexes becoming paler apically (7.e. distinctly pale-
tipped); wings usually much paler and more subopaquely whitish or
pale yellowish at base, in costal cell and first basal cell, rarely with a more
brownish tint, with the veins distinctly more yellowish; antennal joint 1
distinctly shorter, less, and often much less than 5 times as long as 2;
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 347
hind margins of ventral segments in both sexes more distinctly and often
conspicuously more pallid; frons in f¢ with a distinct tuft, or at least
with a good number, of pale hairs in front of ocellar tubercle and with
more numerous or even predominantly yellowish or pale bristly hairs
on tubercle in 992 f ‘ : : - d 2 mxtus Wied. (p. 501).
(Forms of it.)
196. (189) Interocular space in gg distinctly broader, at narrowest part,-much
broader than front ocellus, about as broad as front part of tubercle and
only a little narrower than posterior part of tubercle, with the inner
margins of eyes in §g, on each side of tubercle, from hind angle to point of
divergence in front, shorter, subequal to, or even less than, 2 times the
width of interocular space or distinctly shorter than two-thirds length
of antennal jomt 1; legs in gg with the femora distinctly more ex-
tensively blackened to beyond middle and with the hind ones entirely
or almost entirely, black; last abdominal tergite in both sexes without
any black bristles or bristly hairs on side and also without black bristles
on last few segments in gg above; wings with the base, costal cell and
first basal cell distinctly much paler, very pale yellowish white or sub-
opaquely whitish; antennae with jomt 1, on the whole, shorter, not
more or scarcely more than about 4 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3
comparatively less rapidly broadened basally, more gradually narrowed
apically, often more subrod-like and with more numerous pale hairs on
joint 1, especially below, in 99° . : 3 2 deceptus n. sp. (p. 504).
Gen. Anastoechus Ost. Sack.
48 gg 86 92 A. deserticolus n. sp.
(Syn.=rubricosus Bezz. nec Wiedemann.)
Body black, often with a greyish mauve or slate-coloured bloom
on the thorax and abdomen above in some forms and, where this is
denuded, the integument shows a slight deep metallic blue sheen in
sunlight; first antennal joints pale yellowish, the second joints dark
blackish or reddish brown and the extreme apices of joint 3 not
entirely black like rest of joint, but often more brownish; front part
of face and in 99 also front part of frons, pale reddish yellow to dark
reddish; scutellum, excluding narrow black base, more often pale
reddish to ferruginous red, but in some specimens only obscurely red
on disc; sides of abdomen very broadly and to a certain extent the
hind margins towards sides of segments 2 and 3 and more broadly
on 4 and 5 and the entire dorsum of the rest in the $¢ very pale
reddish, terra-cotta to salmon pink, in 99 also broadly red on the
sides, but less extensively than in 3d, with the hind margins of
segments 3-6 above and entire segment 7 of the same colour, but in
some forms the hind margins are pale yellowish red to ivory yellowish;
348 Annals of the South African Museum.
venter pale yellowish, pale reddish to reddish brown or brownish,
the hind margins ivory whitish to yellowish or yellowish red and
3-genitalia yellowish; metapleural parts in many specimens with
irregular infusions of yellowish red to obscure brownish red; legs,
including coxae and trochanters, very pale yellowish, almost pallid
in many specimens, the hind femora, in some smaller forms, with a
slight pale brownish infusion on its upper apical outer aspect, especially
in $d, with the tarsi becoming more brownish yellow towards apices,
the apical part of last joint or even last 2 joints in some forms, as
well as the planes of articulation of the other joints dark brownish
black to black, apical two-thirds of claws black, all the spines pallid
to pale yellowish and the scaling on legs whitish; pubescence com-
paratively long, with the bristly elements well developed, varying
from greyish white, through pale yellowish white and pale ochreous
to soft yellowish brown when viewed from above, viewed from in
front or the sides it varies above from pale greyish white to pale
creamy whitish, yellowish to golden, that on occiput and thorax in
front of gd, in certain lights, whitish to very pale creamy whitish,
in 99 whitish to pale vellowish or yellowish white, hair on occipital
part and sides in front of wings in some 99 often distinctly yellowish
to ochreous, that on abdomen long and shaggy, whitish, pale creamy
whitish to pale yellowish white, the extreme sides and the apex
distinctly whitish, with the bristles on thorax, posterior calli and
scutellum whitish, pallid to pale yellowish white, those on occiput, in
some 99, more yellowish, the transverse hairs across hind margins
before rows of bristles tipped pale creamy yellowish, ochreous to
pale brownish fulvous, even distinctly dark mauvish in some forms,
with the transverse bristles long, conspicuous, mostly brownish,
blackish brown, purplish brown to black, only their bases or basal
halves and often all on segment 2 entirely yellowish to pale golden,
the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and bristles on sides of frons,
varying from whitish to straw-coloured in gg, to very pale yellowish
or ochreous in 92, those on first antennal joints, on frons in front,
sides of face and face in front and some intermixed on upper parts of
genae straw-coloured yellowish, pale yellowish to ochreous in 99,
whitish to very pale yellowish white or pale yellow in 33, with the
genal bristles white or straw-coloured white in 3g, often slightly
more yellowish in some 99 and often distinctly tipped yellowish to
pale ochreous yellow in some $?, with the flattened depressed scaling
along hind margins of eyes laterally and along sides of genae, the
hair on head below frosty or chalky white, that on pectoral and
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 349
pleural regions more frosty white in 99, the bristly hairs on coxae,
especially the front ones, and some on propleurae entirely whitish
to straw-coloured in $3, tipped straw-coloured yellowish to yellow
in 99, the bristles of metapleural tuft white to straw-coloured in 3d,
more yellowish, even ochreous in some 992, pubescence on venter pale
straw-coloured yellowish to yellowish in 33, slightly more yellowish
in 99, the bristles straw-coloured to pale sericeous in $¢ and pale
yellowish to golden or fulvous in some 92; wings with the costal cell,
first marginal cell (to even slightly beyond its apex), basal two-thirds
of first submarginal cell, apical part of first basal cell, basal fourth
and the upper half of first posterior cell (up to its end), extreme base
of second marginal cell, more or less the apical half of second basal
cell, bases of discoidal and fourth posterior cells, basal half of anal
cell and often extreme base of axillary cell pale yellowish brown to
deep yellowish brown, the extreme base, basal part of costal cell,
basal three-quarters of first basal cell and more or less basal half of
second basal cell, alula and in some specimens, middle of apical part
of marginal cell more translucently pale yellowish, the rest of wing
(posterior part) hyaline and also an obscure clear spot in apical part
of second basal cell, with the basal comb whitish, yellowish, ochreous
yellow to orange in some forms, the veins brownish yellow, brownish
to dark brownish, becoming paler towards base, with the discal cross
vein, basal cross vein of fourth posterior cell and basal part of vein
between submarginal cells distinctly darker, the squamae subopaquely
pale yellowish white, pale yellowish to yellow, with white to creamy
yellowish or distinctly yellow fringes in some 992; halteres very pale
yellowish to brownish yellow, with white to very pale yellowish
white knobs. Head with the interocular space in Sg comparatively
wide, wider than ocellar tubercle, at narrowest part about or nearly
twice as wide as posterior part of tubercle, almost at once rapidly
widening anteriorly from narrowest part, in 92 about 3, or even
shghtly more, times as wide as tubercle; occiput with the hairs long
and longer in the 92; antennae with joint 1 slightly longer in 929,
joint 2 broader than long, with 3 much longer than 1 and 2 combined,
club-shaped, much thickened at base, broadest at about basal fourth,
rapidly narrowed apically, the apical half or more being long and
slender, the extreme apex being again slightly dilated, with the first
terminal joint indiscernible and the style slender and straight; face
with the pubescence and mystax well developed, the bristles in front
and laterally, as well as those on genae prominently developed and
more so in 99; lower parts of genae with distinct long and stout
350 Annals of the South African Museum.
bristles; palps comparatively slender and feeble; proboscis often
with the extreme basal part reddish or brownish, about 3-55 mm.
long. Legs with the bristles on coxae very well developed and long;
front and middle femora, in 3¢ at least, with long white hairs post-
erlorly; front ones with 1-3 spines in front; middle ones with from
4—9 in front and 1-4 behind; hind ones with about 7-19 spines
below, the number varying with the size of the specimens and are
more often more or less irregularly arranged in 2 or more rows
TExtT-FIG. 78.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and dorsal view of
beaked apical joint of § Anastoechus deserticolus n. sp.
towards apex; claws comparatively long and slender, longer in 33,
only slightly bent downwards from about middle to apex, with the
pulvillii extending to middle or even slightly beyond in 33g, more
reduced and confined to basal third in 92; joints 2—5 of front tarsi
in 99 slightly modified, appearing more dilated or thickened than
middle tarsi and also provided with fairly dense, fine and slender
hairs, especially on last 3 joints, from where the two rows of ventral
spines, present on middle and hind tarsi, are entirely absent, the
front pulvilli in 99 are also slightly more reduced and confined to
base, the claws also slightly shorter. (The front tarsi in all 992 of
Anastoechus and Systoechus, like those of Bombylius, are of course
modified.) Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 78) with the basal parts
with fairly long hairs, the neck region towards dorsum with long and
shaggy hairs, the dorsal margin of inner apical processes also with
long hairs; apical beaked joint comparatively broad, hollowed from
A Revision of the Bombyluidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 351
below, with a somewhat elongate depression above and outer upper
convex part with dense hairs, long basally, the beaked curved out-
wards; aedeagus with the apex nearly reaching level of inner apical
processes, with the base not very much produced anteriorly into a
plate or ventral aedeagal process.
Types in the South African Museum and paratypes in the Transvaal
and British Museums and in Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 6-14 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-13 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Springbok (g-holotype from here and
labelled as rubricosus by Bezzi); O’okiep (9-allotype also labelled
rubricosus), paratypes from Bowesdorp, Kamieskroon, Garies District
and Spektakel (South African Museum). N.W. Karoo: Calvinia
(Ogilvie, 11-16/11/31) (Imperial Institute); Van Wyk’s Vlei and
Bushmanland (South African Museum). Little Karoo: Willowmore
(Transvaal Museum). S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, Oct.—Nov.
1928) (British Museum). Nieuwveld Karoo, Central and Gouph
Karoo (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
This species is very typical and characteristic and may easily be
recognised by its excessive hairiness, its characteristically infuscated
wings. The species seems to be very variable and at least five, more
or less different, forms are distinguishable:—(1) The type form,
which is fairly large, with predominantly yellow ochreous or pale
yellowish brown pubescence and yellowish basal comb. (2) Another
large form, which is slightly paler, more creamy yellow in certain
lights, with almost orange coloured basal comb. (3) Another
Namaqualand form with the transverse hairs before rows of bristles
much darker at tips, more brownish to brownish black and with the
infuscated part of wings in some specimens paler, more pale yellowish
and not so conspicuous. (4) Smaller forms which, when viewed
from side, are distinctly paler, less yellow and more whitish, with
fewer spines on hind femora and darker scutellum. (5) The smallest
forms, which are distinctly paler greyish white and almost white
above, with whitish basal comb.
This species is also remarkable in that it represents in the genus
Anastoechus more or less the same pattern-type of species that
purpureus, micans and hypoleucus do in the genus Bombylius. As a
matter of fact, so close is this specific parallelism that A. deserticolus
may be superficially mistaken for B. micans or hypoleucus. It has
the same well-developed pubescence, bristles, etc., on the body, a
very similar type of wing pattern, the same well-developed pubescence
352 Annals of the South African Museum.
and bristles on the head, face and genae, same wide interocular
space in the 3g, similar claws and pulvilli, obtuse apical part of dis-
coidal cell, etc. Moreover, the species darlingi, hirtus and melanurus
bear the same relationship to B. hypoleucus that the various forms of
deserticolus bear to this type form.
Both Bigot and Bezzi (p. 47, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, Pl. I, fig. 9,
1921) wrongly determined this species as rubricosus (Wied.) (see under
rubricosus). The species seemsto be more or less confined to the
drought-stricken and arid parts of South Africa, where it is always
found hovering over and resting on the dry and hot sand.
1 $ 3 99 A. deserticolus var. coloratus n.
This variety is so near certain forms of deserticolus that the
differences only may be mentioned. It is relatively much smaller;
the body is comparatively more elongate, and narrower; pubescence
is more uniformly paler greyish white on thorax and more straw-
coloured yellowish on the abdomen and only in 92 is it more distinctly
yellowish towards apex and on sides; the red on abdomen is
comparatively more reduced, the red hind margins towards
apex less conspicuous; pubescence and bristles on head com-
paratively paler, whitish in dg, like that of small forms of
deserticolus s.str., but the transverse bristles on abdomen darker
in 99; wings darker, distinctly tinged greyish or cinereous in the
posterior half, with the front part infuscated as in deserticolus, but
first posterior cell is almost entirely infuscated, the constant lower
clear half of apical part of this cell in deserticolus being here scarcely
discernible, the apical clear half of anal cell of deserticolus is also
much less clear, the infuscation at apical part of second basal ceil,
basal half of fourth posterior cell and base of third posterior cell is
also more diffused, almost the entire fourth posterior cell being tinged
(the hyaline posterior half being on the whole more tinged and less
conspicuously delimited from the anterior infuscated part than in
deserticolus); legs with apparently fewer spines, 5-8, on hind femora
below. Hypopygium like that of deserticolus (cf. text-fig. 78) with
the apical beaked joints comparatively narrower, but larger in relation
to the basal part, the beak more slender and the hairs shorter, hair
on dorsum of neck region also much shorter; aedeagus distinctly
projecting beyond inner apical processes; lateral struts and basal
strut much feebler. |
Types in the South African Museum.
* A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 353
Length of body: about 54-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-74 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1931).
2 gd 2 99 A. argyrocomus nu. sp.
(Syn. =leucosoma Bezz. in part.)
The 9-specimen from Matjiesfontein, referred to lewcosoma by
Bezzi (p. 54, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii) as well as another 9 and ¢
from the same locality, although superficially inseparable from Jeuco-
soma, show distinctly different specific characters and compared with
the 99 of leucosoma the following differences may be mentioned :—
The specimens are comparatively larger and bulkier, with a body-
length of about 9-10 mm. and a wing-length of about 8-9 mm.;
the beautiful dense, frosty white or silvery white pubescence and
bristles above and below comparatively longer and apparently denser ;
head very much broader, the hairs and bristles on frons and hairs on
face denser, longer and more developed, with the blackish brown
bristly hairs on frons-more extensive and even a few intermixed ones
extending down lower and upper parts of genae, with distinct stiff
hairs or bristles on face anteriorly and even a few bristles on genae
also, with the interocular space above considerably broader, though
having the same relationship of about 44 times as wide as ocellar
tubercle, the tubercle also being much smaller in leucosoma, with
antennal joint 1 comparatively much longer, subequal to 3, whereas
in leucosoma it is distinctly much shorter, with joints 1 and 2 combined
longer than 3, shorter than 3 in lewcosoma, with joint 3 almost rod-
like, only slightly thickened at about basal third, the base broad and
not petiolate as in lewcosoma, with the eyes larger, the facets also
comparatively larger, with the proboscis distinctly shorter, less
slender, about 44 mm. long; wings with a slightly more distinct
whitish tint in certain lights, with the costal cell, first basal cell and
extreme base also subopaquely whitish, the veins however distinctly
darker, more dark brownish to blackish brown and the first longitudinal
vein dark brown, not yellowish; halteres dark brown, with dark
brown knobs, not yellowish with white knobs; abdomen above with
the hair and bristles much denser and longer; legs stouter, but with
the femora almost entirely blackened and white-scaled as in leucosoma,
but more hairy, also only the apices of the tibiae yellowish, with,
however, a spine apically on hind face of front femora and 2 or 3
whitish spines in front on middle ones and 5—7 whitish ones on hind
304 Annals of the South African Museum.
femora below, with the claws more developed and longer than in
leucosoma.
The 3 is like the 2, but the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and frons
are longer and finer and slightly paler brownish, only the ones inter-
mixed on frons laterally in front and on face laterally above are
blackish brown as in 9; bristles on face in front are more slender
and less stout; interocular space much narrower, only very slightly
wider than the tubercle at narrowest part at level of lateral ocelli;
a b.
TExt-FIc. 79.—(a) Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Anastoechus argyrocomus n. sp. (b) Beaked apical joint of hypopygium of
g Anastoechus nitens n. sp.
eyes with the upper facets coarse; third antennal joint comparatively
shorter, more slender and rod-shaped, scarcely broadened basally,
with the style, as in 9, slender, short and inconspicuous; abdomen
with the pubescence and bristles finer; legs coloured as in 2, only
more slender, with the same number, but more slender, spines on
the femora. Hypopygium (text-fig. 79, a) comparatively narrow, the
basal parts only with fine hairs; apical beaked joint leaf-shaped,
very rapidly narrowed to a short outwardly directed beak, with a
large, elongate, basal, foveate depression above, the hairs short above,
lower surface more or less hollowed out; aedeagus with the lateral
rami forming a slightly pointed ventral aedeagal process; lateral
and basal struts shortish, the basal one slender and club-shaped.
Types in the South African Museum.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Trimen, Oct. 1891) (Types):
Calitzdorp Distr.; Matjiesvlei (Brauns, Oct. 1921).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 355
This species is probably the southern representative of leucosoma
of the North Western Cape.
1 g A. nitens n. sp.
Very close to argyrocomus, having the same beautiful frosty white
or silvery white pubescence and bristles and superficially inseparable
from g of argyrocomus, differing, however, in being comparatively
broader across the thorax, in that the integument of body in this
specimen is not black, but dark brownish to brownish black; frons,
face and scutellum as well as pleural parts being even more brown
than body above; venter yellowish; antennal joints 1 and 2 yellowish,
with 3 black but with a brownish apex; proboscis more or less
narrowly pale brownish below towards base; bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, frons and sides of face dark brownish as in argyrocomus;
legs yellowish and even greater part of femora also yellowish, only
the upper surfaces and bases darkened and brownish, not black,
with the spines more brownish yellow; femora with less pubescent
hairs below basally, with 1 apical spine below on front ones, 2-3 in
front and 1 behind on middle ones, and about 7 spines below on hind
femora from just before middle to apex; claws slightly longer and
more slender and only slightly curved downwards from middle to
apex, the pulvilli also as in argyrocomus; wings with the veins more
yellowish; interocular space, at narrowest part, about 2 times as
wide as in argyrocomus, the ocellar tubercle also being much larger,
the space broader than tubercle, a little less than twice the distance
between the two posterior ocelli; antennae with joint 1 comparatively
longer, subequal to 3, which is similarly rod-shaped; face viewed
from in front much broader, the mystax as dense, but the bristles
on genae slightly more apparent; proboscis slightly shorter, about
3% mm. long; halteres yellowish, with ivory white knobs, not brownish
ones. Hypopygium very similar to that of argyrocomus (cf. text-fig.
79, a), elongate and narrow, the apical beaked joints (text-fig. 79, 0),
however, with the dorsal foveate depression slightly longer and
deeper, the front part more steeply sloping; ventral process at base
of aedeagus less pointed and less prominent.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 94 mm.
Locality.— Namaqualand; “‘P.N.8” (probably “Port Nolloth’’).
The above three species are characterised by the beautiful downy,
356 Annals of the South African Museum.
silvery white or frosty white pubescence and hyaline, or only faintly
whitish-tinted, wings. They also show the same parallelism of
pattern and relationships to other species of Systoechus and Anas-
toechus as the remarkably similar B. molitor, volucer, leucolasius and
minusculus bear to other species of Bombylius.
3 3d 4 99 A. pruinosus n. sp.
Superficially these specimens are almost inseparable from argyro-
comus, nitens and leucosoma. They all have longish, dense, shaggy,
entirely gleaming silvery whitish pubescence and bristles, thus also
resembling white haired species of Bombylius, such as volucer, molitor,
leucolasius and minusculus. Their separation is thus a difficult
matter. This species is, however, much nearer argyrocomus than
leucosoma, and may even be considered as a northern representative
of argyrocomus.
Like argyrocomus the entire body, including scutellum, is entirely
black; legs also with the femora black to much beyond the middle,
the tibiae yellowish and apical parts of tarsi blackish; pubescence
also entirely gleaming silvery or silky white, only the pubescence on
body below less brilliantly silvery and with the hairs on ocellar
tubercle and longer bristly hairs or bristles on basal part of frons,
sides of frons and even a few down sides of face black in both sexes;
wings also faintly subopaquely tinted milky whitish but with the
basal half in $¢ not hyaline or clear as in argyrocomus but distinctly
tinged smoky brownish up to end of costal cell, then across basal
halves of marginal, first submarginal, first posterior, discoidal and
fourth posterior cells, with, however, the costal cell, base and basal
three-quarters of first and second basal cells and alula more sub-
opaquely whitish or yellowish white, with the wings in $9 entirely
clear as in argyrocomus, only the base, costal cell and first basal cell
almost imperceptibly more pale yellowish white instead of white,
the veins and especially costal veins also very dark as in argyrocomus,
the squamae also opaquely whitish and black bordered as in argyro-
comus and not yellowish bordered as in leucosoma; halteres with the
knobs also very dark brownish and not pale as in leucosoma. Head
with the interocular space in 6g much broader than in argyrocomus,
in fact remarkably broad, nearly or about 2 times as broad as broad
ocellar tubercle, in 92 on the contrary slightly narrower than in
argyrocomus, only about or nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle, quite
41 times in argyrocomus; antennae with joint | nearly 6 times as long
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 357
as 2, thus about as long as in argyrocomus, with 3 subrod-like, sub-
equal to joints 1 and 2 combined; proboscis about 4-5 mm. long.
Legs with 1 spine in front apically and about 2 behind on front
femora; middle ones with about 2 spines medially below and 1 or 2
behind apically; hind femora with about 5-8 spines below; claws
slender, only gradually curved downwards, with the pulvilli not quite
reaching the middle of the claws in both sexes as in argyrocomus.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 80) very much like that of argyrocomus
TExtT-FIG. 80.—Side view, half of ventral view, and dorsal view of beaked
apical joint of hypopygium of $ Anastoechus pruinosus n. sp.
and nitens, differing only in having no apically projecting lobe-like or
lip-ike process below aedeagus, in having a slightly shorter beaked
apical joint and longer lateral and basal struts.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 63-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality —N. Eastern Karoo: Venterstad (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935)
(Types); Steynsburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935); Burghersdorp
Area (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935). O.F.S.: Bethulie; Caledon R.
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935). y
A. leucosoma Bezz.
(P. 54, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
The 9-type from Bushmanland and 3 other 92 from Prieska and
O’okiep and 1 @ from Murraysburg District can only be considered
as belonging to this species. In addition to Bezzi’s description the
following points may be added: Abdomen usually with the narrow
VOL. XXXIV. 24
358 Annals of the South African Museum.
hind margins of tergites 6 and 7 yellowish to reddish and sometimes
even the venter is reddish or brownish; wings with a feeble whitish
tint and paler veins than in argyrocomus or pruinosus, the costal
veins being yellowish; antennae with joint 1 much shorter than in
argyrocomus or pruinosus, only a little more than 3 times as long as
2, with 3 distinctly longer than 1 and 2 combined and tending to
be broadest just before middle; interocular space on vertex in 99
relatively broader in relation to tubercle, nearly or quite 5 times as
broad as tubercle; claws much shorter than in argyrocomus or pruin-
osus, also only gradually curved and with the pulvilli short.
Length of body: about 5-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 53-7 mm.
Locality Namaqualand, Bushmanland, N.W. Karoo and Central
or Great Karoo. (In the South African Museum.)
A. erinaceus Bezz.
(P. 50, Ann. S.. Air. Mus., vol.’ xvii, 1921)
This species, described from Namaqualand, is easily recognised by
the following characters :—
Body predominantly black; scutellum with more than hind half
ferruginous; legs with the femora darkened to beyond middle, the
tibiae yellowish and only apical parts of tarsi more brownish; pubes-
cence much like that of deserticolus, the head very bristly, bristles
being present on face and on genae, the bristles on abdomen also
long and shaggy, with the pubescence on body above predominantly
gleaming silvery whitish in both sexes, that on disc of thorax with
very faint brownish gleams, with the scaling on sides of face, the
pubescence and bristles on genae, the hair on head and body below
and on sides of abdomen chalky whitish, with the bristles on head
above, thorax, scutellum and transversely across hind margins of
tergites very dark purplish brown in both sexes and some bristles on
venter also very dark; wings with a distinct subopaquely mauvish
tint, becoming more distinctly reddish brown or yellowish brown at
base, in costal cell, basal half of marginal cell, first basal cell, second
basal cell and even across basal halves of first submarginal, first
posterior, discoidal, fourth posterior and anal cells in g, in 2 only
distinctly subopaquely yellowish brown at base, in costal cell and
first basal cell, the basal comb dark purplish brown in both sexes,
covered with white scaling, with the veins reddish or purplish brown,
the squamae opaquely pale yellowish, dark bordered and fringed with
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 359
white hairs; halteres yellowish brown with very pale knobs. Head
with the interocular space in ¢ broadish, only a little more than
14 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, in 2 about 4 times as broad as
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 3 times as long as 2 along
dorsal part in 9 and only about 24 times as long as 2 in 4, with 3
gradually tapering to apex, the apex very slightly thickened; pro-
boscis about 5 mm. long. Legs without any visible spines on front
femora below; middle ones with about 3-4 longish spines apically
TExtT-FIG. 81.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
Anastoechus erinaceus Bezz.
in front; hind ones gradually curved downwards, with the pulvilli
reaching middle of claws in 4, confined to base in 9. Hypopygium
of g (text-fig. 81) with long, characteristic, tress-like hairs on dorsal
margin of apical part of neck region, these hairs very nearly or quite
half as long as basal parts; beaked apical joints with a rather longish
beak, with the inner side of beaked joints somewhat elongately
depressed above and with a crest of spine-like hairs on outer ridge-
like part above; aedeagus with a short, pointed, lobe-like, apically
projecting process below formed by the fusion of apical parts of rami
from basal parts.
Locality Namaqualand: Springbok. (In South African Museum.)
6 Sd 6 92 A. flavosericatus n. sp.
Externally there appears to be so little difference between these
specimens and the typical ermnaceus that they may almost be taken
to represent a variety of the latter. The hypopygium of the 4,
360 Annals of the South African Museum.
however, shows some distinct differences. Compared with erimaceus
the chief points of difference are :—
Body black, but the sides of the abdomen in g¢ more conspicuously
and more broadly reddened; legs with the hind tibiae slightly more
brownish yellow or more brownish than in erinaceus and the apical
parts of the tarsi are also darker; pubescence on body above distinctly
more gleaming sericeous yellowish or pale golden yellowish and
towards base of thorax above distinctly more yellowish or golden,
Trext-FIG. 82.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
Anastoechus flavosericatus n. sp.
with that on face and body below frosty white as in erinaceus, the
bristles on head, thorax and abdomen above also blackish or very
dark purplish black; wings also tinted slightly subopaquely mauvish,
but the darker costal and basal parts in $g more distinctly brownish
and in 92 also less reddish and more brownish, with the veins distinctly
darker and more blackish brown. Head as in erinaceus, but with the
interocular space in $3 slightly narrower, with the proboscis also
about 44-5 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 82) differs in
having the beaked apical joints slightly longer, in having shorter
hairs on beaked apical joints, no long tress-like hairs on inner apical
parts of basal parts, a more knob-like ventral aedeagal process and
also a distinctly longer basal strut.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10 mm.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 361
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West Distr.; Leeukloof
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935) (Types): Fraserburg Distr.; Teekloof (Mus.
Staff, Nov. 1935). S.E. Karoo: Graaff-Reinet (Mackie, 2427/10/31).
(In the Imperial Institute.)
58 3S 42 92 A. macrophthalmus Bezz.
In his paper on the 8S. African Bombylidae (p. 52, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii) Bezzi referred a $-specimen to this species, a descrip-
tion of which was reserved at the time for a paper on the Budapest
Museum material. In 1922 the species was again mentioned and the
2 partly described (p. 74, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II.).
Finally, it was again referred to in the key to the Ethiopian species
(p. 74, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region). As the material
in the Hungarian Museum was never described separately in published
form, I am appending a full description of macrophthalmus as based
on Bezzi’s labelled g-specimen and the very numerous gd and 99
in the South African Museum and the 2 92 in the Imperial
Institute.
Body predominantly black, the abdomen entirely without any red
on the sides or across hind margins; scutellum also tending to be
dark, only obscurely dark reddish brown discally towards hinder
part; venter with indistinct and narrowish paler hind margins,
usually hidden by the pubescence; legs with the coxae, trochanters
and femora black in both sexes, only the extreme apices of the latter
being yellowish, with the front and middle tibiae yellowish, the hind
ones and the tarsi more brownish yellow to brownish especially in
33, the last 2 or 3 tarsal joints even darker and apical two-thirds of
the claws black; pubescence on the whole much shorter than in the
deserticolus series, the bristles on body longer than the erect hairs
and those on abdomen distinctly longer than the rest of pubescence,
with the erect shortish pubescence on thorax above and that on
abdomen above gleaming silky or silvery whitish, that on occiput
even purer white, with the denser, woolly pubescence on face, genae,
on sides of and head below, on pleural and pectoral regions, on
sides of tergite 1 and slightly longer ones on sides of abdomen in
basal half and tuft-like intermixed apically and at base of venter
strikingly chalky or frosty white, with the hairs on ocellar tubercle,
on frons, the bristles on frons in 99, intermixed hairs on antennal
joints 1, a patch of short hairs on each side above wing-bases, those
more or less sparsely on disc of thorax, those more densely on
362 Annals of the South African Museum.
scutellum, the tuft-like patches chiefly on sides of abdomen above and
longer and more conspicuous tufts apically, dark blackish brown to
very dark purplish brown, those on scutellum and transversely on
abdomen, however, with yellowish or pale bases, with the bristles on
occiput, sides of frons anteriorly, especially in 99, the curved bristles
on face in front, the bristles on thorax in front, the macrochaetae
and bristles on sides of thorax in front of wings and on mesopleural
plate, the longish ones on posterior calli, those across hind margin
of scutellum, yellowish, gleaming more golden brownish in certain
lights, those on pronotal part often slightly darkened apically and
even tending to be dark in 3g, with the transverse bristles on abdomen
stoutish, longer and denser apically, very dark blackish brown to
purplish brown to black, those at apex together with the blackish
hair forming a conspicuous black or purplish black ring contrasting
with the white apical tufts, most of the dark bristles on abdomen
more or less pale or yellowish at their extreme bases, with the shorter
bristles on venter sparser but also blackish, with the scale-like,
flattened hairs on abdomen above, arranged more or less transversely
and along midline apically, the broader and denser scaling behind
eyes, those concentrated on each side along inner margins of eyes on
face and genae, even forming a patch on each side of face and the
scaling on venter chalky white, the scaling on legs dense, white on
femora and more greyish on tibiae, the spines and spicules on legs
yellowish; wings in gg with the basal part up to and across middle
of basal cells subopaquely yellowish or yellowish white from there,
dark smoky to blackish brown up to end of costal cell and across to
end of fifth vein, the apical part of wings greyish hyaline, this dark
band-like infuscation thus conspicuous and occupying most of the
middle parts including the anal and axillary cells, where the infusca-
tion is slightly more cinerous, with the wings in 99 greyish hyaline
to cinerous, tending to be uniformly cinereous greyish, only the
costal cell and base, as in 3g, subopaquely yellowish, with the basal
comb in both sexes dark blackish brown or purplish brown, the veins
dark brown to blackish brown, appearing darker within the dark
band in g¢ and with a tendency for the apical cross veins of basal
cells, the base of vein between the discoidal and third posterior cell
and the base of vein separating the submarginal cells to be distinctly
darker and even spot-like in some specimens, with the alula yellowish
and dark-bordered, the squamae opaquely yellowish and white-
fringed; halteres yellowish or pale brownish, with very pale yellowish
knobs. Head with the interocular space in 3¢ above as broad as
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 363
tubercle, at narrowest part about as broad as slightly narrower front
part of tubercle, the vertex very broad in 99, nearly 6 times as broad
as tubercle, thus giving the head a very broad and squat appearance;
eyes in 99 thus relatively small; antennae with joint 1 a little more
than 4 to 5 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 slender, almost rod-
like, only very slightly thickened basally, the extreme apical part
slightly more slender than rest of joint, the apex itself broadened,
obliquely truncated, slightly cup-like or sucker-like; proboscis 34-5
mm. long. Legs without any visible spines below on front femora;
TEXT-FIG. 83.—Side view, half of ventral view, and dorsal view of beaked
apical joint of ¢ Anastoechus macrophthalmus Bezz.
middle ones with 1-2 spines apically in front; hind ones with about
5-8 spines below; claws gradually and only slightly curved down-
wards from middle, slender in gd, the pulvilli extending to about
middle of claws in gd, confined to base in 92. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 83) with the beaked apical joints broad, foveately depressed
above, the beak curved outwards and slightly upwards (see middle
figure); aedeagus without a ventral process, the base being bell-
shaped.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-8 mm.
Locality —S. Karoo: Hex River (Dec. 1884). Central Karoo:
Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935). Nieuwveld Karoo:
Fraserburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935). Namaqualand: Van
Rhyn’s Pass (Cockerell, Nov. 1931) (in the Imperial Institute);
Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936); Knersvlakte (Mus. Exp.,
364 Annals of the South African Museum.
Nov. 1936). Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns) (according to
Bezzi).
The two 9-specimens in the Imperial Institute have the spot-like
infuscations on the cross veins and veins more distinct than in 99
from the Karoo. |
1 9 A. eurystephus vn. sp.
This slightly denuded 9, from South West Africa, in the British
Museum, is so near macrophthalmus, as defined in this paper, that it
may even prove to be only a northern variety of it.
Body black; scutellum ferruginous red discally; abdomen reddish
along extreme sides below, more distinct on last 2 segments, with
the last sternite also more distinctly reddish; legs yellowish, with
the front and middle femora blackened to beyond middle and the
hind ones almost entirely black, with about 4 pallid spines on hind
ones below, with the claws only slightly curved and the pulvilli just
about reaching middle of claws; pubescence above predominantly
white, the hairs on disc of thorax pale yellowish brown to brownish
golden in certain lights, with the hair transversely across apical half
of second abdominal segment and across segments 5 and 6 distinctly
yellowish brown or pale brownish golden in certain lights, with the
tips of these individual hairs appearing darker, with indications, on
the sides mostly, of darkish-tipped transverse rows also on segments
3 and 4 (the hair on abdomen discally in this specimen is, however,
much denuded), with the transverse bristles across hind margins of
abdominal segments paler and more yellowish on segment 2, becoming
darker and more chocolate brownish posteriorly, especially on the
sides, each bristle having a pale or yellowish base, with the bristles
on venter pallid or yellowish, with the bristles on frons, intermixed
ones on occiput, on sides of thorax, on base of thorax and on scutellum
pale yellowish brown, those towards sides of thorax in front being
paler still, with the long curved bristles on face whitish or white,
with the pubescence on body below cretaceous white, with character-
istic, flattened, broadish, scale-like, depressed pubescence on abdomen
above, arranged more or less transversely across hind margins of
segments, also denser and more concentrated along extreme sides, on
sides of venter and on metapleural parts, very dense and conspicuous
around the eyes and on genae; wings greyish hyaline, with a faint
subopaque whitish tinge in certain lights, with the base, costal cell
and first basal cell slightly subopaquely yellowish, with the basal
comb yellowish, with the veins dark brownish, becoming more
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 365
yellowish towards base and along first longitudinal vein, with the
apical cross veins of first and second basal cells distinctly infuscated
and with a feeble indication of a darker infuscation at base of vein
between discoidal and third posterior cells and also at base of vein
separating submarginal cells, with the first posterior cell more or less
acute apically. Head with the interocular space on vertex remarkably
broad, at least 7 times as broad as tubercle, the entire head thus
remarkably broad and squat, with the first antennal joint slender and
about 4 times as long as joint 2 (third joints missing in the type-
specimen), with the proboscis about 3 mm. long.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality —S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus. (Turner, Dec.
1929). f
A. innocuus Bezz.
(P. 52, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii.)
This species is easily recognised by its soft creamy yellowish
pubescence on body above, resembling that of sericophorus var.
congruens n., the blackish or dark
frontal hairs and bristles and the
stoutish, dark-tipped or reddish
brown transverse bristles on ab-
domen above especially towards
apex, by the reddish venter and
reddish abdominal sides in 3, the
femora which are blackened to
beyond middle, the wings which
are almost hyaline, only tinged
subopaquely yellowish whitish in
costal cell, base and first basal cell
and which have a whitish basal
comb and pale reddish brown to
yellowish veins, by the slender,
almost rod-like, third antennal Txxt-ric. 84.—Half of ventral view
joints which are only gradually <p side, view of hynonritum of 3
thickened basally and by the short
pulvilli in both sexes. The doubtful 2 referred to by Bezzi (p. 53,
loc. cit.) is only a smaller specimen, and the South African Museum
also possesses another 2 from the same locality, which is almost
LF free Ls
of OTRAS
, é
“f |
MM)
ct = '
\
366 Annals of the South African Museum.
identical with the ¢ type. The 9, however, has more dark bristles
towards apex of abdomen and the dorsal interruption of the transverse
rows of bristles is comparatively wide in both sexes. The face in
front in 2 at least has some distinct bristles.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 84) with the beaked apical joints narrow,
elongate, not foveately depressed above and with minute and scarcely
visible pubescence above; aedeagus without an apically directed
plate below; basal strut almost racket-shaped.
Locality — Namaqualand and N.W. Karoo. (In the Imperial
Institute and South African Museum.)
5 gd 8 992 A. phaleratus n. sp.
Black; antennal joint 1 with variable red, often entirely dark;
hinder part or almost entire scutellum, sides of abdomen above and
sometimes hind margins of
segments and greater part
of venter or at least broad
hind margins of venter red-
dish to salmon pink; legs
predominantly yellowish or
ochreous yellowish, the
middle and hind femora
sometimes with a _ slight
touch of brownish above
towards apex, sometimes
entirely yellowish, the last
2 or 3 tarsal joints brown-
ish to dark brownish and
apical parts of claws black-
Text-Fic. 85.—Half of ventral view and side ish; pubescence dense but
view of hypopygium of g Anastoechus not very long and shaggy,
Vaal only that towards apex of
abdomen long, that on thorax above in 3$¢ at least tending to have a
slight cropped-off appearance, that on occiput, thorax above and
densely on abdomen above ranging from pale sericeous yellowish
to golden yellowish, that towards apex of abdomen in 3¢ tending
to become paler, even whitish in some specimens, witht he bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle, the bristles on base and sides of frons very
dark purplish black, the bristles on occiput, thorax and scutellum
pale yellowish or coloured like rest of pubescence on thorax, slightly
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 367
tipped darker in some 92, with the stoutish, transverse bristles across
hind margins of abdomen above becoming longer and stouter apically
and also longer than the hairs, entirely pale and yellowish in some
33, with only a few apical ones tipped dark, with the bristles in 99
and some $¢ dark purplish or blackish brown apically or in their
apical halves or even almost entirely dark, those towards apical part
of abdomen being especially conspicuous, with the bristly hairs on
frons anteriorly, on antennal joint 1 and upper parts of sides of face
pale yellowish, with the very dense, ae
woolly pubescence and bristly hairs EW
on face, genae and head below,
that on pleurae, pectus, on sides
of abdomen above and on venter
chalky or cretaceous white, with
the bristles on venter also whitish,
with the scaling on legs dense,
white on femora but becoming
slightly more yellowish on tibiae;
wings subopaquely pale greyish
yellowish or pale yellowish brown,
the base, costal cell, basal half of
marginal cell, base of first sub- pixeerc. 86.—Part of ventral view
marginal cell, first basal cell, part and side view of hypopygium of 3 of
of second basal cell, base of anal * Y*” Bape BCrOtUS nS:
cell and base of alula more apparently yellowish and even slightly,
more so in some 34, the wings becoming more subopaquely greyish
towards apex, the basal comb with blackish or purplish brown spines,
the veins brownish, becoming paler and more yellowish at base and
the costal margin dark, with the squamae opaquely yellowish white,
with an almost whitish to pale creamy yellowish fringe; halteres pale
yellowish brown and with almost white knobs. Head with the
interocular space in g¢ above as broad as ocellar tubercle or only a
very little broader, with the interocular space in 92 broad, quite 43
to 5 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 23, or a
little more, times as long as joint 2, with 3 more or less club-shaped,
broadest at about basal third, narrowed apically but distinctly more
rapidly on inner lower side, giving the joints a slight humped appear-
ance, the apical slender part slightly longer in 99 than in 3g; pro-
boscis about 4-54 mm. long. Legs without any visible spines below
on front femora; middle ones with 1 or 2 apical spines in front; hind
ones with about 5-7 spines below from just before middle to apex;
368 Annals of the South African Museum.
claws only slightly curved downwards and pulvilli confined to base
of claws in both sexes. Hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 85 and 86) with
the basal parts slightly produced apically on each side of the beaked
apical joints which thus appear sunk in, are narrowish and elongate,
without a distinct depression above; aedeagus with the base projecting
slightly forwards, forming a slight ventral process (shown in figures).
Types in the South African Museum; paratypes in the British and
Transvaal Museums, in the Imperial Institute and Union Agricultural
Department.
Length of body: about 64-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality—Central Karoo: Letjiesbos (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935)
(Holotype); Middelburg (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935) (Allotype).
Namaqualand: lLekkersing (Mus. Staff, March 1935). Little
Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns 15/1/23). Nieuwveld Karoo: Fraserburg
Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935). HE. Cape Province: Albany Distr.
(Walton 11/11/22). O.F.S.: Bloemfontein (29/11/14). Transvaal:
Marico; Zwartruggens (Brauns, 15/1/21). 8. Rhodesia: Bulawayo
(Rhod. Mus., 5/10/34). S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus
(Turner, Dec. 1929); Great Karas Mts. (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This species is fairly widely distributed in Southern Africa and is
consequently subject to slight variations. The specimens from the
Transvaal, O.F.S. and Rhodesia differ from the typical form in having
the red on the abdomen in both sexes more extensive, the antennae
also paler, the first joint usually more extensively reddish and with
more numerous black-tipped transverse bristles on abdomen in both
sexes. Specimens from the South-East appear to have the pubescence
more golden in both sexes and interocular space in § as broad as ocellar
tubercle. Specimens from Namaqualand have more numerous dark-
tipped bristles on abdomen in the gg and agree more with individuals
from the Transvaal and O.F.S. The specimen from Lekkersing even
has the wings slightly darker and distinctly more brownish.
Superficially this species is near innocuus Bezz., but may at once
be distinguished by its characteristic third antennal joints, more
yellowish pubescence on body, yellowish femora and distinctly more
subopaquely yellowish wings.
1 3 A. phaleratus var. albicerus n.
Even this specimen may be considered as still another variety of
phaleratus.
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 369
Body black; apices and inner side of antennal joint 1, the bases
and apices of joint 3 yellowish and joint 2 slightly brownish; greater
part of scutellum, broad sides of abdomen above and hind margins
of tergites 3 and 4 and entire 5 and 6 pale reddish and entire venter
yellowish reddish; legs also pale ochreous yellow, with the hind
femora above more extensively darkened; pubescence above pre-
dominantly pale sericeous yellowish, appearing more uniformly
creamy yellowish than in phaleratus, becoming paler and more
whitish towards apex of abdomen,
that on occiput and antennal joint
1 appearing more yellowish than
test of pubescence above, that
on tubercle and base of frons
blackish, that on face, genae, head
below, pleurae, venter and to a cer-
tain extent on sides of abdomen
frosty or chalky white, with the
bristles on thorax and scutellum
entirely pale yellowish, those trans-
versely on abdomen dark blackish
brown to purplish brown, their
bases yellowish, but those apically Tuxv-re. 87.—Side view and part of
more conspicuously dark, those on _—_ Ventral view of hypopygium of ¢
eee : A. phaleratus var. albicerus n.
venter whitish near base, becoming
more straw-coloured towards apical part of venter; wings more
uniformly subopaquely yellowish than in phaleratus, the costal part,
base, first and second basal cells and basal half of marginal cell also
more distinctly pale yellowish, the rest of wing appearing greyish,
with the veins more distinctly conspicuous than in phaleratus,
appearing darker and more visible against the background owing to
the presence of faint, but distinct, brownish infuscations along their
courses, especially across the middle part of wing; head with the
interocular space as broad as tubercle, with antennal joint 1 only
about 23 times as long as 2, with 3 as in phaleratus, with the proboscis
about 33 mm. long; legs with about 5 spines below on hind femora
and with the claws as in phaleratus. Hypopygium as shown in text-
fig. 87.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 94 mm.
Length of wing: about 94 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 19/10/21).
370 Annals of the South African Museum.
1g192 A. sericophorus n. sp.
Body black; posterior discal part of scutellum (somewhat ob-
scurely) and the extreme sides of abdomen in § reddish; legs with the
front and middle femora to beyond the middle and almost entire
hind femora blackish or black and apical parts of tarsi also darkened;
pubescence fine, dense and soft in appearance, predominantly gleaming
sericeous whitish, especially in J, that towards apex of abdomen in g
especially more whitish,
the hairs on _ ocellar
tubercle and base of frons
in § yellowish, the bristly
hairs and bristles on
frons and tubercle in 9
blackish brown, with all
the bristles on occiput,
thorax, scutellum and
abdomen whitish like
rest of pubescence, with
the dense pubescence on
face and genae and body
below and on _ venter
TExt-FIG. 88.—Side view and part of ventral view chalky whitish and the
of hypopygium of g Anastoechus sericophorus spines and spicules on
ee legs almost white or at
least whitish; wings slightly more powerfully developed in 3, with
the basal half up to end of costal cell and across the wings to
apex of anal cell, including the alula, conspicuously yellowish brown
in g, the infuscation appearing well demarcated, the rest of wings
clear hyaline, in 9 vitreous hyaline, only the base, costal cell, first
basal cell and bases of second basal and anal cells tinged slightly
yellowish, with the basal comb whitish, the veins dark brownish,
with the lower half of squamae more or less subopaquely brownish or
brownish yellow and the upper half almost whitish, fringed with
white hairs. Head with the interocular space in ¢ broadish, at
narrowest part a little wider than ocellar tubercle, in 2 a little more
than 4 times as broad as tubercle; frons in both sexes slightly more
convex anteriorly than in other species; antennae with joint |
scarcely 3 times as long as 2 in ¢ and about 3 times as long as 2 in
2, with 3 broadest at about basal third, distinctly more rapidly
narrowed from there along lower side, thus giving the joint a humped
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 371
appearance, with the apical part slender, the terminal style straight
and short, the base above of joint 3 with an indication of white
scaling; proboscis about 48-5 mm. long. Legs without any visible
spines on front femora below; middle ones with about 2-3 spines
apical behind; hind ones with about 6-7 shortish spines below from
before middle to apex; claws sickle-shaped and the pulvilli reaching
middle of claws in g at least. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 88) with
the beaked apical joints broad, foveately depressed above, the beak
curved outwards; aedeagus (shown in the side view) is hidden below
the ventral aedeagal process in the shape of a long and produced
tongue-shaped process, the basal half of which is broadened and
continuous on each side with the lateral ramus joined on to each
basal part, the entire structure being simply a process formed by the
fused anterior parts of the rami; dorsal basally directed aedeagal
struts long and conspicuous.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 74-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-10 mm.
Locality.—_S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner, Dec.
1929).
3 33 A. sericophorus var. congruens n.
Three 3-specimens from the Karoo differ only in details from
sericophorus and may be taken to represent a Karoo variety of this
species. These specimens
differ from the typical
form in having the pub-
escence on body above
slightly less whitish, tend-
impeton be Ymore | pale
sericeous yellowish on
thorax, even more dis-
tinctly sericeous yellowish
on disc of thorax, in
having the basal infus-
cated part of wings slightly
paler and in two specimens
at least paler yellowish
and fainter, the rest of
wings also less clear TExtT-FIG. 89.—Half of ventral view and side
f : view of hypopygium of g A. sericophorus var.
hyaline, appearing more ¢ongruens n.
372 Annals of the South African Museum.
greyish, in having antennal joint 3 slightly shorter and even joint 1
quite 3, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with the proboscis
about 4-44 mm. long, with the hypopygium as shown in text-fig. 89.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
Locality—Central Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov.
1935) (Type). Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 17/11/16) (in the
Transvaal Museum).
2 92 A. dolosus n. sp.
These two specimens, though superficially very near and almost
identical with 99 of phaleratus, yet differ in important details which
point to a separate specific position. From the typical 9-phaleratus
and slight varieties of it, it differs in the following characters :—
Abdomen with the red on sides, usually conspicuously developed in
phaleratus, very much reduced or obscure, practically only visible
on sides of tergite 1 and as narrowish hind margins and sides on apical
tergites or even only on last few tergites; pubescence predominantly
pale golden yellowish above as in some 99 of phaleratus, with
similar dark blackish brown bristles on ocellar tubercle, frons and
sides of frons, but without any trace of dark or dark-tipped transverse
bristles on abdomen, these being all entirely sericeous yellowish like
those on thorax, with the pubescence on face (excepting a few darkish
bristles), genae and entire body below also chalky whitish as in
phaleratus; wings not distinctly subopaquely greyish yellow or
yellowish brown, but distinctly clearer, more hyaline, only the base,
costal cell, basal parts of marginal cell and first and second basal
cells subopaquely pale yellowish and the basal comb entirely pale
yellowish, not with dark brownish spines. Head with the interocular
space on vertex distinctly narrower, only about 3, or a little more,
times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1, though apparently
shorter than in phaleratus, yet longer in relation to joint 2, quite 3
times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 shaped as in phaleratus, broadest
at basal third and more rapidly narrowed along lower surface; pro-
boscis about 5 mm. long. Legs also predominantly yellowish and
with a tendency for hind femora to be darkened above apically,
but also with a tendency for the femora to be slightly darkened at
extreme bases; front femora without visible spines below; middle
ones with about 2 spines in front and hind ones with about 5-6 spines
“A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 373
below; claws distinctly more sickle-shaped, more curved downwards
and with the pulvilli longer, about reaching middle of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-7} mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
Locality —Central or Great Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus.
Staff, Nov. 1935).
30 gd 8 92 A. leucochroicus n. sp.
(Syn.=cervinus Bezz. nec Loew.)
On p. 50 in the Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, Bezzi referred this
species and partly described it as cervinus Lw. From Loew’s
description of cervinus, which I have established as a synonym of
rubricosus (Wied.) (see under rubricosus (Wied.)), it is quite evident
that this species is quite different and may be distinguished at once
by being slightly larger, by the very much narrower interocular
space, much paler pubescence, very much narrower red hind margins
of abdominal segments, at least on disc, absence of transverse rows
of dark yellowish or ochreous hairs and blackish brown bristles on
abdomen above, etc.
Body black; face yellowish or reddish in front; scutellum, sides
of abdomen broadly in g¢ as well as hind margins of abdominal
segments 5-7 in gg and extreme sides of segments 5-7 in 92 reddish,
the sides in gg being very pale orange red or salmon pink; hind
margins of segments above narrowly ivory whitish or yellowish;
venter and exposed genitalia in gg very pale brownish yellow to red-
dish, the narrow hind margins pale yellowish, in 99 the genital segment
is yellowish; the neck medially below and a triangular area on each
side in front of front coxae very pale yellowish or ivory like (as in
the majority of species of this section as well as in most other species
of Anastoechus); legs very pale brownish or ochreous yellow, with the
bases or basal halves of front and middle femora and the upper
surfaces of the hind ones blackish brown to black, covered with white
scaling, with the hind tibiae slightly more brownish yellow on upper
surfaces and the tarsi, especially towards apices, more brownish, the
claws almost entirely black, only the bases pale brownish; pubescence,
viewed from above, greyish white to yellowish, becoming whitish
towards apex of abdomen, with the “shorn-off” and short hair on
thorax very pale sericeous whitish to yellowish, showing velvety
reflections in different lights and almost entirely sericeous whitish in
VOL. XXXIV. 29
374 Annals of the South African Museum.
$3 from in front, in 99 with a slightly more creamy or sericeous
yellowish tint, that on abdomen above fine and dense, distinctly
soft sericeous or silvery white from side, paler in $g where the salmon
pink part or red sides show lividly through the white hair, with the
flattened scale-like hairs on sides of frons anteriorly, very densely
on face, genae and below eyes laterally, the hair on head below,
that on pectoral and pleural regions, a puff-like tuft along upper part
of mesopleuron and in front of wing-bases, metapleural tuft and
venter chalky or cretaceous white, with pale yellowish pubescence on
frons in 99, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle in gg yellowish,
in $2 more brownish yellow to brown, with the fine bristly hairs on
sides of frons in go very pale yellowish white and the stouter, denser
and longer ones in 92 golden or brownish yellow and even dark
blackish brown ones on sides, with some of pubescence on face in
front in 2 yellowish, white in $g; macrochaetae and bristles in front
of wings, posterior callar bristles, scutellar bristles and transverse
rows on hind margins of abdominal segments above pale yellowish
white in gd, bristles towards apex of abdomen being almost entirely
white, in 99 scarcely more yellowish, with the transverse bristles
slightly stouter in 99 and often more reddish brown or even tipped
dark brownish especially towards apex, both bristles and hair
much longer towards apex in both sexes, the dorsal interruption
narrow, the ventral bristles white in g¢ and more straw-coloured in
2°; wings with the following pattern in gd: the extreme base,
costal cell and first basal cell more or less subopaquely pale yellowish,
with the basal half of marginal cell, base of first submarginal cell, basal
halves of first posterior and discoidal cells, extreme base of third
posterior cell and more or less the basal three-quarters of fourth
posterior cell, the apical part of first basal cell, the apical part of
second basal cell and apical part of anal cell, slightly more brownish,
the infuscation being more evident along the veins in this area, the
rest of wing hyaline, in the 9? the pale brownish infuscation is not
represented, the entire wing being almost hyaline, only the costal
cell, base and first basal cell being subopaquely yellowish as in gd,
with the basal comb in both sexes pale yellowish to pale brownish,
being slightly darker distally and the hair-hke scaling behind being
white at base, with the veins brownish, reddish brown to dark brown,
becoming paler and often more yellowish towards base, the first
longitudinal vein distinctly reddish brown, the squamae very large,
opaquely pale yellowish, with white fringes; halteres yellowish,
with almost white knobs. Head with the interocular space in go
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 375
comparatively narrow, at narrowest part much narrower than behind,
about as broad as narrow front part of tubercle, or slightly broader
than front ocellus, in 99 very broad, quite 44 times as broad as tubercle;
eyes in g¢ with the upper facets comparatively cearse; antennae
with joint 1 in g3 apparently shorter than in 99, only a little more than
2 times as long as joint 2 in both sexes, with joint 3 thickened in basal
half, broadest at about basal fourth, rather rapidly narrowed to very
slender apical third or more, the upper edge (viewed from side)
| oe , “h,
/ Tee Yj wEN
YY F WY, " \
| = ‘ '
Text-Fic. 90.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of
Anastoechus leucochroicus n. sp.
rather more rapidly narrowed, thus showing a slight bulging at about
basal third, more distinct in 99, with the apex slightly dilated and
with the first terminal joint inconspicuous and the style insignificant;
proboscis about 5-7 mm. long. Legs with 1—2 spines on front femora
in front, 3-5 on middle ones in front and 1-2 behind; hind femora
with about 10-15 spines below, of which the basal ones are often
very small; claws only very slightly curved from about middle and
the pulvilli extending to about a third or less the length of claws.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 90) with the basal parts broad, the neck
region short and narrow, the dorsal part, on each side of line of
junction, raised ridge-like; apical beaked joints broad, foveately
hollowed out above and with dense spine-like hairs laterally above;
aedeagus slightly dorso-ventrally compressed, the apical part pro-
jecting slightly beyond bases of apical joints; lateral rami fused
anteriorly at base of aedeagus into a flattened horizontal plate,
a16. Annals of the South African Museum.
produced into a sharp point as a ventral aedeagal process; . basal
strut elongate, bat-shaped and projecting only slightly beyond basal
parts.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10-13 mm.
Length of wing: about 11-14 mm.
Locality.—Central Karoo: Murraysburg (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935)
(Types); and Bezzi’s labelled specimen without locality label.
This species 1s very near the following species, varipecten Bezz.,
but may at once be distinguished by the much paler and more whitish
pubescence above, the thorax being whitish and not ochreous or
brownish yellow above, the wing-pattern is the same, but the infusca-
tion is slightly less dark, and in 99 is distinctly more hyaline, with
the basal comb very pale yellowish, not brownish; transverse rows
of bristles on abdomen not so constantly brownish, but sometimes
whitish or very pale yellowish in both sexes; sides of abdomen in
2° as well as hind margins less extensively red; bases of femora and
hind ones above blackened; interocular space in ¢¢ about half as
narrow; frontal bristles much paler and the third antennal joints,
at least in 99, slightly more humped above before middle.
A. varipecten Bezz.
(Pp. 48-49, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This species was rather fully described by Bezzi. It is one of the
larger and bulky species of Anastoechus, superficially resembling
leucochroicus. It is characterised as follows:—Body with the ab-
domen on sides in gg very distinctly and broadly red, less extensively
red on sides in 99, the hind margins of tergites discally red in both
sexes, with the first antennal joints, front half of frons, the entire
face, the scutellum, the hind margins of sternites and even sutural
parts of pleurae salmon reddish or pinkish; legs yellowish red or
yellowish; pubescence short as in leucochroicus and rubricosus, that
on disc of thorax with a closely cropped-off appearance and even
that on abdomen much shorter and not shaggy as in deserticolus, the
bristly elements on abdomen, even in 99, shortish like those of leuco-
chroicus, the pubescence on face and genae very dense, short, matted
and composed practically only of scale-like elements, the pubescence
on body above very pale gleaming sericeous yellowish on thorax and
scutellum in gd, deeper golden to even more brownish golden in 99,
that on abdomen above in gg gleaming sericeous creamy yellowish,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 377
becoming more whitish sericeous apically, appearing almost entirely
sericeous whitish in certain lights in some $4, that on abdomen
above in 92 gleaming pale sericeous yellowish, golden yellowish to
deep golden, the bristles on ocellar tubercle and ou sides of frons
almost black in 99, the rest of the bristly elements and pubescence on
frons, antennae above and face above in 9? gleaming golden, that on
face above at least also with some yellowish elements, the entire
pubescence on frons, antennae and face above in §g very much paler
and whitish or white, with the bristles on thorax, post-alar calli,
scutellum and across hind margins of tergites in $¢ very pale yellowish
white, those towards apex of abdomen more whitish and those towards
base and sides sometimes tipped more distinctly yellowish, with all
these bristles in 99 deeper yellowish to yellowish brown, those on
abdomen even tipped more dark brownish or reddish brown, the
dense and matted pubescence on face, genae, head below, behind
eyes, extensively on pleurae and even extending up in front of wing-
bases and that on venter and sides of abdomen below chalky or
cretaceous white, only the sparse bristles on venter, especially in 99,
more yellowish; wings much as in leucochroicus, vitreous hyaline,
the base, costal cell, first basal cell and a broadish transverse infusion
from end of costal cell across basal halves of marginal, first sub-
marginal, first posterior and discoidal cells to ends of fourth posterior
and anal cells in $¢ yellowish brown to brownish, the greater part of
second basal cell and anal cell and axillary lobe being more hyaline,
with the base, costal cell, first basal cell, basal halves of -marginal,
first submarginal and first posterior cells and sometimes extreme base
of discoidal cell in 99 tinged yellowish to pale yellowish brown, the
base and costal cell, however, deeper yellowish as in 3g, with the
veins brownish or reddish brown, becoming more yellowish towards
base, with the basal comb whitish, its spines ochreous brownish to
chocolate brownish, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed
with snow white hair, the squamae comparatively large and broad;
halteres yellowish, with very pale knobs. Head with the interocular
space above in gd as broad as ocellar tubercle, in 92 quite 5 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 2, or a little more,
times as long as 2 in 3g, quite 3 times as long as 2 in 99, the upper
apical part slightly projecting over base of joint 2, with 3 elongate,
broad basally and rapidly attenuated apically, the apical third or
half very slender, ending apically in a shortish style; proboscis about
6-8 mm. long, rather stoutish. Legs without any hairs below on
femora, with usually 1 spine in front on front femora; middle ones
378 Annals of the South African Museum.
with about 3-10 spines in front and 2-4 behind; hind femora with
about 9-14 spines below; claws only very slightly curved, almost
straight and with the pulvilli short, confined to base of claws. Hypo-
pygium of 3 much like that of leucochroicus (cf. text-fig. 90) but with
the apical joints comparatively shorter and the beak shorter; aedeagus
much shorter, not reaching apices of inner apical angles of basal
parts, the ventral scoop-like or horizontal process less pointed apically ;
basal strut shghtly longer.
In the Imperial Institute, Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 11-15 mm.
Length of wing: about 11-15 mm.
Locality.—North West Cape Province and Namaqualand.
A 9-specimen in the Imperial Institute is labelled as coming from
“Durban, the Bluff (coll. Miss Mackie, 10/1931).”’ There is no doubt
about it that this locality label is wrong. This species is a typical
Namaqualand and North Western Cape species. As Prof. Cockerell
and his party also collected in the North West Karoo, it is probable
that some confusion in the localities may have taken place.
A. rubricosus (Wied.)
(P. 341, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. Dipt. i, 1828.)
(Syn. =d-cervinus Lw., p. 188, Dipt. Faun. Stidafr., i, 1860.)
In his paper on the South African Bombyliidae, on p. 47, Ann. S.
Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, Bezzi refers several specimens from Namaqualand
and Bushmanland to rubricosus (Wied.), probably on the authority
of Bigot, who previously determined a large 9-specimen from O’okiep
as such. A careful comparison with Wiedemann’s description, how-
ever, seems to show that these specimens, described by me as deserti-
colus n. sp. (see under deserticolus), although conforming in certain
features with the description, cannot be retained in rubricosus. On
the other hand, there is no doubt that Loew’s species cervinus, as he
himself in a footnote suspects, is the g¢ of rubricosus or a form of it
and of which it may be considered as a synonym.
To Loew’s admirable description of the 3 there is nothing to be
added, but to Wiedemann’s short description of the 2 the following
may be added:—The general colour of the pubescence is the same as
in the g, the bristly hairs on the ocellar tubercle and sides of frons
are more extensive and also dark brownish black, the venter is slightly
less extensively white, the first antennal joints are more or less dark
reddish brown, not black; the red hind margins of abdominal seg-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 379
ments above are narrower and not extensively and broadly red on
sides as in 3; interocular space slightly more than 3 times as wide as
ocellar tubercle; wings greyish hyaline and infuscated with brownish
as in $, but this broad pale brownish band comparatively much
fainter and not distinctly distinguishable across discoidal cell to
hind margin as in ¢, thus giving the appearance that the anterior
half from second basal cell, basal half of first posterior cell and basal
halves of second submarginal
and marginal cells up to slightly
beyond end of first longitudinal
vein is tinged pale brownishly;
legs coloured as in 4, very pale
yellowish, with the upper part
of hind femora also blackened
though hidden by dense scaling,
with all the spines as in ¢
yellowish, with only 1 spine on
front femora in front, 4-6 in
front on middle ones and with
about 9-12 spines below on
hind femora in both sexes, with
the claws gradually curved to
apex and the pulvill short,
scarcely or not reaching middle
of claws. TEext-FIc. 91.—Half of ventral view and
side view of hypopygium of § Anas-
toechus rubricosus (Wied.).
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 91)
differs from that of leucochroicus
(cf. text-fig. 90) in having the basal parts less broad, more elongate,
the neck region thus less rapidly narrowed; apical beaked joints
smaller, with the foveate depression above much smaller and the
beak much shorter; aedeagus falling far short of the bases of the
apical joints; ventral aedeagal process, formed by fused rami, more
arch-like, narrower and less pointed in front; lateral struts also
shorter and rapidly bent apically; basal strut comparatively much
shorter, more racket shaped, but projecting considerably beyond
bases of basal parts.
Locality. Western Cape Province.
The species is near varipecten, from which it is separated in
the key.
380 Annals of the South African Museum.
10 gd 16 99 A. fuscianulatus n. sp.
These specimens differ from rubricosus practically only in colour
details and may even be taken to be Hastern Province representatives
or an Eastern variety of it. Compared with rubricosus the general
effect of the pubescence is paler, that on front part of thorax, in gg
at least, distinctly paler and more creamy whitish or yellowish, that
on abdomen above, viewed from the side, not pale yellowish, but
distinctly white and, viewed from above, also whitish, even in 92
the abdominal hair is much whiter, having a silvery sheen, that on
pectoral and pleural regions and also on venter distinctly more
uniformly snow white, the posterior bristles on upper part of meso-
pleuron, metapleural bristles and tuft and ventral bristles in $g pure
white, not straw-coloured or yellowish, the pubescence and bristles
on sides of frons anteriorly, on antennae below and face in front,
also laterally above, entirely snow white, not ochreous or yellowish,
with only a few bristles laterally on frons in front and above first
antennal joints slightly yellowish and often with a few inconspicuous
yellowish or darkish ones on face in front, the bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, on sides of frons dark purplish or brownish black, darker
than in rubricosus, with the narrow elongate patch of scaling along
inner margin of eyes on frons not ochreous yellow but deeper brownish
or fulvous, pubescence on abdomen with the transverse bands of
dense bristly hairs across hind margins slightly denser, usually much
darker, brownish and not yellowish brown, the apices of the hairs
distinctly darker and more purplish brown, with the transverse rows
of stiff bristles behind them also. darker, usually almost entirely
purplish black, only their extreme bases paler, and with the bristles
towards apex comparatively shorter as compared with those of
yubricosus ; first antennal joints, in 9? at least, distinctly reddish
brown; the reddish hind margins of abdomen above in $¢ also very
broad laterally, also comparatively broad in 99, even broader than in
92 of rubricosus and with segments 4—7 in some specimens being
almost entirely red above, with the extreme hind margins in both
sexes yellowish, not conspicuously and broadly ivory white; wings
in $¢ with the infuscation in basal two-thirds also pale brownish
yellow, extending from apex of costal cell obliquely and more or less
straight across to apex of anal cell, the costal cell, extreme base,
first and second basal cells, basal halves of marginal, first submarginal
and first posterior cells, basal two-thirds of discoidal cell, base of third
posterior cell, basal three-quarters of fourth posterior cell, anal cell
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 381
and also alula being distinctly pale yellowish brown, the greater
part of axillary cell distinctly less tinged, the rest, or apical part,
of wings more hyaline and distinctly less greyishly tinged than in
rubricosus and also more distinctly delimited from infuscated part,
which is thus less extensive and extending less into clear apical part
of marginal cell, in 99 as in 92 of rubricosus and the basal infuscation
is also feebler than in gd, being evident only at base, in costal cell,
first and second basal cells, basal half of marginal cell and fainter
still in basal half of first posterior cell, extreme base of fourth posterior
cell and anal cell, the infuscation, however, darker than in rubricosus,
with a tendency for second longitudinal vein to be less sinuous at
its end, the discoidal cell to be comparatively narrower, with the
basal comb black, not yellowish or pale brownish yellow. Head with
the interocular space in $¢ as in rubricosus, in 99 quite 4, or a little
less, times as broad as tubercle, with antennal joint 3 in 92 com-
paratively broader at base and the lower margin from there more
rapidly narrowed apically than above, the apical part even being
slightly more slender than in rubricosus, with the first terminal joint
not distinct; proboscis about 6-7 mm. long. Legs coloured as in
rubricosus, the front femora armed with 1 spine, the middle ones
with 2—4 in front and usually fewer on hind femora than in rubricosus,
with about 5-9 spines below as against 9-12 of rubricosus, with the
claws and pulvilli as in the latter species. Hypopygium of 3 also
very similar to that of rubricosus, the basal parts also elongate ;
apical beaked joints with the foveate depression above small;
aedeagus reaching bases of apical joints, but not extending to
apices of inner apical processes, the ventral aedeagal process not
sharply pointed, only bluntly rounded in front and the posterior
aedeagal struts also shorter; basal strut more bat-shaped, thus
distinctly narrower.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum and paratypes in Albany Museum.
Length of body: about 7-10} mm.
Length of wing: about 7-114 mm.
LocalityEast Cape Province: Grahamstown; Resolution
(Walton, 15/11/27 and 23/11/27) (Types); Fort Brown (Walton,
15/1/28). Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 4/17).
382 Annals of the South African Museum.
Gen. Systoechus Lw.
S. fuligineus Lw.
(P. 13, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863.)
On p. 45 in the Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, Bezzi partly describes
a Q-specimen from Spektakel in Namaqualand as fuligineus Lw.,
which, however, does not agree with the description of Loew. It
is, as a matter of fact, an undescribed species, which I have named
namaquensis n. sp. farther on. I have before me, however, gg and
2° from Fransch Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Burghersdorp, Willowmore and
Calvinia, which agree better with Loew’s‘very short description and
which I believe to be the species Loew had before him. It appears
that this species has not been recorded since 1863. The specimens,
which I refer to this species are, however, very characteristic and are
easily recognised by their large size (12-16 mm.), the entire black to
blackish brown or velvety black pubescence, which on the abdomen
above and the venter, in certain lights, has a soft dark purplish brown
to brownish fuscous tint, the transverse rows of bristles on the
abdomen also black; scutellum, sides of abdominal segments broadly
above even in 92 and to a certain extent the hind margins towards
apex and last tergite more or less ferruginous red, reddish or obscure
reddish and hidden by the dense hair ; wings infuscated very darkly
sooty blackish, the infuscation extending obliquely from above end
of first longitudinal vein across basal half of first submarginal cell,
base of discoidal cell, basal cross vein of fourth posterior cell to base
of anal cell, with the infuscation along third longitudinal vein, vein
between first posterior and discoidal cells, discal cross vein and basal
cross vein of fourth posterior cell and along vein between second
basal and anal cells more evident and darker, with the rest of wing
very smoky or cinerous, merging almost imperceptibly into the black
anterior infuscation, with the basal comb black; halteres dark, with
slightly yellowish knobs ; legs black, with the spines black, the front
femora with about 5-8 small and longer spines in front and 3-7
behind, the middle ones with about 8-11 in front, 5-7 behind and the
hind ones with about 12-17, or even more below, with the pulvilli
pallid, short and only about half as long as claws which are gradually
curved downwards apically ; head with the interocular space in 3g
nearly or about 14 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, a little more
than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 92, with dense bristles laterally
and a distinct central furrow on frons, with joint 3 of the antennae
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 383
less than 1$ times as long as 1 and 2 combined, constricted at base,
thickened in basal half, rather rapidly tapering apically at first, but
more rapidly along inner margin, the apical part slender, with the
first terminal joint conical and about as thick as apex of 3, with
antennal joint 1 about 23 times as long as 2, with the proboscis about
7-9 mm. long and the numerous spinules on labium below distinctly
visible. Hypopygium (text-fig. 92), with the beaked apical joints
TExtT-F1c. 92.—Side view and part of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Systoechus fuligineus Lw.
bent downwards and slightly inwards apically, with the lateral rami
produced in front into a narrow strap-like process on each side of
aedeagus and also giving off a branch, which, fused with the opposite
one, forms an arch at base of aedeagus, with the basal strut very broad
and subracket-shaped and subangularly incised along its dorsal
margin.
Locality.— Western Cape Province, North-Western and Hastern
Karoo, North-Eastern Karoo and Orange Free State.
In the Transvaal and South African Museums and Imperial Institute.
The specimens from Willowmore, from Calvinia and Burghersdorp
show a more distinct deep velvety blackish brown to velvety brown
sheen, even on the thorax above and the pleural regions, in which
respect they agree more with Loew’s description and probably
represent the type-form, whereas the deeper black ones from the
384 Annals of the South African Museum.
Western Province, under more humid conditions, represent a Southern
form. Superficially this species also resembles Bombylius analis, but is
without an apical white or yellowish tuft and the wings are infuscated.
It is the only entirely black Systoechus in South Africa known to me
and differs from S. austeni Bezz., the other black species described by
Bezzi (p. 71, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region), in not having
“practically”? hyaline wings. This species frequents rocky hills where
it may often be found settling on rocks and contrasting markedly with
the surroundings.
S. scabrirostris Bezz.
(P. 37, Ann. S. Air. Mus., vol. xvi, BR te 8) ao2ie)
This is a very interesting species of Systoechus not only in the
coarsely spinulated proboscis but in other characters as well. The
species is characterised as follows :—
Body predominantly black, with the greater part of frons in 99,
the entire face, genae and head below in both sexes, to a certain extent
antennal joint 1 in 99, the post-alar calli, the scutellum in both sexes,
the sides of abdomen broadly in gd, the hind margins of sternites and
sometimes the sutural parts of the pleurae reddish brownish to
ferruginous reddish; legs predominantly yellowish brownish, the
femora sometimes darker brownish above in some ¢¢ and the apical
parts of tarsi also slightly darkened above, with the spines and all
the spicules and apical parts of claws dark or black; pubescence
shortish, that on thorax above with a closely cropped appearance,
that on abdomen, even in 99, not shaggy or bushy, that on face sparse
and short, the greater part of face tending to be semi-bare, only the
front margin with a shortish fringe, the pubescence on body above
predominantly gleaming pelt-like greyish sericeous in gd, more
whitish sericeous on abdomen in certain lights, that in 92 with a
more brownish sheen due to reddish brown bristles, but on sides
also gleaming greyish sericeous, with 3 broadish longitudinal bands of
fulvous brownish, or in 9? deep reddish fulvous pubescence on thorax
above which are separated by narrower bands of greyish or whitish
sericeous gleaming hair, with the hair on each side in front of wings
also fulvous brownish to deep reddish brownish, that on sides of
abdomen basally in 99 also with a fulvous tint, the fine pubescence
on face and frons gleaming greyish sericeous in $¢ to slightly yellowish
in 99, with the bristly elements on ocellar tubercle, frons, face anteri-
orly, on sides of thorax in front of wings in both sexes yellowish red,
‘A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa, 385
reddish to reddish brown, those in $$ even sometimes darker and in
22 sometimes even purplish red, the post-alar bristles very long,
gleaming sericeous whitish to pale yellowish in $3, their basal parts
in 9° more reddish or they tend to be more reddish in 99, with the
bristles on scutellum and on abdomen in $¢ pale yellowish, their
apical parts gleaming sericeous whitish, the bristles on extreme sides
of abdomen in g$¢ reddish brown to brownish but pale-tipped, with
the bristles on scutellum and abdomen in 99 predominantly and
conspicuously deep reddish, wine-reddish to reddish brown, with
the pubescence on body below very characteristic, consisting of
silvery whitish hair on head below, behind eyes and on front part of
pectus a very broad vertical band of gleaming silvery whitish hair
on pleurae, extending down from below wing-bases to pectus between
front and middle coxae and silvery white gleaming hair on posterior
margin of metapleurae, across base of venter to tergite 1, these con-
trasting silvery white bands being separated by 2 broad vertical
bands of brownish fulvous or gleaming brownish golden hair, one
extending from in front of wings down to front coxae and the other
from squamae down to middle and hind coxae, the bristles on the
coxae and the metapleural tuft thus also deep reddish brownish,
with the pubescence towards apex of venter also gleaming deep
velvety brownish, the pubescence basally on extreme sides of tergites,
especially in 99, also gleaming fulvous brownish, with the sparse
bristles on venter whitish towards base but more reddish brownish
towards apex; wings greyish hyaline, but with a distinct, though
faint, reddish or brownish tinge, the base, costal cell and from end of
costal across to apical part of second basal cell basalwards sub-
opaquely reddish brown, this darker part merging almost imperceptibly
into the more hyaline part, with the basal comb well developed,
dark purplish brown but with greyish sericeous fine pubescence above
and below, with the veins reddish brown to deep reddish brown,
more reddish basally, the first longitudinal and the fifth longitudinal
veins reddish, with the squamae subopaquely yellowish to brownish
and fringed with gleaming sericeous whitish hair; halteres with the
yellowish knobs slightly brownish or darkened below. Head with
the eyes in gd separated above by a space quite 14 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle, in 92 about 4 times as broad as tubercle; frons in
09 with a deep transverse depression in front of tubercle, with a
central furrow in $g; antennae with joint 1 shortish, only about or
nearly 3 times as long as 2, with 2 transverse, with 3 tending to be
somewhat club-shaped, broadest near base, narrowed apically, more
386 Annals of the South African Museum.
rapidly in 99, ending apically in a distinct basal element bearing a
shortish style; facial part conical and slightly spout-like; proboscis
long, about 11-13 mm. long, with the spinules on labial part below
very conspicuous and dense, those nearer base even denser and the
base of proboscis transversely ridged or wrinkled to a greater extent
than in any other species; palps hairy, not visibly separated into
joints but slightly more clavate in apical part. Legs without any
hairs on femora below, with about 6-9 spines in front and 5-11
Tpxt-FiG. 93.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of ¢ of
Systoechus scabrirostris Bezz.
behind on front femora; middle ones with about 7-12 in front below
and about 7-8 behind; hind femora with about 16-25 spines on outer
side below, these spines somewhat irregular towards base and some-
times alternating as long and shortish ones, with also a row of smaller
spines on inner side below; claws Anastoechus-like, only gradually
curved, the pulvilli just falling short of middle of claws in both sexes.
Hypopygvum of 3 (text-fig. 93) very characteristic, with the lateral
parts of basal parts raised prominently ridge-like, the lateral lower
surfaces strigilose and rugulose, more so towards apex, with the
dorsal and apical two-thirds covered with very dense, conspicuous,
stoutish and longish, stiff, spine-like blackish brown hairs, more or
less arranged in a mane or crest on outer dorsal part of neck region
and also along dorsal margin of inner apical angles; beaked apical
joints narrow and elongate, sunk in between the inner and outer
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 387
apical parts of basal parts, not depressed above; lateral ramus from
each side forming a conspicuous arch over base of aedeagus; aedeagus
curved upwards and without any processes; basal strut chopper-
shaped.
In the South African Museum and Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 13-16 mm.
Length of wing: about 14-16 mm.
Locality.— Karoo and Namaqualand.
This species and fulsgineus differ from all other known species in
Southern Africa in having gradually curved claws, short pulvilli and
eyes in $¢ which are more broadly separated than the ocellar tubercle.
9 $3 16 92 S. bechuanus Hesse.
(P. 163, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvu, 1936.)
Body black; posterior aspect of ocellar tubercle, often the upper
apical part of first antennal joints, the apical part of third antennal
joints pale reddish to obscure reddish; face in 9 in front of antennae
more dark brownish and not black; scutellum, sides of abdominal
segments 2-5 in $ broadly and to a certain extent the hind margins
towards midline on each side and the hind margins of the ventral
segments in ¢ very broadly, or the entire venter, reddish or reddish
brown; meso and metapleural regions often infused with reddish
or brownish above the middle and hind coxae; the comparatively
short pubescence above pelt-like and more or less very pale yellowish
white or sericeous to yellowish sericeous, being more yellowish or
even whitish sericeous in different lights, the thorax above with
3 narrow whitish sericeous bands and, in 9, these separate 3 broadish
deeper yellowish and more golden or orange bands, with the sides of
thorax above wings and pleural regions more whitish sericeous, with
a tuft of hair and bristles on posterior calli even more whitish; hair
on head below, in front of front coxae, that just below wings on
mesopleurae and above middle coxae white; hair on head very pale
yellowish white, the bristles on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons in
2° being dark brownish to blackish, more yellowish brown in 3, with
the bristles on first antennal joints yellowish white and the shorter
ones on joint 2 black, with blackish bristles also intermixed on face;
hair on abdomen above in ¢ very pale sericeous white to pale yellowish
sericeous and even silvery in certain lights, the bristles on sides of
segments 2 and 3 often dark and the rest of bristles whitish; hair on
abdomen in 2 more distinctly yellowish, only those on the sides, in
388 Annals of the South African Museum.
certain lights, whitish sericeous, with the transverse bristles yellowish
to whitish; venter with the hair and transverse bristles on segments
1-3 and along extreme sides of the rest whitish sericeous in g, but with
those on segment 4 to apex pale yellowish brown or ochreous, in the
2 the ochreous patch is less extensive, the bristles here even darker
and more blackish and with orange pubescence surrounding the
genital aperture; wings with the base and anterior two-thirds,
extending obliquely from end of first longitudinal vein across discal
cross vein and base of fourth posterior cell to extreme base of axillary
cell, brownish or reddish brown, the infuscation along third, fourth
longitudinal veins and along vein between second basal and anal
cells being more distinct, with the basal half of first posterior cell and
the second basal cell not being very dark, with distinct and darker
infuscations on discal cross vein, basal cross vein of fourth posterior
cell and just in front of discal vein, with the rest of wing more hyaline
but tinged slightly greyish hyaline, with the basal comb black in front
and pale yellowish white behind, with the veins dark brownish red,
more reddish towards base and along first longitudinal vein, with
the squamae subopaquely brownish, having almost white fringes;
halteres pale brownish to reddish, with yellowish to yellowish white
knobs; legs very dark brownish black to black, the lower surfaces of
the femora and basal halves of the tibiae often showing through the
dark scaling, more reddish or dark reddish brown, with the tarsi
black and the apical halves of the claws black, the pulvilli being
yellowish. Head with the interocular space in ¢ as broad as ocellar
tubercle, quite 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9 or about 2 times as
broad as in 3g; frons with the central furrow feeble but more evident
basally in $ and, in 9, only indicated in transverse furrow; antennae
with joint 1 slightly shorter in g, about 2 times as long as 2 in Q or
even slightly more, distinctly less in g, with joint 3 often slightly
yellow scaled above, longer than 1 and 2 combined, relatively more
slender in 4, constricted at base, broad in basal half and broader in
2, broadest before middle, more gradually tapering apically in 4,
the apical slender part being longer in 3, with the upper part in Q,
from about the middle, more rapidly sloping to apex than in 4,
with the terminal style slender, rod-like and straight; proboscis
about 9-10 mm. long. Thorax with the pubescence short and dense
and, in 3, having a more “shorn-off” appearance; wings compara-
tively longer and more powerful in 9. Abdomen with the hair and
bristles longer in 2, more dense and pelt-like in 3, with the bristles
very prominent and longer laterally in 2; dorsal interruption of
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 389
bristles very narrow in both sexes and the dorsal ones in § very short
and inconspicuous. Legs with 1-3, or without any, small spines
below on front femora; middle ones with 3-5 spines below in apical
half; hind ones with a row of very numerous spines below, those
near base more or less alternating as long and short ones; claws
sharply curved downwards apically. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 94)
with the inner apical projecting process provided with a dense mane
of spine-like bristles; beaked apical joints sunk in between apical
TExt-F1G. 94.—Side view and half of ventral view of hypopygium of 3
Systoechus bechuanus Hesse.
parts of basal part, narrow, elongate, not depressed above and with
the apex curved inwards and downwards; aedeagus with the apex
only slightly curved upwards; lateral rami produced in front on each
side of aedeagus into a clavate process; basal strut broad and shaped
as shown in figure (in lateral view, in the figure, the aedeagus and
middle parts are shown a little separated from the basal part).
Holotype-3 in the Transvaal Museum, allotype-2 in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 14-16 mm.
Length of wing: about 16-17 mm.
Locality.—Bechuanaland: Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30)
(Types); Gemsbok Pan (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 23-4—-5/5/30).
This species is one of the largest representatives of Systoechus
and is also among the largest members of Ethiopian Bombyliidae.
According to Bezzi’s keys and descriptions in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
VOL. XXXIV. 26
390 Annals of the South African Museum.
pp. 605 and 608, 1911, and on pp. 63 and 64 in The Bombyliudae
of the Ethiopian Region, this species is very near robustus Bezz.,
if not merely a variety of it. As the description of this latter species
is, however, vague and contradictory, I am unable to decide on this
point without seeing the types or labelled specimens. In the original
description, Bezzi states that bristles are wanting on the abdomen,
and after emphasizing this character on p. 64 in The Bombyhidae
of The Ethiopian Region, he, however, contradicts himself again
lower down by stating that there are yellow bristles on the sides of
the abdomen in the g. From his description, however, this species
seems to differ in having the second basal cell of wing and basal half
of first posterior cell not so darkly infuscated (see fig. 5, p. 64, loc. cit.),
by having black or dark legs and distinct transverse rows of bristles
on abdomen of both sexes, etc. Superficially it also resembles
scabrirostris Bezz., from which it differs in having the eyes more
narrowly separated in the g, no coarse spinules and transverse
wrinkles on Jabium of proboscis, no orange pubescence on propleurae,
blackish legs and black spines, more sickle-shaped claws and much
longer pulvilli, etc.
S. goliath Bezz.
(P. 73, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922.)
Like bechuanus, fuligineus and scabrirostris, this is a very large and
bulky species. The species was described by Bezzi from a 9-specimen
collected by the late Dr. Brauns at Willowmore. In the collections
before me there are both gg and 99 from Willowmore and the Albany
District, and as the g has not yet been described a supplementary
description of the species is appended.
Body black, with the face yellowish brown, the scutellum ferru-
ginous reddish, with the sides of the abdomen in g¢ reddish, some-
times rather broadly so, with the abdomen above in 99 entirely black,
with the hind margins of the sternites narrowly or obscurely reddish,
with the sutural parts of pleurae sometimes tending to be yellowish
brownish ; legs entirely very dark blackish brown or black, with all
the spines and spicules black; pubescence shortish, that on thorax
above, especially in 33, with a shorn-off appearance, that on abdomen,
even in 99, not long, shaggy or bushy, that on frons, antennae, face
and genae short, rather sparse on sides of face, predominantly gleaming
velvety, brassy to golden yellowish on body above and below, tending
to be deeper golden in 99, that on abdomen in 34, especially towards
“A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 391
apex, slightly gleaming more pale golden or even brassy in certain
lights, that on body below more pale sericeous yellowish to slightly
whitish on head below, with a more whitish gleaming patch above
front coxae, more pale gleaming sericeous yellowish to slightly
whitish pubescence on middle part of pleurae from below base of
wing down to middle coxae and with more whitish gleaming pubescence
on each side basally on venter, that towards apex of venter, especially
in $3, more fulvous brownish or brownish golden, that on each side
in front of wings appearing more ochreous yellowish or deeper golden
in certain lights, that on disc of thorax, especially in 99, in form of 3
broadish indistinct longitudinal bands of darker and more fulvous
brownish pubescence separated by bands which gleam paler and more
pale golden or sericeous yellowish, with the shortish bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle, the bristly elements on sides of frons, those on
antennal joint 1 above and intermixed on face in front and along
front margins of genae black in both sexes, with the bristles on thorax,
scutellum and abdomen above pale yellowish to golden yellowish in
both sexes, gleaming sericeous yellowish in certain lights, the bristly
elements towards apex of venter in gg darker and more reddish
brown and those on sides of last sternite in 99 also darker and more
brownish to blackish brown, with the bristly elements on coxae
gleaming golden yellowish like rest of pubescence and bristles, with
the scaling on legs more greyish yellowish on lower surfaces of femora,
even slightly brownish yellowish, greyish whitish on outer surfaces
of tibiae; wings greyish hyaline, with the costal part and basal part,
from end of costal cell across to basal half of first posterior cell and
including the basal cells but not discoidal cell, distinctly tinged
brownish, the base and costal cell more subopaquely so and with a
slightly more yellowish tint in certain lights, this basal infuscation
not well marked off from greyish hyaline part of rest of wings, with
the veins dark brownish, more reddish brown towards base, with the
basal comb large and black, but covered with yellowish scaling above,
with the squamae opaquely brownish and fringed with yellowish
hair which gleams sericeous yellowish in certain lights or even slightly
paler in others, the bases of the hairs sometimes with fulvous gleams
in certain lights; halteres brownish and with pale brownish to brown-
ish knobs in both sexes. Head with the eyes in 3d separated above
by a space only a little broader than ocellar tubercle, about 3 times
as broad as tubercle on vertex in 99; frons in $¢ with the central
furrow more distinct in basal half; antennae with joint 1 about
24-3 times as long as 2 (about 3 times in 99), with joint 2 longer than
392 Annals of the South African Museum.
broad, with 3 in gg quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
slightly shorter in 99, tending to be club-shaped, broadest in basal
half or third, attenuated apically but more rapidly along upper edge,
ending apically in an upwardly directed slender style and without a
separately visible basal joint ; face somewhat conical and spout-like,
quite as long as combined length of antennal joints 1 and 2; proboscis
rather stout and conspicuous, long, about 11-134 mm. long, rugulose
below and more transversely so near base, not distinctly spinulate;
palps clavate in apical half, the apical part narrowed again, and
without separately visible joints. Legs strongly developed as in the
preceding large and bulky forms, without any hairs on femora below;
front femora with about 2—4 spines in front and 2 behind; middle
femora with about 4—6 spines in front and 2—5 behind; hind femora
with about 11-17 spines below from near base to apex, small and long ~
ones sometimes alternating; claws rapidly curved downwards just
beyond middle and the pulvilli extending beyond middle in both
sexes ; front tarsal joints in 99 hairy and slightly thicker than middle
ones. Hypopygium of 3 resembles that of bechuanus (cf. text-fig. 94),
with the lateral process on each side of aedeagus, however, relatively
more slender, slightly longer and with apparently fewer bristly hairs
on apical part above of basal parts.
In the Albany, Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 154-17 mm.
Length of wing: about 163-185 mm.
Locality.— Little Karoo and South-Eastern Karoo.
8 og 16 99 S. kalaharicus Hesse.
(P. 165, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvu, 1936.)
Body black; extreme apices of third antennal joints often paler
or pallid; an indistinct spot on ocellar tubercle, face in front of
antennae and often infusions on the pleurae, obscure red or reddish;
scutellum and, in g, the hind margins of abdominal segments above,
interrupted on segments 2-4 or 5, the sides of segments 2-5 broadly,
almost the entire venter and genital segment reddish to brownish
red; legs yellowish brown, the apical halves of hind tibiae and tarsi
and last 3 or 4 joints of the other tarsi darkened, dark brownish to
black and the apical halves of claws also black; general pubescence
above pelt-like, velvety yellowish brown, that on thorax in ¢ paler,
that on abdomen above in g with a paler, pale yellowish to whitish
sericeous sheen in certain lights, that on sides in basal half of abdomen
‘A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 393
deep reddish brown or rufous; hair on frons and face yellowish, the
bristles in ¢ yellowish but more brownish on face in front and more
brownish or blackish brown in 2; macrochaetae in front of wings,
bristles on scutellum and across hind margins of abdomen, especially
laterally on segments 1-4, reddish brown to dark brownish, those
discally in both sexes being slightly paler; pubescence on thorax
above in @ with a tendency to show 3 broadish brownish bands;
sides of thorax in front of wings with the bristles and Hairs yellowish
Text-Fic. 95.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of 3
Systoechus kalaharicus Hesse.
brown in ¢ and deeper brownish in 9; hair on head below and above
front and middle coxae whitish or pale yellowish white; tuft of hair
on posterior calli, metapleural tuft and fringe of long ones on squamae
pale yellowish white, almost sericeous white in certain lights; venter
with yellowish brown hair medially near base, with almost pure
white sericeous pubescence laterally in basal half, the apical half
more ochreous or velvety brown and the bristles in 2 brown to very
dark brownish black towards apex; wings infuscated, darker coffee
brown or reddish brown in anterior half, extending more or less from
near apex of marginal cell obliquely across basal halves of first sub-
marginal and first posterior cells, base of discoidal cell, basal cross
vein of fourth posterior cell to base of anal cell and alula, this infusca-
tion, however, merges imperceptibly, more so in 92, into the more
smoky or slightly mauvishly tinged posterior translucent half, with
394 Annals of the South African Museum.
the infuscations along the main longitudinal veins in anterior darker
part more distinct, with the basal comb black and with pale yellowish
scaling behind it, with the veins dark brownish and the first longi-
tudinal one and basal parts of the others more reddish, with the
squamae opaquely brownish; halteres brownish, with paler and often
yellowish white knobs. Head with the interocular space in ¢ as
broad as ocellar tubercle, a little more than 2 times as broad in 9,
about 3, or very slightly more, times as broad as tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 about 2 times as long as 2, with joint 3 longer than 1
and 2 combined, about 1} times, or often less, as long, often slightly
pubescent above, not or only very slightly constricted at base, more
or less equally thickened in basal half, slightly more so in 9 and, in
some specimens, broadest near base, the apical half more slender in
2 and in both sexes slightly directed upwards, with the style small,
short and slender; proboscis straight, about 5-6 mm. long, with the
minute spinules below not visible. Abdomen with the hair and bristles
longer and slightly less dense in 2 and bristles on venter also stouter
and longer in 9. Legs without any long hairs towards base of femora,
but with pale yellowish sericeous scaling; front femora unarmed or
rarely with 1 or 2 small spines below; middle ones with 3-4 spines in
front and 1-3 behind in g and 3-6 and 1-3 respectively in 2; hind ones
with about 10-16, longer and shorter, spines below on the outside and
about 1-4 on the inner side. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 95) with the
process on each side of aedeagus slender and slightly clavate apically;
basal strut broad, racket-shaped and distinctly projecting posteriorly.
Holotype-g in the Transvaal Museum, allotype-2 in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 8-13 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-13 mm.
Locality.—Bechuanaland: Damara Pan (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 15-
21/4/30) (Types); Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30). 8S. Rhodesia:
Matetsi (Stevenson, Apr. 1934).
This species is easily recognised by its yellowish brown or velvety
brown pubescence and infuscated wings. It is nearest to namaquensis
n. sp. described below.
1 QS. namaquensis n. sp.
(Syn. =fuligineus Bezz. nec Lw.)
As stated under fuligineus Lw., this species was referred to and
partly described by Bezzi (p. 45, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii) as the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 395
@ of Loew’s species. As it is obviously not fuligineus but an un-
described species very closely related to kalaharicus, it is described as
namaquensis n. sp. and, as Bezzi has already given a short description
(loc. cit.), a comparison with kalaharicus will suffice.
Body black, but, apart from the scutellum, the sides of abdominal
segments 2—5 are obscurely tinted reddish and pleural parts brown-
ish; legs dark chocolate brown; general pubescence darker and more
chocolate brown, with a velvety sheen in certain lights, the hair on
occiput being paler, more yellowish and that at apex of abdomen not
paler, the bristles on thorax and all the bristles on abdomen much
darker, dark chocolate brown to blackish, the metapleural tuft and
fringe of squamae pale brownish, but much darker and not pale
yellowish white; wings comparatively narrower, with the darker
anterior coffee brown infuscation less extensive, less dark and less
demarcated from posterior part, the marginal cell also being less
infuscated in apical half. Head with joint 1 of the antennae com-
paratively longer, joint 2 comparatively shorter, with joint 3 slightly
less thickened in basal half, and the apical part also thicker and
ending apically in a distinct basal terminal element. Legs with 1
_ spine below at about middle of front femora, about 4-5 on middle
femora and about 10-13 spines below on hind ones.
Type in South African Museum.
Length of body : about 85 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality.—_Namaqualand: Spektakel (Lightfoot, Oct. 1890).
The small 9-specimen from O’okiep, mentioned by Bezzi (p. 46,
loc. cit.), is not represented in the collection and is probably not the
same as this species.
5 Sg 6 99 S. aberrans n. sp.
Body black, with the face, genae and head below yellowish or
pallid, the scutellum ferruginous reddish, with the sides of abdomen
in $¢ reddish, sometimes broadly so, the extreme sides in some 99
sometimes also tending to be obscurely reddish, with a longitudinal
band along pleurae, sometimes obscure, tending to be yellowish or
yellowish brownish, with the hind margins of sternites, especially in
3d, and the last sternite in some 99 also reddish or yellowish reddish,
with a tendency for first antennal joints to be obscure reddish brownish
in some 99; legs predominantly yellowish in 99, with the femora in
33, especially front and middle ones, distinctly darkened or even
396 Annals of the South African Museum.
blackened and even in some 99 the upper faces of the femora may be
more brownish, with the apices of the hind tibiae, the hind tarsi and
to a certain extent the other tarsi also darkened and more blackish
brown, with the spines and spicules black and apices of claws black;
pubescence shortish, that on thorax above, especially in $¢, short
and with a cropped-off appearance, that on abdomen, even in 99,
not bushy or shaggy, that on body above in gd gleaming predomin-
antly greyish to sericeous whitish, that on abdomen especially almost
silvery whitish, appearing even whiter at apex, that in front of wings
slightly more fulvous, that towards apex of venter gleaming fulvous
or ochreous brownish, that on body below in g¢ also predominantly
silvery whitish, that on body above in 99 gleaming more sericeous
yellowish to golden yellowish, that on disc of thorax sometimes with
deep fulvous golden gleams and that towards apex of abdomen above
sometimes gleaming more whitish in certain lights, that on head
below, on pleurae and on each side of venter basally in 99 also gleaming
sericeous to silvery whitish, that towards apical part of venter more
fulvous golden and that in front of wings as in $¢ also deeper golden
or more ochreous yellowish, the pubescence on face somewhat sparse,
that on face sericeous whitish to sericeous yellowish in both sexes,
with the bristly elements on face without any or with a few darkish
or more yellowish ones, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and
sides of frons in both sexes dark blackish brown to blackish, with all
the bristly elements on thorax, scutellum and abdomen in $¢ entirely
pale or gleaming whitish, those on thorax, scutellum and transversely
across abdominal tergites in 99 distinctly darker, more reddish
brownish, brownish to dark brownish, becoming even more blackish
brown towards apex of abdomen, the bristly elements on venter in 99
also brownish to blackish brown especially towards apical part, with
the bristly elements on coxae in 99 sometimes slightly tinted yellowish
sericeous, with the scaling on legs more yellowish in 92; wings tinged
faintly greyish or feebly reddish or brownish in certain lights, with
the base, costal cell and from there across to end of second basal cell
and including basal parts of anal and axillary cells and the alula
darker and distinctly brownish or mauvish brownish, this darker part
not well marked off from more greyish hyaline part, with the veins
brownish or dark reddish brown, becoming paler towards base and
more yellowish brown, with the basal comb dark blackish brown to
black, with the squamae subopaquely or opaquely yellowish brownish
or yellowish and fringed with sericeous whitish hair which in 99
sometimes gleam more creamy to pale yellowish in certain lights;
‘A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 397
halteres yellowish, with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the
eyes in Jo separated above by a space as broad as ocellar tubercle,
about 3, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle in 92; frons with
the central furrow distinct in ¢¢ and even evident in 99; antennae
with joint 1 only about 24 times as long as 2, with joint 3 only a little
longer than 1 and 2 combined, sometimes subequal to their combined
length, gradually narrowed apically from a broadened base, ending
apically in a distinct basal terminal element which bears a short
Text-Fic. 96.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢
Systoechus aberrans un. sp.
style; proboscis about 4-5 mm. long. Legs with shortish hair on
femora below basally, with a few apical spines above on front and
middle femora, without any distinct spines below on front femora;
middle ones with about 3-6 spines in front and sometimes 2-3 behind;
hind femora with about 8-11 spines below; claws rapidly curved down
apically and with the pulvilli extending beyond their middle in both
sexes; front tarsal joints in 99 scarcely different from middle ones.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 96) with the beaked apical joints narrow-
ish, compressed, their apices bent downwards and slightly outwards;
aedeagus with its apical part curved upwards and provided below
with a flattened, ventral keel (as shown in side view in figure).
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 7-84 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Locality—South-Eastern Karoo: Albany Distr.; Grahamstown,
398 ) Annals of the South African Museum.
Resolution (Walton, 20/3/28 and 19/3/28) (Types); Resolution
(Jan.—Apr. 1928). Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Apr. 1917).
This species 1s peculiar in that the $g are more pale-haired or more
sericeous whitish than the 9? where the presence of dark or blackish
brown transverse bristles on the abdomen gives them an even darker
and more brownish golden appearance. Superficially the 99 resemble
2° of migripes, but differ in having shorter and less shaggy pubescence,
much shorter and sparser pubescence on face, less tumidly prominent
genae, much shorter pubescence and bristles on abdomen, a reddish
scutellum, etc.
128. badius un. sp.
A solitary unlabelled 2-specimen from the late Dr. Brauns’ collection
and thus most likely from Willowmore, is so near 2 of aberrans n. sp.
that it may almost be considered as a variety of it. It differs, how-
ever, in having darker, more coffee brown or velvety brown pubescence
above; hair on disc of thorax being brown, much less golden, that on
occiput, in certain lights, distinctly more whitish and not yellowish;
bristly hair on face black and that on antennal joint 1 below also
black, that on the sides of thorax in front of wings darker and more
brownish, not fulvous; general pubescence on abdomen above also
comparatively darker; bristles in front of wings almost black;
white pubescence on pleural regions less extensive, the metapleural
tuft pale brownish yellow, not whitish sericeous, with the hairs and
bristles on coxae velvety brown; legs entirely dark blackish brown,
with duller and darker hair-like scaling; wings tinged much darker
brownish or smoky and also more uniformly, the base also darker
than in aberrans; proboscis slightly longer and the minute spinules
below on labium much more distinct and visible; third antennal
joints comparatively and distinctly more slender in apical third and
also slightly longer. From namaquensis this species is separated by
the characters given in the key.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: 7 mm.
Length of wing: 8 mm.
Locality.— *? Little Karoo.
S. albidus Lw.
(P. 190, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860.)
As in the case of many South African species described by Loew, Bezzi
has incorrectly identified this species. The series of specimens, from
“A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 399
the Transvaal, O.F.S. and Eastern Karoo, before me, and which I
take to represent the true albidus agree entirely with Loew’s descrip-
tion as far as the gd are concerned. In view of the fact that species
of Systoechus are often much more localised in their distribution than
in other genera, the correct determination from a description would
be rendered more probable by a knowledge of the type locality.
Loew’s g-type was supposed to have come from a vague region known
as “‘Caffraria” (coll. Wahlberg), which may not refer to the present
region so named in the Hastern Province, such as Kingwilliam’s Town,
Alice, etc., but which, judging from Coleoptera collected by Wahlberg,
most likely applies to the Orange Free State, Transvaal and Western
parts of Natal.
Certain additions to Loew’s description are that, in addition to the
reddish scutellum, the sides of the abdomen in the 33, especially on
segments 2 and 3, are broadly reddish; hind margins of ventral
segments narrowly pallid; head with the interocular space in ¢¢ as
broad as ocellar tubercle, with joints 1 and 2 of the antennae combined
shorter than 3, with joint 3 broadened towards base and without any
distinct apical slender part, with the spinules on proboscis below very
distinct towards base; abdomen with some distinct, stout, black
bristles, not longer than the hair, laterally in transverse rows on
segments 3 and 4 and sometimes on 5 also, the rest of the bristles
whitish, with the dorsal interruption along midline comparatively
narrow. Wings very characteristically infuscated brownish or coffee
brownish at base, in costal cell and from there obliquely across discal
cross vein, apical cross vein of second basal cell, over basal half of
anal cell to extreme base of axillary cell and largely also the alula,
with the costal cell and base being also slightly more subopaquely
yellowish, with the rest of wing almost hyaline, imperceptibly tinged
greyish or feebly brownish, with the veins brown, the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish brown to yellowish and the fringe creamy white.
Legs with a few minute apical spines above on front and middle femora;
front ones with about 3 or 4 small spines in apical half in front and
2 or 3 behind; middle ones with about 5-9 smaller and larger spines
in front and 3-5 behind; hind ones with about 11-15 on the outer side
below and often numerous minute ones on the inner side. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 97) with the basal-parts provided with longish hairs laterally
and dorsally in neck region, with hairs also on ventral margin of inner
apical part in neck region; beaked apical joints elongate, not depressed
above, directed slightly outwards and downwards apically; aedeagus
falcate, with a well-developed keel below, the ventral edge of which
400 Annals of the South African Museum.
is slightly broadened; lateral rami fused anteriorly and forming a
raised arch or girdle across vase of aedeagus.
The undescribed 99 differ from the gg in having slightly longer
hair on disc of thorax, which has a less “‘shorn-off”’ appearance than
in $3, the colour of pubescence on occiput and thorax above also often
distinctly less whitish and more yellowish, more brownish when
viewed from above, that on abdomen above distinctly less pale and
more yellowish in some 99 and also less dense and more transversely
arranged, with the rows
of transverse bristles on
hind margins of abdo-
minal segments stouter,
those laterally on seg-
ments 2 to apex and
above also on 5 to apex
ranging in colour from
reddish brown, brownish
to black, most of them
with paler tips and
those laterally on last
few segments being
always more or less
black; head with the
face and genae and
TEext-Fic. 97.—Half of ventral view and side view
of hypopygium of $ Systoechus albidus Lw. greater part of head
below yellowish or pallid
or with some yellowish, with the pubescence pale creamy yellowish
on frons and sides of face, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons,
face and genae black, those on face being less dense and numerous
than in 33, with the bristles on first antennal joints below yellowish
as in gg; interocular space slightly more than 3 times as broad as
tubercle; joint 3 of the antennae slightly broader basally than in
33 and the apical slender part less evident and also shorter; wings
asin gg; legs with the femora not entirely black, pale brownish yellow,
with often only the front face darkened, with the tibiae also paler
than in 3g, with the spines on femora stouter than in ¢¢ and fewer
8-15, but larger, ones on hind femora below and about the same
number on the rest of the femora.
Length of body: about 9-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-11 mm. |
Locality.—Transvaal, O.F.S., 8. Rhodesia and Eastern Cape
Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 401
Province. (In the Imperial Institute, Deutsches Entomologisches
Institut, Union Department of Agriculture, Albany, Transvaal and
South African Museums.)
The 2-specimen in the Albany Museum from “Fort Brown (Wal-
ton)” differs from the Transvaal specimens in being slightly smaller,
in having the infuscation on wing slightly more extensive in basal
half of marginal cell and also in having slightly paler and more
whitish pubescence on abdomen above.
128. albidus Lw. var. auripilus n.
In the absence of a ¢ and in the entire agreement of specific char-
acters of this solitary 9-specimen with those of the typical 9-albidus,
I can only consider this specimen as a distinct variety of albzdus.
It differs from the Q of albidus in that the general pubescence of
body above is not pale creamy whitish or yellowish sericeous but
distinctly golden yellow, that on occiput and anterior part of thorax
even more orange fulvous, that on sides in front of wings even
slightly deeper orange fulvous and that on abdomen above is distinctly
more uniformly golden, that on pectoral regions and coxae not whitish
or creamy sericeous, but pale golden yellow, only that on the meso-
pleural and basal parts of venter as in albidus, being more whitish,
with the sides of abdomen also with dark brownish transverse bristles.
Head with the antennae, especially joints 1 and 2, more dark reddish
brown and the bristles on frons and sides of face darker reddish brown;
proboscisabout 6mm.long. Wings infuscated as in albidus, but basal
infuscation slightly less dark brown. Legs with the tarsi more slender,
but otherwise as in albidus.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 8} mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality —Transvaal: Pretoria Distr.; Zusterstroom (Janse,
17/12/04).
2 $5 4 22 S. polioleucus un. sp.
Black; face and to a certain extent head below pallid or yellowish;
scutellum ferruginous red, its base black; sides of abdomen in g¢
broadly reddish, especially segments 2-4; legs yellowish brown,
with the femora in 3¢ blackened and with their lower or front and
posterior surfaces in the 99 also darkened, with the inner surfaces of
402 Annals of the South African Museum.
the tibiae, especially the front ones, and the apical parts of the others,
especially hind ones, also darkened or with dark hair-like scaling,
with the tarsi blackened; pubescence short, with a shorn-off appear-
ance on thorax of g3 especially, greyish to whitish from above,
predominantly greyish, silvery whitish from side, that on thorax in
front, especially in $g, and that on abdomen in ¢¢ silvery white,
appearing more greyish white in 99 due to the dark transverse bristles,
that on disc of thorax and occiput in 99 more yellowish to subgolden
yellowish brown, with the hair just in front of the transverse bristles
in basal part of abdomen in some 99 as well as those at base of first
segment distinctly more pale ochreous brownish, with the hair on
venter towards apex in both sexes distinctly pale gleaming golden or
ochreous brownish, with the hair on head below, pleural parts and
base of venter silvery white, with the depressed pubescence on head
silvery whitish, slightly more yellowish towards base of frons, especi-
ally in 99, with the bristly hairs on head above, on antennal joint 1
above and intermixed on face in front very dark blackish brown,
those on face comparatively sparse, short, almost confined to anterior
part and there with numerous pale or yellowish intermixed ones as
well, with the numerous stout and fine bristles in front of wing-bases,
on upper hind part of mesopleuron, on posterior calli, scutellum,
transversely on all the abdominal segments above and in apical half
of venter in 99° yellowish brown, brownish to blackish brown, those
on abdomen being usually darker and those on mesopleuron above
paler, with the bristles in front of wings, thorax, scutellum and
predominantly above on abdomen in gg and basally on venter in
both sexes yellowish white or pale, those, however, on sides of seg-
ments 4 and 5 in g¢ also blackish brown or black and some on extreme
sides of 2 and 3 often slightly darker tipped, with the coxal bristles
in g¢ whitish, but with a few intermixed straw-coloured yellowish
and even brownish ones in 9° and also with 1 or 2 distinct, stout,
blackish brown bristles, on each side of prosternum, in 99; wings
greyish hyaline, slightly more subopaque in gg, with the base, costal
cell and across from end of costal cell to apices of first and second
basal cells and in bases of anal and axillary cells dark coffee brownish,
with the basal comb black, with the veins blackish brown, but more
reddish towards base and along first longitudinal vein, with the
squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed silvery whitish, but with
some fine intermixed blackish hairs in some 92; halteres pale
brownish, with yellowish to whitish knobs. Head with the interocular
space in gg, at narrowest part, as broad as front part of tubercle, a
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 403
little broader than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; frons with the
central furrow indicated in §g and more so basally; antennae with
joint 1 short, about 3 times, or a little more, as long as joint 2, with
3 gradually narrowed from broadish base to apex, the apical third,
or slightly more, being distinctly more slender, with some distinct
short, bristly hairs above basally, especially in gd, with the first
terminal joint conical and distinct, the second not separately visible
but ending in a pale style; face slightly conically prominent; pro-
boscis long, stoutish, about
64-8 mm. long, with the
spinules below visible and
more so basally; palps brown-
ish and with darkish hairs.
Legs with spines apically above
on front and middle femora,
especially in 92; front femora
with about 2-3 spines in front
and 2-3 behind; middle ones
with about 5-7 in front and
3-4 behind; hind ones with
about 10-16 spines below
from near base to apex and
with about 7-9 smaller ones
on inner side below. Hypo-
pygium of 3S (text-fig. 98) TEext-Fic. 98.—Dorsal view of beaked joint
. were d side view of hypopygium of ¢ Systoechu
belongs to the albidus-series in Se iblcsirus a ee yPoPpys? 3 Systoechus
shape, with the basal parts very
hairy above, especially in neck region and laterally beyond middle;
aedeagus falcate, with a flattened, ventral, vertical, keel-like plate
below, with a prominent arch-like projecting chitinous ridge (the rim
chitinous as in albidus, etc.) at base of aedeagus and through which
the middle part of the penis passes and which is formed by the lateral
ramus from basal parts on each side.
Types in the British Museum, paratypes in the Transvaal and
South African Museums.
Length of body: about 10-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-124 mm.
Locality.—E. Cape Province: S.E. Karoo; Somerset Hast (Turner,
Nov. 1930) (Types); Oudtshoorn (Brauns, 12/27); Albany Distr.;
Grahamstown, Resolution (Walton, 23/3/28).
This species is easily recognised by its silvery white pubescence,
404 Annals of the South African Museum.
black bristles on abdomen of $9 and the basally infuscated wings.
It is obviously related to albidus Lw. and neglectus n. sp. from the
former of which it differs in being silvery white haired. From
neglectus it differs in having a pallid face, more numerous brownish
black bristles in front of wings in 99, less extensively dark legs,
slightly longer first antennal joints, slightly longer proboscis, more
reddish scutellum and not entirely black abdomen in 3g. There are
probably slight differences in the colour of the pubescence, for the
Q-paratype from Grahamstown has slightly more yellowish hair on
occiput, disc of thorax and transversely across abdomen in basal half.
4 33 3 99 S. neglectus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum blackish or with obscure reddish to red on
disc posteriorly, especially in some 99; legs entirely black in gg, the
front and middle femora in part, the hind ones and the tibiae in 99
brownish to dark brownish, with the tarsi and apical part of claws
black, with the scaling on femora and tibiae greyish white, more
yellowish on hind ones especially in 99; pubescence, viewed from
above, greyish in front and white posteriorly, viewed from the side,
white becoming more distinctly white on abdomen above towards
apex, that in front of wings in certain lights more greyish, the hair on
head below, pectoral and pleural regions, metapleural tuft and venter
white, even silvery white, the apical part of venter with pale yellowish
brown or brownish fulvous hair, slightly paler and duller in 9? and
often also more developed laterally in 99, the pubescence on frons in
$3 with a distinct brownish tint, becoming white on sides anteriorly and
on sides of face, more yellowish on frons and white on face in 99, the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons and first antennal joints brown-
ish or reddish brown to dark brownish, with often some paler ones
intermixed laterally in 99 and also more whitish bristles on antennae
below in 99, that on face laterally in front and on genae in $¢ pre-
dominantly dark brownish black to black, with more white ones
intermixed laterally and on face and genae in 99, with the 3 or 4
strongly developed macrochaetae in front of wings dark brownish to
black, some transverse bristles across base of thorax, those on posterior
calli, some scutellar ones and the transverse ones on abdomen on
segments 1-7 in 2? brownish black to black, with the bristles on
posterior calli, scutellum and transversely on abdomen in g¢ mostly
whitish, but with often some intermixed yellowish to brownish black
ones laterally on segments 4 and 5, with the ventral bristles towards
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 405
apex in 99 blackish, brownish in 3g; wings with the basal part
infuscated dark brownish or coffee-brown, extending from base and
costal cell obliquely across basal half of marginal cell, first sub-
marginal cell, discal cross vein, across extreme base of discoidal cell,
apical cross vein of second basal cell to basal halves of anal and
axillary cells and the alula, with the rest of wing almost hyaline,
only very feebly tinged cinereous or brownish, with the basal comb
black and with whitish scaling behind it, with the veins dark brownish
or reddish brown, the main ones basally being more distinctly reddish
brown, the squamae
opaquely pale yellowish
white and white fringed;
halteres yellowish, with
very pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the
interocular space in g¢ pos-
teriorly as broad as ocellar
tubercle, at narrowest part
about as broad as or only
shghtly narrower than front
TExT-FIG. 99.—(a) Side and ventral views of
part of tubercle, about 3, aedeagus of ¢ Systoechus neglectus n. sp.
or a little more, times as (6) Side view of aedeagus of ¢ S. tumidifrons
broad as tubercle in 99; Hem
trons with the central furrow deep and distinct posteriorly only
in $g; antennae with joint 1 relatively short, about 3 times as
long as 2, with 3 about 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
thickened basally, broadest at about basal third, then gradually
narrowed to a little beyond middle, from there forming an apical
slender and rod-like part, with the first terminal joint slightly narrower
than apex of 3, conical and slightly shorter than the style; proboscis
slender, about 5-6 mm. long. Legs with a few apical spines
above on front and middle femora and without any long hairs
basally in gg; front femora with about 1-2 small spines in front
and 1 or 2 behind; middle ones with 3-5 spines in front and
2-3 behind; hind ones with about 9-12 spines below, of which
some are very small and about 6-9 often minute ones on inner
side below. Hypopygium of 3 like that of aberrans and albidus
(cf. text-figs. 96 and 97) with the basal parts as hirsute dorsally
as in albidus, with the ventral keel to aedeagus (text-fig. 99, a) often
more or less flattened below (probably due to collapsible nature
of the broadened ventral part); beaked apical joints shorter
VOL. XXXIV. 27
406 Annals of the South African Museum.
than in albidus, more like that of aberrans ; basal strut like that of
albidus.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 8-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Pretoria; Groenvlei (1/1/07) (Holotype);
Pretoria (Impey, 9/12/15) (Allotype); (Capt. Paget, 24/11/11):
Waterberg Distr. (v. Jutrzencka, 1898-99). Zululand: Mfongosi
(Jones, Dec. 1914). S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 24/12/24).
This species is easily recognised by its white pubescence and infus-
cated wings, black legs in the gg, etc. Superficially it may be
confused with albidus Lw., which species is, however, distinctly less
white, with a yellowish face, yellowish or whitish and not black
macrochaetae in front of wings, comparatively broader interocular
space in 3d, etc.
S. spimthorax Bezz.
(P. 44, Ann. S. Afr. Maus., vol. xvim, 1921°)
To Bezzi’s description the following may be added:—Integument
of face, head below, pleural regions, coxae and trochanters dark
brownish; antennae with joints 1 and
2 also dark brownish and not black;
abdomen is not entirely black, but
broadly pale yellowish red on the sides,
with the transverse rows of bristles
across hind margins as long as hair and
interrupted along midline above, the
hairs transversely across hind margins
before the black bristles whitish, those
at base laterally on segment 1 almost
silvery, the rest of the hair above pale
yellowish brownish or pale fulvous in
certain lights, that on venter almost
a flere a rea 4 ee . silvery white ; hair on thorax above
beaked apical joint, and view short, viewed from side, almost silvery
ea pe Begs oe a white in front of wings and above wings,
with the “shorn-oft” hairs on disc and
scutellum distinctly pale brownish golden, with the short bristles, inter-
mixed on front part of thorax, like those laterally in front of wings and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 407
on mesopleuron above posteriorly, brownish golden; hair on meta-
pleural tuft partly pale brownish; squamal fringe distinctly pale
brownish. Wings with the costal cell, first basal cell subopaquely
brownish. Legs with 1-3 black spines in front on middle femora
and 6-8 spines below on hind ones. Hypopygium with the basal
parts short and oval, the neck region short and broad; beaked
apical joints comparatively long and slender, not depressed above,
the apex slightly bent downwards and outwards; aedeagus with a
lateral process on each side (text-fig. 100); basal strut as shown in
text-fig. 100. '
Locality Namaqualand: Klipfontein.
12 33 15 92 S. bombycinus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, excepting narrow black base and to a
certain extent the hind border, the sides of abdomen in ¢2, often
broadly, pale reddish to yellowish red; venter in 3g yellowish brown
to brownish, with the hind margins yellowish in g¢ and darker
brownish in 99; legs with the basal halves or basal parts of front
and middle femora in $¢ blackish brown to black, the hind femora
and those of 92 brownish yellow to even yellowish, with the front
faces of front and middle ones in both sexes sometimes darkened by
blackish scaling, with the tibiae yellowish to pale brownish, their
front faces also sometimes darkened by dark scaling, with the apices
of hind tibiae and the tarsi darkened or blackened, with the scaling
on the lower and hinder faces of the legs whitish to very pale yellowish;
pubescence short above and with a distinct shortish “shorn-off”’
appearance in g6, especially on thorax above, having a distinct pelt-
like appearance all over body, gleaming, velvet-like, pale sericeous
yellowish, yellowish to bright golden yellow above, appearing more
golden yellowish from side in certain lights, that on occiput short
and together with that on thorax scarcely paler in $¢ than in 99,
becoming deeper yellowish in front of wings, that on abdomen more
or less uniformly sericeous yellowish to gleaming golden, scarcely
paler in $3, but becoming paler apically in both sexes, that on sides
of abdomen in certain lights with a distinct more ochreous tint and
that towards apical part of venter also more ochreous yellowish,
especially in $g, that on pleural regions and basally on each side of
venter paler than above, that along middle more distinctly gleaming
whitish, that along upper parts of pleurae inclining to be more
yellowish, that on coxae also less whitish and more pale sericeous
yellowish and that in metapleural tuft more yellowish than whitish in
408 Annals of the South African Museum.
certain lights, that on head below distinctly whitish like that on each
side basally on venter, with the pubescence on face in both sexes tend-
ing to be shortish and projecting tuft-like in front, the bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, on first antennal joints, face in front
and intermixed ones on sides of face and genae brownish to mauvish
black, those on face in front in gd being slightly denser, more
numerous and more apparently tuft-like in appearance, the depressed
pubescence on frons in 99, and to a certain extent on sides of face in
TExt-FIG. 101.—Side view, ventral view of hypopygium, and dorsal view of
beaked apical joint of hypopygium of g Systoechus bombycinus n. sp.
both sexes, deeper yellowish and even slightly or distinctly fulvous in
some 99, that on sides of face and genae pale creamy yellowish to
sericeous yellowish in both sexes, with the macrochaetal bristles in
front of wings, post-alar bristles, scutellar bristles and the transverse
bristles on abdomen above discally on tergites 2-3 in g¢ and 2-4 in
29 yellowish white to yellowish, those laterally from tergite 2 to apex
and discally also from tergite 4 or 5 to apex pale reddish yellow,
reddish to reddish brown, those in some ¢¢ being slightly darker than
in 99, the bristles towards apical part of venter also more reddish or
brownish yellow; wings tinged slightly mauvish or reddish mauve,
becoming darker towards base, especially in $3, occupying more or
less the base, costal cell, first basal cell, second basal cell, base of
marginal cell, bases of anal and axillary cells and the alula, with the
costal cell, base and first basal cell distinctly more subopaquely
brownish yellow, with the basal comb black, the scaling on it being
pale yellowish white to whitish, with the veins brownish to reddish
brown, becoming more yellowish towards base and more reddish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 409
along first longitudinal vein, with the squamae opaquely pale yellowish
brown and fringed with pale sericeous hairs which gleam more ochreous
yellowish near their bases, with the wings tending to be more pointed
apically in 3g; halteres yellowish to yellowish brown, with almost
whitish knobs. Head with the eyes separated above in gd, the space
as broad as ocellar tubercle, quite, or a little more than, 3 times as
broad as tubercle on vertex in 99; frons with the central furrow in
3S only indicated basally; face appearing conical due to tuft of
blackish hairs in front; antennae with joint 1 shortish, about 24-3
times as long as 2, with 3 not quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 com-
bined, thickened in basal third, broadest at about basal third, from
where it is more rapidly narrowed apically on the inner side, thus
producing a slight hump on the inner side, in profile it also shows a
sight humped appearance above near base or in basal half, the apical
two-thirds or less being rod-like, ending apically in a small conical
basal element, bearing a style; proboscis usually about 4-5 mm.
long. Legs without any apical spines above on front and middle
femora and the front ones usually unarmed below; middle femora
with about 1-3 spines in front and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about
5-10 spines below and 3-5 in apical part on inner side; spicules in
outer lower row on front and middle tibiae dark or black.
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the Durban and
Transvaal Museums, the Union Agricultural Department and in the
Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 8-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Louis Trichardt (Lawrence, 1—2/28) (Types)
(Ogilvie and Mackie, 4 and 10/32); Leydsdorp Rd. (van Son, 10/11/27);
Barberton (van Dam, 10/22); Rooiplaat (Swierstra, 20—24/3/06);
Pongola River (Marley, 10/29). O.F.S.: Bloemfontein (Munro).
P.H. Africa: Beira (Ogilvie, 6/32). Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones, 3/14
and 1916). Natal: Ubani Valley; Umbumbo Distr. (Robertson).
S. Rhodesia: Matopo Hills (Ogilvie, 30/10/31). Little Karoo:
Willowmore (Brauns, 17/9/16). E. Cape Province: Uitenhage
(Ogilvie, 10/31).
This species is very common and is also very variable in the colour
of its pubescence, the intensity of the blackness of the femora in 33
and the intensity of the reddish mauve or mauvish of the wings.
There is probably a large number of varietal and even local forms
throughout Southern Africa, Some forms at least appear to merit
the rank of distinct varieties, thus :—
410 Annals of the South African Museum.
21 3d 28 99 S. bombycinus var. pallidispinis n.
These specimens differ from the typical forms in having the outer
lower row of spicules or spines on front and middle tibiae, the spines
on middle femora behind and sometimes the longish spine on inner
side below at base of hind femora pallid or yellowish and not black;
red or reddish on sides of abdomen in 3¢ tending to be more extensive
in some specimens; pubescence either similar in colour to typical
forms or sometimes more brassy yellowish or even lemon yellowish;
antennal joint 1 in some 92 sometimes tending to be reddish. This
form is very common and widely distributed throughout the Hastern
and North-Eastern Karoo and even the O.F.S. Even this form is
itself variable in the colour of its pubescence, size and minor details.
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the British and
Transvaal Museums, in the Imperial Institute and in the Union
Agricultural Dept.
Locality.—_N. Karoo: Venterstad Distr. (Mus. Exp., 10/35) (Types) ;
Burghersdorp and Steynsburg (Mus. Exp., 10/35); Aliwal North
(Mus. Exp., 10/35). O.F.8.: Bloemfontein. E. Karoo: Graafi-
Reinet. Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns). E. Cape Province:
Dunbrody, Grahamstown, Somerset East, Queenstown and Uitenhage.
Natal: Weenen (Thomasset).
1g12 8. bombycinus var. bedfordi n.
This g and 2 apparently constitute still another and more or less
distinct variety differing from the typical forms and preceding variety
in having the sides of the abdomen in § more broadly and extensively
yellowish red and more so on tergites 3-6, with the venter in 3 pre-
dominantly reddish; legs with the femora in g very dark blackish
brown or blackish to beyond the middle, with the front ones in 9
also darkened in basal half, with the tibiae on the whole more darkened,
especially in $; pubescence predominantly brassy yellowish, slightly
duller than in the typical forms, that on body below slightly more
whitish in certain lights, with the pubescence on frons in 2 more
ochreous brownish, with all the bristles on thorax and those trans-
versely on abdomen in both sexes entirely yellowish, a few only on
sides of tergites 4 and 5 in ¢ slightly deeper yellowish, with the
pubescence towards apex of venter more distinctly ochreous brownish;
wings with the faint reddish tinge and slightly more hyaline than in
typical form; proboscis slightly longer, about 55 mm. long; legs with
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 411
about 7-9 spines on hind femora below of which the basal one and
apical 2 or 3 are the longest. | |
TExt-FIc. 102.—Side view of hypopygium of ¢ Systoechus bombycinus
var. bedfordi n.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 9-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 84-9 mm.
Locality.— Transvaal: Pretoria (Bedford, 23/9/14 and 17/10/12).
The hypopygium of the 3 of bombycinus and its varieties (text-figs.
101 and 102) with the aedeagus as shown in the figures and with the
process on each side of aedeagus slightly broadened apically as shown
in text-figures.
3 53 S. monticolanus n. sp.
These specimens so closely resemble bombycinus that they may
almost be taken to represent still another distinct variety. As they,
however, differ in certain essentials, it is desirable to refer them to a
separate species.
Body black; greater part of scutellum, the sides of abdomen,
broadly on tergites 2-6 and even to a certain extent the narrow hind
margins of the apical tergites and the greater part of venter ferru-
ginous reddish; face, genae and head below yellowish brown to brown-
ish and not black as in bombycinus; legs with the femora and tibiae
entirely yellowish or yellowish brown, though the front and middle
tibiae may be darkened on anterior surfaces by blackish scaling,
especially towards their apical parts, with the greater part of tarsi
412 Annals of the South African Museum.
darkened, with the spicules in outer lower row on front and middle
tibiae and their lower apical spurs yellowish as in bombycinus var.
pallidispinis; pubescence also relatively short, with a cropped-oft
appearance on thorax, appearing velvety or pelt-like as in bombycinus
and its varieties, that on face also tuft or brush-like, gleaming bright
to deep golden yellowish on body above, with brownish tints in
certain lights, that in front of wings appearing more fulvous or orange
golden in certain lights, that towards apex of abdomen scarcely paler
than on rest of body above, that (depressed) on sides of frons, sides of
face, on genae and erect ones on face in front very deep golden, the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, a few intermixed ones on first
antennal joints, the intermixed ones on sides of face and genae and
denser intermixed ones on face in front very dark blackish brown,
with, however, predominantly yellowish hairs on antennae and
distinctly fewer blackish ones on face in front than in bombycinus
and its varieties, the scale-like pubescence along hind margins of eyes
on sides whitish, the pubescence on head below distinctly and con-
trastingly whitish, that on pleurae only slightly paler yellowish than
above, that above front coxae and along middle of pleurae, extending
up to below wings and also that basally on each side of venter also
contrastingly whitish, that on pectus being again golden yellowish and
even metapleural tuft is distinctly more yellowish than whitish, that
on venter yellowish, becoming distinctly more brownish or ochreous
brownish golden apically and that on sides of abdomen also more
or deeper fulvous golden in certain lights, with the bristles on thorax,
scutellum and discally above on abdomen golden yellowish, but those
laterally on abdomen from tergite 3 to apex and even discally across
apical segments reddish brown to dark reddish brown or even blackish
brown; wings tinged mauvish as in bombycinus, the base, costal cell,
basal part of marginal cell and first basal cell, however, more sub-
opaquely yellowish brown, with the basal comb blackish, but with
yellowish or golden scaling above, with the veins very dark, blackish
brown, becoming almost black towards apical parts of wings and
more dark brownish basally, with the squamae almost opaquely
yellowish brown and fringed with pale yellowish hairs which gleam
almost brownish fulvous in certain lights; halteres yellowish brown,
with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes separated above by
a space as broad as ocellar tubercle, as broad as in bombycinus; frons
with the central furrow also more evident basally; antennae, in
relation to body, distinctly longer than in bombycinus and its
varieties, with joints 1, 2 and 3 thus apparently longer, though joint
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 413
1 may also be about 3, or a little more, times as long as 2, with 3
from side broadest near base, appearing humped above in basal half
due to a bulge above, the apical part slender and rod-like, ending
apically in a distinct and longish basal element, itself ending in a
style, this basal element being distinctly longer and more conspicuous
than in bombycinus and its varieties; proboscis projecting out straight,
slender, markedly long and on the whole much longer than in bomby-
cinus and its varieties, about 7-8 mm. long, also distinctly more
Trxt-Fic. 103.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of 3 of Systoechus
monticolanus n. sp.
visibly and more coarsely spinulated below than in bombycinus. Legs
with 1 or 2 minute and feeble spines above on sides apically on front
and middle femora; front ones without any or with | small spine in
front and behind in apical half; middle ones with about 3 spines in
front and 2 or 3 behind of which one or two may be yellowish; hind
femora with about 7—9 spines from near base to apex on outer side
below and 3 or 4 on inner side below, of which the apical one is long;
claws slender and curved down apically as in bombycinus, and with the
pulvilli also long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 103) with the beaked apical
joints rather elongate and narrowish, but in other respects much like
that of bombycinus (cf. text-fig. 101).
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10-114 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-10 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Cape Province: Fransch Hoek (Wood, Jan.
1937) (Type). Southern Cape Province: Tradouw Peak, Barrydale
Side (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1935).
414 Annals of the South African Museum.
This species is easily recognised by its gleaming golden pubescence,
markedly long projecting proboscis and mauvishly tinged wings.
The species seems to occur on the higher slopes near the peaks of the
Cape Mountains, a habitat which it shares with montanus, affinis and
subcontiguus.
2 33 S. tumidifrons Bezz.
(P. 41, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This species, of which the type is in the South African Museum,
is easily recognised by its soft, creamy yellowish, somewhat shaggy
pubescence above, which becomes paler and almost white posteriorly,
and which, in certain lights, is pale brownish fulvous on thorax and
occiput; by the yellowish or brownish fulvous hairs and reddish brown
bristles on each side in front of wings, the whitish pectoral and pleural
regions, slight ochreous tints laterally towards apex of abdomen and
venter apically and by the stiffish, long, brush-like blackish hairs on
face. |
In addition to Bezzi’s description, the following may be added :—
Face, genae and head below yellowish; sides of abdomen above not
black, as stated, but distinctly and often broadly reddish; venter
also yellowish to reddish; scutellum too is not entirely black, but
distinctly reddish discally in both the type and the other specimen;
abdomen with the transverse rows of bristles laterally on segments 4 and
5 or 3-5 dark reddish brown to blackish brown, some of these bristles
with paler tips; legs with apical spines above on front and middle
femora; wings with the veins dark reddish brown, not black as
stated, and towards base the main longitudinal veins are distinctly
deep reddish brown, the infuscation itself dark reddish brown.
Hypopygium with fairly long hairs on dorsal part of neck region of
basal parts; aedeagus (text-fig. 99, 6) with the keel fairly deep;
lateral struts comparatively short; basal strut relatively broad,
projecting only slightly basally, with the dorsal incision more or
less rectangular.
Locality.—Transvaal: Baberton.
1 gS. rhodestanus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, excepting black base, central basal macula
and hind border, reddish; sides, especially along hind margins, of
abdomen above broadly pale reddish; face, genae and also head
-A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 415
below yellowish, and venter also yellowish; legs yellowish, the posterior
face of front femora, however, darkened, the apices of hind tibiae and
all the tarsi more brownish, the apices of the tarsi distinctly dark
brownish and the apices of claws black; general pubescence, viewed
from above, soft subgolden yellowish on thorax and soft creamy
whitish on abdomen, becoming paler towards apex; viewed from the
side, the hair on occiput and thorax in front pale creamy white with
a silky sheen, that on dise slightly more yellowish in certain lights,
that on sides in front of wings and also on side of head distinctly
more fulvous yellow in certain lights, that on abdomen above soft
pale creamy white, more distinctly yellowish basally and whiter
apically, the hair on head below, pectoral and pleural regions and
venter basally and laterally whitish, the metapleural tuft whitish in
certain lights and the upper parts of pleurae feebly yellowish, with
the pubescence on frons and face laterally pale yellowish sericeous,
with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, antennal
joints above and the hairs intermixed on face and genae dark brownish
black, the macrochaetae, posterior callar bristles and those on scutel-
lum pale yellowish straw-coloured, those on abdomen pale creamy
whitish or yellowish like the rest of the hair; wings with a brownish
infuscation in basal half of marginal cell, basal part of first sub-
marginal cell, first and second basal cells, extreme bases of anal and
axillary cells and alula, with the costal cell and extreme base
apparently darker and more subopaquely brownish yellow, the rest
of wing practically hyaline, with the basal comb dark brownish
black and the scaling behind it pale yellowish sericeous, with the
veins pale yellowish brown, becoming paler basally and more reddish
brown along first and third longitudinal veins and with faint brownish
infuscations at base of third longitudinal vein, on discal cross vein
and a more distinct one on basal cross vein of fourth posterior cell,
with the squamae opaquely pale brownish yellow and white fringed;
halteres yellowish, with whitish knobs. Head with the interocular
space about as broad as ocellar tubercle; face with the bristles com-
paratively stout, stiff and rigid; antennae with joint 3 subequal to
1 and 2 combined, thickened in basal half, broadest at about basal
fourth, gradually narrowed apically, but slightly more rapidly on
inner side, with the first terminal joint narrower than apex of 3 and
longer than the style; proboscis slender, about 54 mm. long. Abdomen
with the pubescence dense, slightly longer towards apex and sides,
the bristles slender and scarcely distinguishable from the hair. Legs
with longish hairs confined to extreme bases of femora and not very
416 Annals of the South African Museum.
conspicuous or long, often with small apical spines above on front
and middle femora; front ones with a small spine in front and 1
behind in apical part; middle ones with 2 spines —
below; hind ones with about 9 spines below on
outer side and 3 or 4 on inner side; claws com-
paratively slender and gradually curved downwards
apically. Hypopygiwm much like that of tumidifrons
Bezz., but with the beaked apical joints slightly
longer; aedeagus (text-fig. 104) with the keel, at
broadest part, slightly broader than in tumidifrons
_Text-ric. 104. and slightly more flattened anteriorly; basal strut
Side view of aede- _,. Aa coe
agus of g Systoe- Slightly narrower and the dorsal incision feeble and
chus rhodesianus pot deeply angular.
pis Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Hopefountain (Swinburne and Stevenson,
12/9/22). | |
This species is easily recognised by its soft yellowish pubescence
anteriorly and soft creamy white abdominal hair, basally infuscated
wings, etc. From tumzdzfrons Bezz. it is separated in the key.
1 2. S. leucostietus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum shining black, but with a slight and obscure
rufous tint posteriorly; legs entirely black, only the basal halves of
the claws being pale yellowish brown; pubescence above white, with
a silvery or silky white sheen in certain lights, the bristly hairs on
occiput white, those on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, on first antennal
joints, those on face (intermixed with whitish hair), macrochaetae
in front of wings and bristles on upper part of mesopleuron and in
front of wings, those on posterior calli, scutellum, transverse ones on
abdomen above and towards apex on venter below dark blackish
brown or black, with a few bristles intermixed on front part of thorax
slightly paler brownish and a few ones intermixed with the white ones
on coxae also more brownish; the pubescence and bristly hairs in
basal half of venter white, that towards apex with a slight brownish
tint, with the scaling on legs pale brownish to blackish brown; wings
more or less translucent, feebly tinged smoky or cinereous, the
extreme base and front part up to end of costal cell and extending
obliquely across discal cross vein to basal cross vein of fourth posterior
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 417
cell and to extreme base of anal cell darker and more brownish black,
but imperceptibly merging into more hyaline part, with the base,
costal and first basal cells more yellowish or whitish brown, with the
basal comb black, the veins brownish black, with the squamae
opaquely brownish and white fringed; halteres dark brownish, with
pale yellowish brown knobs. Head with the interocular space broad,
nearly or quite 5 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with
joints 1 and 2 combined slightly shorter than 3 (terminal joints
excluded), with 3 broadest just before base, gradually narrowed to
apex, with the first terminal joint nearly as broad basally as apex of
3 and about as long as slender style; face tending to be slightly tumid
on sides, with fairly stoutish bristles, even along sides of genae to
below middle; proboscis about 34 mm. long. Abdomen with the
transverse rows of bristles stout and long, longer than the hair and
much longer posteriorly, fairly broadly interrupted medially above
on segment 2 and scarcely on the rest. Legs with a few apical spines
above on front and middle femora; front ones with 1 or 2 spines in
apical half below; middle ones with 3 or 4 spines in front and 2
feebler ones behind; hind ones with about 7 spines on outer side
below and 3 in apical part on inner side.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm.
Locality —S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Oct. 1916).
This species is easily distinguished from all others in this series by
its greyish black appearance, due to white pubescence and black
bristles; entirely black legs and the almost hyaline wings, which are
infuscated brownish black at base and along the costal cell.
1 g 2 99 S. transvaalensis n. sp.
One ¢g and 2 99 before me, though from widely separated localities,
agree In so many specific characters that there is no doubt that they
belong to one species which probably has a wide range of distribution
in the northern parts of South Africa, replacing there the closely related
powert n. sp. which, on the other hand, extends from Kimberley and
the O.F.S. into the Karoo.
Black; the face in front, the genae and to a certain extent front
part of head below tending to be obscure yellowish or brownish or
even darker; scutellum with the apical part in 99 reddish, in ¢
almost entirely dark, only the extreme hind part being slightly tinted
418 Annals of the South African Museum.
rufous; legs pale yellowish brown, with the basal halves of front
femora and extreme bases of the others, slightly more distinct in g,
darkened, with the apical parts of hind tibiae and all the tarsi blackish
brown, the apices of the claws black; pubescence straw-coloured
whitish in g, straw-coloured yellowish in 992, that on abdomen with a
slightly more yellowish tint especially towards apex in 99, that en
head and body below scarcely paler than above, with the bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle, frons, antennae and face ©
dark blackish brown, with all the bristles
on thorax and scutellum in both sexes straw-
coloured, those on abdomen in 99 entirely
straw-coloured yellowish and those on sides
slightly more yellowish than the hair, with
only a few very inconspicuous darkish ones
laterally in 2 (their bases only being darkish),
with slightly more intermixed pale hairs on
face in 92; wings greyish hyaline, with the
base, costal cell, first basal cell and to a
certain extent base of second basal cell
yellowish brown, with the veins brownish,
the basal comb poorly developed and black,
with the squamae opaquely yellowish white
and fringed with whitish or straw-coloured
ie insea TR ga whitish hairs, with the second longitudinal
toechus transvaalensis vein tending to be more straight and with
Roark its apical part not very sinuously bent
upwards; halteres yellowish brown, with pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the interocular space in 3, at narrowest part,
about as broad as front part of tubercle, but much narrower than
posterior part of tubercle, in 99 not quite or scarcely 4 times as broad
as tubercle; frons in g with the central furrow shallow but distinct;
antennae with joint 1 not, or scarcely, 4 times as long as joint 2, with
3 subequal or equal to joints 1 and 2 combined, more or less rapidly
narrowed apically from a broader base, especially in 99, the apical
part or third being slender; proboscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs
without any apical spines above on front and middle femora and with
the front ones unarmed below; middle femora with about 1 or 2
spines on apical lower aspect and often with | or 2 behind; hind ones
with about 4-5 spines below from just before middle to apex and 2-3,
mostly in apical half, on the inner side below. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 105).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 419
Holotype in the South African Museum, allotype and paratype in
the Transvaal and British Museums respectively.
Length of body: about 53-63 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Louis Trichardt (Lawrence, Feb. 1928)
(Holotype); Pretoria (Curson, 1924) (damaged Paratype). O.F.S.:
Bloemfontein (Irving, 4/12/20) (Allotype). y
This small species is very near poweri n. sp., from which it differs
in having a distinctly narrower interocular space in dg, distinctly fewer
black bristly hairs on sides of abdomen in Q, no black bristles on
abdomen in 9, not entirely black scutellum, very dark or entirely
blackish legs, very much narrower interocular space in Q, etc.
S. mgripes Lw. —
(P. 13, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863.)
Bezzi (p. 48, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii) referred a 3$-specimen
from Klerksdorp and another § from Kimberley to mgripes. A
careful comparison of the specimen from Kimberley with Loew’s
description of a $ from the Orange Free State shows that the Kimberley
specimen cannot be referred to nigripes as it has a different type of
wing infuscation and also possesses distinct black hairs on sides of
the abdomen posteriorly. The Klerksdorp specimen, on the other
hand, agrees with Loew’s short description. In addition to this latter
¢ there are 5 other ¢¢ from the Eastern Province and 3 99 from the
same localities and which I have no doubt in placing here. As Loew’s
description is very short and inadequate, a fuller description of this
species 1s as follows:—
Body entirely black; legs with the femora black, the tibiae often
also dark, but sometimes slightly paler and dark brownish or even
yellowish brown in both sexes; antennae in both sexes also black or
dark; pubescence very pale yellowish white to straw-coloured in 33,
the effects in certain lights changeable, that on occiput and front
part of thorax very pale straw-coloured whitish, that on sides of
thorax in front of wings tinted slightly more yellowish, that on
abdomen above pale yellowish white, becoming paler and more
distinctly whitish apically, that on sides of face laterally and in front
sericeous whitish, that on head below and rest of body below soft
whitish and slightly paler than above, that on upper parts of pleurae
paler yellowish white and that at apex of venter very soft pale yellow-
ish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, on antennal
420 Annals of the South African Museum.
joint 1 above, some intermixed ones on face and upper parts of
genae blackish brown to black, with the macrochaetal bristles in
front of wings yellowish to brownish and those on post-alar calli and
scutellum whitish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen whitish
like rest of pubescence, those on venter sometimes with a few darkish
ones laterally, with the pubescence in 99 predominantly pale sericeous
yellowish to gleaming golden yellowish above, that on head below
more sericeous whitish, that on pleural parts also paler and more
‘ a8
yy 4
f y 1
, yf
\ 4 4A hf} | /f dF
Uy, I.
\ AY 4-4. fi «
XS Ws Ui x 4
2,4, . “s
AEX WN “Y ‘
4
Trext-FIc. 106.—Side view of hypopygium of 3 of Systoechus nigripes
var. plebevus n.
whitish than above, that on abdomen gleaming even more sericeous
to pale golden yellowish than in front, with the bristly hairs on
tubercle and sides of frons and intermixed on face and sides of face
and genae also blackish brown to black as in ¢¢, the macrochaetal
bristles in front of wings very pale yellowish brown or even more
yellowish like the post-alar and scutellar ones, with the transverse
bristles across hind margins of abdomen above predominantly
yellowish or sericeous yellowish discally, only those on sides of the
tergites from 3 to apex darker and even blackish brown; wings with
the anterior two-thirds in gd pale yellowish brown to reddish brown,
the infuscation extending from about end of costal cell obliquely
across basal halves of marginal and first submarginal cells, first
posterior and discoidal cells, across base of fourth posterior cell to
apex of anal and axillary cells, being darker basally and gradually
merging into the clearer and more yellowish greyish tinged apical
part, with the wings distinctly less tinged in 92 and more greyish,
becoming more yellowish brown and darker basally, with the basal
comb in both sexes black, with the veins brownish or reddish brown,
ee ee i tg
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 421
but paler and more yellowish brown towards base, with the squamae
subopaquely yellowish white and fringed with whitish hairs; halteres
yellowish and with very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes
in $3 separated above, the space at its narrowest part, about as broad
as front part of ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in 99 about
4, or even a little less, times as broad as tubercle; frons in ¢¢ com-
paratively convex and with a deep and distinct central furrow, with
the transverse depression in 99 in front of tubercle also distinct;
face somewhat tumidly prominent on sides when viewed from directly
above and in profile shightly spout-like; antennae with joint 1 about
3, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with 3 broadest just before
base, ending apically in a more or less distinct basal nodule-like
terminal element which itself ends in a short style; proboscis about
3-4 mm. long. Legs with a few feeble spines apically above on front
and middle femora; front ones unarmed; middle ones with about
2 spines below, hind ones with about 7-8 spines below; claws
normally curved down apically and the pulvilli long. Hypopygium
of g¢ (text-figs. 106 and 107) with fairly dense and long hairs on basal
parts above, especially in neck region; beaked apical joints elongate,
not depressed above and directed outwards apically; aedeagus with
the keel less developed than in albidus and tumidifrons; basal strut
very angularly incised along its dorsal margin.
Length of body: about 6-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-8 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Transvaal, O.F.S. and Eastern Cape Province.
(In the Imperial Institute, Albany and South African Museums.)
This species is easily recognised by its dark infuscated wings in the
3d, the dark or blackish legs and its pale pubescence.
Numerous g¢ and 99 S. nigripes var. pleberus n.
These $¢ and 99, though not differing structurally from the typical
nigripes, differ in colour details, and more especially in the case of
the pubescence, colour of legs and of the wings. As these differences
are to a certain extent important they are referred to a distinct and
separate variety of nigripes, even though some examples from the
Eastern Karoo and from the South-Western Karoo deviate in the
direction of the typical nigripes or even constitute another variety or
form of nigripes (see below). A detailed description of the variety.
plebeius is as follows :—
Body, including scutellum and sides of abdomen, even in 36,
VOL. XXXIV. 28
422 Annals of the South African Museum.
entirely black; antennal joint 1 in 92 more often reddish to pale
yellowish red; hind margins of ventral segments in gd narrowly
pallid or often whitish and the apical part of exposed hypopygium
pale reddish to pale yellowish brown; legs pale yellowish brown in 99
to pale brownish in some $3, with the front femora, often to beyond
middle, and the lower surfaces or bases of middle and hind ones in
majority of $$ brownish black to black, with the scaling pale yellowish
white to yellowish, the apical parts of tibiae, especially hind ones,
and the tarsi dark brownish black; pubescence above pale yellowish
white to very pale yellowish brown, showing different sheens and
shades in different positions, the occipital hair and that on thorax in
front whitish sericeous from in front, that on disc of thorax and
scutellum yellowish sericeous to subgolden or even pale fulvous,
especially in some gd, the hair and bristles in front of wings even
more distinctly yellowish to fulvous, the dense pubescence on frons,
especially antero-laterally and on face in front whitish sericeous to
silvery whitish, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, on first antennal
joints above, sides of face and frons and upper parts of genae dark
brownish black to black, with the apical parts of some of the hairs
in mystax above often tinted slightly yellowish, the pubescence on
abdomen above sericeous or very pale yellowish white, paler and more
whitish in $3 and also distinctly whiter, more silvery towards apex
in gS, with the sides in basal half, especially in gd, more distinctly
pale yellowish, with the bristles across hind margins whitish in 3g
like the rest of hair, but often with only a few darker ones intermixed
laterally, in 92 with those laterally and in apical half blackish brown
to black and those discally in basal half yellowish, those on posterior
calli and scutellum yellowish, the hair on body below white, that
along upper parts of mesopleurae, however, being more yellowish
white to yellowish, the venter in gg on segments 4-6 with yellowish
to pale fulvous hair, that on sides being more distinctly and even
darker fulvous to brownish yellow, less so in 99 and bristles in apical
half in both 3g and 99 dark brownish to black; wings with a smoky
-mauvish infuscation, the anterior two-thirds in $¢ up to end or
slightly beyond costal cell and extending obliquely from greater part
of base of marginal cell, across basal half of first posterior cell, almost
entire discoidal cell, across fourth posterior cell to end of anal cell
deeply mauvish brown, the infuscation becoming darker basally and
‘along the longitudinal veins in this area and gradually fainter towards
clearer apical and posterior parts, with this.infuscation in the 9 less
extensive, only slightly more darkened across cross veins, in second
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 423
basal cell and base of anal cell, with the costal cell, first and second
basal cells and extreme base in both sexes distinctly more opaquely
yellowish, with the veins brownish, more reddish brown towards
base and along first longitudinal vein, with the basal comb black
and with very pale yellowish sericeous scaling behind it, with the
squamae opaquely yellowish white and fringed white or very pale
yellowish white; halteres brownish, with yellowish white knobs.
Head with the _ interocular
space in gd about as broad
as ocellar tubercle, narrowest
part in front of front ocellus
only very slightly narrower
than tubercle is broad across
lateral ocelli, quite 34 times as
broad as tubercle in 99; an-
tennae with joint 3 subequal
to or a little longer than 1
and 2 combined, broadest near
base, slightly broader in 99,
with joint 1 about 3 times as
long as 2; proboscis slender,
about 3-4 mm. long. Wings
in gg slghtly longer and
narrower than in 99, slightly Texr-ric. 107.—Ventral view of hypo-
more rounded apically in ?9. Le ei 3 of Systoechus nigripes var.
Legs with 1-3 apical spines
above on front and middle femora; front ones unarmed below or
with only a small spine towards apex below in front; middle ones
with 2-4 spines in front and 1-2 small ones behind; hind ones with
about 5-9 larger and smaller spines below. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-
figs. 106 and 107) as in typical forms of nigripes.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Khp Vlei (Mus. Exp, |
Nov. 1931) (Types); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); Kamies-
kroon (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1930). E. Cape Province: S.E. Karoo;
Somerset East (Turner, Nov. 1930) (British Museum).
This is one of the commonest Bombyliids in Namaqualand, and it
is surprising that this variety has never been recorded before. It is
mostly found settling on sandy places and is also very common on
424 | Annals of the South African Museum.
the flower-clusters of Mesembryanthemums. The 99 also resemble
the 9° of aberrans n. sp., from which they differ in having the hair on
occiput and thorax above much paler whitish and less yellow, black
mystax, broader interocular space, entirely black scutellum, etc.
Specimens from the Eastern Karoo differ from the typical Namaqua-
land form in having almost entirely dark legs in the 3g, and also with
distinct dark or blackish bristles on sides of segments 2 and 3 in the
S. Some 92 from Calvinia (Mackie, 11-16/11/31), in the Imperial
Institute, constitute still another form, characterised by having paler
and more pale yellowish brown or pale golden brownish bristly hairs
on face, also slightly paler bristles on sides of abdomen and with the
integument of face, laterally at least, also paler and more reddish
brown.
1 3 S. nigripes var. nomteleénsis n.
This specimen from Ovamboland was labelled by Bezzi as nagripes
Lw., which it no doubt resembles. It differs, however, in being
much larger, about 9 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 10
mm.; head with the interocular space also about as broad as ocellar
tubercle, but with the pubescence on frons, sides of face and the
hairs in mystax more creamy whitish, the mystax also denser and
with fewer blackish hairs, with the face slightly broader, with the
proboscis slightly longer and quite 44 mm. long; pubescence above
about the same in colour, but that on thorax above more creamy
whitish and less apparently whitish, that on abdomen laterally and
towards apex and towards apex on venter distinctly less white,
more creamy yellowish, with more dark bristles on sides of abdomen .
present on most of the tergites and with the macrochaetal bristles in
front of wings much paler and yellowish white. Wangs slightly more
dark brownish in anterior two-thirds, more like that of the var.
plebevus, with the axillary lobe apparently broader and more
developed, the basal comb also larger. Legs entirely black, the tibiae
as dark as femora and on the whole darker than in mgripes s.str.,
without any sign of apical spines on front and middle femora above,
with about 2-5 spines on middle femora below and about 7 on hind
femora below. Hypopygium like that of nigrivpes and other varieties
(cf. text-figs. 106 and 107); aedeagus with the keel, however, more
reduced, but the dorsal incision in basal strut as deep as in nigripes
s.str. and the var. plebewus.
Type in the South African Museum. |
Locality.—-S.W. Africa: Ovamboland; Nomtele (Barnard, Feb. 1921).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 425
1 3 S. stevensoni n. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black; legs with the femora entirely
black, only the apices or knees being yellowish and the hind ones
slightly more dark blackish brown towards apex, with the tibiae
dark blackish brown, the scaling on femora greyish white on front
and middle ones and dull yellowish on hind ones; pubescence long
as in nigripes, that on face dense and bushy, deep golden or brownish
yellow on body above and when viewed from side slightly paler
orange golden, that on sides in front of wings and to a certain extent
on propleurae deeper and more fulvous or brownish golden, that on
abdomen above (where not denuded) more or less shaggy, paler
orange golden, becoming paler and even pale yellowish white towards
apex, that on pectoral and pleural regions paler than above, even
more yellowish sericeous, but that on the upper parts, however,
more golden yellow and the metapleural tuft pale fulvous or pale
brownish yellow in certain lights, the venter with pale golden hair
basally, slightly paler along sides near base, darker and more brownish
golden towards apex, with the transverse rows of bristles on abdomen
above dark blackish brown from segments 2-5, the pubescence on
frons, sides of face and the hairs on face in front very pale creamy
whitish or yellowish sericeous, the hairs on head below conspicuously
white, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, some above and
below on first antennal joints, intermixed ones on sides and apex of
face and on genae dark purplish or blackish brown, with a large
number of bristles on sides of first antennal joints very pale and
almost white; wings faintly infuscated with brownish or mauvish,
almost imperceptibly becoming darker and distinctly brown towards
base and more or less obliquely from end of costal cell, basal half of
marginal cell, across bases of first posterior and discoidal cells, base
of fourth posterior cell to anal and axillary cells and alula, with the
extreme base, costal cell and first basal cell more opaquely brownish
yellow, with the basal comb black and with yellowish sericeous
scaling béhind it, with the veins brownish, becoming paler and more
reddish brown basally and along first longitudinal vein, the squamae
opaquely pale yellowish brown, dark-bordered and with a pale
fulvous fringe; halteres brownish, with very pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the interocular space, at narrowest part, only
slightly narrower than posteriorly and about as broad as front part
of tubercle; face on sides slightly tumidly prominent; antennae
with joint 1 only very little shorter than 3 (terminal joints excluded),
426 Annals of the South African Museum.
and with 1 and 2 combined longer than 3, with 3 broadest at about
basal third, rather rapidly narrowed apically, the apical third being
slender and slightly enlarged at apex, with the first terminal joint
small, conical and shorter than style; proboscis about 5 mm. long.
Legs without any spines apically above on front and middle femora;
front ones unarmed; middle ones with about 3 or 4 spines in front
and 1 or 2 behind; hind ones with about 7-9 spines, smaller and
larger ones, below and about 3-6 on inner side mostly in apical
aspect; claws not very rapidly curved downwards apically. Hypo-
pygium like that of nigripes var. nomteleénsis; aedeagus also with a
reduced keel, but even smaller than that of var. nomteleénsis.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 10 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 8/12/24).
Kasily recognised by its brownish golden pubescence, brownish
infuscated wings, black scutellum and dark legs. It resembles
kalaharicus, but differs in having pale brownish yellow golden hair
above and not pale yellowish pelt-like pubescence, dark or blackish
legs, no red on sides of abdomen, black scutellum, etc. It is very
near nigripes var. nomteleénsis n. from which, however, it is at once
distinguished by the brownish golden or yellowish pubescence and
by characters given in the key.
2 33 S. fuscwentris n. sp.
Body entirely black; legs also dark brownish black to black, with
the apices of the claws also black; pubescence on occiput, thorax
above and abdomen above longish, shaggy, dark greyish to beyond
scutellum and soft whitish posteriorly when viewed from above,
when viewed from side, it is pale silky whitish to pale yellowish
whitish on thorax above, but paler and more distinctly whitish
towards apex of abdomen, that on face dense and bushy, that on head
above dark blackish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
antennae, frons and mystax entirely black, the hair on sides of thorax
and head in front of wings dark blackish brown, that on head below,
pectoral and pleural regions, extreme sides of abdomen above and
sides of venter below very dark velvety or fulvous brown and, when
viewed from in front, more fulvous brown, the metapleural tuft
slightly paler, almost yellowish white in certain lights and upper
parts of mesopleurae under the wings more blackish brown in certain
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 427
lights, the macrochaetae in front of wings blackish brown, bristles on
posterior calli and scutellum whitish, with the transverse rows of
bristles on abdomen above laterally and apically dark brownish,
becoming denser on sides ventrally below, with the bristles towards -
apex of venter also blackish; wings faintly tinged smoky, the anterior
basal part blackish brown, the infuscation extending from end of
costal cell obliquely across base of marginal cell, extreme base of first
submarginal cell, base of first posterior cell, base of discoidal cell,
across basal cross vein of |
fourth posterior cell to basal
halves of anal and axillary
cells, imperceptibly merging
into clearer apical and pos-
terior parts and slightly darker
towards base of wing, with the
veins dark brownish but paler
towards base, with the basal
comb small and composed of
a few blackish spines inter-
mixed with almost pale fulvous
hairs and scaling, with the
first posterior cell somewhat Text-ric. 108.—Side view and half of ven-
acute apically, the squamae tral view of hypopygium of ¢ Systoechus
dark brownish opaque and with /¥s¢tventrts n. sp.
a pale yellowish white or sericeous fringe; halteres dark brownish, with
dark brownish knobs. Head with the interocular space, at narrowest
part, about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle; frons with a
distinct and comparatively broad central furrow; face somewhat
tumid on sides; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined subequal to
3, with joint 1 a little more than 3, nearly 4, times as long as 2, with
3 only very little thickened near base, comparatively rod-like, with
the first terminal joint small and conical, much shorter than slender
style; proboscis very slender and straight, about 2 mm. long; face
with a comparatively dense mystax, bristly hairs even being present
towards lower part of genae and on lower angle of buccal cavity.
Legs without any apical spines above on front and middle femora;
front ones with long hairs on posterior aspect, but unarmed; middle
ones without any or with only 1 feeble spine below, but with long
hairs; hind ones with long and slender hairs basally below on inside
and with 4-5 comparatively slender spines below from just before
middle to apex; front and middle tibiae with the lower outer row of
428 Annals of the South African Museum.
spicules either dark as the rest of the spicules or as in the paratype
slightly paler. Hypopygium (text-fig. 108) with the aedeagus sickle-
shaped, without any or with a vestigial keel below.
Type in the Transvaal Museum, paratype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 54 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality.—S8.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Apr. 1923) (Type).
Eastern Province: Fort Brown (Walton) (Paratype).
This small species differs from all other small forms by its dark
brownish or fulvous brown pubescence on body below, contrasting
with the much paler whitish hair above, the entirely black mystax,
etc.
6 3g 4 992 S. argyroleucus n. sp.
Body and legs entirely black, the tibiae in the 99, however, often
slightly more blackish brown basally, with the bases of claws brown-
ish; pubescence longish and somewhat shaggy, when viewed from
above, dark greyish in front and whitish in posterior half, that at
apex of abdomen being white, but when viewed from the side, the
hair on occiput, thorax above, scutellum and abdomen above intensely
silky or silvery whitish, the reflections being more apparent in gd,
that on sides in front of wings with a slightly more yellowish tint and
more so in gg, that on abdomen above slightly greyish basally in
certain lights, but in others intensely silvery whitish, the apical part
in $d being distinctly silvery white, the hair below on head, pectoral
and pleural regions, metapleural tuft and venter also white but with
the silvery sheen slightly less developed and that on the prosternal
part, continuous with sides of thorax, slightly more yellowish, that on
apical part of venter also distinctly more pale yellowish white, slightly
more yellowish in 99, the pubescence on sides of frons, face and in
front dense, somewhat shaggy, the fine depressed pubescence yellow-
ish white to silvery whitish, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
frons, first antennal joints and on face black, with a few paler ones
showing through those at apex of face, the macrochaetae, bristles on
posterior calli and on scutellum whitish, with the transverse rows
of bristles on abdomen above in $¢ fine and entirely white, in 99
whitish but becoming darker and more pale yellowish to pale brownish
yellow posteriorly, the venter in 9? also with darker bristles towards
apex and with even blackish ones at apex below; wings greyish
hyaline, but with a feeble smoky tinge, the costal cell, base and first
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 429
basal cell and often the bases of second basal and anal cells more
darkly yellowish brown, brownish to dull smoky brownish, with the
veins blackish brown, paler and more brownish towards base, with
the basal comb black and whitish-scaled behind, the squamae opaquely
yellowish brown or dull greyish brown and white-fringed; halteres
blackish brown, with pale yellowish white or ivory whitish knobs.
Head with the interocular space in $4, at narrowest part,/about as
broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, quite 34 times as broad as
tubercle in 99; eyes in $3 with the upper facets distinctly coarser;
frons in $¢ slightly convex discally, with the central furrow deeper
and more distinct basally; face with the sides somewhat tumid;
antennae with joint 3 longer than 1 and 2 combined, thickened in
basal half in 22, more slender in ¢¢, broadest in basal third in 99,
from there more rapidly narrowed apically than in J, with the first
terminal joint conical, very nearly as broad as apex of 3 and shorter
than style; proboscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs without any apical
spines above on front and middle femora or with a very feeble one;
front ones unarmed; middle ones with about 2-4 spines in front and
1—2 behind; hind ones with about 6-8 spines below; claws rather
rapidly curved downwards apically and the pulvillii extending a
little beyond middle of claws, comparatively shorter than in many
other species. Hypopygium of 3 resembles that of negripes and its
varieties, with the aedeagus structurally similar to that of nigripes
(cf. text-figs. 106 and 107); the rest of hypopygium differing from
those of the above-named species in having distinctly much longer
and slender beaked apical joints, nearly half the length of the basal
parts, with the hairs on dorsum of basal parts also comparatively
denser and longer, with the dorsal incision in basal strut even slightly
deeper.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-84 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-74 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931).
Recognised by its entirely black body, black scutellum and legs,
soft velvety or silvery white pubescence, etc. From mnigripes it is
distinguished by the much less extensively infuscated anterior part
of wings, more distinct silvery hair, etc.
430 Annals of the South African Museum.
1g129S. lightfooti n. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black, the latter in 2 with a slight
rufous tint; venter more or less dark brownish or black; legs dark,
the femora dark brownish and the tibiae more sienna brown, with the
apical parts of tibiae and the tarsi blackish; pubescence, viewed
from above, more or less brownish in effect, that on sides and apex
of abdomen becoming whitish, viewed from the side, the hairs on
occiput very pale yellowish sericeous, that on thorax in front white,
more yellowish sericeous on disc, that on sides in front of wings
distinctly deeper yellowish, that on abdomen above deep creamy
yellowish or yellowish sericeous in certain lights, becoming whiter in
other positions and apically distinctly white, that on sides of frons,
sides of face silvery whitish, those on face in front, intermixed with
black ones, straw-coloured yellowish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, antennal joint 1 above, more densely on face and on genae
blackish, the hair on head below, middle of pleural regions, the pectus
and sides of venter basally as well as side of segment | silvery whitish,
those in metapleural tuft having a distinct pale yellowish sericeous
sheen, those on propleurae and on front coxae also more pale yellowish
sericeous, with the bristles in front of wings, on posterior calli, on
scutellum and transversely on abdomen black, those towards apex
with slightly paler tips especially in the $; wings tinged brownish in
basal part from end of costal cell and across apices of first and second
basal cells to bases of anal and axillary cells, with the costal cell and
extreme base more opaquely brownish yellow, the rest of wing
almost hyaline, the basal comb black, the veins pale brownish yellow
to brownish, becoming paler basally and more reddish brown along
first longitudinal vein, especially in 3, showing a slight infuscation
on apical cross vein of second basal cell, the squamae dull opaquely
yellowish to whitish and with a creamy or almost whitish fringe;
halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with the inter-
ocular space in g as broad as tubercle, about 4 times as broad as
tubercle in 2; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined shorter than 3,
with 1 about 3 times as long as 2, with 3 very little thickened basally
in g, slightly more so in 2; proboscis slender, about 3-34 mm. long,
the minute spinules below practically invisible. Legs with some
minute spines above apically on front and middle femora; front ones
unarmed below; middle ones with about 1 or 2 spines in front and
1 behind; hind ones with about 6-7 spines below and about 4-5
smaller ones on inner aspect below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 109)
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 431
with longish hairs on dorsum of basal parts and along dorsum of
neck region; beaked apical joints elongate, bent downwards and
slightly outwards apically; aedeagus without any or with a very
vestigial keel below, but distinctly belonging to the ventrally keeled
series, no processes being present on each side below.
Text-Fic. 109.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢
Systoechus lightfooti n. sp.
Holotype in the South African Museum, allotype in the British
Museum.
Length of body: about 53-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 54-7 mm.
Locality W. Cape Province: Ceres Distr.; Matroosberg, 3500 ft.
alt. (Lightfoot, Nov. 1917) (Holotype). S. Cape Province: Swellen-
dam (Turner, Nov. 1933) (Allotype).
The infuscation of the wings of this species is like those of rhodesi-
anus, but the transverse bristles on abdomen are black and the legs
are also darker.
4 33 10 92 S. wordinatus n. sp.
(Syn.=miatus Bezz. nec Wied.)
Some specimens of this species have been referred to miatus by
Bezzi (p. 48, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii), and it is possible that
some of the specimens referred to the same species by Bezzi (p. 70,
Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region), especially those from Natal
432 Annals of the South African Museum.
and Transvaal, as well as those from Pretoria, determined as matus
by Ricardo (p. 91, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. vu, 1901), belong to
other species or to this species. Apart from 2 99 from Salisbury and
Karino, labelled by Bezzi as mixtus, the Transvaal Museum has
another 9-specimen labelled as stylocornis Macq. A careful com-
parison with Wiedemann’s original description of miztus (p. 336,
Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., part 1, 1828) and Loew’s redescription, in
part (p. 189, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860) would at once exclude
this species. Wiedemann distinctly states “‘Hinterleib an jeder
Seite mit einzelnen schwarzen Borsten” ... “Brust weisslich
behaart” ... “‘Fliigel sehr wasserklar, kaum an der Wurzel, den
angranzenden Rippenzellen und vor einer kleinen Mittelader schmut-
zig gelblich,’’ whereas Loew states on p. 190 (loc. cit.) “Fligel grau-
lich glasartig, von der Wurzel am Vorderrande hin bis uber die
Miindung der ersten Langsader hinaus mit rostfarbig brauner
Triibung.’’ The wings in these specimens before me show a distinct
and more extensive infuscation, occupying almost the entire base,
first and second basal cells as well as basal half of anal cell and extreme
base of axillary cell, which according to both Wiedemann and Loew's
descriptions, is not the case in mixtus, where the yellowish white
infuscation is confined to extreme base, costal cell and first basal
cell (“vor einer kleinen Mittelader schmutzig gelblich’”’). Moreover
there are no “‘einzelnen schwarzen Borsten”’ laterally only on abdomen
as stated by Wiedemann (contradicted by Loew, from whose descrip-
tion it is evident that he confused specimens of meatus with 99 and
3g of other species, possibly this species or others). In these 9-
specimens before me all the lateral transverse rows of bristles and
also the entire rows on tergites 4 to apex of abdomen above are stout
and black. The description of stylocornis Macq. (p. 92, Dipt. Exot.,
part 1, 1838) is so vague that it may be ignored and possibly refers
to some other large species of Systoechus with partly red antennae.
A description of mordinatus n. sp. is as follows :—
Body black; scutellum, excepting narrow black base and often
hind borders laterally, reddish to ferruginous; posterior calli more
or less obscurely reddish and in gg the extreme sides of abdomen
often obscurely or indistinctly reddish; apical part of face and
upper parts of genae in 99 also yellowish red to reddish; hind margins
of sternites narrowly, especially the basal segments, pallid and,
exposed part of g-genitalia, brownish; legs pale brownish or reddish
yellow, the front and middle femora in g3 brownish black to black
to even beyond middle and the hind ones darkened only at base,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 483
with the front faces of front ones also darkened, in 99 infuscation is
confined to extreme bases, with the front faces of front tibiae also
darkened, the apices of all tibiae blackened, the tarsi darkened and
more so apically, with the claws almost entirely black; pubescence
yellowish to ochreous yellow or yellowish golden, appearing even
brownish or reddish yellow on thorax in front in some $¢ from above,
when viewed from side, the hair on thorax often paler yellowish,
more brassy yellow discally, with that on occiput, thorax in front
and sides in front of wings deeper yellow or ochreous, that on abdomen
above, in certain lights, deeper yellow or ochreous laterally at base,
becoming paler and more yellowish white towards apex, that on frons
and face laterally yellowish, slightly paler and more sericeous in 99,
the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons in 92 brownish
to blackish brown, darker and more blackish in 33, those in mystax
in 99 predominantly yellowish with intermixed blackish bristles in
front and laterally, finer, denser and with more numerous black ones
in $d, those on first antennal joints in gg entirely black, intermixed
with some dark ones only above in 99, the hair on head below white,
that on pectoral and pleural regions pale yellowish, slightly paler
than above, that on the upper parts of pleurae and in metapleural
tuft being more yellowish, that on venter along sides basally very
pale yellowish white, the macrochaetae, bristles in front of wings, on
posterior calli and scutellum yellowish, with often a few blackish
bristles on upper posterior aspect of mesopleuron in $3, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen above in 33 black or with only a
few dorsally above on tergites 2 and 3 more yellowish, with those on
2-4 in 99 above yellowish, the lateral ones and those on tergite 4 to
apex above being black, those towards apex of venter in 3¢ also
black, those on venter in 29 mostly yellowish with only a few blackish
ones apically with the spines on genital segment in 99 reddish and
the pubescence surrounding it orange fulvous; wings slightly tinged
greyish brown or even feebly subopaquely reddish, with the costal
cell, base, extreme base of marginal cell, extreme base of first posterior
cell, first and second basal cells, basal half of anal cell, extreme base
of axillary cell and base of alula yellowish brown to reddish brown,
with the veins pale brownish to reddish brown, more reddish along
first longitudinal vein and bases of the others, with the basal comb
black and with pale yellowish white scaling behind it, the squamae
opaquely pale yellowish or reddish brown and with a yellowish to
subfulvous fringe; halteres yellowish brown, with very pale yellowish
white to whitish knobs. Head with the interocular space in dd,
434 Annals of the South African Museum. '
at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of tubercle, a little
more than 3 to 34 times as broad as tubercle in 99°; antennae with
joint 3 having a slight rufous tint owing to fine dark reddish or brown-
ish hairs, broadest at about basal third or fourth, then gradually
narrowed apically, the apical third more or less slender and more so
in 3d, with the first terminal joint conical, scarcely narrower than
apex of 3 and shorter than style, with joint 1 about 2-25 times as
long as 2 and with 2 longer than broad; proboscis about 6-7 or 8 mm.
long. Legs without any distinct spines
apically above on front and middle
femora; front ones unarmed; middle
ones with about 2-5 spines in front
and 1-4 behind; hind ones with about
7-10 spines on the outer side below
and with 4-10 smaller and _ larger
spines on inner side. Hypopygium of
3 (text-fig. 110, side view) with the
basal parts provided with spine-like
hairs on dorsum and along dorsal and
front margins of inner apical processes;
beaked apical joints elongate, com-
paratively long, with the extreme apices
rapidly bent downwards; aedeagus
Text-Fic. 110.—Side view of upcurved at apex, with the process,
Re an a 3 Systoechus so>med on each side by the rami
anteriorly, narrow, strap-lke and
scarcely visibly broadened apically; basal strut slightly projecting
basally.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum and paratypes in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 10-13 mm.
Length of wing: about 103-14 mm.
Locality. Transvaal: Pretoria (25/4/06) (Holotype); Newington
(Fenoulliet, Apr. 1912) (Allotype); Moorddrift (Swierstra, Oct. 1909);
Barberton (Munro, 24/4/20), (de Beer, 4/05); Karino (Cooke, Apr.
1911) (labelled mxtus by Bezzi); Gravelotte (v. Dam, 4/24). No
exact locality (? Pretoria) (labelled as stylicornis Macq.). S. Rhod-
esia: Salisbury (June 1913) (labelled as mixtus by Bezzi); Salisbury
(Leeson, May 1928) (British Museum). Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones,
May 1917). S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 3/1/17).
Easily recognised by its yellowish to ochreous yellow or golden
ee a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 435
pubescence, the transverse rows of black bristles on abdomen and
yellowish brown or reddish brown infuscation in basal part of wings,
which is also found in albidus Lw., nigripes Lw., etc.
1°28. badipennis n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, excluding narrow black base and basal
macula, brownish red; legs pale yellowish brown, the tarsi darkened
brownish, with the last few joints and apical halves of claws black;
pubescence (where not denuded) pale yellowish, that on occiput
and thorax in front, from in front, pale yellowish, with sericeous or
pale brassy sheen, that on abdomen above very pale yellowish,
becoming paler towards the apex, that on head below, on
pectoral and pleural regions and basal parts of venter laterally
whitish, that on head below being snow white, that on upper parts of
pleurae and in the metapleural tuft less distinctly white and more
yellowish, the pubescence on frons, that densely on sides of face and
the intermixed hairs on face and genae yellowish to pale golden,
with the bristly hairs on tubercle, frons, antennal joimt 1 and face
(more numerously intermixed with golden ones), black, the bristles
on sides in front of wings, upper part of mesopleuron, the macro-
chaetae, bristles on posterior calli, scutellar bristles and those trans-
versely on abdomen above laterally on tergite 1 and the other segments
black; wings distinctly infuscated brownish or mauvish, becoming
much darker brownish towards base, in basal half of marginal cell,
basal half of first submarginal cell, base of first posterior cell, first
basal cell, extreme base of discoidal cell, second basal cell and basal
halves of anal and axillary cells, alula and extreme base, with the
darker basal part merging almost imperceptibly into the less darkly
infuscated apical and posterior part, with the costal cell, first basal
cell and base more opaquely yellowish, with the basal comb black
and the scaling behind it yellowish white, the veins dark brown-
ish, paler towards base and the first longitudinal vein being more
reddish brown, the squamae opaquely yellowish, dark-bordered and
with a yellowish fringe; halteres yellowish, with whitish knobs.
Head with the interocular space a little less than 4 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined subequal to
3, with 3 broadest slightly before middle, then gradually narrowed
towards apex, the inner side being again broadened to about apical
fourth, where there is a slight angular prominence, with the first
terminal joint narrower than apex of 3, conical and much shorter
436 Annals of the South African Museum.
than style; proboscis about 5 mm. long. Legs without any apical
spines above on front and middle femora; front ones unarmed;
middle ones with 2 spines in front and 2 behind; hind ones with
about 7 spines below on outer side and 3-6 on inner side.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality.— Transvaal: Kastrol Nek (Roberts and v. Dam, Jan.
1922).
Superficially this species resembles the 2 of kalaharicus, but differs
in having pale yellowish pubescence above, numerous black pre-alar
bristles and black transverse ones on sides of abdomen, much shorter
third antennal joints, etc.
3 33 3 92 S. canipectus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, base excluded, sides of abdomen in gd,
more broadly on segments 2-6, the g-genitalia and the venter reddish;
legs yellowish, with the front and middle femora to beyond middle
and base of hind ones in g¢ black, entirely very pale brownish
yellow in 99, the apical parts of tarsi and apices of claws blackish;
pubescence from in front or sides very pale creamy whitish or yellowish
sericeous to pale yellowish sericeous in gd, slightly more yellowish
on disc of thorax and, in 99, distinctly more yellowish, that on
abdomen above slightly more straw-coloured, with a feeble yellowish
sericeous tint laterally, that on body below whitish sericeous in 33
and more dull whitish in 92, that on upper parts of pleurae and in
the metapleural tuft tinted slightly more straw-coloured yellowish
in gg and more pale yellowish in 99, the pubescence on frons, sides
of face and hairs on face in 92 pale yellowish, paler and more straw-
coloured in gd, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, first
antennal joints, those intermixed on sides of face, on face in front and
on genae black, with some bristles above and on sides of first antennal
joints in 99 yellowish and the hair on head below in both sexes white,
with the bristles on thorax and scutellum pale yellowish sericeous,
paler in gd, with the transverse rows on abdomen above being,
especially laterally and apically, dark brownish black to black,
those on venter being almost whitish in 3g, more sericeous in 99;
wings subopaquely greyish hyaline, showing, in certain lights, a
distinct but faint brownish or mauvish tinge, with the upper basal
part of marginal cell, first basal cell, the second basal cell in part,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 437
bases of anal and axillary cells and alula distinctly infuscated pale
brownish yellow, with the costal cell, extreme base and first basal
cell more subopaquely yellowish, the base being more apparently
yellowish, with the basal comb large, black and the scaling behind it
whitish to pale yellowish white, the veins pale brownish to reddish
brown, becoming more yellowish basally and more reddish brown
along first longitudinal vein, with the squamae opaquely pale yellowish
to yellowish white, with a dark border and a very pale whitish fringe
Text-Fic. 111.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ Systoechus
canipectus Ni. sp.
in gd, more yellowish one in 99; halteres pale brownish yellow,
with very pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the interocular
space in gg, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of tubercle
or a little broader than front ocellus, about 3 times, or a little more,
as broad as tubercle in 92; antennae with joint 2 comparatively
long, much longer than broad, with joint 1 about 24 times as long as
2, with joint 3 comparatively slender and, in $3, almost rod-like, —
scarcely thickened basally, in 99 with the apical slender half slightly
more evident, with the first terminal joint comparatively long and
distinct, scarcely narrower than apex of 3 and subequal to slender
style; proboscis about 4-5 mm. long. Legs often with a few pallid
spinelets above apically on front and middle femora; front ones with
or without a small spine behind; middle ones with about 2 spines
in front and 1 or 2 behind; hind ones with about 5-6 spines on outer
side below and about 4—6 smaller ones on inner side; front tibiae,
in 99 at least, with the spicules on outer upper row almost entirely
pallid. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 111) with only fine and short
hairs dorsally on basal parts, but distinct shortish bristles on inner
VOL. XXXIV. 29
438 Annals of the South African Museum.
apical process; beaked apical joints elongate, slightly bent downwards
and outwards apically; aedeagus bent upwards at apex, with the
lateral process on each side of it short and slightly broadened, more
clavate apically; basal strut projecting slightly basally, shaped as
shown in text-fig. 111.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-94 mm.
Locahity.—8.W. Africa: Ovamboland; Nomtele (Barnard, Feb.
1921) (Types); Ondongua (Barnard, Feb. 1921).
This species is related to the migribarbus and rufiarticularis
series.
3 66 128. montanus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum mostly black, but sometimes with a faint
and obscure reddish tint discally, more distinct in 9; legs with the
femora almost entirely black, only the apices yellowish, the yellow
slightly more extensive in the 9, with the tibiae brownish, but also
appearing dark due to dark scaling on certain faces, with the apices
of hind tibiae and all the tarsi very dark, with the spines and spicules
black but the spicules in outer lower row on front and middle tibiae
pallid, the scaling on femora dull whitish on front and middle ones
and more dull yellowish on hind ones; pubescence somewhat shaggy
and longish, predominantly sericeous whitish to straw-coloured
whitish, appearing more greyish from above, that towards apex of
abdomen in ¢ more whitish, that on sides of thorax in @ in certain
lights more straw-coloured yellowish with sericeous gleams, on the
whole whiter above in 34, that on body below whitish, more apparent
in 9, that on head below and on middle pleural parts appearing
whiter in both sexes, that on sides of abdomen and on venter towards
the apex in ¢ yellowish to pale ochreous yellowish, only more straw-
coloured yellowish than above in 9, with the bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, the bristly hairs on frons in 4, the bristles on frons in Q,
the bristly hairs on antennal joint 1, the numerous intermixed bristly
hairs on face and genae and the transverse bristles on abdomen
above from sides of tergite 2 and on sides of others and even en-
croaching on disc towards apex very dark blackish brown to black,
with more numerous pale yellowish bristly hairs and depressed
pubescence on head and face in 9 than in 3; wings distinctly tinged
subopaquely mauvish or reddish brown, with the base, costal cell,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 439
first basal cell and to a certain extent even second basal cell and the
alula darker and more subopaquely brownish or reddish brown,
with the basal comb black, the veins blackish brown, becoming paler
and more reddish brown basally, with the squamae opaquely yellowish
brown, their fringes almost sericeous whitish; halteres brownish,
with yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space in 3¢ about
as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, the inner margins of eyes
on each side of tubercle less than 2 times width of space, with the
- a See
TExt-FIc. 112.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ Systoechus
montanus nN. sp.
space in 9 a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 only about 24 times as long as 2, with 3 only a little
longer than 1 and 2 combined, broadest near base and then gradually
narrowed apically, the first terminal joint, bearing the style, short
and conical; proboscis about 4-44 mm. long, with the labella elongate
and slender. Legs without any apical spines above on front and
middle femora, the front ones unarmed; middle ones with about
1—2 spines in front and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about 6-9 spines
from just before middle to apex below, these being slightly more
slender in $¢. Hypopygium of S (text-fig. 112) with the lateral
process on each side of aedeagus short and clavate in apical part,
markedly broadened; beaked apical joints slender and elongate,
sunk in basally between the inner apical and outer apical parts of
basal parts; basal strut more or less racket-shaped.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
440 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality.—S8.-Western Cape Province: Hottentot’s Holland Mts.,
Kast Side, 4000 ft. alt. (Barnard, Jan. 1933).
This species may be distinguished from plebewus by having the
darker basal infuscation of wings much less extensive, in having
black bristles on sides of abdomen in d, entirely dark legs, etc.
A single g-specimen from “Mont au Sources,” collected by Mr.
J. Durden, appears to represent a northern variety of this species.
It differs from the g-holotype only in having slightly less subopaquely
mauvish wings, with the darker basal part slightly paler brownish
and the second basal cell apparently clearer, by having a slightly
more yellowish tuft of hair in front of wing-bases on each side, in
which there are also intermixed a few darkish hairs.
3 3d 2 992 S. poweri n. sp.
(Syn.=nigripes Bezzi nec Loew.)
Body, including scutellum, entirely black; legs dark blackish
brown to black, only the knees being slightly yellowish, with the
scaling dull greyish white and the spines yellowish brown; pubescence
from above greyish in front and more whitish posteriorly in 3d,
yellowish or sericeous yellowish to very pale brassy in 99, viewed
from side the pubescence is sericeous whitish to pale gleaming sericeous
yellowish above in gg and pale gleaming yellowish sericeous in 99,
that on sides in front of wings and on propleurae pale sericeous
yellowish to even golden in $3 and more brassy yellowish or golden
in 29, that on abdomen above whitish sericeous, inclining to straw-
coloured yellowish or even yellowish on the sides and whitish apically
in gd and more pale brassy yellowish to pale sericeous yellowish
apically in 99, with the pubescence on body below straw-coloured
yellowish to sericeous yellowish on pleurae and pectus and straw-
coloured yellowish on venter in gd, very pale sericeous whitish or
yellowish in 99, with that on apical part of venter slightly more yellow-
ish in 99 and the metapleural tuft whitish to pale sericeous yellowish
in gS, more yellowish sericeous in $9, that on frons yellowish, becoming
paler yellowish sericeous. on sides of face, on face in front and on
genae in 99 and more straw-coloured in 33, with the bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints and those intermixed
on face blackish, the black ones in gd denser and finer on face, with
the bristles on thorax, scutellum and transversely across hind margins
of abdomen above yellowish in 99, sometimes whitish in $3, those on
sides of tergites 2-4 in $d and 2-7 in $9 dark blackish brown to
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 441
black; wings greyish hyaline, with the basal part, including base,
costal cell, extreme base of first marginal cell, first and second basal
cells, extreme bases of anal and axillary cells and the alula yellowish
brown in gd, less dark and also less evident at bases of anal and
axillary cells in 99, with the costal cell and extreme base in both
sexes more subopaquely yellowish, the base being distinctly more
yellowish, with the basal comb blackish brown and with sericeous
yellowish scaling behind it, with the veins dark brownish, the
squamae subopaquely pale yellowish brown
and with a whitish to pale sericeous yellowish
fringe in g¢ and slightly more creamy in $9;
halteres yellowish brown, with almost whitish
knobs. Head with the interocular space in
3S above, at narrowest part, only slightly
narrower than posteriorly or about as broad
as front part of ocellar tubercle, the space
shightly more than 34 times as broad as
tubercle in 99; frons with a feeble central
furrow in g5; antennae with joint 1 quite
5 times as long as 2, and 1 and 2 combined
scarcely shorter than 3 in gg, but sometimes
distinctly shorter in 99, with 3 broadest just }
before middle and the apical part not very tpxr-mo. 113.—Side view
slender, with the first terminal element of hypopygium of ¢
small, conical and bearing a style; pro- ose c ue ngwen 0. BR:
boscis about 3-4 mm. long. Legs without any apical spines
above on front and middle femora and also with both these femora
unarmed below or with only 1 spine on middle ones, with long and
straight hairs near base on front ones and a few more on middle ones
in $g; hind femora with about 4-6 spines from just before, or about
the middle to apex below; front tibiae with much smaller and often
minute spicules. Hypopygiuwm of 3 (text-fig. 113) with the process
on each side of aedeagus slightly broadened apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-74 mm.
Locality —N.W. Cape Province: Kimberley (Power, 14/3/12)
(Holotype-g labelled mnigripes by Bezzi). O.F.8.: Harrismith
(Turner, Feb. 1927) (in British Museum); Gum Tree (Mackie, 2/32)
(in Imperial Institute). Central Karoo: Murraysburg (Mus. Exp.,
1931) (Allotype).
442 Annals of the South African Museum.
The 3-paratype, from Gum Tree, appears to represent a slight
variety which is distinctly larger (7$ mm.), with more sericeous
yellowish pubescence, deeper yellowish hair in front of wings and
slightly more brownish spines on the legs. From nigripes this species |
differs in that the infuscation on wings is practically confined to
base, the legs are more uniformly blackened and with brownish
spines, less developed spicules on front tibiae, more distinct black
bristles on sides of abdomen, etc.
6 3g 8 99 S. fumitinctus n. sp.
Body black; face and, to a certain extent, front part of the frons
in 99 and to a lesser extent in dd obscure reddish; scutellum, and the
sides of abdomen above in gd very broadly reddish to reddish brown,
with segments 6, 7 and the genital segment in gd almost entirely
reddish, only the small middle part being black; venter in $¢ almost
entirely reddish, in 99 with the last sternite discally brownish to
reddish; legs dark blackish brown to black, the knees only being
more dark reddish brown in some specimens, with the scaling on
femora and basal parts of tibiae dull yellowish white, greyish to
greyish yellow, the bases of claws yellowish brown; pubescence
short on thorax of g$ and with a “shorn-off” appearance, with a
greyish white effect from above, that on frons being pale brownish
yellow towards base and silky whitish laterally towards face in 99,
more densely whitish in $3, with the hair on occiput and thorax in
front and above dull greyish from above, but from side pelt-like
and silky white, tinted slightly subgolden or yellowish on disc above
in certain lights and more brownish golden in 99, with the hair on
sides in front of wings dull yellowish brown to golden brown and the
hair on scutellum slightly yellowish, more so in 99, the pubescence on
abdomen above dull greyish white from above, whiter apically,
more silky white in certain lights, distinctly white in 33, with the sides
basally more yellowish grey, that on venter sericeous white basally in
33, more snow white in 99, the apical half with distinct pale brownish
golden to brownish yellow hair in 3g, duller and darker in 99, the
hair on head below, pleural regions above coxae, metapleural tuft and
pectus in part white, that on chest in front of front coxae slightly
dull brownish or yellowish, with the bristles and bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, sides of frons, on antennal joint 1 and in mystax black,
those on side of thorax in front of wings dark brownish black, but
often with paler tips, the macrochaetae, bristles on posterior calli
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 443
and scutellum whitish to pale yellowish white in gd, slightly more
yellowish to brownish in 992, with a few intermixed ones on posterior
calli and some on scutellum being darker and more brownish black,
the transverse rows of bristles on abdomen above brownish black,
those in basal half of venter in 9? paler and more whitish, the apical
and lateral ones being blackish, with the apical ones in $¢ much paler
and more brownish or yellowish, the bristles on coxae, intermixed
with pale ones, brownish to blackish brown; wings slightly longer in
29, distinctly tinged smoky mauvish or
brownish, with the anterior part from end
of costal cell obliquely across basal part
of marginal cell, first basal cell and extreme
base being distinctly darker and more dark
brownish, almost imperceptibly demarcated
from rest of wing, but more distinctly so
in gd, with the basal comb black and the
scaling behind it pale yellowish white to
whitish, with the veins blackish brown and
more reddish brown along first longitudinal
vein and basal parts of the others, with the
squamae opaquely brownish to pale brownish
and with a pale yellowish white to whitish
fringe, having a distinct yellowish sheen
in certain lights; halteres dark brownish, Trxt-ric. 114.—Side view
with yellowish white knobs. Head with Ss eee BES Soe
eochus fumitinctus n. sp.
the interocular space in gd, at narrowest
part, slightly narrower than tubercles, about 3 times, or very
little more, as broad as tubercle in 99; frons with the central
furrow only narrowly indicated in basal half, where it is deeper
in gS; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined subequal to or
scarcely shorter than 3, with 3 club-shaped, thickened in basal
third and broadest near base, rather rapidly narrowed apically, the
apical half being slender and parallel, with the first terminal joint
about as long as slender style and slightly narrower than apex of 3;
with joint 1 about 2, or a little more, times as long as 2; proboscis
about 4-44 mm. long, with the minute spinules below on labium
more distinctly visible towards base. Legs without any constant
apical spines above on front and middle femora or with only | or 2
inconspicuous ones in some specimens; front ones with longer hairs
basally in Sd, armed in both sexes, with about 4-5 spines below
from just before middle to apex; middle ones with about 4—7 spines
tot Annals of the South African Museum.
below in front and about 2 shorter ones behind; hind ones with about
10-14 spines below on outer side and 5-6 on inner side. Hypopygiwm
of g (text-fig. 114, side view) with the lateral process, on each side of
aedeagus, narrow and scarcely broadened apically; inner apical
processes of basal parts in neck region projecting slightly.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-11 mm.
Locality.— Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931); Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936); Bowesdorp
(Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931) (Types). Karoo: Graaff-Reinet (Ogilvie,
24-27/10/31) (Imperial Institute).
This species, especially the 3, resembles the 3 of spinithorax Bezz.
from which it differs in having the eyes slightly wider apart, third
antennal joints distinctly club-shaped and thickened at base, longer
and more pubescent hair on abdomen, black legs and distinctly
mauvishly tinged wings. From albipectus n. sp. it differs in having
more greyish white pubescence above, more widely separated eyes in
the 3, club-shaped third antennal joints, distinctly infuscated wings,
etc. The transverse rows of black bristles on abdomen and infuscated
wings at once distinguish it from species such as albidus Lw., neglectus
n. sp., etc. The 2 9-paratypes, from Graafi-Reinet, have all the
spicules on front tibiae black, whereas those in outer lower row on
front ones at least on the typical form are pallid.
IS OS. feustus: asp:
Body of 2, including scutellum, black, with the legs very dark
blackish brown or black, the apices of claws black and the scaling on
legs greyish white; pubescence yellowish, with sericeous reflections,
that on occiput and thorax above, in certain lights and viewed from
side, pale yellowish to whitish sericeous, the sides in front of wings
and on mesopleuron more brassy yellowish, that and transverse
bristles on abdomen above becoming very pale almost creamy yellow-
ish or whitish sericeous apically and on sides in certain lights, the
hair on pectoral and pleural regions, metapleural tuft and venter
yellowish sericeous, not paler than above, but with the hair on head
below distinctly more whitish, that on frons, sides of face and in
mystax pale golden or brassy yellowish, the bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, frons, on first antennal joint above and those intermixed
on face in front and sides and on genae blackish, but some on antennae
‘A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa, 445
below more yellowish; wings greyish hyaline, slightly subopaquely,
yellowish brown in costal cell, base, first basal cell, base of marginal
cell, second basal cell, extreme bases of anal and axillary cells and the
alula, with the costal cell, extreme base and first basai cell, however,
distinctly more subopaquely pale yellowish brown, with the basal
comb small and black, the scaling behind it pale yellowish sericeous,
with the veins brownish, more reddish brown along first longitudinal
Text-F1c. 115.—Side view and part of ventral view of hypopygium of J
Systoechus faustus n. sp.
vein and bases of the others, the squamae opaquely yellowish brown
and with a yellowish sericeous fringe, with the first posterior cell of
wing feebly acute apically; halteres brownish, with pale yellowish
white knobs. Head with the interocular space very broad relative
to tubercle, nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle, with the inner
margins of eyes very gradually diverging anteriorly; antennae with
joints 1 and 2 combined subequal to 3, with 3 thickened basally and
broadest at about basal third, gradually narrowed apically, with the
first terminal joint scarcely distinguishable, conical and much shorter
than short style, with joint 1 slender and quite 4 times as long as 2;
proboscis about 3 mm. long. Abdomen with the transverse rows of
bristles ‘rather poorly developed above and not much different from
446 Annals of the South African Museum.
the hairs, at least on segments 2 and 3, the dorsal interruption above
very broad, the bristles on 2 almost confined to sides, with the bristles
stouter and more evident apically and laterally. Legs without any
spines apically above on front and middle femora; but with rather
long and slender bristly hairs towards bases of femora; front ones
unarmed; middle ones with about 2 spines in front; hind ones with
about 4-5 spines below from just before middle to apex. A denuded
dS-specimen from Namaqualand can at present be only referred to
this species and I take it to represent the ¢ of faustus. From the
Q-type it differs in having the interocular space above about as broad
as front part of ocellar tubercle; pubescence above apparently paler
and more sericeous whitish above, the pubescence on head above
and in front predominantly black, and with practically no pale hairs
on face as in 2 and, as in 9, without any dark bristles on abdomen
above or on sides; wings as in 9 but with the base, costal cell, first
basal cell and to a certain extent even second basal cell distinctly,
more subopaquely yellowish brown and squamae slightly darker,
even knobs of halteres more brownish, with the first posterior cell
also slightly acute apically; scutellum and legs as in 9 entirely ees
or dark. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 115).
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality. Namaqualand: Steinkopf (Mus. Staff, March 1935) (3);
Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1930) (9).
Hasily recognised by its entirely black scutellum and legs, slightly
infuscated basal part of wings and yellowish pubescence. From
power n. sp., montanus n. sp. and argyroleucus n. sp., which also
have black legs and scutellum, it differs by having yellowish, trans-
verse bristles on the abdomen, broader interocular space, etc.
4 $$ 8 99 S. aureus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum (excluding black base and central basal
macula), the sides of abdomen in g¢ and, to a certain extent, even
the hind margins of posterior segments above, reddish brown to
reddish; hind margins of ventral segments, especially basal ones,
yellowish white and often in g¢ the entire venter is tinted more or
less brownish or reddish brown and the exposed genitalia in 3g
brownish, in 99 yellowish; legs yellowish, the trochanters black,
with the tarsi darkened, the last few tarsal joints and apices of claws
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 447
black; general pubescence pale golden yellow, that on occiput and
thorax in front more fulvous from above, that posteriorly paler from
above, especially in gg, when viewed from side or in front, the entire
body is deep golden yellow above, that on abdomen above in 3¢ be-
coming distinctly paler and more yellowish white or sericeous apically,
pubescence on upper parts of pleurae and metapleural tuft scarcely
paler yellowish than above, with that on lower pleural and pectoral
regions and venter basally a little paler and more yellowish sericeous,
that on base of venter inclining to be
more whitish, that on frons and face
slightly fulvous to almost orange in
29, paler and more sericeous yellow
in ¢¢, that on head below whitish,
the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
sides of frons, first antennal joints,
intermixed ones on sides of face and
on genae yellowish brown to blackish
brown in 98 to black in most 66,
where they are also denser and more
numerous on face, with those on
antennae below often being more
yellowish in 99, with all the bristles
on thorax, scutellum and transversely
on abdomen entirely pale golden
yellowish; wings with a distinct
cinereous or slightly mauvish tinge,
becoming very slightly and imper-
ceptibly darker towards extreme base, in costal cell, first basal cell,
second basal cell, bases of anal and axillary cells, basal part of
marginal cell and, to a certain extent, the alula, with the costal cell,
base and alula as well as the first basal cell being more subopaquely
brownish yellow, with the entire wing often showing a distinct
subopaque whitish tint in certain lights, with the basal comb black
and the scaling behind it fulvous, the veins brown to reddish brown,
becoming paler reddish brown towards base and along first longi-
tudinal vein, with the squamae opaquely brownish yellow, having a
yellowish fringe; halteres pale brownish to brownish yellow, with
pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the interocular space in
3d, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of tubercle, a
little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 92; frons with the
central furrow poorly developed in gS and shallowly indicated
TExt-Fic. 116.—Side view of hypo-
pygium of Systoechus aureus n. sp.
448 Annals of the South African Museum.
posteriorly, obsolescent in 99; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined
shorter than 3 in $3, subequal to or even slightly shorter in 99, with
3 broadest near base, a little broader in 99, slightly more rapidly
narrowed apically in gg, thus marking off a distinct slender apical
part, with the first terminal joint comparatively long and distinct,
only slightly narrower than apex of 3, tapering apically and slightly
longer than slender style, with joint 1 about 2-3 times as long as 2;
proboscis about 3-5 mm. long. Abdomen with the transverse rows
of bristles stouter in 99, very broadly interrupted above along midline
in gd, especially on segments 2 and 3, much more narrowly in 99.
Legs with distinct spines apically above on front and middle femora;
front ones with 1-3 spines in front and 1-2 behind; middle ones with
2-4 spines in front and 1-3 behind; hind ones with about 5-8 spines
below from just before middle to apex on outer side and 3-9 variable,
and often minute, spines on inner side; claws not very sharply
curved downwards apically and the pulvilli not or scarcely reaching
apices. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 116, side view) with the lateral
process, on each side of aedeagus, clavate or distinctly broadened
apically; lateral struts comparatively broadened apically; basal
strut comparatively broad, projecting considerably posteriorly, with
the dorsal incision deep and subangular.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 84-95 mm. (large form 11-13 mm.).
Length of wing: about 74-9 mm. (large form 114-13 mm.).
Locality. Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931)
(Types); Van ‘Rhyn’s Pass (Ogilvie, 11-21/11/31) (Imperial
Institute).
From other species with slightly mauvish or cinereous-tinged
wings, this species can be separated by the transverse rows of yellow-
ish bristles on abdomen and the more or less uniform deep golden
yellowish pubescence. Four 9? from the same locality, from Van
Rhyn’s Pass and the Nieuwveld, are much larger than the type
material, with a longer proboscis (about 5-6 mm.), with more numerous
13-14, spines on hind femora and with a tendency for the anterior
and basal infuscation on the wings to be slightly more diffuse basally.
As there are no structural differences these specimens probably only
represent a slightly larger form.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 449
S. ventricosus Bezz.
(240) Ann. 8. Afr.-Mus:; vol. xvii, 1921.)
This species, of which the 2 has not yet been described, is also one
of the rather large and striking species of Systoechus. The chief
characters are :—
Body black, with the first antennal joints brownish or reddish
brown to a variable extent, with the face also obscurely brownish,
tending to be paler reddish brown in some specimens, with the
scutellum entirely reddish, with the sides of abdomen in $¢ fairly
broadly salmon-reddish or red and with the hind margins of the
sternites in both sexes reddish; legs predominantly yellowish in both
sexes, the tarsi usually more brownish and the apices of the claws
black; pubescence rather shortish, that on thorax above with a
shorn-off appearance and that on abdomen, even in 99, not very
shaggy or bushy, predominantly gleaming golden yellowish to deep
golden above and below in both sexes, that towards apical part of
abdomen in $¢ becoming paler and more sericeous yellowish to pale
gleaming sericeous yellowish, especially on sides of tergites in certain
lights, that on sides of thorax in front of wings and that on sides of
abdomen towards base deeper yellowish and in $g even more ochreous
or orange yellowish, that on apical half of venter in $$ even more
orange or fulvous, that on head below more whitish, that in a
vertical band down middle of pleurae from below wings to pectus
and that on each side of venter basally gleaming more sericeous
whitish but to a lesser extent than in scabrirostris, with the fine
pubescence on frons and face yellowish sericeous in 29, more gleaming
golden in gd, the pubescence on face in §¢ apparently finer and
denser and less bushy than in 99, with the bristly elements on ocellar
tubercle, frons and intermixed on face dark or blackish in both sexes,
but dark elements on face in 99 less numerous and with the bristly
hairs on first antennal joints in gg also predominantly dark, with the
bristles on thorax, scutellum and abdomen predominantly yellowish,
but with or without some intermixed blackish brown or brownish
and pale-tipped bristles towards apical part of abdomen on extreme
sides of tergites in both sexes, with the post-alar bristles and tuft of
pubescence usually showing up as a pale yellowish sericeous tuft;
wings vitreous hyaline, with the base, costal cell, first basal cell, the
base of second basal cell and to a certain extent the alula subopaquely
yellowish to ochreous yellowish, with the veins brownish or yellowish
brown and more yellowish basally, with the basal comb black, the
450 Annals of the South African Museum.
squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed with sericeous yellowish
hairs, sometimes gleaming more fulvous or ochreous in certain
lights; halteres yellowish, with almost whitish knobs. Head with
the eyes above in $¢ distinctly flattened and narrowly separated by
width of narrow front part of ocellar tubercle or by front ocellus,
separated in 99 by a space about 3-35 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 about 24, or very
little more, times as long as 2, with 3
a little longer than 1 and 2 combined,
gradually narrowed apically, but more
rapidly narrowed along dorsal margin,
ending apically in a distinct basal
element bearing a style; proboscis about
64-8 mm., finely spinulated below. Legs
with hairs on femora below; front
femora with about 2 or 3 spines in front
and 2 behind; middle ones with about
4—7 in front and 2 behind; hind femora
with about 10-14 spines on outer side
below, a few longish spines near base
and at apex on inner side below and
also some conspicuous spines on sides
Text-ric. 117.—Side view of at apex, with some of the spines below,
BY POPY anes d Systoechus sometimes yellowish; front tarsal joints
in 99 hairy, but scarcely thicker than
middle ones. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 117, side view) with the
lateral process on each side of aedeagus clavate apically. In the
British and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 103-13 mm.
Length of wing: about 104-124 mm.
Locality.—South Western Cape Province.
1 gS. altwolans n. sp.
Black; greater part of scutellum, sides of abdomen and greater
part of venter reddish yellow or reddish, the hind margins of venter
even paler; legs with the femora darkened or blackish brown to
beyond middle, the apical parts of femora yellowish and paler than
the more yellowish brown tibiae and tarsi; pubescence dense, some-
what shaggy and without a cropped-off appearance on thorax, that on
frons, antennae, face and genae rather longish and dense, longer than
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 451
in the following species affints and even montanus, that on abdomen
also more shaggy and longer, that on ocellar tubercle, frons, first
antennal joints, face and genae very dark blackish brown and with
scarcely any pale intermixed bristly hairs on face, the depressed
pubescence on sides of face sericeous yellowish, the pubescence on
body above gleaming very pale sericeous yellowish, that on thorax in
front with an even paler sericeous sheen in certain lights, that towards
apex of abdomen scarcely paler than on rest of body above, that on
head below distinctly white, that on pleurae
and coxae gleaming only very slightly less
yellowish than above, but in certain lights
the white is more evident and the pubes-
cence on each side at base of venter also
distinctly gleaming whitish like the meta-
pleural tuft, the pubescence on sides of
abdomen from about tergite 3 with a more
distinct yellowish or pale ochreous yellowish
sheen, with the pubescence towards apex
on venter also more ochreous, with the
macrochaetal bristles, post-alar bristles,
scutellar bristles and the transverse bristles
on abdomen especially discally pale sericeous
yellowish like the rest of pubescence above,
but a few intermixed bristles on side of pxr-raq. 118.—Side view of
abdomen and towards apex blackish brown, ee re Sys-
with the hairs on femora whitish and vg
the scaling on femora dull yellowish white; wings tinged slightly
subopaquely reddish mauve, the costal cell, base, first basal cell
and alula even more subopaquely yellowish, with the basal comb
very dark blackish brown, the veins reddish brown, becoming darker
towards apex and more reddish basally, with the discoidal cell some-
what truncate apically, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and
fringed with dense creamy yellowish hairs which have an ochreous
tint basally; halteres yellowish, with very pale yellowish knobs.
Head with the eyes separated above by a space about as broad as
front part of ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint | nearly 4 times
as long as 2, with 3 only very little longer than 1 and 2 combined,
broadest at about basal third, then gradually narrowed apically,
ending in a small conical basal element, bearing a style; proboscis
about 5 mm. long, the fine spinules below being more visible basally.
Legs without any visible spicules or spines above apically on front
452 Annals of the South African Museum.
and middle femora and without any spines below on front femora;
middle ones with about 2 spines behind; hind femora with about
6 spines on outer side, of which the basal one just before middle and
apical one are long and with about 4 or 5 spines on the inner side
(4 near apex and a pallid one nearer base). Hypopygium (text-fig.
118) with the lateral process on each side of aedeagus very broad in
apical part; beaked apical joints elongate and narrow and sunk in
basally between the inner apical and outer apical parts of basal parts.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality.—S.-Western Karoo: Ceres Distr.; Matroosberg, 3500 ft.
alt. (Lightfoot, Nov. 1917).
This species is very closely related to the following species affinis
n. sp., from which it may, however, at once be distinguished by the
longer, denser and more shaggy pubescence on face, thorax and
abdomen and more reddish veins in wings. The pubescence on body
below is also less contrastingly white.
6 3d 4 99 S. affinis n. sp.
Black; greater part of scutellum and sides of abdomen in 3d
reddish; legs with the femora blackened to beyond the middle in
$$ and even much beyond middle on hind ones, blackened basally or
to about middle in 99, with the tibiae and to a certain extent bases
of tarsi yellowish, sometimes brownish in $4, with the hind tarsi
apices of hind tibiae and the apical parts of the other tarsi blackened,
with the spines and spicules black, only those in outer lower row on
front and middle tibiae and spines behind on middle femora yellowish,
with the scaling on legs dull yellowish; pubescence appearing some-
what cropped-off on disc of thorax in gg, predominantly creamy
yellowish to golden yellowish above, distinctly paler on occipital
and pronotal part in gd, where it may even be slightly sericeous
whitish, that in front of wings on each side deeper yellowish to
orange yellowish, that on head below white, that along middle parts
of pleurae, in lower part of metapleural tuft and densely on sides
basally of venter gleaming sericeous whitish, more so in g¢ and
contrasting with the more yellowish pubescence on body above and
with the slightly more yellowish pubescence on front coxae and pectus,
that on apical half of venter and sides of abdomen in ¢¢ markedly
ochreous brownish or fulvous brown, showing golden gleams in
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 453
certain lights, less deeply ochreous in 99, with the bristly hairs and
bristles on ocellar tubercle, frons, antennal joint 1, on face and
genae and the transverse bristles on abdomen from sides of tergite
2 and even encroaching on disc towards apex in both sexes very
dark blackish brown to black, with the depressed pubescence on
head above and the numerous intermixed bristly hairs on face in
both sexes yellowish to sericeous or even golden yellowish,’ with the
bristles on thorax, scutellum and basally above on abdomen yellowish
Z
{
TEext-Fic. 119.—(a) Side view of hypopygium of 3 Systoechus affinis n. sp.
(5) Side view of hypopygium of 3 of a var. of Systoechus affinis n. sp.
like rest of pubescence, the bristles on venter predominantly yellowish
or ochreous but with some dark or blackish ones towards apex;
wings distinctly tinged subopaquely mauvish or even reddish brown-
ish, with the base, alula, costal cell and first basal cell darker and
more opaquely brownish or yellowish brown, with the basal comb
large and well developed, black, with the veins dark reddish brown
to dark brownish, becoming more distinctly reddish towards base,
with the squamae opaquely brownish yellow to brownish and fringed
with dense sericeous or gleaming orange yellowish hairs; halteres
yellowish brown to pale brownish, with very pale yellowish knobs.
Head with the interocular space in gd, at narrowest part, about as
broad as narrower front part of ocellar tubercle or front ocellus,
with the inner margins of eyes on each side of tubercle at least or
more than 2 times as long as width of space, the space in 99 about 3
VOL. XXXIV. 39
454 Annals of the South African Museum.
to nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about
24, or a little more, times as long as 2, with joint 2 tending to be
longer than broad in some specimens, with 3 tending to be subequal
in length to 1 and 2 combined, gradually narrowed apically from
broader base, with the first terminal joint small and conical ending
in a slender style; proboscis about 5-6 mm. long, rather stoutish.
Legs without any apical spines above on front and middle femora,
the front ones unarmed below; middle ones with about 2-4 spines
in front and 1 or 2 behind; hind femora with about 7-11 spines on
hind ones below. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 119, a) with the lateral
process on each side of aedeagus rapidly and foliately broadened in
apical part, depressed and hollowed out, spoon-like above, the front
edge near base, subcarinately prominent; beaked apical joints
elongate and slender. The hypopygium is much like that of montanus
and altivolans.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 84-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-10 mm.
Locality.—S.-Western Cape Province: Caledon Div.; Zonder End
Peak, 3600 ft. alt. (Barnard, Jan. 1919) (g-Type); Stellenbosch (v.
Heerden, 6/7/31). Western Province: Rawsonville; Du _ Toit’s
Kloof (Thorne, Apr. 1934); Great Winterhoek (Barnard, Feb. 1934).
Southern Cape Province: Swellendam Distr.; Tradouw Peak, near
Barrydale (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1935) (@-Type). Karoo: Murraysburg
Distr. (Thorne, March 1931). O.F.S.: Ficksburg (Ogilvie, Feb.—
March, 1932) (in Imperial Institute); Smithfield (Kannemeyer,
1910).
This species appears to be a highland form and variable. Two
3-paratypes from the O.F.S. differ from the typical form in having
the pubescence above slightly paler and more creamy yellowish or
sericeous yellowish, that towards apex of venter less deeply ochreous,
in having the femora slightly more extensively darkened and a
hypopygium as shown in text-fig. 119, 6b. The g¢ from Smithfield
was labelled by Bezzi as albidus Lw. (cf. p. 42, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii). According to Loew’s description (p. 190, Dipt. Faun.
Siidafr. i, 1860), the true albidus has the head yellowish below, has
yellowish hairs on antennal joint 1, much fewer black bristles on
abdomen and these only posteriorly and more distinctly marked off
darker basal infuscation on wings. All these characters are found
in an entirely different species which I have referred to albidus in
this paper.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 455
9 3S 4 92 S. affinis var. discrepans n.
These specimens justify the erection of a distinct variety in that
they appear to show certain constant differences, and incidentally
also very closely resemble montanus. From typical forms of affinis
they differ in having the pubescence on
body in 3g and in some 99 predominantly
sericeous whitish, that towards apex of
venter in $$ much paler and not ochreous
brownish, that on body below scarcely
paler than that above, in 1 9-paratype,
however, the pubescence above is de-
finitely yellowish and more like that of
typical 99; legs with the femora in both
sexes more extensively darkened or black-
ened, being entirely or almost entirely
black in g¢ and blackened to very much
beyond middle in 99. From montanus
this variety differs in having the inter-
ocular space in g¢ distinctly narrower,
only a little broader than front ocellus,
with this space distinctly longer, the Text-ric. 120.—Side view of
inner margins on each side of tubercle hyPopy Seale Se ailines
being longer than in montanus and at
least or even more than 2 times as long as space is broad; scutellum
is more extensively reddish and sides of abdomen in gg reddish;
wings with the basal comb distinctly larger and more developed,
the squamae more yellowish and the darker basal part of wings not
so deeply brownish; pubescence distinctly shorter and less shaggy,
that on disc of thorax with a more cropped-off appearance. The
hypopygium of ¢ as shown in text-fig. 120.
Types in the Imperial Institute. :
Locality —_N.W. Cape Province: Lady Grey (Nel, Jan. 1924)
(Types). §S. Cape Province: Caledon Distr.; Zonder End Peak,
3600 ft. alt. (Barnard, Jan. 1919).
1 3 4 92 S. subcontiguus un. sp.
Black; scutellum, hind margins of tergites laterally very narrow
in 99 and very broad in 3, and to a certain extent the narrow hind
margins of apical segments above, the broadish hind margins of
456 Annals of the South African Museum.
sternites in both sexes, the face, genae and front part of head below
in 92 yellowish or reddish yellow; antennal joints 1 and 2 brownish,
sometimes with 1 and 2 tending to be more yellowish in 99; legs with
the femora and tibiae yellowish in 99, the femora darkened to beyond
middle in g, with the tarsi becoming darker and more blackish brown
apically, the basal halves of front and middle ones in both sexes
more distinctly yellowish, the hind ones on the whole more brownish;
pubescence with a cropped-off appearance on thorax above in g and
also not very long on thorax in 99, that on occiput also shortish,
that on abdomen longer and in g more shaggy in appearance, pale
sericeous, yellowish or creamy to gleaming golden yellowish above,
that on thorax in one 9, however, almost whitish, that towards apex
of abdomen appearing paler in certain lights, that in front of wing-
bases appearing richer yellowish in certain lights, that on head below
and longitudinally across pleurae to base of venter on each side
contrastingly whitish to sericeous whitish, the metapleural tuft
scarcely less white, the bristly hairs and bristles on coxae distinctly
more yellowish to sericeous yellowish, the dense pubescence on sides
of abdomen almost ochreous yellowish, that towards apex of venter
in both sexes ochreous yellowish, with the macrochaetal bristles in
front of wings, the post-alar bristles, scutellar bristles and those
transversely across hind margins of tergites discally in both sexes,
and sometimes also on sides of 2-3 in some 99 pale and yellowish like
colour of pubescence above, the bristles on sides of abdomen discally
also from 3 or 4 to apex dark reddish brown in ¢ to paler reddish
brown, reddish or even pale reddish in 992, those on venter towards
apex also dark or reddish, the basal ones being more whitish, with
the dense fine pubescence on sides of face, on face in front and upper
parts of genae pale sericeous yellowish to ochreous yellowish in some
29, especially the tuft-like hairs on face in front, with the bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle on sides of frons and the short more bristle-like
ones intermixed with the pale hairs on face and genae dark blackish
brown to mauvish or reddish brown, those on first antennal joints
1 below predominantly yellowish in 99, but some intermixed dark
ones in g, those above in 3 predominantly dark and with some
intermixed dark ones in 9? above; wings faintly tinged subopaquely
reddish mauve, with the base, costal cell, first basal cell and alula
more subopaquely ochreous yellowish, but still appearing ochreous
reddish in certain lights, with the basal comb blackish brown, the
veins pale reddish brown to reddish, becoming even paler reddish
towards base, with the squamae subopaquely or opaquely ochreous
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 457
brownish or yellowish and fringed with dense gleaming creamy
yellowish to pale sericeous yellowish hairs which in certain lights
even show an ochreous sheen near bases of hairs; halteres yellowish
to pale yellowish brown, with almost white knobs. Head with the
eyes in § above very narrowly separated, the space about as broad
as front ocellus and only a little shorter than length of ocellar
tubercle, the interocular space on vertex
in 2° quite 3 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 about 3 times as
long as 2, with 3, including terminal
elements, nearly 14 times as long as 1
and 2 combined, broadest in basal
third, then gradually narrowed apically,
appearing slightly humped above before
middle, ending apically in a conical
basal element passing into a style;
proboscis rather long, 5-7 mm. long.
Legs with only 1 spine above on side
apically on front and middle femora
and with the front femora unarmed;
middle ones with about 1-3 spines In puyeme. 12].—Side view of
front and 1 behind; hind femora with hypopygium of ¢ Systoechus
about 5-7 spines below from near base ep ep age 28.
to apex. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 121) very similar to that
of altivolans, affinis and montanus.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-9 mm.
Locality.—S.-Western Cape Province: Stellenbosch (v. Heerden,
10/8/30) (Holotype); Camps Bay, near Cape Town (Allotype).
S.-Western Karoo: Ceres Distr.; Matroosberg, 3500 it. alt. (Light-
foot, Nov. 1919). S.-Western Cape Province: Hottentot’s Holland
Area; Kleinmond (Wood, Jan. 1937).
Easily distinguished by the reddish brown to reddish abdominal
bristles in 92, reddish mauve wings, subcontiguous eyes in 4d, ete.
The Q-paratype from Kleinmond differs from the more typical 2 in
having the pubescence on front part of thorax almost white and the
proboscis only about 4mm. long. From affinis this species differs in
having more reddish bristles on abdomen, entirely yellowish legs in
22, in having more reddish tinged wings, with paler venation and
narrower interocular space in d.
458 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 3 S. argyropogonus nu. sp.
Black; scutellum also predominantly dark, only the hind part of
disc obscurely ferruginous red; sides of abdomen obscurely reddish
brown, the venter brownish, but with the hind margins of segments
more distinctly reddish; legs entirely black, only the knees and basal
parts of claws yellowish, with dull yellowish brown scaling and pallid
or whitish spines and spicules; pubescence remarkably short, fine
and pubescent, especially on occiput
and thorax, viewed from side or in
front, that on body above entirely
gleaming silvery white, that on frons
and densely on sides of face and
genae entirely silvery white, without
any trace of intermixed dark or
black bristly hairs, with practically
no hairs on face in front, only
concentrated on sides, where they
are almost tuft-like, that on abdomen
without any dark or black bristly
hairs or bristles and with the hairs
across hind margins not visibly
stifier than the rest of the pubes-
Text-ric. 122.—Side view of hypo- cence and all as well as bristles on
ras a 6a ee posterior calli and scutellum entirely
silvery white, with the hair on
head below, lower parts of head behind eyes, on the prosternal,
propleural and lower metapleural regions as well as that on venter
more pale straw-coloured yellowish in certain lights, that on upper
parts of pleurae below wings, upper parts of metapleurae and in
metapleural tuft, however, silvery white; wings glassy hyaline,
only the base, costal cell, first basal cell and extreme bases of anal
and axillary cells and alula subopaquely pale yellowish brown, with the
basal comb slightly yellowish, its spines feebly developed, with the
veins brownish, becoming slightly paler towards base, with the second
longitudinal vein undulating, with the squamae opaquely dull yellow-
ish white and fringed with white hairs; halteres pale yellowish brown,
with paler yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes in actual contact
above for a distance at least equal to length of ocellar tubercle, the
inner margins then diverging for a very short distance before diverging
more rapidly anteriorly; frons comparatively small, but with a
q
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 459
distinet indication of a central furrow; face bluntly rounded and not
prominent in front; antennae with joint 1 short, slender, a little
more than 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 slender, only slightly
broader basally, the extreme apical part more slender, with the first
terminal joint small and conical, continued as a slender pallid style;
proboscis comparatively short, about 34 mm. long. Legs slender,
with the spines and spicules comparatively poorly developed, the
spies on middle and hind femora below feeble, slightly flattened,
more or less adpressed to femora, with spicules on tibiae poorly
developed, those on front ones vestigial or almost absent and those
on middle and hind tibiae shorter, more slender and more feebly
developed than in other species; middle femora with about 2 spines
below and hind ones with about 9-10 longer and shorter spines below;
claws slender, with the apices bent downwards and with the pulvilli
reaching apices of claws. Hypopygium (text-fig. 122) with the
beaked apical joints, viewed from above, shaped as in figure on the
right, shghtly prominently dilated on outer side near apex; aedeagus
as In majority of species of Systoechus, with the process on each side
of aedeagus scarcely broadened apically.
Type in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality Karoo: Graafi-Reinet (Ogilvie, 24—27/10/31).
This species is very remarkable and can be easily recognised by
the fine, short, silvery white pubescence, entirely silvery white hair
on face, the eyes are in actual contact above and the legs are slender
and with vestigial spicules on the tibiae and poorly developed spines
on the femora, all the spicules and spines being pallid and more feebly
developed than in any other known species of Systoechus in South
Africa. The eyes too are not in actual contact in any other known
South African species, excepting spinithorax and albipectus, where,
however, they are not really in actual contact but narrowly separated
by a small front ocellus. The abdomen of this specimen is unfortun-
ately much damaged, but not to such an extent that the specific
characters distinguishing it cannot be observed.
1 2 S. candidus nu. sp.
This specimen may prove to be only the 9 of argyropogonus, but as
it differs in certain characters, which appear to be of specific value,
I prefer to refer it to a separate species. The body is entirely black,
460 Annals of the South African Museum.
only the scutellum is very obscurely reddish medially on the disc;
legs with the femora very dark blackish brown, becoming slightly
paler apically, the tibiae more yellowish and apical part of tarsi
brownish, with all the spines and spicules on legs yellowish, with
3-4 slender spines on hind femora below; pubescence on body
entirely gleaming silvery or sericeous whitish, that on body below
scarcely duller, without any dark or blackish bristles or bristly hairs
on any part of the body, without any stouter and more conspicuous
bristles on frons. Wangs as in argyropogonus, the halteres, however,
with even paler knobs. Head with the interocular space a little
more than 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint
1 relatively shorter than in argyropogonus and only a little more
than 2 times as long as 2, with 3 also relatively shorter and only a
little longer than 1 and 2 combined, also more rapidly broadened
basally; proboscis about 2 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality.—N. Karoo: Venterstad Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
IS 1 @& salticolus nu. ‘sp.
Black; hinder half of scutellum in both sexes and sides of abdomen
in $ ferruginous reddish; legs with the femora very dark blackish
brown in g, yellowish brown in 9, the tibiae yellowish brown in both
sexes, with the apical parts of hind ones blackish, the hind tarsi and
apical halves of the others also black in both sexes, with the spines
and spicules on legs black, only the spicules in outer lower row on
front and middle tibiae yellowish; pubescence somewhat shaggy,
predominantly pale sericeous yellowish above in 9, inclining to
whitish on thorax in front in $ and on abdomen in ¢ slightly less
yellowish, distinctly more whitish than in 9, that towards apex of
abdomen even more silky whitish in 3, with that on body below
more whitish, appearing scarcely less pale than above in g, in 2
appearing paler, that under head, on, pectus and coxae and venter
distinctly silky whitish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
the bristles on frons in and bristly hairs on frons in 3, the bristly
hairs on antennal joint 1, and the dense bristly hairs on face and
genae in both sexes predominantly black, almost entirely black in
3, but with slightly more sericeous yellowish intermixed hairs on face
in ? and without any trace of dark bristles on thorax or transversely
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 461
across abdomen in both sexes; wings greyish hyaline, with the base,
costal cell, first basal cell and alula subopaquely pale yellowish,
with the basal comb not very strongly developed and with blackish
spines, with the veins very dark blackish brown, becoming even
darker towards apex, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and
fringed with whitish hairs; halteres brownish, with very pale yellow-
ish knobs. Head with the interocular space in ¢ above, at narrowest
part, about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, in 9 about 3
I
’
‘
‘
nee ene
TExt-FIG. 123.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Systoechus salticolus n. sp.
times as broad as tubercle; frons with the central furrow in 3 deep
and distinct; antennae with joint 1 rather shortish, only a little more
than 2 times as long as 2, with 3 only gradually narrowed apically,
the first terminal joint short, conical, as broad as apex of 3 and a
little shorter than slender style; proboscis about 34-4 mm. long,
with the spicules or serrations more visible towards base below.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 123).
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 74-8 mm. |
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Escarpment; Teekloof in Fraserburg
Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
462 Annals of the South African Museum.
S. marshallc Par.
(Paramonow, p. 238, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev. No. 10, 1931.)
In the South African Museum there are 2 $¢ from the same batch
of $3 and 99 which Dr. K. H. Key forwarded to the Imperial Institute
and which Paramonow described in 1931. A fuller description of the
dod is as follows:—
Body black; first and second antennal sate obscure dark reddish
brown, the upper surfaces, however, being more or less darkened;
scutellum, the black base excluded, reddish; extreme sides of last
few segments of abdomen in 3¢ also reddish; venter brownish to
dark brownish, the hind margins of the segments being paler and more
yellowish or pallid and the exposed genitalia pale brownish; legs
yellowish, with the extreme bases of front femora often slightly
darkened, the tarsi more or less darkened and the last few joints
being dark brownish to blackish; general pubescence very pale
yellowish, with sericeous reflections, the sides and apex of abdomen
above appearing more whitish sericeous, when viewed from the side,
the hair on occiput and thorax above very pale creamy yellow to
whitish sericeous, that on occiput in certain lights being more dis-
tinctly yellowish, with the hair in front of wings and on propleurae
also more distinctly and deeper yellowish, that on abdomen above
pale creamy yellowish sericeous, nearly whitish sericeous towards
apex with, however, a deeper yellow to pale ochreous tint laterally,
the hair on pectoral and pleural regions paler than above, inclining to
whitish sericeous, the metapleural tuft almost whitish sericeous and
the venter pale yellowish white or sericeous but distinctly more
yellowish to slightly pale ochreous yellow apically, the pubescence
on frons, sides of face and face pale yellowish to yellowish sericeous,
with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints,
sides of face, genae and intermixed on face in front black, with the
hairs on head below white, the bristles on thorax, scutellum and on
abdomen pale creamy whitish or pale yellowish sericeous, with a
very few darker and more brownish or blackish ones among the hair
towards apex laterally below; wings comparatively slender, vitreous
hyaline, with the costal cell, first basal cell, extreme base and alula
more or less subopaquely very pale yellowish white, with the basal
comb small and black and the scaling behind it whitish to pale yellow-
ish sericeous, with the veins pale yellowish brown to pale brownish
but paler towards base, the squamae opaquely very pale yellowish
white and with dark borders and a very pale creamy yellowish or
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 463
yellow sericeous fringe; halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs.
Head with the interocular space in 3, at narrowest part, about as broad
as narrow front part of ocellar tubercle, or only a little broader than
front ocellus; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined subequal to 3,
with 3 thickened in basal two-thirds or basal half, gradually narrowed
apically, broadest at about basal third and the apical part not very
slender, with the first terminal joint small, conical and much shorter
than the very slender style, with antennal joint 1 not quite 4 times
Trxt-Fic. 124.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $ Systoechus
marshalli Par.
as long as 2; proboscis about 3 mm. long. Abdomen with the trans-
verse rows of bristles very slender and hair-like, very broadly inter-
rupted medially above on segments 2 and 3. Legs with fairly dense
and long hairs basally on femora, without any apical spines above on
front and middle femora; front ones unarmed; middle ones with
about 1-3 spines in front and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about 5-7
spines below on the outer side and about 2-3 small ones on inner
side. Hypopygvum (text-fig. 124) very similar to that of mizxtus
(cf. text-figs. 140 and 141) only much smaller; lateral process, on
each side of aedeagus very much shorter and narrower, less broadened
apically, scarcely clavate and basal strut is much narrower. The
2, according to Paramonow, has distinct black bristles across abdom-
inal segments 4 to apex, and on sides of 2 and 3 and seems to be very
near mixtus. .
Length of body: about 64-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.— Western Cape Province: Newlands; Cape Town (Key,
Nov. 1930).
464 Annals of the South African Museum.
The maggots of this species are parasitic in the egg-pods of the
Acridiid Locust, Acrotylus deustus Thb., a member of the Oedipodinae,
which is common in the Western Province and which deposits its
egg-packets in sandy places. Both these specimens of Systoechus
were hatched from egg-packets of this locust, which Dr. K. Key
collected at Newlands. Both this species and the following may even
be considered as varieties of mixtus Wied., from which this species
differs in being considerably smalier, in having dark reddish brown
first and second antennal joints, reddish to extreme sides of abdomen
apically, brownish and not black venter, comparatively narrower
interocular space, comparatively shorter and third antennal joints
apically less slender, shorter proboscis and unarmed front femora.
1) Le Ss exiguus mse.
(Syn. =ctenopterus Bezz. nec Mikan.)
The g and 9, which I take to belong to the same species, are so close
to miatus and marshalli that they may more suitably be compared
with these.
Body black; scutellum and extreme sides of last few abdominal
segments in ¢ reddish; joints 1 and 2 of antennae more distinctly
reddish, only slightly darker in 3, with joint 3 more reddish brown
and not black; face and head below distinctly more reddish brown
and less black; venter in ¢ also more or less brownish and with more
yellowish hind margins; legs also yellowish; general pubescence in
3 paler, less pale yellowish or creamy yellowish, but more whitish
sericeous and, in certain lights, more whitish on occiput and thorax,
with the apical part of abdomen almost white, in the 2 the pubescence
is distinctly more brassy or pale golden yellowish, the abdomen above
also more uniformly yellowish and with brassy reflections, the hair
on pectoral and pleural regions as in marshalli, that on the sides in
front of wings and propleural parts in g less yellowish and on venter
in ¢ more whitish, more yellowish again in 9 and posterior lateral
parts in 9 even more ochreous, the pubescence on frons and face
slightly more yellowish, the bristly hairs on face in front with a
distinctly pale golden or brassy tint in 9, the bristly hairs on tubercle,
frons, antennal joint 1 and those intermixed on face dark brownish
or purplish, even with a reddish tint in $ and not black, paler and
more reddish or fulvous in 9, with the transverse rows of bristles on
abdomen above with more dark brownish or reddish brown ones
on extreme sides of last few segments in g than in marshalli, with
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 465
stoutish dark brownish or blackish brown bristles laterally from
segment 3 to apex in 9 and the dorsal interruption distinctly narrower
than in small specimens of miztus. Head with the interocular space
in g, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part. of tubercle, a
little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9; eyes with the
upper facets in ¢ slightly less coarse than in marshalli; face com-
paratively less broad; antennae much shorter and joint’1 much
shorter, only about 3, or slightly more, times as long as joint 2, with
3 also relatively shorter, thickened basally and narrowed to apex;
proboscis very slightly shorter, about 25-3 mm. long. Wings also
vitreous-hyaline, the basal comb apparently even less developed,
with the veins much paler and yellowish, not brownish or dark brown
as in marshalli, with a tendency for discoidal cell to be more broadly
truncate apically, the apical cross vein being distinctly longer than
discal cross vein. Legs without any apical spines above on front and
middle femora; front ones unarmed; middle ones with 2-3 spines
in front and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about 5-6 spines below.
Hypopygium very similar to that of mixtus (ct. text-figs. 140 and 141)
and that of marshalli, with the lateral process, on each side of
aedeagus, however, distinctly narrower than in moxtus and only a
little broadened apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-64 mm.
Locality.— Western Cape Province: Stellenbosch (Peringuey, 11/87).
The allotype-2 was labelled and referred to by Bezzi (p. 44, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii) as ctenopterus Mik. Compared with a ¢ and
2 of S. ctenopterus Mik., determined by Dr. EH. Austen and kindly
sent to me by Dr. Edwards of the British Museum, it is evident that
this Palaearctic species is quite different from the South African insect
sonamed. The 9 of ctenopterus differs from the latter chiefly in having
distinctly mauvishly tinged wings, with darker veins, a dark or en-
tirely black scutellum, darker legs of which the femora are almost
entirely very dark brownish or black and not yellowish, in having
entirely dark or black antennae, darker and more blackish bristly
hairs on the frons and face and a distinctly narrower interocular
space in relation to tubercle, and much less than 34 times as broad as
tubercle. Apart from Bezzi’s determinations, no Palaearctic species
of Bombylidae have been found in the South African material by me,
and there is no reason to believe that Palaearctic forms occur in
Africa south of the Sahara.
466 Annals of the South African Museum.
6 3d 28 99 S. anthophilus n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, excluding black base and hind borders
laterally, reddish brown; exposed genitalia of g3$ brownish; legs
pale yellowish brown to reddish brown, the tarsi blackish brown and
apical parts of claws black; pubescence longish and not with a shorn-
off appearance on thorax, from in front, dull whitish sericeous, with
a faint pale yellowish sericeous sheen in certain lights in 99, more
whitish in $3, hair on occiput and sides of
thorax in front of wings in 99 distinctly
tinted pale yellowish, that on abdomen
above more silky white in gd, pale
yellowish white or creamy yellowish in 99
and almost pure white apically in gd, the
pubescence on frons and greater part of
face almost yellowish or subgolden in 99,
slightly paler and more yellowish white in
33, the bristles and bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle, sides of frons, on first antennal
joints above and the bristly ones inter-
mixed on sides of face and genae brownish
black to black, much denser on face
laterally in gd, with the yellowish hair on
Trxt-FIc. 125.—Side view of face in front and round the buccal rim above
hypopygium of 3 Systoechus yore predominant in 99, the hair on head
anthophilus n. sp. :
below, pleural and pectoral regions almost
like that above, only shghtly more whitish on head below and often
with a very pale yellowish white tint along upper parts of pleurae,
that on venter in 9? distinctly more yellowish white laterally, almost
entirely white in $g and only the apical part being slightly tinted
pale yellowish white, the bristles on thorax and scutellum whitish,
those transversely on abdomen in gg entirely whitish discally and
laterally, in 99 often with some long, darker blackish brown to blackish
ones intermixed on sides towards apex and also apically below;
wings hyaline, with the costal cell, extreme base and first basal cell
subopaquely pale yellowish white, with the basal comb blackish
brown and the scaling behind it whitish to pale yellowish white, the
veins dark brownish to blackish brown, paler and more reddish or
yellowish brown basally and along first longitudinal vein, with the
squamae opaquely yellowish white and with a whitish silky fringe;
halteres pallid or yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 467
the interocular space in 3g, at narrowest part, narrower than tubercle
posteriorly, about as broad as front part of tubercle, 3 to a little more
than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with joints 1 and
2 combined subequal to 3 (terminal joints excluded), often slightly
longer in some 99, with 3 more or less club-shaped, broadest near
base, comparatively more rapidly broadened there in 99, with the
first terminal joint conical, sightly narrower than apex of 3, slightly
shorter than the very slender and straight style; face comparatively
tumid, slightly more so in 3g, with the mystax comparatively dense;
proboscis straight, about 3-5 mm. long. Abdomen with the trans-
verse rows of bristles more slender and hair-like in $¢, stouter laterally
in 9° and widely interrupted above medially in both sexes, but more
in $¢. Legs without any apical spines above on front and middle
femora; front ones unarmed below; middle ones with about 1-2
spines in front and often 2-3 pallid spines behind; hind ones with
about 5-6 spines below from just before middle to apex. Hypopygium
of $ (text-fig. 125, side view) with the beaked apical joints com-
paratively long; basal parts fairly pubescent; lateral process, on
each side of aedeagus, comparatively broader and the apices slightly
less truncate than is shown in text figure.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-9 mm.
Locality—Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klp Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931) (Types); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931). West
Cape Province: Olifant’s River Valley (Mus. Exp., Oct. to Nov.
1931).
This species may be mistaken for a small specimen of miztus or
varieties of it, from both of which it differs in being constantly and
uniformly smaller, with paler pubescence, entire absence of even | or
2 black bristles on sides of abdomen in $<, less yellowish hair on
frons in $¢, distinctly more club-shaped third antennal joints and
the more slender legs.
16 33 30 92 S. xerophilus n. sp.
(Syn.=albidus Munro nec Lw.)
Body entirely black; scutellum, excluding a variable black base
and hind border, more or less brick red; hind margins of ventral
segments often narrowly pallid and the exposed $-genitalia often
brownish to dark brownish; legs pale brownish yellow, with the
468 Annals of the South African Museum.
front and middle femora in ¢¢ black to beyond middle and the hind
ones darkened only at extreme base, entirely pale brownish yellow or
only slightly darkened basally in 99, with the apices of hind tibiae
and front faces of the other tibiae dark brownish to blackish brown,
the tarsi blackish brown, becoming darker apically, with the spines
on hind femora below usually with a few pallid or whitish ones in
basal half or often with all the spines pallid in 99 and with only 1 or
2 or even none pallid in $$; general pubescence somewhat long and
shaggy, with a brownish grey tint on
thorax, slightly paler in gd and often
more creamy yellowish in 99, that on
abdomen above creamy yellowish or
straw-coloured white to whitish, be-
coming more white towards apex,
when viewed from in front or sides,
the entire pubescence and _ bristles
soft dull straw-coloured whitish or
yellowish, greyish white to very pale
yellowish sericeous, becoming more
whitish on occiput in some specimens
and distinctly more whitish towards
apex of abdomen in $3, which in
22 is often more pale yellowish
sericeous and only apex of venter
in gd often with a more yellowish
tint, that on sides in front of wings
TExt-F1c. 126.—Side view of hypo- often with a slightly more yellowish
led Baer Se Coo IEE INES sheen, the hair on head _ below,
pectoral and pleural regions and on
venter duller but whiter than on body above, slightly more so in 99,
with the upper pleural parts in some gg having a feeble yellowish
tint in certain lights, the pubescence on frons and face whitish to pale
yellowish white in $3, slightly more yellowish in 99, with the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints, face and genae
black in $g, darker blackish brown to black in 99, the mystax in gd
being almost entirely black and the pale yellowish white hairs above
buccal rim, distinct in 29, being scarcely evident in 34, the intermixed
black bristles in 22 being also less dense, with the transverse rows of
bristles on abdomen and bristles on thorax entirely whitish; wings
hyaline, but with a distinct, though faint, whitish tinge or lustre in
certain lights, with the base, costal cell and first basal cell sub-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 469
opaquely whitish, pale yellowish white to pale yellowish, the extreme
base being more distinctly yellowish, with the veins dark brownish,
often becoming paler towards base, with the basal comb black and
the scaling behind it pale yellowish white to yellowish, the squamae
opaquely whitish to pale yellowish and with a white fringe, which in
certain lights has a feeble yellowish sericeous sheen; halteres yellowish
to pale yellowish brown, with whitish or ivory whitish knobs. Head
with the interocular space in $d, at narrowest part, scarcely narrower
than front part of tubercle, about 3 to a little more than 3 times
as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with joint 1 about 3, or a little
more, times as long as 2, with joint 3 about 14 times or slightly less
as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadest in basal fourth, gradually
narrowed towards apex, there being no distinctly demarcated slender
apical part, with the first terminal joint about as broad as apex of 3,
subequal to or slightly shorter than slender style; proboscis fairly
long, about 6-7 mm. long. Abdomen with the transverse rows of
bristles in §¢ fine and slender, scarcely distinguishable from the other
hairs, distinctly stouter and more evident in $9, with the dorsal
interruption very wide on segments 2 and 3 in gg, much narrower in
29. Legs without any apical spines above on front and middle
femora; front ones unarmed; middle ones with about 1-3 spines in
front below and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about 5-8 spines below
on outer side and often with a few pallid ones on inner apical aspect;
claws rather rapidly curved downwards apically. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 126, side view) showing the genitalia a little displaced
outwards; lateral process on each side of aedeagus slightly broadened
apically; basal strut well developed and lateral struts also distinctly
broadened apically.
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the University
of Stellenbosch and in the Agricultural Department at Pretoria.
Length of body: about 8-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 83-10 mm.
Localityi—Karoo: Prince Albert Distr.; Vogelfontein (Hesse,
Mar.—Apr. 1929) (Types) and (Potgieter, 1-9/4/29); Fraserburg Rd.
(Mally, 17/4/25). S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross and Kamanyab
(Mus. Exp., Feb—Mar. 1925); Kaoko Otavi (Mus. Exp., Mar. 1926).
This species resembles forms of mixtus from which it may, however,
be easily distinguished by the slightly shorter, less shiny and sericeous
and also slightly paler straw-coloured pubescence, the predominantly
black mystax in the 3g, longer proboscis, blackened femora to be-
yond middle in g3, entirely whitish transverse bristles on abdomen
VOL. XXXIV. 31
470 Annals of the South African Museum.
and the basal spines on hind femora, especially in 99, always with
some pallid ones.
This species is of economic importance in that its larval stages feed
on and destroy the eggs in the egg-packets or pods of Locustana
pardalina Walk., the South African Brown or Trek Locust. Several
of the paratypes were hatched from such larvae by Prof. J. Potgieter
of the University of Stellenbosch from material collected at Vogel-
fontein in the Prince Albert District, where the types and other
paratypes were also independently collected by me by sweeping a
patch of lucerne in bloom. The hatched specimens, together with
another species (g-specimen) which I have described below as S.
acridophagus n. sp., were unfortunately incorrectly identified by the
Agricultural Department as a single species, namely albidus Lw.
(See pp. 5 and 32 in “A Contribution to the Biology of the Brown
Swarm Locust,” Science Bulletin No. 82, Department of Agriculture,
Pretoria, and Stellenbosch and Elsenburg College of Agr. Univ.
Stellenb. Scien. Bull. No. 6, 1929, by J. T. Potgieter.)
A careful comparison with the description of Loew’s 3-specimen of
albidus (p. 190, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860) as well as with gd and
29 in the Transvaal and South African Museums, so determined by
me (see under albidus in this paper), shows that these specimens can-
not be referred to albidus. S. albidus has a few black transverse
bristles laterally on the abdomen in the gg and more numerous ones
in the 99; pubescence on posterior part of venter is fulvous or
ochreous yellow; femora are blackened in gg; face and head below
pallid or yellowish brown in both sexes; wings more distinctively
infuscated in basal part, which “biz zum Ende der Wurzelzellen
und am Vonderrande hin bis zum Ende der ersten Langsader mit
rostbrauner Farbung”’ (i.e. costal cell, base and first and second
basal cells yellowish brown to brownish). All these characters are
not present in the 3g and 99 of this new species.
Judging from the type and paratype localities, this species is fairly
widely distributed over the dry and arid parts of the Gouph-Karoo,
S.W. Africa and into the Kaokoveld; this range probably more or
less coinciding with the geographical range of the solitary and swarm
phases of Locustana pardalina itself. The paratypes from the Kaoko-
veld were collected by the Museum Staff at the same time that
swarms of hoppers and adults of L. pardalina were encountered at
Kamanyab and Kaross in the Kaokoveld. It is also probable that
this species of Systoechus is not specifically confined to one host and
that it may attack the egg-packets of other Oedipodinae as well.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 471
Potgieter has kindly placed some preserved larvae and pupae at
my disposal, which, together with some other pupae from the Agri-
cultural Department at Pretoria, I am describing and figuring below.
Larva of S. xerophilus
n. sp. (text-fig. 127 and
also fig. 6, c, Potgieter,
loc. cit.).
These larvae are dis-
tinctly not the triungulin-
stages, which have been
observed to hatch from
Bombylhid-eggs by authors
such as Verhoeff, Riley,
Shelford, Nielsen and
Portchinsky. They are
the transformed eruciform
stages which are found
feeding inside the ege-
pods and which, according
to the observations of
Potgieter, are also found
free in the soil near de-
stroyed egg-packets. Dry
and spirit specimens are
dull creamy white to very
pale yellowish in colour, ¢
and dried specimens often ‘
show a brownish oleaceous Tae
TExtT-FIG. 127.—Side view and front view of head
colour across the junctions of larva of Systoechus xerophilus n. sp.
between segments and the
chitinous cephalic capsule is pale brownish to dark brown. Body
with the dorsum more convexly arched, with the broadest part
more or less between meso and metathoracic segments and first
abdominal segment, more often across the first abdominal segment;
13 distinct segments present, including the head and terminal
medial lobe of telson-like segment at end; no pseudopods or leg-
prominences present on the thoracic segments, but these 3 sternites
slightly more tumid and probably in life much more so; abdominal
tergites and sternites without any visible hairs or bristles, the
extreme sides between tergites and sternites, however, fold-like
and tumid and also more or less divided into slightly tumid promin-
472 Annals of the South African Museum.
ences corresponding to the segments except on last segment, with
the sternites on the sides also showing a more distinct and deeper
longitudinal groove-like depression separating them from the lateral
prominences than that separating the tergites. Cephalic segment
(text-fig. 127 to left) comparatively small, retractile into thoracic
part, when extruded narrower than narrowest part of body, composed
of a basal and an apical part; basal part not differing from first
thoracic segment, its sides subcarinate and with a slight longitudinal
ridge on each side ventrally bearing a slightly forwardly directed
bristle more anteriorly and often a shorter one more anteriorly
between it and the side; apical part highly chitinised, brownish or
dark brown, composed of upper and lower parts; the upper trilobed
structure, typical of Systoechus-species (enlarged towards left of text-
fig. 127) having a distinctly raised medial part, which is also more
acute apically and with the upper surface slightly more depressed,
with a small papilla bearing a very short and slender cone or joint
nearer apex along inner anterior margin of each lateral lobe and also
a small forwardly directed bristle on each lobe laterally at about the
middle and also another near base; the lower part composed of a
mandibulate triangular lobe on each side, each of which is bluntly
pointed but rounded apically, having a basal depression bearing a
small inner and an outer setiferous papilla and a slight medial depres-
sion in which is situated a papillate base from which arises a short
cone or joint (see text-fig.), each lobe also with a small blade-like or
pointed plate fused basally to their inner sides and free or stylet-
like apically. Thoracic segments slightly more humped dorsally, the
metathorax being the broadest; anterior segment the longest, with
a distinct spiracular opening on each side just in front of posterior
lateral angles at base, often with a longitudinal row of 3 or 4 small
depressions above on each side; small setae or bristles arranged as
shown in figure. Abdominal segments with the first one usually the
broadest and often with 4 and 5 narrower again than 6 and 7, which
are also longer; segment 8 telson-like, often broad, its posterior
lateral angles bluntly rounded above, more or less divided into 4
divisions, a medial terminal lobe which is bluntly trilobed, a medial
basal part and a lateral part on each side indistinctly marked off
from medial basal part but more distinctly from terminal lobe, with
a spiracular opening on each side about midway between base and
posterior margin; sternites more or less transversely wrinkled and
the integument slightly subshagreened, without any setae laterally
and with sternite 8 slightly more raised than the anal segment.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 473
The advanced larvae, judging from preserved specimens, which
Potgieter found in the soil in the neighbourhood of empty egg-
packets, are often markedly more dorsoventrally compressed and
broadened, with the lateral prominences more conspicuous, thus
bearing a marked resemblance to Isopod-Crustacea such as “‘ Wood-
lice.”’ This stage is also able to flex the posterior part of its body
under the front part. f
Length of mature larva (dried and spirit material) about 8-12 mm.
Pupal Case pale yellowish translucent and does not differ
much structurally from that of S. acridophagus n. sp. (cf. with
description of pupa and text-fig. 129, below). The slight differences
being :—Head with the cephalic spines on the whole slightly more
slender, thus apparently longer; the anterior frontal spines slightly.
nearer together and the subangular or tubercular prominence on the
outer edge at base comparatively less developed and often incon-
spicuous; proboscis with the confluent basal spines slightly more
slender and more constantly with 3 papillate or tubercular promin-
ences in a row in basal half on labral part. Abdominal segments
with the average number of bristles on each side of middle as follows:
i426, = 1, 4=7, 5=7 or 8, 6= 7-8, 1=7 and 8=8-9; segment
8 thus with more conspicuous and longer bristles laterally than in
acridophagus and also distinctly less tumid and prominent laterally;
lateral prominences with 5-6 bristles between tergites and sternites
1-4 and with 4-6 on 5 to 7, these bristles, especially basal ones, being
slightly shorter than in the other species; sternites 2-6 with 1-5 bristles
on each side and fewer towards base and 2-4 on 7, with a row of 8-12
bristles (some of which are often reduced to short spines) on eighth
sternite in g and nonein 9. Segment 9 (text-fig. 130, a) differs from
that of acridophagus (cf. text-fig. 130, b) in having the 2 apical spines
directed more downwards or horizontally backwards and not dis-
tinctly horizontally upwards, in having an arcuate row of 4 to 6
spine-like prominences above and not 2 only as in acridophagus and
ventrally in 2 with at least 1-2 distinct transverse wrinkles before
bases of spines. Ventral part of terminal segment in 3-pupal cases
is more prominently convex or tumid than in 99; this prominence
being transversely wrinkled and ending apically at bases of terminal
spines, on each side, in a tumid prominence, each with a papillate
or mammillate little prominence.
Length of dried cases: about 12-14 mm.
On pages 32-33 (Potgieter, loc. cit. above), Potgieter makes some
interesting remarks on the habits and ecology of the larval and pupal
474 Annals of the South African Museum.
stages, which are probably applicable to both zerophilus and acrido-
phagus. From these observations, it appears that any one egg-packet
of the locust may be heavily infested (1-8 larvae) and that many
ege-packets are thus completely destroyed. A square foot of ground
containing 20 egg-pods had 39 larvae, and one square yard of ground
containing over 100 packets had a total of 1143 larvae. Potgieter
further states that these larvae are capable of active migration even
in hard soil and that the advanced stage even leaves the empty egg-
packet (about 3 inches under the surface) to penetrate the hard
ground for about 8 inches, there to form a definite cell in the soil,
where it is capable of surviving for very long periods, as long as four
years in this dry sand or soil. Pupation seems to depend on the
amount of moisture and the temperature, thus directly on the rainfall
and climatic factors supervening at the time. The pupal stage
itself, he states, is short and more definite, being 7-9 days in an
incubator and 14-23 days under natural summer conditions. The
pupal stage apparently is not quiescent and, as soon as this stage is
initiated, the pupa becomes very active, wriggling and actively forcing
its way through the soil in order to reach the surface of the ground,
where the imago emerges. It is thus apparent that pupation does not
take place in the empty egg-packets of the locusts as has been main-
tained in the case of other species of Systoechus, which parasitise
migratory locusts in other parts of the world. The integumentary
structures of the pupa, such as terminal prong-like spines, tergal
rows of dentate spines and bristles, are thus adaptive structures,
which facilitate its active movements in soil.
1 3 S. acridophagus n. sp.
(Syn.=albidus Munro nec Lw.; fig. 6, a, Science Bull. No. 82, Dept.
Agr. Pretoria or Science Bull. No. 6, Stell.-Elsenb. Coll., 1929.)
Body black; scutellum ferruginous red; extreme sides of abdomen
and especially segment 2 laterally reddish, the exposed hypopygial
part partly pale yellowish brown; legs pale ochreous yellow, with
pale yellowish white scaling, the bases of femora blackened, with the
apices of hind tibiae and the hind tarsi brownish, the last 2 joints of
all the tarsi black; general pubescence very pale straw-coloured
yellow and with sericeous to very pale brassy reflections, the hair
on thorax in front more whitish (from in front), that on dise of thorax
slightly tinted more yellowish and with very pale brassy reflections,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 475
with the dense pubescence on abdomen above distinctly pale straw-
coloured yellowish, the reflections being markedly sericeous, that
towards apex distinctly whitish, the pubescence on body below
distinctly paler and more whitish than above, the fine bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints and those intermixed
laterally on face and genae black, the dense pubescence round buccal
rim and face in front distinctly yellowish, the bristles on thorax and
scutellum very pale straw-coloured whitish or yellowish, with the
transverse rows of stout bristles on abdomen all very dark blackish
brown to black, those laterally and towards
apex with more reddish brown or paler tips,
the rows broadly interrupted on segments 2
and 3 above and on 2 at least more than a
third as wide as the segment; wings hyaline,
with a faint subopaque whitish tint in certain
lights, with the costal cell, first basal cell
and base duller subopaquely whitish, with
the basal comb black, the veins dark brownish,
becoming slightly paler at extreme base and
the first longitudinal vein being darker, dark
blackish brown, with the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish white and with a whitish fringe,
with the discoidal cell somewhat subacute
apically, its apical cross vein being much
shorter than discal cross vein; halteres 7... me. 198.—Side view
brownish, with brownish knobs. Head with of hypopygium of ¢
the interocular space comparatively narrow, nie peaedon agus
at narrowest part only very slightly broader
than front ocellus; frons with the central furrow distinct, but
more evident posteriorly; antennae with joint 3 longer than 1
and 2 combined, thickened in basal half, broadest at about basal
third or more, with the first terminal joint distinct and conical;
proboscis about 6 mm. long. Legs with a small spine or two on front
and middle femora apically above; front ones with 1-2 pallid spines
behind; middle ones with about 3 spines in front and 2 behind;
hind ones with about 9 spines below. Hypopygium (text-fig. 128,
side view) with the lateral process, on each side of aedeagus, broadened,
racket-shaped or clavate apically.
Type in the Stellenbosch University collections.
Length of body: 9 mm.
Length of wing: 10 mm.
476 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality—Karoo: Prince Albert Distr.; Vogelfontein (Potgieter,
12/4/29).
This species superficially resembles the preceding zerophilus, but
may at once be distinguished by the conspicuous rows of black
bristles across hind margins of abdomen, by the less dense and
less blackish mystax in the g, less convex frons and the femora,
which are only darkened at extreme bases. From eremophilus
Hesse, which it also resembles, it differs in being much paler
sericeous, much whiter below, not distinctly pale yellowish brassy
or golden above, much narrower interocular space, less extensively
reddened sides of abdomen, and with the transverse rows of bristles
on abdomen very much more broadly interrupted above on
segments 2 and 3. This specimen, like specimens of xerophilus, was
also hatched from larvae obtained from egg-packets of Locustana
pardalina Walk. Like zerophilus, this species is thus also of great
economic importance in that its larval stages parasitise and feed on
the eggs in egg-pods of the Brown Swarm Locust, Locustana pardalina,
in South Africa. This species, as stated under zerophilus (see
above), was also incorrectly determined as albidus Lw. by the Agri-
cultural Department (see pp. 5 and 32, and also fig. 6, a, Science
Bull. No. 82 or Science Bull. No. 6, Stell.-Elsenb. College, 1929).
From Loew’s description of albidus (p. 190 in Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i,
1860), this specimen differs in having the costal cell, base, and first
basal cell of wings whitish opaque and not yellowish brown or coffee
brown, an entirely black face and head below, more numerous
transverse black bristles on abdomen, no distinct and characteristic
ochreous yellow or fulvous pubescence towards apex of venter in 4,
no entirely brownish black or black femora, much narrower inter-
ocular space in dg, no keel-like plate to the aedeagus below, etc.
As only one adult specimen was hatched and only one pupa, con-
taining an unhatched 9-specimen, were obtained by Potgieter, it
seems that this species is much less common than zerophilus at that
locality at least.
Owing to the fact that Potgieter was under the impression that he
was dealing with one species, his interesting and important remarks
and observations on the biology of the larvae (loc. cit., pp. 32 and 33,
and also under zerophilus above) would justify the conclusion that
the habits of the larvae of both these species are in all probability
ecologically very similar. From the dried and numerous spirit
material kindly submitted to me, I can find no specific or structural
differences which would enable me to describe the larva of this
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 477
species. It would thus appear that either there are no larvae of
this form present in this material or that the larvae do not differ
structurally from those of xerophilus described above. In the latter
case my description of the larva of zerophilus would also be applicable
here. Judging from Riley’s figures of the larva of the American
“Systoechus oreas” (p.
648, Insects of New
Jersey, 1899, by J. B.
Smith) and those of some
Palaearctic species
figured by Portschinsky,
specific differences of
Systoechus - larvae are
very slight.
The pupa (text-fig.
129).—One pupa, still
containing an enclosed
and unhatched 9-speci-
men, can definitely be
relegated to this species,
and I also think it is the
same one that was
photographed by Pot-
gieter (loc. cit., fig. 2, b).
The abdominal segments
of the unhatched 9 dis-
tinctly show the trans-
verse rows of stiff and Trxt-ric. 129.—Side view of pupa, front view of
ae blacia brates cephalic capsule, and enlarged spines of pupa of
Systoechus acridophagus n. sp.
through the translucent
pupal case. The pupal case, excluding head and thoracic segments,
has 8 distinct abdominal segments and a terminal or genital
segment, and, owing to the sericeous or pale brassy reflections of
the pubescence of the enclosed fly, shows a brassy or pale golden
metallic sheen, especially on thorax above; the dentate spines on
head, scutellar region, those transversely embedded on abdominal
segments above and the terminal spines and processes dark brownish
to blackish brown, with the apical parts of the cephalic spines and
those on terminal segment darker and more blackish, with the apices
of the transverse rows of embedded spines on abdomen above paler
and more reddish or yellowish brown; bristles on body reddish
478 Annals of the South African Museum.
brown; proboscis-sheath and leg and wing-cases ventrally appearing
dull dark brownish. Cephalic region with a rugose tubercular promi-
nence above on each side very near mid-dorsal line at slightly
half the distance between basal tubercles and frontal spines; frontal
region with a prominent forwardly and slightly downwardly directed
dentate spine on each side in front, the broad basal half of each being
longitudinally rugose and subangularly prominent along its outer
carinate margin near base and with a small ocellus-like papillate
prominence above at base, also with a long bristle on each side of
head above near base of the frontal spines and another pair just
behind them nearer midline; facial region below with an inner
anterior and outer lower or posterior dentate spine on each side, the
rugose bases of which are prominently boss-like and confluent just
below frontal spines, each spine provided apically with a long and
slender bristle, with a slight depression on each side near midline of
face, being the external cicatrices of an internal and backwardly
projecting spine-like process on each side and with a bristle externally
on each side of depression; proboscis-sheath with a pair of dentate
spines at its base, the bases of which are confluent and rugulose, with
a medial tubercular prominence some distince away in front of the
basal spines and some other slight prominences farther forwards, the
apical part being transversely wrinkled. Thorax broadest a little
before middle across lateral prominences and there slightly broader
than across eyes, convex discally as shown in figure, pronotal part
with a slight rugulose ridge-like prominence in front near midline on
each side behind basal prominence on head, with an auriculate
spiracular prominence on each side laterally just behind eye and with
other prominences and bristles as shown in text-fig.; mesonotal
region with a lateral tubercular prominence (base of wing) on each
side and bristles arranged as in figure; wing-cases with the position
of some of the chief longitudinal veins already visible and with a
distinct dentate spine or prominence nearer base along costal part;
scutellar region transversely wrinkled discally and with a slight
basal prominence. Abdomen with the basal part of segments 1-7
more or less centrally carinate along midline, with transverse rows of
spines and bristles on the transversely convex part of segments above
as shown in figure, not extending to extreme lateral fold, these spines
less developed and not embedded for their greater part on tergites
1, 6, 7 and 8, and also not extending very far down laterally, those on
6-8 being replaced laterally by bristles alone, every 2-3 spines
separated by a long bristle and with 5-8 bristles on each side of the
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 479
peeeives. namely, 1—5, 2—5, 3=5 or 6, 4=6, 5=6, 6=7 or 8, T=7
and 8=6or7; tergites 2-5 with denser, more conspicuous, and longer
spines, the greater part of each of which is embedded lengthwise and
also with a small basal projecting spinelet as well, with every set of
3 or 4 spines separated by a long bristle; lateral prominent fold
between tergites and sternites also segmented in form of a row of
prominences, of which 1-4 usually have an arcuate row of 4 or 6
long bristles and 5-7 only 4 to 5, and with 2 long ones and often a
short one on 8; tergites 1-7 each with a pale brownish ear-shaped
Text-F1c. 130.—(a) Dorsal and ventral views of last pupal segment of 9
Systoechus xerophilus n. sp. (6) Dorsal and ventral views of last pupal
segment of 2 Systoechus acridophagus n. sp.
spiracle nearer base; sternites less convex, with a variable number,
2-5, bristles on each side of 7 and none on 8; tergite 8 above with the
rudiments of the, now functionless, larval spiracles as a_ slight
prominence on each side a little behind middle, with the lower sides
of 8 also tumid and prominent; terminal segment in 9 (text-fig. 130, 5)
in form of a truncated cone with a slight medial basal prominence
above and a short conical spine on each side of midline a little more
posteriorly, with an upwardly directed slender and sharp terminal
spine on a broad base posteriorly on the ventral aspect, the inner
margins of these spines being carinate and the lower face of their
bases each with more or less 3 carinate ridges, with the ventral part
of the segment slightly transversely carinate basally and with
a few short transverse wrinkles near apical part of the previous
segment.
Length of dried specimen: about 12 mm.
Greatest breadth across middle of body: about 4 mm.
Locality Karoo: Prince Albert Distr.; Vogelfontein (Potgieter).
480 Annals of the South African Museum.
1312S. rufiarticularis n. sp.
Body black; scutellum, excluding the slightly blackened base,
more or less dark brownish red; antennae brownish red, with joints
1 and 2 in ¢ slightly darkened above; legs pale brownish yellow,
with whitish scaling, the femora not blackened basally in g, the last
3 or 4 tarsal joints blackish brown to black, with the spines below
and behind on front and middle tibiae and those on middle femora
behind pale brownish yellow, the rest dark blackish brown; general
pubescence from above deep yellow, more or less deep ochreous
yellow, especially above wings and on sides of abdomen, when viewed
from in front the general effect is slightly paler, being very pale and
almost sericeous white on occiput and thorax above in g, more yellow
in 2, that on sides in front of wings slightly more yellowish sericeous
in 3, distinctly deeper yellowish in 9, hair on scutellum to apex of
abdomen above pale whitish sericeous to pale yellowish sericeous in
3, the sides being distinctly more ochreous or pale orange, more
uniformly yellowish sericeous in @ and also becoming ochreous or
pale orange towards apex laterally, that on head below white, that
on pectoral and pleural regions and venter almost dull whitish, the
upper parts of pleurae and metapleural tuft being more pale yellowish
white in certain lights, the pubescence on frons in 9 yellowish, slightly
more brownish in 3g, that on sides of face and in mystax creamy
sericeous in 9, slightly paler in 3, with the bristly hairs on tubercle,
frons, first antennal joints, face in front and on genae dark brownish
black and with a slight rufous tint in J, in 2 more brownish and the
dark hairs in mystax and genae also less dense and less numerous
than in 4, with all the bristles on thorax, scutellum, and those in
transverse rows on hind margins of abdomen yellowish, those towards
apex of abdomen laterally, however, more ochreous, with the spines
surrounding genital aperture of 2 more reddish brown; wings not
entirely hyaline, but, when viewed sideways, with a very faint
brownish or mauvish tinge, becoming slightly more evident towards
base in certain lights, the costal cell and first basal cell being more
subopaquely pale yellowish white and the base and alula distinctly
opaquely pale yellowish brown or ochreous, with the basal comb
dark blackish brown and the scaling behind it yellowish to ochreous
yellowish, the veins brownish, becoming more reddish brown along
main veins basally, with the squamae opaquely pale yellowish or
ochreous and with brownish borders and a pale yellowish fringe;
halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with the inter-
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 481
ocular space in 3g, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of
tubercle and slightly more than half as broad as posteriorly, a little
more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9 and the inner margins
of eyes rather rapidly diverging anteriorly; antennae with joint 1
shorter than 3 and with 1 and 2 combined subequal to or slightly
shorter than 3, with 3 slightly constricted at base, thickened and
broadest in basal half then gradually narrowed apically, a
distinct and slender apical part present, .
with the first terminal joint small
and conical, shorter than style; proboscis
about 34-4 mm. long, with the minute
spicules below’ scarcely discernible.
Abdomen with the pubescence towards
apex tending to be longer and denser
and more distinctly tuft-like, with the
transverse rows of bristles in @ stouter
and less broadly interrupted above. Legs
without very dense and long hairs basally
on femora below in ¢ and without any
apical spines above on front and middle
femora; front ones unarmed; middle ones
with about 1-2 spines in front and 1
behind; hind ones with about 4-5 spines qyyr-mc. 131.—Side view of
below from near base to apex. Hypo- hypopygium of 3 Systoechus
pyguum of 3g (text-fig. 131, side view) BU RUAN, SP
with the pubescence on dorsum of basal parts not very long and
dense; lateral process, on each side of aedeagus, distinctly clavately
broadened apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-74 mm.
Locality.—Portuguese East Africa: Inhambane (Lawrence, Jan.
1924 ) ($-holotype); Masiene (Lawrence, Dec. 1923) (-allotype).
This species seems to be near chrystallinus Bezz., but differs in
having brownish red antennae in the ¢ as well, entirely yellow femora
in both sexes, in having black spines on the femora, slightly or faintly
brownishly or mauvishly tinged wings, shorter proboscis, slightly
smaller size, etc.
482 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 g 2 92 S. chlamydicterus n. sp.
Body black; face (entirely in 2 and more or less anteriorly in 3),
first and second antennal joints and to a certain extent also basal
part or basal half of joint 3 yellowish or pale yellowish red, slightly
more pale brownish red in 3; third antennal joint reddish or mauvish
brown; scutellum, excluding black base and sides, and indefinite
spots laterally on segments 3-6 of abdomen in ¢ pale brownish red;
venter with the narrow hind margins
whitish or pallid; legs pallid or pale
yellowish, with the front and middle
femora in g slightly darkened at extreme
bases, with the last 2 or 3 tarsal joints
dark brownish to blackish and all the
spines on legs yellowish; general pubes-
cence above ochreous yellow or deep
golden yellow, that on the anterior part
of thorax in 4, in certain lights, more
yellowish sericeous, that on abdomen
above more lemon yellow or pale yellowish
sericeous, especially towards apex, that
on pectoral and pleural regions and
venter basally distinctly paler than above
and more pale yellowish white, inclining
Tee ees go Sader viee oh ee to white and slightly more so in
hypopygium of g Systoechus 2, with the middle and apical part of
chlamydicterus n. sp. venter more yellowish, the hair on sides
in front of wings and along upper parts of pleurae deeper yellowish
when viewed obliquely from behind, the pubescence on frons, sides
of face and face pale yellowish sericeous, slightly paler in g, with the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints, on face
laterally and intermixed with paler ones in front reddish or purplish
brown, those in front in 3 being more numerous and the mystax in 3
also with a more distinct mauvish or purplish sheen, the hair on head
below white, the macrochaetae, bristles on thorax and scutellum as
well as those transversely on abdomen above yellow; wings com-
paratively narrow and slender, vitreous hyaline, with a faint whitish
or even reddish tinge in certain lights, with the costal cell, first basal
cell and base as well as alula subopaquely very pale yellowish white
to whitish, with the basal comb blackish brown and with pale yellow-
ish to creamy yellowish scaling behind it, with the veins pale brownish
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 483
yellow, becoming more yellowish or reddish basally, the squamae
opaquely whitish and with a very pale yellowish white fringe;
halteres yellowish, with almost whitish or very pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the interocular space in 3, at narrowest part,
about as broad as front ocellus, the margins at first scarcely diverging
anteriorly for a distance about equal to length of tubercle, in 2 a
little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joints
1 and 2 combined shorter than 3, with | at least 24 times as long as 2,
with 3 comparatively slender, slightly thickened in basal half where
it is also broadest, very slightly more rapidly narrowed from broadest
part to apex above than below in 2 (more sinuous above), with the
apical part slender, with the first terminal joint in ¢ relatively long,
slightly narrower than apex of 3 and about as long as style, more
conical and shorter in 9; proboscis about 4-44 mm. long and with
the minute spinules below visible. Legs without any apical spines
above on front and middle femora and all femora with long hairs
below basally in g; front femora unarmed; middle ones with about
1-2 spines in front and 1-2 behind; hind ones with about 5-7 spines
below from just before middle to apex, the basal ones being often
long and slender. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 132, side view) with
the lateral process, on each side of aedeagus, comparatively short
and narrow, strap-like and scarcely broadened apically.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 7-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 74-9 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Waterberg Distr. (Jutrzencka, 1898-99).
This species is easily recognised by its lemon yellow or deep golden
yellow pubescence, the pallid or yellowish first and second antennal
joints, very pale legs with entirely yellowish spines and narrow
vitreous hyaline wings. .
S. ngribarbus Lw.
(P. 13, Peter’s Reise. n. Mossamb. Zool., v., 1862; Paramonow,
p. 238, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev., No. 10, 1931.)
Several $d and 99 before me from localities in Portuguese Hast
Africa, such as Nyaka, Inhambane, Masiene and Inyack Islands,
appear to agree very well with Loew’s description of nigribarbus as
far as the dg are concerned and, although Loew’s description is very
short, the salient characters of the g¢ are nevertheless mentioned.
484 Annals of the South African Museum.
It may be possible that some of Bezzi’s specimens, identified as
chrystallinus (p. 65, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region),
may prove to be specimens of nigribarbus. The distinguishing
features of the 3g are the yellow or lemon yellow pubescence above,
which in certain lights is pale yellowish sericeous on the thorax and
towards apex of abdomen more ochreous yellow; pubescence below
on head, pectoral, middle pleural parts and basal part of venter more
whitish, the mystax on face well developed, dense and black, with
the bristly hairs on frons, antennae,
es ocellar tubercle and sides of face also
“ii AX conspicuous and densely black; sides
y/ iy yy LE —~, of the abdomen in ¢ (hidden by the
Y yi GUNTER pubescence), like the scutellum, also
yy Ys je | \ “4 reddish; all transverse rows of bristles
Ya on abdomen may be yellow like the
A SE fa | ; rest of hair or in some forms a few more
<= \ H brownish yellow ones may be present
WSs | 4) laterally towards apex. Wungs hyaline
Wt We 1 but with a very feeble reddish tinge,
with the costal cell, base, alula and first
basal cell subopaquely whitish or pale
yellowish white. Legs yellow, the bases
or basal halves of femora may, however,
Txt-Fic. 133.—Side view of be blackish, with the spines blackish
hypopygium of g Systoechus brown on femora and upper parts of
a Sa tibiae, with often, however, one or two
basal ones on hind femora pallid. Hypopygium (text-fig. 133, side
view) with the lateral process, on each side of aedeagus, comparatively
long and slender, slightly broadened and spathulate and more or less
slightly pointed apically.
The undescribed ¢ is coloured like the 3, if not slightly deeper and
more golden yellow; pubescence towards apex of abdomen more
often distinctly ochreous yellow; hair on pectus and pleural region
more distinctly straw-coloured whitish, the upper parts of pleurae
and metapleural tuft, as in g, more yellowish; head with the inter-
ocular space about 34, ora little less, times as broad as tubercle, whereas
in 3g, at narrowest part, it is only about as broad as front part of
tubercle, with the bristly hairs on head above brownish to blackish,
the black ones on face less dense and less numerous than in 4, with
the mystax containing more yellowish or intermixed creamy hairs,
the bristles on lower parts of first antennal joints and some on sides
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 485
of face also more yellowish; antennae with joints 1 and 2 combined
slightly shorter than 3, with 3 slightly thickened basally, more so
than in dg, where they are almost rod-like; abdomen with the trans-
verse rows of bristles yellow above on segments 2—4, but on sides of
3 to apex and also above on 4 or 5 to apex darker and either pale
reddish or brownish yellow to reddish brown to even darker; legs
entirely yellow, the bases of femora not distinctly darkened, without
any apical spines above on front and middle femora, the front ones
unarmed, with 1-3 spines in front and 1-2 behind on middle ones in
both sexes and with about 5-7 black spines below from just before
middle to apex on hind ones and of which 1 or 2 in some specimens
may be yellowish.
Length of body: about 7-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-9 mm.
Locality.— Portuguese East Africa and Transvaal. (In the
Deutsches Entomologisches Institut and in Transvaal and South
African Museums.)
It is evident that this species is variable with respect to the colour
of the transverse bristles towards apex of the abdomen, which range
from entirely yellow to deeper yellowish ones, through reddish,
brownish to blackish ones.
2 92 S. ngribarbus var. falsus n.
(Syn.=miztus Bezz. nec Wied.)
These 99 appear to represent only a variety of nagribarbus and, in
view of the absence of 3-specimens, they may be taken as representing
a more western variety. From a typical 9-nzgribarbus they differ in
having the pubescence on body above distinctly much paler, more
straw-coloured whitish on thorax and even on abdomen less markedly
ochreous yellowish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons
and intermixed on face as well as the transverse bristles on abdomen
on sides and towards apex darker, more dark reddish brown, brownish
to blackish brown; wings with the base, costal cell and first basal
cell slightly more subopaquely ochreous yellowish and the veins
darker reddish; interocular space tending to be slightly narrower,
only about 3 times as broad as tubercle. These 99 also resemble
canipectus from which they differ in having slightly less mauvishly
tinged wings, smaller basal comb and more reddish brown bristles on
abdomen.
Type in the South African Museum.
VOL. XXXIV. 32
486 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 84-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-10 mm.
Locality.—_S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kamanyab (Mus. Exp., Mar.
1925) (Type). N.W. Transvaal: Junction of Crocodile and Marico
Rivers (Tucker, Feb. 1918).
The specimen from the Transvaal was referred to miztus by Bezzi.
This variety differs from 992 of zxerophilus in having distinct dark
transverse bristles on abdomen. A very poor speeimen from Groot-
fontein (S.W. Africa) which Bezzi identified as ctenopterus Mik.
probably also belongs here and not to Mikan’s species.
S. chrystallinus Bezz.
(P. 65, Bombyliudae of The Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
In his monograph, Bezzi described this species from Nyasaland
and also refers certain other 99 from Portuguese Hast Africa and
North Rhodesia to it. This species, according to the description,
differs from what I take to be nigribarbus Lw. in having at least the
first and second antennal joints in 99 reddish or yellowish, no red to
sides of abdomen in 3d, entirely yellow bristles in transverse rows on
abdomen in $9, with the majority of spines on legs and also hind
femora below yellowish and in having the apical part of the discoidal
cell of wing more acute.
In the Rhodesian Museum there is a 9-specimen from “‘Sawmills,
S. Rhodesia, 16/11/24” identified as chrystallinus Bezz. by Brunetti
and which Dr. Arnold has kindly loaned for comparison. This
specimen, however, according to Bezzi’s description, is not typical
in that the antennae are entirely black, the apical hair on abdomen is
not distinctly deeper yellow than the rest of the hair, the spines on
middle femora in front are dark blackish brown and not yellow. A
somewhat denuded 9, from Montrose (Lingnau, 15/1/26) in Northern
Transvaal, in the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, also has dark
antennae and is also referred to this species.
8 35 23 99 S. albipectus n. sp.
(As miatus Bezz. nec Wied. by Bezzi in part, p. 43, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
One 9-specimen of this species, from Bushmanland, was referred to
miatus Wied. by Bezzi. From Wiedemann’s description of miatus
(p. 336, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828) it is obvious that this
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 487
specimen does not belong to miztus (cf. description of miztus in this
paper). The characters of the specimens referred to albipectus are:—
Body black; scutellum, excluding black base, the sides of abdominal
segments or sides of 2-4 and to a certain extent hind margins of last
few tergites and even last tergite in §¢ reddish, in 99 entirely black
or very obscurely infused with reddish in some specimens; the
sutural parts on pleurae sometimes also infused with reddish in some
specimens; legs pale reddish brown to brownish, with the extreme
bases or even the basal halves of front and middle femora, but especi-
ally the front ones in gd, blackened, with the apical parts of the
middle and hind tibiae and front surfaces of the front tibiae, the hind
tarsi and also the other tarsi, or at least more than apical halves of
front and middle tarsi, blackish or black, the black on tibiae mostly
due to black scaling, with the spicules and apical spurs in lower outer
row of front and middle tibiae yellowish or consisting of partly dark
and partly yellowish spicules, and in some specimens even pre-
dominantly dark; pubescence above ranging from almost sericeous
whitish through sericeous yellowish to brassy or golden yellowish,
usually paler in $d, the more sericeous to golden pubescence in 99,
that on abdomen above in $3 usually becoming paler and even almost
whitish sericeous or white apically, that on abdomen above in 99
more gleaming brassy, deep sericeous or golden yellow, that on sides
of thorax usually slightly deeper yellowish than on disc in certain
lights, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, bristly hairs or bristles
on frons, the bristly hairs on antennal joint 1, very numerous inter-
mixed bristly hairs on face and genae, the very conspicuous, stoutish
and longish transverse bristles across hind margins of tergites 2-6 in
3d and 2-7 in 99, and often some on sides of tergite 1 in some ¢¢ and
the sparser and slightly shorter bristles on venter in both sexes,
black, with the depressed pubescence on frons in 99 more or less
slightly fulvous, becoming more sericeous yellowish to whitish on
sides towards antennae, that densely intermixed on face sericeous
yellowish to faintly ochreous yellowish, the dense hairs around buccal
rims especially in $3 with a more distinct ochreous tint, with the dense
pubescence on sides of abdomen and on apical half of venter below
in g$ to a variable extent, but sometimes strikingly, gleaming
ochreous yellow, fulvous, to brownish golden, that towards apical
part of venter in 92 usually also with an ochreous tint, with the
pubescence on head below, propleural parts, the pleurae, in meta-
pleural tuft, sides of venter for about or nearly half its length and the
base of venter and that on coxae markedly and contrastingly sericeous
488 Annals of the South African Museum.
white to almost silvery white, the longer bristles on coxae, especially
in 99, more yellowish, with the fine scaling on legs whitish on femora
and on outer surfaces of front and middle tibiae, but appearing dull
pale yellowish in certain lights and distinctly more yellowish towards
apices of hind femora; wings subopaquely greyish hyaline, some-
times with even a slight cinereous tinge in certain lights, with the
basal comb well developed and black, with the base, costal cell and
first basal cell almost opaquely pale yellowish brown to pale brownish
and even cinereous brownish, with the veins
very dark brown or blackish brown, be-
coming more reddish brown at base, with
the squamae opaquely yellowish to pale
yellowish brown, the fringe being gleaming
sericeous whitish in lower part and distinctly
ochreous yellow to fulvous or even ochreous
brownish in upper part, in which are also
intermixed dark or brownish bristly hairs;
halteres brownish, with very pale yellowish
to ivory yellowish knobs. Head with the
interocular space in $3, at narrowest part,
very narrow, about as broad as front
ocellus, sometimes almost touching, with
the inner margins of eyes at first very
Trext-ric. 134.—Side view gradually diverging apically for a distance
" a aon of 3 S¥8- subequal to length of tubercle before
oechus albvpectus n. sp. i , ; 5 :
diverging more rapidly, with the inter-
ocular space in 99 on vertex about 3, or a little more than 3, times
as broad as tubercle; eyes in gd tending to be slightly flattened
above and with the facets very coarse in upper part; antennae with
joint 1 about 23-3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 only a little longer
than 1 and 2 combined, broadest at base then gradually narrowed
apically, the apical part, however, almost rod-like, with the first
terminal joint about as broad as apex of 3, scarcely or only slightly
shorter than very slender style; proboscis about 44-7 mm. long,
straight and with the fine spicules visible below; palps gradually
clavately broadened apically and somewhat flattened. Legs without
any spines apically above on front and middle femora; front femora
with about 1-4 spines in front and about 1-2 behind; middle femora
with about 2-7 spines in front and 2-5 spines behind; hind femora
with about 8-13 spines below on outer aspect and some smaller ones
on inner aspect, with all the spines in 9? more strongly developed;
NN
N
i
\N
WN
a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 489
claws more or less rapidly curved downwards apically. Hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 134, side view).
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 74-12 mm.
Locality—N. Karoo: Venterstad Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935)
(Types); Steynsburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935). C. Karoo:
Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, March 1931). Nieuwveld Karoo:
Victoria West. Distr. (Mus. Staff, March 1931). Namaqualand:
Bushmanland; Henkries (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911). Eastern Karoo:
Grahamstown; Resolution (Walton, 29/1/28) (mm the Transvaal
Museum); Graaff-Reimet (Ogilvie, 24-27/10/31) (in the Imperial
Institute). One Q-paratype without locality in the Transvaal
Museum.
This species, being very widely distributed over the greater part of
the Karoo, is shghtly variable in size and the colour of the pubescence,
which ranges from very pale sericeous yellowish to golden yellowish.
The Q-specimen from Grahamstown has the face reddish and quite
as much reddish on sides and apex of abdomen asin gg. The very
large 2 from Bushmanland, which was labelled miztus by Bezzi,
differs from typical large 299 in having more golden yellowish pubes-
cence, the costal and basal part of wings paler yellowish and the veins
much paler and yellowish. This species is easily distinguished by
the striking and almost Anastoechus-like sericeous white or cretaceous
white pubescence on body below. Structurally and specifically it
is very near spinithorax Bezz., from the g-type of which it differs in
having the antennae and face black and less extensive red on abdomen,
more sericeous yellowish pubescence above, not silvery whitish, and
without brownish golden hairs on disc of thorax, entirely pale yellow-
ish bristles, and not reddish brown ones, on thorax, in having pre-
dominantly pallid spicules below on front tibiae and the slightly
different aedeagus.
1 Q S. canescens nu. sp.
Body black; scutellum reddish brown; legs yellowish, with whitish
scaling, with the apices of hind tibiae and the tarsi more brownish,
the last 2 or 3 joints being very dark brown and the claws almost
entirely black; pubescence, viewed from above, greyish white
in front and whitish on abdomen, viewed from the side that
above is sericeous white with a tendency for that on occiput to
490 Annals of the South African Museum.
be very pale yellowish sericeous, the hair on head below, pleural
and pectoral regions and venter pure white, the pubescence on
frons very pale yellowish sericeous, becoming whitish laterally on
face, with the hairs on face in front and laterally on genae as well as
round buccal rim distinctly more, but very pale, yellowish sericeous
in certain lights, the bristly hairs on tubercle, frons, first antennal
joints laterally and those intermixed on face in front and also on
sides black, those on antennae below being predominantly whitish
or yellowish, the bristles on thorax, scutellum and on abdomen
above whitish, the transverse stout ones laterally on abdominal
segments 2-7 and more or less those on 4-6 above black, those on
venter white; wings vitreous hyaline, with the base, costal and first
basal cell and alula more or less subopaquely whitish, the base with a
yellowish tinge, with the basal comb black and the scaling behind it
whitish, with the veins pale brownish yellow, becoming paler and
more yellowish basally, the squamae opaquely whitish and with a
yellowish border and a white fringe; halteres yellowish, with very
pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the interocular space about
3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 1 only
slightly shorter than 3, with 3 comparatively short, broadest at
about basal fourth, then gradually narrowed to slender apical fourth,
with the first terminal joint small, conical, as broad as apex of 3 and
shorter than style; proboscis long, about 6 mm. long. Legs without
any apical spines above on front and middle femora; front ones
unarmed; middle ones with about 2 spines in front and | behind;
hind ones with about 6 spines below from just before middle to apex;
claws rapidly curved downwards apically.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 95 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: N.E. Zoutpansberg Distr. (Breyer, 7—-8/16).
Recognised by its whitish pubescence and particularly by its white
undersurface and white-haired venter.
1 2 S. damarensis n. sp.
(Syn. =mixtus Bezz. nec Wied.)
Body black; scutellum, excluding black base, posterior calli in
part reddish; legs with the femora, excepting only the pale brownish
yellow apices, almost entirely dark blackish brown to black, the
tibiae pale brownish yellow, the tarsi brownish but the apical parts
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 491
and the claws blackish; pubescence above straw-coloured whitish,
that on disc of thorax in certain lights with a slightly more yellowish
tint, that on sides in front of wings more yellowish straw-coloured,
that on abdomen above almost white, becoming distinctly white
towards apex, the hair on pectoral and pleural regions in metapleural
tuft and on venter straw-coloured and inclining to faintly yellowish
in certain lights, that on frons and hairs on face straw-coloured whitish
and that on head below white, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
sides of frons, that sparsely intermixed on face in front and also
laterally on face and genae and a few on antennal joint 1 dark blackish
brown, the macrochaetae, bristles on mesopleuron, long ones on pos-
terior calli, on scutellum and those transversely above on abdominal
segments 2-3 as well as those on venter basally pale straw-coloured
yellowish, those above on segments 4-7 black, with the rows very
broadly interrupted above on 2 and 3; wings vitreous hyaline, with
the base, costal and first basal cells and the alula subopaquely yellow-
ish, with the basal comb black and the scaling behind it whitish, the
veins brownish, becoming paler and more reddish or yellowish brown
basally, the squamae opaquely pale yellowish and with a straw-
coloured whitish fringe; halteres pale yellowish brown, with paler
brownish yellow knobs. Head with the interocular space quite 34
times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae (damaged and with
joint 3 missing) but joint 1 quite 24 times as long as 2; proboscis
about 5 mm. long, without discernible spinules below. Legs with a
minute apical spicule or two above on front and middle femora;
front ones apparently unarmed below; middle ones with about 2
spines in front and 1 behind; hind ones with about 7 spines below
on outer aspect and about 5 smaller ones on inner aspect.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locahity.x—_S.W. Africa: N. Damaraland; Otjivarongo (Brown,
Apr..1921).
This solitary specimen was labelled as mixtus Wied. by Bezzi,
with which species it, however, has no relationship other than black
transverse bristles on abdomen. It can be recognised by its straw-
coloured pubescence, blackened femora and: conspicuous transverse
rows of black bristles on the abdomen. From canescens it differs in
being less white below, in having dark femora, broader interocular
space, etc.
492 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 3 15 92 S. eremophilus Hesse.
(P. 166, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvu, 1936.)
Body black; scutellum and sides of abdominal segments in 3,
genital segment in ¢ and often the apical part of last sternite in
2 reddish; legs yellowish, with the bases of femora, especially the
front ones, slightly blackened in both sexes, with the apical parts of
hind tibiae, the front surfaces of the front ones, the entire hind tarsi
and apical parts of the others more brownish, becoming blackish
apically like the apical halves of claws;
pubescence short on thorax, dull brassy
yellowish or dull yellowish, with a
slightly paler and more whitish sheen
in certain lights on sides of abdomen
and towards apex, especially in d,
often, however, with a more dull
golden or very pale dull brassy sheen
in 92 on body above; hair on body
below only slightly paler and with a
slightly more whitish sheen across
pleurae above coxae, the head below
being distinctly whitish and venter
laterally duller yellowish white;
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, sides
of frons, those intermixed in mystax
Trext-Fic. 135.—Side view of hypo- and those on antennal joint 1 in g
Dee Howe Systoce isi eles black; macrochaetae and bristles on
thorax and scutellum pale yellowish
white to whitish; transverse rows of bristles on abdomen above
entirely black in g, with the lateral ones on segments 2-4 and
towards apex above in 2 black and those more discally towards
base above yellowish, those on venter yellowish basally and more
brownish to blackish apically; wings hyaline, with the extreme
base, alula, costal and first basal cells more or less subopaquely
yellowish to yellowish white, the blackish costal vein and brownish
first longitudinal vein enhancing this infuscation, with the veins
dark brownish, paler towards the base, with the basal comb black
and the scaling behind it pale yellowish white, the squamae opaquely
pale yellowish or brownish and with a pale yellowish white fringe;
halteres yellowish, with whitish knobs. Head with the interocular
space in g, at narrowest part, only slightly narrower than tubercle,
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 493
a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 9; frons with
the central furrow in ¢ distinctly visible in basal half; antennae with
joint 1 comparatively longer in 2, quite 3 times as long as 2, joint 3
slightly obscurely pilose above, with joint 3 (excepting terminal
joints) about as long as 1 and 2 combined, thickened in basal half,
broadest just before base, with the apical slender part slightly thicker
in 2; proboscis about 5-7 mm. long. Abdomen with the transverse
bristles distinctly longer than the hair in 9, scarcely or not in d,
with the pubescence and bristles on abdomen in 3, however, appar-
ently denser. Legs without any apical spines above on front and
middle femora; front ones unarmed below; middle ones with about
2-4 spines in front in apical lower aspect and usually 1-2 on posterior
lower aspect; hind ones with about 6-12 spines on outer side below
and 2-7 smaller ones on inner side below, more or less in apical
aspect; claws rather rapidly curved downwards apically. Hypo-
pygium of g (text-fig. 135, side view) with rather dense and long
golden hair on basal parts, especially in neck region; lateral process,
on each side of aedeagus, distinctly broadened apically, where it is
racket-shaped; apices of beaked apical joints bent downwards,
slightly outwards and also slightly inwards.
Holotype-g in the Transvaal Museum, allotype-2 in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 84-114 mm.
Locality.—Bechuanaland: Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/1930)
(Types). S. Rhodesia: Jesse (Ogilvie, 4/32) (Imperial Institute) ;
Matopos (Ogilvie, 4/32).
This species is recognised by the hyaline wings, dull yellowish or
greyish yellow, even dull and pale brassy, pubescence and transverse
rows of stout black bristles on the abdomen. Superficially it resembles
mordinatus n. sp. but differs in being paler and duller yellowish
haired and in not having the basal part of wings coffee brown. From
the next species waltons n. sp. it differs in being also duller yellowish
haired, femora not distinctly black or dark and by other characters
mentioned below.
2 36d 4 99 S. waltons n. sp.
This species is so closely related to eremophilus that a comparison
with it should suffice.
Body black; scutellum, sides of abdominal segments in 3¢
reddish; general pubescence the same but the effects, in certain
494 Annals of the South African Museum.
lights, slightly more deeply golden yellowish, the hair on sides of
venter basally, in g¢ at least, more whitish on venter with more
black bristles; wings also greyish hyaline but with the extreme
base, alula, costal and first basal cells distinctly darker and more
brownish or yellowish brown, with the squamae darker, more brownish
and the fringe more yellowish; legs with distinctly darker, more
yellowish or pale yellowish brown scaling, with the greater part of
the femora darkened and blackish brown or black and even the tibiae
are darker. Head with the interocular space
in $¢ distinctly narrower, at narrowest part
much narrower than ocellar tubercle, in 9°
also about 3 times as broad as tubercle,
but the tubercle is slightly smaller; eyes in
33 with the upper facets distinctly coarser
than in eremophilus; frons with the central
furrow even more distinct basally in gd, also
even more evident in 99, with the bristly
hairs also denser; antennae with joint 3
shightly longer, not subequal to 1 and 2
combined; proboscis, in relation to body,
shorter and about 5-6 mm. long, with the
minute spinules on labium below distinctly
visible (not or scarcely visible in eremophilus).
Trxt-ric. 136.—Side view Legs with some apical spines above on front
of hypopygium of 3 and middle femora; front ones often with
Systoechus waltoni n. sp. : ‘ :
about 2-4 spines in front on lower apical
aspect; middle ones with about 4—5 spines in front and 1-3 behind;
hind ones with about 9-13 spines, comparatively closer together, on
outer side below and about 5-9 on inner side of which a long and a
short one are at the base and the others in apical half. Hypopygium
of 3 (text-fig. 136, side view) with the lateral process, on each side
of the aedeagus, comparatively broad and strap-like, slightly broader
apically and distinctly broader and more strap-like than in eremo-
philus, where the apical part is more rapidly broadened; basal parts
slightly less pubescent in neck region and beaked apical joints are
also distinctly shorter.
Holotype-3 in the Transvaal Museum, allotype-2 in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 9-114 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-114 mm.
Locality. —Eastern and Southern Karoo: Albany Distr.; Grahams-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 495
town, Resolution (Walton, 21/3/28, 13/3/28 and 1-4/28) (Types).
Karoo: Hopetown (Faure, 9/3/29) (University of Pretoria).
This species also appears to be very closely related to acridophagus,
from the ¢ of which it may be readily separated by the distinctly
more yellowish pubescence, non pale-tipped black bristles across
abdomen, more extensively and even entirely dark femora, darker
tarsi, longer black spines in basal comb, etc.
The 9-paratype from Hopetown was bred from egg-packets of
Locustana pardalina, the brown locust, by Dr. J. Faure. This
species thus also parasitises the trek locust like xerophilus and acrido-
phagus. This 9-paratype has an empty pupal case attached which
is practically indistinguishable from that of acridophagus (cf. text-
fio. 129). The chief external differences are:—The cephalic spines
are shorter and stouter, blunter, the two spines at base of proboscis-
rudiment stouter; the long bristles on lateral fold on each side
between the tergites and sternites are arranged in this specimen as
romewd, b=—=4 2—4 3=4, 4=4 or 5, 5=4 or 5, 6=4, T=5 or 6 and
8=3 or 4; terminal segment like that of pupa of acridophagus but
with the terminal upwardly directed spines shorter, flatter, distinctly
blunter and with a distinct dentate prominence or subsidiary process
on the inner side as well, the dorsum of this segment also with two
submedial spine-like prominences as in acridophagus. Length of
pupal case about 14 mm.
4 $3 4 92 S. brunnibasis n. sp.
Body black; scutellum reddish to obscure reddish, with the black
basal macula large and produced posteriorly, thus almost dividing
the red into 2 maculae, with the hind borders often also blackish;
legs yellowish, the front and middle femora in gd blackened to even
beyond middle, the apical parts of hind tibiae also darkened;
pubescence tending to be shortish, especially in gS where that on
thorax has a more or less shorn-off appearance, pale creamy yellowish,
yellowish sericeous to pale golden yellow in 99, slightly more sericeous
whitish on disc of thorax in $4, that on abdomen above in 3¢ also
slightly less yellowish laterally, more creamy yellowish, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen on segments 2-4 discally yellowish,
those laterally and towards apex black in both sexes, those towards
apex often tending to be reddish or pale tipped, with the black hairs
and bristly hairs on face predominant in 33, the pubescence on body
below only slightly paler than above; wings greyish hyaline, but
496 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the base, costal cell, first and second basal cells, extreme bases
of anal and axillary cells and the base of alula distinctly tinged
brownish and often deeply so, the second basal cell being distinctly
tinged for the greater part and the basal and costal infuscation also
more or less delimited from the greyish hyaline rest of wing, with the
veins brownish to dark brownish, the first longitudinal vein and the
others towards the base being more reddish, the basal comb black;
halteres yellowish brown, with pale yellowish white knobs. Head
with the interocular space in $d, at narrowest
part, as broad as front part of tubercle, or at
least 2 times as broad as front ocellus, about
or slightly more than 34 times as broad as
tubercle in 99; antennae with joint 3 scarcely
longer than 1 and 2 combined, more often
subequal or equal to these, gradually tapering
apically, but slightly broader basally in 99;
proboscis about 5-6 mm. long. Legs with
about 3-4 spines in front and 1-2 behind on
middle femora and with about 5-9 spines on
hind ones below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-
fig. 137) with short bristly hair along apical
dorsal inner margins of inner apical parts in
Text-ric. 137.—Side view neck region of basal parts, the rest of the
of hypopygium of $ dorsum with very fine and sparse down;
eine PEDO Ae eral process on each side of aedeagus present
as shown in figure.
Holotype in the South African Museum, allotype in the Durban
Museum and paratypes in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 74-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Locality. Natal: Durban; Park Ryme (Barker, 23/12/20) (Holo-
type); Upper Tongat (Barker, Nov. 1919) (Allotype); Pinetown
(Leigh, 30/1/09): Durban (Marley, 1915); Gilitts (H. W. B. M.,
24/2/27). Nos. 3112 and 3113 without locality-label.
From mentiens Bezz. (p. 68, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924) this species differs in having broader interocular space
in $3, black transverse bristles laterally only on sides and towards
apex of abdomen, wings which are more extensively infuscated at
base, etc.
ae hes
a Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Svuthern Africa. 497
19 gd 14 98 S. silvaticus n. sp.
(Syn.=aurantiacus Big. nec Macq. and miztus Bezz. nec Wied., also
simplex Bezz. nec Lw.)
Black; scutellum ferruginous red to reddish; sides of abdomen in
both sexes entirely black; the apical part of last sternite in 99 yellow-
ish; legs yellowish to brownish yellow, the bases or often the under
surfaces of front and middle femora and the bases or even under
surfaces of the hind ones in ¢¢ blackened, with the front surfaces of
front tibiae more or less darkened in both sexes, the tarsi darkened,
becoming more blackish apically; pubescence comparatively long,
not with a shorn-off appearance, varying in colour from predominantly
sericeous whitish, creamy yellowish, pale sericeous yellowish to
brassy or golden yellowish in g¢ and straw-coloured yellowish to
golden yellow in 99, that on thorax in front in $¢ paler and more
sericeous whitish in certain lights, that towards apex of abdomen in
both sexes tending to become paler, without any deeper yellowish
on sides of abdomen even in 99, that in front of wing-bases not or
scarcely deeper yellowish than that above, that on head below white,
that on pleurae, pectus and base of venter only slightly paler than on
body above, but appearing paler, more straw-coloured whitish or
whitish when viewed obliquely from in front, with the depressed
pubescence on frons, sides of face and the dense hairs on face sericeous
yellowish to pale golden yellowish, often slightly deeper yellowish
in 99, with the black bristly hairs on tubercle, frons, antennal joint
1, on face and genae comparatively long, fine, dense and shaggy,
especially in 3g, with the bristles on thorax and scutellum coloured
like rest of the hair, the transverse bristles on abdomen, on segments
2-7 laterally black and conspicuous in both sexes, more so in 99,
those on 5-7 discally also black and with numerous black intermixed
ones always present on sides of 7 in 99, those discally on 2—4 and often
also near midline on 5 in $9 yellowish, those discally in $3 predomi-
nantly pale, with the bristles on venter pale, whitish or yellowish to
beyond middle, some of the apical ones being deeper yellowish or
even dark in 99 and the extreme lateral ones in both sexes black;
wings greyish hyaline, with the base, costal cell, first basal cell and
to a variable extent base of second basal cell yellowish brown to
brownish, more distinct at extreme base, the alula more yellowish,
with the veins brownish to dark brownish, becoming paler towards
base, with the costal vein dark-scaled and the first longitudinal vein
brownish, with the basal comb black, the squamae opaquely yellowish
498 Annals of the South African Museum.
to pale yellowish brown, dark-bordered and fringed with sericeous
whitish or yellowish to creamy hair; halteres yellowish, with almost
white knobs. Head with the interocular space in gg, at narrowest
part, about as broad as narrow front part of tubercle, only a little
broader than front ocellus, the inner margins of eyes, on each side of
tubercle to point of divergence anteriorly, much longer than 2 times
the interocular space at narrowest part, almost equal or subequal to
length of antennal joint 1, the space on vertex in 92 about 3 or a
little more times as broad as tubercle;
frons with the central furrow in ¢¢
well developed, only indicated in 99;
antennae with first joints comparatively
widely separated, often as wide as
posterior ocelli, comparatively elongate,
about 44-5, or even slightly more,
times as long as joint 2, with joint 3
comparatively very rapidly narrowed
from broad base, especially in some 99,
shorter than 1 and 2 combined, with
the first terminal joint distinct, conical,
often almost as long as slender style;
proboscis about 5-6 mm. long, with
| the minute spinules below just visible;
Trxt-F1G. 138.—Side view of hypo- palps predominantly blackish, with pale
ae of 3 Systoechus silvaticus oy yellowish hairs. Legs without any
apical spines above on front and
middle femora, the bases below with pubescent hairs in gg; front
ones unarmed; middle ones with about 2-4 spines in front and 1-2
behind; hind ones with about 5-8 spines below on outer side and a
variable number on inner side, which often end apically and basally
in longer spines. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 138) with the beaked
apical joints slender and elongate, curved downwards apically and
directed slightly inwards; process on each side of aedeagus slender,
narrow, strap-like and slightly broadened apically and slightly more
obliquely truncated at apex.
Holotype in the Durban Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum and paratypes in the Imperial Institute, the Transvaal
Museum and Deutsches Entomologisches Institut.
Length of body: about 7-10; mm.
Length of wing: about 63-9 mm.
Locality.—Natal: Durban (Chubb, 1/4/17) (Holotype) and (Leigh,
we pene Ss
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 499
14/5/08) (Allotype): Maritzburg, Gillitts, Greytown, Amanzimtoti,
Ingogo and Willow Grange. Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones). Trans-
vaal: Pretoria, Barberton and Louis Trichardt. O.F.S.: Wepener
(Lingnau). Portuguese East Africa: Nyaka (Lawrence).
This species is variable in the colour of its pubescence as well as in
minor details and is widely distributed. Owing to the presence of
black transverse bristles on the abdomen, it has been incorrectly
determined and confused with other species also showing black
bristles on the abdomen. A 9-paratype, from Pietermaritzburg, was
labelled as ‘‘ Bombylius aurantiacus Macq.” by Bigot and on p. 43 in
the Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii was transferred again to miztus
Wied. by Bezzi. A comparison with the descriptions of these two
species shows that it cannot be referred to either of them. Another
3-paratype, from Mfongosi, was also determined as simplex Lw. by
Bezzi, a species which, according to Loew, has no black bristles on
abdomen. According to Bezzi’s description of mentiens (p. 68, The
Bombylidae of The Ethiopian Region), this species comes very near
it and may prove to be identical with it. According to the description,
however, the following differences are apparent :—Hyes in g-silvaticus
n. sp., at narrowest part, about as broadly separated as front part of
tubercle and wider than front ocellus; antennal joint 3 distinctly
shorter than 1 and 2 combined and even subequal to 1; halteres in
both sexes with almost white knobs; transverse bristles on abdomen
in ¢ only black laterally and above on last 2 segments and also in 9
black only on sides and above from 5-7; discoidal cell of wing dis-
tinctly and more constantly subacute and tapering apically, etc.
From miztus Wied. it is distinguished by a more conspicuous develop-
ment of more numerous black bristles on the abdomen in both sexes,
black bristles being present towards apex discally on segments 5-7
and these are not distinctly pale-tipped as in mixtus; antennal joint 1
distinctly longer, at least 44-5 times as long as 2 and joint 3 is
more or less shorter or subequal and not much longer than 1 and 2
combined; ocellar tubercle and antennal joint 1 with predominantly
black hairs in both sexes and there is no distinct tuft of distinct pale
hairs in front of tubercle in g; interocular space in ¢ distinctly
narrower and scarcely 2 times as broad as front ocellus; wings with
the base and costal cell as well as first basal cell and extreme base
of second basal cell distinctly darker, etc. From eremophilus it
differs in having slightly longer pubescence, with a distinctly less
shorn-off appearance on thorax, denser and longer black hairs on face,
longer first antennal joints, broader interocular space in 9, narrower
500 Annals of the South African Museum.
separation of eyes in 3g, distinctly much smaller basal comb and the
femora in ¢ not distinctly darkened or blackened basally.
9 gg 12 9° S. silvaticus var. turneri n.
(Syn.=miztus Bezz. nec Wied. and simplex Bezz. nec Loew.)
These specimens, from the Eastern Cape Province and South-
Hastern Karoo, can scarcely be distinguished from the typical forms
of stlvaticus, and no characters of
specific value can be enumerated
to distinguish the 99 from those
of sivaticus s.str. Compared
with the typical forms, from
Natal and the Transvaal, these
specimens differ in having the
interocular space in the gd dis-
tinctly narrower, only about as
broad as front ocellus and in 99
also tending to be slightly
narrower than 34 times as broad
as tubercle; antennal joint 1
tending to be slightly shorter,
about 34-4 times as long as 2,
with joint 3 less rapidly narrowed
apically, the apical slender part
slightly shorter; proboscis may
reach the length of 7 mm.in some
22; wings, on the whole, tending to be distinctly darker at base, in
costal cell, first basal cell and at base of second basal cell, even more
distinctly brownish and in some specimens with a tendency for
greater part of second basal cell to be tinged slightly more and with
the veins also darker and often blackish; pubescence, on the whole,
tending to be paler on the abdomen especially in 3g, even the paler-
haired specimens being slightly paler than in silvaticus s. str. Hypo-
pygium of 3 (text-fig. 139) is scarcely different from that of the
typical form (cf. text-fig. 138).
Types in the British Museum, paratypes in the Albany, Transvaal
and South African Museums and in the Agricultural Dept., Pretoria.
Length of body: about 6-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-10 mm.
Locality.—8.E. Karoo: Somerset Hast (Turner, Nov. and Oct.
Text-Fic. 139.—Side view of hypopygium
of § Systoechus silvaticus var. turneri n.
a ee
en She nk aie palin Ais
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 501
1930) (Types). S.E. Cape Province: Grahamstown and District;
Kast London.
Some specimens of this form tend to be entirely silvery white-haired
to straw-coloured whitish even in 99, one g-paratype from Somerset
Kast being entirely silvery white-haired, the scutellum often slightly
less extensively reddish and the basal infuscation on wings often even
more pronounced. One 92-paratype from Grahamstown and another
from East London were labelled as miztus and simplex respectively
by Bezzi.
S. miztus Wied.
(P. 336, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828, and Loew, p. 189, Dipt.
Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860; syn.=scutellar1s Wied., according to
Loew (p. 189, loc. cit.) and scutellatus Macq., p. 94, Dipt. Exot.
i, 1840, also according to Loew).
As there are several yellowish-haired species with transverse rows
of black bristles on the abdomen, it is extremely difficult to determine
this species correctly from the original description or from such
references as have been made by authors such as Loew, Bezzi and
Ricardo. Bezzi, in his paper on the South African species (p. 43, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii), refers several specimens, from various locali-
ties, to this species. A careful examination of these specimens,
however, reveals the fact that he lumped together several distinct and
different species as mixtus, which have now been allocated as synonyms
to the various species to which they belong in this paper. The
description given by Loew (p. 189, loc. cit.) itself does not clear up the
problem, for it is quite evident that Loew had before him also more
than one species with black transverse bristles on the abdomen and,
moreover, his description does not strictly conform with the original
description given by Wiedemann. Wiedemann had only a 9-speci-
men, but what he states about the black bristles leaves no doubt
that some of the 99 referred to by Loew do not belong to miztus s. str.,
and this despite the fact that Loew had Wiedemann’s type for com-
parison. Wiedemann distinctly states that “abdomine utrinque setis
raris nigris’’ and again ‘“‘Hinterleib an jeder Seite mit einzelnen
schwarzen Borsten.”’ A characteristic of miztus, as far as the black
transverse bristles on the abdomen are concerned, is that there are no
transverse black bristles discally above on the segments and that
these black bristles are only found sparsely on the sides. The speci-
mens referred to miztus in this paper agree with Wiedemann’s descrip-
VOL. XXXIV. 33
502 Annals of the South African Museum.
tion in this respect as well as in other characters mentioned by him
and, moreover, are also from the Southern Cape Province and South-
Western parts and along the coast up to Namaqualand. It is a
common species from the Western Province, a locality from which
Wiedemann’s type also comes, for there is no doubt that Tollin
collected mostly at the Cape and Southern parts.
The long series of specimens agree not only in the salient features
given by Wiedemann, but also in the following respects :—
Pubescence on body above varying from sericeous whitish, very
pale sericeous yellowish to pale yellowish and even golden yellowish,
always with a silky gleam and, in certain positions, showing pale
sericeous reflections even in yellow-haired specimens, that on abdomen
in $d appearing very pale, becoming more whitish towards apex,
that in front of wings scarcely or only very slightly deeper yellowish
than above, but often slightly more yellowish in $9, with very dense
sericeous whitish or yellowish pubescence on face and frons in addition
to black bristly hairs, almost always with a distinct tuft, or at least
with numerous pale or yellowish hairs, in front of tubercle in 6g and
also predominantly yellowish on tubercle in $2, those on antenna!
joint 1 in 99 at least predominantly pale, with the hair on body below
scarcely paler than that above, but often appearing whitish in more
yellow-haired specimens, that on head below, however, distinctly
white, with the transverse bristles on abdominal segments 2-7, more
often only 4-6, laterally with a variable number of blackish brown to
black bristles, the apices of which are usually distinctly paler or pale-
tipped in both sexes, those on sides in 9? often more conspicuous,
usually more conspicuous towards apex of abdomen, often with only
a very few black bristles laterally and in some forms without any
black bristles at all, with all the bristles discally above on abdomen
entirely yellowish or whitish like the rest of the hair. Legs entirely
yellowish in both sexes or with the very extreme bases of the femora
darkened in some forms, with or without apical spines above on front
and middle femora, with the front ones often armed below with 1-3
spines, with 2—4 spines in front and 1-3 behind on middle ones and
with about 5-9 spines on hind femora below. Head with the inter-
ocular space in gd, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of
tubercle or at least 2 times as broad as front ocellus, with the inner
margins of eyes on each side of tubercle to point of divergence anteri-
orly at least 2 times as long as breadth of interocular space or almost
as long as antennal joint 1, with the interocular space in $2 about 3
to a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 503
joint 1 about 3, or even slightly more, times as long as joint 2, with 3
longer than 1 and 2 combined, broadest nearer base, then gradually
narrowed apically, being slightly more sinuous below; proboscis
variable in length, 45-6 mm. long. Wings vitreous to greyish
hyaline, with the base, costal cell and first basal cell subopaquely
yellowish to very pale yellowish brown, the basal comb black, the
veins pale yellowish brown to even dark brownish, becoming paler
Text-Fic. 140.—Side view TrextT-Fic. 141.— Side
of hypopygium of ¢ Sys- view of hypopygium
toechus mizxtus Wied. of a var. of Systoechus
miatus Wied.
towards base, the squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed with
whitish or pale yellowish hair. Abdomen with the sides tending to
very obscurely reddish in some $3, more often, however, entirely
black, with narrow pallid margins on venter in both sexes. -Hypo-
pygium of § (text-figs. 140 and 141) with the lateral process, on each
side of aedeagus, narrow, flattened, strap-like, the apical part only
very slightly broadened.
Locality — Western Cape Province, S.E. Karoo, N.-Western Cape
Province and Namaqualand. (British, Transvaal, Albany and South
African Museums and also Imperial Institute.)
This species is extremely variable in size, colour of pubescence and
number of black bristles on sides of abdomen. There is thus a ten-
dency for the segregation of slight regional or local forms. This is
more evident in the specimens from the S.E. Karoo and Eastern
parts, in which some $¢ tend to have the femora more blackened
504 Annals of the South African Museum.
basally, the front ones unarmed below and with even more numerous
black bristles on sides of abdomen towards apex in both sexes.
Numerous specimens, from Namaqualand and the Western parts,
again, have no black bristles on sides of body or have only 1 or 2
insignificant ones in the 99.
Some specimens of this species have been referred to sumplex Lw.
by Bezzi (p. 41, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii). The identity of
simplex, however, is uncertain. It may be possible that semplex Lw.
(p. 190, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860) refers to the form of miztus
without any black bristles on abdomen, but according to Loew’s
description the interocular space in the ¢ is distinctly narrower
(‘‘merklich schméler’’) than in miztus and the pubescence towards
apical part of venter is distinctly deeper yellowish as in the case of
such species as albidus, neglectus, etc. Moreover, it is evident from
Loew’s comparative description that simplex belongs to this albidus-
series, but has predominantly yellowish femora.
38 33 29 99 S. deceptus un. sp.
(Syn.=simplex Bezz. and Bryant nec Lw., albidus Bezz. and Brunetti
nec Lw. and ctenopterus Agr. Dept. nec Mik.)
Body black; scutellum, excluding black base and hind border,
reddish to obscure reddish brown; legs yellowish, entirely yellowish
in 99, the femora in 33, however, blackened or darkened to beyond the
middle, the hind ones being entirely or predominantly black, with the
apices of the hind tibiae and all the tarsi dark, becoming blacker
towards the apices; pubescence whitish, very pale sericeous yellowish,
creamy yellowish to straw-coloured yellowish on thorax in 64,
slightly or even distinctly more yellowish, even more golden yellowish
in 92, that on abdomen almost silvery whitish, creamy whitish to
straw-coloured in 3g, becoming paler towards apex, distinctly more
yellowish to pale golden or brassy yellow in 99, with the hair laterally
near base often slightly more yellowish tinted even in some 36, that
in front of wings slightly deeper yellowish in certain lights, but in
some $d entirely sericeous whitish, the depressed pubescence on frons
and sides of face whitish to pale sericeous whitish or yellowish, the
bristly hairs on head above and face dense and black, the intermixed
black ones on face in 99, however, distinctly less dense and less
conspicuous, those on antennae below in $9 also predominantly
yellowish and not black as in 3g, with the pubescence on body below
silvery whitish to straw-coloured whitish or yellowish, slightly paler
q
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 505
in $S than in 99, in 92 more distinctly paler than that above, with
the transverse bristles on abdomen on sides of segments 2-6 with
dark blackish brown or black intermixed ones, more numerous and
evident in 99 and also more apparent towards apex, those discally
above in 3g entirely whitish, in 92 very pale yellowish white to
yellowish, but those on segments 5-6 also with a few or some dark or
black ones on sides encroaching the midline, without any black
bristly hairs or bristles on sides of last tergite in both sexes, with
the pubescence on abdomen in g¢ finer and
denser and the bristles fairly broadly inter-
tupted along midline even in 99; wings
hyaline, with the extreme base, alula, costal
and first basal cells subopaquely whitish to
pale yellowish, the basal comb black, the
veins pale brownish to brownish black, be-
coming paler towards base, but with the first
longitudinal vein often dark brownish, the
squamae opaquely whitish to pale yellowish
white and fringed with whitish to creamy
hair; halteres yellowish to pale yellowish
brown, with whitish or ivory whitish knobs.
Head with the interocular space in gd, at
narrowest part, as broad as front part of Terxr-ric. 142.—Side view
tubercle or about 2, or even more, times as ena Seay Dig Rue
echus deceptus n. sp.
broad as front ocellus, with the inner margins
of eyes on each side of tubercle scarcely, or shorter than, 2 times the
width of interocular space, or much shorter than length of antennal
joint 1, with the space in 92 on vertex about 3 to 34 times as broad as
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 about 3-4 times as long as 2, with 3
searcely longer than 1 and 2 combined, broadest in basal fourth,
gradually tapering apically and even subrod-like in some 3d, with
the first terminal joint conical and usually shorter than slender style;
proboscis slender in 36, slightly stouter in 99, about 3-5 mm. long,
with the minute spinules below scarcely visible. Legs without apical
spines above on front and middle femora or with only a very feeble
spine or two on middle ones, all with pubescent hairs below basally,
especially in $¢; front femora unarmed below; middle ones with
about 1-3 spines in front and 1 or 2 behind; hind ones with about
4—8 spines below from near base to apex on outer side and about 2-5
smaller ones on inner side; claws comparatively slender, rather
rapidly curved downwards apically and with the pulvilli reaching
506 Annals of the South African Museum.
apices. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 142) with the lateral processes,
on each side of aedeagus, gradually broadened apically.
Types in the South African Museum and paratypes in the Imperial
Institute, British and Transvaal Museums, Agricultural Dept.,
Pretoria, and in Deutsches Entomologisches Institut. |
Length of body: about 6-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-9 mm.
Locality.—O.F.S.: Bethulie; Caledon R. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935)
(Types); Bloemfontein; Wepener (Lingnau, 27/12/24). Transvaal:
Pretoria (van Son, 1932); (Lingnau, 18/11/23), (Ogilvie, 7-10/10/31) ;
Daspoort (Swierstra, 10/3/1905), Scheerpoort, Rooiplaat, Woodb.
Vill. and Wonderboom; Magalieskraal (Lingnau, 9/2/25); Barberton
and Louis Trichardt (Imp. Institute and Transvaal Museum).
S. Rhodesia: Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe and Hopefountain (Imperial
Institute and Transvaal Museum). Zululand: Mfongosi. Natal:
Weenen (Thomasset, 12/23, 3/24) (labelled as simpler by Bryant
and as albidus by Brunetti). Karoo: Middleburg (Munro); Aliwal
North and Somerset East (Turner) (latter in British Museum);
Cradock, Burghersdorp and even as far as the Nieuwveld (Mus. Staff,
Oct. 1935).
This widely distributed species appears to be variable in size and
the colour of the pubescence and the development of the black
bristles on abdomen, etc. Varying from the typical form there is a
single g-paratype, from the Karoo, determined by Bezzi as albidus
Lw., and some other paratypes from Cradock which are entirely
silvery white-haired and without any or only a very few blackish
bristles on sides of abdomen. Apart from the paratypes which have
been determined as simplex and albidus by Bezzi, Bryant and Brunetti,
there is even a 2 (“‘Ac-P, 1480”) from Pretoria in the Agricultural
Department which, according to Mr. Munro, was referred to ctenop-
terus Mik. by the Imperial Institute of Entomology. As has already
been stated elsewhere in this paper it is extremely doubtful
whether any Palaearctic species of Bombyliidae are found south of
the Sahara. This 9-paratype differs from a 9-specimen of ctenopterus
Mik., determined by Austen and kindly loaned to me by Dr. Edwards,
in not having distinctly mauvishly-tinged wings, dark or blackish
scutellum, dark or blackish legs and also by having distinctly longer
first antennal joints.
Superficially deceptus resembles mixtus Wied. and silvaticus n. sp.,
from the former of which it may be distinguished by the extensively
blackened femora in the gd, especially the hind ones, the slightly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 507
broader interocular space in gd, where the inner margins of eyes, on
each side of ocellar tubercle to point of divergence anteriorly, are
distinctly much shorter, scarcely, or not, 2 times as long as interocular
space is broad, by the presence discally of some black bristles also on
segments 5 and 6 in 99, by the slightly longer first antennal joints,
less slender apical part to third antennal joints, etc. From silvaticus
it differs in not having the basal and costal part of wings so distinctly
dark, in the distinctly broader interocular space in ¢¢g, the much
shorter inner margins of eyes on each side of tubercle, slightly shorter
first antennal joints, more subrod-like third joints, extensively
blackened femora in ¢¢, absence of black bristles on abdominal
segments 6 and 7 above in gd and absence of distinct and conspicuous
black bristly hairs or bristles on sides of last tergite in 99. From
xerophilus n. sp. it differs in having black bristles on sides of abdomen
in both sexes and in not having an almost entirely black mystax in
dd as in xerophilus.
Other species of Anastoechus or Systoechus which have been
described from South Africa and which I have not seen or been able
to identify, owing to unsatisfactory descriptions or poor figures,
are :—
A. or S. (“Bombylius”) canus Macq. (p. 94, Dipt. Exot. u,
1840).
A. or S. (“Bombylius”’) latifrons Macq. (p. 94, Dipt. Exot. u,
1840).
S. mentiens Bezz. (p. 68, The Bombyliidae of The Ethiopian Region,
1924).
S. sumplex Lw. (p. 190, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860).
Gen. Hurycarenus Lw.
(P. 186, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 78, The Bombyliidae
of the Hthiopian Region, 1924.)
The chief generic characters separating this peculiar genus from
Bombylius, Systoechus and all other genera in the Homoeophthalmae
are the characteristic emargination on the hind margin of the eyes,
the row of stout bristles on each side of frons in 99, the well-developed
terminal joints of the antennae, of which there are supposed to be
three and only the first one well demarcated (the other two, which
are more or less ill-defined, are together referred to as the last terminal
joint in this paper), the well-developed bristles and macrochaetae on
each side in front of the wings and the acutely pointed first posterior
508 Annals of the South African Museum.
cell of the wing. Other distinguishing characters are the pale greyish
yellow, yellowish to deep golden or orange yellow depressed pubes-
cence and fine darkish erect hairs on head, thorax, and scutellum
above and the characteristic transverse bands of whitish or silvery
white scaling and hairs on many of the segments of abdomen above
as well as the presence of a central white band or row of white spots
in some species. The hypopygium of the 33, in members of this
genus (cf. text-figs. 143-148), is also peculiar in having: (@) the
dorsal apical part of basal parts produced forwards and upwards or
obliquely upwards into a transverse flattened lobe or process the
upper edge of which is usually black, curled over slightly backwards
and armed with ctenate spines, which are more distinct, longer and
arranged more comb-like on the outer edge or laterally, where the
outermost ones are also often distinctly longer than the others
(cf. enlarged front, lateral and dorsal views in the text-figures);
(b) the outer lower margin of the basal parts in neck region has a
very distinct tuft of long, stiff bristles and the dorsum of neck region
is usually much flattened or even depressed; (c) the beaked apical
joints are usually more or less shaped as shown in text-figures and
especially in text-figs. 143-145 and 147, with the base above hollowly
depressed, its apical part also flattened below and ending in a short
claw-like spine.
The specific differences in this genus are, however, often very slight
and, when the white scaling and hairs or markings on the abdomen
are denuded, some of the forms are difficult to determine.
Key to the South African species of Kurycarenus.
1. (12) Eyes in gg very narrowly separated, very nearly in contact at narrowest
part or actually in contact for a short distance; upper facets of eyes in
3d always distinctly coarser than the lower ones; frons in 99 with a
row of not less than 3, usually 3 or more than 3, stout bristles on each
side near base; flattened silvery white hair on sides of face apparently
finer, less dense and not produced into a conspicuous and prominent
silvery tuft; stalk at apex of first posterior cell with a tendency to be
comparatively shorter and often very short, subequal to discal cross
vein or more often distinctly shorter . ; : ov ee
2. (5) Eyes in gg in contact above for a little distance, about caged to or subequal
* to length of ocellar tubercle; eyes in jg with the upper facets markedly
coarser than the lower ones; frons in 3g with dense, erect, bristly hairs;
interocular space in 99 comparatively broad and distinctly broader than
length of third antennal and terminal joints combined; first posterior
cell of wing opening, or almost opening, on the hind border, being sessile
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 509
or with a very short stalk; extreme basal part, at extreme base of wing,
of vein between second basal and anal cells with a conspicuous or distinct
crest or tuft of dense hairs; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 143) with the
inner dorsal and apical part of neck region of basal parts produced into
a narrow lobe-like process, the apex of which has a crown of backwardly
directed spines, with the dorsum of basal parts, in neck region, covered
with short, stiff and stoutish spine-like bristles, mostly on inner aspect,
with the beaked apical joints compressed, their apical parts curved
downwards claw-like, their lower parts with a row or tuft of compara-
tively long bristles, with the apical part of aedeagus distinctly curved
upwards and the posterior basal strut well developed . j <2 wee
3. (4) Pubescence on head and thorax above more greyish or very pale greyish
yellow, with white hair on upper part of mesopleuron and all the stout
bristles on upper posterior part of mesopleuron pallid or yellowish;
a transverse band of flattened silvery white scales present on and occupy-
ing the entire sixth segment of abdomen above and without a tendency
for silvery scaling along mid-dorsal line to form a continuous band on
segments 2—5; transverse bristles on abdomen not markedly long and
stout in 99; joint 2 of the antennae comparatively less elongate and
distinctly shorter than 1, in 99 at least; the terminal joints combined
equal to or subequal to or even slightly shorter than second antennal
joint, the last terminal joint not being conspicuously long; proboscis
shorter and less than 5 mm. long; smaller species, about 83-9 mm.
long . 3 3 . & & sessilis Bezz. (p. 512).
4, (3) Pubescence on ew snd thorax dborre more distinctly brassy or golden
yellow, with yellowish golden or orange golden hairs on upper part of
mesopleuron and with 1 or 2 of the stout bristles there blackish brown
or black; segment 6 of abdomen above with black pubescence and
without any transverse silvery band and with the silvery scaling along
mid-dorsal line tending to form a continuous band from segments 2-5;
transverse rows of bristles on abdomen longer and stouter; joint 2 of
the antennae markedly elongate, nearly equal in length to 1; terminal
joimts combined distinctly longer than second antennal joint, the last
terminal joint being conspicuously elongate; proboscis about 5 mm.
long; larger species, about 10 mm. long . 2 propinquus n. sp. (p. 513).
5. (2) Eyes in §¢ not in contact for a short distance, but always very narrowly
separated; eyes in jg with the upper facets only slightly more coarse
than lower ones; frons in g¢ with less dense bristly hairs; interocular
space in QQ relatively narrower and equal to or subequal to or even
‘shorter than length of third antennal and terminal joints combined;
first posterior cell always with a distinct and comparatively long stalk
and never opening on the hind border of wing; extreme basal part,
in extreme basal cell of wing, of vein between second basal and anal
cells without any hairs or crest of hairs; hypopygium of jd with the
dorsal apical part of neck region of basal parts either flattened, not
raised, and with some transverse spines laterally or produced and raised
into a broad transverse, upwardly or obliquely upwardly directed, flattened
process, the upper edge of which is prominently spined laterally, with
the dorsum of neck region of basal parts only with fine hairs and no
510
Annals of the South African Museum.
stiff spine-like bristles, with the beaked apical joints not markedly
flattened laterally, shaped as shown in text-figs. 144-147, and with
their apical part not markedly curved downwards and claw-like, ending
only in a small hook and without any long bristles ventrally, with the
slender apical part of aedeagus scarcely curved upwards, with the
posterior or basal strut usually much smaller and not projecting very
much beyond bases of basal parts : ; ie
6. (7) Small species, 7-9 mm. long; greater part of, or enpares sontellnea dark or
black, only the posterior part being reddish; pubescence above on
head, thorax and scutellum dull creamy yellowish, very pale greyish
yellow or brassy yellow to yellowish, that on upper posterior part of
mesopleuron and in squamal fringe whitish or pale creamy whitish to
straw-coloured yellowish; discoidal cell with a tendency to be more
acute and pointed apically; abdominal pattern of whitish scaling and
hairs duller and more greyish white or creamy yellowish, with that
transversely on segment 3 occupying the entire sides of the segment in
form of a quadrangular patch on each side, thus broadly interrupted
at middle; legs very dark, with the femora blackish and even the tibiae
very dark blackish brown; hypopygium of ¢ with the dorsal apical
process of basal parts much lower and more obliquely directed upwards,
shaped as in text-fig. 144, lateral, front and dorsal views
3 2 minimus Bezz. (p. 514).
7. (6) Larger species, more than 9 mm. long; greater part of scutellum ferruginous
red or reddish, only the base being dark or blackish; pubescence above
on head, thorax and scutellum golden yellow, deep golden or orange
golden, that on upper posterior part of mesopleuron and on squamal
fringe golden, golden yellow to orange golden; discoidal cell with a
tendency to be less pointed and acute apically; abdominal pattern of
white scaling and hair distinctly whiter and more chalky or snow white,
with that transversely on segment 3 not broadly interrupted at middle
into a broad quadrangular patch, either as a continuous transverse band
or, when interrupted, occupied by a mid-dorsal band; legs either pallid
and more yellowish brown or brownish or with the tibiae, at least,
paler brownish; hypopygium of g¢¢ with the dorsal apical process of
basal parts either not raised at all, only represented by some lateral
spines or distinctly more raised, being higher and more perpendicular,
shaped as shown in text-figs. 145-147 (showing lateral, front and dorsal
views) : ; ‘ «se
8. (9) Second antennal Jounts comparatively hort, about half as Lhe as 1; joints
1 and 2 combined about half as long as joint 3; first antennal joints
without very long, stout and conspicuous bristles below and joint 3
without a conspicuous crest of short bristly hairs above basally and with-
out 1 or 2 prominent bristly hairs above just before middle; eyes in
dS more broadly separated, at narrowest part slightly broader than
front ocellus; interocular space in 9? about as broad as or even shorter
than length of third antennal and first terminal joints combined;
abdomen above with a distinct central band of flattened, silvery white
scales and white hair, extending from base of abdomen or segment 2 to
apex of 6; legs usually paler brownish, the tibiae often pale yellowish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 511
brown; hind femora with comparatively fewer, 11-12, spines below,
not beginning very near base, with a row of 3 or 4 spines, more con-
spicuous and rather close together above, just beyond the middle;
hypopygium of ¢ with the inner dorsal margin and inner apical part of
neck region of basal parts prominently flattened, the dorsal apical
process itself vestigial, represented only by a slight transverse ridge,
bearing very short and some longer spines laterally, with the outer
margin of neck region also with a crest of short spines apically, with the
dorsum of neck region very deeply depressed, with the slender apical
half of aedeagus very long (cf. text-fig. 145, ventral, dorsal and lateral
views) . E : : : : 3S 2 loewi n. sp. (p. 515).
9. (8) Second antennal joints dutinetly longer and more elongate, distinctly
much more than half as long as 1; joints 1 and 2 combined distinctly
more than half as long as 3; first antennal joints usually with very long,
stout and conspicuous bristles below and third joint with a distinct
crest of short bristly hairs above near base and often with | or 2 prominent
and stouter bristly hairs above just before middle; eyes in gg very
narrowly separated and almost in contact at narrowest part, distinctly
narrower than front ocellus; interocular space in 29 subequal to or even
slightly longer than third antennal and terminal joints combined;
abdomen above either without any central white band, only transverse
ones being present on segments 2, 3, 4 and 6 or with only a short central
band from segments 3-6; legs usually much darker, more often blackish,
the tibiae also darker blackish brown to blackish; hind femora usually
with more numerous, 14-21, spines below, beginning much nearer base
as small ones, without a row of more prominent spines closer together
above, these being more separated and of equal size; hypopygium of 3g
with the inner dorsal margin in neck region of basal parts not prominently
flattened and with the dorsal apical process always prominently developed,
distinctly horizontally and transversely raised and with a comb of longer
and more prominent spines laterally, with the dorsum of neck region
flattened or only slightly depressed, with the slender apical part of
aedeagus very much shorter (cf. text-figs. 146 and 147) . : + LO:
10. (11) Abdomen above with a white transverse band of scaling and hairs across
middle of segment 2, across base of 3 (much broadened laterally), on
extreme sides only of 4 and on entire segment 6 and also with a broadish
central band of white scaling from 3-6 or from base of 4-6; venter
without a distinct and complete transverse band of white scaling and
hairs on segment 6 in 99; antennal joint 2 less elongate, shorter and
not subequal to 1; antennal joint 3, in addition to crest of short hairs
near base above, also with 1 or 2 longer and more prominent bristly
hairs constantly present just before middle above in both sexes; frons
in 2° with about 4 or 5 stoutish bristles on each side and in both gg
and 99 with distinctly more golden yellow pubescence; legs more dis-
tinctly brownish or at least dark blackish brown; first posterior cell
of wing slightly more acutely pointed; dorsal apical process of hypo-
pygium in ¢ with the lateral spines slightly stouter, fewer and more
aggregated and tuft-like, with slightly finer hairs on dorsum of basal
parts (cf. text-fig. 146) . s : - 6 & laticeps Lw. (p. 519).
512 Annals of the South African Museum.
11. (10) Abdomen above with complete transverse bands of white scaling and
hairs across middle of segment 2, base of 3 (also broadened laterally),
across apical part of 4 (also broadened laterally) and entirely on 6, with
a tendency to form a medial spot on 4 and often a very indistinct one
medially on 5, but without any distinct central white band; venter
with a very distinct transverse white band on segment 6 as well as some
considerable white scaling on 7 in 99, represented in gg by some inter-
mixed white hairs on 6; antennal joint 2 markedly elongate, even in
22, often equal to or subequal to joint 1; antennal joint 3 only with a
crest of short bristly hairs above near base and without 1 or 2 longer
and more prominent bristles in 99, but often represented in some 34;
frons in 2° with about 3-4 bristles on each side, rarely more, in both
sexes with distinctly paler and more pale yellowish white pubescence;
legs more constantly and uniformly black and tibiae also almost entirely
dark; first posterior cell with a tendency to be less acutely pointed;
the dorsal apical process of hypopygium in 3 with the lateral spines
comparatively more slender, more numerous and arranged more fan-
wise, with distinctly coarser erect hairs on dorsum of basal parts (cf.
text-fig. 147) . , . 6 2 cngulatus Hesse (p. 520).
12. (1) Eyes in §¢ very broadly aopanatede as broad as the comparatively broad
ocellar tubercle, which is separated from the frons by a distinct and
narrow transverse furrow or sulcus; upper facets of eyes in $d scarcely
or not visibly coarser than lower ones; frons in 99 usually with only 2,
and rarely 3, bristles on each side; flattened silvery white scale-like
hairs on sides of face broader and markedly denser, forming a compara-
tively conspicuous and prominent silvery tuft on each side; stalk at
apex of first posterior cell with a tendency to be comparatively longer,
usually distinctly longer than discal cross vein
3 & dichopticus Bezz. (p. 522).
(Large and small forms.)
The only other two species from Africa, namely melanurus Bezz.
from Zanzibar and albicans Bezz. from Gambia and described in The
Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, pp. 80 and 82, are unknown
to me.
EL. sessilis Bezz.
(Pp. 55 and 166, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
The following notes may be added to Bezzi’s description of this
species :—Pubescence on frons, occiput, thorax and scutellum above
dull greyish yellow in 99, paler and even less yellowish in gS and, in
99, more yellowish on frons and sides of mesonotum; scutellum often
with the hind part dull reddish or ferruginous; sides of abdomen,
especially on segments 2-4, yellowish red to reddish; silvery flattened
and depressed scale-like hairs, when not entirely denuded, occur onsides
of face, genae, along posterior margins of eyes, on mesopleuron, coxae
and as transverse bands apically across segments 2 and 3, trans-
aS ss ee SS. +
’
e mo, eee OF
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 513
versely across apical part medially of 4, entirely on 5 and 6 and on
basal half of venter; pubescence on mesopleuron is whitish or entirely
white, not yellowish or pale golden yellow, only the bristles being
yellowish; flattened scale-like hairs on scutellum pale greyish white
and dull slaty or bluish grey on parts of abdomen above not occupied
by the silvery scaling; some transverse bristles on segment 2 laterally
often pallid and not entirely blackish brown or black; head with the
bristly hairs on frons in 3g
comparatively very dense
and more often blackish
brown, also denser on sides
and front of face in gd, with
antennal joint 2 elongate
and more than half as long
as 1, both joints combined
much more than half the
length of 3 and, in 33, with
denser dark brownish or
blackish brown bristly hairs,
with the interocular space
in 99 a little longer than
joint 3 and terminal joints
combined, with the terminal
joints combined subequal
to or slightly shorter than
second antennal joint.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. TExt-FIG. 143.—Side view of hypopygium of ¢
143) characterised by the of Hurycarenus sessilis Bezz.
stiff, stout and short spine-like bristles on dorsum of neck region
of basal parts, the narrow lobe-like dorsal apical process of basal
parts, bearing a crown of backwardly directed spines, the laterally
compressed claw-like beaked apical joints, the ventral parts of which
are provided with a conspicuous tuft or row of long bristles, the
distinctly upwardly curving slender part of the aedeagus, etc.
In the Rhodesian and South African Museums.
Locality—S.K. Africa, 8. Rhodesia, Bechuanaland and Ovambo-
land.
1 2 #. propinquus n. sp.
This solitary 9-specimen is so near the @ of sessalis that it may
almost be considered as a variety of sessilis. It differs, however, in
514 , Annals of the South African Museum.
being comparatively larger, in having the depressed pubescence on
frons, occiput and thorax above more distinctly golden yellow; the
flattened, silvery scale-like hairs apparently denser on sides of face,
genae, along posterior margins of eyes and on mesopleurae, also
distinctly present on sides of scutellum, with those forming the
white transverse bands on abdomen above present as apical
transverse bands on segments 2 and 3 (very broad laterally
on 3), a medial spot on 4, an entire band on 5, but entirely
absent on 6, with a tendency for the silvery scaling along mid-dorsal
line to form a continuous band from segments 2-5; pubescence on
upper posterior part of mesopleuron golden or orange yellow and not
white or whitish, with 1 or 2 distinct black bristles on the upper
posterior part as well; transverse bristles on abdomen stouter,
stronger, longer and better developed; head with 4 stout bristles on
each side of frons, with antennal joint 2 comparatively more slender
and slightly longer, nearly equal in length to joint 1, with the terminal
joints combined distinctly longer than antennal joint 2, the last
terminal joint comparatively elongate, with the proboscis longer,
about 5 mm. long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 104 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Sawmills (Stevenson, 4/2/1926).
EH. minimus Bezz.
(P. -166, Ann. S. Afr Mus,, vol. xvi, 19217)
Of this small species, which has a superficial resemblance to a
Muscid or Tachinid, there are several denuded g¢ and 99 from
S.W. Africa in the South African Museum. In addition to Bezzi’s
description of the type-d, the following points may be added:—
Interocular space in dg very narrow, the inner margins of eyes, at
narrowest part, separated by a space about as broad as front ocellus;
antennae with joint 1 about, or even less than, or even a little more
than, 2 times as long as 2, joint 3 with only a few inconspicuous,
short, bristly hairs above near base; scutellum not entirely black,
but with a dull reddish or ferruginous tint posteriorly or in apical
half; hind margins on sides of abdominal segments and extreme
sides above reddish or dull yellowish red; transverse rows of bristles
on abdomen above not complete, but interrupted along midline as
in other species of this genus, but more so towards apex; discoidal
ee ie je.
—
ale
in i lS
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 515
cell of wing with a tendency to be distinctly acute apically, the
apical cross vein being very short.
The undescribed 9, judging from the remains of white scaling and
hairs on the abdomen of denuded specimens, has the same pattern as
the 3; interocular space broader than length of third antennal joints,
about as broad as or subequal to or even a little longer than length
TEext-Fic. 144.—Side view of hypopygium, front and dorsal views
of the ctenate process of g¢ Hurycarenus minimus Bezz.
of third and terminal joints combined; frons with a row of 3 or 4,
usually 3, bristles on each side near base; hind femora in both sexes
with about 6—9 spines below, those on front femora small and incon-
spicuous. Hypopygium of § as shown in text-fig. 144, with the dorsal
apical ctenate process in lateral, front and dorsal views.
Locality—S.W. Africa: Damaraland and Kaokoveld. (In South
African and British Museums.)
2 33 5 99 EH. loewi n. sp.
(Syn.=laticeps Bezz. in part nec Loew.)
Body black; posterior calli and apical half or more of scutellum
ferruginous red; extreme apices of terminal styles on terminal
antennal joints pallid to pale brownish; palps brownish, with darker
apical halves; sides of abdomen above and, to a certain extent,
516 Annals of the South African Museum.
narrow hind margins sienna brownish to brown; legs with the
integument yellowish brown to sienna brown, with the last 3 tarsal
joints and apical two-thirds of claws blackish to black, with the
femora and tibiae densely white-scaled, with the inner apical parts of
front ones, the inner apical and front halves of middle femora, the
apices of hind ones and often the inner lower surfaces of front and
middle tibiae darker brownish to deep brownish-scaled; pubescence on
frons, occiput, thorax and scutellum above as in latoceps Lw. and other
species, pale brassy yellowish to deep golden yellowish, but with the
fine erect hairs on mesonotum dark blackish brown, the bristles on
occiput paler and more yellowish white to pale yellowish, the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle and the shorter intermixed ones on sides of
vertex blackish brown to black, the frontal bristles in 29 and bristly
hairs on frons laterally in gd and 99, the bristles on antennal joints 1
and 2 and the longer bristles, intermixed with yellowish hairs, on face
in front blackish and denser in 3g, the yellowish ones in 99 being more
numerous, with some bristles on antennal joints below also yellowish,
the hair on face laterally, on genae and along hind margins of eyes
almost silvery white as in other species, that on head below and
thorax below white, but becoming more yellowish towards upper
parts of mesopleuron, where it is distinctly yellow to golden yellowish,
the bristles on thorax and scutellum dark blackish brown to black,
the mesopleural ones, however, yellowish to golden, with whitish
hairs on sides of tergite 1, a broadish transverse band of white hair
and silvery scaling across base of 2, a broad one on 3 becoming
narrower and confined to base discally but occupying the entire sides,
a conspicuous transverse white patch laterally on 4, scarcely reaching
the middle above, and an entire band across 6 of apparently longer
white hair but with only a few darker hairs near midline above,
with a more or less constant and distinct central band above along
midline of white hairs and more silvery scaling from base of segment
2 to end of 6, where it is also slightly broader, with black or deep
blackish brown hair and corresponding black scaling on rest of
abdomen, the apical part also entirely black-haired, with the trans-
verse rows of bristles on abdomen above black and longer towards
apex, with some pallid or yellowish ones laterally on segment 1 and
a few on 3, with dense white scaling and hairs on sternites 1-4, the
transverse bristles also pale or whitish, with the pubescence in apical
half black and the bristles also black; wings vitreous hyaline as in
other species, the costal cell and the base being subopaquely pale
yellowish brown and the extreme base brownish to brown, with the
SE ell rt—~—
——-* Cee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 517
veins brownish, becoming paler towards base, with the squamae
opaquely yellowish and the fringe deep yellow. Head with the
interocular space in gg narrow, at narrowest part, however, not
touching but separated by a space slightly broader than front ocellus,
in 9° about as broad as length of third antennal and first terminal
joints combined, or about 33 times as broad as tubercle; eyes in dS
with the upper facets distinctly coarser than the lower ones; frons
Text-Fic. 145.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of 3
ELurycarenus loewi n. sp.
in 9° with a row of 3 stout bristles on each side basally; antennae
with joint 1 about 2 times as long, or very slightly less, as the length
of 2, with 1 and 2 combined about equal to half length of 3, with
joint 3 apparently smooth, without any distinct crest or row of short
bristly hairs above near base, broadest near base and tapering
gradually to apex, with the terminal joints combined distinctly
longer than antennal joint 2; proboscis about 34-4 mm. long. Legs
with about 4—6 small spines on outer upper aspect of front femora
and about 3 or 4 on lower inner aspect; middle femora with about
3 or 4 on outer upper apical aspect and 2 or 3 longer ones on inner
lower apical aspect; hind ones with about 11-12 long and shorter
spines below, more or less irregularly arranged in two rows, with 3
or 4 distinct spines just beyond middle above, more or less close
together and 2 or 3 much longer ones at apex. Hypopygium of 3
VOL. XXXIV. 34
518 Annals of the South African Museum.
(text-fig. 145) characterised by having the apical half of basal parts
much depressed, almost groove-like above in neck region, by the
flattened inner dorsal margin and apical part of neck region, by the
feeble development of the dorsal apical process, which is only repre-
sented as a slight transverse ridge bearing a few longer spines laterally
(to right of left-hand figure), by the crest or row of distinct spines along
apical part of outer margin of neck region and by the very long,
slender apical part of aedeagus.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 94-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-12 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Sawmills (Stevenson, 10/12/26) (Holotype),
(Stevenson, 22-27/12/23) (Allotype). Bechuanaland: Morokweng
(Bain, 1908) (labelled as lateceps by Bezzi). Zululand: Mfongosi
(Jones, 12/1913). S.W. Africa: Ovamboland; Nuragas (Lightfoot,
IU)
A 3-specimen in the South African Museum from Morokweng was
labelled by Bezzi as laticeps Lw. (See p. 55, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol.
xviii). From the specimens before me it is evident that this species
is specifically distinct from laticeps. A careful comparison with
Loew’s description of laticeps (p. 187, Dipt. Faun. Sudafr., i, 1860)
and his figure on Plate II shows that this species has a different
pattern of white scaling and hairs on the abdomen. In fact it differs
from laticeps in having a constant and distinct central band of white
scales and hair along mid-dorsal line of abdomen above, which
extends from base of segment 2, or the scutellum, to 6 (present only
on 4-6 in laticeps); scutellum is distinctly less extensively reddened,
the black base being distinctly more extensive; legs distinctly paler
and often almost yellowish brown, with distinctly fewer spines
below on hind femora; head with the interocular space in ¢ slightly
broader and broader than the front ocellus (much narrower in laticeps),
in 2 with the space about as broad as length of antennal joint 3
and first terminal joint combined, with joint 2 much shorter and 1
and 2 combined only about half the length of joint 3 (more than
half in laticeps), without 1 or 2 longish bristles or a crest of short
bristles before middle above on joints 3 and without very long bristles
below on joints | and 2, with usually only 3 and not 4 or 5 bristles on
each side of frons in 9.
PEE
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 519
EL. laticeps Lw.
(Pater Dipt. Haun. Sudatr., 1, 1860, Tab. UM, fis: 7.)
Loew described a 2 from Mozambique and subsequently referred
a $-specimen, from the O.F.S. under the name of latifrons, to this
species (see p. 13, Wien. Entom. Monat., vii, 1863). Bezzi in his
TExt-Fic. 146.—Half of ventral and side views of hypopygium of 3 Hurycarenus
laticeps Lw.
monograph (pp. 79 and 80 in The Bombyliidae of the Kthiopian
Region) described the $ more fully and also gives a long list of
localities for this species. In addition to Loew’s and Bezzi’s descrip-
tions, the following may be added:—Scutellum is predominantly red
or reddish, only the narrow base being blackish; legs with the integu-
ment very dark blackish brown to blackish, rarely paler as in loewv;
central white band along mid-dorsal line of abdomen above never
extending forwards beyond base of segment 3. Head with the inter-
ocular space in gd very narrow and at narrowest part almost touching
and always narrower than front ocellus, broader than length of third
antennal and first terminal joints combined in 9, with a row of 4 or 5
stout bristles on each side of frons in 2, with joint 1 of the antennae
less than 2 times as long as 2, with joint 2 elongate and 1 and 2 com-
bined distinctly more than half the length of 3 and with a row or
erest of short bristles above in basal half on 3 of which 1 or 2 just
520 Annals of the South African Museum.
before the middle are longer, stouter and more conspicuous, especially
in the 9, with the terminal joints combined shorter than joint 2 of
the antennae, with the proboscis about 4-6 mm. long (slightly longer
than in loewi n.sp.). Legs with a variable number of spines on femora;
front femora with about 2 or 3 small ones below apically in front
and 4 or 5 on outer apical aspect above; middle ones with 3-5 longish
spines below and a variable and irregular number, 4-8, above; hind
ones with about 14-21 long and short spines in more or less two
irregular rows below, of which the apical ones are longer, and with
about 6-8 short separated spines above in apical half. Hypopygium
of 3g (text-fig. 146, showing ventral and lateral views, front view of
dorsal apical process and dorsal view of beaked apical joint).
Locality. Natal, Zululand, Portuguese East Africa, Transvaal,
S. Rhodesia, Bechuanaland and 8.W. Africa. (In the Transvaal.
Durban and South African Museums.)
10 gg 15 99 EH. cingulatus Hesse.
(P. 167, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvi, 1936.)
Superficially this species is very near laticeps Lw., with which it
may be easily confused, especially if the transverse bands of white
scaling and hairs have been rubbed off. Compared with laticeps,
it differs in having the base of scutellum usually more extensively
darkened, in having more constantly dark or blackish legs, even the
tibiae being more constantly blackish; abdomen above with a com-
plete transverse band of white scaling and hairs across middle of
segment 2, a complete one across base of 3 (much broadened laterally),
a complete band across apical margin of 4 which is not broadly
interrupted medially but is also broadened laterally and a complete
band occupying the entire sixth segment, with some of the transverse
bristles, as in laticeps, on sides of segments 3 and 4 pallid like those
on sides of 1, with the transverse bristles on 2-3 in 9 comparatively
shorter than in laticeps and in ¢ distinctly shorter, being scarcely
longer than the hairs and also much shorter than in 9, with a distinct
and complete transverse band of white scaling and hairs on the sixth
ventral segment and, to a great extent also, on 7 in the 2, which in
the g is usually represented by some white intermixed hairs only on
segment 6, without any constant white central band above on seg-
ments 3 or 4-6 as in laticeps, but often with a distinct spot medially
on 4 and a very evanescent one on 5 in some specimens. Head with
the interocular space in g, at narrowest part, often slightly broader
ata NE = 0°
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 521
and almost subequal to width of front ocellus, with usually 3 or 4
stout bristles on each side of frons in 9 and also with a tendency for
pubescence on frons of both sexes to be paler, more whitish and less
extensively golden, with joint 2 of the antennae distinctly more
elongate, almost subequal to 1, with 1 and 2 combined also com-
paratively and distinctly longer than in laticeps, usually without 1
or 2 prominent and longer bristles above on joint 3 in ? and rarely
present in 3, with the proboscis
about 5 mm. long. Wings
with a tendency for the first
posterior cell to be less acutely
pointed apically. Legs with 6-9
small spines, mostly irregularly
arranged, on front femora
above and more or less 2-4
small ones below, with about
7-13 irregularly arranged spines
on middle femora above, of
which one in apical outer aspect
may be stouter and longer, and
from 3-5 long and short ones
below, with a row of about
8-11 separated spines above
in apical half of hind femora,
of which one is usually long
and well developed at apex, Text-Fia. 147.—Side view and enlarged
and with about 14-20 long and ee ce Cee ee
short spines below in more or
less two irregular rows. Hypopygiwm of g as shown in text-fig.
147, with enlarged front and dorsal views of the dorsal apical
ctenate process on basal parts.
Holotype-g¢ in the Transvaal Museum, allotype-? in the South
African Museum.
Length of body: about 114-124 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-12 mm.
Locality Bechuanaland: Damara Pan (V.-L. Kal. HExp., 15-
21/4/1930) (Types); Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30); Gemsbok
Pan (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 23/4-5/5/30). 8. Rhodesia: Sawmills (Steven-
son, 4/1923).
This species is easily recognised and distinguishable from all other
known species of this genus by the presence of 4, more or less, constant
522 . Annals of the South African Museum.
and complete bands of white scaling and hair on the abdomen above,
giving it a distinct resemblance to some members of Anthophora-bees.
It may, however, be confused with melanurus Bezz. (pp. 80 and 81,
The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, fig. 6) from Zanzibar.
According to the description, however, melanurus differs from the
above in having only 3 white transverse bands on the abdomen above,
of which that on segment 4 is broadly interrupted medially and also
in having no white band on segment 6, the entire apical part being
black-haired. The g-specimens from Sawmills appear to be transi-
tional between cingulatus s. str. and laticeps, in that they agree with
the former in having 4 complete bands of white pubescence on
abdomen and in the very slightly more separated eyes and paler,
more whitish-haired frons. With laticeps they appear to agree in
having a larger spot of white scaling and hair on segments 4 and 5
medially, in often having prominent stoutish bristles just before
middle of third antennal joint. The hypopygium of the ¢ also
shows mixed characters in having the lateral spines on the dorsal
apical process of basal parts more or less in between that of laticeps
and the typical congulatus.
E. dichopticus Bezz.
(P. 83, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This species is easily recognisable by the widely separated eyes in
the gg, the presence of only 2 stout bristles on each side basally on
the frons in the 99, the more conspicuous and distinct tuft of flattened,
silvery white, scale-like hairs on each side of the face, the dark or
blackish scutellum, paler and more greyish brassy pubescence on
thorax and scutellum above, much paler and more yellowish white
or creamy pubescence on posterior upper part of mesopleuron, the
paler and more creamy yellowish fringe to the squamae, the distinctive
pattern of white bands on the abdomen above, the transverse rows
of almost entirely white or whitish bristles on venter of 92 and the
entirely black legs. In all these characters it can be easily separated
from other species, such as laticeps Lw., loewi n. sp. and cingulatus
Hesse, which superficially resemble it. The species seems to be
variable in size, both large and small forms occurring in the same
region. Apart from the large typical form, there are before me
some gd and 39, about 7-9 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
61-9 mm., which constitute a definite small form, with distinctly
less yellowish and even more greyish yellow pubescence on the thorax
——
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 523
and apparently fewer spines on hind femora below. Hypopygium
of $ as shown in text-fig. 148.
Trxt-Fic. 148.—Half of ventral view, side view, and dorsal view of spined
apical process of hypopygium of 3 Hurycarenus dichopticus Bezz.
Locality.—East, West and Central Africa (according to Bezzi),
S.W. Africa and the Kaokoveld. (In the British and South African
Museums.)
Gen. Sisyrophanus Karsch.
(Entom. Nachricht xu, 53, 6, 1886; Bezzi, p. 84, The Bombyliidae
of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This genus, which Karsch placed near Hurycarenus, also appears
to be related to genera of the Doliogethes group. Generically it may
be recognised by the smooth, shining, conically prominent face,
which is separated from the frons by a distinct and markedly groove-
like transverse furrow or depression, visible in front of antennal bases
in 99, but miore on sides along front margins of eyes in 3g, by the
smooth and shining frons in 99 which is also more or less slightly
transversely depressed, the depression more apparent owing to the
transversely raised ridge-like prominence at level of antennae and
also across vertex, by the somewhat blunt and comparatively thick-
ened third antennal joints, which show no separately visible terminal
524 Annals of the South African Museum.
joints but only a style, by the acutely pointed first posterior cell of
the wing which is sessile on the hind border or provided with a very
short stalk, by the discal cross vein beyond the middle of discoidal
cell, the absence of a distinct basal comb, the much reduced, vestigial
or very narrow alula, by the absence of distinct stiffer bristles or
macrochaetae on body even in 99, by the bare metapleurae and the
absence of spines on the femora below.
From Hurycarenus it differs in not having the eyes emarginate
behind, in not having separately visible terminal joints to third
antennal joints, in the absence of stout bristles on the body, no basal
comb to wings, the discal cross vein beyond middle of discoidal cell,
the very narrow and reduced alula, no pattern of transverse bands of
dense white scaling and hairs on abdomen and no spines on hind
femora below. From Dvischistus s. str. it may at once be distinguished
by the acutely pointed first posterior cell, which does not open
broadly on hind border of wing, the smooth and shining face and
frons, the former of which is separated from the frons by a deep
and narrow sulcus and by the much shorter pubescence, which is
not dense and brush-like on face. From the other species, referred
to Doliogethes, it differs in not having any spines on hind femora
below, in having an acutely pointed first. posterior cell, not
opening on hind border of wing, a brilliantly shining and smooth
face and frons, the former separated by a sulcus from frons (a
character not found in the smooth-faced species of Chasmoneura), in
not having a fairly well-developed and lobe-like alula and distinct
bristles on body, etc. Hypopygium of the 3 (text-fig. 150), based
on that of the two species seen by me, resembles that of Dischistus
s.str., with the beaked apical joints elongate, slightly curved and
directed outwards, more or less flattened or depressed above, the edges
of dorsum being slightly carinate, the apex acute; aedeagus well
developed and elongate, without any ventral aedeagal process below
in these two species, but with a prominent posterior aedeagal strut
on each side of basal strut; lateral and basal struts comparatively
feebly developed.
Judging from the extensive Bombyliid material before me, this
genus is not represented in South Africa or the Union. All the species
described by Bezzi and Karsch appear to be Kast and Central African
species. Only two forms appear to occur in Southern Rhodesia and
Bechuanaland, and these may be separated as follows:—
1. (2) Legs with the tibiae pale ochreous yellow, the fine scaling on the tibiae
being pale yellowish, with the bases of tarsi also predominantly yellowish;
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 525
eyes in ¢¢ in contact above for a distance at least 2 times as long as ocellar
tubercle, the eyes also distinctly more dilated and broadened below and,
when viewed from in front, more rapidly narrowed towards tubercle,
the ocellar part being more conically prominent; antennae with joint 3
distinctly longer, much longer than 1 and 2 combined, more distinctly
deeply excavated apically on the side, the style being situated laterally
on the outer side (text-fig. 149, a) and with shorter and less dense hairs
on joint 1; pubescence, on the whole, more straw-coloured yellowish
above in both sexes and apparently slightly shorter and sparser on
abdomen above; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 150)
3 2 minor Bezz. (p. 525).
2. (1) Legs with the tibiae distinctly darker, dark brownish to blackish, due to
distinctly black or fine dark scaling, with the tarsi also dark or blackened
even basally; eyes in gg in contact above for a shorter distance, less
than 2 times length of tubercle, slightly less dilated or expanded below
and also less narrowed towards tubercle, the ocellar region thus less or
not conically prominent; antennae with joint 3 distinctly shorter, only
a little or scarcely longer than 1 and 2 combined, not or only imperceptibly
excavated apically, the style thus practically terminal (text-fig. 149, 5)
and with distinctly longer and denser hairs on joint 1; pubescence,
on the whole, paler and more distinctly whitish above even in 99, that
on body below also more markedly white, even in 9, and in both sexes
apparently denser and slightly longer on abdomen above
3S & ogilvier n. sp. (p. 526).
S. minor Bezz.
(P. 87, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
Of this species there are 1 ¢ and 5 99 in the collections before
me, and the specimens agree with Bezzi’s description of 2 gg from
North Rhodesia. The 2, which appears not to have been recorded
or described before, has the interocular space scarcely broader than
length of antennal joints 2 and 3 combined or a little more than 3
times as broad as tubercle; frons slightly transversely depressed, the
depression being more apparent owing to the slightly prominent
transverse ridge-like and raised parts in front and across vertex, with
black bristly hairs on sides of vertex as well as on tubercle; the shining
face broader than in g, slightly more convex and less pointed than in
3; pubescence, on the whole, appearing less whitish than in ¢ below.
The ocellar region in ¢ is somewhat conically prominent, the head
in front thus distinctly narrowed to tubercle, with the eyes in ¢ com-
paratively large, somewhat dilated below and thus extending beyond
level of head below, this latter region appearing sunk in, in contact
above for a comparatively long distance, at least 2 times as long as
tubercle, with the facets in slightly more than upper half much coarser
526 Annals of the South African Museum.
than in lower part and obliquely well marked off from lower ones.
The antennae in both sexes with joint 3 (text-fig. 149, a, right one of
2) distinctly longer than 1 and 2 combined, somewhat obliquely
excavated at apex on outer side, when viewed from above, with the
style situated on outer side of excavation and not terminal to joint.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 150) with the outer apical angles of basal
Text-Fic. 149.
(a) Right antenna
of 2 Sisyropha-
nus minor Bezz.
(6) Right antenna Text-FIc. 150.—Side view and half of ventral
of 2 S. ogilvier view of hypopygium of ¢ Sisyrophanus
Nn. Sp. minor Bezz.
parts somewhat acutely prominent and the dorsum of basal parts
sparsely covered with short and fine hairs; beaked apical joints
quite half as long as basal parts, their apices acute and spine-like,
directed downwards and slightly outwards, with the upper surface
slightly depressed and bounded by slight ridges and with the posterior
aedeagal struts projecting posteriorly beyond bases of basal parts,
strap-like on each side of basal strut.
Locality.—N. and 8. Rhodesia and Bechuanaland. (In the Imperial
Institute, Transvaal and South African Museums.)
2 3d 3 92 S. ogilvier n. sp.
This species is superficially almost indistinguishable from minor
Bezz., differing only in the essentials given in the key above. The
pubescence above is almost entirely white in the 3g to very pale
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 527 |
straw-coloured yellowish in 99, that on abdomen above in the
Q-allotype, however, slightly very pale sericeous yellowish in certain
lights, that on body below in both sexes white, but apparently slightly
more so in gd; legs dark, the femora black, the tibiae dark brownish
to blackish, due mostly to fine blackish scaling and the tarsi, on the
whole, also entirely dark or blackish. Wangs glassy hyaline, with the
base and costal cell subopaquely pale yellowish white, with the veins
yellowish brown to brownish, becoming paler towards base, the
apically acute first posterior cell with a very short stalk; halteres
yellowish and with whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in gg in
contact above for a distance about 14, or even slightly less, times
as long as tubercle, with the facets, in slightly more than upper half,
much coarser than those below and obliquely well marked off from
lower ones, with the interocular space in 92 much broader than
antennal joints 2 and 3 combined, though also a little more than 3
times as broad as tubercle; shining frons in 2 as in minor and also
with black bristly hairs laterally on vertex in addition to those on
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 also black-haired, but with the hairs
distinctly longer and denser, especially on the outer side, than in
minor, about 3-4 times as long as 2, with joint 3 (text-fig. 149, 6,
right one of 9) distinctly shorter than in minor, only a little longer
than 1 and 2 combined and often almost subequal to them, also
comparatively thick and scarcely narrowed basally, without a
distinct excavation at apex and with the style terminal or almost
terminal; proboscis about 33-4 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3
practically the same in structure as that of minor (cf. text-fig. 150).
Types in the Imperial Institute of Entomology.
Length of body: about 54-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Matopo Hills (Mrs. Ogilvie, 4/1932)
(Types); (Mr. Ogilvie and Miss Mackie, 4/1932).
Gen. Dischistus Lw.
(E. 45, Neue Beitr., III, ix, 1855; p. 192, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i,
1860; Bigot, pp. 322 and 337, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., lxi, 1892;
Becker, p. 494, Ann. Mus. Zool. St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912;
Bezzi, p. 89 (Group 1), The Bombyliidae of The Ethiopian
Region, 1924.)
Numerous species, from the Palaearctic and Ethiopian regions and
from Asia, have been referred to or have been described as Dischistus
528 Annals of the South African Museum.
by Loew, Bezzi, Brunetti and other authors. From the South African
species before me it is evident that all these species described as or
referred to Dischistus do not all belong to one genus. From a taxo-
nomic point of view the generic identity of Dischistus thus appears
to be uncertain. Loew in 1855 (p. 45, loc. cit.) gave a very short
and comparative description of this genus, which he compared with
Legnotus Lw., Platamodes Lw., Sconax Lw. and Sparnopolius Lw.
No genotype for this genus was, however, designated, but Bombylius
mystax Wied. was the first species to be listed by him in his account
of the various species which he believed to belong to this genus.
Becker, however, in his revision of the genera of Bombyludae in 1912
(p. 494, loc. cit.) designated mystax Wied. as the genotype of Dischistus.
Unfortunately, in 1920 Brunetti in his paper on the Indian Bom-
byludae (p. 273, Faun. Brit. Ind. Dipt., vol. 1) ignored Becker’s
genotypic designation and himself designated the Palaearctic minamus
Schrk. as the genotype. According to the rules of taxonomy there
is no doubt that Becker’s designation thus has priority, and Bombylius
mystax Wied. must be considered as the genotype of Dischistus even
if it be generically different from most of the other species which have
thus far been lumped together as belonging to Dischistus. Sub-
sequent authors, not being acquainted with the distinguishing
characters of mystazx, referred both Palaearctic and Ethiopian species,
which generically agreed with minimus but which markedly differed
from mystax, to Dischistus. In this paper Becker’s designation is
adhered to and mystax is taken as the typical representative of
Dischistus. Even from Loew’s short description it is to a certain
extent apparent that he had mystax uppermost in his mind, and such
statements as “ . . . die Kérperbehaarung lang, besonders die des
Kopfs, vorziiglich bei dem Mannchen; . . . Die vordere Wurzelzelle
ist stets viel langer als die hintere” and again “Der Mehrzahl der
stidafrikanischen Arten fehlen die Stachelborsten auf der Unterseite
der Hinterschenkel,” . .. are applicable to mystax. If mystax
be taken as the genotype it is obvious that Dischistus, as a genus,
is much more circumscribed than was suspected by Loew himself.
Strictly conforming to mystaz, there are only two known South African
species, namely capito Lw. and plumipalpis Bezz. One other South
African species, namely hirticeps Bezz., of which the type is in the
South African Museum, is generically identical with the mystaz-
series but differs only in having the first posterior cell in the wings
closed and stalked instead of open on the hind border. To accom-
modate this species and certain other Palaearctic forms, Bezzi in 1924
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 529
(p. 165, Bull. Soc. Roy. Ent. d’ Egypte) erected a new genus Acantho-
geron with the Palaearctic senex Meig. as genotype. Both Séguy
(pp. 103-106 Mem. Soc. Sc. Nat. du Maroc., No. xxiv, 1930) and
Engel (pp. 271-278, Die Fhegen d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 87 (Bombyliidae),
1935) revised this new genus, to which they allocated the following
species: the South African hirticeps Bezz., the Palaearctic, syriacus
Vill., borot Beck., senex Meig., separatus Beck., perniveus Bezz.,
aurvpilus Séguy, albatus Seguy, versicolor Macq., dayas Séguy and
moroccanus Séguy.
The genus Acanthogeron, judging chiefly from its South African
representative hirticeps, is thus based on species which have a
Bombylius-type of wing-venation, but which nevertheless differ
generically in important characters from Bombylius. Not having
carefully compared mystax Wied., capito Lw. and plumipalpis Bezz.
with hirteceps, Bezzi was unaware of the fact that he created a new
genus which agreed generically and fundamentally with the mystaz-
group, differing only in having the first posterior cell closed and in
specific details. If this one wing-character be taken as of sufficient
importance for the erection of a separate and new genus, then this
genus Acanthogeron is at present represented in Southern Africa by
only one species and in the Palaearctic region by ten known species.
Not being acquainted with Palaearctic forms, I am not in a position
to state whether the ten species enumerated above are strictly and
generically identical with hirticeps, but there is no doubt that the
latter is generically identical with the mystax-series even in the
characters of the g-hypopygium, and in this paper it is referred to
Dischistus. In view of what has been stated above, Acanthogeron
can at most be only considered as a subgenus of Dischistus s. str.
The other South African species, which up to the present have
been referred to Dischistus by authors, are generically so different
from the mystax-series that the erection of at least three new genera
(see Doliogethes, Chasmoneura and Lepidochlanus below) is necessary
in this paper to contain them and, judging from the descriptions,
there is no doubt that the Palaearctic species, at present contained
in Dischistus, will eventually have to be removed from it. The
chief characters of Dischistus, as based on the genotype mystax and
the three other South African species, are as follows:—
Body covered with very dense, fine, shaggy pubescence, giving it a
characteristic puff-like appearance, that on ocellar tubercle, frons,
antennal joint 1, face and genae markedly long, dense, shaggy or
bushy and conspicuous, reminiscent of group 3 of Bombylius, that
530 Annals of the South African Museum.
on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above also very dense, fine and
long, the individual hairs on face, genae, head below and even on
pleural and coxal parts or even on palps not smooth but serrated or
jagged, giving them a beaded appearance, the bristles or bristly
elements long and slender, the pubescence on pleurae also long, but
with the metapleurae bare and without a distinct metapleural tuft.
Head with the eyes in 3g very narrowly separated above on vertex
or broadly separated by broad ocellar tubercle, the interocular space
on vertex in 92 very broad and at least 3 times as broad as broad
tubercle; frons more or less convex, sometimes with a very feeble
indication of a central, groove-like depression, but without a trans-
verse depression in 99 or a distinct central groove in gg; antennae
elongate, with the first joints always separated at their bases, never
contiguous or close together, the first joints also elongate, not much
shorter than joint 3, always much thickened, incrassate and even
barrel-shaped, with very dense, long and conspicuous pubescence,
with joint 3 slender, spindle-shaped or subspindle-shaped or at least
also narrowed at base, the apical part long and slender, with the
terminal elements visible as an elongate basal joint ending in a style;
facial region broad, the genae broad, separated from buccal rims by
a deep depression, the face itself (in front of antennae) bare, slightly
spout-like, the sides of face or upper parts of genae slightly tumid or
convex and densely covered with long and shaggy pubescence;
proboscis long or short, the labella long, pointed and spinulated and
rest of labial part may also be spinulated; palps short or long and
conspicuous, the apical joint short, sometimes with dense and longish
pubescence. Wings not very strongly developed, with the alula
very much reduced, vestigial or only feebly developed, with the
axillary lobe also not markedly broad and lobe-like, with the base of
wings thus narrowish, with the basal comb absent or represented
only by a small and insignificant tuft, with only 2 submarginal cells,
with 4 posterior cells of which the first is usually open but may be
closed and stalked apically (in Acanthogeron Bezz.), with the discal
cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell and the discoidal
cell itself narrowed apically. Abdomen with the last sternite in 3d
elongate, narrowed apically and scoop-like. Legs on the whole
slender, without any spines on femora below, but only with very
slender, long, dense and conspicuous bristly hairs in basal half or to
near apex below, denser in gg; tibiae slightly thickened apically,
with the spicules long and slender, black and rather conspicuously
developed, those on upper surfaces of front ones, however, small and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 531
sometimes wanting, only one row conspicuous; tarsi with the claws
well developed, curved down apically and with the pulvilli long and
reaching apices of claws (said to be short or reduced in some Palae-
arctic species of Acanthogeron Bezz.). Hypopygium of 3S (text-figs.
151-154) with the beaked apical joints usually directed outwards and
with a peculiar twisted structure or shape as shown in the figures;
aedeagus prominent, stoutish, broad, tubular and spout-like and with
or without a ventral aedeagal process below.
From Bombylius and Systoechus this genus differs in having no
spines, but only longish hairs, on femora below, in having practically
no basal comb to wings, a very much reduced or vestigial alula, a
reduced axillary lobe, in having (in the mystax-series) an open first
posterior cell, in having a bare face above, bare metapleural part
and no metapleural tuft, more broadly rounded facial region, much
broader genae, more broadly separated and constantly more incrassate
first antennal joints, a somewhat scoop-like and elongated last sternite
in gg and a different type of g-hypopygium.
Superficially there is some resemblance to the genus Gonarthrus
Bezz., but Dischistus differs in having incrassate first antennal joints,
unspined femora, more §-curved vein between submarginal cells and
an entirely different type of hypopygium.
The four known South African species and their varieties may be
separated by the characters given in the following key:—
1. (8) First posterior cell opening widely on hind border of wing; entire pubes-
cence on antennae below, on face, genae, head below, pectoral and pleural
regions and entire venter below not entirely velvety black; palps much
longer and more conspicuous; legs not entirely dark, blackish brown or
blackish, the tibiae at least pale yellowish brown to pale brownish, the
front and middle tarsi longer, about as long as, or longer than, the
tibiae ‘ ; ‘ : : : : ‘ : 2 a 24
2. (3) Predominantly citron or lemon yellowish-haired species, with the long
bristly hairs on face and genae predominantly black and that on head
below lemon yellowish; long bristly hairs on coxae and femora below
predominantly blackish brown to black, especially in gg; proboscis
short, about 3-4 mm. long; palps very slender and without conspicuously
long bristly hairs; wings with the extreme base and costal cell slightly
paler and more subopaquely yellowish white, with the alula very narrow
and poorly developed, the apical part scarcely broadened and not so
broad as length of discal cross vein; front tibiae with only the outer
row of spicules long and well developed, the rest wanting or minute
and inconspicuous; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 151) without any distinct
forwardly projecting medial lobe or process at base of aedeagus below
3 2 mystax (Wied.) (p. 534).
3. (2) Predominantly dull, pale, soft greyish white, very pale greyish yellow to
532
Annals of the South African Museum.
pale greyish-haired species, with the long bristly hairs on face and genae
paler and predominantly dull whitish or dull reddish white and that on
head below white or whitish; long bristly hairs on coxae and femora
below either predominantly whitish or with the blackish hairs distinctly
less numerous; proboscis very long and slender, longer or much longer
than 4 mm. and often reaching 10 mm.; palps distinctly much thicker
and more conspicuous, often longer, with dense, long and conspicucus
bristly hairs; wings with the extreme base and costal cell apparently
darker, more subopaquely pale brownish yellow to brownish, with the
alula, though narrow, distinctly more developed and slightly broader,
its apical part being distinctly broader and more lobe-like, as broad or
much broader than length of discal cross vein; front tibiae either with the
spines in all] the rows equally developed or with those in the other rows
not minute and inconspicuous; hypopygium of jd (text-figs. 152-154)
with a distinct and often long forwardly projecting pointed process or
lobe medially at base of aedeagus below 5 5 «Ake
4. (7) Palps much shorter, not considerably projecting alone bake of proboscis,
comparatively thicker, with the bristly hairs above predominantly or
entirely white and distinctly longer, the darkish ones, if present,
insignificant and short or not conspicuous; antennal joint 3 less rapidly
broadened towards base, broadest nearer base, less spindle-shaped,
with a longer apical part, the terminal joints more gradually tapering
to a point; proboscis stouter, either very much shorter or at least shorter
relative to body, with the spinules below less developed; interocular
space in g¢, at narrowest part, much broader, either very broad and as
broad as broad tubercle or as broad as front part of tubercle; abdomen
in both sexes slightly longer, not markedly cordiform and its apex not
conspicuously pointed; halteres with yellowish brown to dark brownish
knobs; legs with the femora predominantly or almost entirely black;
pubescence above with distinctly more numerous and conspicuous
intermixed black bristly hairs on thorax, sides in front of wings and also
on mesopleuron, with the black hairs on frons and antennal joints dis-
tinctly more numerous and longer, the bristly hairs on antennae below,
on face and genae more whitish and not tinted mauvish pink or reddish;
hypopygium of gd (text-fig. 152) with a prominent or long, lobe-like,
medial ventral aedeagal process . : ; ae
5. (6) Pubescence distinctly more yellowish on Body Rbeee. fitter on thorax,
pleurae, abdomen above and especially on sides towards base and sides
of venter distinctly more yellowish, even in jg, and in 99 often with a
deeper yellowish tint, with the black intermixed bristly hairs on body
above more conspicuous and more numerous, with the black bristly
hairs on frons and antennae distinctly longer and denser, with more
numerous and more conspicuous black hairs on sides of face, genae and
along hind margins of eyes, with distinctly more numerous black bristly
hairs on femora in both sexes and with denser, more numerous and
more conspicuous black bristly hairs towards apical half of abdomen
above in 99; interocular space in gg usually very broad, as broad as
broad tubercle; proboscis, on the whole, much shorter, usually less
than 6 mm.; slightly smaller form, about 8-124 mm. long .
3 2 capito Lw. (p. 537).
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 533
6. (5) Pubescence, on the whole, paler, appearing greyish from above and more
whitish from the side and even in 99 the yellowish tint is less developed,
that on body below and on abdomen in both sexes distinctly paler, with
distinctly sparser and less conspicuous intermixed black hairs on thorax
above, the black hairs on frons, antennae, sides of face, genae and behind
eyes shorter, less conspicuous and sparser, that on antennae below
being predominantly pale, with less numerous and often almost without
any black hairs on femora, these being predominantly whitish or pale
and with distinctly less conspicuous black hairs on apical half of abdomen
in 2°; interocular space in g¢ distinctly narrower, only about as broad
as narrow front part of tubercle, a little broader than front ocellus;
proboscis distinctly much longer, very much longer than 6 mm., often
reaching 10 mm.; slightly bulkier and larger form, about 12-13 mm.
long . ; : . 6 2 capito var. longirostris n. (p. 538).
7. (4) Palps distinctly mae fener, more Blodente. projecting considerably along
base of proboscis, more slender, feathered with conspicuous, distinct,
dark or black rigid hairs above and longer white ones below; antennal
joint 3 more rapidly broadened just before middle, more spindle-shaped,
less rod-like, the apical slender part shorter and even more attenuated
and with the terminal joints also more rapidly tapering; proboscis
more slender and longer relative to body, often reaching 11 mm., with.
the spinules below distinctly longer and more conspicuous; interocular
space in gg, at narrowest part, much narrower, only about as broad as
front ocellus; abdomen distinctly shorter, more triangular or cordiform,
more rapidly tapering to a point posteriorly; halteres with much paler
and often almost whitish knobs; legs with the femora almost entirely
yellowisk like rest of the legs or only darkened at bases; pubescence
above without any or with distinctly fewer and very inconspicuous.
black intermixed hairs on thorax, none or very few in front of wings
and none on mesopleuron, with the black hairs on frons and antennal
joints distinctly fewer and shorter, the bristly hairs on antennae below,
face and genae usually with a more distinct and often marked purplish
pink to reddish tint, especially in gg; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 153)
with a very much shorter medial ventral aedeagal process below
3 2 plumipalpis Bezz. (p. 539).
(? heterocerus Macq.)
8. (1) First posterior cell not opening on hind border of wing but provided with a
long stalk, as in Bombylius; entire pubescence on antennae below, on
face, genae, head below, pectoral and pleural regions and entire venter
entirely velvety black; palps short and less conspicuous; legs entirely
dark blackish brown to black, even the tibiae being more often dark
brownish and only the extreme apices of the femora or the knees being
yellowish, the front and middle tarsi shorter, scarcely as long as, or
distinctly shorter than, the tibiae : ‘ ; : ; Lia:
(Acanthogeron Bezz. series.)
9. (10) Eyes in gg more broadly separated, as broad as, or even slightly broader
than, very broad ocellar tubercle, which is separated from frons by a
narrow, deep, transverse fissure; antennal joint 3 broadest nearer base;
intermixed bristly hairs on frons and those on antennae below and
VOL. XXXIV. 35
534 Annals of the South African Museum.
laterally in 99 and some on antennae in g4, paler and more yellowish;
bristly hairs on occiput, some anteriorly on pronotum whitish like the
rest of the hair on thorax above; hair on upper posterior part of meso-
pleuron composed of dark blackish brown and paler yellowish or yellowish
brown hairs intermixed; squamal fringe pale yellowish white; extreme
base of wing paler, subopaquely pale yellowish to yellowish white, with
the veins yellowish brownish or brown; halteres with pale yellowish
‘ or yellowish white knobs; pubescence on abdomen above, from side,
more dull whitish or straw-coloured, the black hair at apex less extensive;
tibiae slightly paler and the femora dark brownish and less black, even
paler and more yellowish in 99; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 154) with
the beaked apical joints slightly more elongate, nearly as long as the basal
parts, more flattened, with the aedeagus also more strongly developed
and longer, projecting considerably beyond apices of basal parts
3 2 hirticeps (Bezz.) (p. 541).
10. (9) Eyes in $3 only about half as broadly separated, about as broad as front
part of smaller ocellar tubercle, which is not distinctly separated from
frons by a deep furrow; antennal joint 3 slightly more slender and only
slightly broadened at about middle or just before middle; intermixed
bristly hairs on frons in 9? with a distinctly more brownish tint, entirely
black in $¢; bristly hairs on occiput and front part of thorax above
more pale brownish yellow to slightly orange yellow, the rest of hair
on mesonotum being more whitish; hair on upper posterior part of meso-
pleuron entirely velvety black or with at least very dark blackish brown
hairs intermixed; squamal fringe dark blackish brown to black; extreme
base of wings darker and more dark brownish, with the veins also darker
and even blackish brown; halteres with dark or brownish knobs; pubes-
cence on abdomen above, from side, distinctly more yellowish brown,
becoming even pale orange brownish apically, the black hair at apex
more extensive, denser and more conspicuous; tibiae, like the femora,
entirely dark or blackish; hypopygium of 3 with the beaked apical
joints distinctly shorter, much shorter than basal parts, less flattened,
with the aedeagus also shorter ard less developed
3 & hirticeps var. karooénsis n. (p. 544).
D. mystax (Wied.)
(P. 346, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; Loew, p. 45, Neue
Beitr. III, ix, 1855, and p. 192, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860.)
This beautiful species is easily recognised by the following
characters :—
Body entirely black and even the scutellum entirely black; legs
yellowish, the bases of femora in 9? and basal halves of femora in 33
very dark brownish or blackish brown, with the tarsi becoming
darker and more blackish apically, the last 2 or 3 joints at least black,
with the spicules on tibiae and tarsi and apices of claws black;
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 535
pubescence dense, fine, long and puff-like, that on head very dense,
long, bushy and conspicuous, long and dense on first antennal joints,
face and genae, that on abdomen dense, fine, puff-like or bottle brush-
like, the bristly elements on body long, slender and almost hair-like,
the pubescence on body predominantly citron or lemon yellowish in
both sexes, gleaming sericeous yellowish or satin-like in ‘different
lights, that on front part of thorax even gleaming more satin-like
in certain lights, that on front part of occiput, on ocellar tubercle, on
sides of frons, very densely on antennal joint 1, on sides of face and
on genae predominantly black, but with intermixed yellowish hairs,
especially on antennal joint 1 above and to a lesser extent on sides of
face, that on lower part of genae more purplish black, that on head
below pale lemon yellowish and even inclining to whitish in certain
lights, with the intermixed longish bristly hairs on sides of thorax in
front of wings, in mesopleural tuft, on post-alar calli and to a certain
extent sparsely on disc towards base, the intermixed ones on scutellum,
the long ones transversely across the hind margins of tergites, more
obvious at apex of abdomen and more densely along extreme sides
of abdomen ventrally and more sparsely on venter, the dense hairs
on coxae and the pubescence and long, slender, bristly hairs on femora
below black, but with a few intermixed pale hairs on coxae and
femora as well, and with dense pale hair on middle and front femora
behind, with the fine hair-like scaling on frons and in a small tuft
on each side of face opposite bases of antennae gleaming or glittering
golden, with the fine scaling on legs pale yellowish whitish ; wings
rather narrowish and not strongly developed, vitreous hyaline,
iridescent, with the base, costal cell and basal half of first basal cell
subopaquely whitish to pale yellowish whitish, the veins yellowish
brownish, with the alula very narrow and the axillary lobe also
markedly narrow, with the squamae subopaquely yellowish, narrowly
dark-bordered and fringed with yellowish hairs, those nearer base
sometimes with intermixed dark ones; halteres yellowish, with very
pale knobs which are darkened below. Head with the eyes in 3d
broadly separated above by.the ocellar tubercle, in 99 a little less
or scarcely 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 very
incrassate, especially in $g, sausage or spindle-shaped, elongate and
usually shghtly or even much longer than 3, with 3 slender, much
narrower than 1, spindle-shaped, broadest just before middle, the
apical slender part long and the basal terminal element bearing the
style, long; proboscis about 24-4 mm. long, not visibly spinulated
below, but labella spinulated; palps slender, moderately long, but
536 Annals of the South African Museum.
not prominently projecting and with long and dense hairs on sides of
the longer basal joint. Legs rather slender, with a tendency for the
front tibiae to have no spicules, or only a few small ones, on upper and
inner front surfaces, only a single row of normally developed spicules
being present, with all the tibiae tending to be slightly thickened
apically; front and middle tarsi subequal or scarcely shorter than the
tibiae; claws more rapidly curved nearer apex and the pulvilli long
and reaching their bent-down apices. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 151,
side and ventral views) with the dorsum and sides of basal parts
distinctly rugulose or striate, the lower inner apical margin in neck
Text-Fic. 151.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and apical and dorsal
views of the beaked apical joint of 3 Dischistus mystax (Wied.).
region prominent; beaked apical joints (see different views) directed
outwards ox-horn like, shaped as shown in figures (the top one being
a view from the side (dorsally) and the middle one an apical view),
slightly hollowed out above; aedeagus projecting slightly beyond
apices of basal parts, comparatively large and tubular, its orifice
dorsal, without a ventral process below; lateral struts very broad
and short and the basal strut incised dorsally.
In the Transvaal and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 7-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-9 mm.
Locality.— South-Western Cape Province,
Bezzi (p. 58, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921) referred heterocerus
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 537
Macq. (p. 100, Dipt. Exot. 11, 1840) as a synonym of mystaz. From
Macquart’s description and figure (Tab. VI, fig. 3, loc. cit.), it is, how-
ever, evident that the proboscis is much too long for mystaz.
D. capito Lw.
(P. 193, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860, and Bezzi, p. 58, Ann.
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This is the largest of the South African species of Duschistus
TExt-Fic. 152.—Side view of hypopygium and various views of beaked apical
joint and ventral view of aedeagus of ¢ Dischistus capito Lw.
(103-14 mm.), easily recognised by its dull, pale yellowish grey to
faintly yellowish pubescence and numerous slender, intermixed,
black bristly hairs on thorax and abdomen, the broad head, markedly
thickened antennal joint 1, stout proboscis (about 4-6 mm. long),
stout palps and more or less stoutish legs. Some 92 show a more
yellowish sheen, with the apical part of abdomen darker, due to the
dense and long black hairs, the pubescence on mesopleurae and sides
of abdomen basally also more straw-coloured yellowish and that on
femora with numerous intermixed black hairs. The interocular
space in gd is about as broad as broad tubercle and the third antennal
joints are gradually narrowed from the broadest part near base, the
terminal joints being elongate and gradually tapering. The front
538 Annals of the South African Museum.
and middle tarsi are long and longer than the tibiae. Hypopygium of
3 (text-fig. 152) with the dorsum of basal parts only slightly rugulose
laterally; beaked apical joints slightly more enlarged apically than in
mystax, shaped as shown in figures; aedeagus strongly developed,
tubular, with the apical opening spout-like and with a distinct and
well-developed, lobe-like, ventral, forwardly projecting process near
base below.
Locality —S.E. Karoo, E. Cape Province and Natal. (In the
Albany, British, Transvaal and South African Museums.)
One 3-specimen in the South African Museum was labelled by Bigot
as heterocerus Macq. and subsequently referred to by Bezzi (p. 58,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii). After commenting on it, Bezzi refers
heterocerus aS a synonym of mystax Wied. Though Macquart’s
description and figure (p. 100, Dipt. Exot. 1, 1840) are of little
value for purposes of identification, it is quite evident that heterocerus
cannot be referred to mystax or to capito, but may prove to be
identical with Bezzi’s plumipalpis (see below).
2 3S 2 92 D. capito var. longirostris n.
These 4 specimens represent a distinct variety of capito. From
typical 3g and 99 of capito they differ in the following points :—
Pubescence, on the whole, paler in both sexes, appearing greyish
from above and more whitish or paler from the side, even in 929, the
marked yellowish tint of the 9-capito being distinctly less evident,
with the hair on pleurae and venter much paler in both sexes and
with a less yellowish tint, with much fewer and less conspicuous
intermixed black hairs on thorax above and sides in front of wing-
bases, with the black hairs on frons, antennae, face, genae and along
hind margins of eyes distinctly fewer, less dense and also shorter,
those on antennae below being predominantly paler, with much
fewer and often without any black hairs on femora in both sexes and
with the black hairs in apical half of abdomen in 99 at least fewer and
less conspicuous; interocular space in $g, at narrowest part, distinctly
narrower and only about as broad as front part of tubercle; proboscis
distinctly much longer, ranging from 6-10 mm. Hypopygium of 3
is like that of capito s. str., but with the aedeagus slightly stouter and
very slightly shorter.
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the Albany
Museum. |
Length of body: about 12-13 mm.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 539
Length of wing: about 113-13 mm.
Locality—E. Cape Province: Albany Distr.; Grahamstown,
Resolution (Walton, Jan.—Apr. 1928) (Types); Brak Kloof (White,
Aug. 1893).
47
D. plumpalpis Bezz.
(Ee ao anne oat Muse vol, xvi, Pl. I, fig. 11, 1921.)
Bezzi described the ¢ of this species, but a series of g$ and 99 in
the collections necessitates the following supplementary description :—
Body, including scutellum, entirely black, with the abdomen cordi-
form in shape, tapering apically and broad basally; legs predomin-
antly yellowish, the extreme bases or bases of femora dark brownish
or dark blackish brown, the apical halves of tarsi also dark, becoming
more black apically, the last 2 or 3 joints black, the spines and spicules
on tibiae and tarsi and the apices of the claws black; pubescence
long and dense as in the other species, that on body above pre-
dominantly pale creamy yellowish to pale yellowish, appearing
pelt-like and gleaming greyish sericeous to pale yellowish sericeous,
that on thorax in some $¢ even gleaming more whitish in certain
lights, that on abdomen more straw-coloured yellowish to distinctly
yellowish, especially in some 99, the yellowish tint of pubescence on
body above in 92 usually deeper and more evident and in some g¢
that even on abdomen is more pale creamy to even slightly whitish,
the bristly hairs across front part of occiput, those on ocellar tubercle,
on sides of frons basally in 99, on sides and apically of antennal joint.
1 in both sexes, those along anterior margins of eyes and the shorter,
but dense, pubescence on palps above black, that on occiput gleaming
more whitish, the rest of pubescence on frons and densely on antennal
joint 1 above and below creamy yellowish to pale yellowish or straw-
coloured yellowish, with the dense hairs below antennal joint 1 and
especially those on sides of face and on genae with a purplish pink
or mauvish pink tint, the longish ones on palps below and the dense
pubescence on head below more whitish, with the individual hairs
on facial region, on palps below, on head below and to a certain extent
on anterior coxae and pleural region not smooth, but serrated or
jagged, giving these hairs.a beaded appearance and more so on those
on facial region and on these also more evident and conspicuous than
in capito, mystax and hirticeps, with the pubescence on pleurae,
pectus, coxae and predominantly on the femora and to a certain
extent on sides of venter basally also whitish and more contrasting
540 Annals of the South African Museum.
in whiteness with the more yellowish tinted pubescence on body
above, with a very faint pinkish tint to pubescence on coxae in certain
lights, with the sparse intermixed bristly hairs on post-alar calli and
transversely across base of thorax, those intermixed on scutellum,
the more conspicuous and denser transverse bristles across hind
margins of tergites and the intermixed fine bristly hairs on femora
among the long whitish ones, but more especially along the upper
surfaces and sides of the femora, black ; wings vitreous hyaline,
TExtT-FIG. 153.—Side view of hypopygium and views of aedeagus and beaked
apical joint of J Dischistus plumipalpis Bezz.
iridescent, with the base and costal cell more subopaquely whitish
to yellowish, the veins brownish, becoming paler basally, with the
squamae subopaquely yellowish whitish, dark-bordered and fringed
with a tuft of creamy to almost white hair; halteres yellowish brown-
ish, with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes in 3¢ separated
above by a very narrow space, scarcely as broad as, or even narrower
than, front ocellus, the upper facets of eyes thus very coarse, the
interocular space on vertex in 9? quite 3 times as broad as ocellar
tubercle, or sometimes even slightly broader; antennae with joint
1 very incrassate, especially in 33, sub-barrel shaped and subequal
in length to joint 3 (minus terminal joint), with 3 spindle-shaped,
broadest just before middle, the apical part more slender, ending in
an elongate terminal basal joint bearing a style; face somewhat pro-
minently spout-like; proboscis remarkably long, about 73-10 mm.,
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 541
with sparse but distinct hair-like spinules below on labial part;
palps remarkably long, quite 15 mm. long, the basal joint itself
long and slender and even longer than 1 mm., with the pubes-
cence on palps long, dense, and feathery, that above shorter. Legs
with the spicules in upper inner row on front tibiae small, the inner
surface without, or tending to be without, spicules; front and middle
tarsi long and longer than the tibiae; claws curved down apically
and with the pulvilli reaching their bent-down apices. Hypopygium
of $ (text-fig. 153, side view and views of beaked apical joint and of
aedeagus) with the dorsum of basal parts rugulose or striate as in
mystax; aedeagus with a distinct medial lobe-like ventral process
below, much shorter than in capito.
Type of Bezzi’s g¢ in the South African Museum, other specimens
in the Albany, Transvaal, British and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 9-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-9 mm.
Locality—Little Karoo, South-Eastern Karoo and Hast Cape
Province.
There is a strong suspicion that this species may be the same as
heterocerus Macq. (p. 100, Dipt. Exot. i, 1840), but Macquart’s
description and figure are so vague that it is impossible to verify this
contention. Characters such as “Front un peu élargi J, a poils noirs
et roussatres”’ and his “‘troisiéme fusiforme” of the third antennal
joint as well as the yellowish legs seem to agree well with plumipalpis,
but his figure of the palps agrees more with that of capito Lw.
D. hirticeps (Bezz.).
(P. 35, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921, as Bombylius; Bezzi,
p- 165, Bull. Soc. Roy. Ent. d’Egypte, 1924, as Acanthogeron;
Séguy, pp. 103-104, Mem. Soc. Sc. Nat. du Maroc., No. xxiv,
1930, as Acanthogeron; Engel, p. 274, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg.
Lief., 87 (Bombyliidae), 1935, as Acanthogeron.)
This peculiar and interesting species, of which the 9-type is in the
South African Museum, was originally described as a Bombylius by
Bezzi owing to the closed and stalked first posterior cell. Sub-
sequently it was referred to Acanthogeron Bezz. by Bezzi, Séguy and
Kngel (see under genus Dischistus in this paper). This species is
characterised as follows :—
Body, including scutellum, entirely black, though the sutural parts
on pleurae may sometimes be brownish; legs with the femora in both
542 Annals of the South African Museum.
sexes very dark blackish brown or black to very much beyond middle,
only their apices or apical parts being yellowish or yellowish brownish,
the femora in some 99, however, with the apical halves tending to
be yellowish, the tibiae and greater part of tarsi pale yellowish
brownish, the apical parts of the tarsi darker and more brownish or
blackish brown, the spicules on tibiae and tarsi black, with the fine
scaling on the legs also black and thus enhancing the dark appearance
of the legs; pubescence dense, puff-like and shaggy as in the other
species, that on head also very dense and bushy, the bristly elements
on frons, occiput and on rest of body above in 99 apparently even
longer and more conspicuous than in gd, that on facial part and on
antennae below in g¢ much denser again than in 99, with the bristly
hairs and pubescence on femora very dense and conspicuous in gd,
slightly less dense in 99, in both sexes more developed than in mystax
or plumepalpis and more like that in capito, the pubescence on body
above greyish sericeous, sometimes with a faint yellowish sericeous
tint to even yellowish tint in some 99, that on thorax in front gleaming
more velvety or sericeous whitish in certain lights, that on abdomen
with a slightly more straw-coloured tint, especially in 99, where it is
sometimes distinctly yellowish tinted, the entire pubescence above,
however, when viewed from above, appearing greyish whitish or grey-
ish, the bristly hairs across front part of occiput and the pubescence
on head predominantly black in both sexes, but with some intermixed
straw-coloured elements, especially on frons, on antennal joint above
and laterally and on sides of face in some 992, to a lesser extent in
others and absent on face and antennae below in ¢¢ where the black
colour is very conspicuous, that towards lower parts of genae with a
purplish black or mauvish black tint in gg, that on head below and
body below predominantly dull very deep blackish brown to black,
showing slight purplish tints in certain lights, the dark pubescence
on pleurae extending up to mesopleural tuft and sides of thorax in
front of wings, but the mesopleural tuft with some intermixed straw-
coloured or slightly yellowish hairs, giving it a paler tint in certain
lights, with the long bristly elements and pubescence on femora and
coxae also predominantly very deep blackish brown or velvety
blackish brown like rest of pubescence below, the pubescence on
sides of venter and extreme sides of abdomen above similarly coloured,
that towards apex of abdomen below and even above even conspicu-
ously black and tuft-like, with the intermixed bristly elements on
sides of thorax above, on post-alar calli, on scutellum and more
densely and transversely across hind margins of abdominal tergites
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 543
also black and conspicuous, with the fine and shortish pubescence
on sides of frons in $¢ tinted purplish, the pubescence on palps in
both sexes blackish; wings rather narrowish and poorly developed as
in the other species, their bases narrowish, vitreous hyaline, iridescent,
with the base and costal cell subopaquely yellowish whitish to slightly
yellowish, the veins brownish, becoming more yellowish brown to
pale yellowish brown basally, the first longitudinal vein being dis-
tinctly pale yellowish brown, with the first posterior cell closed and
Tee—~= Sle ee
Se
/ GO! oe
<
-
=.
Trxt-Fic. 154.—Side view of hypopygium, various views of beaked apical
joint, and ventral view of aedeagus of ¢ Dischistus hirticeps (Bezz.).
acute apically and provided with a stalk as in Bombylius and
Systoechus, but with the vein between first and second posterior cells
much more S-curved than in these two genera, with the alula much
reduced as in mystax and the other species and with the axillary lobe
also reduced, with the squamae subopaquely yellowish whitish,
narrowly dark-bordered and fringed with a tuft of whitish hairs
which is straw-coloured yellowish in certain lights; halteres brownish,
with the knobs dirty yellowish to pale yellowish above and darkened
below. Head with the eyes in $¢ broadly separated above by a
space a little broader than ocellar tubercle, the eyes in $¢ slightly
flattened above, with the interocular space in 99 very broad, about
3, or a little more, times as broad as broad tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 very incrassate and even slightly more so in gg, subequal
in length to joint 3, with 3 very slender, slightly broader nearer base,
the broadest part being at about basal third or a little more, slightly
more rapidly narrowed apically along lower margin, ending in an
elongate basal terminal element passing into a short style; face
¢
544 Annals of the South African Museum.
much like that of mystax, short and much shorter than. in capito or
even plumipalpis, its front edge or margin sharp and tending to be
curled over, the smooth and shining face thus saddle-like as in mystax;
proboscis short, about 3 mm. long (not 8 as stated by Bezzi), slightly
strigilose in apical half below and with sparse, fine, hair-like spinules
below; palps slender, shorter than those of plumipalpis. Legs with
the spicules on inner side and to a certain extent upper inner side on
front tibiae wanting; tarsi of front and middle femora tending to be
short, shorter than tibiae and much shorter than in the other species;
claws shortish, rapidly curved down apically and with the pulvill
well developed and reaching their apices. Hypopygium of 3 (text-
fig. 154, showing side view and views of beaked apical joint) with the
dorsum of basal parts also striate laterally; beaked apical joints
comparatively elongate and flattened, nearly as long as basal parts,
shaped as shown in figures; aedeagus (somewhat displaced in the
figure) well developed tubular and apparently without a distinct and
freely projecting ventral process below; basal strut comparatively
small.
Length of body: about 74-103 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-95 mm.
Locality.—South-Western Cape, Western Cape Province to
Namaqualand.
D. hirticeps var. karooénsis nu.
Engel in 1935 (p. 274, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 87 (Bomby-
liidae)) described a g-specimen which distinctly differed from the
typical g. A few gd and 92 from Willowmore in the collections
before me without doubt belong to this aberrant form, which I am
now referring to a new variety.
These specimens differ from hirticeps (Bezz.) in the following
characters:—The pubescence, when viewed from above, is much
darker, appearing blackish brown or black, with a dark brownish
tint; the bristly hairs on frons and sometimes sparsely on antennal
joints with a more yellowish brown tint in 99, entirely black in 3d,
those on occiput and front part of thorax above also more yellowish to
orange in some specimens; hair on upper posterior part of meso-
pleuron entirely blackish in 33 or, when paler hairs are present, these
are very dark brownish or brownish; hair on abdomen above, from
side, with a distinct brownish tint, even subrufous or pale orange
brown towards apex and with the black hair on apical part above
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 545
denser, more extensive and more evident. Wings with the base
darker, not pale yellowish, but more brownish, with the squamal
fringe very dark blackish brown to black, with the veins much darker
and more blackish brown; halteres with darker or more brownish
knobs. Legs much darker and with the tibiae also almost black, not
pale yellowish brownish and the tarsi also much darker. Head with
the interocular space in $¢ distinctly much narrower, only about half
as broad as in hirticeps s. str., about as broad as the ocellar tubercle
or front part of tubercle, with the third antennal joints apparently
more slender. Hypopygium of ¢ like that of hirticeps (cf. text-fig.
154) but with the beaked apical joints apparently shorter in relation
to basal parts, comparatively less flattened; aedeagus less strongly
developed and also shorter.
In the Transvaal Museum and also in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 94-10} mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8} mm.
Locality.—S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Nov. 1920, Aug. 1923).
Nieuwveld Karoo: Fraserburg (Alston, 6/1885) (labelled as hirticeps
by Bezzi).
Doliogethes n. gen.
(Syn. = Dischistus in part.)
In this new genus are included some of the species referred to
Dischistus. The chief characters of this genus, as compared with
those of Dischistus, are:—
Body with the pubescence not pufi-like, not markedly long, fine or
shagey, that on head distinctly much shorter, less dense and shaggy,
that on thorax above also shorter and sometimes with a slightly
cropped-off appearance, the metapleurae not entirely bare, always
with some hairs, even if only along sutures and a metapleural tuft
of hairs always present; body, especially below and on face, usually
with extensive red. Head with the eyes in g¢ above either very
narrowly separated, or broadly separated by the ocellar tubercle,
sometimes almost touching in front of tubercle and sometimes even
broader than tubercle, with the interocular space in 99 broad, about
3-5 times as broad as tubercle; frons less convex, distinctly trans-
versely depressed in 99 and in $¢ also slightly or distinctly depressed
medially; antennae much shorter than in Dischistus, with the first
joints close together, much shorter and very much shorter than 3,
not thickened, incrassate or barrel-shaped and without very long
pubescence, with joint 3 much stouter, never spindle-shaped, usually
546 Annals of the South African Museum.
gradually narrowed from base to apex, sometimes subrod-like or
slightly curved, with the first terminal element much smaller and
shorter, not conspicuous and sometimes scarcely separately visible;
face rounded in front and not entirely bare above; genae narrower
and less evident and the upper parts of genae or sides of face not
tumidly prominent; proboscis longish or short; palps always short
and hidden in basal cavity at base of proboscis, also 2-jointed, the
apical joint being shorter than basal one. Wings as in Dischistus,
but with the first posterior cell, however, always open, with a distinct
and often well-developed basal comb present, with the alula strongly
or normally developed and lobe-like and the axillary lobe also more
strongly lobe-like and broader than in Dischistus, with the discoidal
cell distinctly more truncate and broader apically, with the wings
sometimes infuscated basally, especially in gg, sometimes also with
spot-like infuscations on apical cross veins of basal cells and with
the discal cross vein much before middle and not much beyond
middle of discoidal cell. Abdomen with the last sternite in $¢ not
elongate or narrowed and scoop-like, either truncate or slightly
emarginate apically and the posterior lateral angles rounded. Legs
always with some spines on middle and hind femora below and even
sometimes on front ones, the femora with only normal or shortish
hairs below, never with long, dense and conspicuous bristly hairs as
in Dischistus; tibiae usually with the spicules pallid and compara-
tively shorter; tarsi with the claws well developed, either rapidly
curved downwards apically and with long pulvill or less rapidly
curved down and with short pulvilli which do not reach the middle
of claws. Hypopygium of 33 (text-figs. 155-165) with the beaked
apical joints not very elongate or twisted; aedeagus either with a
vertical membrane-like process helow or with a ventral aedeagal
process below on each side in form of an apically directed process or
even with a complex single process, the aedeagus itself not very stout
and tubular.
The genotype of this genus is servatus (Wied.) as defined in this
paper. Very close to seriatus is tropunctatus (Macq.) and ovatus
(Bezz.). The other species to be included in this genus are pallidulus
n. sp., imbutatus n. sp., consobrinus n. sp., melanops n. sp., trivergatus
n. sp., rubicundus (Bezz.), lwridus n. sp., vittupes (Bezz.), aridicolus
n. sp., meridionalis n. sp., chionoleucus n. sp., psammocharus nu. sp.,
and rufirostris (Bezz.). Of the described, but to me unknown, species,
such as Dischistus variegatus Macq. (p. 102, Dipt. Exot. ii, 1840) and
possibly Bombylius pusio Wied. (p. 349, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1,
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 547
1828) probably also belong to this genus. The species are by no
means uniform and the servatus-series constitute a well-defined group
by themselves, distinctly differing from the pallidulus-meridionalis-
series. An anomalous series, to a certain extent constituting a
bridging group between this genus and the next one, are the species
trivergatus, rubicundus and luridus. The unique 9-chionoleucus n. sp.,
and 9-psammocharus n. sp. are in many respects not genotypical.
Key to the known South African species seen by me.
1. (34) Wings with the first and second basal cells not distinctly equal in length,
the first one always, even if only very slightly, longer than the second,
with the basal and costal parts either distinctly more yellowish or
yellowish brown, the veins usually darker and not pallid or pale yellowish;
pubescence not entirely and uniformly dull frosty white above and
below and all the bristly hairs and bristles on head and body not entirely
white, with distinctly less dense scale-like depressed pubescence on head,
behind eyes, on pleurae and on abdomen, with the pubescence on pleurae
in form of erect hairs and the mesopleural and metapleural tufts well
developed; head with the transverse depression on frons in 9? always
well developed, distinct and often conspicuous, with antennal joint 3
only very gradually thickened basally or subrod-like and even slightly
curved; legs with the spines and spicules yellowish or at least not
whitish. : i : : : : : : : wa 2s
2. (13) Body more or less ovate or elongato-ovate; scutellum entirely or very
extensively dark or black like rest of body above; pubescence on body
below and on pleurae uniformly ochreous yellowish, fulvous, purplish
red, mauvish red, mauvish to dark purplish brown or even purplish
black, that on abdomen above in both sexes always with much dark
hair in addition to black transverse bristly hairs or bristles; antennae
with joint 3 shortish, distinctly more thickened at base and then
gradually narrowed to apex; middle femora without any distinct spines
in front below; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 155-158) with the beaked
apical joints more elongated, without any ventral aedeagal process or
an apically directed process on each side, usually only with a vertical
membrane-like structure below . : : : : ‘ 3:
3. (4) Pulvilli long, extending to beyond middle of claws; antennae, face, greater
part of proboscis, pleurae, venter and legs ferruginous red or reddish;
wings with the base, costal cell, basal part of first basal cell reddish
brown, with a distinct blackish brown spot-like infuscation on apical
cross veins of basal cells and at junction of second and third longitudinal
veins; pubescence on head and body predominantly fulvous, orange
brown to rufous or reddish mauve, without any distinct intermixed
blackish or very dark hairs on occiput, thorax above and on venter;
antennae with joint 3 distinctly shorter, subequal to joints 1 and 2
combined and with joint 1 also slightly longer, at least 4, or even a little
more, times as long as 2. . 3 2 tripunctatus (Macq.) (p. 561).
548 Annals of the South African Museum.
4. (3) Pulvilli short, confined to base and not reaching middle of claws; all these
sites not reddish, antennal joint 3 and proboscis black and joints 1 and 2
usually with much black, face sometimes black, pleurae much darker
or even black and, if reddened, then only along sutures and the iegs
rarely entirely yellowish, with at least femora darkened or black, even
if only at bases, sometimes entirely black and even tibiae blackened in
some forms; wings with the base and costal part subopaquely yellowish
brown, not so extensive and conspicuous and without any distinct
spots on cross veins; pubescence on thorax more ochreous, ochreous
browu, mauvish white to dull whitish, that on head and occiput usually
darker and blackish or blackish brown, always with intermixed blackish
hairs on upper part of occiput, on thorax and those on disc of abdomen
above predominantly black; antennae with joint 3 distinctly longer
and longer than, even 1} times as long as, 1 and 2 combined and with
joint 1 slightly shorter, about 3-4 times, not longer than 4 times, as
long as 2 . : 2 o° RS
. (12) Legs with the femora alwane blackened in basal haters or even entirely
black; scutellum entirely black; antennae with joint 1 slightly shorter,
only about 3-34 times as long as 2, with 3 distinctly much longer than
1 and 2 combined; pubescence ochreous brownish, purplish reddish to
dull whitish on thorax above; smaller forms usually less than 11 mm.
long and with a wing-length of less than 9} mm. . 3 : 4. Gs
6. (11) Face and to a certain extent the sutural parts of pleurae, upper part
of mesopleuron and in gg sometimes the sides of abdomen reddish
yellow, reddish brown to brownish; legs with the femora blackened to
a variable extent, the tibiae and basal parts of tarsi yellowish or brown-
ish to dark brownish; pubescence above yellowish, ochreous brownish to
purplish reddish, that on mesopleurae and body below opalescent
fox red, fulvous brownish to mauvish red; wings with the basal and
costal parts more yellowish or yellowish brown, the veins yellowish
brown and the knobs of halteres on the whole paler, more yellowish to
yellowish brown : : : ‘wei
7. (10) Legs on the whole paler, he tomate aot So eens blackened, the
tibiae much paler and more yellowish; pleurae with more yellowish
red or reddish brown; pubescence on the whole paler, more ochreous
or fox reddish, that on abdomen above with more ochreous brownish
or fox reddish hair on sides, that on body below more ochreous to fox
reddish, the bristles or bristly hairs on body more fox red, reddish or
opalescent purplish red : : : sh) ae
8. (9) Pubescence on the whole more pelneons wolloiminh. hot on body below
also more ochreous reddish or yellowish, that on abdomen above with
more rusty or fox reddish hairs on sides and even discally in certain
lights, with the bristles on head, on sides of thorax and on scutellum
paler and more fox reddish to reddish brown; legs with the femora
slightly more extensively darkened, the tibiae more yellowish; sides of
abdomen more obscurely or scarcely reddened
3 & seriatus (Wied.) (p. 556).
9. (8) Pubescence on the whole more purplish red, that on body below more
opalescent purplish red or reddish, that on abdomen above almost entirely
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 549
very dark purplish brown, the black transverse bristles more conspicuous,
with the bristles on head, on sides of thorax and on scutellum more
conspicuously reddish to purplish red; legs almost entirely reddish
brown, only the bases of front femora and under surfaces basally of the
others darkened; sides of abdomen brownish red
3 2 seriatus var. puniceus n. (p. 558).
10. (7) Legs much darker, the femora entirely black and the tibiae also scarcely
paler; pleurae on the whole much darker, only the sutural parts
brownish; pubescence on the whole more ochreous brownish, with more
purplish brownish intermixed hairs above, that on abdomen above
predominantly black in both sexes, that below darker and more purplish
brownish or very dark fox reddish, with the bristles and bristly hairs
on head and body darker, more blackish brown, mauvish brown to
black é é ; . 6 2 sertatus var. vagens n. (p. 557).
11. (6) Face, entire antennae, ‘rie and entire abdomen much darker, usually
almost entirely black; legs almost entirely black and even tibiae and
tarsi very dark or even blackish; pubescence on thorax above dull
whitish, straw-coloured whitish or greyish white, that on scutellum,
pleurae, pectus and abdomen above predominantly very dark velvety
brown, with coffee brownish gleams; wings with the basal and costal
parts slightly darker, the veins very dark, the squamae more brownish
and knobs of halteres usually darker and more velvety brownish in j¢
atleast. . 6 & seriatus var. pullatus n. (p. 559).
12. (5) Legs predorinanttlys yellomaah: the femora not darkened; scutellum with
an obscure ferruginous tint discally towards hind margin; antennae
with joint 1 paler yellowish red, slightly longer and at least 4 times as
long as 2, with 3 thus slightly shorter and only a little longer than
1 and 2 combined; pubescence more mauvish white on thorax, pleurae
and sides of abdomen, intermixed with purplish to purplish brown
bristly hairs and bristles, those towards apex of venter more purplish;
slightly larger species, about 11 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 9 mm. . . 6 ovatus (Bezz.) (p. 560).
13. (2) Body not markedly sloteato: aitater seutalltina almost entirely yellowish
or reddish and under parts of body or abdomen above usually also with
much reddish; pubescence on face, head below, pleurae and venter
predominantly, or very extensively, gleaming, sericeous whitish or
silvery whitish or pale yellowish, that on abdomen above in both sexes
predominantly gleaming sericeous or silvery whitish to yellowish or
at least very pale and, if dark hairs are present, they are in form of
transverse bristles, that on thorax above sometimes with a tendency
to show transverse bands of gleaming golden brownish hairs; antennae
with joimt 3 more rod-like or subrod-like, usually slightly curved and
thus humped in appearance, usually longer and scarcely or less thickened
at base; middle femora usually with some distinct and often conspicuous
spines below; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 159-165) with the beaked
apical joints shorter, more broadened in basal half or basal part, with a
distinct ventral aedeagal process or with a distinct apically projecting
process on each side below aedeagus . : . 14,
14. (27) Claws distinctly more rapidly curved dome serenlly and the pulvilli
VOL. XXXIV. 36
550 Annals of the South African Museum.
long, reaching or extending to beyond middle of claws or even to apex;
eyes in gg more narrowly separated, the space not broader than ocellar
tubercle, sometimes very narrow and almost touching, the interocular
space in 99 also narrower and only about 3-34 times as broad as tubercle;
abdomen with the hind margins, or some of them towards apex, usually
broadly or narrowly reddish; pubescence with the bristles on head,
sides of thorax, posterior calli, scutellum and on pleurae entirely sericeous
whitish, sericeous yellowish or gleaming golden, not darkened at their
bases or in basal halves and the rest of pubescence above not with a
tendency for individual hairs to be darkened basally; wings tinged
yellowish in §¢ to a variable extent, much less so in 992 and with spot-
like infuscations on pis cross veins of basal cells not present in all
forms ; 15.
15. (24) Claws chistes leg) more ‘pial cusgeah down apically aid the pulvilli
distinctly extending much beyond middle of claws and even reaching
apices of claws; abdomen with the red hind margins of tergites broader
or at least more extensively developed; wings with the first basal cell
very much longer than second basal cell, the discal cross vein thus
nearer, at or even beyond middle of discoidal cell . : » 16.
16. (19) Eyes in known 3¢ very narrowly separated, touching or alae touching
in front of ocellar tubercle or at least not separated by ocellar tubercle
or front part of tubercle; face longer and broader, the antennae inserted
nearer middle of distance between tubercle and front edge of face;
antennal joint 1 distinctly longer, quite 4 times as long as 2; wings
with the discal cross vein very much before middle, at or near basal
third, of discoidal cell, more distinctly tinged deeper yellowish in basal
half or three-quarters in gg and also more distinctly yellowish at base
and costal part in 92 and with distinct dark spot-like infuscations on
apical cross veins of first and second basal cells and at base of second
and third longitudinal veins and even an indication of another at base
of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells; abdomen with the
red hind margins narrower in both sexes and pleurae more extensively
yellowish or reddish; pubescence on face, head below, pleurae and
venter much paler and more gleaming sericeous whitish or silvery, that
on thorax above with a tendency to be deeper yellowish or golden
yellowish across pronotal part, transversely on each side above wings
on disc and also on scutellum : «i. Ale
17. (18) Pubescence on thorax comparatively shinier sad in 33 with a slightly
more cropped-off appearance, predominantly more yellowish on occiput,
more broadly yellowish across front part of thorax, across thorax opposite
wings, across base and on scutellum, with the metapleural tuft more
yellowish; basal comb of wings distinctly more yellowish; scutellum
more extensively pale yellowish red or reddish and abdomen usually
more reddish apically; antennae with joint 1 slightly shorter and
slightly more thickened, with 3 subequal to or only a little longer than
1 and 2 combined; interocular space in 9° apparently broader, 3} to
nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 159)
with comparatively dense and conspicuous pubescence above on basal
parts, long in neck region below, with the beaked apical joints compara-
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 551
tively small and much compressed laterally towards apex, the beak
being much curved outwards, with the process on each side of aedeagus
below strongly developed, broad and with very broad flattened apical
parts; slightly larger form, about 6-9 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 63-9 mm. : : : : 3 & pallidulus n. sp. (p. 564).
(Syn.=variegatus Bezz. nec Macq.)
18. (17) Pubescence on thorax and on body above slightly longer and more
shaggy, less cropped off in g, predominantly paler and more whitish,
that on occiput and thorax also less yellowish, only with a yellowish
patch on each side of pronotal part, with the metapleural tuft whitish;
basal comb whitish; scutellum with a broader black base and apical
part of abdomen less extensively reddish; antennae with joint 1 slightly
longer and more slender, with 3 apparently also slightly shorter; inter-
ocular space in 92 comparatively narrower, not quite 34 times as broad
as tubercle; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 160) with much shorter and
less conspicuous pubescence on basal parts, the beaked apical joints
differently shaped and with longer and more slender apical parts, the
ventral aedeagal process on each side narrow and strap-like and without
a medial process; slightly smaller species, about 5-7 mm. long and with
a wing-length of about 6-7 mm. . ." § 2 imbutatus n. sp. (p. 567).
19. (16) Eyes in gg more broadly separated, as broad as front part of tubercle
20. (21
—
or as broad as tubercle; face very much shorter, the antennae inserted
much nearer front edge of face; antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter,
less than 4 times as long as 2; wings with the discal cross vein much
nearer middle, at middle or even slightly beyond middle of discoidal
cell, less deeply tinged or scarcely tinged yellowish in §¢ and base and
costal parts in 292 less conspicuously yellowish, without any distinct
spots on cross veins; abdomen with much broader red hind margins
or with extensive red above or even entire apical part may be extensively
reddish and the pleurae with much less red or even entirely black;
pubescence on face, head below and pleurae less sericeous whitish and more
yellowish or sericeous yellowish, that on thorax above either deeper and
more uniformly yellowish or with longitudinal, not transverse, stripes
ot brownish golden pubescence. : : : - = 20:
Interocular space in §¢ narrower, narrower than ieditar tubercle, only
about as broad as narrow front part of tubercle or front ocellus, quite
35 times as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with joint 1 darkened or
black above, with 2 entirely black, with 3 distinctly longer, more than
14 times as long as | and 2 combined, more rod-like; pubescence on
thorax above distinctly longer and more shaggy, with 3 distinct longi-
tudinal stripes or bands of rufous brown or gleaming golden brownish
hair and also with the similar hairs at base of thorax, with that on pleurae
paler and more whitish and that on abdomen above in both sexes pre-
deminantly sericeous white and distinctly longer and more shaggy;
wings with the discal cross vein usually distinctly beyond middle of
discoidal cell; hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 161) with a complex ventral
aedeagal process e : - 6 Q trivergatus n. sp. (p. 568).
21. (20) Interocular space in ¢¢ aia broader, ‘ least as broad as tubercle,
only about 3, or only a little more, times as broad as tubercle in 29;
5d2
22. (23
)
Annals of the South African Museum.
antennae with joints 1 and 2 yellowish, with 3 distinctly shorter and
stouter, only about 14, or even a little less, times as long as 1 and 2 com-
bined; pubescence denser, shorter and on thorax with a more cropped-
off appearance, especially in gg, more uniformly yellowish or sericeous
yellowish above, without any darker bands or with short band on each
side, with that on face, head below and pleurae less whitish and more
yellowish and that on abdomen above in both sexes shorter, denser and
yellowish; wings with the discal cross vein usually at about, or just
- before, or even slightly beyond, middle of discoidal cell; hypopygium
of gd (text-fig. 162) with the ventral aedeagal process in form of 2
apically projecting processes : » 22m
Antennal joint 3 more elongate, quite iy bines as Aotied as | sive 2 com-
bined; wings in §¢ very feebly and faintly tinged yellowish up to end
of costal cell and across middle of discoidal cell to apex of anal cell,
the yellow more evident towards base and in costal cell, with the apical
part of wings entirely hyaline; pubescence on thorax scarcely with a
band of darker hairs on each side; abdomen in 9? with only narrow
reddish hind margins on tergites 4-6 and tergite 7 blackish above and
with only narrowish indistinct, or without any, red discally on tergites
2 and 3; hypopygium:of ¢ (text-fig. 162) with the beaked apical joints
comparatively broader, with a shorter and broader apical half, distinctly
depressed above, with the ventral process on each side below aedeagus
directed obliquely outwards, broad, hollowed below and with the recurved
apical parts more or less armed with minute dentate processes along the
recurved margin ; : . & & rubicundus (Bezz.) (p. 570).
23. (22) Antennal joint 3 comparatively shorter, stouter, less than 14 times as
long as 1 and 2 combined; wings in gg more distinctly and more darkly
tinged yellowish or pale yellowish, the yellow also more extensive,
leaving only extreme apex hyaline; pubescence on thorax with a more
distinct reddish brown band on each side in basal half above wings;
abdomen in 99, as in g4, with tergites 4—7 very broadly red across hind
margins or even entirely reddish, with the red on sides also more ex-
tensive and with the hind margins of 2 and 3 also broadly red discally;
hypopygium of 3 with the beaked apical joints distinctly narrower,
more attenuated apically, with a longer apical beak, scarcely de-
pressed above, with the lateral aedeagal process on each side not
directed outwards, contiguous and parallel, much compressed in apical
halves, the recurved apical margin also much compressed but not armed
with distinct minute teeth . ; ; . 3d § luridus n. sp. (p. 572).
24. (15) Claws distinctly less rapidly curved down apically and the pulvilli just
about reaching or falling short of middle of claws, not extending beyond
middle; abdomen in 9@ at least with only the hind margins of tergites
towards apex narrowly reddish or even entirely black on greater part of
disc; wings with the first basal cell not very much longer than the second
basal cell and discal cross vein thus much nearer base of discoidal cell 25.
25. (26) Entire occiput, basal part of frons, medial part of face, greater part
of head below, mesopleuron, front part of pteropleuron and practically
entire abdomen above discally black; wings with the base, costal cell,
basal half of first basal cell subopaquely pale yellowish in 9, without
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 553
any distinct and conspicuous spot-like infuscations on apical cross veins
of basal cells and with the basal comb yellowish; pubescence slightly
longer and more shaggy on thorax at least, predominantly sericeous or
silvery whitish, only that across pronotal part with a fulvous sheen,
with the bristles and pubescence on abdomen entirely silvery or sericeous
whitish, that on pleurae also mainly sericeous whitish; claws apparently
slightly more curved and pulvilli quite reaching, or tending toextend a
little beyond, middle of claws. : . 2 melanops n. sp. (p. 580).
26. (25) Entire head above, upper middle part of occiput, entire face and head
below, the sides of thorax above, entire pleurae and even narrow hind
margins of tergites 3-7 discally reddish or red; wings with the base,
costal cell, basal half of marginal cell and greater part of first and second
basal cells more conspicuously and opaquely pale yellowish brown in 9,
with distinct, conspicuous and very dark spot-like infuscations on
apical cross veins of basal cells and with the basal comb blackish; pubes-
cence distinctly shorter, sericeous whitish above, but with the bristles on
occiput, ocellar tubercle, frons, antennae and upper part of face and
those on sides of thorax more reddish or reddish brown, those trans-
versely on abdomen above very dark blackish brown or black, with
the pubescence on pleurae and body below more yellowish, fulvous or
pale brownish golden; claws distinctly less curved down apically and
the pulvilli falling short of middle of claws
2 consobrinus n. sp. (p. 582).
27. (14) Claws distinctly more gradually curved down apically and the pulvilli
short, confined to base or just falling short of middle of claws but not
extending beyond middle; eyes in known ¢ distinctly more broadly
separated above, slightly broader than ocellar tubercle or even much
broader than tubercle, the interocular space in known 99 usually broader,
about 33-5 times as broad as tubercle; abdomen rarely with eveu narrow
red hind margins, usually entirely black above in both sexes and only
reddened on sides in some §¢; pubescence with the bristles on head,
sides of thorax, posterior calli, on scutellum and on pleurae, especially
in 29, darkened at bases or in basal halves, their apical parts gleaming
sericeous whitish or the bristles are at least tipped sericeous whitish,
with the rest of pubescence above, especially on disc of thorax above and
scutellum, tending to be more golden brownish or yellowish at their
bases; wings with the basal and costal parts yellowish to yellowish
brown, more extensive in §¢ and always with spot-like infuscations on
apical cross veins of basal cells . 3 28.
28. (33) Pubescence with the bristles on head, peeiats oe aaa ais of ees
on posterior calli, on scutellum, mesopleuron and in metapleural tuft,
especially in 99, distinctly darker, more yellowish brown, brownish or
black at their bases or in basal halves, their apical parts gleaming sericeous
whitish; interocular space in 99 broader, about 4-5 times as broad as
tubercle; antennal joint 3 much longer, at least 14 times as long as
1 and 2 combined; proboscis usually longer and more than 2-3 mm.
long; abdomen in ¢¢ sometimes more reddened on sides or on extreme
sides and entirely black above in 992; wings with the spot-like infusca-
tions on apical cross veins of basal cells smaller and more linear, less
554
Annals of the South African Museum.
conspicuous; legs with the femora usually darkened or blackened below,
with the pulvilli confined to base and not reaching middle of claws 29.
29. (30) Pubescence on abdomen in both sexes with distinct black transverse
bristles, only the extreme apices of which are pallid or whitish and with
the rest of the bristles on head, occiput, thorax in front and on sides
more extensively blackish brown or black, practically only their apices
gleaming whitish, with the pubescence on thorax above, especially in
3d, with more distinct, darker and more brownish golden hair in trans-
verse bands, the hair on sides of hind margin of tergite 2 conspicuously
dark fulvous brown or brownish golden in both sexes and with black
intermixed bristly hairs on all the coxae; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 164)
3 2 meridionalis n. sp. (p. 575).
30. (29) Pubescence on abdomen in both sexes without any black transverse
bristles, entirely sericeous whitish and if darkened then only at extreme
bases of bristles, with the bristles on head, occiput, thorax and scutellum
only darker yellowish brown or blackish at their extreme bases or in
basal halves, the greater part or apical half being gleaming sericeous
whitish, the pubescence on thorax above more whitish or with paler and
more yellowish transverse bands of hair or with only the bases of such
hairs brownish golden, the hair on sides of hind margin of tergite 2 entirely
whitish like rest of pubescence on abdomen, not dark, or scarcely fulvous
only at the bases of these hairs and with black intermixed bristly hairs
practically only on hind coxae . sie
31. (32) Wings in ¢ very extensively tinged ellos pion up we ona of costal
32
cell and across to basal half of second posterior cell, the yellow being
more distinct along veins in this part, the base, costal cell and basal
half of first basal cell more opaquely yellowish whitish, with the basal
comb larger and pale, with the squamae large and well developed;
interocular space in g very broad, quite 2 times as broad as ocellar
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 longer, more than 4, at least 5, times
as long as 2, with 3 tending to be reddish; proboscis longer, about 7 mm.
long; legs with the femora more extensively and more distinctly blackened
below; pleurae less extensively reddish; pubescence more straw-coloured
above, more yellowish across pronotal part, with the bristles on occiput,
thorax in front, sides of thorax, on posterior calli and scutellum reddish
or reddish brown at their bases; larger species, about 103 mm. long,
with a wing-length of about 114 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 163)
3 vittipes (Bezz.) (p. 573).
. (31) Wings in 3g only tinged subopaquely yellowish brown at base, in costal
cell, to end of first basal cell and across to end of anal cell, the rest
hyaline, with only the base, costal cell, basal two-thirds of first basal
cell and to a certain extent even basal two-thirds of second basal cell in
9 yellowish or yellowish brown, with the squamae smaller; interocular
space in gg narrower and only a little broader than, not more than 14
times as broad as, ocellar tubercle, about 4—5 times as broad as tubercle
in 99; antennae with joint | slightly shorter, only about 4 times as long
as 2, with 3 black; proboscis shorter, only about 2-3 mm. long; legs
with the femora less distinctly darkened below; pleurae extensively or
entirely reddish; pubescence gleaming sericeous whitish or silvery
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 555
whitish, more so in ¢g, that on disc of thorax in 29 and across pronotal
part and across sides of thorax just above wings and on scutellum fulvous
golden, with the bristles on occiput, frons, tubercle and face in 99,
on face in g¢ and on thorax in both sexes black or blackish brown at
their bases or in basal halves; smaller species, 5-8 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 6-8 mm.; hypopygium of § (text-fig. 165)
3 2 aridicolus n. sp. (p. 577).
33. (28) Pubescence with the bristles on head, occiput, front part and sides of
thorax and on posterior calli gleaming reddish brown or brownish
golden and not darkened at their bases; interocular space in 2 narrower,
only about 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennal joint 3 shorter, scarcely
or only a little longer than joints 1 and 2 combined; proboscis short,
only about 2 mm. long; abdomen in 2 with the hind margins of tergites
3-7 narrowly reddish; wings with the base, costal cell, basal half of
marginal cell and first and second basal cells opaquely pale yellowish
brown and with the dark spots on apical cross veins of basal cells larger
and more conspicuous; legs with the femora entirely yellowish like
tibiae and tarsi, with the pulvilli slightly longer and just reaching middle
of claws . : 2 consobrinus n. sp. (p. 582).
34. (1) Wings with the first and Lccend banal cells equal in length (Systoechus-like),
the wings entirely hyaline or greyish hyaline and the basal and costal
part subopaquely whitish, the veins pallid or pale yellowish or dark
brownish; pubescence on entire body above and below dull frosty or
chalky white and all the bristles on body either entirely white or only
their extreme bases may be golden, with very dense, hair-like scaling
on head, pleurae and abdomen, the pubescence on pleurae more in form
of hair-like scaling and woolly in appearance, the metapleural tuft poorly
developed and also in form of hair-like scaling; head with the transverse
depression on frons in 92 more feebly developed or at least not very
deep, with antennal jomt 3 distinctly more thickened or broadened
basally; legs with the spines and spicules whitish. (Entire body, in-
cluding scutellum, black) . ‘ 2 : Ss See
35. (36) Frons slightly narrower on vertex, only a little 1 more ites 3 times as
broad as ocellar tubercle, with the anterior depression less distinct;
face slightly shorter, narrower and less conspicuous; tibiae predominantly
dark; front tarsi more slender and longer than front tibiae and all claws
distinctly more rapidly bent downwards apically; pubescence entirely
frosty white; wings with the veins paler and more yellowish throughout;
body narrower and less bulky _—.. . Qchionoleucus n. sp. (p. 583).
36. (35) Frons relatively broader on vertex, quite 4 times as broad as tubercle,
with the anterior depression more distinct; face slightly broader, longer
and more conspicuous; tibiae distinctly much paler and predominantly
yellow, their apical parts yellowish brown; front tarsi thicker and shorter,
shorter than front tibiae and all the claws distinctly less rapidly curved
down apically; pubescence with the extreme bases of whitish bristles on
occiput, thorax in front of wings, on scutellum and transversely across
hind margins gleaming golden; wings with the veins on the whole
darker, becoming even blackish towards apical parts of wings; body
broader and plumper . ‘ : . 2 psammocharus n. sp. (p. 584).
556 Annals of the South African Museum.
D. seriatus (Wied.)
(P. 348, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; Bezzi, p. 63,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
Wiedemann’s description of a single 9-specimen of this species is
so unsatisfactory that it is almost impossible to identify this species
correctly without examining the type. Bezzi referred a g, in the
South African Museum, to this species and provisionally I am referring
some specimens to this species and am also describing at least three
distinct new varieties. The chief characteristics of the numerous
specimens and varieties referred to this species are:—
Body, including the proboscis and scutellum, black; frons and
face pale yellowish brown, reddish brown to black; antennae also
entirely black or also with joints 1 and 2 brownish or even yellowish;
sides of abdomen obscurely reddish or brownish on sides to entirely
black in gg; pleurae with the sutural parts, upper part of meso-
pleuron and hind margins of venter sometimes yellowish brown,
brownish or even entirely dark or black; legs with the coxae and
femora usually very dark, blackish brown to black, the tibiae and
apices of femora more brownish, sometimes also very dark and even
blackish like femora, the tarsi ranging from yellowish brown to almost
blackish; pubescence with fox reddish, ochreous, fulvous to purplish
reddish hairs above on occiput, thorax, scutellum, sides of tergite 1,
even on abdomen above discally, usually with intermixed darker
brownish, reddish brown or even blackish ones on these sites, with the
bristles on ocellar tubercle, frons, antennal joint 1 and face yellowish
brown, dark reddish brown to dark purplish brown, with the
pubescence on body below ochreous or brownish yellow to reddish
or purplish red or even almost black, that on abdomen above ochreous
to black, always with the transverse bristles black in both sexes,
with the bristly hairs on coxae ochreous yellowish, fulvous, brownish
to purplish and those on venter with dense ochreous brownish to
purplish or mauvish and even deep mauvish brown ones on sides;
wings hyaline, but with the base, costal cell, to a certain extent first
basal cell and alula subopaquely yellowish white to yellowish, with
the basal comb small, dark brownish to blackish, with the veins
reddish brown, brownish to very dark blackish brown, becoming
slightly paler basally, with the squamae opaquely pale yellowish
brown to dark brownish, with ochreous yellowish to brownish fringes;
halteres yellowish, brownish to dark brown ‘and with pale yellowish
to dark brownish knobs. Head with the interocular space in gg at
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 557
narrowest part about as broad as front part of ocellar tubercle, in 99
about 3, or a little more, times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 about 3-4 times as long as 2, with joint 3 nearly or about
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually narrowed to apex or
even subrod-like, ending in a small, insignificant, conical first terminal
element which again ends in a short style; proboscis about 13-3 mm.
Legs with slender, sparse bristle-like hairs on femora towards base;
middle femora without any distinct spines below or with 1 or 2 spines
below and some bristle-like hairs; hind femora with about 4—6 spines
in apical half below, continued basally as a row of bristle-like hairs;
claws gradually curved downwards apically, with the pulvilli very
short and confined to base in both sexes. Hypopygium of g (text-
figs. 155, 156) similar for all the varieties and fig. 155 of seriatus v.
vagens n. more or less showing the common structure of seriatus.
Length of body: about 4-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-74 mm.
Locality. Karoo, Nieuwveld Karoo and N.W. Karoo.
According to the description of Wiedemann the typical form has
predominantly fox reddish hair above and on face, that on abdomen
above also more ochreous yellowish, that on tergite 1 on side fox
reddish. Specimens which I am referring to the typical form also
have slightly pater legs, the tibiae and tarsi more yellowish and even
the pleurae are more yellowish brown; wings with paler veins and
with paler yellowish basal part and squamae.
38 33 71 92 D. seriatus var. vagens n.
This variety differs from the description of seriatus and from what
I take to be the typical form in having the face and antennal joints
1 and 2 more reddish brown, the pleural parts also are much darker,
dark brownish; legs with the femora more extensively darkened,
even black, only the apices more yellowish, even the tibiae much
darker, very dark brownish; pubescence ochreous brownish or
ochreous yellowish on thorax above, slightly paler on occiput and
pronotum in gg, with the bristly hairs on upper part of occiput
behind eyes also fox reddish, but the bristles and bristly hairs on head
above and face darker reddish brown to blackish brown in 99 and
even blackish in $3, with deeper reddish brown to purplish red
intermixed bristles and hairs on thorax and on scutellum, with the
dense pubescence on abdomen above in g$¢ predominantly black,
appearing velvety black, sparser but also black in 99, only those on
558 Annals of the South African Museum.
tergite 1 on sides ochreous brownish, with the pubescence on body below
also darker, more purplish brownish or fox reddish, the intermixed
bristles on mesopleuron and bristles in metapleural tuft even more
reddish to purplish red, the pubescence on sides of venter, especially
css
roa
.
Re
St
‘
‘
‘
1)
Y]
1
1)
i)
4
4
2
omer en. .
|
TExtT-FiG. 155.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium, and
dorsal view of beaked apical joint of g Doliogethes seriatus var. vagens n.
in $d, slightly deeper and more fulvous or ochreous brownish; wings
with darker or very dark blackish brown veins, the squamae darker
brownish and with more brownish fringes, the halteres with more
brownish knobs. Hypopygium (text-fig. 155).
Types in the South African Museum.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr. (Mus. Staff,
Oct. 1935).
1312 D. serratus var. pumceus n.
These specimens appear to represent a distinct variety, differing
from the typical serzatus and from the variety vagens in having the
hair, in the g especially, on occiput, thorax above and on body below
more or less uniformly and strikingly deep purplish red or purplish
brown when viewed from in front, that on pleurae even distinctly
more reddish and also with a distinct and beautiful opalescence in
certain lights, with the intermixed bristly hairs on mesopleuron and
sides in front of wings darker purplish red, that on abdomen above
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 559
also dark above as in vagens but more purplish brown when viewed
obliquely, the bristles on scutellum also deeper purplish red, the
bristly hairs on head above and face also very dark and more blackish
brown; sides of abdomen, especially towards apex, fairly broadly
and distinctly reddish brown like the pleurae and venter; legs almost
entirely reddish brown, only the front femora and undersurfaces of
the others at base dark or blackish.
Types in the British Museum.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Worcester (Turner, Sept. 1923).
3 66 7 92 Dz. seriatus var. pullatus n.
These specimens form a separate and distinct variety, differing
from the typical form and the other varieties in having an entirely
or almost entirely black body, there
being no distinct red on sides of abdomen
in gg and the antennae are also entirely
black; face entirely very dark or even
black and pleurae are black or only with
the sutural parts very dark blackish
brown in some specimens; legs almost
entirely black, the femora entirely black
and with even very dark spines on hind
ones below, the tibiae only slightly less
dark, the tarsi very dark brownish,
becoming darker apically; pubescence
with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
frons, antennae and face black or at
least very dark blackish brown, that
on occiput composed of whitish hairs Trxt-rrc. 156.—Side view of
intermixed with very dark reddish brown ny ai cos Henge, “Thea
; of beaked apical joint of ¢
to blackish brown ones, that on thorax Doliogethes seriatus var. pul-
and scutellum dull whitish or greyish ‘°?-
white, the bases of individual hairs being tinted slightly brownish
or yellowish, and intermixed with these are dark hairs, with the
bristles and hairs on sides of thorax in front of wings, on head below,
pleurae, pectus, on scutellum behind and on abdomen predominantly
very dark velvety blackish brown, having a deep coffee brownish
gleam, usually darker in $3, with some pubescence on sides of venter
and sides of abdomen above becoming paler and more whitish or
greyish towards apex in some specimens, that on sides of tergite 1
560 Annals of the South African Museum.
also pale and more whitish, that on abdomen above almost entirely
black in both sexes; wings with the veins also very dark as in var.
vagens, the squamae also very dark brownish and fringed with brown-
ish hairs in gg or even with paler ones in $9, with the knobs of halteres
usually darker and more brownish than in the typical form. Hypo-
pygium of g (text-fig. 156) like that of serratus but apparently more
punctured and rugulose on basal parts, in which respect it is nearer
to that of ovatus (Bezz). 7
Types in the South African Museum.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr. (Mus. Staff,
Oct. 1935) (Types). S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 1—6/10/1928)
(in the British Museum).
D. ovatus (Bezz.).
(P. 62, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This unique g-type, in the South African Museum, is so near to
seriatus, as defined in this paper, that it may even be considered as
still another variety of seriatus. It is,
however, slightly larger, and is easily
recognised by the dull purplish or
mauvish brown to mauvish white pubes-
cence, with the bristles on occiput and
head, those densely intermixed on sides
of thorax in front of wings, the bristles
on posterior calli, on scutellum and
transversely across abdomen, some in
metapleural tuft and on coxae dark
purplish brown, the pubescence on body
below, sides of abdomen and on venter
mauvish white; antennal joints 1 and
2, face, sutural parts of pleurae, sides
of abdomen and venter yellowish red;
legs slender, entirely yellowish, with the
pulvilli short, not reaching middle of
a ee Pig stam claws; wings hyaline, the base, costal
ovatus (Bezz.). cell and first basal cell subopaquely
yellowish, the veins reddish brown,
becoming paler basally. Head with the interocular space at
narrowest part as broad as tubercle, thus comparatively broader
than in seriatus; antennae with joint 1 distinctly longer than in
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 561
seriatus, at least 44 times as long as 2, with 3 relatively shorter in
relation to 1 and 2 combined and only a little longer. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 157) with distinct setiferous punctures on basal parts and
very much like that of serzatus var. pullatus.
Locality.—No locality label.
D. tripunctatus (Macq.).
(P. 101, Dipt. Exot. nu, 1840; Bezzi, p. 65, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921.)
A g-specimen of this species was referred to tripunciatus by Bezzi.
Provisionally I am referring a long series of both sexes to this species,
but apart from the reference to three spot-like infuscations on the
wings and the yellowish pubescence on body, Macquart’s description
is as good as useless and it is exceedingly doubtful whether these
specimens belong to the same species as seen by Macquart. Moreover,
the specimen of Macquart had no locality label. A full description
of the species is appended below so that it can be easily identified :—
Body above black, the integument, when denuded, with a deep
bluish black, submetallic sheen; antennae, frons, face, greater part
of proboscis above, greater part of pleural regions, sides of abdomen
broadly in ¢¢ and less extensively in 29 and the venter, pale reddish,
reddish brown to ferruginous brown, with the third antennal joints
often much darker and very dark reddish brown, with the reddish
brown infusion on pleurae variable, being often very pale and
extensive and sometimes infused with patches of dark brownish to
black, with the face often more pale reddish yellow to almost ochreous
yellow in some specimens, with the venter more often paler in 33
and the red on sides of abdomen in $4 more extensive and the entire
genital segment in gd also red; legs, including coxae, also pale
yellowish red to pale reddish brown, with the tibiae slightly more
distinctly yellowish, with the last 2 or 3 tarsal joints darker and more
blackish brown like the apices of the claws, with the spines and
spicules pallid to pale yellowish or reddish brown and the scaling
pale yellowish white to yellowish; pubescence fulvous, pale yellowish
brown, fox brown, pale velvety brown to fox reddish or purplish
red in effects, appearing darker brown when viewed from above,
the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, antennae and face pale
fulvous, pale reddish brown, fox red to dark purplish, those on
occiput and front part of thorax above slightly paler and more
yellowish in certain lights in some specimens, that in front of wings
562 Annals of the South African Museum.
and on each side just above wings and on upper part of mesopleuron
usually darker fulvous red, reddish brown or purplish red, the pubes-
cence on abdomen above in 3g discally very dark reddish or purplish
brown, with an obscure purplish tint and these dark hairs more or less
arranged transversely across apical parts of segments, with the bristly
hairs and hairs above in 92 more extensive and darker blackish brown
to black, the transverse bristles towards apex being longer, stouter and
entirely black, with those broadly on sides of abdomen in ¢¢ and
also apically paler yellowish fulvous to fox brown, darker reddish
brown in 99 and intermixed with dark blackish or purplish brown
bristly hairs, the pubescence on pleurae not paler than above, also
fulvous, reddish brown, fox red to opalescent purplish red, being paler
on front coxae and base of venter, especially in gd, with the meta-
pleural tuft also fox red, reddish brown or opalescent purplish red, the
bristles on thorax, scutellum and upper parts of mesopleuron reddish
brown to deep reddish, the transverse slender bristles on abdomen
in g3 fulvous or reddish, darker and more purplish brown to blackish
in 99, with the intermixed bristles on coxae dark brownish to reddish
brown, the hairs on head below much paler and whitish and those
towards apex of venter in 99 dark blackish or purplish brown and
much darker than in gd; wings vitreous hyaline, with the base,
costal cell, basal half of first basal cell, basal three-quarters of second
basal cell, alula and to a certain extent the extreme bases of anal
and axillary cells yellowish brown to brownish, with the greater part
of second basal cell, however, paler, with a distinct blackish brown
infuscation on discal cross vein, basal cross vein of fourth posterior
cell and also transversely across fork of second and third longitudinal
veins at about middle of first basal cell and also transversely across
base of first basal cell and extending into costal cell and, in some
specimens, also with a faint infuscation at base of vein separating
first and second submarginal cells, with the basal comb dark sienna
brown or reddish brown, with the veins dark brownish, the first and
third longitudinal veins and basal parts of some of the others yellowish,
with the discal cross vein before middle of discoidal cell, with the
squamae opaquely brownish and fringed pale yellowish brown to fox
red; halteres pale reddish brown, with pale yellowish or yellowish
white knobs. Head with the interocular space in gg, at narrowest
part, about as broad as anterior part of ocellar tubercle, about 3, or
even a little more, times as broad as tubercle in 92; antennae with
joint 1 subequal to or more often slightly longer than 3, with 3 only
very gradually tapering apically, the apical part not being very slender
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern. Africa. 563
and the terminal style very slender, almost bristle-like; proboscis
about 2-4 mm. long. Legs with the slender hairs below on front and
middle femora in $& slightly more dense; front femora unarmed
below; middle ones with about 1 or 2 spines apically below but often
without any spines; hind ones with about 5—9 spines below and often
with a long slender bristle at base; pulvilli not reaching apices of
claws. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 158) much resembling that of
some species of Bombylius, with the aedeagus curved upwards apically
i ‘
At
py
fo. \Z
Le?
pie
TEext-Fic. 158.—Half of ventral view and side view of hypopygium of ¢
Doliogethes tripunctatus (Macq.).
and without any ventral aedeagal process, only with a thin vertically
stretched membrane below; beaked apical joints with the apices
rather rapidly curved downwards.
Length of body: about 4-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-8 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); Kamieskroon (Mus.
Exp., Sept. 1930); Springbok (Lightfoot, Oct. 1890) (labelled as
tripunctatus Macq.); Klaver (Roberts, 19/9/17). W. Cape Province:
Olifant’s River Valley between Clanwilliam and Citrusdal (Mus. Exp.,
Oct._Nov. 1931); Van Rhyn’s Pass (Cockerell, 11—21/10/31) (Imperial
Institute). Karoo: Graaff-Reinet. 8. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner,
22-30/10/28) (British Museum).
564 Annals of the South African Museum.
Two 9-specimens in the British Museum from Matjiesfontein
probably represent a slight variety, differing from the Namaqualand
9 in having the bristly hair and bristles on the head darker and
more purplish brown, the pubescence on occiput and thorax above
slightly darker and deeper rufous brown to dark purplish red, the
depressed pubescence on frons and shorter pubescence on thorax
distinctly and more beautifully opalescent purplish red or pink, that
on pleurae on the whole also more opalescent dark purplish red or
pink, giving the entire lower parts of body a striking, deep purplish
red, opalescent hue, with the first antennal joint apparently shorter,
less than 4 times as long as joint 2, and the dark infuscations on discal
cross vein and apical cross vein of second basal cell distinctly less
diffuse and conspicuous.
17 33 7 92 D. pallidulus n. sp.
(Syn. =variegatus Bezz. nec Macq. on p. 64, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvi, 1921.)
Body above more or less black; rims of buccal cavity very pale
yellowish white; vertex and frons in 99, frons in g3, antennal joints
1 and 2, face, genae and head below, proboscis (excepting black
apex), scutellum, greater part of pleurae, apical margins laterally of
abdominal segments 1-2 and hind margins of 3-7 (more broadly
laterally and with segments 4—7 above in g3 almost entirely) and
hind margins of venter broadly (more so in $g) and genital segment
very pale yellowish red to pale reddish or reddish brown, with the
frons and face often more pallid and the sides of abdomen in $¢ more
salmon pinkish in some specimens; antennal joint 3 dark or blackish,
but with the basal three-quarters often more dark reddish brown to
brownish and in some even yellowish, only the apices being darkened;
legs, including coxae, pale ochreous yellow to pale yellowish brown,
with the lower surfaces of the femora usually shghtly more brownish,
with the last 2 or 3 tarsal joints darker and more brownish, with the
scaling on legs pale yellowish white to whitish and the spines pallid
or yellowish, with the apices of claws blackish; pubescence, viewed
from above, very pale yellowish and almost white or whitish on
abdomen, pale below, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons and
antennal joints yellowish to yellow, that on face and genae white or
whitish, the pubescence on occiput pale yellowish to yellow, but with
a distinct whitish sheen in certain lights, that on thorax above with a
broadish transverse band across its front part, a broad transverse discal
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 565
and basal band opposite wings and also transversely across scutellum
of pale golden yellow or sericeous yellow hair, slightly palerin 36,
separated by almost entirely white or whitish bands or transverse
patches, with the macrochaetae and bristles pale yellowish or pallid.
their apices still paler and whitish, that on abdomen above in 3¢ with
very pale yellowish hair on segment 2 and with white recumbent ones
on 3 to apex, with the transverse rows of bristly hairs very slender
and indistinguishable from the rest of the pubescence, in 92 with
yellowish hair on segment 2 and also yellowish hairs, arranged trans-
versely across apical margins of the other segments, the bases of
which, however, have whitish hair, with the transverse rows of bristly
hairs stouter, less recumbent and longer than the hair, very pale
yellowish white and with almost silvery white apices, with the hair
on head below, on prosternal region, mesopleurae, sides of abdomen
and greater part of venter apically white or whitish, that on upper
part of mesopleuron in metapleural tuft, hind coxae and often base of
venter very pale yellowish to yellowish white; wings with more or
less the basal half or basal three-quarters in g¢ tinged pale yellowish
brown to very pale yellowish, which infuscation in g¢ is often very
distinct and conspicuous in some specimens, extending even beyond
end of costal cell, leaving only the apical part, from base of second
marginal cell, hyaline and becoming imperceptibly darker towards
base, with the infuscation in 99 only visible in costal cell, basal part
of marginal cell, first and second basal cells and extreme bases of anal
and axillary cells and the rest of wing hyaline or greyish hyaline, with
a distinct and darker infuscation on discal cross vein and basal cross
vein of fourth posterior cell and also more diffusely at fork of second
and third longitudinal veins in both sexes, slightly more distinct in
Sg and often also with a very faint one at base of vein separating
discoidal and third posterior cells, with the basal comb pale yellowish,
with the veins brownish to dark brownish in ¢¢ (with darker infusca-
tion) and more pale brownish in 99, with the discal cross vein before
middle of discoidal cell, with the extreme base of wings usually more
distinctly subopaquely yellowish, with the squamae opaquely pale
yellowish white to yellowish and its basal half darker and fringed
whitish; halteres yellowish, with whitish or pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the interocular space in $d, at narrowest part,
almost touching, the inner margins of eyes touching and narrower
than front ocellus, then gradually diverging anteriorly, the frons
being small, nearly 4, or a little more than 3, times as broad as tubercle
in 99 at narrowest part; antennae with joint 1 usually shorter than 3,
VOL. XOoxiv. 37
566 Annals of the South African Museum.
with 3 only gradually tapering, often subrod-like, the apical part
not being markedly slender, with the terminal style short, bristle-like
and the first terminal joint often distinct, small and conical; pro-
boscis about 24-4 mm. long. Legs with about 4-6 longish spines on
middle femora below; hind ones with about 6-8 spines below.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 159, showing lateral and ventral views)
with the basal parts comparatively broad and short, densely pubescent
above and laterally in neck region, with the outer apical angles of
neck region prominent and projecting; beaked apical joints relatively
small and shaped as shown in figures, the beak directed outwards;
eo :*
an
; '
= ,
4.
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Trxt-Fic. 159.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and apical view of
beaked apical joint of g Doliogethes pallidulus n. sp.
aedeagus curved upwards and with a ventral process in form of a
medial projecting process (see figures) and connected with it on each
side a clavate process, broadened and flattened apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-9 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931) (Holotype); Springbok (Lightfoot, Oct. 1890) (Allotype
labelled as variegatus); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); Nieuw-
oudtville (Ogilvie, 18-22/11/31) (Imperial Institute). West Cape
Province; Olifant’s River Valley between Clanwilliam and Citrusdal
(Mus. Exp., Oct.—Nov. 1931).
Some g-paratypes, especially those from the Olifant’s River Valley,
show a tendency for the wings to be slightly more extensively tinged
yellowish brown, a character which appears, however, to be variable.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 567
Bezzi (p. 64, loc. cit.) referred a 2 of this species, together with another
© of another species, to varvegatus Macq. (p. 102, Dipt. Exot. u,
1840). Macquart’s statements that the pubescence is “‘albo fusca-
noque,”’ that it is “‘long 4 l.,” that the wings “‘d base jaundtre non
ciliées”’ (which I take to refer to the absence of a basal comb) and to
a long proboscis seem to me to refer to some larger species than this.
5 gd 4 92 D. imbutatus n. sp.
This species resembles small specimens of pallidulus very closely,
but may at once be distinguished by the distinctly longer hairs on
TrExt-FIc. 160.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ Doliogethes
imbutatus n. sp.
body above, especially in gg on thorax above, where the pubescence
has no apparent “shorn-off’ appearance; pubescence is also
paler and more whitish, the hair on occiput being distinctly whiter
and that on front part of thorax above also whiter and with only a
patch of yellowish hair on each side, that in metapleural tuft whitish;
wings in gg, at least, with the yellowish brown infuscation often
shghtly, but distinctly, more extensive, leaving less of the apex
hyaline, with the basal comb whitish; scutellum with a broader
black base and often less extensively and more obscurely reddened.
Head with the interocular space in $¢ as in pallidulus, but in 99
comparatively narrower, not much more than 3 times as broad as
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 distinctly longer and more than
4 times as long as 2, more slender and not thickened, with joint 3
shorter than 1 and 2 combined; proboscis about 2-24 mm. long and
also red with a black tip. Abdomen with a tendency to be less exten-
568 Annals of the South African Museum.
sively red on sides apically and also on venter. Legs with about 3 or
4 slender spines below on middle femora; hind ones with about
5-7 spines below. Hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 160, lateral and
ventral views and dorsal view of beaked apical joint) with
distinctly less and less dense pubescence above on basal parts, the
neck region below being much smoother and without very long hairs;
beaked apical joints not laterally compressed towards apex, differently
shaped and with a slender and pointed apex; aedeagus with the
lateral process on each side below slender and narrow, the apical
parts scarcely dilated and directed downwards and outwards and
without a medial projecting prominent process.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality—Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931)
(Types). W. Cape Province: Olitant’s River Valley between Clan-
william and Citrusdal (Mus. Exp., Oct-Nov. 1931). 8S. Karoo:
Matjiesfontein (Turner, Oct. 1928) (British Museum).
The specimens from the Olifant’s River Valley probably represent
a slight variety. They are slightly smaller than 7 mm., with more
obscurely reddened scutellum and often with the first antennal joints
less conspicuously elongate, but nevertheless slender and the process,
on each side of aedeagus, slightly shorter.
3 33 5 92 D. trivergatus n. sp.
Body black; antennal joint 1 pale reddish yellow to yellowish, but :
darkened along upper surface or often with a dark infusion at about
middle above or towards base or near apex; proboscis and second
and third antennal joints black; face, posterior calli, scutellum,
sides of first abdominal segment, broad hind margins of segments 2-7
in gd (very much broadened laterally, occupying the entire sides
and also almost the entire upper segments 3-7), 2-6 in 99 (slightly
narrower but also much broadened laterally), almost the entire venter
in $3 and narrow hind margins of ventral segments in 99, pale yellow-
ish red, red to reddish; pleurae almost entirely dark, only with an
obscure reddish infusion in some specimens; legs pale ochreous
yellow to pale brownish yellow, with the coxae dark, the extreme
bases of front and middle femora often darkened too and with the
last 2 or 3 tarsal joints also darkened and more blackish brown,
with pale yellowish white scaling on legs and pallid or yellowish spines
A Rewsion of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 569
and spicules; pubescence, viewed from above, appearing dark brown-
ish on thorax and white on abdomen, when viewed from the side,
that on occiput is straw-coloured yellowish to yellowish and often
with an almost pale orange yellowish sheen in some 34, that on
thorax above straw-coloured whitish or yellowish and with 3 broad
longitudinal bands of reddish or velvety brown to orange brown
hair, appearing almost dark brown from above and coalescing
towards the base, where it occupies almost the entire base, these
Text-F1c, 161.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and apical view of
beaked apical joint of ¢ Doliogethes trivergatus n. sp.
bands being separated discally by 2 central narrow bands of
more whitish or straw-coloured whitish hair, the pubescence on
posterior calli and scutellum with pale or straw-coloured whitish
hairs, that on abdomen with the hair transversely across basal
half of segment 2 also dark reddish brown or velvety brown
and the rest of the fine and slender longish hairs and bristles on
abdomen in g¢ white, but with the depressed ones in 92 more
yellowish and the erect ones slightly more straw-coloured whitish or
yellowish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and frons in 99
straw-coloured whitish, often more distinctly yellowish in some 33,
that on antennae and face in both sexes whitish or straw-coloured,
the hair on pleurae, in metapleural tuft and venter whitish to pale
straw-coloured whitish, that on venter in g¢ slightly more con-
spicuously white, with the macrochaetae and bristles on posterior
calli straw-coloured whitish, but with those on scutellum often slightly
paler yellowish brown; wings distinctly, though faintly, tinged pale
BAO) Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish in 3g, the infusion extending imperceptibly to about end
of costal cell and across wing to basal half of second posterior cell,
becoming distinctly more evident towards base, only greyish hyaline
in 99° but with the faint yellowish tinge present only in costal cell,
first basal cell and base, with the basal comb straw-coloured, with
the veins mostly pale yellowish, becoming more brownish or dark
towards apex, the discal cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal
cell, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and with a whitish fringe;
halteres pale yellowish, with whitish knobs. Head with the inter-
ocular space in $3, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of
tubercle, the inner margins of eyes being subparallel for a distance
not quite as long as tubercle before diverging apically, a little more
than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with joint 1 com-
paratively short, only about or scarcely 3 times as long as 2 and with
1 and 2 combined very much shorter than 3, with 3 almost rod-like,
slightly more thickened towards base in 99; proboscis about 2-24 mm.
long. Legs with 1 or 2 longish spines on apical aspect below on
middle femora and 5-6 spines on hind ones below. Hypopygium of
S (text-fig. 161, lateral and ventral views and the beaked apical joint
from above) with the beaked apical joints compressed in apical half
and directed outwards, with the dorsum foveately depressed; aedeagus
with a complex ventral aedeagal process.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931)
(Holotype); Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931) (Allo-
type).
This small species can be separated from all others in this series by
the presence of three longitudinal bands of dark reddish brown hair
on the thorax, the white hair on the abdomen and extensively reddened
abdomen, especially in gd.
D. rubicundus (Bezz.).
(Pp. 60 and 61, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This species, as stated by Bezzi, has a marked superficial resem-
blance to Bombylius mundus Lw. The chief distinguishing char-
acters of this species are the yellowish red first and second antennal
joints, the yellowish red face, the yellowish red propleural part, a
yellowish red longitudinal band across pleurae, the predominantly
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 571
yellowish red scutellum, very broad reddish yellow sides of abdomen
in $3, broad yellowish red hind margins of tergites in $3, narrower
reddish hind margins in 99, the broad reddish hind margins of sternites
in gg and the entirely yellowish legs in both sexes; pubescence
rather shortish, dense and compact in 3¢ at least, that on thorax in
33 at least with a cropped appearance, that on abdomen also shorter
than in other species in this category, pale sericeous yellowish above,
that on antennae below and face more golden yellowish, that on
TEextT-FIG. 162.—Side view of hypopygium, ventral view of aedeagal complex,
and dorsal view of beaked joint of g Doliogethes rubicundus (Bezz.).
thorax in basal half arranged in more or less 3 discal bands, of which
the one on side above wings is more developed and slightly deeper
yellowish, the pubescence on body below slightly paler and duller
yellowish than above; wings with a very faint, but distinct, yellow-
ish tinge towards base in gd, the base, costal cell and basal half of
first basal cell more distinctly subopaquely yellowish, the wings
hyaline in 99, with the small basal comb yellowish, the veins pale
yellowish brown, more yellowish basally, with the discal cross vein
in the neighbourhood of the middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
subopaquely yellowish white, with a very pale yellowish white or
creamy fringe; halteres with almost white knobs. Head with the
eyes above in g¢ separated by width of ocellar tubercle, in 99 by a
space about 3, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle; face
shorter than in the pallidulus-series, the antennae inserted much
572 Annals of the South African Museum.
nearer the front edge of face than in pallidulus, aridicolus, etc.;
antennae with joint 1 short, only about 2, or a little more, times as
long as 2, with 3 only about 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
stoutish, with a slight tendency to be broadest just before middle,
the terminal elements in form of a slight boss bearing a fine style;
proboscis rather stoutish, slightly reddened below, about 2-3 mm.
long. Legs with 2 or 3 distinct spines on middle femora in front and
about 5-6 spines on hind ones below; claws rapidly curved down
apically, with the pulvilli extending beyond middle of claws in both
sexes. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 162) showing side view, dorsal
view of beaked joints and ventral view of aedeagus, with the beaked
apical joints hollowly depressed above; aedeagus not visible from
side, situated just above and between two apically directed processes,
one on each side arising from base of aedeagus and each continuous
with a lateral ramus from each basal part, with each process itself
hollowed out below and recurved apically, the apical margin of
recurved part with a few small dentate processes.
Locahiy.—N.W. Cape Province: Bushmanland and Namaqualand.
(In the South African Museum.)
15 3s 14 99 D. lumdus n. sp.
This species is very near to rubicundus, from which it differs in
the following points:—Body with the red on abdomen more extensive,
especially in 99, tergites 2-7 and especially 4—7 with very broad red
hind margins, the entire apical half of abdomen thus almost, or
entirely, red, and the venter in 99 also with broader and more extensive
red hind margins, with the front part of frons in 9? also more reddish;
pubescence also slightly longer, slightly more golden yellow on
abdomen in both sexes, with the band on each side of thorax in
basal half sightly more apparent, more obviously reddish brown,
especially in 99; wings in g¢ distinctly tinged more extensively
yellowish than in rubicundus, the yellowish infuscation occupying
almost entire wing, leaving only the apical part hyaline, the base
and costal cell also subopaquely yellowish or pale ochreous yellowish,
the discal cross vein also in neighbourhood of middle of discoidal cell.
Head with the eyes in 3¢ also separated by width of ocellar tubercle
and also about 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; antennae with
joint 1 also short, but apparently a little longer than in rubicundus,
a little more than 2, sometimes almost 3, times as long as 2, with
joint 3 distinctly shorter in relation to the others than in rubicundus,
A Revision of the Bombylizdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 573
less than 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, often tending to be
subequal to them, plumper and stouter, with a tendency to be more
humped or even spindle-shaped; proboscis also about 2 mm. long.
Legs also entirely yellowish, the last two tarsal joints dark, with
about 1-2 spines on middle femora below and about 5-7 on hind
ones below; claws and pulvilli as in rubicundus. Hypopygium of $
like that of rubicundus, but differing in that the beaked apical joints
are much less depressed above, with more slender, narrower and
longer apical parts, ending in a sharp point; aedeagus almost
invisible, lying between the two processes, which are not widely
divergent (like the limbs of a Y), but contiguous and parallel, more
laterally compressed in apical halves, with the apical recurved part
very much laterally compressed and apparently without distinct,
small dentate processes along the recurved apical margin, with the
dorsal basally directed aedeagal struts longer and more developed
than in rubicundus.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-7 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931)
(Types); Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936). Bushmanland:
Een Riet (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911). Karoo: Murraysburg Distr.
(Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935). S. Karoo: Worcester (Turner, Sept.—
Oct. 1931) (British Museum); Montagu (Turner, 1-21 Oct. 1924)
(British Museum); N.E. of Touw’s River (Turner, 26/10/28) (British
Museum).
D. vittipes (Bezz.).
(P. 63, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
The ¢ of this species is easily recognised by the very broadly
separated eyes, which are more broadly separated than in other
species in this category, quite 2 times as broad as tubercle, by the
more extensively infuscated wings, the entire basal two-thirds up
to end of costal cell and across to basal half of third posterior cell
being yellowish brown, the brownish more evident along the veins,
with the spots on apical cross veins of basal cells distinct and slightly
darker, with the basal comb yellowish, the bases of the spines dark,
with the discal cross vein very much before middle of the discoidal
cell, with the squamae rather large; pubescence predominantly
straw-coloured whitish, appearing more sericeous whitish in certain
574 Annals of the South African Museum.
lights, that on thorax in front and to a certain extent on disc with
yellowish or reddish yellow bases, without any dark hair on abdomen,
with the bristles on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons, on occiput, sides
of thorax, on mesopleuron, on posterior calli, on scutellum and in
metapleural tuft reddened or reddish brown at their bases, becoming
gleaming sericeous whitish in more than their apical halves; head
TExtT-FIc. 163.—Ventral view of aedeagal complex, side view of
hypopygium, and dorsal view of beaked joint of 3: Doliogethes
vittipes (Bezz.).
with the antennae more or less reddish, the proboscis black and very
long (7 mm.); abdomen reddened on the sides, with the venter
almost entirely reddish like head above and in front and across middle
of pleurae; legs with the femora markedly blackened below, the front
femora with about 2 spines behind, the middle ones with about 5-7
spines below, and hind ones with about 5-7 spines below, with the
claws only gradually curved and the pulvilli confined to base of
claws. Hypopygium (text-fig. 163) resembles that of pallidulus, with
the beaked apical joints slightly depressed above (see figure), with
the lateral ramus on each side continued below aedeagus as a process
ending on each side in a slightly broadened, downwardly directed
apical part. It is a fairly large and bulky species.
Locality.—_N. Namaqualand: Bushmanland.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 575
1 g 2 99 -D. meridionalis n. sp.
Greater part of body above black; antennal joints | and 2, frons,
face and to a great extent head below very pale yellowish red;
scutellum ferruginous red; sides of abdomen above and greater part
of venter in ¢ very pale yellowish red or almost salmon pinkish;
pleural regions with only indistinct and obscure reddish infusions
along sutures, only the sclerite in front of front coxae being pale
reddish or yellowish red; proboscis with obscure reddish above
basally, more distinctly evident in 3; legs pale yellowish ochreous,
with the lower surfaces of trochanters and femora blackened or black,
with the spines on femora dark brownish to blackish, the spicules
on tibiae yellowish and with the last 2 tarsal joints dark; pubescence,
from above, brownish on thorax and whitish on abdomen, when
viewed from the side that on occiput whitish, with some dark brown-
ish, often whitish-tipped, bristles on each side behind eyes, that on
thorax above whitish, with a transverse band of yellowish brown to
ochreous brown or fulvous brown hairs from shoulders across front half
of thorax, with another broader transverse band of similarly coloured
hairs across middle of mesonotum, but also occupying the posterior
calli, and lastly with a transverse band of similar pubescence
across scutellum, the pubescence on abdomen above predominantly
pale, almost entirely white in 3, but with a distinct tuft of dark
blackish brown hairs and bristles on each side of segment 2 and
some white-tipped, blackish brown transverse ones laterally on 3-5,
with the pubescence on 2 basally in 99 tinted yellowish, the rest
also whitish, but with the tuft of blackish brown hairs and bristles
laterally on hind margins of 2 more extensive and conspicuous and
also with the transverse rows of stout bristles on segments 3-6
entirely blackish brown to black but white-tipped, a few, however,
discally on each side of dorsal interruption on 3 being whitish and
pale brownish, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, those
in a clump on each side of frons, some on antennae above and
some intermixed ones on each side of face in ¢ and a patch on
each side of vertex in 99 as well as more numerous ones on each
side of face in 99 and also some on face in front in 99 dark
blackish brown, but conspicuously white-tipped, with the rest of
the bristles and bristly hairs on head in both sexes whitish to seri-
ceous white, the hairs in g¢, however, being slightly finer and more
numerous, with the pubescence on frons more golden, that on pleurae
along the middle and on propleurae silky or sericeous white, that
576 Annals of the South African Museum.
towards upper part of mesopleuron with a distinct yellowish tint,
that on venter predominantly whitish, but more yellowish on sides,
especially in 99, with the bristles in front of wings, some on front
part of thorax above and intermixed ones on upper parts of meso-
pleurae dark blackish brown but gleamingly white-tipped, some of
the macrochaetae, the intermixed bristles on posterior upper part
of mesopleuron, bristles on posterior calli and on scutellum more
reddish and white-tipped, those on coxae
with numerous intermixed blackish brown
ones, those on venter in 9Q almost
entirely blackish brown, white in basal
half in $; wings greyish hyaline, with
the basal half of costal cell, base and
alula subopaquely whitish and the apical
part of costal cell, base of marginal cell,
more than basal half of first basal cell,
greater part of second basal cell and
extreme base of anal cell distinctly tinged
greyish brown or brownish, with a larger
diffuse spot at fork of second and third
longitudinal veins and smaller ones on
the discal cross vein and basal cross vein
of fourth posterior cell darker and more
blackish brown, with the basal comb
comparatively well developed, pale
Trext-Fic. 164.—Side view of Yellowish white-haired and brown-spined,
hypopygium and dorsal view with the veins brownish, becoming paler
one Se ee fate and yellowish towards base, the discal
cross vein before middle of discoidal cell,
with the white-fringed squamae opaquely yellowish, only the basal
part, next to body, being brownish; halteres pale yellowish brown, with
very pale yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space in 4, at
narrowest part, at least 2 times as broad as broad ocellar tubercle,
quite 4 times as broad as tubercle in 2; antennae with joint 3 only
rapidly narrowed apically in apical fourth, slightly less than 14 times
as long as 1 and 2 combined, and joint 1 about 3 or a little more
times as long as 2; proboscis about 34-4 mm. long. Legs with the
hairs on front and middle femora below finer and denser in 4, with a
few stouter and darker white-tipped ones in 9; front femora with
about 2 or 3 yellowish spines below just beyond middle; middle ones
with about 3-4 spines on lower aspect and about 2 on lower outer
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 577
aspect; hind ones with about 8-10 darker spines below; pulvilli
confined to bases of claws. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 164, lateral
view and dorsal view of beaked apical joint) like that of vittepes
(cf. text-fig. 163), but with slightly longer hairs on dorsum of basal
parts; beaked apical joints slightly more foveately depressed above;
process, on each side of aedeagus, much smaller and inconspicuous,
the extreme apical part scarcely broadened; basal strut slightly
narrower and the posterior broader part longer and narrower.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 84-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 9-11 mm.
Locality—S. Karoo: Calitzdorp Distr. (Matjiesvlei) (Brauns,
1/10/21) (Holotype); Matjiesfontein (Trimen, Oct. 1891) (Allotype).
N. Karoo: Venterstad Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
This species and wittipes (Bezz.) are peculiar in this genus in that
the eyes in both gg and 99 are markedly broadly separated, more so
than in any other species. The presence of distinct spines on the
front femora below and the infuscation along the lower surfaces of
the femora also separate them from other species. In common with
other species they also have 3 transverse bands of darker hairs across
mesonotum and scutellum, which bands are separated by pale
pubescence. D. meridionalis n. sp. is very near vittvpes Bezz. from
which, however, it differs by the less infuscated wings in the ¢ and
the presence of transverse rows of blackish brown bristles on abdomen
in 9 and g and also by the much darker fulvous brown, or golden
brownish, transverse bands of hair on front part of body.
34 gg 41 99 D. aridicolus n. sp.
(Syn. =Dischistus variegatus Bezz. (nec Macq.), p. 64, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
Black; middle part of occiput, just below ocellar tubercle, and the
vertex, especially in 99, greater part of proboscis palps, the frons,
face, genae and to a certain extent antennal joints 1 and 2 in both
sexes, the greater part of pleurae, the post-alar callosities, the scutel-
lum, the sides of abdomen, more broadly in g& and also almost
entire apex in gg and the greater part of venter, more extensive in
$3, yellowish brown to yellowish red, reddish or yellowish; legs
predominantly yellowish brown, slightly darker brownish or even
darkened or blackened on femora below, with the spines on femora
578 Annals of the South African Museum.
below on the whole darkened even if only at their bases, with the
last 2 tarsal joints darkened or blackened and the apical parts of the
claws black; pubescence not long on thorax, longer and more shaggy
on abdomen especially towards apex, predominantly gleaming
sericeous or silvery whitish above, that across thorax in front, that
transversely on each side above wing-bases, that on disc of thorax
and on scutellum in 99 brownish to fulvous golden, the apices of
individual hairs gleaming more silvery in certain lights, with the
pubescence on thorax in $¢ predominantly or entirely silvery, only
the bases of hairs on extreme pronotal part and some transversely
above wing-bases tinged yellowish, with the pubescence on abdomen
entirely silvery whitish in 3g and much longer than in 99, that in
22° composed of longish gleaming silvery whitish bristles and bristly
hairs, shorter and denser white hair on sides and shortish, erect,
golden brownish or fulvous brownish pubescence discally, more
distinct towards or on basal half above, with the pubescence on head
predominantly silvery whitish, almost entirely so in 3g, with the
bases or basal halves of occipital bristles, bristles on ocellar tubercle,
those on sides of frons, on antennal joint 1 below and on face in 99
usually much darkened, yellowish, yellowish brown to even blackish,
with the extreme bases of only a few bristles on sides of face and on
tubercle in ¢¢ darkened or blackish, with the bristles in front of
wing-bases, on mesopleuron, across pronotal part, on posterior call,
on scutellum and even the transverse ones on abdomen in 99 individu-
ally blackened or darkened at their bases or in their basal halves,
those on abdomen much less so, in $d only those in front of wing-
bases, on posterior calli and on scutellum are brownish or darkened
at their extreme bases, with the pubescence on body below silvery
whitish on head below, on propleural parts, on coxae and on venter,
that on pleurae more or less fulvous or brownish golden, with the
hairs and bristly hairs in mesopleural tuft gleaming brownish golden
basally and silvery whitish apically, the gleaming silvery or sericeous
whitish bristles in metapleural tuft with their basal halves also
golden, fulvous or brownish golden, with the pubescence on hind
coxae predominantly golden brownish, containing black bristly hairs
which are pale-tipped and also with a few silvery-tipped dark or
blackish bristles on intermediate coxae, with the scaling on legs
silvery whitish; wings glassy hyaline, with the costal cell and basal
part up to end of first basal cell and across to end of anal cell in 3g
subopaquely yellowish brown, cinereous brownish to even brownish,
this infuscation, however, very variable, the greater part of anal and
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 579
axillary cells more often almost entirely hyaline, with only the base,
costal cell, basal two-thirds of first basal cell and to a certain extent
basal two-thirds of second basal cell in 92 brownish or yellowish
brown, with the base in both sexes appearing more yellowish, with
three distinct blackish, spot-like infuscations at fork of second and
third longitudinal veins and on each of the apical cross veins of
first and second basal cells, these spots usually very distinct but
sometimes more so in $4, with the basal comb blackish brown or dark-
Trext-Fic. 165.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Doliogethes aridicolus n. sp.
tipped, the veins dark brownish, darker towards apex and in infuscated
part, with the discal cross vein at about the basal third of discoidal cell,
with the vein separating submarginal cells very much curved, with
the squamae opaquely yellowish and fringed with white hairs;
halteres yellowish brown to yellowish, with pale yellowish brown or
ochreous yellow knobs. Head with the interocular space in 3¢ a
little broader than ocellar tubercle even to nearly 14 times as broad
as tubercle, very broad in 9° and about 4-5 times as broad as tubercle;
face broad, convex, long, the antennae inserted at about middle of
distance between front edge of face and tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 about 4 times as long as joint 2, with joint 3 nearly or quite
14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually narrowed apically,
slightly curved, ending apically in a conical first terminal element
and a short almost insignificant style; proboscis about 2-3 mm.
580 Annals of the South African Museum.
long, with black labella; palps with the apical joints narrowish
and shorter than basal joints. Legs with some small spicules on
front and middle femora above towards apex and usually with a
slender spine on front ones apically behind; middle ones with about
3-4 longish spines in front and 1 or 2 smaller ones behind; hind ones
with about 4-10 spines below from near base to apex; claws gradually
curved downwards apically, the pulvili just about reaching or just
falling short of middle of claws. Hypopygium of ¢g (text-fig. 165)
with the beaked apical joints shaped as shown in middle; aedeagus
slightly curved upwards apically, with the ramus on each side
forming a ventral aedeagal process the apex of which is slightly
recurved, much resembling that of meridionalis, in which species the
beaked apical joints, however, have a longer beak and the outer side
more produced and rounded.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
Locality — Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr.; Melton Wold
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935) (Types). N. Namaqualand: Bushmanland;
Jakhals Water (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911).
This species is slightly variable in the intensity of the yellowish
brown infuscation at base of wings in gg and to a certain extent also
in the black-based bristles in 92. It is very abundant on the flowers
of Mesembryanthemums during October and in spring. It is very
near meridionalis, from which it may at once be distinguished by the
absence of black transverse bristles on abdomen in both sexes. The
Q-paratype from Bushmanland was referred to Dischistus variegatus
Macq. by Bezzi (p. 64, loc. cit.), a species which is at present not
determinable from Macquart’s description (p. 102, Dipt. Exot. u,
1840) and which appears to be larger.
1 29 D. melanops n. sp.
Black; entire occiput, basal part of frons, antennal joint 3, face
medially, hinder part of head below, mesopleuron and front part of
pteropleuron black and not reddish as in many other species; front
part of frons, antennal joints 1 and 2, sides of face, greater part of
proboscis, humeral angles, lower part of pleurae, narrow hind margins
on extreme sides of tergites 1, 5 and 6, greater part of venter and
greater part of scutellum ferruginous reddish or yellowish brown;
legs pale yellowish brown, the spines more yellowish and last 2 tarsal
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 581
joints dark or blackish; pubescence rather longish, shaggy, predomi-
nantly sericeous or silvery whitish above and below, that across
front part of thorax with the basal parts of the hairs more fulvous
or brownish golden in certain lights, with the occipital bristles near
vertex, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and some on sides of
frons also reddish or brownish golden, with some hairs on disc of
thorax and bases of post-alar bristles and the erect hairs on scutellum
also gleaming golden brownish, with the pubescence and bristles
on abdomen (where not denuded) entirely silvery or sericeous whitish,
only the fine but sparse scaling golden, the bristles and bristly hairs
on antennae, face and genae like pubescence below silvery whitish;
wings hyaline, with the base, costal cell and basal part of first basal
cell subopaquely pale yellowish white, with the basal comb yellowish,
the veins dark brownish, becoming paler basally, with the discal
cross vein much before middle of discoidal cell, without any spot-
like infuscations on apical cross veins of basal cells, with the alula
opaquely yellowish and fringed with white hairs; halteres yellowish
brown, with pale yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space
a little more than 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; face long as
in pallidulus and imbutatus, the antennae being inserted at about, or
nearer, the middle of distance between front edge of face and tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 quite 4 times as long as 2, with 3 only a very little
longer than 1 and 2 combined, very gradually narrowed apically, the
first terminal element small and scarcely separately visible; pro-
boscis about 2 mm. long; palps very slender, inconspicuous. Legs
with about 2 spines on middle femora in front and about 5 spines on
hind ones below; claws slightly less rapidly curved down apically
than in pallidulus-series and the pulvilli just extending a very little
beyond middle of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—N. Karoo: Venterstad Distr. (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
This species with its slightly shortened pulvilli is easily distinguished
from imbutatus by the black face, from the luridus-series by the
shorter pulvilli and almost equally long basal cells in the wings. It
is related to aridicolus and consobrinus, differing from the former in
having a narrower interocular space and longer pulvilli and from the
latter in having no black bristles on abdomen.
WOE. SOMXEV. 38
582 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 2 D. consobrinus n. sp.
Black; small triangular part on occiput just below ocellar tubercle,
the vertex and entire head above reddish; face, genae and head
below more yellowish; antennal joints 1 and 2, greater part of
proboscis (excepting blackish labella), thorax on each side in front
of wings, narrowly above wings, the posterior calli, scutellum, the
pleural parts, sides of abdomen, narrow hind margins of last few
segments above, the apical segment and greater part of venter reddish
yellow; legs pale yellowish red, the tibiae and tarsi shghtly more
yellowish, with the apical part of last tarsal joint and apices of claws
black; pubescence above (as far as this has not been denuded)
sericeous whitish to pale sericeous yellowish, that on occipital region,
that across front part of thorax, more or less across disc and across
base of thorax with sericeous whitish gleams, with the hair in front
of wings more sericeous yellowish, with the intermixed bristles on
occiput, thorax in front, those in front of wings, on posterior calli
and scutellum reddish to reddish yellow, with the bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle and sides of frons also dark reddish to reddish brown,
those on face stoutish and gleaming sericeous whitish or very pale
sericeous yellowish, with the depressed pubescence on frons sericeous
yellowish, with the hairs on abdomen above (as far as these are still
visible) sericeous whitish or yellowish, the short depressed pubescence
pale sericeous yellowish, with the transverse bristles on abdomen
above very dark blackish brown to black and more evident posteriorly,
with the hair on body below more or less gleaming pale sericeous
yellowish on pleural parts, becoming very slightly paler and more
sericeous whitish towards pectus and on propleural part, with some
darkish bristles on hind coxae, with the hair on sides of abdomen
‘and venter more gleaming sericeous white; wings hyaline, with the
base, costal cell and from end of costal cell across to apex of second
basal cell subopaquely yellowish brown, this infuscation more or less
distinctly marked off, with the costal, first, second and third longi-
tudinal veins and bases of the others yellowish and those towards
apex and hind border very dark blackish brown, with a dark cloudy
spot, just beyond middle, in first basal cell and extending into second
basal cell and with another at base of first basal cell and at base of
anal cell, with a more conspicuous spot-like infuscation on apical
cross veins of first and second basal cells, with the basal comb small
and black, the discal cross vein much before middle of discoidal cell,
the squamae opaquely yellowish and very dark or black-margined
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 583
near alula, their fringes white; halteres yellowish and with the knobs
very pale yellowish above and more reddish brown below. Head
with the interocular space about 3 times as broad as tubercle, the
inner margins of eyes subparallel, only very gradually diverging
anteriorly; antennae with joint 3 subequal to joints 1 and 2 combined,
more or less rod-like, not broadened basally, the extreme apical part
rapidly narrowed, with the first terminal joint conical and distinct,
though small; proboscis about 2mm. long. Legs without any visible
spines on front femora below in this specimen, with about 2 spines on
middle ones below and with about 4 or 5 somewhat slender and long,
separated spines on hind femora below; claws only gradually and
very slightly curved downwards apically, with the pulvill slender
and about reaching middle of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 65 mm.
Locality.—Southern Karoo: Ceres Distr.; Cold Bokkeveld (Vers-
feld, Oct. 1934).
This species resembles aridicolus and melanops, from both of which
it is distinguished by the black transverse bristles on the abdomen,
the well marked off basal and costal yellowish infuscation of the wings
and more conspicuous spots. It is also related to the pallidulus and
imbutatus-series in having reddish hind margins on abdomen and by
the pulvilli, which reach or just fall short of the middle of the claws.
Both consobrinus and melanops may be considered as intermediate
between the pallidulus and the arzdicolus-series.
1 2 D. chionoleucus n. sp.
This unique 9-specimen and the following species are only pro-
visionally placed in Doliogethes. In certain respects these 92 show
characters which are not present in this genus. The dense hair-like
scaling on abdomen, the absence of red on the body and the equally
long basal cells in wing are not normal characters of Doliogethes.
Body, including scutellum, black; hind margins of tergites tending
to be very narrowly yellowish, especially towards apex; legs pre-
dominantly black, only the knees yellowish and the tibiae very dark
blackish or reddish brown, the bases of tarsi also dark reddish brown,
the spines on femora and spicules on tibiae whitish; pubescence
comparatively dense, longish only on occiput, front part of thorax
and towards apex of abdomen on sides and below, entirely non-
584 Annals of the South African Museum.
gleaming frosty white above and below, only the transverse bristles
on abdomen slightly gleaming white, that on frons above dense and
scaly, that on pleurae more woolly and like fine hair-like scaling, with
fine, hair-like, dull white scaling on abdomen above and below, very
dense on venter, with the dense scaling on legs cretaceous whitish;
wings greyish hyaline, the base and costal cell and first basal cell
more subopaquely whitish, the basal comb smallish and white, the
veins pale yellowish brown, becoming more yellowish basally, with
the discal cross vein near base of discoidal cell, the first and second
basal cells being equal in length as in Systoechus, with the squamae
opaquely whitish and fringed with white hair; halteres yellowish,
with very pale knobs. Head with the interocular space a little more
than 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons with the anterior
transverse depression not conspicuous; face not bare medially, but with
much pubescence and dense scaling especially on sides, the face itself
not rounded but shortish as in trivergatus and luridus-series; antennae
with joint 1 about 3 times as long as 2, with 3 about 14 times as long
as 1 and 2 combined, thickened towards base and rapidly narrowed
apically; proboscis about 3 mm. long. Legs without longish hairs
on femora below, without any spines on front ones below; middle
ones with 1 or 2 small spines in front; hind femora with about 4—5
spines below; claws rapidly curved down apically and pulvilli reaching
apices of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm.
Locahity.—S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp., March
1925).
1 Q D. psammocharus n. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black; legs with the femora pre-
dominantly black, only the extreme apices yellowish, with the tibiae
yellowish, the apical halves tending to be more brownish, with the basal
halves of front and middle tarsi and bases of hind ones yellowish, the
apical halves or more than apical half blackish, with the spines on hind
femora below and the spicules and spurs on tibiae pallid or whitish;
pubescence comparatively dense, longish on occiput, front part of
thorax and on abdomen especially towards apex, very dense and
Anastoechus-like on body below, that on sides of face, genae, on
sides of head behind eyes, on pleural regions, on coxae and venter
frosty white, very dense and almost woolly, more in form of hair-like
-A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 585
scaling, that on front part of frons, sides of face and genae slightly
more gleaming silvery whitish, with the hair-like scaling on abdomen
above also frosty whitish, with the sericeous whitish gleaming bristly
hairs on occiput distinctly tinted yellowish at their bases, with the
scaling on upper parts of occiput and basal part of frons also tinted
yellowish, the bristly hairs on thorax above (where not denuded)
whitish, with the macrochaetal bristles in front of wingsy post-alar
bristles, the bristles on scutellum and transversely across hind margins
of the tergites white, sometimes gleaming sericeous whitish in certain
lights, longer and more conspicuous towards apical part of abdomen
and with their bases, especially those on abdomen, distinctly tinted
gleaming golden yellowish, with the bristly hairs on antennal joint 1
whitish and the bristles on venter also white, with the erect frosty
white bristly hairs on sides of tergite 1 also gleaming golden yellowish
at their bases and with the scaling on legs dull whitish but appearing
greyish or graphite-like in certain lights; wings greyish hyaline, with
a feeble subopacity, with the costal cell and base slightly subopaquely
pale yellowish white, with the costal vein and veins in basal part
yellowish, the rest of the veins dark brownish, becoming very dark
blackish brown or blackish towards apical part, with the basal cells
subequal or equal in length (Anastoechus or Systoechus-like) as in
chionoleucus, with the alula, like base of wing, slightly milky whitish,
dark-bordered and with the white-fringed squamae subopaquely
yellowish white, with the basal comb pale yellowish golden but
covered with whitish scales above; halteres yellowish, with very pale
yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex broad,
quite 4 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons shallowly trans-
versely depressed apically and also more or less triangularly impressed
medially; face slightly more prominent and broader than in chiono-
leucus; antennae with the first joints very slightly separated, about
3 times as long as joint 2, with 3 nearly 2 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, broadest just before middle and more rapidly narrowed
apically than basally, with the terminal joint, bearing a slightly
curved style, situated slightly dorsally; proboscis rather stoutish,
about 3 mm. long, with the labella pointed. Legs with about 2
spines in front and about 3-4 behind on middle femora and with
about 6-8 spines on hind ones below; claws distinctly less rapidly
curved downwards apically than in chionoleucus; pulvilli just falling
short of apices of claws; front tarsi slightly thickened and distinctly
shorter than front tibiae.
Type in the South African Museum.
586 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 84 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This species resembles chionoleucus but differs in having much
paler tibiae, stouter tibiae, comparatively shorter and stouter front
tarsi, less rapidly curved-down claws, relatively broader interocular
space on vertex, more distinct transverse depression on frons, more
developed face, darker wing-venation and in having the bristles on
abdomen above and on occiput distinctly gleaming golden at their
bases. This 2 was taken while settling on sand between bushes.
Chasmoneura n. gen.
(Syn. = Dischistus in part.)
This new genus is erected to contain species of the lepidus and
minimus groups of Bezzi as given on pp. 93 and 98, ““ The Bombyliidae
of the Ethiopian Region, 1924,”’ which up to now have been referred
to Dischistus. By referring to the minimus-group, only the Ethiopian
species, referred to by Bezzi, are included. The Palaearctic minimus
Schrk. s. str. 1s unknown to me and may or may not belong to this
genus in the strict sense of my definition. The species of Chasmo-
neura by no means show strict uniformity, but in essentials they all
differ from Dischistus s. str. and the preceding Doliogethes.
The chief characters of this genus are:—Body always entirely or
predominantly black, without any red on scutellum and very rarely
with obscure reddish or brownish on pleurae and sides of abdomen,
usually with much or very conspicuous scaling, which is either
flattened and lanceolate or fine and hair-like, usually dense on thorax,
scutellum and abdomen in 99, sometimes as dense silvery scaling on
abdomen in gg, sometimes with an additional silvery tuft of scaling
on sides of face in 99 and sometimes with conspicuous, gleaming,
opalescent, metallic, greenish or bluish scales on body above especially
in 99, often with blackish, graphite-like scaling, which gleam greasy
whitish in certain lights, with the pubescence in gd usually denser
and longer than in 99, the pubescence in 9? usually sparse, short and
almost wanting on certain parts of body, with a distinct metapleural
tuft present in both sexes. Head with the eyes above in gd always
in direct or actual contact for a distance at least subequal to, or as
long as, ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in 99 on the whole
narrowish, scarcely, or distinctly less than, 3 times as broad as
tubercle, the inner margins of eyes in 9? distinctly and sometimes
A Revision of the Bombylitdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 587
rapidly diverging anteriorly; frons with a distinct transverse furrow
just behind antennal insertions in 9? and usually with a slight medial
depression leading up from it towards front ocellus, the frons some-
times brilliantly shining black in 99; face always bare medially in
both sexes, short, sometimes brilliantly shining black in both sexes;
antennae with the first joints close together, short, scarcely 3, usually
less than 3, times as long as 2 and not incrassate, with joint 3 long,
slender, rod-like or only narrowed in apical part, with the first terminal
joint usually small and conical, narrower than apex of 3 and slightly
displaced towards outer side and ending in a slender spine-like style;
proboscis short or long and slender, sometimes distinctly and minutely
spinulated below, with the labella sometimes short and horny;
palps small and not projecting very much beyond buccal cavity,
two-jointed. Wings with the basal comb small and poorly developed,
the wing itself hyaline or subopaquely greyish hyaline or even slightly
tinged cinereous or even very darkly infuscated, especially in the gg
of some species, rarely with spot-like infuscations on apical cross
veins of basal cells, with the discal cross vein in the neighbourhood
of the middle of discoidal cell, never very near base or very much
beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the apical cross vein of this cell
usually short, the cell thus distinctly narrowed apically and not
broadly truncate, with the alula always well developed and lobe-
like, the axillary lobe also broad and lobe-like and with the first
posterior cell always open. Abdomen with the last sternite in 3¢
usually emarginate posteriorly and its posterior lateral angles pointed,
angular or even distinctly angularly produced. Legs without very
long, brush-like hairs on femora below, without distinct spines on
front and middle femora below, but always with some distinct spines
below on hind femora; tarsi with the claws always rapidly curved
downwards apically and with the pulvilli long and reaching apices
of the claws in both sexes. Hypopygium of 3d (text-figs. 166-172)
with the beaked apical joints elongate or bird-head shaped; lateral
ramus, on each side from basal parts, coalescing under aedeagus and
forming a ventral aedeagal process, which is sometimes complex (the
structure of which can be seen from the figures) and which always
ends in an apical hook, spine or prong-like, more or less slender and
curved, process on each side; aedeagus itself either long or short and
more or less slender and tubular.
This genus differs from Dischistus s. str. in not having long, markedly
dense and shaggy pubescence on body, on head, antennae and face or
femora, in having the eyes in g¢ in actual contact above, a much
588 Annals of the South African Museum.
narrower interocular space in 99, in having a distinct transverse
depression on frons in 99, contiguous, non-incrassate and much
shorter first antennal joints, a well-developed and distinctly lobate
alula, a distinct metapleural tuft, distinct spines on hind femora
below and an entirely different type of hypopygium. From Dolio-
gethes it differs in having denser scaling on body, sparser pubescence
in 99, in the presence of silvery tufts on sides of face in some 99, the
presence of dense silvery scaling on abdomen in some gg and the
presence of scintillating, metallic, greenish or bluish scaling on body
in some 99, in having the eyes in gd always in actual contact for a
distance at least subequal to length of ocellar tubercle, a distinctly
narrower interocular space in 99, the inner margins of eyes in 99
being more rapidly divergent anteriorly, in having the transverse
depression on frons in 99 farther forwards and just behind antennae
and often with a slight medial depression leading from it up towards
tubercle, in having the frons and face in some 99 and the face in
some $¢ brilliantly shining black, an entirely bare face or a medially
bare face, distinctly longer third antennal joints, in having the discal
cross vein never very near base of discoidal cell, in having the last
sternite in §¢ angular or angularly pointed posteriorly on each side,
the claws always rapidly curved down apically and the pulvill
always reaching apices of claws in both sexes, and lastly in having
the ventral aedeagal process of hypopygium ending in a distinct
curved spine or hook on each side. The genotype is argyropyga
(Wied.).
The species belonging to this genus are:—frontalis (Lw.), coracina
(Lw.), kaokoénsis n. sp., cinereitincta n. sp., rhodesiana n. sp., lepida
(Lw.), loewt n. sp., gemmea (Bezz.), argyropyga (Wied.), horna and
flavipes n. sp. The species, unknown to me, which are also referable
to this genus are:—senegalensis (Macq.) (p. 99, Dipt. Exot. u, 1840),
vitripennis (Lw.) (p. 46, Neue Beitr., mi, 90, 1855), nucalis (Bezz.)
(p. 96, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924), farinosa
(Bezz.) (p. 97, loc. cit.), diademata (Bezz.) (p. 610, Trans. Ent. Soe.
Lond., 1911-12), and most likely also gibbicornis (Bezz.) (p. 322,
Voy. d. Ch. Alluaud et Jeannel. Afr. Or. Ins. Dipt., 1911-12, 1923).
Bezzi’s Dischistus aurifluus (p. 90, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region), according to the description, seems to be a peculiar species,
agreeing with species of Chasmoneura in having a brilliantly shining
face, but more with Dischistus s. str. in having slightly thickened
first antennal joints, dense pubescence and no spines on femora below.
As I have not seen this species and as it cannot be satisfactorily
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 589
fitted into any of the above genera from a description alone, I
cannot allocate it to any genus. Moreover, it may not be a South
African species at all.
Key to the species of Chasmoneura seen by me.
1. (16) Wings in relation to body less elongate, usually entirely hyaline or greyish
hyaline or almost imperceptibly yellowish grey or greyish cinereous, not
distinctly or darkly infuscated; proboscis longer, usually longer than
2 mm. and sometimes very long; pubescence on face usually pre-
dominantly dark or with more numerous black hairs on sides and, if
predominantly whitish, wings are not tinged yellowish brown, that on
abdomen in g¢ rarely in form of dense silvery white scaling above, and
if silvery, the face is either brilliantly shining black or wings are not
infuscated, sometimes with scintillating metallic, shining greenish or
bluish scaling on body above in some 992; legs with the femora even in
2 never entirely yellowish, the bases or more often the entire legs very
dark or black in both sexes; abdomen and pleurae in both sexes entirely
black ; 2.
2. (9) Frons and face not aot ail Beillitly lianas Bricks ies male vallowish
or brownish, with only the femora darkened or blackened to a variable
extent; pubescence on body above and on pleurae without brilliant
scintillating, metallic, greenish or bluish or opalescent scaling in 992
and without conspicuous silvery whitish scaling on abdomen above in
6d; hypopygium of gg (text-figs. 166-168) with narrower and more
elongate beaked apical joints, with the aedeagus short, blunt and usually
hidden by the much longer ventral aedeagal process, which ends apically
on each side in a crochet-like or hook-like process é - S123.
3. (8) Pubescence on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above predominantly pale
yellowish or creamy yellowish and that on squamae yellowish or yellowish
brown; halteres predominantly yellowish, with almost white or very
pale knobs; proboscis comparatively long and usually longer than
2% mm.; femora black or blackened only basally or in basal halves,
the apical parts or halves being yellowish, the hind ones with more
than 3 spines below; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 166-167) with the
beaked apical joints slightly shorter in relation to basal parts, with
the apical process on each side of ventral aedeagal process more developed,
conspicuous, crochet-like or hook-like . : : wee
4. (7) Pubescence on face in front in ¢¢ always with some allowisk or pale hairs,
that on abdomen above entirely yellowish or whitish, with the stoutish
macrochaetal bristles in front of wings black, with the pubescence above
and on face in 929 slightly more yellowish and with a distinct silvery
white tuft on each side of face in 92; spines and spicules on femora
and tibiae very dark or black; wings with the vein between submarginal
cells tending to be nearly straight or less S-curved; last sternite in jd
with its posterior lateral angles only angular and not markedly produced
lobe-like; hypopygium of g$¢ (text-fig. 166) with the apical halves of
beaked apical jomts more distinctly directed downwards, the joints
590 Annals of the South African Museum.
also slightly broader and with a more conspicuous tuft or crest of longer
bristly hairs along inner aspect . : ; « “Os
5. (6) Pubescence with that on face in front in ¢g with auek fone male or yellowish
hairs, almost entirely black, that on head below, prosternal part, pleurae,
especially upper part of mesopleuron, and basal part of venter in gd
deep blackish brown to black, with the hairs on coxae in gd also darker,
with pale straw-coloured yellowish to yellow pubescence and brassy
scaling in 29, with black bristles on thorax, scutellum and transversely
across abdomen in 29 and with a conspicuous tuft of silvery white hairs
on each side of face and pale yellowish hair on pleurae in 29; hypopygium
of $¢ with the beaked apical joints less tapering in apical half, with the
limbs of the recurved hooks of ventral aedeagal process on each side less
divergent and with the lateral struts distinctly broader and more foliate
db 2 pectoralis (Lw.)
(var. of it) (p. 594).
6. (5) Pubescence with that on face in front in gg with denser and distinctly
more numerous pale or yellowish hairs, with the more numerous hairs
on head below, those on prosternal part, on pleurae and on upper part
of mesopleuron and entire venter pale creamy yellowish or pale yellowish
white, the hairs on coxae duller and more brownish or blackish brown
in $3, with the pubescence in 92 apparently the same as described
above, but sometimes without a conspicuous silvery tuft on each side
of face; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 166) with the beaked apical joints
more slender and elongate in apical halves, with the limbs of the recurved
hooks of ventral aedeagal process on each side broadly divergent and the
hooks themselves slightly more recurved, with the lateral struts distinctly
less broad and foliate : : : 3 2 pectoralis (Lw.) (p. 594).
(Syn. =? 9 frontalis (Lw.))
7. (4) Pubescence on face in front in g¢ entirely black, that on abdomen above
predominantly blackish brown to black, with some or all of the macro-
chaetal bristles pallid or yellowish, with the pubescence above and on
face in 99 slightly paler, more whitish or straw-coloured and apparently
without a distinct silvery tuft on each side of face in 99; spicules on
front and middle tibiae at least predominantly pallid or yellowish;
wings with the vein separating submarginal cells more normally or
distinctly S-curved; last sternite in gg with its posterior lateral angles
markedly and very acutely produced, lobe-like; hypopygium of gd
(text-fig. 167) with the beaked apical joints more compressed, slightly
longer and with only the apex bent downwards and outwards and with
the dense, bristly hairs along upper inner aspect not prolonged into a
distinct tuft : : ; f . 6 & kaokoénsis n. sp. (p. 596).
8. (3) Pubescence on entire body above and below very dark blackish brown or
black and that on squamae also very dark blackish brown; halteres
predominantly and almost entirely dark brownish, only the apices of
knobs with a slightly paler tint; proboscis very slender and only about
23 mm. long; femora entirely black, only the extreme apices or knees
being slightly paler and with only 2-3 visible spines in apical aspect
below on hind ones; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 168) with the beaked
apical joints comparatively long and slender and with the apical crochet-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 591
like hooks, on each side of ventral aedeagal process, small and incon-
spicuous . . 6 coracina (Lw.) (p. 598).
9. (2) Frons and face aren and brilliantly shining black; legs entirely dark or
black; pubescence on body above and on pleurae with brilliant, scintil-
lating, metallic, greenish or bluish or opalescent scaling in addition
to erect pubescence, especially in 29, with dense conspicuous gleaming
silvery white scaling on abdomen above in g¢;. hypopygium of gd
(text-figs. 169-172) with shorter and basally much broadened beaked
apical joints, and if long, body has silvery white scaling, with the aedeagus
considerably longer and projecting beyond ventral aedeagal process
(and if short, abdomen has white scaling), which process is usually
complex, broad and ending apically on each side in a long curved spine
or slender bent hook . : : : : 3 10.
10. (13) Face on each side and down he genae along margins of eyes with a
conspicuous elongated band or patch of distinct, fine, brilliantly gleaming,
silvery white tomentum, broad basally and narrowed apically, more
distinct and broader in 92; pubescence with the bristly elements on
sides of face, bounding this silvery tomentum, sparse and entirely black
in both sexes, with a conspicuous vertical patch of white hair from
base of wing to front coxae and also with white hair on hind part of
| metapleurae in 99, with brilliant, scintillating, metallic, greenish or bluish
scaling on frons, thorax, scutellum, pleurae and abdomen above in 99,
| with the pubescence in §¢ denser, longer and more shaggy; proboscis
longer, about 3-63 mm. long, not spinulated below and with a short,
horny labella; hypopygium of known g¢ (text-fig. 169) with the inner
apical part of neck region of basal parts prominently produced into a
flattened, laminate process, with only dense bristly hairs on the com-
paratively elongate beaked apical joints and with the apical spine on
each side of complex ventral aedeagal process long, slender and only
gradually curved downwards 4 : . = allt
11. (12) Pubescence in ¢¢ above and below eHbitele hier er any white
hair on sides of tergite 1 or long, shaggy, white ones on abdomen above,
but only with gleaming silvery, white scaling on tergites 3-7 above, in
22 with the hair on head below, on front and hind coxae, on pleurae
vertically down from base of wing to front coxae, on posterior part of
metapleurae, the apical parts of metapleural tuft, the hair on sides of
tergite 1, a central row of scaly patches on abdomen above, a patch of
scales on sides of tergite 4 and the scaling on extreme sides of abdomen
ventrally below gleaming silvery white, the sparse hair on thorax and
scutellum black, but the flattened scaling on frons, thorax and scutellum
glittering, very deep metallic blue, with the hairs and bristles on abdomen
above in 9@ also black; wings with a distinct, though very faint, sub-
opaque smoky greyish or cinereous tinge, the base and costal part and
alula being darker, with the veins blackish brown, the squamae dark or
blackish and black-haired; proboscis slightly longer, about 5-64 mm.
long; hypopygium of $¢ (text-fig. 169)
o 2 cinerettincta n. sp. (p. 599).
12. (11) Pubescence in ¢¢ black on ocellar tubercle, face, head below, thorax and
scutellum above, greater part of pleurae, on coxae and on tergite 2
592
Annals of the South African Museum.
(especially laterally), that in metapleural tuft whitish in certain lights,
that densely on sides of tergite 1 and the long shaggy hairs or bristles
on abdomen white and more so towards apex, with silvery white scaling
on abdomen above from tergite 2 to apex, the pubescence on occiput with
a yellowish tint, in 992 with the hairs on occiput whitish, those on head
below, on propleural part, the vertical patch from base of wing to front
coxae, those on all the coxae, in metapleural tuft, on hind part of meta-
pleurae, on sides of tergite 1, the long bristly hairs on abdomen above and
the patches of scaling on sides of tergites and on sides ventrally below
silvery whitish, with the flattened scaling on frons, thorax and scutellum
above paler, more opalescent, gleaming silvery bluish or greenish, even
more silvery on sides; wings more hyaline, the base and costal parts more
yellowish, the veins paler and more yellowish, the squamae more yellowish
posteriorly and fringed with white hairs; proboscis slightly shorter,
about 3-44 mm. long : ; . 6 & rhodesiana n. sp. (p. 602).
13. (10) Face on each side and down the genae without any conspicuous brilliantly
shining silvery tomentum; pubescence with the bristly hairs on sides of
face and along genae in gg, not always black, more numerous, in 99
aggregated in a distinct silvery or white tuft on each side just below
antennae and with sparse black hairs above them, without a conspicuous
vertical patch of silvery whitish hairs on pleurae or along hind part of
metapleurae in 29, the pubescence on pleurae more uniformly pale or
dark in both sexes, with duller, gleaming, greyish white to silvery whitish
and graphite-like scaling on body above and on pleurae and also with
dark intermixed scaling, with the pubescence in §¢ on the whole less
dense and shorter; proboscis much shorter, only about 2$ mm. long,
distinctly and finely spinulated below and with the labella longer and not
horny; hypopygium of g¢ (text-fig. 170) with the inner apical part of
basal parts not prominently produced, with the beaked apical joints
bird-head shaped and with a tuft of long, conspicuous, bristly hairs along
upper inner aspect and with the apical spine on each side of complex
ventral aedeagal process shorter, more slender and distinctly hook-like
14.
14. (15) Pubescence on frons and face, thorax above, on body below and venter
in gg entirely black, that on venter below in 99 and to a certain extent
on pleurae and coxae also predominantly black or dark; eyes in gg in
actual contact for a distance subequal to length of ocellar tubercle, the
interocular space in 99 distinctly broader, about, or nearly, 3 times as
broad as tubercle; squamae more extensively darkened and halteres
darker and with almost black knobs . . & & lepida (Lw.) (p. 603).
15. (14) Pubescence on frons and face, thorax above, on body below, coxae and
venter in gg entirely whitish, that on venter below in 99° and to a certain
extent on pleurae and on coxae also predominantly pale or with much
whitish hair; eyes in fg in actual contact for a distance longer than
ocellar tubercle, the interocular space in 9° distinctly much narrower
and only about 2 times as broad as tubercle; squamae for the greater
part whitish and the halteres with very pale yellowish to almost whitish
knobs; hypopygium of g (text-fig. 170) . . og 9 loewin. sp. (p. 605).
16. (1) Wings in relation to body tending to be elongate and narrow, distinctly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 593
tinged yellowish brown to dark coffee brownish, either uniformly or in
front half, especially in $¢; proboscis shorter, only about 14-2 mm.
long; pubescence on face paler, predominantly yellowish or whitish and
without black hairs on sides in both sexes and face not brilliantly shining
black, that on abdomen in gg in form of dense silvery white scaling, that
in 92 more golden yellowish and without bluish or greenish metallic
scaling on body above in 99; legs with the femora in 99 and in some
do entirely yellowish like the tibiae and when darkened in some g¢
they are more blackish brown; abdomen and pleurae in 99 and in some
6d sometimes with narrowish yellowish hind margins and infusions
Ve:
17. (18) Wings even more elongate, almost entirely dark brownish or coffee
brownish in gg, the front half being distinctly more so and the apical
and hinder parts slightly paler brownish, with the base, costal cell, first
and second basal cells and extreme base of anal cell in 99° also coffee
brownish, with a distinct indication of a darker spot on apical cross
veins of basal cells in both sexes and with the base of second submarginal
cell not acute; pubescence above, on occiput, thorax in front and above
deeper yellowish, even more brownish or golden yellowish in 99, with the
bristles on head above in 92 with more black ones, with a distinct tuft
of black hairs on each side of antennae, more distinct in 99, with the
bristles on scutellum and the transverse ones on abdomen in 99 black
and the dense scaling above in 99 very deep golden to brownish golden;
face distinctly longer; proboscis very finely and microscopically spinulated
below; apical angles of last sternite in gg not very much produced;
legs with all the spines and spicules black and the femora in both sexes
entirely yellowish; somewhat larger species, about 34-7 mm. long and
with a wing-length of about 44-73 mm.; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 171)
3 2 argyropyga (Wied.) (p. 606).
18. (17) Wings less elongate, more uniformly tinged pale yellowish brown, the
front half not very perceptibly darker, without any sign of spots on cross
veins and with the base of second submarginal cell distinctly more acute;
pubescence on body in known ¢ much paler and more whitish, that on
face and pleural parts distinctly more whitish and the tuft on each side
of frons apically silvery whitish, the pubescence in known Q distinctly
paler yellowish or more straw-coloured yellowish, the bristles on head
above in 2 more dark reddish brown, those on scutellum and across
abdomen dark reddish brown, those on sides of face and on body below
paler and more straw-coloured and with a silvery tuft on each side of
antennae and with the scaling on body above paler golden yellowish;
face very much shorter; proboscis without any visible spinules below;
apical angles of last sternite in g¢ produced lobe-like; legs with the
spines on hind femora and spicules on front and middle tibiae pallid or
yellowish and with the femora in known ¢ darkened to beyond middle;
smaller species, about 3-4 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
4-4imm.; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 172) f 3S horni n. sp. (p. 609).
\g flavipes n. sp. (p. 612).
594 Annals of the South African Museum.
C. pectoralis (Lw.).
(P. 14, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863, and Bezzi, p. 67, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921, and pp. 98 and 99, The Bombylidae of
the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
According to Loew the g-type was obtained in the O.F.8. In his
description he distinctly states that the mystax, surrounding the
buccal cavity, is yellowish and that there are no black hairs on the
pleurae. To these characters Bezzi alludes on pp. 98 and 99 (loc. cit.).
On p. 67 in the Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, however, he refers,
and partly describes, a g-specimen from Pretoria, which has pre-
dominantly black hairs on face, distinct black hairs on pleurae,
especially upper part of mesopleuron, and more black hairs on the
coxae, to pectoralis (Lw.). In this connection he also states that he
can find no distinguishing characters between pectoralis (Lw.) and
senegalensis (Macq.) (p. 99, Dipt. Exot. u, 1840) from West Africa.
There are also, before me, a ¢ and a 2 from Weenen (Natal) deter-
mined by Brunetti as diadematus Bezz. (Bezzi, p. 610, Trans. Ent. Soc.
Lond., 1911, and pp. 98 and 100 in The Bombylhidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924), probably from specimens so labelled in the British
Museum. From the series before me it is evident that $g, with
predominantly black mystax and black-haired pleurae, and 92 from
the same localities in Natal, Transvaal and Rhodesia all belong to
the same species, namely that of the $ from Pretoria referred to as
pectoralis and the g and @ referred to as diadematus. On the other
hand, a g from Willowmore, one from Aliwal North (British Museum)
and another from Grahamstown as well as 2 ¢¢ from Saw Mills in
Southern Rhodesia, agree with Loew’s description in that they have a
predominantly yellowish mystax and pale hair on the pleurae and
front coxae. Structurally and specifically these $¢ do not differ from
the forms with predominantly black hair in mystax and on pleurae.
Some 92 before me appear definitely to belong to the form with
black-haired pleurae, but as $g of the form with pale-haired pleurae
also occur in the same area and, judging also from 2 99 from Aliwal
North, it is evident that the 99 are indistinguishable. It is also very
probable that the 9 of frontalis Lw., also described from the O.F.S.
(see p. 13, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863), is the 9 of pectoralis. The
description, except for the silvery white tuft on each side of the face,
may apply equally well to 99 of the gd with black-haired pleurae.
The fact that the silvery tuft may be denuded makes this more than
likely.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 595
Until the type-specimens of senegalensis (Macq.) and diadematus
(Bezzi) are examined and correctly compared with pectoralis (Lw.),
I prefer to consider the gs with black-haired pleurae and their 99
only as a variety (as described by Bezzi on p. 67, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii) of pectoralis s. str. with which the two former species from
Senegal and Southern Nigeria are not to be confused. It is also
probable that even specimens from Nyasaland, which have been
labelled as diadematus (Bezz.), really belong to pectoralis.
TrExt-Fic. 166.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Chasmoneura pectoralis (Lw.).
The 99 of the varietal form, with black-haired pleurae in the 3g
and of the typical 34, all agree in having pale straw-coloured yellowish
erect pubescence and fine hair-like depressed brassy yellowish scaling
above, with black bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons and antennae,
with a tuft of silvery white scale-like hairs on each side of antennae,
pale yellowish to straw-coloured yellowish hairs on face and a few
black ones in front of silvery tuft on each side, in having slightly
paler and more straw-coloured whitish hair on pleural regions and
on sides of venter below, with the bristles on thorax and scutellum
black, pubescence on abdomen with fairly dense adpressed brassy
yellowish or golden scaling and with transverse rows of entirely black
bristles above, venter with pale yellowish white transverse bristles;
legs, asin $g, with the femora blackened to beyond middle, the hind
ones with about 4—5 spines below from just before middle to apex
and without any spines below on front and middle ones; interocular
596 Annals of the South African Museum.
space about 3, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle; wings
greyishly hyaline, with the base and costal part yellowish as in 4,
with the discal cross vein just before middle of discoidal cell and vein
separating first and second submarginal cells with a tendency to be
nearly straight and to meet first posterior cell at an angle approxi-
mating a right angle.
Hypopygium of 3 of pectoralis s. str. (text-fig. 166, lateral view and
ventral view) with the dorsum of basal parts almost smooth, without
very distinct and conspicuous hairs; beaked apical joints somewhat
elongate, much like those of some species of Bombylius, with an
elongate and slender downwardly directed apical part and with a
crest or tuft of stoutish bristles on inner upper part (see dorsal view) ;
aedeagus short and blunt, not visible from below, hidden behind the
ventral aedeagal process which is in the form of a process ending in a
recurved hook on each side, continuous with the lateral ramus on
each side. The hypopygium of the varietal form differs from the
above in having the beaked apical joints slightly shorter, with the
apical halves less elongate, with the hooks of ventral aedeagal process
less broadly divergent and with the lateral struts distinctly broader
and more foliate.
Length of body of both pectoralis and variety: about 5-84 mm:
Length of wing of both pectoralis and variety: about 54-9 mm.
Locality.—S.E. Karoo, E. Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal, O.F.S.
and Rhodesia. (In the Imperial Institute, Deutsches Entomolo-
gisches Institut, Rhodesian, Transvaal, Durban, British and South
African Museums.)
8 3g 3 92 C. kaokoénsis n. sp.
The $¢ of this species superficially resemble pectoralis (Lw.) from
the gg of which they may be distinguished by the entirely black
hair on the face, also darker and black hairs on head below, slightly
paler and more whitish pubescence on front half of thorax above,
which is also sparser, with darker and more brownish pale-tipped
hair on scutellum, that on pleurae and pectoral region entirely black,
the metapleural tuft being also entirely black, dark blackish brown
or, if paler, not pale yellowish white, that on abdomen with dense
dark blackish brown pubescence basally and laterally, which pubes-
cence, in certain lights, is slightly paler-tipped and which becomes
paler or even more whitish towards apex in some gg, that on venter
dark or dark blackish brown; abdomen with the upper posterior
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 597
angles of the last sternite in $3, just below the hypopygium, markedly
and acutely produced, more angularly lobe-like than in ¢¢ of other
species ; legs with the femora more extensively blackened, with
pallid or yellowish spicules on the tibiae, the hind femora with about
5-6 darkish brown or even blackish spines below, of which the apical
one or 2 or 3 are usually paler or more pallid, without any visible
spines on middle ones; antennae with joint 3 comparatively shorter,
than in pectoralis, but also slender and rod-like; proboscis about
24-34 mm. long; wings com-
paratively elongate, vitreous
hyaline, only the costal cell
and base being subopaquely
very pale yellowish white, with
the veins yellowish and with
the vein separating first and
second submarginal cells dis-
tinctly less straight and more
sinuous, meeting the first
posterior cell at a more acute
angle. Hypopygium (text-fig.
167, lateral view and ventral
view of ventral aedeagal
process) with the dorsum of
basal parts almost smooth Trxr-ric. 167.—Side view of hypopygium
i or and ventral view of aedeagal complex of 3
ae wich oT apy oman Chasmoneura kaokoénsis n. sp.
hairs near apex; beaked apical
joints elongate, laterally compressed and with a crest of longer
bristly hairs along upper inner part; ramus, on each side from basal
part, forming a large ventral aedeagal process, ending apically on
each side in a slender process, the sharp apex of which ends in an
outwardly directed hook; aedeagus short and blunt, hidden by the
ventral aedeagal process. The hypopygium is in essentials the same
as that of pectoralis (cf. text-fig. 166).
Three much denuded 99 from the same localities and from Oka-
handja and caught at the same time are referred to this species.
They differ from the $¢ in having straw-coloured yellowish pubescence
above on thorax and paler, more whitish, hair on pleurae, with the
fine hair-like depressed scaling on thorax, scutellum and abdomen
above yellowish, being more brassy yellowish on mesonotum, more
ochreous or pale ochreous brownish on scutellum and on base of
abdomen above, those towards apex of abdomen above more graphite
VOL. XXXIV. 39
598 Annals of the South African Museum.
blackish; abdomen with stoutish black transverse bristles; macro-—
chaetae either entirely pallid or yellowish or with most of them
yellowish (all black in pectoralis). Legs, as in $d, with pallid
spicules on tibiae and with about 5 or 6 dark brownish or even
yellowish spines on hind femora below of which the apical one is
more yellowish or pallid. Head with the interocular space.
about 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, without any con-
spicuous tuft of shining silvery white hair on each side of
antennae, only with some whitish hairs on sides of face, no black
hairs being present on face in these 99. Wings with the same
characters as in gd, the base slightly more subopaquely whitish
than in 99 of pectoralis. |
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Locality.—S8.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Bxp., Feb. 1925)
(Types): N. Damaraland; Outjo (Mus. Exp., Jan. 1925); Okahandja
(Turner, 1-12/1/28) (British Museum).
This species is easily distinguished from all other species in this
category by the characters given in the key and by the pallid or
yellowish spicules on the tibiae. Like pectoralis, it also occurs in
slight varieties. One g-paratype from Kaross differs from the
typical g in being more extensively pale-haired above, the hair on
scutellum appears to be paler, the hair on abdomen above too is
considerably paler-tipped and towards the apex is even inclined to
be whitish and even the metapleural tuft, in certain lights, is dete
less blackish brown and more greyish or white.
C. coracina (Lw.).
(P. 13, Wien. Ent. Monat., vii, 1863, and Bezzi, p. 66, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This species, originally described from the O.F.S., is easily recognised
in the g-sex by its entire dark blackish brown or black pubescence
above and below. It seems to be closer to kaokoénsis n. sp. than to
pectoralis (Lw.), but may at once be distinguished from the former by
its entire black pubescence above, black spicules on the tibiae, fewer,
only 2, spines in apical half on hind femora below and by the entirely
dark brownish squamae and halteres. Hypopygiuwm (text-fig. 168,
showing lateral view and ventral view of aedeagus) very much like
that of kaokoénsis (cf. text-fig. 167), also with very long and compressed
A: Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 599
beaked apical joints, which are, however, longer in relation to basal
parts; anterior hooks on ventral aedeagal process more divergent,
less developed, the hooks being feebler
and less curved; lateral struts much
narrower and less foliate. 2 un-
known.
Locality —O.F.S. and Transvaal
(South African Museum).
The preceding three species (pec-
toralis, kaokoénsis and coracina) are
to a certain extent not strictly
genotypical and are characterised by |
not having dense silvery white scaling
on abdomen above in g¢ and graphite-
like, bluish, greenish or scintillating
metallic scaling on body above in
09 and in having a different type
of hypopygium in gg, in which the ,.9 9c. 168.—Side view of hypo-
beaked apical joints are more elongate pygium and ventral view of
and narrower, the aedeagus is very Coes ie So Cleese
much shorter and hidden behind a
much longer ventral aedeagal process which is also less complex
(cf. text-figs. 166-168).
ll 33 7 92 C. cinererttincta n. sp.
Body entirely black, the integument above with a deep, bluish,
submetallic sheen, especially on scutellum and abdomen; integument
_ of frons and face in 99 and face in g¢ brilliantly shining black; legs
entirely dark, with the femora black and the tibiae very dark blackish
brown to black, with the scaling also black; pubescence dense on
thorax, scutellum, tergite 2, sides of abdomen and on coxae in gd,
shorter and sparser in 99, only that on head below and pleurae longer
than above, the entire pubescence and bristly hairs in $¢ black, only
the dense scaling in a medial patch at apex of tergite 2 and across
tergites 3-7 gleaming silvery white, the rest of visible scaling above
on abdomen black, with the pubescence in 939 also predominantly
black above on head, thorax and scutellum, with the bristles and
bristly hairs on body above, the sparse transverse ones on abdomen
above, on sides, on venter and on middle coxae also black as in 39,
with the flattened scaling on frons, thorax above, on scutellum and to
600 Annals of the South African Museum.
a certain extent on propleural parts brilliantly scintillating, very
deep, ultramarine, metallic blue to greenish blue, with a more or
less medial row of patches of scales on abdomen above, a patch on
each side of tergite 4 and the scaling on extreme side of abdomen
ventrally below brilliantly gleaming silvery white, with the rest of
the scaling on abdomen above black, but gleaming greyish or graphite-
like in certain lights, with the hair on head below, in a vertical band
from base of wings to front coxae, on front coxae, on hind margin of
metapleurae, on hind coxae and on sides of tergite 1 conspicuous and
gleaming silvery whitish, with the hairs in metapleural tuft dark or
blackish basally but gleaming sericeous whitish towards their apices;
wings very faintly, but distinctly, tinged slightly smoky greyish or
cinereous, more so in some specimens, with the base, costal cell,
first basal cell and alula more subopaquely brownish, the extreme
base of wings blackish, with the feeble basal comb black, the veins
dark brownish or blackish brown, the discoidal cell somewhat narrow
and elongate, the discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell,
the vein separating submarginal cells not very S-curved, with the
squamae very dark blackish brown or black and the fringe black;
halteres dark blackish brown, with very dark blackish brown knobs.
Head with the eyes in 3¢ in actual contact above for a distance at
least as long as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular space in 992 only
about 2, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle; frons in 92 more
or less convex just in front of tubercle, only very slightly depressed
centrally, transversely depressed in front of antennae and also with
a slight medial depression leading up to more convex part from
transverse depression; face smooth and bare in both sexes, only a
single row of bristly hairs, more evident in gg, on each side; genae
with the upper parts showing a gleaming silvery tomentum, more
developed in 99; antennae with joint 1 short, only about 24, or
scarcely more, times as long as 2, with 3 elongate, quite or almost
2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, the basal two-thirds rod-like
and apical third more narrowed, with the first terminal element
conical, small and narrower than apex of 3 and bearing a style;
proboscis long and slender, often upcurved, about 44-6 mm. long,
with no visibly distinct spinules below, the labella comparatively
short and horny; palps with the apical joint broadened and ovate.
Legs with the slender hairs on front and middle femora below more
evident in $3, without any spines below on front and middle femora;
hind ones with about 3-6 spines below from just before middle to
apex. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 169, showing lateral and ventral
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 601
views) with scattered setiferous punctures on dorsum of basal parts;
beaked apical joints laterally compressed, provided with some longish
bristly hairs along upper inner part; aedeagus tubular and with the
lateral ramus on each side from basal parts joined in front below base
of aedeagus, forming a prominent and complex ventral aedeagal
process, ending apically on each side in a long, slender, curved,
ventrally directed spine; dorsal basally directed aedeagal ‘struts,
TExt-FIc. 169.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of ¢ Chasmoneura
cinereitincia Nn. sp.
below the broad lateral struts, broadened apically and joined by a
process on each side from each lateral ramus as seen in figures.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum, and paratypes in the Rhodesian, British and South African
Museums and in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 5-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-9 mm.
Locahty.—K. Transvaal: Barberton (Munro, 25/4/20) (Types).
Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones, Apr—May, 1934; Dec.—Feb. 1935).
Natal: Weenen (Thomasset, Feb. 1925). S. Rhodesia: Salisbury
(Mossop, 28/2/32), (Stevenson, 20/2/27); Matopos (17/12/22).
Kasily recognised by its entirely black pubescence in $¢ and deep
metallic bluish scaling on thorax and scutellum in 99. From the
602 Annals of the South African Museum.
description of gemmea (Bezz.) it differs in not having any pale or
whitish hair on pleurae in 3¢.
2 $5 2 92 C. rhodesiana n. sp.
Black; frons and face in 99 and face in g¢ brilliantly shining
black; legs very dark, the femora entirely black, the tibiae sometimes
with a more brownish tint, with the scaling and spines black; pubes-
cence in gg dense and denser than in 99, that on abdomen in gd long,
dense and somewhat shaggy, that on head above and below, on thorax
above, on scutellum, sides of tergite 2, on pleurae and coxae in gg
black, that on occiput in gd sometimes slightly yellowish, that in
metapleural tuft in gg appearing dirty whitish or yellowish, their
bases being blackish, with the short hair on sides of tergite 1 and the
sparser, longer hairs and bristly hairs on abdomen above in gd,
denser towards apex, and even some on venter white, with the dense
scaling on abdomen above, in gd, on tergites 3-7 and medially
apically on tergite 2 gleaming silvery whitish, the rest of the scaling
on tergites 3 and 2 opalescent purplish red, becoming blackish towards
base of 2, with the pubescence in 992 black on head above, thorax
and scutellum above and also with black intermixed bristly hairs on
tergite 2 and a few intermixed black ones on sides of abdomen, with
the pubescence on head below, to a certain extent on occiput, on
propleural part, in a vertical band from base of wing to front coxae,
on front and middle coxae, in metapleural tuft, on hind part of meta-
pleurae and on hind coxae, on sides of tergite 1 and the long bristly hairs
or bristles on abdomen above towards apex and on venter white, with
the dense scaling on frons and more or less in stripes on thorax and
those on scutellum brilliantly scintillating or gleaming, opalescent
pale bluish or greenish, appearing almost silvery in certain lights
on sides of thorax, those on abdomen above composed of blackish
scaling on tergite 2 basally, mauvish or purplish red ones on sides
and of silvery whitish scaling along midline, on sides of tergite 4
and on sides of tergites ventrally below; wings more hyaline than in
cinereitincta, the base and costal parts paler and more subopaquely
yellowish to yellowish white, the feebly developed basal comb also
black, the veins slightly paler brownish, otherwise as in cinereitoncta,
with the squamae opaquely yellowish and white-fringed in both
sexes; halteres blackish brown, with very dark knobs. Head with
the eyes above in $¢ in contact as in cinereitincta, the interocular
space in 99 also about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 9? also
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 603
shining and almost bare; face as in cinereitincta; upper part of genae
also with a silvery tomentum; antennae with joint 1 also about 24
times, or even shorter, as long as 2, with 3 elongate and as in cineret-
tuncta; proboscis also slender but shorter, only about 4 mm. long, the
labella also short and horny. Legs as in cinereitincta, with 5-7
spines on hind femora below. Hypopygium of the g-paratype is
unfortunately too much damaged to make out the structures, but
what remains of it appears not to differ much from that of cinerertincta
(cf. text-fig. 169).
Types in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 5-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 63-8 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (11/11/22) (Holotype), (7/2/23)
(Allotype), (1/1/21).
This species is very near conereitincta and in the case of the Q is
almost inseparable. It may, however, at once be distinguished by
the presence of distinct and conspicuous white hairs and bristles
on abdomen in both sexes, by the more distinctly hyaline wings,
paler veins, the presence of paler scaling on thorax above in 99, the
presence of white hair on middle coxae in 99, entirely white meta-
pleural tuft in 92 and opaquely yellowish and white-fringed squamae
in both sexes. One 9-paratype in the Rhodesian Museum was
labelled “Dischistus gemmeus Bezz.’’ by Bryant. According to
Bezzi’s original description of gemmea, which without doubt also
belongs to Chasmoneura and to this cineredtincta-series (see p. 94,
The Bombylidae of The Ethiopian Region), gemmea differs from
rhodesiana in having white hair on pleurae in both sexes, entirely
black bristles and not white ones on abdomen in both sexes and pale.
hairs on femora below. From cinereitincta it differs in having whitish
hair on pleurae in $3, white hair on sides of tergite 1 in $¢, white hair
in metapleural tuft, paler scaling on thorax in 9? and the wings not
slightly tinged cinereous.
C. lepida (Lw.).
(Eos etrpt. Kaun. Sudatr., 11860.)
A few 3g and some denuded 99 from Outjo, Okahandja, Kamanyab,
Cayimaeis and Kaross in South West Africa agree very well with Loew’s
description of this species from Swakopmund. The species is charac-
terised by the brilliantly shining black frons and face in 9° and shining
face in $d, both of which are practically bare; legs with black femora
604 Annals of the South African Museum.
and very dark reddish brownish to blackish tibiae; pubescence
entirely black in $3, denser than in 99, that on sides of face dense,
that on head above in 99 sparse and short, with a distinct tuft of
silvery whitish hair on each side of face in 99, the pubescence on body
above in 92 with much pale hairs especially on occiput, front part
of thorax, sides of tergite 1, but macrochaetae and bristles on abdomen
and venter black as in 3g, the pubescence on pleurae in 99 with
sparse, mostly dark, hair but whitish hair in metapleural tuft, that
on head below whitish, with the hair on coxae in 99 blackish, with
dense gleaming silvery whitish scaling on tergites 3-7 in gd, with
the scaling on thorax and scutellum in 99 composed of graphite-like
blackish ones and gleaming bluish or pale greenish ones, the graphite
black ones more or less gleaming bluish in certain lights, with the
scaling on abdomen composed mostly of gleaming black ones which
in certain lights show bluish or even whitish gleams, with the scaling
on mesopleural part in 9? gleaming bluish white to silvery in certain
lights, the scaling on legs in both sexes dark or blackish but gleaming
pale in certain lights; wings hyaline, the basal comb small and black,
the basal and costal part subopaquely yellowish white, with the veins
brownish, becoming more yellowish basally, with the discal cross
vein at about or just before middle of discoidal cell, the first posterior
cell broadly open, with the squamae dark and dark-haired in gd,
paler and whitish haired in 99; halteres dark brown and with very
dark knobs in both sexes. Head with the eyes in 3d in actual contact
above for a distance subequal to length of ocellar tubercle, the inter-
ocular space in 99 nearly, or only a little less than, 3 times as broad
as tubercle; frons in 99 with the transverse depression distinct and
with a distinct central triangular depression leading up to front
ocellus, this depression very much more distinct than in cinerertincta
and rhodesiana, with few and sparse hairs on sides of frons in 99;
face bare but with distinctly more pubescence on sides and upper parts
of genae in gd than in cinereitincta, in 99 with a silvery tuft on each
side; antennae with joint 1 short, about 24, or a little more, times as
long as 2, with 3 more than 14, sometimes nearly 2, times as long as
1 and 2 combined, subrod-like to rod-like, the apical part usually
slightly more rapidly narrowed, with the first terminal element,
distinctly visible, narrower than apex of 3 and slightly displaced
towards outer side and ending mm a stylar element; probosics about
3 mm. long, distinctly and finely spinulated below, the labella not
hard and horny. Legs with about 4—5 spines below on hind femora
from just before or about middle to apex. Hypopygium of 3 very
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 605
similar to that of loewi (the next species) (cf. text-fig. 170) but with
the beaked apical joints having slightly longer and more conspicuous
bristly hairs on crest; aedeagus is apparently slightly more slender
and slightly longer, otherwise with practically the same structures.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Damaraland and Kaokoveld. (In the
British and South African Museums.)
Bezzi (p. 94, The Bombyliudae of The Ethiopian Region) suspected
that the 2 of gemmea (Bezz.) may prove to be the 9 of lepida. Accord-
ing to Bezzi’s description of gemmea there is no doubt that his
species is entirely different from lepida as described by Loew and
defined in this paper. The species gemmea, from Nyasaland, belongs
to the cinereitincta and rhodesiana-series. Loew had two types of
2° but states that his § has to be considered as typical. The 3g
and 99 described above without doubt belong to the same species
and the gg agree in every respect with the description of Loew’s
typical 3.
1 g 4 99 C. loewi n. sp.
These specimens, though more or less denuded, obviously belong
to a slightly different species and there is a suspicion that the 9 of
Loew which has pale knobs to the halteres belongs to this species,
whereas the one with the dark knobs, referred to in an appendix
(p. 194, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860), is really the 9 of lepida s. str.
This species differs from lepida in that the pubescence in the 3
is entirely white or whitish on body above and below, only the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle are dark or blackish and the hairs on femora
below also appear dark in certain lights, even the pubescence on
sides of face is white, with the pubescence on venter in both sexes,
on pleurae and on coxae, also in 99, whitish, with the hair on head
above, the macrochaetae, scutellar bristles and transverse hairs on
abdomen (where not denuded) in 99 also black as in lepida, with
gleaming silvery scaling on tergites 3-7 on abdomen above in ¢ and
more whitish, less gleaming bluish scaling on thorax of 92 (where not
denuded) than in lepida; squamae of wings opaquely whitish and
white-fringed in both sexes; halteres with very pale yellowish white
knobs in both sexes. Head with the eyes in ¢ in actual contact above
for a slightly longer distance than in lepida, more than length of
tubercle, with the interocular space in 99 distinctly much narrower
than in lepida and only about 2 times as broad as tubercle, the inner
margins of eyes thus more rapidly diverging apically. Hypopygvum
606 Annals of the South African Museum.
of ¢ (text-fig. 170) with the beaked apical joints bird-head shaped
and without any or much shorter and fewer bristly hairs in crest on
outer side; aedeagus projecting apically and with a rather complicated
Text-Fic. 170.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of 3 Chasmoneura loewi n. sp.
ventral process (as shown in figures), which has a recurved hook on
each side.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-54 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Exp., Feb. 1925)
(Types); Cayimaeis (Mus. Exp., Feb. 1925).
C. argyropyga (Wied.).
(P. 348, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828.)
There appears to be no doubt that this is the species described by
Wiedemann as Bombylius argyropygus. It is, however, only the 3
that has extensive silvery scaling on the abdomen and almost entirely
infuscated wings, and judging from the description, there is a suspicion
that Wiedemann mistook a ¢ for a 9, notwithstanding the fact that
the g is holoptic. As this species is peculiar in this genus in having
very darkly infuscated wings, a full redescription of it is appended :—
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 607
Body, including scutellum, black; hind margins of tergites laterally
in some $¢ with an obscure reddish tint, especially on 3 and 4;
pleurae sometimes also with obscure reddish along the sutures;
anterior part of face brownish to obscure dark blackish brown;
legs entirely pale ochreous yellowish to pale brownish yellow, the
coxae dark, the apical parts of tarsi dark blackish brown, becoming
almost black apically, with pale sericeous yellowish whitish scaling
on femora and black spines and spicules; pubescence, viewed from
above, coffee brownish on thorax and in $¢ silvery whitish on apical
half on abdomen, when viewed from side that on occiput and thorax
above predominantly velvety yellowish, with a darkish or greyish
yellow or pale brownish yellow undertone due to numerous intermixed
fine, erect, dark blackish brown hairs on disc, with the adpressed
scaling brassy to golden yellow or brownish golden, denser in 92
and also more evident on scutellum, the pubescence on abdomen
above in gg in form of dense adpressed brownish pubescence across
base of tergite 2, and dense, gleaming, silvery white scaling from there
to apex, with dense ochreous or golden brownish ones on all the
tergites above in 99, darker brownish across base of 2, with the
transverse bristles on abdomen in 99 entirely very dark blackish
brown or black, entirely white and finer in gg, the pubescence on
sides of abdomen towards base in gd straw-coloured yellowish to
pale yellowish, more distinctly yellowish in 99, with the bristly hairs
on ocellar tubercle and on antennae above in both sexes black, but
with a tuft of distinct black hairs on each side of antennae as well
as a few intermixed black bristles on frons in 99, that on antennae
below and on face and genae in both sexes yellowish, those lower
down on genae being slightly paler, the hair on head below almost
whitish, that on pleurae slightly paler than above and more straw-
coloured yellowish and even more yellowish in 99, that on venter in
$d predominantly silvery whitish, more yellowish in 99, with the
bristles in front of wing-bases in $¢ more reddish brown and in 99
with some blackish ones and with the rest of bristles on thorax and
scutellum very dark or blackish in both sexes; wings rather elongate,
with the greater part in $¢ dark coffee brownish, the infuscation
being darker on front three-quarters of wings, becoming imperceptibly
paler from end of marginal cell across basal three-quarters of first
submarginal cell, basal two-thirds of first posterior cell, base of
second posterior cell to hind border, in 99 with the infuscation
more restricted to base, costal cell, basal halves of marginal
and first submarginal cells, first basal cell, extreme base of
608 Annals of the South African Museum.
discoidal cell, second basal cell and bases of anal and axillary cells,
slightly paler than in 9? and imperceptibly merging into more grey-
ishly tinged rest of wing, with a distinct darker spot-like infuscation
on apical cross veins of basal cells in both sexes, with the small basal
comb dark or blackish, the veins dark brownish, with the discal
cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae opaquely
brownish in 3, more yellowish in 99 and with a pale yellowish white
fringe in both sexes; halteres pale yellowish brown to brownish and
Trxt-FIc. 171.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Chasmoneura argyropyga (Wied.).
with dull yellowish white knobs. Head with the eyes above in gd
in actual contact for a short distance, a little less than length, or
subequal to length or even a little longer than ocellar tubercle, the
interocular space in 99 scarcely, or even a little less than, 3 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 short, about, or a little
more than, 2 times as long as joint 2, with 3 long, even more than 14
times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slender and rod-like in 3g, more
thickened basally in 99, with the first terminal joint comparatively
conspicuous, conical and often longer than the stylar element; pro-
boscis short, about 14-24 mm. long, finely spinulated below. Thorax
somewhat convex above, giving the insects a humped appearance.
Legs with the slender, bristly hairs on femora below very poorly
developed or absent; front and middle femora without any visible
spines below; hind ones with about 4—6 slender spines below from
just before middle to apex. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 171, side
view, ventral view of aedeagus, dorsal view and side views of beaked
apical joint, etc.) with a few hairs on dorsum of basal parts and with
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 609
the neck region, bearing the beaked apical joints, widely separated;
beaked apical joints with a tuft of longish bristles along inner upper
aspect; aedeagus comparatively stout and tubular, and the lateral
ramus, from each side of basal parts, together forming a complex
ventral aedeagal process, produced on each side into a sharp and
slender, slightly curved spine.
In the British and South African Museums and in the Imperial
Institute.
Length of body: about 33-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-74 mm.
Localhity—_S.W. Cape Province, Southern Cape Province, Little
Karoo, West Cape Province and Namaqualand.
Superficially this species bears some resemblance to Bombylius
globulus. It is easily distinguished from all the preceding species of
Chasmoneura by its darkly infuscated wings. From nucalis (Bezz.)
(p. 96, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region), which is also to
be placed in Chasmoneura, it appears to differ in not having a black
mystax in gg, the much shorter proboscis, pale hair on pleurae,
entirely yellowish legs, etc.
2 33 C. horn n. sp.
(Syn.=Phthiria pubescens Bezz. in part, p. 98, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
Two go from the Transvaal, one of which is very much denuded,
constitute still another species in the category of argyropyga and the
following flavipes. A description of this species is as follows:—
Body, including scutellum, black; produced apical angles of last
sternite yellow; antennae very dark blackish brown; legs with the
coxae, trochanters and femora to much beyond the middle very
dark chocolate to blackish brown, with the apices of the femora
yellowish, with the tibiae and greater part of tarsi yellowish, the last
3 or 4 joints of tarsi, however, brownish, with the claws yellowish,
their apices blackish; pubescence not very dense on head and thorax,
that on occiput and front and sides of thorax denser and longer, that
on disc of thorax and on pleural parts very sparse, with the tuft
on each side of frons gleaming silvery whitish in certain lights, with
the sparse hairs on first antennal joints, face and sparsely on genae
and head below also whitish, gleaming sericeous whitish, the pubes-
cence on occiput more straw-coloured whitish, that on sides of thorax
in front of wings and the sparse ones on disc more straw-coloured
610 Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish, even having a distinct yellowish tint in certain lghts,
that on pleurae whitish but the hairs on mesopleuron and in meta-
pleural tuft with a more distinct sericeous yellowish tint, with the
sparse erect hairs on scutellum, the fine erect ones on abdomen and
the dense erect hair on sides of tergite 1, on extreme sides of abdomen
and on venter silvery whitish, with very dense depressed gleaming
silvery white scaling on abdomen above as in g¢ of argyropyga, with
the sparser and finer more hair-like scaling on scutellum also silvery
Trext-FIG. 172.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ of Chasmoneura
hornt n. sp.
whitish, that on thorax above sparse and gleaming golden, especially
towards base, with the hairs on coxae whitish, the fine scaling on
femora silvery whitish but not very conspicuous with the spines and
spicules on legs very pale yellowish or pallid, especially on front and
middle ones; wings rather elongate in relation to body, distinctly
tinged pale yellowish brown, very slightly more so towards base,
with the costal cell appearing slightly more subopaquely yellowish,
with the veins reddish or yellowish brown, with the discal cross vein
just in front of the middle of the discoidal cell, with the squamae
subopaquely yellowish brown and fringed with straw-coloured hairs;
halteres dirty yellowish, with the knobs pale yellowish below and
slightly darkened above. Head with the eyes above in actual contact
for a distance about 2 times as long as ocellar tubercle, with the
coarser upper facets of eyes gradually merging into lower finer ones;
frons small and triangular; face comparatively short, much shorter
than in g-argyropyga and even slightly shorter than frons; genae
well developed; antennae with joint 1 short, only about 2 times as
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 611
long as joint 2, with 3 about, or just falling short of, 2 times as long
as 1 and 2 combined, appearing rod-like in profile, ending apically
in a short basal element bearing a short style, this basal element
and style situated on the outer apical part of joint 3; proboscis more
slender than in argyropyga and flavipes, about 1} mm.long. Abdomen
with the upper apical angles of last sternite distinctly much produced
and lobe-like, much like that of kaokoénsis. Legs with sparse hairs
on front and middle femora basally below, with the spicules on tibiae
very fine and more poorly developed than in any other species, even
being more delicate than in flavipes; hind femora with only 3 fine,
bristle-like spines in apical part below; claws normally curved
downwards apically and with the pulvilli reaching apices of claws.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 172) is entirely different from that of argyro-
pyga (ci. text-fig. 171); beaked apical joints elongate, narrow and
arched or curved; aedeagus short and hidden by aedeagal process
below, which is in form of a medial flattened plate, ending apically
in two spines and a flattened plate on each side and slightly ventral
to the medial plate. There is some relationship with the type of
aedeagus and beaked apical joints found in pectoralis, kaokoénsis and
coracina (cf. text-figs. 166-168).
Type in the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Berlin-Dahlem,
and denuded paratype in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 3 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-43 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Magalieskraal (Lingnau, 9/2/25) (Type);
Junction of Crocodile and Marico Rivers (Tucker, Feb. 1918).
This species is one of the smallest in this genus and can easily be
recognised by its dense silvery scaling on abdomen above and wings
which are tinged yellowish brownish. From argyropyga it may at
once be distinguished by its smaller size, less darkly infuscated wings,
paler pubescence, shorter first antennal joints, much shorter face in
$3, darkened femora, entirely different hypopygium, etc. From the
following species, 9-flavipes, it may be distinguished by the smaller
size, paler pubescence, more slender proboscis, blackened femora
and even feebler spicules on tibiae. There is nevertheless a suspicion
that flavipes may prove to be the @ of this species. The wings are
similarly tinged and the antennal joints bear the same relationship,
but the localities are widely separated. The 3-paratype (not 2 as
stated by Bezzi) was referred to Phthiria pubescens Bezz. by Bezzi
(p. 98, loc. cit.), a genus with which it has no relationship whatever.
The species is named after Dr. Walther Horn, Director of the Deutsches
612 Annals of the South African Museum.
Entomologisches Institut, through whose kind permission I have
been enabled to examine the unnamed South African Bombylidae in
the Institute.
1 2 C. flavipes n. sp.
Black; sutural parts of pleurae, hind margins of metapleurae,
extreme sides of tergite 1 and narrow hind margins of venter yellowish;
legs entirely yellowish, only apical parts of tarsi dark blackish brown,
the spicules in front and middle tibiae pallid; pubescence compara-
tively sparse, predominantly yellowish above, with a conspicuous
tuft of silvery scale-like hairs on each side of antennae, the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle, on sides of frons and to a certain extent on
antennal joint 1, on scutellum, and transverse bristly hairs or bristles
on abdomen (where not denuded), darker and more dark reddish
brown to blackish brown, with the pubescence on genae, head below,
pleurae and on coxae slightly paler than above and more straw-
coloured yellowish, with the fine, hairy scaling on body above and
on frons more golden yellowish, more gleaming golden on frons and
thorax, the pubescence on venter tending to be whitish but more
yellowish on extreme sides of tergites below where it is also denser,
with the scaling on femora pale yellowish white, appearing almost
whitish in certain lights; wings distinctly tinged yellowish or yellowish
brownish, the base and costal cell more yellowish, with the feeble
basal comb yellowish, the veins reddish brown, becoming more
reddish yellow basally, with the vein between submarginal cells little
S-curved, the base of second submarginal cell somewhat acute, with
the discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
opaquely yellowish and fringed with pale or whitish hairs; halteres
yellowish, with very pale knobs. Head with the interocular space
about, or scarcely, 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, the inner
margins of eyes comparatively rapidly narrowed apically; frons with
the anterior transverse depression slightly depressed centrally as
well; face short, bare medially and with only a single row of hairs
on genae below silvery tuft; antennae with joint 1 very short, only
about 2 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 2 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, rod-like, rather blunt apically, the stylar element situated
more dorsally; proboscis about 1} mm. long, not spinulated below,
the labella comparatively long and pointed. Legs with only 1 pallid
spine visible on hind femora below, near apex in this specimen.
Type in South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 613
Length of wing: about 43 mm.
Locality.—S8.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Exp., Feb. 1925).
Easily recognised by the yellowish brownish-tinged wings and
entirely yellowish legs. This species appears to belong to the
argyropyga-series and may prove to be the 9 of horn n. sp.
Lepidochlanus n. gen.
(Syn. = Dischistus in part.)
This new genus is erected to contain a species which cannot be
placed in Dischistus, Doliogethes or Chasmoneura. A 9-specimen,
from Bushmanland, was referred to Dischistus niveus (Macq.) (p. 102,
Dipt. Exot. ii, 1840) by Bezzi (p. 61, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii,
1921). From Macquart’s description it is obvious that his specimen
was a ¢ of a species of Gonarthrus Bezz. Moreover, Bezzi’s deter-
mination is incorrect, and this specimen cannot be made to agree even
with Macquart’s brief description. According to Macquart, the wings
of the ¢ are hyaline, whereas the $¢ of this species under considera-
tion have yellowish-tinted wings. Thereisno“. .. une petite touffe
de poils noirs au vertex” in the 3g, a character common in g¢ of
Gonarthrus.
The chief generic characters of a large number of 3g and 92 of
this species, which is referred to Lepidochlanus n. gen., are:—
Body with fairly dense bristly hairs and bristles on face, frons,
occiput, front part and sides of thorax, sides of tergite 1, erect hairs
on abdomen and longer transverse bristles across hind margins of
tergites, with this pubescence long and conspicuous on occiput,
face and transversely on abdomen, especially in 99, with the bristly
hairs and bristles on body fimbriate or frayed at their apices, the
apices appearing slightly dilated and ending in 3 or 4 fimbriae or
processes, giving the pubescence a singed appearance, with very
dense adpressed scaling on body above and below, that on head,
thorax, scutellum and abdomen above more hair-like, that around
eye margins, on antennal joint 1, face, genae, very densely on pleurae,
across hind margin of scutellum and densely on venter in both sexes
and to a certain extent on abdomen above in ¢¢ and across hind
margins in 99, and that on coxae and legs in both sexes broader, more
flattened and lanceolate, with only very sparse hair on pleurae and
the metapleural tuft small, the entire pleurae being more densely
covered with flattened scaling. Head broad, with the eyes in 33
separated above, very broadly separated in 99, with the inner margins
VOL. XXXIV. 40
614 Annals of the South African Museum.
of eyes in 99 only very gradually diverging anteriorly; frons in 99
thus broad, convex and without a transverse depression; face broad,
rounded and not prominently projecting, not bare; genae with the
upper parts also broad and continuous with sides of face, separated
from buccal cavity by a distinct and deep depression along their
narrower lower parts; antennae with the first joints close together,
short, very slightly thickened, with joint 3 elongate and slender,
more slender than 1 or 2, with minute hairs and sparse scaling visible
above and below, above in 3¢ and below in 99, with the terminal
elements much reduced, the first conical element scarcely visible and
the style minute and hair-like; proboscis slender, the labella pointed
apically; palps short and their apical joints apparently not shorter
than basal ones. Thorax slightly convex, with a slight humped
appearance. Wings with 4 posterior cells, with the first posterior
cell open, with the alula well developed and lobe-like, the axillary
lobe also well developed, with the basal comb very feeble, with the
anal cell tending to be narrowed apically, even acute or subacute
apically, with the discal cross vein much before middle of discoidal
cell, the discoidal cell itself broad, shortish, more or less triangular.
Legs slender, with spines only on hind femora below and without any
distinct bristly hairs on femora below, with the spicules on front
tibiae rather poorly developed; claws slender, only very gradually
curved downwards apically and with the pulvilli vestigial, much
reduced and confined to base in both sexes, scarcely visible in 99,
but more evident in gg. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 173) much like
that of some species of Bombylius, with the beaked apical joints
elongate and somewhat laterally compressed; aedeagus straight and
without any ventral aedeagal process.
This genus differs from the preceding three genera in having
distinctly fimbriate bristly hairs and bristles, very dense and flattened
scaling on face and body below, especially the pleurae, in having the
pulvili vestigial or very much reduced, a broad and triangular
discoidal cell and a different type of hypopygium in the g. From
Dischistus s. str. 1t differs in not having long, very dense, shaggy and
puff-like pubescence, in having very dense scaling on body below
and also above, in having a well-developed alula, contiguous first
antennal joints, spines on hind femora below, vestigial pulvili and
a different type of hypopygium. From Doliogethes it may be
distinguished by the dense scaling on body, the fimbriate pubescence,
the absence of a transverse depression on frons in 99, a broader and
more triangular discoidal cell and by the hypopygium. From
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 615
Chasmoneura it differs in having the eyes in gd separated and more
broadly separated in 99, in having no transverse depression on frons
in 99, broader and shorter discoidal cell, vestigial pulvilli and not
very rapidly curved claws, denser scaling on body below, different
hypopygium, etc. From Bombylius it may be separated by the open
first posterior cell. ;
In certain respects this genus superficially resembles members of
the Crocidium-group, but differs in having the anal cell not constantly
and sharply acute apically, the discal cell much before middle of
discoidal cell, much broader frons in 99, no transverse depression on
frons, more rounded face, shorter palps, less humped thorax, vestigial
pulvill, fimbriate bristles, etc., etc. The genotype and only species
is L. fimbriatus n. sp.
64 $s 107 99 L. fimbriatus n. sp.
(Syn. =niveus Bezz. nec Macq., p. 61, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvill, 1921.)
Body, including scutellum, antennae and proboscis, black; abdo-
men above in g¢ with the hind margins of tergites 2-7 and the exposed
part of hypopygium pale yellowish red or reddish, with the extreme
margins of these tergites often ivory yellowish, with the abdomen
in 99 predominantly black, but sometimes also with slightly reddish
hind margins towards apex; venter with reddish hind margins to
sternites in g¢ more conspicuous and more often indistinct in 99;
legs predominantly blackish, the coxae, trochanters and entire
femora black, only the knees yellowish, the tibiae very dark or
blackish brown, even black, the tarsi also very dark brownish to
blackish brown, only the articulating planes being yellowish or
pallid, with dense cretaceous white scaling on legs and white spines
on hind femora and white spicules on tibiae; pubescence with the
bristly hairs and bristles on thorax, scutellum and abdomen erect
and standing up straight, the bristly elements more conspicuous,
longer and more shaggy in 99, especially on face, occiput, scutellum
and transversely towards apical part of abdomen, most of the bristly
hairs and bristles on body fimbriate or frayed at their apices, with
the erect pubescence entirely snow white or slightly gleaming white
in both sexes, only the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and the
bristles on sides of frons in 99 and sometimes those on scutellum
with a slight yellowish tint or even brownish or with dark brownish
at their bases, with the broader, flattened, dense scaling on frons in
616 Annals of the South African Museum.
33, face, sides of face, to a certain extent on antennal joint 1, around
margins of eyes, very dense on pleurae, upper parts of mesopleuron,
- on coxae, on venter in both sexes, that on sides of abdomen above in
2° and greater part of abdomen in g<, entirely and conspicuously
chalky or cretaceous white, with the finer, hair-like scaling on frons,
occiput and front part of thorax in gg more whitish or creamy, that
on basal part of mesonotum, scutellum and even base of abdomen
above in ¢¢ more reddish ochreous to cinnabar reddish, that on frons,
occiput, thorax above and abdomen above in 92 deep ochreous
yellow, golden yellowish to strikingly cinnabar red, being distinctly
more orange to conspicuous cinnabar reddish on frons, occiput,
extreme sides and base of thorax and on scutellum, that on abdomen
in 92 more uniformly ochreous yellow, brassy yellowish to golden
yellowish and that towards base of abdomen in g¢ also ochreous
yellowish; wings distinctly, even if only faintly, tinged yellowish
in more or less the basal half in gg, the yellowish tinge becoming
more evident basally and extending to end of costal cell and across,
across apical part of discoidal cell, to hind border, with the rest of
wings in gg hyaline, with the entire wings hyaline in 99, only the
base and costal cell subopaquely very pale yellowish white, with the
vestigial basal comb white or pale yellow-scaled, or even cinnabar
reddish-scaled, and with dark spicules, with the veins pale yellowish
or pale ochreous yellowish in basal half, more brownish or blackish
brown towards apex, the costal and first longitudinal veins luteous
or pale ochreous yellowish, with the first posterior cell broadly open,
the discal cross vein in the neighbourhood of basal third of discoidal
cell, the first basal cell a little, or sometimes apparently or scarcely,
longer than the second, with the vein between discoidal and third
posterior cells straight, with the squamae opaquely whitish or pale
yellowish white; halteres pale yellowish or yellowish white and
with almost white knobs. Head with the eyes in 3g separated by
width of ocellar tubercle, the interocular space in 9? comparatively
broad, about or nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle, sometimes
apparently even a little broader than 4 times in some specimens;
frons in 99 thus broad, the inner margins of eyes only very gradually
diverging anteriorly; antennae with joint 1 distinctly, though only
slightly, barrel-shaped, only about 2-24 times as long as 2, with 3
slender, more or less rod-like, about or quite 2. times as long as 1
and 2 combined, with fine, scattered, short, insignificant hairs above
in gg and denser, short, whitish, spinule-like hairs below in 99 at
least and often with sparse, but insignificant whitish scaling above
‘A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 617
in both sexes, with the terminal style very fine and hair-like; pro-
boscis slender and about 14-34 mm. long. Abdomen with a tendency
to be narrowed and pointed apically, with the last sternite in go
truncate apically, its posterior lateral angles rounded. Legs markedly
slender, without any spines below on front and middle femora, but
with about 3-6 white spines below on hind ones; claws slender, only
gradually curved downwards apically and with the pulvilli vestigial
in 99 and only visible basally in gg. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 173)
Text-Fic. 173.—Greater part of ventral view and side view of hypopygium
of ¢ Lepidochlanus fimbriatus n. gen. and n. sp.
with the sides of basal parts very finely striate or rugulose in certain
lights, with the inner apical parts of basal parts in neck region
flattened and produced; beaked apical joints elongate and somewhat
laterally compressed; aedeagus straight and sharply pointed and.
without any ventral process below.
Types in the South African Museum and paratypes in the British
Museum.
Length of body: about 24-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 3-7 mm.
Locality Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 16—30/10/28). W. Cape Province:
Olifant’s River Valley between Clanwiliam and Citrusdal (Mus.
Exp., Oct-Nov. 1931). N.W. Cape Province: Bushmanland:
Jakhals Water (Lightfoot, Oct. 1911) (labelled as niveus by Bezzi).
Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931);
618 Annals of the South African Museum.
Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); Kamieskroon (Mus. Staff, Nov.
1936) (Types). S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner,
8-30/10/29, 12/29).
This species is very easily recognised by the dense chalky white
scaling on body below and the orange reddish or cinnabar reddish
scales on thorax and scutellum, by the peculiar fimbriate bristly
hairs and bristles on the body and by the Crocidiwm-like type of
wings, etc. This species appears to be very variable in size, in the
coloration of the dense scaling on frons, thorax and scutellum and
on abdomen above, the extent of the red on abdomen and even in
the intensity of the yellowish tinge of the wings in gg. The minute
or smaller forms appear to differ from the larger forms in having no
or practically no red hind margins to the abdominal segments in 99
and much narrower ones in gg and in having the scaling on body
above more yellowish, ochreous to chrome yellowish and not ochreous
reddish or deep cinnabar reddish as in the typical form. The 99
labelled as niveus Macq. by Bezzi even have more pale yellowish
scaling above and the scaling in some of the smaller specimens is
even pale creamy yellowish above. These insects are usually seen
settling on the sand during the hottest part of the day or they may
be obtained by sweeping the flowers of various kinds of Mesembry-
anthemums. To a certain extent this species shows procryptic or
sympathetic coloration in that forms found on reddish or ferruginous
sand display the beautiful cinnabar reddish scaling and others found
on quartz sand or in a paler environment are more or less paler-scaled.
Gonarthrus Group.
The genus Gonarthrus Bezz. was referred to the Phthirwnae by
Bezzi, but from its characters it is obvious that it cannot be placed
in the Phthiriines and together with the related Paratoxophora Engel,
I prefer to relegate these two genera to a distinct group in the Bomby-
liinae having the following characters :—
Body elongate, cylindrical, with the abdomen elongate; pubescence
dense and long on antennae below, sides of face and down the genae,
long and dense on occiput, absent from face, the metapleurae bare
anda metapleural tuft absent. Wangs clear, hyaline, narrowed basally,
without or with only a very much reduced basal comb, with the alula
much reduced or vestigial, the axillary lobe also narrow and not
broadly lobate, with 2 submarginal cells, the vein between them
not markedly sinuate or S-curved and arising almost at right angles
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 619
from third longitudinal vein and nearer its apex, the apical part of
first submarginal cell thus broad, with the discal cross vein much
beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae transversely
elongate, the lower part lobe-like. Head with the eyesin gd always
contiguous or in contact above for some distance, with the interocular
space in 9° rather narrowish, usually less than 3 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle, with the antennae elongate, joint 1 long or very long
and slightly thickened and joint 3 elongate, with the palps elongate,
joint 1 long and 2 much shorter and characteristically directed
upwards, with the labella of proboscis usually long. Abdomen with
the last sternite in g¢ elongate and scoop-like, narrowed apically.
Legs rather long, with spines below on at least the middle and hind
femora, with the spicules and spurs on tibiae strongly developed,
with the last tarsal joint having longish bristly hairs apically
above, with the claws rapidly bent downwards apically and with the
pulvilli very well developed, broadish and reaching apices of claws.
Hypopygium of 33 (text-figs. 174-196) with the beaked apical joints
elongate, subcylindrical or cylindrical and provided with a subapical
lobe or spine-like process and a tuft or clump of spine-like bristles
on dorsum, with the aedeagus long and sometimes very slender.
Gen. Gonarthrus Bezz.
(P. 109, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924;
poco, Anns, Ate. Mus:, vol. xvi, 1921.)
This genus was erected by Bezzi to contain a group of Ethiopian
species formerly referred to and described as species of Dischistus
by Bigot and Bezzi. In his monograph (loc. cit.), Bezzi referred this
new genus to the Phthirwnae. The generic characters, outlined by
him (loc. cit., p. 110), however, show that this genus is more related
to the Dischistus-group and there is scarcely any justification for
removing it from the Bombylunae if the latter subfamily be taken to
include several disparate groups. There seems to be more justifica-
tion for the erection of an entirely new tribe or subfamily to contain it.
From the true Phthiriines, as defined in this paper, it differs in not
having a modified and spined third antennal joint, in having much
denser and longer pubescence, in having an open anal cell and an
entirely different type of hypopygium. The obviously two-jointed
palps of Gonarthrus, to which Bezzi specially refers, is not a differ-
entiating generic character for, contrary to Bezzi’s statement that
it is rare in the family, it appears to be very common, if not always
620 Annals of the South African Museum.
present, in the genera of the Bombyliudae. It is certainly very
obvious in species of many genera and where not superficially visible
the plane of separation into two joints becomes evident after treat-
ment with caustic potash or creosote. Provisionally I prefer to
regard Gonarthrus as belonging to a distinct group in the Bombyliinae,
which in some respects is near the Crocidiwm-group.
The generic characters of Gonarthrus have been fully described by
Bezzi and they may be briefly summed up as follows:—Body some-
what elongate, usually predominantly black, with fine, long, dense,
shaggy pubescence, which gives these insects a pufi-like appearance,
that on occiput, front part of thorax and on abdomen usually longer
and more shaggy, with the metapleurae bare and without a distinct
metapleural tuft of long hairs below squamae and above posterior
thoracic spiracle. Head with the eyes in $3 above always contiguous
or in actual contact for some distance, with the interocular space in
29 not very broad, frons in 99 without a distinct transverse depression,
but with the ocellar region slightly raised; face comparatively short
and not prominent, bare along middle part or at least without long
hairs; genae well developed, separated from buccal cavity by a
distinct groove-like depression and with dense fine hair, which hide
the groove and buccal cavity; antennae elongate, usually slender,
with first joints close together, rather long, more or less thickened,
with 3 elongate, slender, rod-like or slightly thickened towards base,
with the first terminal element small, conical and bearing a style;
proboscis slender or stoutish, sometimes spinulated below, with the
labella usually well developed, pointed apically or sometimes broad
and horny and usually distinctly spinulated; palps usually con-
spicuously two-jointed, the shorter apical joint directed upwards.
Wings with 4 posterior cells of which the first posterior cell is open,
with the basal comb vestigial or poorly developed, with the anal
cell open, with the second longitudinal vein only gradually bent
up at its end, with the vein separating the two submarginal cells
very little S-curved and joining the third longitudinal vein almost at
right angles, with the discal cross vein always beyond middle of
discoidal cell, with the alula much reduced and not projecting lobe-
like, the axillary lobe also slightly reduced, with the lower lobe of
squamae well developed and the wings usually hyaline, without any
distinct infuscation. Abdomen with the last sternite in gd elongate
and scoop-like. Legs with some distinct spines on hind femora
below and sometimes with 1 or 2 on middle ones and with longish
hairs on femora below; tibiae with the spicules well developed, with
ae ae) Sl ET Gl ee
.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 621
the apical spurs long and strongly developed and with 1 or 2 black-
tipped yellowish or pallid, long spurs apically below on middle
tibiae; tarsi with the apical bristle-like hairs on last joints above
distinct, with the claws well developed, rapidly curved downwards
apically and with the pulvilli very well developed and reaching
apices of claws. Hypopygium of 3g (text-figs. 174-195) is very uniform
in structure throughout the species. Characteristic for the genus are:
the constant presence of a slightly produced lobe-like appendage
at base of basal parts, the peculiarly shaped beaked apical joints
(see figures), which have an apical lobe below the beak or apical spine,
with the joints themselves either slightly hollowed out on the inner
side or more often merely flattened and rarely without some flattening
or depression on inner side of the appendage, with a conspicuous
clump, patch or tuft of stiff, erect and spine-like bristles on the upper
outer aspect of beaked joints, with the plate, bounding the base of
beaked apical joints on the inner side on each side in neck region of
basal parts, usually angularly or even very acutely produced apically
and sometimes provided with some hairs; aedeagus usually well
developed, more often curved upwards, sickle-like towards the apex,
rarely straight and either with or without a medial lobe-like or
spine-like, apically directed, ventral aedeagal process at its base,
formed by the continuation of fused apical parts of the ramus from
each basal part on each side; middle part of penal apparatus usually
well developed, with the lateral strut on each side usually compara-
tively short and broad, lobe-like and directed basally, with the
dorsal aedeagal strut on each side, formed by the continuation of
the dorsal part of aedeagus, usually visible and lobe-like.
Superficially Gonarthrus resembles Dischistus Lw. s. str. but may at
once be distinguished by the less shaggy pubescence on antennae,
sides of face and on genae, by the contiguous and less incrassate
first antennal joints, by the much narrower interocular space in 99
and the contiguity of eyes in gg, much shorter and less prominent
face, the straighter second longitudinal vein and characteristic shape
of vein separating the submarginal cells, by the presence of distinct
spines on hind femora below, the presence of 1 or 2 black-tipped
yellowish spurs apically below on middle tibiae and by the entirely
different type of hypopygium in gg. There is no doubt that this
genus is more closely related to Paratoxophora Engel., described
below, and possibly also to the Palaearctic Amictus, which is, however,
unknown to me. Owing to the fact that the species of Gonarthrus
are very uniform in their characters, they are not easy to distinguish
622
Annals of the South African Museum.
and specific characters are often very unsatisfactory. Apart from
the species described below as belonging to this genus, there is a
probability that Bombylius niveus Macq. (p. 102, Dipt. Exot. ui,
1840) and Dischistus melanurus Big. (p. 369, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.,
Ixi, 1892) are also referable to this genus.
Key to the known South African species of Gonarthrus.
1. (16) Abdominal segments without any transverse rows of distinct black bristles
across hind margins, these bristles being entirely white, whitish, yellowish
or pale yellowish brown and, if darker ones are present, these are usually
confined to apex or last 2 or 3 segments, inconspicuous and dark only at
their bases, the apical parts of individual bristles being extensively
tipped pale or whitish . 4 : » Je
2. (13) Proboscis comparatively stout and fie in pointer to bode either very
short or, when longer, usually not more than 3 mm. long and always
distinctly and much shorter than head and thorax together, with the
labella usually elongate, often conspicuously long, usually very broad,
a little less than a third and more often distinctly more than a third as
long as rest of proboscis (this part being comparatively and markedly
stout, only very little more than 2, scarcely 3, times as long as labella);
hairs on antennae below, sides of face and genae in g¢ entirely silvery
white or pale golden yellowish and without any dark hairs, those on front
part of occiput in gg (excepting only the row of fine dark ones) either
white or yellow like the rest of the hair and not with a distinct dark tint
at their bases. 5 ; oes
3. (6) Eyes in $¢ in actual ee above tbe a shore aistanes either less than
length of ocellar tubercle or equal to or subequal to its length, never
about 2 times its length; antennal joint 3 markedly attenuated towards
apex, the apical part being very slender; proboscis conspicuously short
and thick, with the labella more distinctly rounded apically; pubescence
predominantly silvery whitish and, when viewed from above, strikingly
silvery whitish on head, thorax and abdomen, comparatively finer,
denser and also longer, that on occiput and thorax above denser, finer
and more conspicuously puff-like, almost hiding the head below; hypo-
pygium of j¢ (text-figs. 174-175) with the outer apical angle of basal
parts in neck region at base of beaked apical joints distinctly more
prominent or even slightly angularly produced : ; pide
4. (5) Proboscis without any visible and distinct spinules, shining and very finely
striolate, the labella with only a few scattered spinules along lower
parts; eyes in gg in actual contact for a distance scarcely as long as
tubercle and often shorter; hairs on ocellar tubercle in ¢¢ dark brown
or mauvish brown and hairs on antennae above, in both sexes, entirely
whitish, those on tubercle in 99 usually with a distinct yellowish tint
or with pale yellowish brown bases; antennal joint 3 thickened from
beyond or just before middle, the apical slender part much shorter and
joint less club-shaped, more spindle-shaped, especially in 99; wings
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 623
with a tendency for the veins to be paler brownish, especially in gg;
halteres with the knobs dark blackish brown above and below in both
sexes; abdomen usually without any slender yellowish or pale yellowish
brown transverse bristles towards apex and with the bases of individual
hairs there not tending to be yellowish or even darkish at their bases
in gg; middle tibiae with only | long, pallid, black-tipped, apical spine
below; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 174) with slightly longer and more
pubescent hairs on dorsum and with the outer apical angle of basal
parts more sharply prominent, with the apical lobe of beaked apical
joints broader, more rounded and the stiff spine-like bristles on dorsum
of these joints less extensive, and with the plate bounding base of beaked
apical joint on inner side distinctly more angularly prominent apically
3 2 cygnus (Big.) (p. 633).
5. (4) Proboscis dull, not shining, subshagreened in appearance and with minute
scattered punctures bearing distinct and conspicuous spinules, denser
towards apical part, the labella with denser, longer and also more con-
spicuous spinules; eyes in g¢ in actual contact for a distance at least
equal to or subequal to length of tubercle; hairs on tubercle in gd
black and those on antennae above in ¢¢ with a brownish or mauvish
brown tint, those on tubercle in 2° and on antennae above usually entirely
white, rarely with a very faint yellowish tint at the bases of those on
tubercle; antennal joint 3 more or less thickened- before middle and
nearer base, more club-shaped and with a slightly more slender and longer
apical part; wings with a tendency for the veins to be distinctly more
blackish; halteres with the knobs dark blackish brown above and below
in gg, and more often yellowish to pale yellowish brown in 92; abdomen
more often with a few yellowish, yellowish brown to slightly brownish
bristles towards apex in jg, the apices of which are extensively whitish
and in some g¢ often with the bases of most of the hairs laterally and
towards apex tinted yellowish to pale yellowish brown; middle tibiae
with 2 black-tipped, pallid spines apically below; hypopygium of $
(text-fig. 175) with only a few, scattered, much shorter hairs on dorsum
above, with the outer apical angles of basal parts distinctly less prominent,
with the apical lobe of beaked apical joints distinctly narrower and
more pointed (cf. text-figures) and the inner plate bounding base of
beaked apical joint distinctly more rounded apically
3 2 namaénsis n. sp. (p. 635).
6. (3) Eyes in $¢ in actual contact above for a distance much more than length
of ocellar tubercle or at least about 2 times its length; antennal joint 3
less attenuated apically; proboscis longer and less stout and often long
and slender, with the labella distinctly less broadly rounded, more
attenuated and acuminate apically; pubescence on body above silvery
whitish, greyish white to yellow and, when viewed from above, distinctly
less conspicuously silvery whitish, comparatively less dense and also
visibly shorter, that on occiput and thorax above less puff-like, the head
being more distinctly visible from above and when hidden, the pubescence
at least is yellowish; hypopygium of ¢¢ (text-figs. 176-179) with the
outer apical angle of basal parts in neck region not prominent and not
angular or produced . ; : 3 : : é : seed
624 Annals of the South African Museum.
7. (8) Small gnat-like and delicate species, about 4-5 mm. long, with the pubes-
cence, excepting only the black hairs on ocellar tubercle and along hind
margin of eyes and on antennae above in dg, entirely frosty or silvery
white from above and the side and also comparatively sparse; mystax
and hair in front on head sparse; halteres in ¢ with the knobs dark
blackish brown above; femora without any spines on middle ones below
and with apparently only 1 spine towards apex on hind ones below;
hypopygium (text-fig. 176) with very short and sparse hairs on dorsum
of basal parts . 5 : 3 culiciformis Hesse (p. 636).
8. (7) Larger species, about 6-9 mm. long. with the pubescence on body above,
when viewed from above at least, not entirely frosty white, either with
a distinct dull greyish white, greyish yellow, creamy yellowish to slightly
pale greenish yellow tint, especially on disc of thorax and abdomen
above and more so in g¢ or the pubescence is entirely yellow, also
distinctly denser; mystax and hair on head in front very dense; halteres
in §¢g and in known 29 with the knobs entirely very pale yellowish white
to ivory whitish; femora with at least 1 spine below on middle ones
and with at least 3 on hind ones below; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs.
177-179) with denser and distinctly longer and more conspicuous hairs
on basal parts, especially towards neck region : )
9. (10) Tibiae very dark, blackish and front and middle ones nee pales ee the
very dark femora; palps with joint 2 short, not 2 times as long as antennal
joint 2; pubescence above comparatively paler and predominantly
more whitish and, when viewed from side, that on disc of thorax and
abdomen distinctly paler and more straw-coloured, not extensively
creamy yellowish to yellow, that on abdomen above being almost white;
wings with the costal and first longitudinal veins slightly darker and the
squamae with dark blackish brown margins; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 177) with the beaked apical joints not much flattened or hollowed
out on inner side, with the apical part of aedeagus curved upwards,
sickle-like, and with a pci fate long and prominent medial, ventral,
aedeagal process ; : : 3g monticolus n. sp. (p. 637).
10. (9) Tibiae either pale yellowish or luteous and much paler than the femora
or they are at least reddish brown and front and middle ones at least
distinctly paler than the blackish femora; palps with joint 2 much
longer, at least 2 times as long as antennal joint 2; pubescence above
distinctly less whitish, with a distinct greyish yellow or entirely yellow
tint and, when viewed from side, that on disc of thorax and abdomen
more distinctly creamy yellowish, sericeous yellow or entirely deep yellow,
especially in gg and on abdomen above; wings with the costal and first
longitudinal veins on the whole paler and more yellowish and with pallid
or yellowish margins on the squamae; hypopygium of §¢ (text-figs. 178-
179) with the beaked apical joints slightly flattened or even markedly
depressed on inner side, the apical lobe also being much more rounded
apically, with the aedeagus much more gradually curved upwards and
without any distinct, medial, ventral, aedeagal process . ; mame, sl
11. (12) Pubescence entirely deep yellow or pale golden yellow, the hair on antennae
below, in mystax and on body below entirely yellow, the squamae also
with yellowish hair, the ocellar hairs and those on antennae above
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 625
yellowish or only deeper yellowish; proboscis with the spinules distinctly
visible and also denser; basal half of second joints of palps scarcely
or not paler than the dark apical part; tibiae dark reddish brown and
not conspicuously paler than femora; hypopygium (text-fig. 178) with
distinctly longer and more pubescent hairs on dorsum, especially in
neck region of basal parts, with the basal strut stout, broad and very
conspicuous and the lateral struts also comparatively broad
3 xanthinus Bezz. (p. 638).
12. (11) Pubescence on body above, from above in g¢ at least, not entirely deep
yellow, paler, more whitish, dull greyish or very slightly greenish yellow
to creamy yellowish and, when viewed from side, that on disc of thorax
and abdomen above in ¢ creamy yellowish or with a faint, but distinct
yellowish tint, paler and white on thorax in 9, yellowish discally and on
abdomen above, that on antennae below, in mystax and on body below
and also hairs on squamae, white, the ocellar hairs and those on antennae
above black or blackish in gg and more straw-coloured yellowish to
whitish in 99; proboscis with the spinules minute, less dense and practi-
cally invisible; basal half of second joints of palps distinctly pallid or
luteous; tibiae very pale reddish yellow or luteous and very conspicuously
paler than dark femora; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 179) with sparser
and shorter hairs on dorsum of basal parts, with the basal strut less broad,
much smaller and the lateral struts also much narrower
6 2 chloroxanthus n. sp. (p. 639).
13. (2) Proboscis distinctly longer and more slender in relation to body, not
shorter than 3 mm., at least as long as head and thorax together or even
longer, with the labella proportionally much shorter and not conspicuously
elongate, always distinctly much less than a third as long as rest of,
proboscis (this part always slender and always more, even much more
than 3 times as long as labella); hairs on antennae below, sides of face
and even down genae in g¢ predominantly dark, with dark blackish
brown to blackish ones, at least on sides of face, and hairs on front part
of occiput in gg with a distinctly darker yellowish brown to mauvish
tint at their bases. : é : , : f : . 14.
14, (15) Larger species, about 53-8 mm. long; occiput in jg with the dark hairs,
just behind eyes, shorter and not very dense and bases of rest of occipital
hairs tinted more deep yellowish to yellowish brown; mystax in g¢
dense and with more numerous whitish hairs around buccal cavity;
antennal joint 3 more rod-like, only very slightly thickened towards
base; wings with the veins darker and more brownish to blackish brown;
legs, including tarsi, very dark or black, the tibiae being inclined to be
very dark blackish brown and femora black and with more numerous
spines, 4-7, on hind femora below; 29° with a few darkish or deep yellowish
hairs on vertex and mostly with white ones, like rest of hair on body,
on head and antennae; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 180) with the basal
parts broad and the neck region well marked off and with more hairs
on dorsum, with the beaked apical joints slightly less compressed laterally
and the apical lobe presenting a broader face in front
3 2 chioneus Bezz. (p. 641).
15. (14) Smaller species, about 4-5 mm. long; occiput in § with the dark hairs,
626
Annals of the South African Museum.
just behind eyes, distinctly longer and as long as occipital ones, also
more numerous and denser and with the bases of the rest of the hair
on occiput tinted darker and more brownish; mystax in ¢ sparser and
predominantly or almost entirely blackish brown, fewer pale hairs being
present; antennal joint 3 slightly shorter, tending to be less rod-shaped
and comparatively more thickened towards base; wings with the veins
paler and more yellowish; legs, including femora and tarsi, more or less
chocolate brown or coffee brown and with fewer, only about 2-3, spines
on hind femora below; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 181) with the basal
parts narrower and more elongate, the neck region less marked off
from the rest and with the hairs only evident on neck region, with the
beaked apical joints slightly more compressed laterally and the apical
lobe presenting a narrower face from in front
3 willowmorensis n. sp. (p. 642).
16. (1) Abdominal segments with conspicuous transverse rows of conspicuous
black bristles across hind margins of segments 2-6 or 7 or with rows of
predominantly black bristles across hind margins of last few segments,
these bristles scarcely or not pale-tipped : ia,
7. (22) Tibiae very pale yellowish or luteous and strikingly paler shan thet very
dark or black femora . , : » ae
18. (19) Pubescence relatively shorter, distinctly more voller ae on occiput,
disc of thorax, scutellum and, to a certain extent, abdomen above with
a distinct yellowish tint when viewed from side, with the hairs towards
apex of antennal joint 1 below in g¢ at least with a slight yellowish tint,
with the hairs on frons and those on antennae above in 929 yellowish,
with the macrochaetal bristles pallid or yellowish, the hair in mystax
comparatively less dense and shorter, with the pubescence on abdomen
also shorter and denser and without any black bristly hairs on venter
apically; eyes in gd in actual contact above for a distance considerably
more than 2 times length of tubercle; proboscis with the spinules not
distinctly visible; squamae with pale yellowish margins; halteres with
pale lemon yellowish knobs; hind femora usually with fewer, 2-3, spines
in apical half below; hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 182) with slightly shorter
and less pubescent hairs on basal parts, with the plate bounding beaked
joints on inner side not very angularly prominent apically, without any
medial, ventral, aedeagal process below aedeagus
3 & kalaharicus Hesse (p. 648).
19. (18) Pubescence on body above distinctly longer, more puff-like, silvery
whitish to straw-coloured or pale creamy yellowish, that on occiput,
disc of thorax, scutellum and abdomen above white or pale creamy
yellowish when viewed from side, with the hairs on antennal joint 1
below entirely silvery whitish in both sexes, with the hairs on frons and
antennae above in 9Q black, those on antennae above whitish, with the
macrochaetal bristles in front of wings black or dark in part, with the
pubescence on abdomen above distinctly longer, the bristles also longer
and more conspicuous and often with some black bristles towards apex
of venter; eyes in gf in actual contact above for a distance less than
2 times length of tubercle; proboscis distinctly more coarsely spinulated ;
squamae with very dark blackish brown to black margins; halteres
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 627
eee EE>E>Ey———-_-=-=- -_»S—»~—s
.
. usually with darker dirty yellowish white to very dark knobs; hind
femora usually with more spines, 3-6, below; hypopygium of $¢ (text-
figs. 184-186 and 189) with denser and longer hairs on basal parts, with
the inner basal plate at base of beaked joints more angularly prominent
apically and with a distinct ventral process below aedeagus . = 20:
20. (21) Pubescence on body above and below entirely or predominantly silvery
white, without a distinct creamy yellowish tint above, with the black
bristles on abdomen above poorly developed even in 99, with the macro-
chaetal bristles pallid or yellowish and without any black bristly hairs
or bristles apically below on venter and the black ones above not extend-
ing down round sides of abdomen, without such a conspicuous tuft-like
patch of black hairs on each side of frons in 99 in addition to the other
black hairs on head, above; wings with the veins much darker, almost
black even up to extreme base, with the squamal margin black; halteres
dark to dark brownish, with very dark or blackish knobs even in 99;
proboscis slightly more slender and with the labella more slender and
more elongate; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 184)
3 & versfeldi n. sp. (p. 646).
21. (20) Pubescence on body above with a distinct straw-coloured yellowish,
creamy yellowish or even very pale yellowish tint above on thorax,
scutellum and abdomen, even in $4, with the black bristles on abdomen
more developed, more conspicuous towards apex and extending down
round sides and with even some black bristles towards apex of venter,
with the macrochaetae in front of wings biack, with a distinct tuft of
black hairs on each side of frons in 99 in addition to the other black
hairs on head, above; wings with distinctly paler and more yellowish
or yellowish brown veins, which are much paler towards base, with the
squamal margin dark brownish; halteres paler, yellowish and with
dirty yellowish or whitish knobs; proboscis stouter, with the labella
shorter and less slender; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 185)
3 Q natalensis n. sp. (p. 647).
22. (17) Tibiae always very dark, blackish brown or black, never or scarcely
paler than the black femora : : . 23.
23. (48) Proboscis shorter, usually stouter, sheeted tien head and thorax a
or much shorter than abdomen . , 24.
24. (29) Pubescence on body with the black Brigtles and Bete fears more
extensively developed, conspicuous, intermixed black bristly hairs being
also present discally and basally above on thorax, posteriorly on scutellum,
especially in 99, the black bristles transversely above on abdomen very
conspicuously developed, extending right round to extreme sides of the
segments, those apically being more conspicuous and with some distinct
black transverse ones across hind margins of last 2 or 3 ventral segments
as well, with the fine hairs along hind margins of last tergite and sternite,
in 99 especially, always very dark or black, with distinct and more
numerous short intermixed black hairs above on antennal joint 1 in 29
and with the macrochaetae in front of wing-bases usually dark or black;
squamae always dark or black-margined 3 : é . 2D:
25. (28) Pubescence above much paler, appearing very faintly els greenish grey,
greenish yellow to greyish yellowish from above, predominantly whitish
628
26. (27
~—
Annals of the South African Museum.
or straw-coloured whitish from side, only that on disc of thorax, scutellum
and abdomen above faintly deeper sericeous yellowish or greenish yellow,
with the hair on antennal joint 1 below and on face and genae entirely
silvery white, that on body below more extensively and more distinctly
silvery whitish and that on frons in 992 much paler and almost white;
wings with the veins darker brownish to blackish brown, even to extreme
base of wings, with the squamal fringe silvery whitish or white . WG.
Proboscis longer, about 23-3 mm., with the labella elongated and normal,
each lobe pointed apically and with only short and fine inconspicuous
spinules; halteres with the knobs very dark blackish brown or black in
both sexes; pubescence with the intermixed black bristly hairs on disc
of thorax and scutellum, in 9° especially, less evident and less numerous
and with the pubescence on abdomen above slightly longer and denser;
interocular space in 9Q slightly broader, nearly 3 times as broad as
tubercle; slightly more elongated species, about 7-9 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 7-8 mm. _ . . & 2 vumbuénsis n. sp. (p. 658).
27. (26) Proboscis much shorter, only about 14 mm. long, with a very character-
istic, short and very broad labella, the two lobes together forming a
cup-shaped or hoof-shaped structure, covered with long hair-like or
bristle-like, but fine, spinules; halteres with very pale yellowish or
yellowish white knobs; pubescence with the intermixed black bristly
hairs on disc and base of thorax and on hind part of scutellum, in 99° at
least, distinctly more numerous and more conspicuous and with the
pubescence and bristles on body above slightly shorter and less dense;
interocular space in 2Q distinctly narrower, only about 2 times as broad
as tubercle; slightly shorter and smaller species, about 6-64 mm. long,
with a wing-length of about 53-6 mm. . labiosus n. sp. (p. 649).
28. (25) Pubescence on body above distinctly more yellowish, ranging from pale
29. (24
)
sericeous yellow, lemon yellow to golden yellow even when viewed from
side, that on occiput, frons and entire thorax also distinctly yellowish or
deeper yellowish, with the hair on antennal joint 1 below and even on
upper parts of face distinctly yellowish in both sexes (when not, then
at least with yellowish hair on thorax above), that on body below
less extensively whitish, almost always tinted creamy yellowish, straw-
coloured yellowish to very pale yellowish, that on venter being distinctly
more creamy yellowish to sericeous yellowish especially in apical half
and with the depressed pubescence on frons in 992 deeper yellowish to
golden yellowish; wings with the veins paler, more pale yellowish brown
to brownish and distinctly paler and more yellowish at their extreme
bases, with the squamal fringe creamy yellowish to sericeous yellow
3 2 leucophys (Big.) (p. 651).
(And forms of it.)
Pubescence on body with the black bristly hairs and bristles less developed
and less conspicuous, those on disc of thorax, posterior part of scutellum
and even basally on abdomen above absent or scarcely developed, or
the black transverse bristles on abdomen more or less present discally
only, not extending right round to extreme sides of segments and not
markedly dense posteriorly, without any black bristles on last ventral
segments, with the fine hairs on last tergite and sternite more often
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 629
pale yellowish or brownish and not black, with the macrochaetae in
front of wings more often pallid or yellowish and with fewer or without
any distinct black hairs on antennal joint 1 above in 99 (when some of
these characters are present, the black bristles on abdomen do not extend
right round and venter is without black bristles); squamae more often
with yellowish or pallid margins . : . 30.
30. (35) Erect pubescence on body above pridominantly or entirely creamy
yellowish, sericeous yellow to very bright silky lemon yellow, that on
body below straw-coloured yellowish to pale lemon yellow or at least
always with a distinct yellowish tint, with the fine scaling on legs pale
greyish yellow to yellowish in part : oypasle
31. (34) Pubescence on body above entirely very bean or nial gleaming
lemon yellow or brassy yellow, that on thorax in front in both sexes
coloured like that on rest of body above, with the hairs on antennal
joint 1 below predominantly or entirely sericeous lemon yellow, that on
body below only slightly or scarcely paler lemon yellow than above,
often with a slightly more greenish yellow tint, that on venter also
lemon yellow, with the black bristles on abdomen slightly more developed
on disc especially posteriorly; squamae with dark or even blackish
margins and lemon yellow fringes; antennal joint 1 distinctly longer,
more slender, 4, or more than 4, times as long as 2; proboscis also slightly
more slender, about 2-3 mm. long, with the spinules distinctly more
visible; hypopygium of known ¢ (text-fig. 187) with the beaked apical
joints less compressed, less flattened on the inner side, with the inner
plate at base of beaked apical joints very acutely produced (lobe-like)
apically, with the aedeagus curved upwards sickle-like and with the
ventral aedeagal process shorter . ‘ y o2e
32. (33) Proboscis with the labella more elongate, aaiwonrial and juste apically,
the spinules on it less conspicuous and shorter; pubescence at base of
first antennal joints below, on face, sides of face and genae distinctly
sericeous whitish; antennal joint 3 more rod-like; wings with the veins
paler and more yellowish or yellowish brown; front tarsi in 9? with the
spicules on joint 2 below scarcely less coarse than on 1 below
3 2 citrinus n. sp. (p. 652).
33. (32) Proboscis with the labella much shorter and from side very broad and
oval, rounded apically and with distinctly longer and more conspicuous
spinules; pubescence on first antennal joints below, on face and genae
pale sericeous lemon yellowish like that on body above; antennal joint 3
more distinctly and more rapidly thickened basally; wings with the veins,
on the whole, darker; front tarsi in 9 with the spicules on joint 2 distinctly
much finer than joint 1 below and more like those on 3-5
2 clavirostris n. sp. (p. 654).
34. (31) Pubescence on body above duller, more creamy yellowish when viewed
from side, that towards front part of thorax tending to be whitish, that
on disc of thorax, scutellum and abdomen pale and dull sericeous yellowish,
with the hair on antennal joint 1 below entirely white, that on body
below creamy or straw-coloured yellowish, with the black bristles on
abdomen above slightly less developed; squamae with yellowish margins
and straw-coloured fringes; antennal joint 1 slightly shorter and com-
VOL. XXXIV. 41
630
35
Annals of the South African Museum.
paratively stouter, less than 4 times as long as 2; proboscis, on the whole,
shorter and stouter, about 24 mm. long, with the spinules almost invisible;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 188) with the beaked apical joints somewhat
more compressed and flattened on inner side, with the inner plate at
base of beaked joints not acutely produced apically, with the aedeagus
more or less straight and with the medial, ventral, aedeagal process
stouter, longer and more developed . oO mimus n. sp. (p. 655).
. (30) Erect pubescence on body above predominantly or entirely whitish to
silvery whitish, especially when viewed from side, that on dise of thorax
and abdomen above may, however, be faintly tinted yellowish or straw-
coloured yellowish (in which case body below is white), this yellow
colour being enhanced by yellowish depressed pubescence on these sites,
that on body below always distinctly frosty or silvery whitish, never
with a yellowish tint, with the fine ane on legs predominantly greyish
white to cretaceous white . : 36.
36. (37) Pubescence with the black bristly nea on ante abere dis of ioe
37.
towards base and with the black bristles on scutellum posteriorly and
also discally above on abdomen well developed and conspicuous in 29
at least; scutellum with the apical part more or less brilliantly shining;
proboscis with the labella slightly more acutely or sharply pointed
apically; thorax rather convex above and with a more humped
appearance ; : 2 rhodesiénsis n. sp. (p. 657).
(36) Pubescence above in both sexes without any black bristly hairs on disc
and base of thorax, no black bristles posteriorly on scutellum and without
blackish hairs on antennal joint 1 above in 99; scutellum uniformly
dull black and covered with the usual greyish or dull bloom; proboscis
with the labella more often bluntly rounded apically and, when slightly
pointed, the labella is less elongate; thorax less convex and less markedly
humped . 5 : . d8.
38. (39) Pubescence above, sapesially on Seoipu smal thidras in pote sexes, com-
paratively short and with a slight shorn-off appearance, more so than in
any other species in this series, with the hair on antennal joint 1 above
distinctly shorter and with a few black bristles across hind margins
of last few ventral segments; proboscis comparatively stoutish and rather
long, quite 3 mm. long, somewhat coarsely shagreened, owing to con-
spicuous visible spinules, with the labella markedly long, well developed
and spinulate; hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 190) with comparatively
longish hairs on basal parts and with the aedeagus comparatively long
and conspicuously curved upwards . 6 & phileremus n. sp. (p. 659).
39. (38) Pubescence on body above distinctly longer and more puff-like in both
40.
sexes, not with a cropped appearance on thorax and that on occiput
long, the hair on antennal joint 1 above distinctly, or much, longer and
conspicuous and without any black bristles on last few ventral segments;
proboscis usually shorter than 3 mm., less stout, the spinules not visible
or at least much less developed and with the labella shorter and less
strongly developed; hypopygium of known g¢ with the aedeagus less
strongly developed and less strongly curved upwards. . 40.
(45) Squamae with pallid or yellowish margins; proboscis alighity shorter,
about 1-2 mm. long, with the spinules not or scarcely visible; knobs
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 631
of halteres entirely ivory whitish, pale yellowish to lemon yellowish;
pubescence, on the whole, slightly shorter, less dense and puff-like on
occiput and thorax anteriorly and without a distinct undergrowth of
fine, dark or blackish hairs visible among the long hairs on thorax and
abdomen . : : : ‘ : : E : ; i
41. (42) Pubescence on body below, on the whole, more distinctly cretaceous or
chalky white and the erect hairs on abdomen, especially laterally, tending
to be whiter, with the scaling on legs tending to be whiter; hind femora
with only about 1-2 spines in apical outer aspect below and with 2
black-tipped pallid spurs on middle tibiae apically below; wings with the
veins darker, more brownish or blackish brown and the knobs of halteres
more pale lemon yellowish; eyes in gd in actual contact above for a
distance a little more than 2 times length of ocellar tubercle; hypopygium
of § (text-fig. 183) with the inner plate bounding base of beaked joints
not prominently or angularly produced apically and without any distinct
medial, ventral, aedeagal process projecting apically
3 2 kalaharicus var. venustus Hesse (p. 645).
42. (41) Pubescence on body below duller whitish, that on abdomen and even on
thorax tending to be more straw-coloured yellowish, with the scaling
on legs duller whitish, becoming faintly straw-coloured yellowish towards
apices of femora and tibiae; hind femora with about 3-4 spines below,
with apparently only 1 black-tipped pallid spur apically on middle
tibiae; wings with distinctly paler and more yellowish veins and with
the knobs of halteres more pale yellowish or ivory whitish; eyes in known
66 in actual contact for a distance slightly less than 2 times length of
tubercle; hypopygium of known 3¢ (text-figs. 191-195) with the inner
plate at base of beaked joints produced and angularly prominent apically
and usually with a more distinct ventral, aedeagal process . . 43.
43. (44) Slightly smaller form, about 6 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
5 mm.; proboscis slightly shorter, only about 15 mm. long and more
slender; bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons in 992 dark
brownish, those on antennae above and some on sides of upper parts
of face in g¢ as well as a few on antennae below in ¢¢ also blackish
brown; legs apparently more slender . . do Qirvingi n. sp. (p. 661).
44, (43) Slightly larger form, about 7 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
63 mm.; proboscis slightly stouter and longer, about 2 mm. long;
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and frons predominantly straw-coloured
yellowish in 2; legs distinctly stouter
2 var. of irvingi n. sp. (p. 662).
45. (40) Squamae with distinctly dark or blackish brown to black margins;
proboscis slightly longer, 2-3 mm. long, with the spinules more distinctly
and more coarsely visible; knobs of halteres tending to be darkened or
even blackened above; pubescence denser, longer and more puff-like
on occiput and front part of body and usually with a distinctly visible
undergrowth of fine, shortish, black or dark intermixed hairs on disc of
thorax and abdomen above, more visible in certain positions, especially
in 2° : : : : : ; ; ‘ : ; . 46.
46. (47) Bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons basally predominantly
straw-coloured whitish or yellowish in 29, without any or with only a
632 Annals of the South African Museum.
very few dark ones on tubercle and with the depressed pubescence on
frons in 99 silvery whitish; pubescence on disc of thorax, scutellum and
abdomen above distinctly more straw-coloured yellowish in both sexes
3 & turner: n. sp. (p. 662).
47. (46) Bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons basally black and
conspicuous and with the depressed pubescence on frons sericeous yellow
in 2; pubescence on disc of thorax, scutellum and abdomen above
apparently more whitish and less tinted straw-coloured yellowish
2 turnert var. melalophus n. (p. 664),
48. (23) Proboscis distinctly longer, usually more slender, at least as long as head
and thorax together, sometimes longer or also at least as long as abdomen
| 49.
49. (50) Proboscis very long and comparatively slender, about 5 mm. long;
pubescence longer and that on occiput and on face longer and more
puff-like, much longer than antennal joints 1 and 2 combined, with the
hair on disc of thorax and on abdomen above more distinctly tinted
straw-coloured yellowish, with the black transverse bristles on abdomen
more conspicuous and well developed; squamae with dark or blackish
margins; larger species, more bulky, about 9-10 mm. long
2 subtropicalis n. sp. (p. 664).
(Syn. =cylindricus Bezz. in part.)
50. (49) Proboscis shorter, about 3-4 mm. long; pubescence shorter or even very
short, that on face and body in front finer, denser and shorter, scarcely
as long as, or not much longer than, antennal joints 1 and 2 combined,
with the hair on disc of thorax and abdomen, like rest of hair above,
entirely sericeous whitish or silvery whitish and, if tinted slightly yellowish
towards apex of abdomen, it is very pale straw-coloured and less yellowish,
the depressed pubescence being less yellowish, with the black transverse
bristles on abdomen above less conspicuous and more often only evident,
towards apex; squamae with very pale yellowish margins; slightly
smaller and less bulky species, about 44-7 mm. long. : . vole
51. (52) Palps with joint 2 markedly short or shorter and not longer than antennal
joint 2; proboscis distinctly and more or less coarsely spinulated, with
the labella comparatively long and broad, its apical part bluntly rounded;
pubescence on occiput, like that on thorax in front, very dense and com-
paratively short, not much longer than antennal joints 1 and 2 combined;
eyes in ¢ in actual contact for a distance about equal to or subequal to
length of tubercle and then subcontiguous from there for an equal
distance; wings with the discoidal cell tending to be more truncate
apically, the apical cross vein being long . 6 nivalis n. sp. (p. 666).
52. (51) Palps with joint 2 distinctly longer and often very much longer than
antennal joint 2; proboscis without any conspicuously visible spinules,
with the labella, though also long, distinctly narrower or even much
narrower, the lobes more sharply pointed apically; pubescence on occiput
and thorax in front less dense, distinctly more puff-like and longer than
antennal joints 1 and 2 combined; eyes in ¢¢ in actual contact for a
distance distinctly longer, about 2 times as long as tubercle, the front
half being in actual contact like the basal half; wings with the discoidal
cell tending to be more acute apically, the apical vein being shorter . 53.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 633
53. (54) Legs entirely dark or black, even the tibiae scarcely or not paler than the
femora; pubescence with the black hairs on antennal joint 1 above
longer and more shaggy, those laterally distinctly longer and more
conspicuous, with the hair on abdomen above and below distinctly
denser; proboscis slightly more slender, more markedly so in apical
half; hind femora with about 3-5 spines below; hypopygium (text-
fig. 194) with the basal parts more elongate, with the aedeagus shorter
and only very slightly curved upwards and with a well-developéd medial,
ventral, aedeagal process. 3 tenuirostris n. sp. (p. 667).
54. (53) Legs with the tibiae distinctly pales shan the femora, more reddish or
dark reddish brown, and the hind ones markedly paler and more pale
brownish, with the bases of tarsi also paler and reddish brown; pubes-
cence with the black bristly hairs on antennal joint 1 above distinctly
much shorter and more pubescent, with the hair on abdomen above
and below apparently sparser; proboscis, on the whole, slightly stouter;
hind femora with apparently only 2 spines apically below; hypopygium
(text-fig. 195) with the basal parts broader in basal two-thirds, with the
aedeagus longer and more distinctly curved upwards in apical part and
without any ventral aedeagal process . 6 2 chioleucus n. sp. (p. 668).
G. cygnus (Big.).
(P. 368,-Ann_Soc. Ent. Fr., lxi, 1892; Bezzi, p. 90,
mimi Soke Mus. vols xvi, Pl il,fie, 17; 1921.)
There is some doubt as to the specific identity of the few specimens
. from the Western Province which Bezzi labelled as cygnus. Bigot
himself labelled one J as “‘ Bombylius niveus Macq.” (p. 102, Dipt. Exot.
ii, 1840). As stated by Bezzi, niveus is precluded on account of the
position of the discal cross vein and also by its long proboscis, which,
according to the measurement given, is very nearly half as long as
the body-length given. The other characters, given by Macquart
in his very short and vague description, however, raise a suspicion
that his Bombylius niveus may prove to be a white-haired Gonarthrus
with a long proboscis, such as chioneus Bezz. or subtropicalis n. sp.
dealt with lower down. Bezzi, not having had any other white-
haired species except this one and chioneus before him, referred these
specimens in the South African Museum and probably others in the
British Museum to cygnus (Big.). It is, however, unlikely that Bigot
would refer a species to nweus Macq. and then proceed to describe
the same species as cygnus. From the inadequate description of
cygnus by Bigot, it is also very difficult to state whether he was
dealing with the same species which Bezzi referred to cygnus. In
this paper at least 13 white-haired species are dealt with, of which
6 are found in the Cape Province, to every one of which, with the
634 Annals of the South African Museum.
exception of chioneus (with long proboscis), Bigot’s description is more
or less applicable. In addition there are some other species which are
almost white when viewed in certain lights. In view of the fact that
cygnus was described from “Cap de Bonne-Hspérance” and that
it is “dense albido sericeo villosus,” I am also retaining these Cape
specimens in cygnus to which Bezzi referred them.
The specimens before me are easily recognised by the dense and
entirely sericeous or silvery white pubescence on body, the absence
Trext-ric. 174.—Ventral view of aedeagus, side view of hypopygium, and dorsal
view of beaked apical joint of g Gonarthrus cygnus (Big.).
of dark or blackish hairs on first antennal joints above in gd, the
blackish brown tuft of hairs on ocellar tubercle in gg, the presence
of yellowish or pale brownish bristly hairs on tubercle and frons in
09, the entire absence of conspicuous or distinct black bristles towards
apex of abdomen in both sexes (some of these may, however, be
yellowish or brownish or with darkish bases in some specimens),
the presence of very short erect blackish brown or blackish hairs on
the abdomen (hidden by the long silvery pubescence), the entirely
dark knobs of the halteres or knobs darkened above and below in
both sexes, the very short and shining proboscis of which the surface
is faintly striolate and the comparatively long and broad labella,
more than a third as long as rest of proboscis and with only 1 black-
tipped, pallid, apical spur on middle tibiae below. The tibiae are,
however, not entirely “pallide fulvis” as stated by Bigot, only the
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 635
hind ones being distinctly paler, the others being scarcely paler than
the dark femora. Hypopygium of ¢$ (text-fig. 174, lateral view,
ventral view of aedeagus and dorso-lateral view of beaked apical
joint) with the outer apical angle of basal parts sharply prominent,
and plate bounding base of beaked apical joint on inner side acutely
angular apically (see figure); beaked apical joints as shown in figure,
with the apical lobe more or less rounded and the dorsum of joints
with a clump or tuft of erect stiff spine-like bristles; aedeagus with
the medial, flattened, ventral process at base distinct.
Locality.—Western Province. (Transvaal, British and South
African Museums.)
17 3d 28 99 G. namaénsis n. sp.
(Syn.=cygnus Bezz. in part nec Bigot.)
This species is practically indistinguishable superficially from what.
I take to represent cygnus Big. It has the same dense silvery whitish
pubescence on body, but differs
in the following characters:—
Bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle
in ¢¢ black, not dark blackish
brown or dark brownish and the
hair on antennal joints above
in ¢¢ dark brownish or blackish
and not whitish, those on
tubercle and frons in 9° usually Text-ric. 175.—Left beaked apical joint
2 : of hypopygium (in lateral and oblique-
entirely white or only very dorsal views) of $ Gonarthrus namaénsis
feebly tinted yellowish at their ™ ‘SP:
bases, the abdomen usually with a few or some yellowish brown,
transverse bristles towards apex in gg, the apices of which are,
however, extensively whitish and more often there is also a distinct
yellowish or even orange brownish tint at the bases of the other
abdominal hairs in ¢¢ and those on abdomen in some 99 often dis-
tinctly yellowish; wings with a tendency for the veins to be slightly
darker, more blackish brown; halteres with blackish knobs in ¢¢
and, in many specimens, entirely pallid in 92; middle tibiae with 2
long, black-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below; eyes in g¢ usually in
actual contact for a distance at least equal to length of ocellar tubercle
(scarcely or even distinctly shorter than tubercle in cygnus); antennal
joint 3 tending to be more or less thickened before middle, broadest
nearer base, thus more distinctly club-shaped and with a slightly
636 Annals of the South African Museum.
longer, slender, apical part; proboscis apparently slightly longer,
about 2-3 mm., not shining, duller and appearing subshagreened
owing to comparatively coarse spinules, which are conspicuously
visible and denser anteriorly and on labella, the latter also being ;
comparatively shorter and often much less than a third as long as
rest of proboscis; legs with the tibiae as in cygnus, often almost
pale reddish brown, but more often dark, the hind femora with about
4—11 spines in apical outer half below. Hypopygium of 3g very similar
to that of cygnus (cf. text-fig. 174) but with sparser and much shorter
hairs on dorsum of basal parts; beaked apical joints (text-fig. 175,
lateral and dorso-lateral views) with the apical lobe, however,
narrower and distinctly more pointed apically than in cygnus; outer
apical angle of basal parts distinctly less pointed and prominent;
plate bounding base of beaked apical joint on inner side (see figure)
more rounded apically; basal strut smaller and narrower.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7-104 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-84 mm.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931) (Types); Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931); O’okiep
(Lightfoot, Oct. 1890) (labelled as cygnus Big. by Bezzi); Van Rhyn’s
Pass (v. Son, 4-5/11/33); Nieuwoudtville (Cockerell, 18-22/11/31)
(Imperial Institute). 8S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 6—-30/10/28)
(British Museum). W. Cape Province: Clanwilliam (Brauns, 9/28)
{Transvaal Museum).
2 3h G. culiciformis Hesse.
(P. 168, Ann. Trans. Mus.,.vol. xvu, 1936.)
Body black; abdomen with the hind margins of segments laterally
dull greyish white and body below with greyish white bloom; tibiae
and tarsi very dark reddish brown, the hind ones being very slightly
paler, the middle ones with 2 black-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below;
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and row of separated fine ones along
posterior margins of eyes very dark blackish brown; hair on antennal
joints 1 and 2 above black, the pubescence on body above and below
entirely frosty white, comparatively sparse above and without any
transverse black bristles on abdomen above; wings vitreous hyaline,
iridescent, with the costal cell and base subopaquely whitish, the
veins yellowish brown to brownish and the opaquely whitish squamae
with pale yellowish margins; halteres pallid, the bases more brownish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 637
and the knobs dark blackish brown above and only slightly darkened
below. Head with the mystax comparatively sparse; antennae
with joint 3 comparatively broad,
broadest just before middle, nar-
rowed at extreme base and only
very gradually narrowed apically,
the apical part not being very
slender; proboscis about 1-14 mm.
long, without any visible spinules
below. Legs without any spines on
middle femora below and with
apparently only 1 spine towards
apex on outer aspect on hind ones
below. Hypopygium (text-fig. 176,
lateral and dorso-lateral view of
beaked joint) with the dorsum of
basal parts very sparsely and shortly
hairy; aedeagus with a short, medial,
ventral, aedeagal process; plate on
inner side at base of beaked joint
angularly pointed apically. Trxt-FIG. 176.—Side view of hypo-
Type in the Transvaal Museum. pygium and oblique-dorsal view of
apical joint of ¢ Gonarthrus culict-
Length of body: about 4-5 mm. formis Hesse.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality Bechuanaland: Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30).
This small species is recognised by its mosquito or gnat-like shape
and tapering abdomen, the comparatively sparse and frosty white
pubescence, etc.
1 $ G. monticolus n. sp.
Black; legs black, only the hind tibiae more dark reddish brown;
pubescence predominantly whitish, that on occiput, disc of thorax
and abdomen above (as far as these are not denuded) with a faint
yellowish or straw-coloured yellowish tint when viewed from side,
that in mystax and body below entirely white, that on occiput with
comparatively conspicuous black or dark hairs just behind margins
of eyes, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and on antennae
above blackish; wings vitreous hyaline, the base subopaquely
yellowish and the veins dark brown, becoming yellowish at base and
the opaquely whitish squamae with dark blackish brown margins;
638 Annals of the South African Museum.
halteres yellowish, with very pale yellowish knobs, only very feebly
darkened above. Head with the coarse facets on upper half of eyes
distinctly demarcated from fine ones
in lower half; antennal joint 3 slender,
rod-shaped; proboscis about 24 mm.
long. Abdomen with some straw-
coloured, transverse bristles towards
apex and without any black bristles.
Legs with 1 spine near apex on middle
femora below and with about 3 or 4
widely separated spines on outer lower
surface on hind ones. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 177, lateral view and dorso-
lateral view of beaked joint) with the
dorsum of basal parts, especially neck
region, covered with comparatively
longish pubescence and with plate
bounding base of beaked joint on
inner side produced lobe-like apically;
aedeagus with a prominent, ventral,
Text-Fic. 177.—Side view of aedeagal process.
hypopygium and oblique-dorsal ‘T'ype in the South African Museum.
a ee Reais af chy J Length of body: about 74 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality—S. Cape Province: Swellendam; Tradouw Pass (Mus.
Eixp., Nov. 1925).
This somewhat denuded g may be distinguished from chioneus
Bezz. by the much shorter proboscis and entirely white mystax;
from cygnus (Big.) by the more slender proboscis, longer distance of
actual contact of the eyes and much paler knobs of the halteres.
G. xanthinus Bezz.
(P. 89, Ann, 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921-)
This species is easily recognised by the entirely yellow or golden
yellow pubescence, which is scarcely paler on pleural regions, the
entire absence of black transverse bristles on abdomen, the presence
of only slightly deeper yellowish bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle,
the visibly spinulated proboscis, which is also not very long and
the pale yellowish white knobs of the halteres. Hypopygiwm of 3
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 639
(text-fig. 178, lateral view and dorso-lateral view of beaked
joint) with comparatively long hairs on dorsum of basal parts,
especially in neck region, and with
plate (see outline figure) on inner
side of base of beaked joint angularly
prominent apically; aedeagus without
a distinct, medial, ventral, aedeagal
process; beaked apical joints slightly
depressed or flattened on inner side;
basal strut well developed and con-
spicuously prominent basally.
The @ is still unknown, the supposed
2 type from Potchefstroom, described
by Bezzi, being the 2 of an entirely
different and new species which I have
described as citrinus in this paper. It
differs from the g type of xanthinus
in having the hair on face and genae
white, contrasting with the pale
lemon yellow pubescence on_ rest
of body above, in having much
paler hair on the pleurae and also
in the presence of transverse rows
of distinct black bristles across hind ieee we ue Be
margins of abdominal segments _ beaked apical joint of ¢ Gon-
arthrus xanthinus Bezz.
above.
Locality—_N. Cape Province and O.F.S. (Transvaal and South
African Museums.)
8 33 3 99 G. chloroxanthus n. sp.
Black; tibiae conspicuously pale yellowish or luteous and the
middle ones with 2 black-tipped, pallid spurs apically below, with
the tarsi darker and more dark brownish; pubescence, when viewed
from directly above, pale dull greyish, silvery whitish to greenish
yellowish, paler in 99, and when viewed from side that on occiput
above with a distinct yellowish tint in some g¢, more whitish or
pale straw-coloured in 92; that on disc of thorax, scutellum and
abdomen above with a faint, but distinct, creamy yellowish to
yellowish tint, more straw-coloured to slightly yellowish in 99 (as
far as can be seen in denuded specimens), the hair on antennae below
640 Annals of the South African Museum.
and on face and body below being sericeous white in both sexes, with
the hair in front of wings and across occiput and front part of thorax,
in certain lights, also white, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and
on antennae above in 6g dark blackish brown or black, those on tubercle
and frons in 99 pale straw-coloured, the pubescence on abdomen
without any transverse rows of black or blackish bristles, these being
entirely whitish, straw-coloured yellowish to slightly yellowish and
more or less like rest of hair; wings
vitreous hyaline, with the costal
cell and base subopaquely whitish
to pale yellowish white, with the
veins dark brownish, becoming
yellowish towards base, with white
hair on yellowish margined
squamae; halteres yellowish, be-
coming more brownish yellow
basally, with very pale yellowish
white knobs in both sexes. Head
with the coarsely faceted upper
half of eyes in go well demarcated
from finely faceted lower half;
interocular space in 99 less than 3
times as broad as ocellar tubercle
on vertex; antennal joint 3 com-
paratively slender, subrod-like, only
TrExt-Fic. 179.—Side view of hypo- gradually tapering towards apex,
pygium and other views of beaked especially in $¢; proboscis about
apical joint of g Gonarthrus chloro- 2-91 rat. long, without any vigiinle
xanthus n. sp. ; ‘ ;
spinules in basal part; palps with
the basal half of apical joint luteous. Legs with 1 spine in apical part
of middle femora below and 2-3 in apical outer aspect of hind ones
below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 179, lateral view, dorso-lateral and
frontal views of beaked joint) with the beaked apical joints distinctly,
though slightly, hollowed out on inner side; aedeagus gradually
curved upwards, only with a basal ridge below and no distinct
projecting, medial process; plate bounding base of beaked joint on
inner side angular apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-7 mm. 7
Localityi—W. Cape Province: Olifant’s River Valley between
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 641
Clanwilliam and Citrusdal (Mus. Exp., Oct.-Nov. 1931) (Types).
Namaqualand: Nieuwoudtville (Ogilvie, 18-22/11/31) (Imperial
Institute). Central Karoo: Murraysburg (Mus. Exp., March 1930).
S. Karoo: Ceres (Turner, Nov.—Dec. 1920); Worcester (Turner, Dec.
1933) (British Museum).
Kasily recognised, especially in the g, by the dull greyish or greenish
yellow pubescence when viewed from directly above and by the very
pale luteous tibiae. From other species, such as natalensis n. sp.
and kalaharicus Hesse with luteous tibiae, it differs in not having
transverse rows of black bristles on abdomen above.
G. chioneus Bezz.
fel Anno. Ate. Mus. vol: xviii, 1921.)
Two named specimens, a ¢ and a 9, from Willowmore, in the
collection of the late Dr. Brauns, agree in every respect with Bezzi’s
description. The species is
easily recognised by the long
and slender proboscis, white
pubescence, the darkened
hair on antennae below and
on side of face in g, which
is blackish along front mar-
gins of eyes and more
yellowish or greyish yellow
towards rims of buccal
cavity, by the yellowish tint
at bases of hairs on occiput,
the absence of black bristles
on abdomen and the pres-
ence of about 4-7 spines on
hind femora below.
The 9, which appears not
to have been described, has
the hair on occiput, antennae Trxr-ric. 180.—Side view of hypopygium and
; : oblique-dorsal view of beaked apical joint
ay ere entirely of g Gonarthrus chioneus Bezz.
sericeous white, only some
of the bristly ones on ocellar tubercle and frons being slightly more
yellowish or greyish yellow in certain lights; interocular space on
vertex a little less than 3 times as broad as tubercle; halteres with
EEE
642 Annals of the South African Museum.
entirely pale yellowish white to whitish knobs; transverse rows of
bristles on abdomen, especially towards apex, yellowish as in ¢.
Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 180, lateral view and dorso-lateral view
of beaked joint) with the basal parts broad and the neck region well
marked off, with some pubescent hairs on dorsum, more conspicuous
anteriorly, with the inner plate at base of beaked apical joint sharply
angular apically; beaked apical joints somewhat laterally compressed;
aedeagus with a distinct medial, ventral, aedeagal process at base
below.
Locality.—Central and Southern Karoo. (In the Transvaal and
South African Museums.)
3 33 G. willowmorensis n. sp.
Black; legs and, to a certain extent, the antennae chocolate or
dark coffee brownish; pubescence white above and below, com-
paratively sparse on pleurae and on
abdomen, without any dark or black
transverse rows of bristles on abdomen,
that on occiput with dense and long
blackish brown hairs in front and the
others also with a distinct brownish tint at
their bases when viewed from side, the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle dark blackish
brown, the hairs on antennae above and
below, on face and genae greyish or blackish
brown when viewed from side, those on
face along front margins of eyes being darker
and blackish and those nearer buccal rim
paler, the beard below, however, whitish;
wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent, with the
veins yellowish and the margins of the
Tex?-FIG. 181.—Side view of opaquely whitish squamae slightly brown-
hypopygium of 3 Gonar- ish: halteres yellowish, with the knobs
thrus willowmorensis n. sp. :
more darkened above or dark blackish
brown above. Head with the coarser facets in eyes above passing
almost imperceptibly into the finer ones below; antennal joint 3
broadest near base, very gradually narrowed apically, the apical
part not being very slender; mystax on face comparatively sparse;
proboscis slender, about 2} mm. long, without any visible spinules
below; palps with the apical joints comparatively short and not
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 643
markedly club-shaped or with a long and slender base. Legs with
1 spine near apex below on middle femora and with about 2-3
spines below on outer apical aspect of hind ones; middle tibiae
with 2 dark-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below. Hypopygium (text-
fig. 181, lateral view and dorso-lateral view of beaked joint) with
the basal parts somewhat elongate and the neck region not well
marked off, with longish hairs apparently only in neck region and
with the plate bounding base of beaked joint on inner side angularly
prominent apically; beaked apical joints markedly laterally com-
pressed; aedeagus with a short, but distinct medial, ventral, aedeagal
process at base.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-5 mm.
Locality.— Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 1/4/1902).
This small and delicate species can be distinguished from culici-
formis Hesse by its much longer proboscis, much darker and more
brownish hair on occiput behind margins of eyes, on antennae and in
mystax and by the dark brownish or chocolate brown coloured legs.
From a small specimen of chioneus Bezz. it differs in having distinctly
longer and denser dark hairs on the occiput in front, much sparser
mystax and with comparatively fewer pale hairs in mystax and with
fewer spines on hind femora below.
3 3g 10 99 G. kalaharicus Hesse.
(P. 168, Ann, Trans. Mus.,. vol. xvi, 1936.)
Black; tibiae luteous, yellowish to pale yellowish brown, the last
2 or 3 tarsal joints being black; pubescence, when viewed from above,
pale brassy yellowish especially on abdomen above and, when viewed
from side, that on front part of occiput, disc of thorax, scutellum and
abdomen with a distinct pale yellowish to brassy yellowish tint and
more so on scutellum and abdomen; hair on body below and base
of venter cretaceous white; depressed pubescence on base of thorax,
scutellum and on abdomen above, in @ especially, very dense, pale
brassy yellow and with a conspicuous brassy or golden sheen, thus
giving the abdomen an added yellow appearance; bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle and along hind margins of eyes and on antennae
above in ¢ blackish or black, those on tubercle, frons and on antennae
above in @ yellowish to deep yellowish and hairs towards apex of
antennal joint 1 below in both sexes tinted yellowish; mystax and
644 Annals of the South African Museum.
beard below sericeous white like rest of hair below; transverse rows
of bristles across hind margins of abdominal segments 2-6 in 2 and
2-7 in ¢ black, with, however, only a few on 2 and 3, more or less
confined to disc, black, those on 5-7 being denser, longer, more
conspicuous and also extending down laterally on extreme sides;
last abdominal segment with predominantly straw-coloured yellowish
to yellowish hair; venter without any black bristles on penultimate
segment and one before it; spiny bristles on genital segment of 9
yellow; wings vitreous hyaline, with the
extreme base and costal cell subopaquely
pale yellowish white, with the veins brown-
ish to dark brownish, becoming yellow at
base, with the squamal fringe whitish and
squamal margin yellowish; halteres yellow- |
ish, with very pale lemon yellow to almost
whitish knobs in both sexes. Head with
the coarser facets on more than the upper
half of eyes in § more or less well demar-
cated from finer facets on less than lower
half; interocular space on vertex in 2 very
nearly 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle;
antennae with joint 3 very gradually
tapering from broadest part near base,
with the terminal style minute; proboscis
Text-Fic. 182.—Side view of about 2-2% mm. long, without any
py popy ogre le alas oe conspicuously visible spinules. Legs with
dense whitish scaling on femora in g, but
becoming slightly yellowish apically on the outer side in 2; middle
femora with 1 spine apically below; hind ones with about 2-4 spines
(more often only 2) towards apex; middle tibiae with 2 black-tipped,
pallid spurs below apically. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 182, lateral
and dorso-lateral view of beaked joint) with pubescent hairs on basal
parts, especially in neck region, with the plate at base of beaked
joints on inner side rounded and not produced apically; aedeagus
gradually curved upwards and without any medial, ventral process
below.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 45-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 43-7} mm. |
Locality Bechuanaland: Kuke Pan (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 21-30/3/30)
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 645
(Holotype); Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30) (Allotype);
Damara Pan (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 15-21/4/30).
This species is easily recognised by its luteous or pale yellowish
tibiae and pale brassy yellowish appearance of the hair on abdomen
above, due to dense depressed brassy pubescence, especially in 9 and
also by the cretaceous white hairs and bloom on pectus and pleurae.
From leucophys it differs in having pale yellowish tibiae, paler yellow
and less golden pubescence above, less extensively yellowish hairs on
antennae below and with no black bristles towards apex of venter.
The species seems to be variable in size and colour, some specimens
being smaller and some with paler and more whitish pubescence.
In’ the British Museum there is a single 2-specimen, from Worcester
(Turner, 17—31/8/1928), which does not differ structurally and even
in colour from the Bechuanaland specimens and it cannot be referred
to any other species but this. The species thus appears to be widely
distributed in the drier parts of the Karoo and Bechuanaland.
1 3 3 9° G. kalaharicus var. venustus Hesse.
(P. 169, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvi, 1936.)
These specimens from Bechuanaland constitute a distinct variety,
differing from the typical form in having distinctly paler and more
TExtT-FIG. 183.—Side view of hypopygium of ¢ G. kalaharicus
var. venustus Hesse.
whitish pubescence on body above, shorter proboscis, only about
1-14 mm. long, and with much darker and even black tibiae in both
VOL. XXXIV. 42
646 Annals of the South African Museum.
sexes. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 183) is like that of the typical
form.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 6-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-54 mm.
Locality — Bechuanaland: Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/30).
4 3g 2 99 G. versfeldi n. sp.
Body black; tibiae yellowish brown, with the apices. often darkened
and with the tarsi dark or blackish; pubescence above and below
predominantly or entirely silvery
whitish as in cygnus, that on disc of
thorax and on abdomen above only
very faintly tinted straw-coloured
yellowish in 9? owing to some straw-
coloured yellowish, depressed and
erect shortish pubescence, with the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and
sides of frons in 99 entirely or pre-
dominantly black, with the black
transverse bristles on abdomen above
comparatively poorly developed, often
only present towards apex above in
33 and even in 99 not extending
down sides and also without any
black bristles towards apex of venter,
with an indication of an undergrowth
Tsxt-ric. 184.—Side view of hypo- of short, fine, erect, blackish hairs on
pygium of g Gonarthrus versfeldi _.
n. sp. disc of thorax and abdomen above
in 99 especially, with the macrochaetal
bristles in front of wings yellowish; wings glassy hyaline, iridescent,
with the costal cell, base and alula subopaquely whitish, the veins
almost entirely black even to extreme base, with the opaquely
whitish squamae margined with black and with their fringes silvery
whitish; halteres dark, with very dark or blackish knobs, even in
9. Head with the eyes in $3 in actual contact above for a distance
about 2, or a little less, times as long as tubercle, in 99 separated
| by a space very nearly 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with
joint 3 comparatively very slender and rod-like in 93, slightly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 647
thicker in 99; proboscis about 24-3 mm. long, the spinules not very
dense, but visible, with the labella somewhat slender and elongate.
Legs with about 1 spine on middle femora below and with about 3-4
in apical half on hind ones below; middle tibiae with 2 black-tipped
yellowish spurs apically below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 184)
with the hairs on basal parts, especially in neck region, comparatively
well developed, with the inner plate at base of beaked joints’ pointed,
angular; aedeagus curved upwards and with a ventral process at
base.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-85 mm.
Length of wing: about 54-74 mm.
Locality—Southern Karoo: Ceres Distr.; Cold Bokkeveld (Vers-
feld, Oct. 1934) (Types). Gouph Karoo: Swartbergen; Meiring’s
Poort (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
This species is separated from natalensis in the key. It differs
from chloroxanthus n. sp. in having black bristles on abdomen,
black-margined squamae, dark knobs to halteres and silvery white
pubescence. From turneri n. sp. it differs in having yellowish tibiae,
blackish wing-veins, predominantly silvery whitish pubescence
above, etc.
6 $d 5 92 G. natalensis n. sp.
Black; tibiae pale reddish brown to very pale yellowish brown or
luteous and the tarsi darker and more dark brownish, becoming dark
and more blackish towards apices; pubescence on body above, when
viewed from above, appearing dull greyish yellow to slightly greenish
yellowish and, when viewed from side, that on occiput, front half
of thorax and sides of abdomen basally sericeous whitish, with the
hairs on front part of occiput, those on disc of thorax, scutellum and,
to a certain extent, on abdomen above, especially towards apex,
tinted straw-coloured yellowish to pale yellowish, becoming more
apparent towards apex of abdomen, the hairs on antennae below,
in mystax, on head below, on pectoral and pleural regions and basal
half of venter as well as dense hair on femora in g¢ entirely white,
those on head more shining sericeous white, the bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle in gd, hairs on tubercle and patch-like tuft of pubescence
and hairs on each side of frons in 99, dense hairs on first antennal
joints above in gg, macrochaetae in front of wings in both sexes and
the transverse rows of conspicuous bristles on abdominal segments
648 Annals of the South African Museum.
2-7 in S$ and 2-6 in 99 as well as some transverse bristles on last 2
or 3 ventral segments black (these bristles often almost absent or
only represented by a few discal ones on segments 2 and 3 but always
denser, longer, more conspicuous, often slightly pale-tipped and
extending down sides of remaining segments), with the short, fine,
erect hairs (hidden by the long erect pubescence) on dise of thorax,
scutellum and abdomen above dark or blackish, but with some
admixture of fine yellowish ones on abdomen in 92; wings vitreous
hyaline, with the extreme base and costal
cell subopaquely pale yellowish white, with
the veins pale yellowish brown, becoming
more yellowish towards base and more
brownish along costal and first longitudinal
veins, with the squamal margins dark
brownish and the fringe whitish, but tinted
more straw-coloured yellowish in certain
lights; halteres yellowish, with very pale
yellowish white knobs. Head with the
eyes in gd in actual contact above for a
distance about equal to or subequal to
length of ocellar tubercle and with the
f coarser facets in upper part imperceptibly
Sees passing into finer ones in lower part; inter-
Trext-FIc. 185.—Side view of OCUlar space on vertex in 99 only about
hypopygium of $ Gonarthrus 2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with
Hag einen a joint 3 slender and elongate, only gradually
narrowed from base, the apical half being scarcely narrowed, with the
first terminal joint distinctly visible and as broad as apex of 3 and
slightly longer than short and slender style; proboscis about 2-3 mm.
long, without any visible spinules below. Wings with a tendency
for third posterior cell to be constantly and distinctly broader basally
than apically and also for discoidal cell to be more often acute apically
than in other species in this series, with the vein separating first and
second submarginal cells tending to be less sinuous and more straight
especially at base. Legs with 1 spine apically below on middle
femora and with about 3-6 spines on apical outer aspect of hind
ones below; middle tibiae with 2 dark-tipped, pallid, apical spurs
below. Hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 185, lateral view and dorso-
lateral view of beaked joint) with the neck region of basal parts
scarcely differentiated and with comparatively long and dense
pubescent hairs on dorsum and with the plate bounding base of
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 649
beaked apical joint on inner side (see figure) acutely. produced or
lobe-like apically; aedeagus with a distinct, pointed, medial, ventral,
aedeagal process at base.
Holotype in the Durban Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum, and some paratypes in the Transvaal and British Museums.
Length of body: about 6-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-9 mm.
Locality Natal: Durban; Beach B. (Barker, 30/4/21. 2651)
(Holotype); Umgeni (Barker, 5/4/19. 2388); Bluff (Barker, 21/5/21.
2675); Umbilo (Bevis, 28/4/15. 1565); Durban (Leigh, 14/5/08,
20/5/08 and 28/4/08): Durban Distr.; Mbhogotwini River (Barker,
27/4/19. 2391) (Allotype). Pondoland: Port St. John (Turner,
Apr. 5-30/1923) (British Museum).
This species resembles kalaharicus Hesse which also has luteous
tibiae and from which it is separated by the characters given in the
key. From leucophys (Big.) it is at once distinguished by the luteous
tibiae and much paler pubescence above, much shorter distance of
contact in eyes of g and the coarsely faceted upper part of eyes in 3
which is not so distinctly demarcated from lower part as in leucophys.
id
2 92 G. labiosus n. sp.
Black; pubescence pale greenish white, greyish or faintly greenish
yellow when viewed from above but, when viewed from side, hair on
occiput with a faint straw-coloured yellowish tint, that on disc of
thorax, scutellum and, to a certain extent, on abdomen above with a
distinct creamy or straw-coloured yellowish to faintly greenish yellow
tint (the abdomen in certain lights with a distinct, but faint, greenish
yellowish tint), with the hair on posterior part of occiput and front
part of thorax being, however, more distinctly sericeous white with
a faint greenish sheen, the depressed pubescence on frons faintly
yellowish, the long bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, hairs on side of
frons, some intermixed ones on antennae above, macrochaetae in
front of wings, intermixed erect hairs on disc and base of thorax,
upright bristles on posterior half of scutellum, transverse rows of
conspicuous bristles across hind margins of abdominal segments 2—6
above, pubescence on hind margins of genital segment and some
transverse bristles on penultimate ventral segment and on one before
it black, the fine erect ones on disc of thorax being, however, more
dark purplish black, with the hair on antennae below and in mystax
white and with a silky sheen, the pubescence on body below white,
650 Annals of the South African Museum.
having a greyish appearance owing to dull greyish bloom, the scaling
on femora and tibiae white, only those towards apices of femora
being slightly tinted yellowish, with the fine depressed pubescence,
more or less transversely arranged on abdomen, pale sericeous
yellowish, with the genital spines reddish golden and the pubescence
more or less fulvous; wings faintly greyish hyaline, with the costal
cell, base and alula subopaquely whitish, with the veins dark blackish
brown even at base, with the squamae opaquely whitish and with
blackish brown margins and whitish fringe which in certain lights
shows a greenish tint; halteres yellowish, slightly more darkened
basally and with very pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the
interocular space on vertex about 2 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 3 only a little longer than 1 and 2 combined,
broadest in basal half just before middle, gradually narrowed basally
and slightly more so apically, with the first terminal joint small,
narrower than apex of 3, subequal in length to spine-like style;
proboscis short, about 14 mm. long, with the labella short and con-
spicuously broad, the apices comparatively rounded, slightly hollowed
below, directed upwards (resembling two “cupped” hands held
together), with the spinules dense and conspicuous on basal part
of proboscis and very long, almost hair-like, on labella. Legs with
2 spines on middle femora below in apical part and with about 3-5
spines, often somewhat irregularly arranged, in apical half below on
hind ones; middle tibiae with 2 dark-tipped, pallid spurs apically
below.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 6-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 54-6 mm.
Locality. N.E. Transvaal: Mariep’s Mut. (van Son, 4/1932).
This species is distinguished from 99 of leucophys (Big.), which it
resembles, in having distinctly paler, more pale greenish white to
greenish yellow pubescence when viewed from above and distinctly
much paler, almost whitish or very faint greenish white, not golden
yellowish when viewed from side, the much shorter and distinctly
more coarsely spinulated proboscis having a characteristic short and
very broad labella, the more extensively white hair on pleurae,
darker veins on wings, etc.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 651
G. leucophys (Big.).
(P. 368, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., lxi, 1892; Bezzi, p. 89, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921, and p. 112, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924.)
This species can always be easily recognised by the entirely pale
yellowish, deep yellowish to golden yellow pubescence above even
when viewed from side and by the conspicuous transverse rows of
black bristles on abdomen above, the
fairly long proboscis, about 243-35
mm., slightly greyish hyaline wings,
deep yellowish pubescence on frons
in 99, etc. The species seems to be
variable in the colour of the pubes-
cence, ranging from pale lemon yellow
to deep golden yellow. Apart from
local differences, at least two colour- °
forms are common:—(a) A form with
deep yellowish to golden yellowish
pubescence above, with the hair on
antennae below and often also exten-
sively on upper parts of face distinctly
tinted pale yellowish to deep yellowish
in both sexes, usually with some dark
or blackish hairs and bristles on disc
and base of thorax and scutellum, Peseaae 186.—Side view of hypo-
especially in 29, with the hairon pleu- pygium of ¢ Gonarthrus leucophys
(Big.).
rae more or less dull straw-coloured
whitish and with the scaling on femora, at least on the outer apical
parts and towards apices, tinted yellowish; (b) a more delicate form
with slightly paler and more lemon yellowish pubescence above, with the
hair on antennae below and in mystax entirely silky white, or scarcely
visibly tinted yellowish, the mystax itself more sericeous whitish,
usually without any conspicuous blackish hairs on thorax or scutellum
above, with much paler and more whitish hair on pleurae and with
the scaling on femora more extensively whitish and those on tibiae
also much paler and less fulvous. There is, however, no sharp
dividing line and individuals of one form may grade into that of the
other. The species seems to occur only in thickly wooded country
along the Hast Coast of Southern Africa. There are no specimens
from the Western Province, Karoo or drier parts of South Africa
652 Annals of the South African Museum.
before me, and Bigot’s locality “Cap de Bonne-Espérance”’ is prob-
ably incorrect and his 3 probably comes from the Eastern Province
or Natal. The only specimens from the Cape Province are from
East London, and they are markedly golden, even orange yellow.
The description of Bigot’s ‘‘ headless” melanurus (p. 369, Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr., 1xi, 1892) as far as it goes seems also to be applicable to
leucophys, excepting only his reference to the wings which are
“eaterne late et diffuse fusco tinctis.” A pair of very denuded
specimens, a g and 9 from Weenen in Natal (coll. Thomasset, 2840 ft.,
3/24) also belongs to leucophys, although determined by Brunetti as
cylindricus Bezz. The presence of some remaining yellowish hairs
on the body above, the length of the proboscis (which is very much
longer in cylindricus) as well as other characters leave no doubt that
they belong to leucophys. The hypopygium of g-leucophys (text-fig.
186, lateral view and dorso-lateral view of beaked joint) with longish
hairs on dorsum of basal parts, especially in neck region, with the
plate bounding base of beaked apical joint on inner side markedly
and acutely produced lobe-like apically; aedeagus with the apical
part curved upwards sickle-like and with a distinct, medial, pointed,
ventral, aedeagal process at base below; basal strut as shown in
text-fig.
Locality.—Extreme East Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Eastern
Transvaal and 8. Rhodesia. (In the Imperial Institute, Durban,
Transvaal, British, Natal and South African Museums.)
IES Gy LAR OONG, cilninusman si):
(Syn.=2 zxanthinus Bezz.)
Black; pubescence lemon yellowish when viewed from above,
gleaming silky lemon yellow from side, the fine depressed pubescence,
especially on abdomen, brassy yellow, bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle
and on antennal joint 1 above in gg dark blackish brown to black,
those on tubercle and frons in 99 either entirely yellowish or with
only a few intermixed dark ones and hair on antennae above yellowish,
the hair on antennae below in both sexes distinctly silky lemon
yellowish, the mystax or hair on face and genae sericeous white,
markedly contrasting with rest of pubescence, pubescence on head
below, sides of head below and body below also pale lemon yellowish
to greenish lemon yellowish, only slightly paler than above, with the
macrochaetae in front of wings rarely black in some g¢ and some
2? more often entirely yellowish, with the transverse rows of bristles
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 653
across hind margins of abdominal segments 2-6 in 99 and 2-7 in 3d
black, but more or less confined to disc above, not extending down
extreme sides where the bristles are usually yellowish, without any
black bristles even on last few segments of venter, the pubescence on
hind margins of last tergite and sternite in 99 with predominantly
yellowish hair, the scaling on legs predominantly very pale lemon
yellowish to whitish; wings vitreous or glassy hyaline, with tle costal
cell subopaquely whitish and base subopaquely more yellowish, with
the veins yellowish brown to brownish
or dark brownish, becoming more
yellowish at base, with the brown to
dark brownish black-margined squamae
opaquely whitish and with lemon yellow-
ish fringes; halteres yellowish, with very
pale yellowish knobs in both sexes.
Head with the coarser facets on slightly
more than upper half of eyes in 33 well
demarcated from finer ones on lower
part; interocular space on vertex in 92
a little more than 2 to nearly 3 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint
3 more or less rod-shaped in gg and
only very slightly broader basally, with
slightly less than apical half being
narrowed in 99, with the first terminal
joint small and nodular, slightly narrower
than apex of 3, subequal to or even T#xt-Fic. 187.— Side view of
shghtly longer than spine-like style; ee Sas
proboscis about 2-3 mm., with the
spinules minute but still visible towards apex and on labella. Legs
with 1 spine near apex on middle femora below and with about 3-4
spines on outer apical aspect of hind ones below; middle tibiae with 2
black-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig.
187) differs from that of leucophys (cf. text-fig. 186) practically only
in having slightly shorter and less dense pubescence on basal parts
and in that the integument is duller and more subshagreened, with
the inner plate at base of beaked apical joint more narrowly and
acutely produced apically (see figure).
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 4-9 mm.
654 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of wing: about 34-8 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Pretoria (17/2/15) (Holotype); Fountains near
Pretoria (Roberts, 11/2/15) (Allotype); Quagga Poort near Pretoria
(Lingnau, 18/1/25) (an the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut);
Potchefstroom (Ayres) (labelled as xanthinus by Bezzi). Natal:
National Park (Ogilvie, 3/32) (Imperial Institute). O.F.S.:
Ficksburg (Mackie and Ogilvie, 3/32) (Imperial Institute).
This species is easily recognised by its gleaming lemon yellowish
pubescence and contrasting sericeous white or silvery whitish mystax.
From some of the colour-forms of leucophys it may be distinguished
by the less extensive transverse black bristles on abdomen above
which are practically confined to disc, absence of black bristles on
last 2 or 3 ventral segments, distinctly more lemon yellow pubescence
on body below, predominantly yellowish bristles on tubercle and frons
in 99, more contrasting and strikingly white mystax, predominantly
yellowish hair on last segments in 99, lemon yellowish squamal
fringe, etc. A 9-paratype was described by Bezzi as the 9 of xanthinus
(p. 89, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii) which it, however, cannot be
seeing that xanthinus is entirely yellow-haired above and below, has
a yellowish mystax, no black transverse rows of bristles on the
abdomen and even shorter proboscis. The species is very variable
in size.
1 9 G. clavrostris n. sp.
This unique ? is very close to citrinus but differs in certain respects,
thus necessitating a separate species.
Black; legs as in citrinus, predominantly black, even the tibiae not
less dark than femora; pubescence on body above predominantly
pale lemon yellowish as in citrinus and with sericeous gleams, that
on ocellar tubercle, frons, first antennal joints above and below, on
face and genae and also on head below gleaming sericeous lemon
yellowish and without any sericeous whitish hair on face and genae
as in citrinus, that on pleurae and pectus scarcely paler than on body
above and also distinctly yellowish as in citrinus, that on venter
entirely pale sericeous lemon yellowish as on abdomen above and as
in citrinus, with the hairs on femora also yellowish, with one macro-
chaetal bristle in front of wings dark or blackish, with the rest of
bristles or bristly hairs on thorax and scutellum as in citrinus yellowish
and with the transverse rows of bristles across hind margins of
tergites 2-6 black and as in citrinus, not extending down sides of
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 655
abdomen, without any dark hairs or bristly hairs on last sternite
or tergite and all bristles on venter yellowish; wings glassy hyaline,
with the base and costal cell subopaquely yellowish whitish, with
the veins dark brownish, darker than in citrinus, with the squamae
subopaquely yellowish white, dark-bordered and with a yellowish
fringe; halteres pale yellowish brown, with very pale yellowish
knobs. Head with the interocular space quite 2 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint | also about 4 times as long as
2, with 3 slightly more rapidly narrowed apically from broadened base
than in citrinus, the apical half more or less rod-like; proboscis
about 2 mm. long, with the labella short and from side broad and
oval, not elongate and pointed as in citronus, the labella with sparse
but longish bristle-like spinules. Legs with greyish white scaling,
with 1 spine on middle femora in front near apex; hind femora with
about 3 spines on outer side apically; middle tibiae with 2 pallid,
but blackish-tipped, spurs apically below; tarsi with joint 2 of front
ones with finer spines below than joint 1 and more like the modified
joints 3-5, whereas in citrinus the spicules below 2 do not differ much
from those below joint 1.
Type in the Natal Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality — Natal: Maritzburg (Akerman, 1913).
This species is easily recognised by its pale sericeous lemon yellow-
ish pubescence above, yellowish pubescence on face and genae and
clubbed appearance of the proboscis, due to broad and oval labella.
From labiosus, which has a similar type of labella, it is distinguished
by the absence of dark hair on vertex, more yellowish pubescence,
absence of black hairs on venter, etc.
1 3 G. mimus 0. sp.
Black; pubescence dull yellow, with even a slight tint of ‘greenish
yellow in certain lights when viewed from above, that on occiput,
disc of thorax, scutellum and abdomen above with a distinct sericeous
yellow tint when viewed from side and that on thorax in front,
however, paler and more creamy yellowish, even slightly whitish in
front of wing-bases, the hair on antennae below, in mystax and head
below whitish, that on pleural and pectoral regions and base of
venter dull whitish, more straw-coloured whitish, becoming more
creamy yellowish along upper parts of pleurae, the bristly hairs on
656 Annals of the South African Museum.
ocellar tubercle, fine erect hairs across occiput in front, those on
anternal joint 1 above and transverse bristles across hind margins of
abdominal segments 3-7 black (abdominal segment 2 in this unique
specimen has no black bristles and 3 has only a few discally and only
those on remaining segments are conspicuous and extending to sides),
with the macrochaetae pallid and venter without any black bristles
on last 2 or 3 segments, with the scaling on legs dull greyish white,
only tinted slightly yellowish towards apices of femora and on tibiae;
wings vitreous hyaline, with the costal
cell and base subopaquely whitish, with
the veins brown, becoming yellowish at
base (the costal and first longitudinal
veins at base, however, also brownish),
with the yellowish-margined squamae
opaquely whitish and with straw-coloured
whitish fringes; halteres yellowish, with
pale yellowish white knobs. Head with
Ty the coarser facets on slightly more than
upper half of eyes well demarcated from
Le finer ones on lower part; antennae with
Veet ese OF
Se joint 3 only narrowed in slightly less
GN Sr than apical half, with the first terminal
oon mie joint nodular, small, with joint 1 com-
paratively short, not quite 4 times as
Trxt-Fic. 188.—Side view of long as 2; proboscis about 24 mm. long,
Ny BOR ee of 3 Gonarthrus Sith the spinules almost invisible. Legs
. Sp.
with 1 spine on middle femora apically
below and about 3 on apical outer aspect of hind ones below; middle
tibiae with 2 dark-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 188, lateral view and dorso-lateral view of right beaked apical
joint) with the integument of basal parts dull and subshagreened,
pubescent in neck region and with the plate bounding base of beaked
joint on inner side bluntly rounded apically; beaked apical joints
much compressed and almost hollowed out on the inner side; aedeagus
practically straight and the medial, ventral, aedeagal process at
base stout and well developed.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm. Y
Locality.—E. Cape Province: Grahamstown; Resolution (Walton,
Jan.—Apr. 1928). )
A_ Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 657
This species is superficially almost indistinguishable from leucophys
(Big.), from the ¢ of which, however, it differs in having a slightly
sparser mystax and no yellow hair on antennae below, yellowish
macrochaetae, shorter proboscis, less extensive and conspicuous
transverse black bristles on abdomen above, which are more or less
confined to disc and absent from segment 2 and even 3 and also
without any black bristles on venter below towards apex. The
hypopygium (cf. text-figs. 188 and 186) differs from that of leucophys
in having the inner side of beaked apical joints distinctly more
depressed and a practically straight aedeagus, etc.
4 92 G. rhodesiénsis n. sp.
Body black; legs, including tibiae and tarsi, black; hind margins
of ventral segments narrowly pallid; pubescence predominantly
sericeous white, only that on disc and base of thorax, scutellum and
abdomen above tinted straw-coloured to pale sericeous yellowish, with
the shortish pubescence above sericeous yellowish, with the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle and on posterior part of sides of frons and
some shortish intermixed ones on antennal joint 1 above, some
intermixed bristly hairs on disc and base of thorax, some distinct
and conspicuous bristles on scutellum posteriorly and those trans-
versely on abdomen above (not extending down the sides) black,
without any dark or black bristles on venter below and with those on
abdomen above conspicuous, with the macrochaetae in front of
wing-bases yellowish, with the hair on antennal joint 1 below, face
and genae and entire body below frosty white; wings glassy hyaline,
the costal cell, base and alula subopaquely whitish, the veins dark
blackish brown, becoming paler and yellowish basally, with the
squamae opaquely whitish, yellowish-margined and with white
fringes; halteres yellowish and with whitish knobs. Head with
the interocular space a little more than 2 times as broad as
tubercle; antennal joint 1 nearly 5 times as long as joint 2,
comparatively slender and rod-like; proboscis about 3 mm.
long, not visibly spinulated and with the labella narrow,
elongated and sharply pointed apically. Thorax comparatively
convex or humped discally; scutellum with the apical part more or
less brilliantly shining and not dull as in other species. Legs with
1 spine on outer apical aspect of middle femora and with about
3-5 spines in apical half below on hind ones; middle tibiae with
2 black-tipped yellowish spurs apically below.
658 Annals of the South African Museum.
Type in the Imperial Institute of Entomology.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Matopo Hills (Mackie, 4/1932).
This species appears to differ from leucophys in being predominantly
white-haired, with no yellowish hair on antennal joint 1 below and
without black bristles on sides of abdomen and on venter, the yellowish
macrochaetae and by the shining apical part of scutellum. From
the 29 of vumbuénsis it differs in the shining apical part of scutellum,
the distinctly whiter pubescence above, yellowish-margined squamae,
absence of black bristles on venter posteriorly and by its pale yellowish
knobs to halteres.
2 336 12 G. vumbuénsis n. sp.
Black; legs, including tibiae and tarsi, black; pubescence on body
above with a straw-coloured yellowish tint when viewed from above,
from side predominantly whitish to very pale straw-coloured in both
sexes, that on disc of thorax,
on scutellum and abdomen
above distinctly more _ straw-
coloured yellowish, especially on
abdomen in 99, with the bristly
hairs on tubercle and sides of
frons in 99 black, with the hairs
on antennal joint 1 above in g¢
entirely black, but with only a
few shortish intermixed dark
ones in 99, with the hair on
antennal joint 1 below, face and
genae in both sexes entirely
silvery whitish, with the macro-
chaetae in front of wings black,
with an undergrowth of shortish,
Trxt-ric. 189.—Side view of hypopygium fine, black hairs on disc of thorax,
of 3 Gonarthrus vumbuénsis n. sp.
scutellum and abdomen above,
especially in 99, with some long intermixed black bristly hairs
or bristles on disc and base of thorax and on posterior part
of scutellum in 99 especially, with the transverse black bristles
across hind margins of abdominal segments above well developed
in both sexes, conspicuous and extending down sides of segments
and also present ventrally towards apex, the last tergite and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 659
sternite also fringed with fine blackish hairs, with the hair on
body below dull white, that on sides of venter especially, however,
distinctly more straw-coloured yellowish in both sexes and with the
fine depressed pubescence on body above slightly brassy yellowish;
wings glassy hyaline, with the costal cell, base and alula subopaquely
whitish, the veins very dark brown or blackish brown, becoming
slightly paler towards base, with the squamae opaquely whitish,
black-margined and with whitish fringes; halteres yellowish brown,
with blackish brown or black knobs. Head with the eyes in actual
contact above in g¢ for a distance at least 2 times as long as tubercle,
the facets in upper half obliquely well marked off from finer ones in
lower part, with the interocular space in 99? nearly 3 times as broad
as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 elongate and joint 3 slender and
rod-like in $$; proboscis about 24-3 mm. long, the spinules distinctly
visible; palps with the apical joints comparatively clavate or thickened
apically. Legs with 1 or 2 spines apically below on middle femora
and with about 3-4 spines in apical half below on hind ones; middle
tibiae with 2 black-tipped yellowish spurs apically below. Hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 189) with the pubescence on basal parts comparatively
very fine and sparse, only slightly longer and denser in neck region,
with the inner plate at base of beaked apical joint acutely produced
apically; beaked apical joints with the apical lobe somewhat truncate ;
aedeagus slender and curved upwards.
Types in the Imperial Institute of Entomology.
Length of body: about 7-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Localhity.—S. Rhodesia: Umtali; Vumbu Mts. (Mackie and Ogilvie,
5/1932).
This species differs from leucophys, which it very closely resembles,
in having more whitish pubescence above, no yellowish hair on
antennal joint 1 below, darker veins and dark or blackish knobs to
halteres.
1g129G. phileremus n. sp.
Black; pubescence comparatively short and dense on front part
of body, with a more shorn-off appearance, that on occiput in 3
at least not being very long, not longer than antennal joints 1 and 2
combined, entirely white above and below, but with a slight straw-
coloured tint towards apex of abdomen in 9 especially, due to presence
of very pale brassy yellowish depressed pubescence, the very short
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle in 3, on antennae above in ¢ and
660 — Annals of the South African Museum.
transverse bristles towards apex across hind margins of abdominal
segments 4 to apex, the short bristly hairs on hind margins of last
tergite and sternite in 2 and a few bristles on penultimate ventral
segment in both sexes black, the bristly hairs on tubercle in 9 and,
to a certain extent, on frons tinted straw-coloured yellowish, the
depressed pubescence on frons and hair on antennae above in 9,
however, whitish; legs entirely dark or black and white-scaled, with
only a very faint tint of yellowish on
tibiae in 9; wings vitreous hyaline,
with the costal cell and base sub-
opaquely whitish and the veins brown,
becoming yellowish at base, with the
yellowish-margined squamae opaquely
whitish and white-fringed; halteres
yellowish with very pale yellowish
white knobs in both sexes. Head with
the eyes in ¢ in actual contact above
for a distance much more than length
of ocellar tubercle, about 2 times as
long, with the coarser facets in upper
half visibly separated from fine ones in
lower half; interocular space on vertex
in 2 a little more than 2 times as broad
as tubercle; antennae with joint 3
broadest at about basal third, gradually
narrowed basally and also apically;
Trxt-ric. 190.—Side view of Proboscis comparatively stout and
hypopygium of g Gonarthrus thick, about 3 mm. long, distinctly
phileremus n. sp. : ; ;
and conspicuously spinulated on basal
part and labella, its apex not very sharp. Legs with 1 spine on
middle femora below and with about 3-4 spines on apical outer
half of hind ones below; middle tibiae with 2 dark-tipped, pallid
spurs apically below. Hypopygium of g (text-fig. 190, lateral view
and dorso-lateral view of beaked joint) with the basal parts com-
paratively broad and with longish, fairly conspicuous, hairs above;
aedeagus long and conspicuously curved upwards, sickle-like and
with a short, medial, ventral process at base below; inner plate at
base of beaked apical joint slightly prominent apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 64-7 mm.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 661
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kamanyab (Mus. Exp.,
Mar. 1925).
Superficially this species resembles cygnus (Big.) and namaénsis
n. sp., from both of which it is easily distinguished by the longer
proboscis, shorter and less attenuated third antennal joints, longer
contact of eyes in $g above and presence of transverse rows of black
bristles on abdomen above. From other white-haired species with
black transverse bristles it 1s separated by the characters given in
the key.
Ig 1 9 G. wings n. sp.
Black; legs entirely dark or blackish, greyish white-scaled, only
the apices of femora on outer side being slightly greyish yellowish;
pubescence comparatively short, dull
greyish white when viewed from above,
but that on front part of occiput, on
disc of thorax and on abdomen above
very feebly or faintly tinted straw-
coloured to straw-coloured yellowish,
especially in 2, when viewed from side
and that on abdomen pale straw-
coloured in certain lights even in 4,
with the straw-colour in @ enhanced
by the presence of pale, sericeous
yellow, depressed pubescence, the
pubescence on head in front and on
body below more whitish, the mystax
more sericeous white, bristly hairs on
ocellar tubercle and on antennae above
in ¢ and those on tubercle in 9 and Trxr-ric. 191.—Side view of
the transverse rows of bristles on aT ae Oe
abdominal segments 2-6 above in both
sexes black (the bristles on segments 2-4 only found on disc and
often only represented by a few, those on 5 and 6 also found
laterally and also more conspicuous), without any black bristles on
penultimate segment of venter or that before it, with a few intermixed
hairs on sides of face in ¢ and towards apex of antennae below in 3
dark, the rest almost imperceptibly tinted straw-coloured and most
of the ocellar and frontal hairs as well as those on antennae above in
2 faintly yellowish, especially towards their bases; wings vitreous
hyaline, with the costal cell and base subopaquely whitish, with the
VOL. XXXIV. 43
662 Annals of the South African Museum.
veins pale yellowish brown to brownish, becoming pale yellowish at
base but more brownish along costal vein at base, with the white-
fringed and yellowish-margined squamae opaquely white; halteres
yellowish, with almost whitish knobs in both sexes. Head with the
eyes In ¢ in actual contact for a distance about 2 times as long as
ocellar tubercle, with the coarser facets above imperceptibly merging
into finer ones below; interocular space on vertex in @ a little more
than 2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 3 gradually
tapering to apex, with the first terminal joint small and nodular and
the terminal style thin and spine-like; proboscis about 14 mm. long,
without any visible spinules below. Legs with 1 spine on middle
femora below and with about 3-4 spines on apical outer aspect on
hind ones below; middle tibiae with only 1 dark-tipped, pallid spur
apically below. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 191, lateral view and
dorso-lateral view of beaked apical joint) with the basal parts
somewhat narrow and elongate and with the mner plate at base
of beaked apical joint acutely produced apically; aedeagus only
slightly and gradually curved upwards in apical part and without
a distinct projecting, medial, ventral, aedeagal process at base.
Types in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 54 mm.
Locality.—O.F.8.: Bloemfontein (Irving, 6/3/21) (Types).
This species is recognised by its pubescence, which is dull greyish
white when viewed from above and pale straw-coloured above when
viewed from side, that on abdomen in 4, in certain lights, with a
faint straw-coloured yellowish tint at bases of the hairs. A ? labelled
by Bezzi as cygnus (Big.) (p. 90, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii) differs
from the allotype in being slightly larger, with a slightly longer
proboscis and with predominantly yellowish, not brownish, hairs
on tubercle and frons. In the absence of a g I cannot do otherwise
but refer it to this species, of which it may be considered as a variety.
It was taken at Potchefstroom and differs from cygnus in having
black transverse bristles on abdomen.
3 gd 2 99 G. turneri n. sp.
Body, including legs and tibiae, black; hind margins of ventral
segments narrowly pallid; pubescence dense; long and _ pufi-like,
dull greyish to greyish white from above, from side that on occiput,
front part of thorax and sides of abdomen sericeous whitish, that on
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 663
disc and base of thorax, on scutellum and abdomen above with a
distinct sericeous yellowish to yellowish tint, even that on occiput
anteriorly sometimes with a slight yellowish tint, the yellowish tint
on body above enhanced by short depressed, brassy yellowish pubes-
cence on abdomen and greyish yellow bloom on thorax, with an
undergrowth of fine and short, dark or blackish hairs present on disc
of thorax and abdomen, more evident on thorax, with the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle and on antennae above in ¢¢ black, entirely
whitish to straw-coloured yellow-
ish in 99 or with only a very few
intermixed dark ones on tubercle
in 292, with the hair on antennal
joint 1 below, on face and genae
in both sexes silvery white, with
the macrochaetae in front of wings
yellowish to dark brownish, with-
out any black bristles on scutellum,
but with conspicuous black trans-
verse ones on abdomen above
discally, not conspicuous on
extreme sides and absent from
venter posteriorly, with the
pubescence on body below pre-
dominantly or entirely white to
silvery white, that on sides of
venter often slightly tinted straw-
coloured yellowish, with the dense
and fine pubescence on venter, however, white, with the scaling
on legs white, that on tibiae, especially hind ones, slightly more
yellowish; wings glassy hyaline, the costal cell, base and alula being
subopaquely very pale yellowish white, the veins dark brownish to
blackish brown, becoming paler and more yellowish basally, with the
squamae opaquely whitish and dark or blackish-margined, their
fringes white; halteres ochreous yellow, with a tendency for the
yellowish knobs to be brownish or blackish brown above. Head
with the eyes in ¢¢ in actual contact above for a distance at least
2 times as long as tubercle, with the facets in upper half much coarser
and obliquely demarcated from finer ones in lower part, with the
interocular space in 99 a little more than 2 times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 quite 5 times as long as joint 2, with 3 rod-like,
shghtly stouter in 299; proboscis about 2-3 mm. long, with the spinules
Trxt-Fic. 192. — Side view of hypo-
pygium of § Gonarthrus turneri n. sp.
664 Annals of the South African Museum.
distinctly visible, more so on labella. Legs without any or with only
1 spine on middle femora below and with about 3-6 spines in apical
part on hind ones below, with 2 black-tipped, yellowish spurs on
middle tibiae below apically. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 192) with
longish hairs in neck region on basal parts, with the inner plate at
base of beaked apical joints bluntly a
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 64-83 mm.
Length of wing: about 51-8 mm.
Locality.—S. Cape Province: Swellendam (Turner, Nov. 1933)
(Types); Tradouw Pass.
Distinguished from leucophys by the sericeous whitish pubescence
on body above and thorax in front, on head and antennae below and
also on body below, by the absence of black bristles on venter and
along extreme sides of abdomen, etc. More yellowish-haired speci-
mens differ in having the hair on body below much whiter.
1 2 G. turneri var. melalophus n.
A single 9-specimen in the South African Museum, from the
Tradouw Pass in the Swellendam District probably represents only
a variety of turnerv. It differs from the 9-allotype only in having the
bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle and sides of frons basally entirely
black, the depressed pubescence on each side of frons anteriorly
sericeous yellowish and with apparently less yellowish-tinted hair
on disc of thorax.
Length of body: about 8$ mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm.
1 2 G. subtropicalis n. sp.
(Syn.=@ cylindricus Bezz. in part.)
This 2 specimen was labelled and determined as cylindricus Bezz.
by Bezzi himself (p. 92, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921). The
original description of cylindricus Bezz. (Boll. Soc. Ent. Ital., xxxvu,
257, 1905 (1906)) is unfortunately not accessible to me, but according
to Bezzi’s key and comments on p. 111 (The Bombylidae of the
Ethiopian Region, 1924), it is more than probable that this 2 is not
cylindricus. The type of cylindricus was taken in Hrythraea in
the Southern Palaearctic Region. In view of the fact that there are
no reliable records of Palaearctic species of Bombyliidae south of the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 665.
Sahara, it is most unlikely that the specimens from Tropical Hast
Africa, Nyasaland, Rhodesia and Natal, referred to cylondricus by
Bezzi, really belong to this species. This contention is rendered
still more unlikely when it is found that there are more than one
white-haired species with a long proboscis in South Africa. The
development and presence of characteristic sericeous or silvery
whitish pubescence in many species of this genus is a convergent
condition dependent upon unknown factors, probably connected
with their parasitic habits and their environment. The white-haired
forms are thus very difficult to distinguish specifically.
This 2 is clothed with sericeous white pubescence above and below,
with a tendency for the hair on disc of thorax to be slightly straw-
coloured yellowish and for the long ones towards apex of abdomen
to be distinctly straw-coloured yellowish, the yellowish tint of which
is enhanced by the presence of pale brassy yellowish depressed
pubescence on abdomen above; pubescence on occiput, mystax,
head below and also on abdomen comparatively long and fluffy,
that on occiput being markedly long, the long bristly hairs on ocellar
tubercle predominantly pale straw-coloured or tinted straw-coloured
yellowish, with a few intermixed darkish ones, those on frons also
with a very pale straw-coloured tint and the depressed pubescence
behind antennae sericeous yellowish, the hair on antennae above
tinted very faintly straw-coloured, with the transverse rows of
bristles across hind margins of abdominal segments 2-7 black and
very conspicuous and also with some black bristles on penultimate
ventral segment; wings vitreous hyaline, the costal cell and base
subopaquely whitish and the veins brownish, becoming slightly more
yellowish basally, with the whitish squamae margined with very
dark brownish; halteres brownish yellow, with very pale yellowish
knobs; legs black, with greyish white scaling, becoming slightly
yellowish towards apices of femora and more greyish yellow on
tibiae. Head with the interocular space on vertex about 2 times as
broad as ocellar tubercle; proboscis very long, about 5 mm. long,
distinctly spinulated below; palps with joint 2 nearly 2 times as
long as antennal joint 2. Legs with 1 spine on middle femora below
and about 4 spines on hind ones below in apical half; middle tibiae
with 2 dark-tipped, pallid spurs apically below.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8} mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Gwelo (Skaife, Apr. 1917).
666 Annals of the South African Museum.
lL § G. mvalis n.-sp.
Black; pubescence above and below (in somewhat denuded type)
strikingly sericeous white, that towards apex of abdomen with a faint
straw-coloured tint, that on occiput and front part of thorax very
dense and comparatively short, not much longer than length of
antennal joints 1 and 2 combined, that on abdomen below fine and
dense, the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, on antennae above, the
transverse ones across abdominal seg-
ments 5-7 (more developed laterally
on 5) and a few on penultimate ventral
segment dark blackish brown, the hairs
on antennae below and in mystax
entirely soft sericeous white; wings
slightly greyish hyaline, with the costal
cell and base subopaquely whitish, the
veins pale brownish, almost yellowish,
becoming more yellowish towards base,
with the margins of opaquely whitish
squamae yellowish; halteres yellowish,
their bases slightly brownish and their
knobs almost white. Head with the eyes
in actual contact for a distance subequal
to length of ocellar tubercle and then
Text-ric. 193.—Side view of subcontiguous for an equal distance,
nypopygium of 3 Gonarthrus the upper coarser facets imperceptibly
NVVAWS N. SP.
merging into lower finer ones; proboscis
slender, about 3 mm. long, distinctly and conspicuously spinulated,
with the labella comparatively broad, its apical part more or less
bluntly rounded; palps with joint 2 comparatively short and small,
not longer than antennal joint 2; antennae with joint 3 broadest
in basal half just before middle, gradually narrowed to base and also
apically, but with the apical half somewhat rod-like. The legs are
unfortunately wanting in this specimen. Hypopygium (text-fig. 193,
lateral view and dorso-lateral view of beaked apical joint) with
longish hairs on dorsum of basal parts; plate bounding base of
beaked apical joint on inner side more or less angularly produced
apically; aedeagus with only its apex curved upwards and with a
well-developed medial, ventral, aedeagal process below.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 667
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality —_N.W. Transvaal: Junction of Crocodile and Marico
Rivers (Tucker, Feb. 1918).
A somewhat narrow-bodied species, recognised by the silvery
whitish, comparatively fine and short pubescence, apparent absence
of transverse black bristles on segments 2—4 above and laterally and
very slender, spinulated proboscis. The fact that the second joints
of the palps are much shorter, the proboscis shorter and with more
apically rounded labella, that the pubescence is distinctly denser,
finer and shorter, and that the black bristles on abdomen are less
extensively developed precludes the possibility of its being the ¢ of
subtropicalis.
2 3d G. tenwrostris n. sp.
These two much denuded specimens differ from nivalis n. sp. only
in having the silvery or sericeous white pubescence on body and
especially on occiput, front part of thorax
and in mystax distinctly longer and more
shaggy, that on occiput being distinctly
longer than length of antennal joints 1
and 2 combined and that on antennal
joint 1 distinctly longer; eyes in actual
contact above for a distance at least 14
times or even 2 times the length of
ocellar tubercle; proboscis slender and
long, especially slender in apical part,
about 3-4 mm. long, without any visible
spinules and with the labella distinctly
narrower and sharply pointed apically,
with the basal sheath of proboscis below
prominent, long and transversely striate.
Legs entirely dark blackish brown or
black, with 1 spine on middle femora Trxr-ric. 194.—Side view of
below and about 3-5 spines on hind leas ef Sigaacoriletes
. Sp.
ones below in apical part; middle
tibiae with 2 dark-tipped, pallid, apical spurs below. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 194, lateral view and dorso-lateral view of beaked joint)
with the basal parts somewhat elongate and narrow, with sparse
long hairs above; inner plate at base of beaked apical joint not
produced apically; aedeagus only very slightly directed upwards
668 Annals of the South African Museum.
towards apex and with a prominent, medial, ventral, aedeagal process
at base. 2
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 44-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-63 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 23/3/21).
2 53 G. chioleucus n. sp.
These partially denuded 3¢ are so near tenwirostris that they may
be compared with it. They differ, however, in being slightly more
elongate, in having the tibiae
distinctly paler, more reddish
brown than the femora and
with the hind ones distinctly
and very much paler, more
yellowish brown; white
pubescence (as far as can be
seen on abdomen) distinctly
sparser on abdomen and
body below; black hairs on
antennae above distinctly
shorter and less pilose, and
the black transverse bristles
on abdomen above only
evident posteriorly as in
nivalis and tenuirostris; eyes
with the coarser facets in
upper half not very distinctly
but more demarcated than
in tenuirostris, from finer
ones in lower half; pro-
boscis distinctly less slender
and stouter, about 3$ mm. long, also without visible spinules and
also with sharply pointed labella and without a prominent and
long basal sheath. Wungs and halteres as in tenwirostris, with almost
yellowish veins and whitish knobs to the latter. Legs with 1 spine
on middle femora below and apparently only 2 spines towards apex
on hind ones below. Hypopygium (text-fig. 195, lateral view and
latero-dorsal view of left beaked apical joint) is, however, entirely
different from that of tenwirostris (cf. text-fig. 194) with broader basal
TExtT-F1G. 195.—Side view of hypopygium
of § Gonarthrus chioleucus n. sp.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 669
parts, slightly different beaked apical joints, with the inner plate
at base of beaked apical joint (see outline figure) more angularly
produced; aedeagus longer, distinctly curved upwards in apical
part and without any ventral, aedeagal process at base below.
One very denuded 2 from the same locality probably also belongs
to this species.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 55 mm. ‘
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Kamanyab (Mus. Exp., Mar.
1925).
/
Gen. Paratoxophora Engel.
(P. 39, Occasional Papers, Rhod. Mus., No. 5, 1936, figs. 1 and 2;
Hesse, note on p. 184, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvii, 1936.)
This genus was described by Engel from one specimen which Mr. A.
Cuthbertson, of the Rhodesian Agricultural Department, did not
include in the Rhodesian Bombyliidae which he submitted to me, but
which he probably mistook for an Asilid and forwarded to Engel
together with his Asilid material. This single holotype of the genus
and species, which has now been deposited in the Rhodesian Museum,
was kindly loaned to me for examination by the Director, Dr. G.
Arnold. From my point of view it was most unfortunate that Engel
undertook to describe this new genus, which was already more fully
described in MS. form in this paper and under a more appropriate
generic name. Hngel vaguely referred it to the Bombyludae Homoe-
ophthalmae, a very large division of the Bombyludae, which itself is
composed of at least ten subfamilies but to which Engel refers as a .
subfamily. Moreover he erroneously compared it with Toxophora
Meig., with which genus and subfamily Toxophorinae it has no generic
or taxonomic relationship whatever, and scarcely even a superficial
resemblance. The generic name of Paratoxophora is thus inappro-
priate and misleading. Less excusable is the fact that this solitary
specimen, a 9 and with dichoptic eyes, was described as a ¢ and
designated as the g-holotype of the genus and species; the terminal
tergite of the 9, bearing a distinct row of ovipository spines or bristles
on each side, having been designated by Engel as an “‘epipygium.”’
To obviate the possibility of generic confusion, a more detailed
description of this genus is appended below.
670 Annals of the South African Museum.
Body elongate, cylindrical; pubescence rather sparse on body
above, denser on head and body below, that on occiput, ocellar
tubercle, antennal joint 1 below, sides of face and down the genae
long, bristly and dense, much longer and more shaggy in gd, that
on head below shorter, that on front part and sides of thorax denser
than on rest of thorax above but shorter than on occiput, that on
mesopleural plate and coxae dense and silky; macrochaetal bristles
present in front of wing-bases and stoutish, though sparse, bristles
are present on sides and base of thorax and on scutellum; transverse
rows of slender bristles present across hind margins of abdominal
segments above and towards apex of venter below, those towards
apex stouter and longer; erect hairs on abdomen denser and longer
on sides of segment 1 and on venter, longer and more shaggy in gd,
sparse above discally in both sexes; depressed hair-like scaling
present, on the whole sparse above, more so in gd, much denser and
patchy on sides of abdomen and on venter in both sexes, with the
scaling on legs dense on femora and the femora in g¢ also with longer
and more conspicuous fine hairs. Head large, especially in gd,
slightly broader across eyes than across broadest part of thorax;
occiput with a distinct median groove; eyes large, prominent, more
convex and larger in 34, in actual contact above in gd, comparatively
narrowly separated in 99, with the upper facets just behind antennae
very much coarser than lower ones in the 3g; ocellar tubercle more
raised and pimple-like in gg; frons broad in 99, diverging anteriorly
and there transversely depressed, very small, depressed and tri-
angular in gg; face slightly conically prominent but rounded in
front, bare, hairs being present only along sides; genae very narrow
and linear, only the upper part slightly broader, separated from
tumid rims of buccal cavity by a narrow and deep groove; antennae
elongate, with joint | slightly thickened, very elongate, subequal in
length to 3, with long, bristly hairs below and with bases of the first
joints close together, with joint 2 short but longer than broad, with
3 broadest at the base, tapering to apex and with the terminal
elements visible as a terminal style; proboscis long and rather
stoutish; palps visibly two-jointed, the basal joint long and the
much shorter apical joint slightly truncated and broadened apically
and directed outwards as in Gonarthrus. Thorax slightly humped,
with the metapleurae entirely bare, no metapleural tuft being present;
wings (see text-fig. 2, Engel, loc. cit.) comparatively narrow and
rather shortish, narrow at base, with only 2 submarginal cells present
and with the vein separating these not markedly S-curved and ending
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 671
as in Gonarthrus a good distance away from the second longitudinal
vein, which is, however, slightly undulating and more sinuous at
apex than in Gonarthrus, with 4 posterior cells present of which the
first is open, with the anal cell also broadly open on hind border,
with a comparatively narrow and non-lobate axillary lobe, with the
alula very much reduced, vestigial, linear, the squamae well developed,
transverse, the lower part projecting lobe-like and the wing without
a basal comb. Abdomen elongate, cylindrical; last tergite (sternite)
in gd elongate and narrow (cf. text-fig. 196, shown to right of left-
hand figure). (This segment probably represents a true sternite
which has assumed a dorsal position owing to the torsion of the
hypopygium.) Legs well developed, rather long and stoutish, the
hind ones the longest; coxae well developed and the front ones
elongate; femora with distinct, bristle-like spines along outer and
inner sides below on middle and hind ones; tibiae with the spines
or spicules well developed and long and with at least 4 rows on
the middle and hind ones, with the apical spurs on middle and hind
ones long and conspicuous; tarsi with well-developed claws and
pulvilh. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 196, lateral view of hypopygium
and last tergite (sternite) and ventral view) conspicuous at end
of abdomen; basal parts with the inner apical part on inside of
beaked apical joints angular and projecting, together forming a sort
of guide for the aedeagus; beaked apical joints elongate, cylindrical,
shaped as shown in figures, with an outwardly directed process or
spine towards the apical beak, with the beak slightly curved down-
wards and with a crest of stoutish, spine-like bristles on dorsum of
the joints; aedeagus remarkably elongate and slender, curved, pro-
jecting apically beyond apices of basal parts and also basally beyond
their bases where its basal loop is held in position by a membrane
(this loop and membrane, shown as shaded in figure, sometimes
protrude disc-like from the apex of the abdomen in mounted speci-
mens); base of aedeagus, just before the middle part of pleural
apparatus, on each side with a flattened, lobe-like process directed
towards the apex of abdomen; middle part with the basal strut
directed towards the apical part of abdomen and not towards the
base as in other Bombyliine-genera (see figures).
According to the descriptions and figure of Wiedemann (p. 352,
Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, Tab. IV, fig. 8, 1828) and Becker (pp. 437
and 473, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912),
this genus comes very near to Amictus Wied. s. str. The generic
descriptions of both these authors are, however, so brief and
672 Annals of the South African Museum.
unsatisfactory that it is impossible to determine and correlate
the Palaearctic Amictus correctly without seeing actual specimens.
Paratoxophora, however, shows some relationship to Gonarthrus Bezz.
in having a similar type of wing, with reduced alula, open first pos-
terior cell, same type of vein separating the submarginal cells and no
basal comb. Moreover, the palps are similar in having outwardiy
directed apical joints and the beaked apical joints of the hypopygium
also show some resemblance in the presence of a subapical spine or
process. Superficially this genus bears a marked resemblance to
species of Thereviidae or even Mydaidae. Genotype is P. cuthbertsons
Engel.
13 gg 8 9° P. cuthbertsom Engel.
(P. 40, Occasional Papers, Rhod. Mus., No. 5, 1936, figs. 1 and 2.)
Body, including legs, black, with the integument above gleaming
slightly dark submetallic bluish, with greyish bloom on the lower
parts, on sides of thorax and as 2 central, discal, abbreviated stripes;
hind margins of abdominal segments above and on venter narrowly
ivory yellowish, the yellowish slightly broader along midline above;
pubescence predominantly silvery whitish, almost entirely so in gd,
the long and dense hairs on antennae below in gd, those on sides of
face, down the genae, on head below and on body below in both sexes
gleaming silky or silvery whitish, those on abdominal segment 1,
especially the shorter ones, distinctly yellowish in both sexes, those
on occiput, some on antennae below and those on front part of thorax
in 99 and the hair on scutellum in $3 with a distinctly more sericeous
yellowish or even yellowish tinge, with the short hairs on antennal
joint 1 above in both sexes, the long apical ones on antennae below
in 99, the bristly ones on frons, ocellar tubercle and sides of occiput
in 92, a few behind eyes in gd, the more numerous intermixed ones
on thorax above in 99, the bristly ones on scutellum in $9, the trans-
verse rows of bristles across hind margins of abdomen above and those
across second last ventral segment in both sexes, the shortish hairs
on last segments in 99, the hairs towards base of elongated terminal
segment in gd as well as all the spines and spicules on the legs and
the macrochaetae in front of wings black, with the hair-like scaling
on thorax above straw-coloured yellowish, often whiter in gg, that
on scutellum more distinctly yellowish and also denser, that on
abdomen above discally (where present) mostly dull black, that on
sides of segments concentrated as denser, conspicuous, white patches,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 673
especially in g¢ and especially on sides of tergites 2 and 4, that on
venter as white patches on sides but sparser and more straw-coloured
along midline, with the dense scaling on femora silvery whitish,
becoming dark brownish black to black apically, that on tibiae
greyish but dark in certain lights and that on tarsi entirely black or
dark; wings entirely vitreous to greyish hyaline, iridescent, the
costal cell and base slightly more subopaque, the extreme base of
Hae Gai ee
mi II rH i jh
i a i ij
A
- i]
TeExt-Fic. 196.—Side view of hypopygium, together with last sternite (tergite),
ventral (dorsal) view (the sternite or tergite removed), and a view of lateral
strut and adjacent structures of ¢ Paratoxophora cuthbertsoni Engel.
wing blackish brown, with the veins yellowish brown, brownish to
even dark brownish or black, becoming darker towards apex, with
the discal cross vein much beyond middle, in at least apical third, of
discoidal cell, with the squamae subopaquely whitish, bordered with
yellowish and fringed with silky white hairs; halteres yellowish,
with brownish base and almost whitish knobs. Head with the eyes
in actual contact above in $¢ for a distance nearly or about 3 times
as long as tubercle (front view), with the interocular space on vertex
in 99 about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons in 92 with the
sides rather rapidly diverging apically, the circumocellar area shining
674 Annals of the South African Museum.
and with a tuft of silvery white hairs on each side of the anterior
transverse depression; antennae with joint 1 slightly thickened,
slightly curved outwards along middle and sometimes slightly
broadened apically, especially in g3, about 5-5$ times as long as 2,
subequal to 3, with 3 elongate, broadest near base, becoming very
slender apically, slightly curved; proboscis about 3-4 mm. long,
the apical part and labella spinulate. Legs without any apical spines
above on femora and with or without a small spicule on front femora
below; middle femora with about 3-4 spines on outer side below in
apical half and 2-3 on the inner side; hind femora with about 4-5
spines from about middle to apex on outer side below and 2-4 on
inner side apically and in 3g often with a row of minute spicules
medially below; claws rapidly curved downwards apically and the
pulvilli reaching apex of claws. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 196) as
described for genus. The g-allotype of the genus and species is in
the Imperial Institute. |
Length of body: about 6-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-8 mm.
Locality —S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (8/1/22) (3-allotype) (7/2/23);
Swinburne and Stevenson, 4/2/23) (in Transvaal Museum); Sawmills
12/2/23) (Imp. Ins. Ent.); Gatooma: Georgia (Williams, 3/3/1935)
Q-holotype of Engel). Transvaal: Barberton (Munro, 2/5/13)
Transvaal Museum); Pretoria (Swierstra, 4/15) (Transvaal Museum) ;
Magalieskraal (Lingnau, 26/2/25) (in the Deutsches Entomologisches
Institut). Natal: Park Rynie (Barker, 12/20) (Durban Museum);
Weenen (Thomasset, 11/25) (British Museum). Zululand: Mfongosi
(Jones, Mar.—Apr. 1935). Bechuanaland: Metsimaklaba (V.-L. Kal.
Exp., 7—12/3/30) (Transvaal Museum).
This species seems to vary in size and in the colour of the pubes-
cence. A male specimen from “ Weenen” in the British Museum
differs from the typical 3g in having the long hairs on antennae
below yellowish as in the 92 and also with one or two dark ones near
apex. Moreover, there are more numerous dark or black hairs on
occiput and on scutellum, the first antennal joints appear to be
relatively shorter and the proboscis appears to be more slender. This
specimen may be considered as only a slight variety or form.
Cheilohadrus n. gen.
The characters of this new genus are :—Head narrower than broadest
part of thorax; occiput hollowed below ocellar tubercle, with its
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 675
lateral parts behind eyes on each side more or less distinctly tumidly
prominent in 99; eyes large and prominent and in contact for some
distance above in $d, with the facets in upper half in $¢ coarser and
imperceptibly merging into the finer ones in lower half; eyes in 99,
considerably smaller, the interocular space at narrowest part being
comparatively broad, nearly as broad as half the width of head;
ocellar tubercle prominently raised and tubercle-like; frons small and
triangular in $g, very broad and transversely depressed in front,
convex on each side basally in 99, with the inner margins of eyes
rapidly diverging anteriorly in $3, more
gradually in 99, but when viewed from y
in front diverging down face in 3¢ and
almost subparallel in 99; face markedly
roundly prominent, distinctly tumidly
produced or convex in front, with the
buccal cavity below separated from the
genae by a well-defined and deep furrow
and with its rims only prominent on sides;
antennae with the first joints slightly
thickened, short and slightly separated
at bases, with joint 2 short, nodular and
with the upper apical part shghtly sharply pi... 197.— Antenna of
produced, with joint 3 (text-fig. 197) Cheilohadrus conspersipennis
spindle-shaped, broadest at,orjustbeyond, ™ 8% and n. sp.
the middle and from there narrowed apically and basally, the slender
base, however, thicker and slightly longer than the attenuated apical
part, with the first terminal joint visible as a small basal thickening,
the other terminal elements not separately visible, but seen as a
slender style, with a dense coat of short, very fine, erect and whitish
spinule-like hairs on the dilated part of joint 3 and also with some
distinct scaling towards base above; proboscis comparatively short
and slender; palps short, the base being very slender, the apical
part slightly clavately broadened, with no distinct joints separately
visible but with the apical half directed upwards; pubescence on
head in form of depressed, flattened, eliptical scaling on occiput,
face, more densely on sides of genae and along posterior lower margins
of eyes in both sexes and also on frons in 99, and of comparatively
stoutish and long bristles on occiput, ocellar tubercle, on sides of
frons (more so in 99), on the first antennal joints below, on face in
front and laterally and upper parts of the genae as well as fine erect
hairs on head below, those on antennal joint 1 below in 99 long.
676 Annals of the South African Museum.
Thorax and scutellum covered above with comparatively dense,
flattened scaling and short bristly hairs, denser anteriorly and laterally
on thorax, without any thicker macrochaetal bristles in front of
wing-bases, but slightly longer bristles on posterior calli and on the
scutellum posteriorly; pleurae with the meso- and metapleurae
comparatively bare, only sparsely-haired and with some flattened
scaling, some distinct hairs, however, present on metapleural lobe
in front of halteres and also below halteres above hind coxae; wings
(text-fig. 198) somewhat elongate, comparatively narrow, mottled or
spotted, with the basal comb absent or very vestigial, the second
Trext-Fic. 198.—Wing of Cheilohadrus conspersipennis n. gen. and 0. sp.
longitudinal vein curved upwards apically, with 2 submarginal cells
present, with 4 posterior cells present, the first posterior cell widely
open on hind border, with the vein separating discoidal and third
posterior cells shortish, with the discal cross vein much beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the anal cell open on hind border, the hind
border of axillary lobe broadly rounded and the alula comparatively
well developed and lobe-like; halteres with the knobs more or less
triangular, slightly dorso-ventrally compressed, the apical margin
truncated or straight. Abdomen very densely covered with flattened
scaling above and below and also with transverse rows of longish,
slender bristles across the hind margins above, denser and slightly
longer laterally, interrupted along midline above, with shorter and
more slender bristly hairs across hind margins of venter. Legs
comparatively slender and covered with flattened scaling; femora
without any dense hairs below and only a few short, sparse ones in
33 below, but with some slender spines below on hind ones in both
sexes; tibiae slender, with an outer and a lower row of spicules on
front ones and 2 upper and 2 lower rows on middle and hind ones;
tarsi slender, with the claws well developed and the pulvilli also well
developed. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 199) with bristly hairs on
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 677
the basal parts; beaked apical joints elongate, tapering to a point
and provided above with dense, short, bristly hairs, not depressed
above but hollowed out below; aedeagus without a ventral process,
its dorsum not produced basally above medial part into a process
on each side; lateral struts broad and leaf-like.
This genus obviously belongs to the Bombylwnae. Its relationship
to other genera is, however, not so easily established. Its position is
somewhat anomalous, but it appears to show some affinities with
Adelidea and Sosiomyia in that the third antennal joints are modified,
deviating from the usual condition found in such genera as Bombylius,
Systoechus and Doliogethes. With Adelidea, Sosiomyia and Cono-
phorina it agrees in the presence of dense scaling on body above, the
presence of bristles only and the modified third antennal joints.
From both the former it can, however, readily be distinguished by the
presence of only 2 submarginal cells, the absence of a distinct basal
comb, the presence of flattened and not fine hair-like scaling on
body, etc. |
Genotype is C. conspersipennis n. sp.
1312 C. conspersipennis un. sp.
Body dull dark brown, the thorax and scutellum above more
blackish and pleurae more muddy brown; antennae and proboscis
dark blackish brown, the bases of joint 3 slightly paler and more
reddish brown; legs pale ochreous yellowish, with the coxae slightly
darker, with the scaling dull yellowish and all the spines and spicules
black, the last 3 or 4 tarsal joints dark brownish to blackish brown
and the claws yellowish, their apical halves blackish; bristles on
occiput, frons, antennal joint 1 and comparatively dense ones on
face, those on thorax, scutellum and transversely above on abdomen
and the shorter ones on venter very dark blackish brown to black,
some intermixed ones on occiput and shorter bristly hairs on thorax
in front as well as some shortish ones on sides of frons in ¢ more
yellowish, the bristly hairs on genae or lower parts of the genae and
the finer ones on head below and on head, posteriorly behind, pale
yellowish brown, those on pleurae, pectus, on coxae and on sides of
abdominal segment 1 dull straw-coloured yellowish or brownish,
those towards pectus and lower parts of pleurae more whitish, those
in metapleural tuft and first abdominal segment with a more pale
yellowish brown to pale brownish tint in certain lights, with the
shortish ones at basal half of venter and along extreme sides of
VOL. XXXIV. 4.4
678 Annals of the South African Museum.
abdomen below yellowish; flattened, depressed scales on body above
dull whitish on occiput, frons and face, composed of broader white
ones on front part of thorax as 2 indefinite discal patches, on posterior
calli, across base of thorax and across posterior part of scutellum and
of slightly narrower pale brownish golden scales on disc of thorax
and scutellum, those on abdomen above dense, white across the hind
margins from segment 2 posteriorly, more concentrated across the
apical margins where they are also more creamy especially in 9, the
TrExtT-Fia. 199.—Side view, greater part of ventral view of hypopygium, and
dorsal view of beaked apical joint of ¢ Cheilohadrus conspersipennis n. gen.
and n. sp.
white scaling being interrupted on each side of the segments above
by a broadish, discal, longitudinal band and an extreme lateral band
of brownish golden scaling, extending from the middle of segment 2
to apex on inner band and to segment 5 on lateral band and with the
brownish scaling at the apical margins of the segments in these bands
very deep reddish brown, appearing as rows of spots, thus rendering
the broad middle band of white scaling more conspicuous, with
sparser, dull whitish scaling on pleurae and on mesopleuron and also
with whitish scaling more or less transversely across apical margins
of venter; wings (text-fig. 198) mottled, with brownish to blackish
brown and opaquely white markings as shown in the figure, the dark
being more evident as transverse bands, with the costal cell and base
opaquely yellowish or yellowish white and unspotted, the veins dark
brown, the cross veins being slightly darker and the costal and first
longitudinal veins more yellowish, with the alula and opaquely dull
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 679
whitish squamae fringed with white hairs; halteres yellowish brown,
with darker brownish knobs. Head with the eyes in ¢ in contact
for a distance about equal to length of ocellar tubercle, with the
interocular space in 9 nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 only about, or a little more than, 2 times as long as
joint 2 and with very long and stoutish bristles below, especially in
2, with joint 3 (text-fig. 197) quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 com-
bined, covered with silvery white scaling above basally and with a
dense coat of whitish, spinule-like, short hairs on middle thickened
part, especially below, with the first small terminal element and its
style situated slightly on dorsal aspect of apex; proboscis about
1mm. long. Legs with 5-6 almost bristle-like spines below on hind
femora on outer side from just before middle and with 1 spine at
apex on inner side below; claws gradually curved downwards apically
and pulvilli extending to beyond middle of claws. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 199) with the beaked apical joints shaped as shown in the
figures, its basal half above convex; aedeagus straight, fairly stout;
basal strut more or less racket-shaped (outline shown in figure).
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 44-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-54} mm.
Locality.—Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 6/9/1919).
The shape of the third antennal joints, the very darkly speckled
or mottled wings and the presence of dense whitish scaling and four
longitudinal bands of brownish golden scaling on abdomen, render
this species easily recognisable. The mottled wings give this species
some superficial resemblance to some species of Bombylius, Anthrax
and Hxoprosopa, which also have speckled wings.
3 29 C. conspersipennis var. xerophilus n.
These 3 99, though differing from the 9-type of conspersipennis in
certain respects and in the absence of $3, may be provisionally
considered as a Northern variety. They differ from the allotype-?
of conspersipennis in being slightly larger, about 5-6 mm. long and
with a wing-length of about 54-64 mm., in being on the whole darker,
more blackish, the pleurae darker, with the femora, not yellowish,
but distinctly darker, more blackish brown to blackish, only the
apices or apical parts being yellowish; bristly hairs on genae tending
to be darker and less brownish yellowish, with the two longitudinal
680 Annals of the South African Museum. —
bands of dark scaling on abdomen (where these are not denuded)
even darker brownish; wings distinctly much darker, with the dark
spots or mottling deeper blackish brown to sooty blackish, with the
clearer milky whitish spots separating the more or less 3 transverse
continuous black patches, not as in conspersvpennis with roundish or
quadrate milky whitish clearer patches, but with even more clear
spots or with more irregular spots, which appear to be broken up by
irregular dark markings, which markings, though practically the same
as In conspersvpennis, sometimes appear narrower and more linear,
with the veins also distinctly darker, very deep blackish brown to
black and with the knobs of halteres also slightly darker and more
blackish brown above. Head with the interocular space, relative to
tubercle, slightly narrower and only about, or scarcely more than,
3 times as broad as tubercle, with antennal joint 1 tending to be less
thickened. The speckled nature of the wings even among these 3 99
appears to be slightly variable. One 9-paratype from Namaqualand
has the clearer areas in the wings more extensive.
Type in the South African Museum.
Locality.—South West Africa: Aminuis (Thorne, July 1936) (Type).
Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931).
Gen. Adelidea Macq.
(P. 84, Dipt. Exot. u, 1840;=Sobarus Lw. by Loew in Neue Beitr.,
il, 39, iv, 1855, and p. 191, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi,
p. 100, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
There is probably no doubt that Sobarus Lw. is identical with
Adelidea and that A. fuscipennis Macq. (p. 84, loc. cit.) is specifically
the same as anomala Wied., though in the figures given by Macquart
(Tab. VI, figs. 1 and 1, a) and especially in fig. 1, a, the third antennal
joint is not so markedly broadened or pyriform in shape as portrayed,
a shape which is found in the genus Sossomyia of Bezzi.
The genus Adelidea is chiefly characterised by having 3 submarginal
cells in the wings and an open first posterior cell, the latter character
separating it at once from the subgenus T'riplasius Lw. of Bombylius.
Other distinguishing characters are the comparatively sparse, erect
pubescence on body above, comparatively and markedly sparse
pubescence on pleurae and body below, the presence of obviously
fine, depressed or subdepressed, sericeous yellowish, brassy yellowish
to golden yellowish scaling above on all. the known species, the
presence of a distinctly visible coat of dense, fine, erect, spinule-like
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 681
pubescence on antennal joint 3 below in the majority of the forms
(see text-figs. 200-205), the dull, greyish or greenish grey bloom on
the body above, which in most of the species gives these insects a
dull greenish appearance. The palps are usually well developed and
the apical joints sometimes very elongate. The wings are apparently
always infuscated and never entirely hyaline and spots or darker
infuscations are often found on the cross veins or on some of them at
least. The hypopygium of the 3& (text-figs. 200-206) is characterised
by the shape of the beaked apical joints, which are more or less dorso-
ventrally compressed, scarcely depressed and more plane above,
more hollowed out below, with the outer, apical angle almost always
prominently subangular or even subacute and with the dorsum
provided with backwardly directed, stiffish, bristly hairs; aedeagus
more or less hidden, from below, by the ventral aedeagal process,
which is either in form of a single forwardly projecting structure or
a more complex process, more or less divided apically into two
broadened, thin, lamellar, flap-liike lobes curled downwards and
inwards apically to form a kind of hood or cowl (see text-figs.).
Some members of this genus are hydrelophilous, having a predilection
for frequenting damp or wet environments, settling on mossy banks,
damp soil or on rocks along streams or even along dried-up water-
courses some of which contain water only during certain seasons.
Key to the known species of Adelidea.
1. (14) Wings not uniformly infuscated, the costal cell, greater part or basal half
of marginal cell, greater part or basal half of enclosed third submarginal
cell, first and second basal cells and base or at least costal cell, basal
half of marginal cell, base of first basal cell and base always distinctly,
even if only slightly, darker than posterior and apical part, with the
discal cross vein at less than apical third and more often distinctly much
less than apical third of discoidal cell, with the marginal cell only slightly
dilated apically; whitish opaque spot in apical part of second basal
cell comparatively small, inconspicuous and often absent; bristly hairs
on disc of thorax, bristles on scutellum and transverse rows of bristles
on abdomen above predominantly yellowish, brownish to deep reddish
or reddish brown, rarely dark blackish brown or black and then only
so on abdomen above; legs with the spines better developed, usually
with at least 1 spine on front femora below and usually with more
numerous spines on hind ones below and with the spinules on front
tibiae more developed and not markedly feebler than those on middle
ones; hypopygium of gg (text-figs. 200-204) usually with the outer
apical angle of beaked apical joints angularly produced : Seren
2. (3) Body above distinctly more pubescent, with comparatively dense, erect,
brassy yellowish hairs in addition to fine depressed brassy pubescence,
682
Annals of the South African Museum.
with all the bristly hairs and bristles on body above brassy or sericeous
yellowish; integument of face and genae black and with whitish pubes-
cence; wings without any darker spots or infuscations on or along the
cross veins, almost uniformly tinged faintly brownish, only the costal
cell, basal half of marginal cell, base of first basal cell and base slightly
darker and more brownish; legs with entirely black femora and with
comparatively conspicuous and dense, subdepressed pubescence, especially
on femora, and with the spines on hind femora below feeble, almost
hair-like and passing into short, slender, bristly hairs towards base;
hypopygium (text-fig. 200, 6) with the outer apical angle of beaked
apical joints not very prominent or angular, with the ventral aedeagal
process below aedeagus in form of a blunt, cone-like process
3 nigrifemoris n. sp. (p. 686).
3. (2) Body above conspicuously less pubescent, the short, erect hairs being
comparatively sparse and the depressed brassy or golden pubescence
denser and more conspicuous, with the bristly hairs and bristles on body
above darker, being dark yellowish brown, reddish, dark reddish, reddish
brown, brownish to blackish brown and not pale yellowish everywhere;
integument of face and genae pallid, yellowish or brownish, not entirely
black, with the pubescence yellowish or at least always with some
yellowish hairs, even if only in front; wings always with distinct spots
or infuscations on or along at least some of the cross veins and with the
front part or half of wings always distinctly, often conspicuously, darker
than posterior part (if not very distinct then spots are at least present
on cross veins); legs, excepting only the apices of tarsi, entirely yellowish,
reddish to pale brownish yellow or red and in gg with the normal type
of hair-like scaling, not particularly pubescent or dense, with the spines
on hind femora below more conspicuous, stronger and stouter; hypo-
pygium of jg (text-figs. 201-204, a) with the outer apical angle of beaked
apical joints distinctly more produced and angular, with the ventral
aedeagal process differently shaped : ; > As
4. (5) Larger and more bulky species, about 10-124 mm. aa) with a wing-length
of about 113-143 mm.; wings with a more reddish brown infuscation,
with the anterior darker part less marked off, more darker reddish brown
and with a slight reddish ochreous tinge, especially in the costal ceil
and base, with the veins, especially costal and first longitudinal ones,
deeply reddish to reddish brown and spots on cross veins fewer and more
indistinct; squamae with the fringe on part nearest alula blackish and
that on the basal part pallid or yellowish; bristles on thorax, in front
of wings and on mesopleuron, more developed and denser and all,
including posterior callar bristles, those on abdomen, especially laterally,
and some intermixed stout ones on middle and hind coxae and the frontal
bristles in 99, red or reddish; antennal joint 3 distinctly club-shaped,
with the base broad and often knob-like, not covered with a visible and
conspicuous coat of very fine, dense, erect, spinule-like pubescence
below, with the first and second terminal joints more developed and more
conspicuous; legs markedly long and well developed, usually more pale
reddish to pale reddish brown, with the spines red or reddish, very long
and stout and those on hind femora below comparatively dense and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 683
irregularly crowded together near apex; hypopygium (text-fig. 201, a)
with the outer apical angle of beaked apical joints acutely subangular
and produced, with the ventral aedeagal process in form of a single
process, the apical part of which is hollowed out below and recurved
3 2 immacuiata Bezz. (p. 688).
5. (4) Small to medium-sized species, about 6-9 mm. long, with a wing-length
of about 7-10 mm.; wings with a more dull brownish or brownish yellow
infuscation, the anterior part being usually more distinctly ‘marked off
and darker yellowish brown or brownish, with the veins more yellowish
brown, brownish or dark brown and with more spots or infuscations
which are also more distinct and conspicuous on cross veins and bases
of some of the others in posterior more translucent half; squamae with
the entire fringe whitish or pale yellowish; bristles on thorax in front
of wings and on mesopleuron less developed and not all the rest of the
bristles on body above red or reddish, those on middle and hind coxae,
on frons in 99 and on abdomen not distinctly red or reddish; antennal
joint 3 not distinctly club-shaped, the base, when thickened, not rapidly
knob-like, covered with a distinctly visible, dense coat of short, erect,
fine, spinule-like pubescence, especially below in addition to scattered
short hairs, with the first and second terminal joints less developed,
the first being much narrower than apex of 3 and often scarcely visible;
legs apparently less developed, more pale reddish-yellow, pale yellowish
brown or ochreous yellow, with the spines moderately developed, less
red and those towards apex of hind femora less crowded irregularly
together; hypopygium of g¢ (text-figs. 202-204, a) with the outer
apical angle of beaked apical joints slightly less angularly produced and.
the ventral aedeagal process in form of a hood-like or cowl-like structure
the thin lamellar apical edge on each side of which is usually curled
over ventrally below to enclose a cowl-like or cup-like hollow . =e Oe
6. (18) Wings with the darker front half well marked off from greyish hyaline or
less infuscated posterior half; antennal joints 1 and 2 black or at least
dark; second joints of palps markedly elongate; proboscis entirely
black and basal joints of palps also dark; sides of abdomen above,
apex of abdomen and greater part of venter dark or blackish and only
hind margins of ventral segments may be reddish; pleurae predominantly
dark or black; halteres yellowish to yellowish brown and the lower
surfaces of the knobs usually also darkened; transverse rows of bristles.
across hind margins of abdomen usually not predominantly or entirely
very dark or black (if so antennal joints 1 and 2 and pleurae are black);
antennal joint 3 (side view) stouter, usually broadened near base and
again towards apex, the dorsal margin being more sinuous at about
the middle (see text-figs. 202-203, b); hind femora usually with only
1 spine on the outer apical aspect and usually with some spines or a row
of spines apically on inner aspect below; hypopygium of gd (text-
figs. 202-203, a) with the outer apical part of beaked apical joints less
produced lobe-like 2 : : : : : : sdaanite
7. (10) Wings with distinct and often conspicuous spots or infuscations on basal
cross vein of fourth posterior cell, basal cross vein of first posterior cell,
on cross veins (or vein) at apex of enclosed third submargifial cell, on
684 Annals of the South African Museum.
apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at base of vein separating discoidal
and third posterior cells. , : ; : : : i gtr
8. (9) These spots or infuscations large, broad, rounded and very conspicuous
and the anterior darker infuscation occupying entire marginal cell;
dense, short, erect, bristly hairs on each side at base of abdominal
segment 1, pubescent fringe across hind margin of tergite 1 and also
on sides of the other segments tending to be more whitish, even silvery
whitish in certain lights, especially in 99; bristly hairs on tubercle,
sides of frons and on antennae above in 99? predominantly or entirely
pale brownish or bronzy yellowish and hairs on occiput tending to be
paler and more whitish in both sexes due to the fact that the short,
depressed, golden yellow pubescence is distinctly less dense, shorter
and even paler there; antennal joint 3 comparatively stout and incrassate
(text-fig. 203, b), markedly broad near base in 29 at least; hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 203, a) with the aedeagus slightly longer and more visible
from below and the ventral, aedeagal process narrower, more cowl-like,
the thin lamellar sides more curled over and the basal strut shorter
3 2 maculata n. sp. (p. 694).
9. (8) These spots smaller, less conspicuous and those on posterior part of wings
linear and not rounded, more indistinct and often almost absent, the
anterior darker infuscation also not occupying entire marginal cell,
the apex or apical part being more hyaline; hair on sides of first abdominal
segment and also on sides of the others distinctly more yellowish to golden
yellowish; bristly hairs on tubercle, sides of face and on antennae above
in 99 predominantly darker and more blackish brown to black and
hairs on occiput also distinctly more yellowish, the short depressed
pubescence there being denser, longer and more deep golden; antennal
joint 3 (text-fig. 202, b) less stout and more slender, the broad base
distinctly less deep and prominent; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 202, a)
with the aedeagus shorter, only visible through apical emargination of
ventral process, with the ventral aedeagal process broader, the thin
Jamellar flaps less curled over and also more rounded, with the basal
strut longer and more developed
3 2 anomala Wied. (and forms) (p. 691).
(Syn. =fuscipennis Macq.)
10. (7) Wings with the spots or infuscations on cross veins very faint, almost
indistinct, the posterior more hyaline part almost without spots, faint
and indistinct linear infuscations being present only on cross vein of
fourth posterior cell, basal cross vein of first posterior cell and very
indistinct ones at base of vein separating discoidal and third posterior
cells, apical cross vein of discoidal cell and a scarcely distinguishable
one on lower cross vein at apex of enclosed submarginal cell . sles
11. (12) Wings, on the whole, distinctly tinged more yellowish brown, the darker
part in front only darker yellowish brown; legs entirely yellowish in
both sexes; pubescence with fewer black bristly hairs on antennal
joint 1 and also with fewer dark or blackish bristles on abdomen and
black intermixed bristly hairs on thorax in 9° especially
3 2 anomala Wied. (var. of it) (p. 691).
12. (11) Wings distinctly tinged much darker, more smoky or cinereous, the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 685
darker part in front less yellowish and more dark brownish; legs with the
bases of the front and middle femora and almost the entire hind ones,
especially above and along sides, black in 3g; pubescence with distinctly,
or with entirely, black hairs on antennal joints, with more numerous
and more extensive black bristles on abdomen above, especially in 29,
and also with more conspicuous black bristly hairs on thorax above
3 2 anomala var. fuligineipennis n. (p. 693).
13. (6) Wings with the infuscated front part not well marked off but imperceptibly
merging into the very slightly less infuscated posterior part; antennal
joints 1 and 2 very pale yellowish red; second joints of palps very much
shorter; proboscis distinctly reddish below or with a reddish infuscation
towards base and with the basal joints of palps also reddish; sides of
abdomen broadly above, apex or greater part of last 2 or 3 segments
and venter below pale yellowish red; pleurae, even up to in front of
wings, predominantly pale yellowish red or reddish; halteres pallid,
with the apical part and knobs extensively very pale yellowish white
or ivory whitish; transverse rows of bristles on abdomen above pre-
dominantly and strikingly black; antennal joint 3, from side, more
slender, tapering gradually from broadest part at base, only the extreme
apex slightly directed downwards; hind femora usually with 3 spines
in an irregular row on the outer apical aspect and without any row of
distinct spines on inner lower apical aspect; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 204) with the outer apical part of beaked apical joints strongly
produced, more prominent and lobe-like . ¢ 2 ruficornis Bezz. (p. 696).
14. (1) Wings distinctly more uniformly infuscated dark brownish to very dark
blackish brown, the costal or front part not visibly much darker than
posterior and apical part, with the veins showing up owing to a slightly
darker, or much darker, infuscation along them, with the discal cross
vein at more than apical third, or nearer middle, of discoidal cell, with
the marginal cell distinctly and conspicuously more rapidly enlarged
or dilated apically; whitish opaque spot in apical part of second basal
cell more distinct, comparatively larger, more rounded and more con-
spicuous; bristly hairs on disc of thorax, on scutellum and transversely
on abdomen predominantly or entirely black; legs with the spines on
femora more feebly developed, without any or with only a feeble spine
on front ones below, with fewer and feebler spines on hind ones below
and with the spinules on front tibiae feebler and markedly less developed
than on middle tibiae; hypopygium of $¢ (text-figs. 205 and 206) with
the outer apical part or angle of beaked apical joints not prominently
produced, angularly prominent or lobe-like . : : 4 Ld:
15. (16) Wings paler, more dark yellowish brown or brownish, with the infusca-
tion along veins narrower and less distinct, no distinct and spot-like,
more hyaline areas being conspicuous in middle parts of the cells; palps
distinctly shorter, shorter than antennal joints combined and with the
apical joints distinctly very much shorter than antennal joint 3; proboscis
slightly shorter, about 2-24 mm. long; interocular space in g¢ much
narrower, only about as broad as narrow front part of tubercle and
scarcely broader than front ocellus, not quite 3 times as broad as tubercle
in 2; pubescence with the bristly hairs on face paler and more yellowish
686 Annals of the South African Museum.
and that on head above in 9 darker and with the depressed pubescence
on body above slightly deeper and more golden yellowish in 9 at least;
legs with fewer, only about 3-4 spines in apical half below on hind femora
and usually with none on front ones; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 205, a)
with only fine and shortish pubescence on basal parts and with a slightly
differently shaped beaked apical joint, which has shorter hairs above
3 2 braunsii Bezz. (p. 698).
16. (15) Wings very much darker, very dark blackish brown to lamp black,
appearing almost sooty black above in certain lights, with the infuscation
along veins very much broader, marking off clearer spot-like areas in
middle parts of cells, thus giving the wings a spotted appearance; palps
distinctly longer, more slender, more visibly projecting, quite as long
as, or much longer than, antennae and with the apical joints elongate,
often longer than third antennal joints; proboscis slightly longer, about
3-34 mm. long; interocular space in g very much broader, as broad
as broad tubercle or at least as broad as front part of tubercle, even
more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 2; pubescence with the bristly
hairs on face and genae predominantly blackish and that on head above
in 2 paler and with the depressed pubescence on body above slightly
paler, more whitish or pale sericeous yellowish; legs usually with about
6-8 spines on hind femora below, beginning before middle and often
with 1 spine on front femora below; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 206)
with distinctly denser and longer pubescence on basal parts and beaked
apical joints and with the beaked joints slightly differently shaped
3 2 pterosticta n. sp. (p. 700).
1 g A. mgrifemoris n. sp.
Body, including antennae, face, head below and venter, entirely
black; legs with the coxae, trochanters and entire femora black, the
tibiae yellowish, but the hind ones appearing more brownish owing
to fine, dark, hair-like scaling, with the tarsi yellowish, becoming
brownish to dark blackish brown apically and the hind ones more
brownish, due to the fine, dark, hair-like scaling, with the pubescent
hairs on femora whitish, more yellowish to yellowish brown on outer
apical aspect of hind ones, with the spines yellowish; erect and
depressed pubescence above pale brassy yellowish when viewed from
above, that on front part of thorax and to a great extent on occiput
having a more whitish tint from side, that on disc of thorax, scutellum
and abdomen pale golden or brassy yellowish from side, the bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle sericeous yellowish, the pubescence on frons,
bristly hairs on antennal joint 1, bristly hairs on face and head below
and on pectoral and pleural regions whitish, becoming more straw-
coloured yellowish on upper parts of mesopleuron and on basal part
of venter; wings tinged faintly translucent brownish, becoming
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 687
slightly darker and even more yellowish towards the anterior and
basal parts, the base, costal cell and basal half of first basal cell
being more subopaquely yellowish brown, with the veins brownish
and without any distinct infuscations on the cross veins and with a
whitish fringe to opaquely whitish squamae; halteres dirty yellowish
or very pale yellowish brown, becoming more brownish on knobs
below and more ivory whitish on knobs above. Head with the
interocular space, at narrowest part, about as broad as front part of
ocellar tubercle, with the inner
margins of eyes at first almost
parallel, only very gradually
diverging for a little distance
and then rapidly diverging
anteriorly; frons slightly long-
itudinally depressed ; antennae
with joint 3 (text-fig. 200, a
of 3) nearly 14 times as long
as 1 and 2 combined, broadest
at or just before middle and
more rapidly narrowed to-
wards apex, with only a few
scattered fine hairs towards
base, dorsally and near apex
and with only a very feeble (4) (0)
coat of very fine. almost in- L=X2-FIG- 200.—(a) Antenna of § Adelidea
a y : migrifemoris. (b) Side view of hypopygium
visible, pubescence below but and ventral view of aedeagal structures of
no distinct visible spinule-like 4 4- ”*9rifemoris n. sp.
hairs below as in anomala Wied., with the first 2 terminal joints
not very distinctly separately visible, apparent only as thickening
at base of terminal style; face and genae with comparatively
sparse pubescence; proboscis about 4 mm. long. Thorax and
abdomen above, in addition to short subdepressed pubescence, with
comparatively dense, longer, erect hairs (for this genus), longer and
more pubescent on abdomen and with the transverse rows of longer
bristly hairs scarcely different from the rest of the hair. Legs with
comparatively longer and more pubescent hairs (for this genus) on
the femora and tibiae; front femora with 1 or 2 spines on inner
apical aspect; middle ones with about 3 or 4 slender spines on inner
apical aspect below; hind ones with about 10 or 11 slender spines
in apical half below, passing basally into a row of slender hairs and
in apical part more or less arranged in 2 rows of which 1 or 2 longer
688 Annals of the South African Museum.
ones are on outer surface near apex. Hypopygium (text-fig. 200, b:
lateral view, dorsal view of beaked apical joint and ventral view of
aedeagal process, etc.) with the aedeagus hidden from below by
blunt, tubular ventral process, formed by forward continuation of
contiguous or fused rami.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality.—E. Cape Province: Grahamstown; Resolution (Walton,
Jan.—Apr. 1928).
This species may be easily distinguished from all other known
species of Adelidea by the comparatively denser and entirely yellowish
pubescence on body above, less infuscated wings and entirely black
and more pubescent femora.
A. immaculata Bezz.
(As var. of anomala Wied., p. 74-75, Broteria (Ser. Zool.),
Vol. xxe Nasco iO 25)
According to Bezzi’s description of a ¢ of this species (as a var. of
anomala Wied.), and according to another $-specimen in the collection
of the late Dr Brauns, caught at the same place and at the same time and
also labelled as ‘“‘anomala var. immaculata,”’ two 92 from Clanwilliam
as well as a number of ¢¢ in the South African Museum from Nama-
qualand, belong to the same species. From the description of the
wing-characters, as well as the specimens before me, it is evident
that these specimens can not be referred to anomala even as a variety.
The description is, however, very vague and does not make any
reference to important and differentiating characters, which distin-
guish it from anomala Wied. A fuller description of immaculata
Bezz., which is now raised to the status of a separate species, is as
follows :—
Black, the integument above with dull greyish green to greyish
whitish bloom and more distinct greyish white to whitish bloom
below; antennal joint 1 and, to a certain extent, joint 2 above, face
and genae, a large spot on each side of pronotum just above anterior
spiracle, extreme lateral hind margins of abdominal segments 5 to
apex, the hind margins of 9-genital segment and hind margins of
last sternite in 9?, pale yellowish red to reddish, with often a slight
reddish infusion along sutures in mesopleural region and with pallid,
yellowish or very pale yellowish red, narrow hind margins to ventral
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 689
segments (the latter evident only on last few segments in 99); exposed
3-hypopygium yellowish; legs pale reddish yellow to reddish brown,
with only the last tarsal joint darkened, the spines reddish and the
fine, hair-like scaling whitish; pubescence with the fine, depressed
scaling on body above fairly dense, sericeous yellow to pale brassy
yellowish and with a brassy sheen, giving the body a distinct yellowish
tint, becoming more golden on thorax in front and distinctly more
whitish on sides of thorax in front and just above wings and along
extreme sides of abdomen, the erect pubescence on occiput yellowish,
slightly paler in $g, that on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above
reddish to reddish brown, with a dark and more mauvish tint in
certain lights in some gd, paler and more yellowish in 99, with the
dense bristles and macrochaetae in front of wings, posterior callar
bristles, those across hind part of scutellum and those laterally across
hind margins of abdominal segments, on venter, and intermixed ones
on middle and hind coxae, rufous brown to red, those on sides of
abdomen often with a reddish or orange golden tint and those on
venter slightly paler, with some of the long bristles on scutellum and
discal ones on abdomen above often darker, even very dark purplish
red or brown in g¢ especially, with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle
dark reddish brown in 3g, paler and more reddish in 99, the stout
frontal bristles in 9? pale reddish, with the bristly hairs on antennae
and face pale sericeous yellow to yellowish, those on antennal joint 1
above in $¢ often tinted slightly darker and those on antennal joint 2
above even blackish, with the pubescence on head below, on front
coxae and pleurae and the short depressed pubescence on basal half
of venter greyish or silvery whitish; wings infuscated ochreous
reddish brown, with a more distinct ochreous tinge in certain lights,
becoming paler and more yellowish or slightly ochreous in posterior
half and darker, more reddish brown anteriorly and basally (in basal
two-thirds of marginal cell, basal half of enclosed third submarginal
cell, first and second basal cells, base of anal and axillary cells and
alula), the costal cell and base being distinctly more subopaquely
ochreous brown or reddish, with the spines in basal comb blackish
brown, with the veins pale reddish brown or reddish, becoming dark
towards their apices, the costal and first longitudinal veins being
more conspicuously reddish, with a faint infuscation on apical cross
veins of first and second basal cells, with the opaquely brownish
squamae fringed with short, dark or blackish hairs near alula and
with straw-coloured to faintly yellowish ones towards their bases;
halteres pale yellowish brown, with very pale yellowish white knobs.
690 Annals of the South African Museum.
Head with the interocular space in gg, at narrowest part, about as
broad as front part of tubercle, nearly 4 times as broad as tubercle
in 2°; antennae with joint 3 club-shaped, knob-like enlarged at base,
then gradually tapering apically in $d and, in 99 (text-fig. 201, 5),
slightly less rapidly enlarged basally and with a shorter apical part,
with only a few scattered short hairs above basally, but without any
distinct coat of dense, short, whitish, spinule-like pubescence below,
with the first terminal joint well developed and visible, nodular and
(0)
Text-F1G. 201.—(a) Ventral view of aedeagus and side view of hypopygium
of Adelidea immaculata (Bezz.). (b) Antenna of 2, same species.
about as broad as 3 apically, the second terminal joint also distinctly
visible and the terminal style straight and slender; proboscis about
5-5i mm. long. Legs comparatively long in relation to body,
especially the hind ones; front femora with about 4-5 spines just
beyond middle in gg and about 2 or 3 in 39, these spines more or less
irregularly in 2 rows; middle femora with about 7-8 spines on lower
outer apical aspect in 99 and about 7-10 (usually 8-9) stouter ones
in $3, more or less arranged in 3 irregular rows and 2-3 on inner
lower aspect in both sexes; hind ones with about 15-23 spines below
from near base to apex, stouter in gg and with those nearer apex
crowded together in more or less 3 or 4 irregular rows and extending
also laterally on outer face, also with an inner lower row of small
spines and | or 2 larger apical ones. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 201, a:
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 691
lateral view, dorsal view of beaked apical joint and ventral view of
aedeagal process) with the outer apical angle of beaked apical joints
markedly acute and subangularly produced, lobe-ike prominent;
ventral aedeagal process more or less depressed or hollowed out below,
especially apically, where the apical part is also slightly curved
downwards like the prow of a boat and the lateral ridge also more
prominent.
Length of body: about 10-124 mm.
Length of wing: about 114-144 mm.
Locality.—S.E. Cape Province, W. Cape Province and Namaqua-
land. (Transvaal and South African Museums.)
This species is at once recognised by its large and bulky size,
reddish brown infuscated wings, the darker front half of which is
not well marked off from the posterior part, the predominance of
reddish bristles and spines and the more numerous and stouter spines
on the femora. From anomala Wied. it differs in being larger, in
having reddish first antennal joints, denser and longer reddish bristles
on body, more reddish brown wings, the darker front part of which
is not well marked off from the rest, without 5 distinct spots on the
cross veins, with a distinctly more club-shaped third antennal joint,
which is not covered ventrally with a dense coat of fine, erect, spinule-
like pubescence, narrower reddish hind margins of venter, more
numerous spines on femora and the differently shaped ventral aedeagal
process of hypopygium (cf. text-fig. 202, a).
This species is definitely hydrelophilous, being apparently only
found along streams of watercourses, settling on mossy banks, on
mud or damp soil. All the specimens from Namaqualand were
obtained along the course of a partially dried-up mountain stream.
A. anomala Wied.
(P. 349, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; Loew, p. 191, Dipt. Faun.
Siidafr., 1, 1860 as Sobarus; Macquart, p. 84, Dipt. Exot., ii,
1840 as fuscipennis and Bezzi, p- 75, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx,
Fasc. I], 1922.)
This species has been redescribed at length by Loew and is chiefly
characterised by its brownishly infuscated wings the anterior darker
part of which is well marked off from the posterior, more translucent
part, the front half being also more ochreous brown in certain lights,
with 5 distinct spots or infuscations on cross veins (on apical cross
veins of first and second basal cells, on apical cross veiris of enclosed
692 Annals of the South African Museum.
third submarginal cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at
base of vein separating discoidal and third posterior cells); antennae
with joint 3 (text-fig. 202, b of 2) covered with a dense coat of short,
erect, spinule-like pubescence below, giving it a whitish or silvery
appearance in certain hghts (a specific character not mentioned by
any of the authors); interocular space in gg, at narrowest part,
about as broad as broad front part of ocellar tubercle, a little less
than 3 to a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; palps _
nll ne
7 \ 4s \
jl Sj GO2 0
I tia oN wn
5 Whee
TExtT-FIG. 202.—(a) Ventral view of aedeagus and side view of hypopygium
of § Adelidea anomala Wied. (6b) Antenna of 9 of same species.
with the apical joints markedly elongate. Legs with from 1-3 spines
on front femora below, 3-6 on middle ones below and about 7-10
spines on hind ones as well as a row of small spines on inner lower
apical aspect of hind ones. Hypopygiwm of 3 (text-fig. 202, a: lateral
view, ventral view of aedeagal process and dorsal view of beaked
apical joint) with the beaked apical joints scarcely flattened above,
with their outer apical angle lobularly prominent and slightly bent
downwards; ventral aedeagal process in form of a hollowed cup-like
or hood-like structure, the thin ear-shaped sides divided in front into
2 lobes (the hollow nature of which is not very satisfactory shown
in my sketch); lateral struts comparatively broad and shoe-horn
shaped.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 693
This species is also variable in the distinctiveness of the spots on
the wings and in the colour of the pubescence; some 99 with pre-
dominantly black bristles on abdomen. Like immaculata Bezz. it
seems to frequent watercourses in shady places.
Locality W. Cape Province and 8.W. Cape Province. (In the
Imperial Institute, Transvaal, British and South African Museums.)
According to Schiner, Loew, Becker and Bezzi (see Bezzi, p. 470,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, and also pp. 100, 101 and 136, The
Bombyliudae of The Ethiopian Region, 1924), Cyllenia longirostris
Wied. (p. 358, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828) is identical with
anomala. This contention is extremely doubtful, for Wiedemann had
already described the 9 of anomala very satisfactorily (p. 349, loc. cit.).
Moreover, according to Wiedemann’s description of the 9-Cyllenia
longirostris, it differs from the 2 of anomala in having an obviously
3-jointed palp, white hair on the head, a fringe (or hind margin)
across hind margins of abdominal segments of snow white hair and
whitish halteres with large brownish knobs, etc. Both Loew and
Bezzi were unacquainted with the 9 of anomala, which Bezzi (p. 470,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii) even suspected to be the same as
ruficornis Bezz. (see under ruficornis on p. 470, loc. cit.).
12 33 5 99 A. anomala var. fuliginerpennis n.
These specimens form a distinct variety in that the wings, on the
whole, are distinctly tinged darker, more cinereous or smoky to very
dark, with the anterior darker part also much darker than in the
typical form, being very dark brown, almost blackish brown, with
only the dark infuscations on apical cross veins of first and second
basal cells distinct, but also less spot-like and with the infuscation at
base of vein separating discoidal and third posterior cells also distinct,
but the other infuscations absent or only very faintly or scarcely
indicated; legs with the front and middle femora distinctly blackened
in basal halves or at bases in $¢ and with the hind ones extensively,
or almost entirely, blackened above and along sides in $¢; pubescence
with the bristly hairs on antennal joints 1 and 2, in both sexes,
entirely or predominantly black, with more numerous and more
conspicuous intermixed dark or blackish bristly hairs on thorax above
in 9° at least and also with more numerous and more conspicuous
dark or black bristles on abdomen above in 99.
Types in the South African Museum.
VOL. XXXIV. 45
694 Annals of the South African Museum.
Locality.— Western Cape Province: Ceres Distr.; Michell’s Pass
(Versfeld and Hesse, Oct. 1934).
A d-specimen, from Namaqualand in the Transvaal Museum,
seems to represent even another variety, differing from the typical
form in having the infuscations on the cross veins also very indistinct
or faint, with the infuscation in marginal cell almost occupying the
entire apical part and with the hind tarsi less darkened or blackened
above than in anomala s. str.
2 36 3 99 A. maculata n. sp.
Compared with anomala Wied., which it resembles very closely,
it has the following differences :—
Pubescence with the fine, depressed, brassy scaling on occiput and
front part of thorax paler, more brassy and less golden, slightly
shorter, distinctly less dense and even finer, with the erect hairs on
occiput also slightly paler, with the depressed pubescence or scaling
on sides of thorax in front and above wings and along a central line
anteriorly more whitish, even silvery at least in 99, with the stiff,
erect hairs on sides of first abdominal segment and the fringe-like
pubescent ones across hind border of segment 1 paler, tending to be
more whitish and even silvery whitish in 99; anterior angle of prono-
tum on each side and part of propleurae above first coxae and below
front spiracle tending to be distinctly reddish, especially in 99, the
former also with a patch of reddish brown or pale yellowish brown
bristly hairs; bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons and on
antennae above in 9° predominantly or entirely pale brownish or
bronzy yellowish and not blackish brown or black; wings with the
darker infuscated front part slightly darker and duller brownish,
without a very distinct ochreous brownish tint, the infuscation also
occupying the entire apical part of marginal cell, with the upwardly
directed apical part of second longitudinal vein distinctly more
sharply curved up at right angles, with the 5 spots on cross veins
distinctly and conspicuously much larger, broader and more rounded;
interocular space in gd, at narrowest part, also comparatively
narrower, about as broad as narrow front part of tubercle; antennae
with joint 1 often with a slight rufous infusion, with joint 3 (text-fig.
203, b of 2) distinctly more rapidly broadened into a much broader
basal part, especially in 99, the inner apical angle also more distinctly
angularly prominent and the dense coat of spinule-like hairs below
also more obvious. Legs with only 1 spine (none in g-holotype) on
— >
Le
q .
=
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 695
front femora below, with 1—2 spines on middle ones and with about
7-9 spines on hind femora on outer aspect below. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 203, a: lateral view, ventral view of aedeagus and dorsal
view of left beaked apical joint) differs from that of anomala (cf.
text-fig. 202, a) in having no distinct lobe-like process at base of basal
parts and also finer and less pubescent hairs above; beaked apical
joints slightly longer and with the outer apical angle even more
Trxt-FIc. 203.—(a) Dorsal view of left beaked apical joint, ventral view of
aedeagal complex, and side view of hypopygium of ¢ Adelidea maculata
n.sp. (b) Antenna of 2 of same species.
directed downwards and with apparently shorter hairs above;
aedeagus slightly longer, projecting more forwards and distinctly
visible apically from below; ventral aedeagal process narrower, more
cowl-shaped apically, the thin sides being more curled over.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum and paratypes in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 63-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-11 mm.
Locality.—S.E. Cape Province: Calitzdorp (Matjiesvlei) (Brauns,
1/10/21) (Holotype); Uniondale Distr.: Langkloof (Brauns, 1/10/22)
(Allotype). S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 20/8/18); Oudtshoorn
Distr. (nr. Cango Caves) (Ogilvie, 1/11/31).
696 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 3 8 99 A. ruficorns Bezz.
(P. 75, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922, and p. 470,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
Except for a few lines in his key and a note on p. 75 (loc. cit.)
Bezzi made no reference to this species in his monograph on the
Ethiopian Bombylidae in 1924, but described it in an appendix
(p. 470, loc. cit.) to his paper on the Bombyliidae in the South African
Museum. Below is appended a redescription based on material
before me :—
Body black, with the first and second antennal joints, front part of
frons, the face and genae, basal joints of palps, proboscis below (especi-
ally towards base), anterior part of pronotum on each side, propleurae
above front coxae, pleurae to a great extent, sides of first abdominal
segment, lateral part of segment 2, the hind margins and very broadly
on sides of 3 and 4, especially in some 99, sides very broadly of 5,
entire 6 and 7 (in 99) and venter, pale yellowish red or reddish;
coxae and legs pale ochreous yellow, the femora slightly more pale
reddish yellow and last tarsal joint blackish brown; pubescence
above with the fine depressed scaling brassy to golden yellowish,
with the bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle more brownish to blackish,
those on sides of frons more yellowish and often with more brownish
intermixed ones, those on occiput yellow when viewed from side and
slightly paler from in front, those on antennal joint 1 and on face
pale yellowish, with the shortish erect hairs on thorax composed of
yellowish ones with intermixed darker and more brownish ones
anteriorly and antero-laterally, those on sides of first abdominal
segment very pale yellowish to almost whitish, the bristles in front
of wings yellowish to reddish, with some distinctly blackish ones
towards dorsum, the macrochaetae yellowish to reddish, with the
bristles on posterior calli and hind border of scutellum dark brownish
to blackish brown or black but often with some intermixed paler
ones, reddish in g, with the transverse rows of bristles across hind
margins of abdominal segments above comparatively stout and very
dark blackish brown or black in both sexes, apparently without any
reddish or yellowish ones and also with some black transverse ones
on penultimate ventral segment and on one before it, with the
pubescence on head below and rest of body below whitish, sericeous
whitish hair even extending up to sides in front of wings and also on
sides of abdomen especially in basal half, with the hair towards apex of
venter becoming slightly more straw-coloured yellowish to yellowish;
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 697
wings infuscated brownish to reddish brown or ochreous brownish
and practically uniformly so, the front half scarcely or only very
slightly darker, showing a more ochreous tint in costal cell, basal
two-thirds of marginal cell, first basal cell and to a certain extent at
base of second basal cell, with the extreme base of wing distinctly
paler yellowish, with the veins brownish, becoming more yellowish
or reddish basally and along first and second longitudinal veins, with
a darker spot-like infuscation at fork of second longitudinal vein and
TrExt-FI¢c. 204.—Ventral view of aedeagal complex, side view of hypopygium,
and views of beaked apical joint of g¢ Adelidea ruficornis Bezz.
3 more distinct spots on apical cross veins of first and second basal
cells and enclosed submarginal cell respectively as well as a faint one
on apical cross vein of discoidal cell and at base of third posterior
cell, with the opaquely pale yellowish brown squamae almost white-
fringed; halteres yellowish, with almost white knobs. Head with
the interocular space in ¢ about as broad as tubercle, in 99 on vertex
about or nearly 3 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 3
less than 1$ times as long as 1 and 2 combined, covered with a dense
coat of very fine and short, spinule-like, whitish pubescence on lower
parts, sightly curving downwards, broadest just before base, then
gradually narrowed apically, but the extreme apical part slightly
more slender, with the first terminal joint distinct but small and
scarcely narrower than the apex of 3, with the second terminal joint
scarcely separately visible, fused with basal thickening of spine-like,
upwardly directed style; proboscis about 3-34 mm. long; palps
698 Annals of the South African Museum.
with apical joints much shorter than in anomala. Wings with the
discoidal cell tending to be narrow and apical part of first posterior
cell to be more narrowed than in other species, Legs with 1—2 spines
on front femora below, 2-6 (6 on one leg of one specimen) on middle
ones and about 8-12 spines on hind ones of which 2-3 are situated in
a second row more laterally near apex, with apparently no visible
row of spines on inner lower apical aspect. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 204) with dense and conspicuous hairs on dorsum of basal parts
in neck region; beaked apical joints with the outer apical part very
prominently lobe-like; aedeagus with a hood-like or cowl-like process
below.
Length of body: about 6-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-85 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Worcester (Turner, Sept.—Oct. 1931) (British
Museum). S.H. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 15/11/12) (one 9 of
which was labelled as ruficornis, Transvaal Museum). Central Karoo:
Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935); Aberdeen (Mus. Staff,
Nov. 1935).
Owing to its extensively reddened abdomen, in at least, red venter,
reddish pleurae, almost uniformly infuscated wings, distinct trans-
verse rows of black bristles on the abdomen, and the distinct long
lobe to beaked apical joints in g, this species cannot be confused with
others in this genus.
1 og 2 99 A. braunsit Bezz.
(P. 75, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922, and p. 472,
Ann, oe Atr, Mus. viol. savaibe TO ZG)
Two 99 presented to the South African Museum some years ago
by the late Dr. Brauns and labelled by him as “ Adelidea braunsu
Bezz.” comprise, without doubt, part of the catch from “ Willow-
more, 10 Apr. 1920” to which the two 99, given to Bezzi, belong.
The former 2 9? also agree with the description given by Bezzi on
p. 472 (loc. cit.). In addition to these 99 there is also a g in the
collections of the Transvaal Museum, also from the same locality.
As this species is very distinct from the other forms, a more detailed
description of both 3 and 99 is necessary.
Body with the integument entirely dark blackish brown, the
pleurae having a slightly more brownish infusion; legs pale ochreous
yellowish, with the coxae for the greater part very dark brownish,
with the bases of the front femora and often also the base of the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 699
middle ones in 99 and all the femora, to beyond middle, in 3, very
dark brownish or blackish brown, also greater part of tarsi dark
brownish or blackish brown, only the basal joints of tarsi being more
yellowish; pubescence with the fine, short, depressed scaling above
sericeous yellowish to pale brassy yellowish, the erect, bristly hairs
on occiput yellowish when viewed from side, slightly paler in 4, that
on ocellar tubercle, sides of frons and some on antennal joint 1 above
dark blackish brown, the sparse hairs on face and genae yellowish
but a few intermixed ones on
genae, in 6 especially, also
blackish, with the sparse hairs
on thorax, bristles on posterior
calli, on scutellum and the
slender transverse bristles on
abdomen above as well as more
conspicuous pubescent hairs on
sides of abdomen in ¢ and also
on venter very dark blackish
brown to black, with some of the
intermixed ones on scutellum,
however, almost yellowish, with
the bristly hairs and macro-
chaetae in front of wings more
yellowish brown, especially in
TExt-Fic. 205.—(a) Ventral view of aedea-
#9, the pubescence aa body gal complex, side view of hypopygium, and
below straw-coloured yellowish, dorsal view of left beaked apical joint of 3
Phat on cides of first abdominal Adelidea braunsia Bezz. (6) Antenna of 2
: of same species.
segment paler and almost whit-
ish; wings comparatively broader and shorter than in other species,
with a uniform, dull, comparatively dark, brownish infuscation, not
distinctly darker on front part, only darker along course of brown
veins, especially in 99, thus showing up the veins as being much darker,
without any black spots on the cross veins, but a conspicuous sub-
opaquely whitish spot near apex of second basal cell, with the apical
part of marginal cell markedly and roundly dilated, the apical part of
second longitudinal vein being semicircularly curved upwards, with
the discal cross vein only a little beyond middle of discoidal cell or at
least at apical third of cell, with the opaquely brownish squamae with
whitish fringes; halteres very pale yellowish white, their knobs white.
Head with the interocular space in 3, at narrowest part, comparatively
narrow, only about as broad as comparatively narrow front part of
700 Annals of the South African Museum.
tubercle or scarcely broader than front ocellus, not quite 3 times as
broad as tubercle on vertex in 99; antennae with joint 3 (text-fig.
205, b of 2) slightly less than 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
without a distinctly visible coat of fine, conspicuous, spinule-like
pubescence below, only some scattered fine hairs being present
towards base, almost club-shaped, rather rapidly broadened just
before base, the apical part, however, not very slender, with the
first terminal joint not very distinct and apparently continuous with
the other terminal joints; proboscis about 2-24 mm.; palps with the
apical joint elongate. Legs without any visible spines on front
femora below, with about 1 spine and often 2 small spinelets on
anterior apical aspect of middle femora, with only 3 or 4 spines in
apical aspect on hind ones below, one spine of which is usually
situated laterally, with minute scattered blackish hairs in addition
to the much denser pale sericeous to yellowish white scaling on the
femora and tibiae; tibiae with the spicules on front ones markedly
feebler and less developed than on middle ones. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 205, a: lateral view, ventral view of aedeagal process and
dorsal view of left beaked apical joint) with the outer apical angle
of beaked apical joints not or scarcely prominent and not angularly
produced, with the outer apical angle of basal parts more angularly
prominent than in other species; aedeagus projecting apically and
visible from below the ventral aedeagal process, which is hood-like
or cowl-like as shown in figure.
Length of body: about 5-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.—8.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, April 1920).
12 gg 192 A. pterosticta n. sp.
This species very closely resembles braunsivi, but may at once be
distinguished from the latter by the distinctly very much darker
blackish brown or lamp black wings, the dark colour appearing
almost black along veins when the wings are viewed in certain lights,
with an almost transparent or translucent spot or area in the middle
of all the cells excepting the costal, first basal and to a certain extent
axillary cells, thus giving the wing a distinct spotted appearance,
with the discal cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal cell; legs
with the femora also darkened to middle or beyond middle and
especially hind ones below in 3¢ and only at extreme bases in 9, the
rest slightly duller, less ochreous yellow and often more brownish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 701
yellow, often with a spine on front femora below, with about 1-2
spines on middle ones below and about 6-8, larger and smaller, spines
on hind femora below, beginning from before middle to apex of which
1 or 2 apically are on the outer side; pubescence with the depressed
pubescence on body above slightly paler, less ochreous yellowish and
more whitish or pale sericeous yellowish, with the bristly hairs on
head, in the single 2, more yellowish, that on face and genae in both
sexes more distinctly dark or blackish, the macrochaetae in front of
wings in both sexes also reddish .
brown, the rest of the bristly hairs
on thorax and scutellum and the
transverse bristles on abdomen
black as in braunsw, that on
abdomen in 36, especially on the
sides also denser and with inter-
mixed longish, pale or whitish ones,
that on body below, on the whole,
paler and more whitish. Head
with the interocular space in gd
distinctly broader, very much
broader than front ocellus, about
as broad as broad front part of
tubercle or the tubercle itself, also
much broader in 9, even more TEXT-Fic. 206.—Side view of hypo-
: pygium, dorsal view of beaked
than 3 times as broad as tubercle, apical joint, and ventral view of
with the transverse depression on aedeagal process of g Adelidea
frons anteriorly in 9 slightly more 7” ea
evident, with the first terminal joint to antennal joint 3 distinctly
more developed and more visible, with the palps distinctly
longer, slender, more conspicuous and projecting, quite as long
as, or even longer than, the antennae, the apical joints being
also distinctly longer and often nearly or even as long as antennal
joint 3, with the proboscis, on the whole, slightly longer, about
23-33 mm. long. Hypopygium of ¢$ (text-fig. 206) also resembles
that of braunsw (cf. text-fig. 205, a) but with more numerous,
denser and longer hairs on basal parts and on beaked apical joints;
beaked apical joints, shown to left, slightly different in shape;
aedeagus also with a hood-like or cowl-like ventral process, hollowed
out below (see figure to right); lateral struts broad, short and
strap-like.
Types in the British Museum.
702 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-74 mm.
Locality.—S. Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, 15/3-20/4/1932).
Gen. Sosiomyia Bezz.
(P, 67, Ann, «S. Air, Mus, vol acum U0
This genus was based by Bezzi on a ¢ and @ from Stellenbosch
in the Western Cape Province. Another g without a locality-label,
but presumably belonging to the same catch from Stellenbosch, was
labelled by Bigot as “‘ Platamodes longirostris Big.”. There is, how-
ever, no reference in literature that Bigot ever described this insect.
These insects rightly belong to a new Ethiopian genus, as was main-
tained by Bezzi, and Bigot’s allocation of it to the Neotropical genus
Platamodes Lw. (Loew, Neue Beitr., 11, 40, v, 1855) is scarcely tenable.
According to Becker’s key and synopsis (p. 438 and p. 479, Ann.
Mus. Zool. St. Petersb., xvii, Nos. 3-4, 1912), Platamodes Lw. is
nearest to the Palaearctic Conophorus Meig. and has no spines on the
hind femora below. Not having examined this Chilean genus, I am
unable to state whether this South African Bombylid, also occurring
along semi-dry and arid coastal parts (West Cape Province to
Namaqualand), 1s congeneric with Platamodes.
The generic characters, distinguishing this genus from Adelidea
and other Bombyliinae, have been described at length by Bezzi. The
chief and outstanding generic characters are the peculiar shape of the
third antennal joints (text-fig. 207, b of g and 207, c of 2) which are
very broad and laterally compressed basally, bellows-shaped from
side in 92 and which, in both sexes, are also different from other
Bombylines in having obvious, pubescent hairs and very long and
conspicuous bristles or bristly hairs basally above and apically below,
the presence of 3 submarginal cells on wing, the presence of more
visible pubescent hairs above at base of wing, the very feeble, sparse,
fine and almost absent fringe on alula, the dull bluish grey to dull
mauvish grey bloom on body above, the somewhat sparse, erect hairs,
apart from the bristles, on body above, the presence of golden to
reddish, red or orange red, depressed scaling above, the entirely bare
metapleurae, etc. From Adelidea, which it closely resembles, it may
at once be distinguished by the shape and nature of the third antennal
joints, the distinctly incrassate first antennal joints, the pubescent
nature of base of wings above, the very sparse or obsolescent fringe
on alula, much longer and denser hairs and bristly hairs on face,
‘
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 703
genae and head below and the more distinct, transverse depression
on frons in 99 just behind antennae. The hypopygium of the 3
(text-fig. 207, a) has the outer apical angle of beaked apical joints
also angularly prominent, the aedeagus is also comparatively short
and blunt and hidden from below by a rather tumid and blunt ventral
aedeagal process. The genus is at present monotypic and repre-
sented only by one species fully described by Bezzi.
S. carnata Bezz.
(P. 69, loc. cit., and Pl. I, figs. 12 and 12, a, and also referred
to as comata, p. 470, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii.)
The following comments are, however, necessary:—The facets of
the eyes in the $3 are not of equal size, those on upper part being
slightly coarser; antennae not entirely black, joints 1 and 2 often
with a more brownish, even slightly reddish brown tint in some
specimens; proboscis also with the labral part more brownish to
reddish brown and not entirely black; palps obviously 2-jointed; face
with the longish hairs in front distinctly more bristly, especially in
$3; antennae with joint 3 as shown in text-fig. 207, b of g and 207, ¢
of 2, with the greater part of base in 99 laterally much compressed,
markedly pyriform or bellows-shaped and transversely roughened or
wrinkled and scabrous, with fine pubescence in addition to the long
bristly hairs in both sexes, with the first terminal joint separately
visible, the second, however, not distinctly separately visible but
continuous with the dilated and thickened basal part of slender
terminal style and these joints slightly more developed in $$; frons
in 99 with a distinct, though faint, transverse depression just behind
antennae; thorax and abdomen above with dull slaty grey, slaty
bluish, dull bluish grey to dull mauvish grey bloom and with deep
golden, golden reddish, orange red, brownish red to striking, deep,
metallic red, depressed scaling; abdomen with the short, sparse,
finer and erect hairs as well as the long, stouter, transverse bristles
across hind margins on disc yellowish, reddish yellow to reddish,
with the denser pubescent hairs on sides white, intermixed with
yellowish ones and also with denser, often slightly longer, black,
bristly hairs and bristles laterally, even on segment 1; legs with or
without 1 spine on front femora below, with 2-4 on middle ones and
about 5-8 on hind femora below, 2 or 3 of which are usually found
laterally in a second row apically, without any distinct row of spines
on inner apical aspect below, with the spicules on front and middle
704 Annals of the South African Museum.
tibiae usually entirely yellowish to pale brownish yellow in both sexes
and when darker, as in $-type, they are not black but more reddish
to brownish. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 207, a: lateral view, ventral
view of aedeagal process and dorsal view of beaked apical joint) with
the posterior part of basal parts produced into a long, lobe-like or
finger-like process and with the inner apical part of neck region
below also provided with longish bristly hairs; beaked apical joints
dorso-ventrally compressed, not depressed above, slightly hollowed
TEXxT-FIG. 207.—(a) Ventral view of aedeagal structures and side view of hypo-
pygium of g Sosiomyia carnata Bezz. (b) Third antennal joint of 3, and (c)
of 2 of the same species.
out below, with the outer apical angle prominent and slightly curled
downwards, the beak long and the dorsum provided with fine, but
longish, backwardly directed hairs; aedeagus short and hidden by the
somewhat tubular, tumid and blunt, ventral, aedeagal process, the
sides of which are more membranous; basal strut racket-shaped.
Length of body: 5-9 mm.
Length of wing: 6-11 mm.
Locality.—_W. Cape Province, Olifant’s River Valley and Nama-
qualand. (Transvaal and South African Museums.)
The species seems to be slightly variable in size, colour of bloom
and depressed pubescence on body above and, to a certain extent, in
the infuscation and spots on the wings. The Namaqualand specimens
appear to be slightly darker, with the bristles and hairs on body
above apparently more golden yellowish in macroscopic effects, with
the depressed pubescence more distinctly golden and with the wings
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 705
tinged slightly darker, the front and basal parts being slightly darker
reddish brown. Specimens from the Olifant’s River Valley are
entirely darker above, due to a dull, deep, mauvish grey bloom and
characteristic, deep, orange reddish to deep, metallic red, depressed
pubescence, even more reddish than in the typical forms from the
Western Province, with darker infuscated front part of wings, which
is duller and slightly more blackish brown than in the typical and
Namaqualand forms.
Gen. Conophorina Beck.
(Becker, p. 181, Entom. Mitteil., ix, 1920; Beza, p. 76,
Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922.)
This genus was described by Becker from a single 2-specimen
forwarded by the late Dr. Brauns and collected by him at Willow-
more. Another 2 from Oudtshoorn and also collected by Brauns
was presented to the South African Museum some time ago and was
labelled as “Conophorina bicellaris Beck.” by Dr. Brauns. Becker
referred this genus to the Conophorinae, a subfamily which appears
to be only represented in the Palaearctic, North American and
Neotropical regions. Moreover, he placed it next to the Palaearctic
genera Codionus Rond. and Conophorus Meig. li Becker's subfamily
be accepted then Conophorina appears to be the only known repre-
sentative of the Conophorinae in Africa. Bezzi, however, maintained
that the Conophorinae cannot be separated from the Bombyliinae
and, in his paper in Broteria, appends Conophorina on to his list
of Bombyliime-genera. With the exception of the comparatively long
antennae and very incrassate first and second antennal joinis, all its
other generic and specific characters are also found in other genera
and species of the Bombyliinae. Like Bezzi, I prefer to retain this
genus in the subfamily Bombyliinae.
Its outstanding characters are the somewhat tumid and elevated
vertex on head in 99, the elongate antennae (ci. text-fig. 2, p. 182,
Becker, loc. cit.) of which jomts 1 and 2 are markedly incrassate,
joint 2 especially being relatively longer, more incrassate and barrel-
shaped than in any other Bombyliine-genus, both joints are also
covered with conspicuous bristly hairs, very long and dense on joint 1
below, with joint 3 covered with a dense coat of whitish, spinule-like
pubescence below in addition to more scattered pubescent hairs
above and below (as in Adelidea), with the terminal joints together
comparatively elongate; proboscis short and stoutish; palps com-
706 Annals of the South African Museum.
paratively elongate, apparently 3-jointed, the third or apical joint
not always separately visible; thorax and abdomen above sparsely-
haired, but with fairly dense depressed golden pubescence or scaling
as in Adelidea and Sosiomyia; body below also sparsely-haired and
the metapleurae entirely bare. Wings without a basal comb, with very
much reduced or vestigial alula, with open first posterior and anal
cells and with only 2 submarginal cells. Legs with only very slender,
longish hairs, denser in $g, and no distinct spines on femora below,
with the spicules on front tibiae fewer and less developed than on
middle ones, with the claws curved down apically and with the
pulvilli well developed. Hypopygium of ¢g (text-fig. 208) with the
basal parts not narrowed in neck region; beaked apical joints elongate
and narrow; aedeagus with a ventral process below; lateral struts
short.
4 33 5 992 C. bicellaris Beck.
Only one species of this genus is known and was described by
Becker on p. 183 (loc. cit.). In addition to Becker’s description of
the 9-type, the following comments are appended for 9? in general
and the g3:— |
Antennal joints 1 and 2, pleurae to a certain extent and to a certain
extent also the legs are more dark blackish brown than black in some
specimens at least; antennae with the first terminal joint, at apex of
joint 3, small, the second one comparatively elongate and almost
imperceptibly passing into the spine-like style, with the bristly hairs
on first and second antennal joints pale brownish yellow and with a
golden sheen; proboscis about 13 mm. long, often subequal to length
of antennae; palps with joints 1 and 2 elongate, joint 2 becoming
broader, more strap-like and more laterally compressed towards
apex, joint 3, when visible, short; wings (cf. Becker, p. 183, text-fig. 3,
loc. cit.) distinctly, though faintly, tinged cinereous or greyish,
iridescent, with the costal cell and base more subopaquely yellowish,
with the veins brown to dark brownish and with the discal cross
vein at about apical third of discoidal cell.
The undescribed $¢ differ from the 99 in having the eyes in contact
or contiguous above for a distance about as long as, or even slightly
longer than, ocellar tubercle, with the upper facets of eyes distinctly
coarser than lower ones, with the bristly hairs on occiput, tubercle,
antennal joints 1 and 2 and face distinctly denser and longer, those on
antennae below and on face especially being black and not brownish
or yellowish as in 99, only some intermixed ones on the joints above
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. TOT
and sides being brownish or yellowish golden, with the black bristly
hairs on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above also denser and those
on abdomen especially slightly longer, finer and denser than in 99,
with the yellowish and dark intermixed hairs on femora longer and
more densely developed than in 99 and also with slightly denser
and longer brownish or yellowish golden gleaming hairs on sides of
TrextT-FIc. 208.—Ventral view of aedeagal structure and dorsal view of left
beaked apical joint and side view of entire hypopygium of $ Conophorina
bicellaris Beck.
abdomen. Hypopygium (text-fig. 208) with short, fine and not very
dense hairs on basal parts; beaked apical joints, shaped as shown in
figure, with comparatively short and not very conspicuous hairs
above; aedeagus projecting a little beyond closely adpressed, lobe-
hike, ventral process.
Locality.—Little Karoo and KE. Karoo: Willowmore and Somerset
Kast. (In Imperial Institute, British and South African Museums.)
Othniomyia n. gen.
Body somewhat laterally compressed, with the thorax slightly
humped, the highest part nearer anterior margin. Head (text-fig.
209) closely adpressed to thorax, lower than thorax, deeper than
broad, scarcely broader across eyes than thorax, with the front part
from ocellar tubercle to head below almost a semicircle when viewed
from side; occiput more or less flattened, not deeply concave below
tubercle, with sparse and shortish hairs; ocellar tubercle tumidly
708 Annals of the South African Museum.
prominent; eyes with the hind margins not deeply or truly emarginate,
occupying most of the head in ¢ at least, narrowly separated above,
with the upper facets not coarser than lower ones in the g; frons
narrow and elongate, the distance from ocellar tubercle to bases of
antennae much greater than distance from antennae to edge of buccal
rim, with the surface slightly convex, without a central furrow and
with sparse pubescence, with the inner margins of eyes gradually
diverging to level of buccal rim, then subparallel; face not more
‘eB a
=
ASE LL
=
ESSE
oS
WD
TEXT-FIG. 209.—Front and side views of head and enlarged antenna of ¢
Othniomyia tylopelta n. gen. and n. sp.
prominent than frons, comparatively narrow, only slightly convex
medially, forming a continuous arc with frons when viewed from side,
with some bristles laterally, otherwise smooth; genae very narrow,
almost obliterated lower down, and with only a very few bristles
along their upper parts; buccal cavity elongate, occupying most of
the lower front part of head, its edge very distinct and rim-like,
slightly more prominent above where it is separated from inner
margins of eyes by a narrow furrow-like depression; antennae (text-
fig. 209) with the first joints contiguous basally, very short and
slightly thickened, with a few stoutish bristles below, with joint 2
short and also bearing some bristles, with joint 3 (excluding terminal
elements) remarkably short, conical and broadest towards base,
with the first terminal joint remarkably long and slender, rod-like,
much longer than the third antennal joint itself, the rest of the
terminal joints not separately visible, only a small style being visible
at end of long first terminal joint; proboscis very short, with the
labella, relative to proboscis, elongate and well developed; palps
very small and short, confined to extreme base of proboscis; head
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. TO09
below very narrow in front and scarcely broader than across upper
part of buccal cavity and with short and sparse hairs. Thorax
compressed laterally, more or less arched above, the pleural parts
perpendicular, with the space between humeral callus and base of
wing on each side and separating the dorsal part from mesopleural
sclerite, deep and groove-like, with the pronotal part well developed,
with the transverse suture, visible laterally between it and mesonotum,
well back and near base of wings, with the upper surface of thorax
anteriorly and laterally with comparatively sparse bristly hairs and
scaling; scutellum distinctly lower than base of thorax, its posterior
margin indented medially, the posterior .
margin of scutellum thus bifid (text-fig. a?
210), the indentation separating two ‘“¥e
Ty oe
tumid prominences, with the upper
surface of scutellum bearing some sparse
bristles laterally on each side and scaling
discally in basal half; pleurae well de-
veloped, with the mesopleural sclerite Text-ric. 210.— Scutellum of
Othniomyia tylopelta n. gen.
prominently developed, convex and .o4, sp.
situated rather far forwards, with the
sternopleuron also broad and well developed and with the pteropleuron
situated more forwards and not directly under wing-bases as in many
genera, with the pleurae comparatively bare, very sparsely-scaled,
bristly hairs on bristles being present only on mesopleuron, with the
metapleural parts bare, but with bristles on metapleuron in front of
halteres. Wings (text-fig. 211) with the costal margin undulating,
the costal cell being broadened just beyond middle, with 3 submarginal
cells and 4 posterior cells present, with the first posterior cell broadly
open on hind border, with the enclosed third submarginal cell very
large and broad and the marginal cell much broadened in apical
part, with the second longitudinal vein very sinuous, curved forwardly
along its course and very rapidly bent upwards at right angles to
costal margin, with the first basal cell remarkably narrow, the
anal cell very broadly open on hind border, with the alula distinctly
developed and lobe-like, fringed with shortish hairs, with the squamae
almost bilobate, the lower lobe also well developed, with the basal
comb poorly developed and the basal tooth at base of wings well
developed, broad, triangular and bluntly pointed apically; halteres
with the knobs oval, spoon-shaped, convex above and somewhat
depressed or hollowed below. Abdomen with flattened, narrow
scaling, scale-like hairs and sparse pubescence, mostly in form of
VOL. XXXIV. 46
710 Annals of the South African Museum.
shortish transverse bristles across hind margins of the segments
above and hairs on venter below. Legs with short bristly hairs on
front and middle femora below and sparse, but longer and finer,
hairs on hind ones below, becoming more spine-like towards apex
and with scales on all the femora; tibiae with about 3 rows of poorly
developed spicules on front ones and with 4 rows of more strongly
developed ones on middle and hind tibiae, with the apical spurs
straight and well developed on middle and hind tibiae; last tarsal
joints without distinct or longish apical hairs; claws curved down-
wards apically and the pulvilli well developed. Hypopygium (text-
fig. 212) with the beaked apical joints elongate, broadish, hollowed out
below, convex above and not depressed; aedeagus without any
ventral processes, its main body at middle produced into a basally
directed process on each side, dorsal to the medial aedeagal apparatus.
The 2 of this genus is unknown. This genus can easily be dis-
tinguished from all other genera in the Bombylidae with non-emar-
ginate eyes, by its bifid scutellum, peculiar wing-venation and peculiar
antennae. There is no other Ethiopian genus which is closely allied
to it. The American genera Lordotus Lw. (p. 303, Berl. Ent. Zeit.,
vu, 1863) and Geminaria Coq. (p. 109, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. Phil.,
xxi, 1894) appear to have the same type of wing-venation. Moreover,
Geminaria also has a sulcated scutellum. The antennae are, however,
longer and the proboscis is also longer. Genotype is O. tylopelta n. sp.
1 g O. tylopelta n. sp.
Body black; scutellum with the tumid tubercle-hike prominence
apically on each side brilliantly shining; antennal joint 3 and the long
terminal joint and legs very dark reddish brown, almost black, with the
tibiae and tarsi very slightly paler and more dark reddish brown; pub-
escence with the few fine bristly hairs on ocellar tubercle, the shortish
bristles on antennae below and sides of face, the stoutish bristles on
occiput, the slightly longer ones on anterior part of thorax, the few
intermixed slender ones on disc, the slightly stouter ones on sides of
thorax in front of wings, the few longer macrochaetal bristles, the bristles
on mesopleuron, metapleuron and those on sides of scutellum, the
shortish and sparse transverse ones across abdominal segments above
and the bristly hairs on coxae black, with the scale-like hairs on frons
whitish, the fine and very sparse ones on head below slightly straw-
coloured yellowish and the fine slender ones on venter more whitish,
SF ACI
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 711
with somewhat sparse, white, hair-like scaling on occiput, front part
of thorax, on sides in front of wings, across base of thorax, across
base and sides of scutellum and in the posterior indentation of scutel-
lum, with denser and slightly shorter, flattened, white scaling on
abdomen above, more or less concentrated transversely across bases
of segments, those on sides with longer white ones (like those on sides
of thorax) and also blackish or dark ones nearer base, with the de-
pressed scales on disc of abdomen also with more greyish or faintly
yellowish or ochreous intermixed ones, with very sparse, pale or
whitish scaling on pleural parts as well, with the scaling on femora
TEextT-Fic. 211.—Wing of Othniomyia tylopelia n. gen. and n. sp.
(as far as these have not been denuded) predominantly blackish or
graphite-like; wings (text-fig. 211) glassy hyaline, with the base,
greater part of costal cell, more or less basal half of first basal cell
and extreme bases of anal and axillary cells very dark blackish brown,
with the veins dark brownish, becoming almost black towards base,
the apical half of costal margin, however, yellowish, with the short
discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, the basal
comb black, with the squamae opaquely dirty whitish and fringed
with frosty white scale-like hairs; halteres with yellowish basal
halves and with the knobs very dark blackish brown above. Head
(text-fig. 209) with the interocular space above in § about as broad
as tubercle; frons slightly depressed basally just in front of front
ocellus; antennae with jomt 1 only about 2 times, or scarcely more
than 2 times, as long as joint 2, with joint 3 (excluding terminal
elements) subequal to and not longer than joint 1; proboscis about
1 mm. long, the labella about half as long as entire proboscis. Legs
without any distinct spines on femora below, but with the slender
black bristly hairs on hind ones below ending apically in a few stouter
and more spine-like bristles; pulvillii extending to beyond middle of
712 Annals of the South African Museum.
claws. Hypopygiwm (text-fig. 212) with some longer hairs in addition
to the shortish ones towards apex and sides of basal parts, with the
outer apical margin ledge-like prominent; beaked apical joints
much hollowed out below, somewhat elongate and broad, convexly
Trxt-FIc. 212.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ Othniomyia
tylopelta n. gen. and n. sp.
rounded above and there provided with scattered shortish hairs,
ending apically abruptly in a very insignificant, outwardly directed
spine; aedeagus very slender, elongate and almost straight; ramus
on each side, connecting central part of aedeagus to sides of basal
part flattened as shown in figure; lateral struts shortish.
Genotype and type of species in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 54 mm.
Length of wing: about 54 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 22—23/10/1928).
Corsomyza-Group.
The genera Corsomyza Wied., Callynthrophora Schin., Megapalpus
Macq. and Hyperusia Bezz. were placed in the Palaearctic subfamily
Usinae by Bezzi. As the Palaearctic genus Usia Latr. possesses
certain distinct and peculiar characters (cf. Becker’s monograph, pp.
193-227, Berl. Ent. Zeit. Band 1|., 1905), such as a reduced wing-
venation in which only 3 posterior cells are present, a Phthiriine
type of spined third antennal joints, the prolongation of sides of last
sternite in gd to form a curved spine or hook on each side and an
:
F.
3
:
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 7138
entirely different type of hypopygium (cf. text-fig. 3), the above
genera cannot be placed in the true Usiwnae. As they differ in salient
features from other Bombyliudae they constitute a separate and
distinct group which may even be raised to the rank of a separate
subfamily, but which is here provisionally referred to the Bomby-
linae. The chief characters of this group are:— /
Head usually very broad and sometimes remarkably broad, as broad
as or broader than the thorax; eyes in $¢ usually broadly separated,
dioptic, the space on vertex at least as broad as broad ocellar tubercle
and sometimes very broad and 9-like, very broadly separated in 99;
frons thus very broad, often remarkably broad, convex and tumid
or inflated; facial region broad, sometimes also remarkably broad
and inflated on each side of antennae, the face broad but often short
and the upper parts of genae or sides of face usually remarkably
broad and even tumid or inflated, with the inner margins of frons
and facial region, especially in 99, only gradually diverging anteriorly
or are subparallel, the buccal region and head below very broad, the
facial region sometimes with a characteristic, dense, circular facial
brush of stiffish or bristly hairs, especially in gg; antennae (see
text-figures) with joint 3 usually clavate or dilated or thickened
_ knob-like apically or broadened apically, the inner part of clavate or
thickened apical part usually grooved or hollowed out and with
the terminal elements much reduced; proboscis either remarkably
short and confined to buccal cavity or moderatly long; palps usually
well developed and sometimes elongate and conspicuous. Wangs
with the basal comb much reduced or even absent, with the costal
cell usually slightly broadened medially, with 2 or 3 submarginal
cells present, always with 4 posterior cells of which the first posterior
cell is always open as in the Doliogethes and Dischistus-group but the
anal cell is acute apically and provided with a short stalk, rarely open
on hind border, with the alula always reduced to a variable extent,
never very broadly lobate. Abdomen with the last sternite in 33
notched or indented medially. Legs without any spines on femora
below, but with longish, bristly hairs; tibiae with the spicules not
very conspicuous, sometimes poorly developed, but the tibiae also
with much hair, the hind ones sometimes even having a feathery
appearance; tarsi usually not very long, with or without long bristly
hairs apically on last joints, with the claws and pulvilli usually well
developed and the empodium usually distinctly visible. Pubescence
usually denser and longer in g3, usually comparatively sparse and
sometimes very sparse in 92, the metapleurae and sometimes entire
714 Annals of the South African Museum.
pleurae bare, that on abodmen in $g sometimes very dense and erect,
giving a bottle-brush appearance. Hypopygium of 33 (text-figs.
214-217, 219-223, 227, 229-231, 233-237) very uniform throughout
the genera and species; basal parts on each side basally usually with
a secondary basal lobe; beaked apical joints usually characteristically
somewhat laterally compressed, claw-shaped or hook-like; aedeagus
more or less constantly shaped as shown in figures, the apex slightly
curved upwards and the aedeagus without a ventral aedeagal process.
Gen. Corsomyza Wied.
(P. 13, Nov. Dipt. Gen., 1820, and p. 326, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins.,
1, 1828; Macquart, p. 108, Dipt. Exot., i, 1840; Loew, p. 198,
Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 73, Ann. 8. Atr> Mise
vol. xvii, 1921, and p. 103, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian
Region, 1924.)
(Syn. =Lasioprosopa Macq. (p. 82, Dipt. Exot. Suppl., v, 1855) ;
= Mulio Wied. in part nec Latreille (p. 12, 16, Zool. Mag., i, iii.,
1819); = Megapalpus Bezz. nec Macquart (p. 85, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921).)
In the literature dealing with the species of this genus there is
much confusion. Apart from the various different genera to which
species have been referred, the authors have not always been sure
about the sexes of the species they described and females have been
described as males, the 2 of simplex Wied. having even been described
as Megapalpus fulviceps by Bezzi (p. 87, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii).
Owing to the marked sexual dimorphism in this genus, it is not very
easy to allocate the 99 of some species to their respective gg. To
facilitate the identification of the various species, separate keys for
the two sexes have been devised in this paper. The 3¢ are, to a
certain extent, easy enough to distinguish, but the 99 of different
species often resemble each other so closely that they are not so
easily separated. The genus Corsomyza itself is often not very easily
separated from the genera Callynthrophora Schin., Gnumyia Bezz.,
Megapalpus Macq. and Hyperusia Bezz. The chief characters which
characterise the genus are the following :—
The presence of a relatively broad head, usually broader than the
thorax, with the interocular space in gg, at narrowest part, always
slightly broader than the comparatively broad ocellar tubercle,
usually very broad in 99, with a somewhat shining frons and with
the inner margins of eyes in both sexes rapidly diverging: anteriorly,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa, 715
never parallel, with the third antennal joints (cf. text-figs. 213, 215, b,
217-222 and 224-227) more commonly distinctly broadened or clavate
apically or sometimes grooved on the inner side, especially towards
the broadened apical part, with a characteristic facial brush in all
Sg and majority of 99, usually bordered by dense black hairs on front
part of frons, lateraliy on genae and often on head below, with the
palps always comparatively long and visibly projecting beyond facial
brush on each side of proboscis, and without distinctly separately
visible joints, with the head below comparatively broad. Thorax and
abdomen more or less densely pubescent in 33g, the pubescence shorter
and sparser in 99, that on abdomen discally often very sparse and
short, with the propleurae, and especially the metapleurae, bare, but
usually with a small, but conspicuous, tuft of hairs just below halteres
and posterior to the last thoracic spiracles, with sparse but longish
hairs on venter in 3g, that on 22 with fewer hairs or almost bare:
last sternite in $¢ deeply notched at middle apically. Wings usually
with two submarginal cells, rarely with three, without a basal comb,
with the costal cell usually slightly or much broadened at about
the middle, with the discal cross vein always much beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the anal cell rarely opening on hind border,
usually more or less acute apically, sessile or provided with a short
stalk, with the first posterior cell very widely opening on hind border
and with the alula much reduced, never broad or lobe-like, more
often very narrow, linear or even vestigial. Legs with long, dense,
and fine bushy hairs on the femora below, denser in gg, without
any spines, with longish hairs on middle and hind tibiae in majority
of $g, usually shorter and less dense, more bristly in 99, with only
1 outer lower row of short separated spines on front tibiae, 1 or 2
rows on middle ones and usually 3 rows on hind ones, of which only
those in outer lower row are distinctly spine-like, with the apical
crown of spines on tibiae rarely long, usually very short, with
the claws sickle-shaped, curved downwards apically, rarely only
slightly curved, with the pulvilli usually well developed, extending
to beyond middle of claws and with the empodium distinctly visible,
with 3 long, apical, bristle-like hairs across apical margin of last
tarsal joint, these rarely very short and inconspicuous. Hypopygvum
of known go (text-figs. 214-217, 219-223 and 227, a) more or less
very uniform throughout, scarcely any specific differences being
present, the basal parts always with an extra lobe-like or flap-lke
part at base, with pubescence present on basal parts, that along
lower outer parts in neck region and towards middle much longer
716 Annals of the South African Museum.
and usually more conspicuous; beaked apical joints claw-like in
shape, laterally compressed, the apical part curved downwards and
pointed in profile (cf. text-figures), appearing broader from in front,
with the outer sides usually punctured, with a crest of hairs along
outer upper part, longer towards base and often with a few longish
ones in punctures along lower outer part as well; aedeagus shaped
as shown in the figures, the apical lobe-like part slightly curved
upwards and very uniform throughout the species, without a ventral
process below at base; ramus on each side joining base of aedeagus
on to sides of basal parts flattened, triangularly broadened, flange-
like (cf. text-fig. 216, b and 216, c); dorsal aedeagal strut or process
on each side on postero-dorsal aspect (cf. text-fig. 216, b) lobe-like
but not prominently projecting on each side of basal strut; basal.
strut, side view, usually shaped as shown in figures.
Key to the South African species.
Known 3d.
1. (32) Wings with 2 submarginal cells; hairs on head below, pectoral, pleural
and ventral regions, on coxae and femora usually not entirely snow
white or pure white, dark or black hair being present on all or some of
these sites or at least on propleurae, coxae and femora (when entirely
whitish, wings at least with only 2 submarginal cells); facial brush, in
the majority of species, ceasing on sides and not extending as dense
erect hairs just behind antennae and, when eee vie round, it is
not very broad behind the antennae . . 2.
2. (11) Wings more distinctly tinged subopaquely yellenish or vollonien to
reddish brown throughout, becoming darker and more yellowish or reddish
anteriorly and basally, with the alula, though small, comparatively well
developed, not absent or very vestigial; antennal joint 3 comparatively
long and thick, gradually broadened towards apex, not being very
markedly broader there than basally, the basal half or two-thirds not
being very slender, with a distinct groove on the inner side, either along
its entire length or at least from about middle to apex; hind tibiae at
least with long pubescence or more conspicuously feathery due to longer,
denser and more numerous hairs; black or dark hairs on genae com-
paratively short, sparse, less developed and less conspicuous, even absent;
facial brush extending round just behind antennae, the front part of
frons thus also with dense and erect hairs. ; 3.
3. (4) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 213, a) comparatively lanes bebaal nips -like,
almost equally broad throughout, only slightly more broadened apically
and grooved on the inner side along its entire length; antennal joint 1
distinctly longer and 1 and 2 combined about equal to space between
eyes on vertex; wings distinctly darker and usually more uniformly
tinged reddish brown, the anterior and basal part being markedly darker
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. T17
reddish brown; bristly hairs on antennal joint 1 above and below
entirely pale, without some dark or blackish intermixed ones
sumplex Wied. (p. 729).
4. (3) Antennal joint 3 (text-figs. 213, 6-227, b) not so markedly long, narrower,
more club-like, the apical half at least distinctly much broader than
basal part, the basal part distinctly narrower and more slender, with the
groove confined to apical half; antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter and
1 and 2 combined distinctly less than length of interocular space on
vertex; wings usually slightly less dark and less uniformly tinged reddish
brown, the anterior part and base usually less vividly reddish brown;
bristly hairs on antennal joint 1 above and below sometimes with a few
intermixed dark ones even if only apically . : ; ioe
5. (10) Hind tibiae and tarsi without a very conspicuous faunas appearance,
the hairs not conspicuously long and dense; palps without conspicuous,
long, blackish or dark hairs and the hairs along midline below base of
proboscis and on head below pale or whitish; proboscis slightly longer,
about 4-5 mm. long; scutellum usually black and when reddish legs
are also reddish; hair in front of wing-bases, at base of thorax, on
scutellum and on basal half and sides of abdomen straw-coloured whitish
or yellowish, pale yellowish to golden yellowish, not deep reddish to
orange golden, with the small tuft of hair below halteres white and with
the squamal fringe also paler and more whitish . 4 4 , Gs
6. (9) Vertex and basal half of frons shining black; antennal joints 1 and 2,
proboscis, scutellum, pleurae and femora very dark blackish brown or
black; wings more distinctly tinged subopaquely reddish brown, the
anterior and basal part being darker reddish brown; antennal joint 3
distinctly more slender in basal part in relation to broad part eo We
7. (8) Hairs above on antennal joint 1 predominantly or entirely whitish, those
on genae predominantly or entirely whitish and with very few black
ones and those on head below predominantly pale or whitish, those on
mesopleuron in front of wing-bases and towards front coxae on pro-
pleurae and also on coxae predominantly or entirely pale or whitish;
hairs on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above (from side) paler and more
straw-coloured whitish or yellowish to sericeous; squamal fringe white;
wings slightly more subopaquely yellowish red
brevicornis n. sp. (p. 731).
8. (7) Hairs above on antennal joint 1 with more numerous black intermixed
ones, those on genae more densely black and those on head below, just
below eyes, conspicuously black, those in form of tuft on middle of
mesopleuron in front of wing-bases and also towards front coxae and
on coxae conspicuously black; hairs on thorax, scutellum and abdomen
above deeper yellowish and more golden especially on sides at base
of abdomen; squamal fringe distinctly with a pale yellowish tint; wings
more greyish hyaline apically and posteriorly, only the costal part and
base being subopaquely yellowish red
Form of brevicornis n. sp. (p. 732).
9. (6) Vertex, frons, face and rest of head shining pale yellowish brown; antennal
joints 1 and 2, proboscis to a certain extent, scutellum, pleurae, the
integument of rest of body to a great extent and the entire legs pale
718
Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish to ochreous brown; wings more subopaquely yellowish white,
the costal and basal parts more subopaquely yellowish; antennal joint 3
slightly stouter in basal part pallidipes n. sp. (p. 733).
10. (5) Hind tibiae and tarsi conspicuously feathery in appearance due to longer
and distinctly denser hairs; palps also feathery due to conspicuous and
longer black hairs and the hairs along midline below base of proboscis
black; proboscis shorter, only about 3 mm. long; scutellum reddish
and femora not pale like tibiae; hair in front of wing-bases, at base of
thorax above, on scutellum and on basal half and sides of abdomen
deeper ochreous or reddish to orange golden, with the small tuft below
halteres yellowish and with the squamal fringe yellow
pennipes Wied. (p. 734).
11. (2) Wings slightly paler, less tinged or infuscated, distinctly more greyishly
12
hyaline, only the costal and basal parts being more subopaquely yellowish
or faintly yellowish red, with the alula markedly reduced, very vestigial
and often almost absent, being linear; antennal joint 3 less developed,
comparatively shorter, distinctly more slender, the apical part usually
rapidly broadened and thus clavate or knob-like enlarged, the basal
part usually slender and rod-like (cf. text-figs. 217, a—-227, 6), not dis-
tinctly grooved on inner side and, when grooved, it is so only along
apical thickened part or apically; hind tibiae distinctly less feathery
in appearance, the hairs being shorter, fewer, less conspicuous and. less
dense; black or dark hairs on genae distinctly denser, longer and more
conspicuous, often very dense and distinct; facial brush extending only
to antennae on each side, the front part of frons not with the same stiff,
erect hairs as in facial brush : 12.
. (27) Legs entirely dark brownish, very dark blackish brown or black, only the
knees and the articulations of tarsal joints being very obscurely paler
13.
. (24) Eyes with the coarser facets in upper two-thirds well marked off from
. (21
)
the very fine ones in lower third; antennal joint 1 usually with numerous
intermixed black hairs above and with a dense black tuft-like group
below; wings with a more distinct yellowish tinge in costal and basal
part, not distinctly tinged milky whitish in certain lights, with the alula
very vestigial, almost absent and only indicated as a narrow margin
or line : ; é : ; : : : : i . 14.
Usually larger forms, about 5-94 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
5-74 mm.; antennal joint 3 becoming more gradually thickened or clavate
apically; facial brush without any intermixed black hairs circumorally;
venter with some or comparatively numerous pale or yellowish hairs
towards apex; wings sometimes with a tendency for second Jongitudinal
vein to be unstable at about its apical third, being kinked there or pro-
vided with a short stump, thus tending to form 3 submarginal cells . 15.
. (18) Greater part of head below, pectoral and pleural regions, including tuft
of hairs below halteres, greater part of venter with predominantly or
entirely black hair and with predominantly or entirely black hair on
legs; antennal joint 1 above with a few or at least some black hairs;
face usually more visibly pale ochreous or yellowish brown . oy, AGS
. (17) Hair on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above deep golden, fulvous to
ies S
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 719
deep orange or reddish golden, especially on abdomen basally and
laterally; face more extensively or rather more visibly pale yellowish
brown or ochreous brown . : nigrupes Wied. (p. 737).
17. (16) Hair on thorax, scutellum anes ahdaial above much paler, almost
whitish, very pale sericeous to straw-coloured whitish or yellowish;
face less distinctly pale yellowish brown and even visibly darker in some
specimens . : : : : : ‘ nigripes Wied. (p. 738).
(Form bipustulata Bezz).
18. (15) Body below not entirely or predominantly black-haired, some hairs on
pleurae, the tuft below halteres, some at base of venter and numerous
intermixed ones on middle and hind femora (all to a variable extent)
pale or whitish and more than apical half of venter with pale yellowish
or pale golden yellowish to reddish yellow hairs; antennal joint 1 above
usually without any black hairs: face usually more darkened or more
brownish when visibly paler than the rest of head : 4 y tS.
19. (20) Hairs on antennal joint 1 below more extensively black; hair on body
above more yellowish, sericeous yellow to yellowish on thorax and
scutellum and more ochreous, fulvous to reddish yellow on abdomen
nigripes Wied. (p. 737).
(Form of it.)
20. (19) Hairs on antennal joint 1 below entirely pale like those in facial brush or
with only 1 or 2 darkish hairs; hair on body above uniformly paler, more
straw-coloured to pale sericeous yellowish . nigripes Wied. (p. 737).
(Form of it.)
21. (14) Slightly smaller forms, about 4-6 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
4-54 mm.; antennal joint 3 distinctly more rapidly thickened or
broadened at apex, more clubbed, the apical part more knob-like;
facial brush more often with some distinct intermixed black hairs circum-
orally; venter below entirely very dark or black-haired, without any
pale hairs even towards apex; wings with the veins towards apex not
unstable . ‘ : : 3 22.
22. (23) Legs and, to a certain patent; venter, Alona and Head Below brownish,
reddish brown to sienna brown; pubescence above more yellowish to
golden yellow, especially on abdomen, that on antennae above with
numerous black intermixed hairs and with the black hair round creamy
facial brush much denser and more conspicuous, black ones being present
even circumorally in brush; wings with a slightly more distinct yellowish
tinge and with the discal cross vein only at about two-thirds, or very
little more, beyond middle of discoidal cell; hind tibiae with more
numerous, at least 5, more conspicuous spines on outer lower aspect
minuscula n. sp. (p. 739).
23. (22) Legs, venter, pleurae and head below entirely black; pubescence above
paler and more pale straw-coloured yellowish, that on antennae above
almost entirely whitish and with the black hair round the more whitish
facial brush less dense and less conspicuous, no visible black intermixed
ones being present circumorally; wings more greyish hyaline and with
the discal cross vein more beyond middle, about three-quarters, of
discoidal cell; hind tibiae with fewer, about 2 or 3, feebler spines on
lower outer aspect. : : ; : montana n. sp. (p. 740).
720
Annals of the South African Museum.
24. (13) Eyes with the facets almost equal in size, the ones in upper part imper-
ceptibly merging into the scarcely smaller ones in lower part and the
upper part thus not obliquely well marked off; antennal joint 1 with
predominantly yellowish hairs above and below, often with only 1 or 2
darkish ones; wings with a distinct, though often faint, subopaquely
milky whitish tinge in certain lights, with the alula, though rudimentary,
still indicated, narrow and strap-like . ; ; .) pe
25. (26) All the bristly hairs in facial brush and hairs on head below on pectoral
and pleural regions and on legs entirely black; wings distinctly, almost
opaquely, tinged milky whitish; eyes with the facets comparatively small
and of equal size, not distinctly and visibly coarser in upper part; antennal
joint 3 (text-fig. 219, b) with the thickened apical part spindle-shaped;
proboscis slightly shorter and stouter, about 2 mm. long
bicolor Bezz. (p. 741).
26. (25) Hairs in facial brush and on head below, excepting only those on genae
and on sides below eyes, pale yellowish white, with the hair on pleural
regions, coxae and middle and hind femora predominantly or entirely
whitish, but with some dark ones intermixed on front femora and only
a few on middle coxae and at base of middle femora; wings with a very
faint, slightly subopaque, whitish tinge; eyes with the upper facets
visibly coarser than the lower ones, into which they merge almost im-
perceptibly; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 220, b) clavate apically, with the
apical thickened part somewhat truncated apically and not spindle-
shaped; proboscis slightly longer, about 3 mm. long.
oneili n. sp. (p. 742).
(Syn. =clavicornis Bezz. nec Wied.)
27. (12) Legs much paler, entirely pale ochreous brown or at least with the tibiae
and basal 3 or 4 tarsal joints paler, pale yellowish or ochreous yellow
28.
28. (29) Legs entirely ochreous brownish or pale sienna brownish; integument
of body, especially frons, antennae, proboscis, posterior calli, scutellum
and pleurae also more or less sienna brownish; antennal joint 2 with a
slight knob-like process or lobe below; dark hairs on genae, frons and
sides of frons slightly pale-tipped and, when viewed from side, with a
distinct, soft, mauvish brown tint and with the dark hairs on body below
and on legs also showing a similar mauvish brown tint and with the hair
on abdomen distinctly tinted fulvous or orange golden
gonucera n. sp. (p. 744).
29. (28) Legs with the femora black or very dark blackish brown and the tibiae
and tarsi pale yellowish or pale ochreous yellow; integument of body
above and below black, the antennae black or with at least joint 3 black
or slightly more reddish; antennal joint 2 without a lobe-like process
below; dark hairs on frons, genae and where present on body below,
distinctly darker and less brownish, not distinctly pale-tipped and the
hair on body above and abdomen paler, more silvery whitish, sericeous
to straw-coloured whitish or yellowish . : - a0l
30. (31) Facial brush very dense, soft creamy whitish, shane sia) stiff sill with a
shorn-off appearance; long hairs on palps, hair on head below, on pro-
sternal region, on coxae and legs and intermixed ones on venter black;
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 721
hair on body above very dense, straw-coloured whitish or creamy whitish
and with a sericeous sheen in certain lights; hair on femora very dense
and also comparatively dense and feathery on hind tibiae; greater part
of face luteous or pale ochreous brownish or yellow; antennal joint 3
black and joint 1 thickened; wings with the anal cell provided with a
short stalk and with the alula narrow but distinct; claws sickle-shaped,
curved downwards from before the middle . —eremobia n. sp. (p. 745).
(Syn. =hirtipes Bezz. nec Wied.)
31. (30) Facial brush comparatively sparse, long and without a distinct shorn-off
appearance, silvery whitish, only the long hairs on genae and frons being
black; hair on head below and body below and on legs entirely silvery
whitish and sparse; hair on body above comparatively sparse, less dense
and longer, silvery whitish; silvery hairs on femora sparse and less dense
and those on hind tibiae not feathery; greater part of face black; antennal
joints (ex descr.) reddish, only the thickened apical part darker and
joint 1 not markedly thickened; wings with the anal cell sessile or opening
very narrowly on hind border, without a stalk, with the alula very
vestigial, indicated as a very narrow margin; claws less sickle-shaped,
rather rapidly curved downwards beyond middle
ruficornis Bezz. (p. 747).
32. (1) Wings with 3 submarginal cells present; hairs on head below, pectoral,
pleural, ventral regions, on coxae and legs entirely frosty white, only
the hair on frons, genae and a few intermixed ones on front femora below
black; facial brush extending comparatively broadly behind antennae
on front part of frons, where the dense facial type of hairs are also con-
spicuously present. : . 33.
33. (34) Erect hairs on vertex and on bella sbeiulé —— delbideda or whitish,
those on basal part of frons predominantly black and with the black
hairs on genae conspicuous and continuous on each side with those on
frons by a row of equally long and conspicuous black ones; hair on
- body above, as well as those on abdomen above, straw-coloured whitish
to sericeous whitish . : : . tricellulata n. sp. (p. 755).
34. (33) Erect hairs on vertex and on beset yellow, those on basal part and
front part of frons also predominantly yellow and with only a very few
intermixed dark ones, with the long black hairs on genae continuous with
the few on frons by a row of much shorter and finer ones; hair on scutellum
and abdomen above discally distinctly deeper sericeous yellow
Form of tricellulata n. sp. (p. 756).
Key to known 99
1. (44) Wings with the anal cell acute apically or sessile on hind border and often
provided with a short stalk, never broadly opening, with the costal cell,
on the whole, distinctly broader and distinctly broader at about middle,
with the axillary lobe broader and more lobe-like; scutellum never
entirely pale yellowish, black in majority of species or sometimes infused
with red discally or posteriorly, with the integument along hind margins
of eyes to vertex not yellow; pubescence on body above usually much
722 Annals of the South African Museum.
shorter and sparser; head with the ocellar tubercle less prominently
raised, with joint 1 always more than 1} times as long as 2 and with the
labella of proboscis distinctly longer and more developed; legs with the
apical spines or spurs on tibiae distinctly shorter, usually not longer than
the other tibial spines, with the claws distinctly more curved downwards,
more sickle-shaped and the pulvilli better developed, with 3 compara-
tively long and conspicuous bristly hairs apically on last tarsal joint
above, about as long as or even longer than the claws . : sean
2. (43) Wings with only 2 submarginal cells present at least on both wings; body
always with some black hairs below and, if nowhere else below, then at
least with numerous and conspicuous black ones on front femora below
from base to apex; genae always with a conspicuous row of black hairs
3.
3. (10) Wings more distinctly tinged subopaquely reddish brown throughout,
becoming darker reddish brown anteriorly and basally, with the alula,
though small, comparatively well developed and not very vestigial or
absent; antennal joint 3 well developed, comparatively long and thick,
only gradually broadened towards apex and not very markedly broader
or clavate there than towards base, the basal part not conspicuously
slender, with a groove on the inner side along its entire length or at least
for a great part of its length; body somewhat broad and squat, with a
marked Tabanid-like appearance, without much long hair above, but
’ with dense punctures on the thorax and abdomen above, each bearing a
very short and fine depressed or erect hair or seta, thus giving the body
a slightly dull appearance; hairs on face and frons short and often scarcely
visible and with the face conspicuously pale yellowish to ivory yellowish,
the yellow extending even behind antennae on front part of frons; last
2 abdominal segments appearing silvery due to denser, slightly longer
and more conspicuous depressed silvery hairs ; 4,
4, (7) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 213, a) broad, strap-like, slnaod equally Hise
throughout and grooved along the entire length of the inner side; antennal
joint 1 longer, much more than half as long as 3 and joints 1 and 2 com-
bined very nearly as long as interocular space on vertex; occiput with a
large, conspicuous yellow spot on each side or sometimes extensively
yellow and with a medial black spot; frons and face with very short
and inconspicuous hairs, appearing bare, only the lower parts with visible
short downy hair; thorax appearing barer from above, but from side,
with the very fine and short hairs in the punctures predominant and
silvery, the longer erect hairs being less evident. . : 2 Og
5. (6) Form with a conspicuous tuft of black hairs on mesopleuron in front of
wing-bases : : simplex Wied. (p. 729).
(Syn. = aries penile Mien and Megapalpus fulviceps Bezz.)
6. (5) Form without a tuft of black hairs on mesopleuron
Form of simplex Wied. (p. 731).
7. (4) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 213, b) slightly less broad, less strap-like, distinctly
broader towards apex than basally, grooved oa the inner side only in
apical half; antennal joint | distinctly shorter, only about half or scarcely
half as long as 3 and with joints 1 and 2 combined only about half as
long as breadth of interocular space; occiput entirely black or with only
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 723
a small, inconspicuous, elongate macula on each side; frons and face
with longer, denser and more conspicuous hairs, those on face, around
buccal cavity, being much denser, longer and very conspicuous, the
circumoral part of face also more distinctly darkened or blackened;
thorax above also with more numerous and distinctly longer, though
sparse, erect silvery hairs in addition to fine silvery bloom-like
pubescence : : : : “f eS:
8. (9) Hair on head below aia long hairs on Seco plbnne in fvomt of wing-bases
and the long ones on sides of abdomen predominantly or entirely whitish
or creamy yellowish, those on sides of abdomen often more fulvous or
golden yellowish : : : . brevicornis n. sp. (p. 731).
9. (8) Band of hair on each side of etd below eyes, some intermixed hairs on
palps, a tuft of long hairs on mesopleuron and conspicuous long intermixed
hairs at base of abdomen laterally black
Form of brevicornis n. sp. (p. 732).
10. (3) Wings distinctly less infuscated, more greyish hyaline, only the costal and
basal parts being tinged yellowish to pale reddish brown, with the alula
much reduced, very narrow, linear and often very vestigial and almost
absent; antennal joint 3 less developed, comparatively shorter, distinctly
more slender, the apical part usually more rapidly broadened or thickened,
more often club-like or knob-like enlarged, the basal part being slender
and rod-like (cf. text-figs. 217-227), not distinctly grooved on inner side
and, if so, the groove is confined to clavate apical part only; body not
markedly broad and Tabanid-like, usually normally pubescent above,
with fairly dense erect hair, the thorax and abdomen not conspicuously
densely punctured and the inconspicuous punctures with the usual long
hairs; hairs on frons and face comparatively long and dense, more like
those of the gg, with the face also not conspicuously luteous or yellow
and the yellow usually not extending behind antennae on front part of
frons; last 2 abdominal segments with the usual long pubescence and
not particularly silvery é : buble
11. (38) Legs entirely dark, very dark reddish oT plockishe brown or black
or at least not with the tibiae pale yellowish, only the knees and tarsal
articulations sometimes obscurely paler ; ; el.
12. (15) Frons distinctly transversely depressed before cellar eee antennal
joint 3 somewhat laterally compressed, with a distinct groove indicated
on inner side of apical part; palps long, usually much longer than the
antennal joints combined . : : : ag:
13. (14) Body above with sparser and AROSE iene hairs on antennae below
and a few above, the short and long hairs on palps, practically all the
hairs on front femora, numerous intermixed ones on middle femora,
those on hind tibiae and numerous and dense intermixed hairs on sides
of abdomen and on venter black; proboscis longer, about 4 mm. long
longipalpis n. sp. (p. 735).
14. (13) Body above with distinctly denser and longer hairs, especially on thorax;
hairs on antennae above and below, all the hairs on palps creamy yellowish,
numerous intermixed hairs on front femora, all those on middle and hind
femora white and those on hind tibiae yellowish golden and with the
dense longish hairs on sides of abdomen, excepting the extreme base,
12
+
Annals of the South African Museum.
fulvous or orange golden and with those on venter mostly pale, becoming
darker only towards apex; proboscis shorter, about 34 mm. long
depressifrons n. sp. (p. 736).
15. (12) Frons if depressed, distinctly not transversely depressed; antennal
joint 3 not much laterally compressed for the greater part of its length
and usually without a distinct groove-like depression on the inner side
of apical part; palps shorter, only about as ie as, more often shorter
than, antennal joints combined . ; x) AM,
16. (23) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 217, w) becoming more orteidvaall thiekeneed or
Vie
18.
20.
21.
22.
clavate apically, the broadened part not well marked off from more
slender basal part which is quite half, or even more than half, as thick
as in apical part, with the coat of minute spinule-like pubescence on apical
part below more distinctly visible and the tubercular prominence of fused
terminal joints more conspicuous; palps below and the head medially
below with only a few sparse intermixed black hairs or with only pale
hairs; wings always more distinctly tinged pale pea. or pale reddish
yellow in costal and basal parts . ; : » Ae
(22) Body below usually with more dark hair; ont, coxae, front femora,
middle femora, sides of abdomen and, to a certain extent, towards apex
of venter and, to a variable extent, with numerous intermixed black
hairs, the front and middle femora being often predominantly or entirely
black-haired : ‘ é 5) Be
(19) Face with a more diffused ale fellowiol Baoien oe aie a tendency for
(18
(21
)
~—
the diffused spot on each side to be continuous across face in front of
antennae; pubescence on body above distinctly more yeliowish, often
deeper yellowish on mesopleuron in front of wings and more golden
yellowish on abdomen above, even more ochreous to orange yellow on
sides of abdomen nigripes Wied. (p. 737).
Face usually with a more ciently desaed yellowish brown or often
smaller yellowish spot on each side; pubescence on body above much
paler, whitish to straw-coloured or sericeous yellowish, even the sides of
the abdomen being paler and not deep yellowish-haired . : +) ZOE
Proboscis distinctly more slender; head below with more numerous
black hairs; mesopleural tuft in front of wings with numerous intermixed
black hairs; antennal joint 3 with the apical half at least more distinctly
thickened and marked off from slender basal part, the thickened part
equally broad throughout and with the fused terminal joints projecting
less forwards. : : . nigripes var. turneri n. (p. 738).
(20) Proboscis comparatively atouter and thicker; head below with much
fewer black hairs, almost predominantly white-haired; mesopleural tuft
without any or with very few intermixed black hairs; antennal joint 3
becoming more gradually clavate or thickened apically, this part not
distinctly marked off, the broadest part being at apex and with the fused
terminal joints distinctly more prominent and lobe-like
nigripes Wied. (p. 738).
(White-haired forms and bipustulata Bezz.)
(17) Body below usually without, or with fewer, dark hairs; coxae, femora,
sides of abdomen and venter with predominantly pale hair, the front
femora, however, may have numerous or even entirely black hairs but
‘A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 725
the other femora usually with entirely whitish hair, the sides of abdomen
with deep ochreous yellow to orange yellow hair and without distinct
black intermixed ones : : . Form of nigripes Wied. (p. 737).
23. (16) Antennal joint 3 (text-figs. 224-226) distinctly more rapidly broadened or
thickened apically, the thickened part distinctly more knob-like or more
clavately marked off from a much slenderer basal part which is usually
distinctly much less than half as thick as clavate apical part, with the
coat of minute spinule-like pubescence below in apical part, if present at
all, not visible and the prominence formed by fused terminal joints not
projecting prominently; palps below and head medially below usually
with very dense and conspicuous black hairs and often entirely black-
haired; wings rarely distinctly tinted but more often greyish hyaline
or almost entirely hyaline, on the costal cell and base being tinged
faintly yellowish : : 5 . 24.
24. (25) Small, somewhat sparse-haired, species, abit 31 3-4 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 4 mm.; antennae, especially joints 1 and 2, the
proboscis, entire face, pleurae and legs more sienna brownish, not entirely
deep black; head below and front legs only with sparse and not conspicu-
ously dense black hairs; antennal joint 3 slightly more gradually clubbed
apically, the apex being more bluntly rounded; proboscis, in relation to
body, comparatively long, quite as long as head and thorax together
karooana n. sp. (p. 748).
25. (24) Usually slightly larger species, more than 4 mm. long and with a wing-
length of more than 4 mm., with distinctly denser pubescence; body
below or at least pleurae and legs distinctly much darker, very dark
blackish brown to deep black; head below, including palps, the front
legs and often also the other legs and venter with dense and conspicuous
black hair; antennal joint 3 (text-figs. 224-226) rapidly dilated, club-
like, ovate or knob-like apically, the basal part being slender and rod-
like and the club more pointed and less bluntly rounded apically;
proboscis comparatively much shorter, much shorter than head and
thorax together . s : : : 2 26.
26. (27) Facial brush norhpanatinels Shion al less shag ggy; hairs on antennal
joints above and below entirely pale or whitish; hairs on pleural regions,
middle and hind femora as well as on venter, sides of abdomen and
abdomen above predominantly pale or whitish, the abdomen above,
towards apex, usually with more straw-coloured hairs and middle femora
often with some intermixed dark hairs; knobs of halteres entirely whitish
namana n. sp. (p. 749).
(Syn. =clavicornis Bezz. nec Wied.)
27. (26) Facial brush slightly, but distinctly, longer and more shaggy; hairs on
antennal joints above and below black or at least with some conspicuous
black ones; hairs on pleurae, femora, sides of abdomen and venter
predominantly black or at least with conspicuous and prominent black
hairs on at least some of these sites, the abdomen (above at least) usually
with more yellowish hair or even with intermixed blackish ones (the body
below, especially on abdomen, usually appearing more distinctly black
owing to more numerous black hairs on venter and sides of abdomen);
knobs of halteres with a tendency to be darkened above and below . 28.
VOL. XXXIV. 47
726 Annals of the South African Museum.
28. (29) Smaller form, about 44 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 4 mm.;
entire head below antennae more or less toffee brownish, the face in
front being distinctly more yellowish and the legs and antennae very
dark reddish brown; pubescence above distinctly deeper yellow, more
golden yellow and the facial brush more fulvous, the hairs on legs en-
tirely dark; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 224, b) very slender, with the
ovate clavate apical part more or less confined to apical fourth
ancepsoides n. sp. (labelled as anceps Bezz. by Bezzi) (p. 750).
29. (28) Larger forms, usually more than 44 mm. long and with a wing-length of
more than 4 mm.; entire head below antennae black, even the face in
front being black or tending to be only obscurely paler, the antennae
and legs entirely black or with at least the femora black; pubescence
above paler, straw-coloured whitish, sericeous yellowish to pale yellowish,
not deeply golden, the facial brush straw-coloured whitish to creamy
whitish or yellowish, the hairs on legs, especially middle and hind femora,
not all black; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 217 and 225-226) less slender,
with the clavate or thickened apical part more than a fourth of length
of joint . : . 30.
30. (37) Legs entirely Dee ona ie A668 fonddine to be eons or reddish brown
in front; imterocular space on vertex broader, subequal to or broader
than length of combined antennal joints; pubescence on body above,
at least on thorax, denser and longer on thorax and abdomen, that on
head below, though also predominantly black, less extensive, not occupy-
ing entire head below, even posteriorly, and not extending even into
lower parts of facial brush; mesopleural tuft always with some inter-
mixed black hairs, the venter with some intermixed pale hairs, the sides
of abdomen, even posteriorly, with numerous or intermixed pale hairs
31.
31. (34) Interocular space comparatively narrower, subequal to length of antennal
joints; antennal joint 3 with the clavate part not markedly broad,
spindle-shaped or spear-head shaped; pubescence on abdomen above
sparse and short, and hairs on head also less dense, the hairs and bristly
hairs on tibiae, especially hind ones, entirely black , F ) ee
32. (33) Proboscis comparatively long and slender, about 3-4 mm. long, quite as
long as head and thorax together; antennal joint 3 with the broadened
apical part quite half as long as more slender basal part and more or less
equally broadened throughout; face paler and brownish; pubescence on
abdomen above more sericeous yellowish and laterally distinctly more
yellowish, the black hairs more concentrated laterally on segments 5
and 6 ; : 3 . nigripes var. turneri n. (p. 738).
Proboscis much shorten abou 1$ mm. long, much shorter than head and
thorax together; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 225, a) with the broadened
apical part only about a third the length of the joint, more fusiform and
the joint more distinctly clavate; face only very indistinctly and
obscurely more brownish, almost entirely black; pubescence on abdomen
above and also on sides paler and more straw-coloured whitish, the
33. (32
—
black hairs laterally more numerous than the pale ones and all along
sides even from segment 2 . : : capensis n. sp. (p. 751).
34. (31) Interocular space on vertex cau enaiinele broader, broader than length
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 727
of antennal joints combined; antennal joint 3 with the clavate or
thickened apical part broader, more distinctly spindle-shaped or spear-
head shaped; pubescence on body above and on akdomen longer and
very much denser and shaggy, the hair on head also denser and the
bristly hairs on hind tibiae above more reddish brown . yoo.
35. (86) Middle and hind femora with entirely or predominantly black hair;
mesopleurae (apart from hairs in tuft) with some black lignes venter
with almost entirely black hair and sides of abdomen with more numerous
black hairs; proboscis shorter, about 2 mm. long; antennal joint 3
(text-fig. 225, b) more spindle-shaped and with the fused terminal joints
more prominent : . campicola n. sp. (p. 752).
36. (35) Middle and hind femora witli re dortiniaantlyy or entirely white hair;
mesopleurae (apart from few intermixed black ones in tuft) with entirely
white hairs; venter with numerous white and yellowish hairs and not
predominantly black-haired, and the sides of abdomen also with dis-
tinetly fewer black hairs; proboscis longer, about 3 mm. long and more
slender; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 226) with the clavate apical part
even more spindle-shaped and with the fused terminal joints not prominent
and lobe-like . f . fusicornis n. sp. (p. 753).
7. (30) Legs with the femora Bleck but ‘the tibiae and tarsi very dark reddish
brown and the face entirely black; interocular space on vertex markedly
narrow and distinctly narrower than combined length of antennal joints;
pubescence on body above, even on thorax, shorter and less dense, that
on abdomen very short and sparse, that on head below entirely or pre-
dominantly black, more extensive, encroaching even into lower parts of
face and on entire head below; mesopleural tuft entirely white, the venter
also with entirely black hair and the abdomen above and often the sides
dark-haired : . dessimilis n. sp. (p. 754).
38. (11) Legs with the femora plack aa ie tibide and tarsi very pale yellowish,
pale ochreous yellow or very pale reddish brown . 59:
39. (40) Tibiae and tarsi reddish brown or dark reddish hoi sda the face
entirely dark or black in front; pubescence above shorter, less dense and
on abdomen comparatively short and sparse, with numerous black hairs
above and below antennal joint 1, with the hair on venter entirely or
predominantly black, that on sides of abdomen aiso predominantly
black and with distinct intermixed, short, black hairs discally on abdomen
above on last few segments; antennal joint 3 distinctly shorter, only
about 2 times as long as joints 1 and 2 combined; wings more distinctly
tinged yellowish : ; : . dissimilis n. sp. (p. 754).
40. (39) Tibiae and tarsi much paler, ziiles yellowish to pale ochreous yellow and
face in front extensively luteous, pale ochreous yellow to pale yellowish
brown; pubescence above distinctly longer, much denser and also long
and dense on abdomen above, without any, or with only a few, intermixed
black bristles apically and with numerous black ones on antennae below
oaly, with the hair on venter not entirely black, that on sides of abdomen
predominantly pale and only with intermixed black ones, the last
| segments discally without any black hairs; antennal joint 3 distinctly
more than 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined; wings distinctly, but
faintly, tinged subopaquely milky whitish . : F 4 . 41.
728
Annals of the South African Museum.
41. (42) Face in front extensively pale ochreous yellow or luteous, the yellow
extending to margins of eyes, with the facial brush more extensive,
denser and shorter and with a more shorn-off appearance, creamy white
and without any black bristles circumorally, without any black bristles
on antennal joints above and with the black ones on genae not continuous
with those on frons; vertex with a pale yellowish brown spot on each
side; pleurae, middle and hind femora with predominantly whitish
hairs, only some of those on middle femora below black; abdomen with
only a few intermixed black bristles on sides posteriorly; slightly larger
form, about 84-9 mm. long . : : eremobia n. sp. (p. 745).
cee =hirtipes Bezz. nec Macq.)
42. (41) Face in front usually darker and less extensively luteous, the yellow not,
or scarcely, reaching eye-margins, with the facial brush less extensive,
less dense, more shaggy, more straw-coloured whitish and always with
a few intermixed black circumoral bristles, with a few black ones on
antennal joint 1 above and with the black ones on genae continuous with
those on frons; vertex entirely black; pleurae, middle and hind femora
with entirely or predominantly black hairs; abdomen with more numerous
and more conspicuous black hairs intermixed on sides; smaller form,
about 6-74 mm. long . : : eremobia var. braunsi n. (p. 747).
43. (2) Wings with 3 submarginal cells constantly present on both wings; body
below entirely with frosty or snow-white hair, even on head below and
femora, only the apical parts of front ones below with some darkish hairs;
genae without any black hairs or with only 1 or 2 slightly darker ones on
the outer side of brush : : . tricellulata n. sp. (p. 755).
4, (1) Wings with the anal cell proadine opening on hind border, with the costal
cell narrower and scarcely broader at middle and with the axillary lobe
distinctly much narrower and less lobe-like; scutellum entirely yellow
and the integument along hind margins of eyes to vertex and head below
as well as entire front half of frons and entire face, genae and head
below yellow; pubescence on body above, on the whole, denser, longer,
and more shaggy; head with the ocellar tubercle distinctly more promi-
nently raised, higher than the eyes, with joint 1 of the antennae shorter,
only about 14 times as long as joint 2 and with the labella of the proboscis
much shorter; legs with the apical spines or spurs on tibiae distinctly
longer, more developed and longer than the rest of the spines, with the
claws less curved downwards apically, less distinctly sickle-shaped, the
pulvilli narrower and less developed and with more than 3 bristly hairs
apically on last tarsal joints above, the 3 longest of which are very much
shorter, less conspicuous and very much shorter than the claws
ochrostoma n. sp. (p. 757).
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 729
C. simplex Wied.
(P. 327, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. i, 1828, Tab. IV, fig. 2 a-d; Bezzi,
p. 74, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
(Syn. =fuscipennis Macq., p. 109, Dipt. Exot., i, Tab. X, fig. 1, 1840
(2);= Megapalpus fulviceps Bezzi, p. 87 and 473, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii, 1921 (9).)
This species, originally described from a single g-specimen by
Wiedemann and taken by him as the genotype of Corsomyza, is
sexually dimorphic to such a marked extent that the
2 has even been described as a Megapalpus by Bezzi
(p. 87, loc. cit.) and as a separate species by Macquart.
Macquart gives quite a satisfactory description and
a good representation of the 9Q-fuscipennis to which
Bezzi referred (p. 74, loc. cit.) and even suspected
to be the 2 of simplex, yet nevertheless proceeded
to describe the same species as Megapalpus fulviceps
on p. 87 in the same paper and, in an appendix, on
p. 473 again reiterates his suspicion. There can be
no doubt that Megapalpus fulviceps, the type of
which is in the South African Museum, is identical
with Macquart’s fuscipennis and that both of them
are synonymous with simplex Wied., of which they (a) (b)
represent the unknown 2. The structure and shape Text-ric. 213.—
of the third antennal joints, the infuscation of the = pe led
wings, the yellowish tibiae and the black tuft of hair simplex _ Wied.
on the mesopleurae are identical with those of the Oy pega
S-simplex. The characteristic strap-like, compressed
and grooved third antennal joints are markedly developed only
in this species.
The chief distinguishing characters of this species are:—The wings
are tinged more or less uniformly subopaquely reddish or reddish -
brown, being darker reddish brown in costal cell, bases of marginal
and first submarginal cells, first basal cells, to a certain extent in
second basal cell and at base in both sexes. Head relatively broad,
appearing markedly broad in 99, with the facial brush fine and
dense, creamy yellowish in 33, composed of very minute, scarcely
discernible, hairs in 92, the entire face in 9° thus bare and ivory
yellowish, with some slightly longer hairs visible lower down and
with long ones on head below; frons shining black in basal half in
730 Annals of the South African Museum.
29 and also with very short black hairs; occiput in 99 with a large
diffuse yellow spot enclosing a smaller black spot or with a yellowish
spot on each side; antennae long and with antennal joint 3 (text-fig.
213, a, right one of 2) characteristic, somewhat laterally compressed,
strap-like, gradually broadened apically, slightly excavate apically
and also with a groove on the inner side from base to apex, with
antennal joints 1 and 2 combined about as long as interocular space
in $g and very nearly as long as this space in 99, joint 1 in 99 appar-
Trxt-Fic. 214.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of g Corsomyza simplex Wied.
ently slightly longer than in gg, somewhat scabrous and with the
hairs short and poorly developed. Bcdy above in gd with fine,
dense, shaggy, straw-coloured yellowish to deep golden or orange-
golden hair, especially on sides of abdomen, in 99 comparatively
bare, the integument being markedly punctured and each puncture
with a minute whitish hair, which hairs on thorax are silvery when
viewed from side, the punctures on abdomen giving it a rough appear-
ance and the minute depressed hairs mostly dark, only those on last
2 segments longer and more silvery; scutellum in 99, however, with
some long, dark and whitish, erect bristly hairs posteriorly; sides
of thorax, base of abdomen laterally and extreme sides of abdomen
below in 99 with snow-white to dull creamy whitish hair, with or
without a mesopleural tuft of black hairs in front of wing-bases in
both sexes; pleural parts with sparse, whitish hair in 99 and also
predominantly pale or whitish in gg; coxae, femora and hind
tibiae with very dense, fine, black hairs in gd, sparser and less
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 731
conspicuous in $9; tibiae and tarsi in both sexes pale yellowish
brown to yellowish, only the last, or last 2, tarsal joints dark,
the femora in $2 also with denser and more obvious fine short
hairs.
The species seems to vary slightly, some ¢¢ being paler and less
orange golden-haired than others and some ¢¢ and 9° have entirely
white hair on the mesopleuron in front and below the wing-bases and.
the yellow spots on occiput in 9? also vary in size and extent. The
2° have a marked superficial resemblance to some Tabanids and are
more often seen on the flowers of Compositae.
The hypopygivum of the ¢g (text-fig. 214) with fairly conspicuous
hairs on dorsum of basal parts; beaked apical joints claw-shaped,
laterally compressed, punctured, on sides, with the short bristly
hairs more or less confined posteriorly above and tuft-like, with the
beak sharp from side but less sharp from in front; aedeagus, as shown
in figures, the apical part blunt and slightly directed upwards, with
the dorsal aedeagal struts not visibly projecting, only visible from
obliquely below middle part; lateral struts with the apical part
slightly directed flap-like downwards.
Length of body: about 6-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-10 mm.
Locality—W. Cape Province and Olifant’s River Valley to
Namaqualand. (In the Transvaal and South African Museums.)
5 3S 9 99 C. brevicornis n. sp.
(Syn.=semplex Bezzi nec Wied.).
This species, of which a 9 from Port Nolloth in Namaqualand was
labelled as semplex by Bezzi, so closely resembles simplex that an
enumeration of the differences will suffice: Pubescence on body
above in gd usually slightly paler, the hair on frons, antennal joint
1 and face in 99 much longer, denser and more conspicuously
developed, though still less so than in other species, that on front
part of frons and on face white in 99, duller whitish to creamy in
33; face in 99 less extensively yellow, a definite dark or black infusion
being present on each side of buccal cavity; occiput in 92 without
any yellow spots or with only a small and insignificant spot on each
side; antennae distinctly shorter, antennal joint 1 being distinctly
shorter and joints 1 and 2 combined distinctly less than breadth of
interocular space in gg and only about half, or scarcely half as long
as width of interocular space in 9? (nearly as long as width of space
732 Annals of the South African Museum.
in 9-simplex), with antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 213, b, right one of 9)
slightly less strap-like, distinctly more broadened from middle to
apex and grooved on the inner side only from about the middle to
apex and with or without some intermixed blackish hairs near apex
above and below on joint 1 in gg; thorax above in 92 with more
numerous and longer erect hairs in addition to fine, very short and
bloom-like, silvery ones and hairs on sides and in front of wing-bases
long as in the $¢, but whiter or paler white to creamy yellowish,
that on sides of abdomen in 992 long and whitish to pale yellowish as
in 9-semplex and also with the short, depressed hairs on last two
segments above silvery or pale sericeous yellowish; wings tending ©
to be slightly less deeply tinged reddish brown or yellowish; coxae
in $g predominantly white-haired or with a tendency to have more
intermixed pale or whitish hairs. Hypopygium of 3 like that of
simplex (cf. text-fig. 214) but with slightly less conspicuous hairs on
basal parts, with the beaked apical joints slightly more slender
towards apex from side, thus apparently more sharply pointed.
The species seems to show the same variations as simplex. A 3
from Van Rhynsdorp and a 9 from the Western Province differ from
the types in that in the ¢ the pubescence above is deeper yellowish
and more golden, with more numerous black hairs above on antennal
joint 1, those on genae and on head below, just below eyes, more
conspicuously black, the hair on mesopleuron in front of wings with
a conspicuous tuft of black ones, with the wings slightly less tinged
towards apex and along hind border and the squamal fringe more
yellowish; 9 with apparently more shaggy and longer hair on face,
with the hair on body above also more sericeous yellowish on thorax
* and distinctly more golden yellowish, not whitish on sides of abdomen,
with the hair on head below, on each side just below eyes, that on
frons and tubercle and those in a tuft on mesopleuron black as in 3,
with distinct black hairs basally on each side of abdomen in both
sexes but more conspicuous in ? and with comparatively more dark
hairs on middle and hind femora.
Holotype in the British Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum and paratypes in the Albany and Transvaal Museums.
Length of body: about 6-104 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-11 mm.
Length of proboscis: about 4-5 mm.
Locality.—W. Cape Province: Cape Flats; Rapenberg (Turner,
1-14/10/20) (Holotype); Cape Town (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1929) (Allo-
type); Stellenbosch (Brauns, Sept. 1915); Somerset West (Hesse,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 733
Sept. 1927). N.W. Cape Province: Port Nolloth (Lightfoot, 1889);
Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, Sept. 1928). S.E. Karoo: Willowmore
(Brauns, 10-15/8/21). E. Cape Province: Uitenhage: Kariega
(Webber); Grahamstown (Daly and Sole, Sept. 1913).
1 3 C. pallidipes n. sp. f
Integument of entire head, pleurae and pectoral regions, scutellum,
sides of abdomen and the venter more or less yellowish brown, the
head being more ochreous brown; antennal
joints 1 and 2 and legs pale ochreous
yellowish, inclining to pallid yellowish,
only the last tarsal joint being black;
proboscis brownish and palps pallid; eyes
brownish; pubescence whitish behind
ocellar tubercle, in facial brush, on head
below, lower parts of pleural regions and
on venter below, pale sericeous yellowish
on thorax in front above, appearing almost
whitish from in front, golden yellow on
towards base of thorax above, on scutellum
and abdomen above, becoming slightly
deeper yellow in certain lights on sides
of abdomen, more creamy yellowish on
mesopleuron in front of wings, with
(0)
; : TExt-Fig. 215.—(a) Side view
the hairs on sides of vertex, on frons, of hypopygium of ¢ Corso-
on antennal joint 1 above, on genae and 9 ™y2a_pallidipes n. sp. (6)
i Antenna of ¢ of same species.
extending to below eyes, on palps, some
intermixed ones in mesopleural tuft, those at extreme base of
abdomen on segment 1 laterally, those on coxae, femora and
tibiae dark brownish, those on frons slightly more blackish brown;
wings subopaquely yellowish, with a distinct pale yellowish brown
tinge, the costal cell and base being more yellowish, with the
veins pale yellowish, the alula, as in simplex and brevicornis narrow
and parallel but yet well developed for this genus, with the squamal
fringe whitish; halteres yellowish and with white knobs. Head
with the upper coarser facets of eyes more or less confined to slightly
more than the upper half and distinctly marked off from the finer
ones below; antennae with joint 3 (text-fig. 215, b, right one) longer
than | and 2 combined, gradually broadened towards apex, somewhat
laterally compressed, grooved on the inner side from about the
734 Annals of the South African Museum.
middle to apex; proboscis slender and about 4 mm. long. Legs
with the short spinule-like hairs on femora, apart from the long hairs,
dense and conspicuous as in other species of the simplez-group.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 215, a) like that of simplex (cf. text-fig. 214).
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10 mm.
Length of wing: about 85 mm.
Locality.—Without any locality label but presumably from the
S. Cape Province.
C. pennipes Wied.
(P. 328, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828; Bezzi, p. 75, Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921, Pl. I, fig. 14; Paramonow, p. 120, Trav.
Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 11, 1931.)
The single g-specimen before me is the specimen referred to by
Bezzi in his monograph of the South African Bombyliidae. There is a
(4) (5) (c)
TExT-FIG. 216.—(a) Side view of beaked apical joint of hypopygium of ¢
Corsomyza pennipes Wied. (b) Side view, and (c) ventral view of aedeagal
complex of 3 Corsomyza pennipes Wied.
suspicion that the type of Wiedemann, judging from his description,
is alsoa 3. In this genus hairiness of the femora and especially the
hind tibiae is more strongly and conspicuously developed in the 33
and the pubescence on body above, if vividly coloured, is usually
much paler in the 99. The ¢ of this species is easily distinguishable
from 33 of other species in this series by the very deep reddish or
orange golden pubescence in front of the wing-bases, on disc of thorax
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. ‘ 735
towards the base, on the scutellum and in basal half of abdomen, the
black-haired palps and the black hairs on each side of lower part of
buccal cavity, the comparatively short proboscis (about 3 mm. long),
the predominantly pale hairs on the coxae, especially the middle
and hind ones and the very conspicuous feathery nature of the hairs
on hind tibiae and tarsi. Hypopygium (text-fig. 216, a, 6 and ec)
with the beaked apical joints (a) slightly more arched, and the apical
part more slender and pointed than in simplex and pallidipes:
aedeagus (lateral view (6) and ventral view (c)) shown separately,
with the apex blunt and also showing the posterior aedeagal struts
on each side and the lateral ramus on each side and which is joined
on to the basal parts in the intact hypopygium ‘and which is also
connected to a flange-like flap on each side dorsally.
Locality —Cape Province and probably Western Cape Province.
1 2 C. longipalpis nu. sp.
Body, including legs, black; face in front on each side of buccal
cavity and to a certain extent lower part of face and genae obscure
brownish yellow; facial brush, tuft of long hairs on each side of thorax
in front of wings creamy yellowish, with the hairs on ocellar tubercle,
some antero-laterally on pronotum, intermixed ones on lower parts of
mesopleuron, on coxae and on hind femora whitish, those on sides of
tubercle, on frons, genae, predominantly on head below, the numerous
intermixed ones on antennal joint 1 above and below, the short and
long ones on palps, on lower parts of pleurae, on front and middle
femora and intermixed ones on hind ones towards apex black;
pubescence on thorax and abdomen above short and sparse, that on
thorax in form of fine, depressed, pale brassy hairs and sparse, com-
paratively short, erect, straw-coloured yellowish or sericeous hairs in
certain lights, that on abdomen discally above very sparse and short,
golden yellowish, the greater part of abdomen thus appearing smooth,
only the last two segments with slightly more depressed or slightly
denser brassy to golden pubescence in addition to short dark ones on
last segment, with the long ones on sides of abdomen at base composed
of intermixed yellowish and whitish ones, those on sides of segments
4-6 predominantly black but with some pale and yellowish ones
intermixed, with the sparse ones on venter towards apex black;
wings greyish hyaline, but with a very faint yellowish tinge, with
the costal cell and across to base being more distinctly subopaquely
yellowish, with the veims yellow, becoming darker in apical part,
736 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the alula very vestigial and only indicated as a narrow line,
with a tendency for the second longitudinal vein to be unstable at
about the apical third, where it is kinked, tending to give off a stump,
with the opaquely whitish squamae brown-bordered and entirely
fringed with white; halteres pale brownish yellow, with almost
white knobs. Head with a distinct transverse depression from eye
to eye across basal half of frons in front of tubercle, with a tendency
for frons to be slightly longitudinally, but divergently, striate or
wrinkled, especially in the transverse depression; antennae with
joint 3 somewhat laterally compressed, not very much broadened
apically, sightly more than 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined and
with a distinct groove on inner side in about the apical third; pro-
boscis about 4 mm. long; palps comparatively long, longer than the
antennal joints combined.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 62 mm.
Locality — Western Cape Province: Stellenbosch (v. Heerden,
29/10/31).
This species and the following one are distinguished from all other
species (92) by the presence of a distinct transverse depression across
frons, this depression not being merely medial as in other species.
This 2 also shows a relationship with the 99 of simplex and brevicornis
in the comparatively smooth nature of the body above and the
grooved third antennal joints.
1 2 C. depressifrons n. sp.
Body, including legs, entirely black; face in front and also lower
part dull yellowish brown; pubescence with the hair on antennal
joint 1 above and below, in facial brush, on palps, head below, sides
of thorax in front of wings and at base of abdomen creamy yellow,
that on ocellar tubercle, on pleurae, pectus, extreme base of venter,
on coxae, intermixed ones on front femora and all those on middle
and hind ones whitish, the frontal hairs and those on genae, some on
extreme sides below eyes, some on last tergite and sternite and the
intermixed ones on front femora black, that on thorax above fairly
dense, composed of numerous shorter, erect ones and sparser longer
ones and all sericeous yellow, becoming more yellowish towards base,
those on scutellum dense and more yellowish, those on abdomen
discally sparser than on thorax, composed of longish, erect, golden
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 737
ones, becoming paler towards base and finer, shorter, slightly denser,
depressed ones towards apex and with the long ones on sides of
abdomen, segments 2-5, deep orange yellowish, becoming paler
laterally on venter, with the hairs and bristly hairs on hind tibiae
above and laterally yellowish golden; wings greyish hyaline, with a
faint yellowish tinge, the costal, basal half of first basal ceil and base
more distinctly subopaquely yellowish, with the veins brownish, the
third longitudinal vein, costal vein and fifth longitudinal vein more
yellowish, with the alula very narrow and the dark-bordered squamae
fringed with whitish hairs; halteres yellowish and with whitish knobs.
Head with a distinct transverse depression across basal half of frons
and also with a tendency for frons to show longitudinal wrinkles
or striae laterally; proboscis about 3 mm. long; palps long, a little
more than half as long as proboscis.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 72 mm.
Locality — W. Cape Province: Olifant’s River Valley; Clanwilliam
(Brauns, Sept. 1928).
C. ngripes Wied.
(P. 328, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828; Loew, p. 198, Dipt. Faun.
Siidafr., i, 1860; Bezzi, p. 75, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, and
pp. 105-106, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
(Syn. = Lasioprosopa bigotiz Macq., p. 83, Dipt. Exot. Suppl. v, 1855,
ape iNitie. 1h: Bez p15, loc. cit. and p. 103, loc. cit.; 9 =
clavicorms Wied., p. 329, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828;
Loew, p. 199, loc. cit. in note.)
The species has been fully and adequately described by Loew. It
is chiefly recognised by the entirely black legs and the third antennal
joints (text-fig. 217, a, right one of 2) which are not flattened and
strap-like and grooved as in the simplex-series nor distinctly clavate,
being less rapidly and more gradually broadened in apical part, where
the fine spinule-like pubescence below is also more distinct and visible
in the 99 at least. The second longitudinal vein has a tendency to
be unstable at about its apical third, where there is often a slight
kink or even a short stump and the vein separating marginal and
submarginal cells in some forms also has the tendency to be stumped
at its bend near the base, thus tending to form 3 submarginal cells,
with the alula much reduced, vestigial and very narrow. The species
738 Annals of the South African Museum.
is distinctly variable in the colour of the pubescence and quite possibly
more forms exist than are separated in the key. The hypopygium
of the 3 (text-fig. 217, b) like that of simplex (cf. text-fig. 214), but
with the beaked apical joints more slender apically, the beak being
more slender; basal parts with much hair in neck region; aedeagus
with a slightly shorter apex and
with the basal strut narrower
and shorter.
Locality.— Western Cape Pro-
vince, Karoo and Namaqualand.
(In the Transvaal, British, Albany
and South African Museums.)
The species C. bipustulata Bezz.
(p. 106, The Bombyliidae of the
Ethiopian Region), according to
the description, appears to be
only a very pale-haired variety
or form of mngripes, and Lasio-
prosopa bigot Macq., as has
already been stated by Bezzi, is
Trxt-ric. 217.—(a) Antenna of 2 Corso- also synonymous with mgripes.
a ae Roney of A careful comparison of the 9
of nigripes with the description
of Wiedemann’s clavicornis (p. 329, loc. cit.) supports Loew's
contention that the supposed 3-clavicornis is in reality a 9 agreeing
with nigripes. Wiedemann as well as Macquart and Bezzi were
not quite sure about the sex of their species in this genus. The
33, however, are so typical and distinct that no confusion is possible
when a series of both sexes is present. The specimens, labelled by
Bezzi as clavicornis Wied., are separate and distinct species, not
agreeing with Wiedemann’s description of clavicornis nor with
nigrivpes.
1 2 C. mgripes var. turneri n.
This specimen so closely resembles white-haired forms of nagripes
and yet showing distinct differences that it can be considered as a
distinct variety. It differs from the various colour-forms of mgripes
in having the third antennal joints more or less equally broad in the
broader apical half, which is also more marked off from the more
slender part, a comparatively long and slender proboscis, about 3 mm.
long, with slightly more numerous intermixed black hairs on head
.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 739
below and slightly more numerous intermixed black ones in meso-
pleural tuft in front of wings. The rest of the pubescence is as
follows:—Facial brush straw-coloured whitish, the hair on middle
femora composed of numerous black and some intermixed white ones
and that on hind femora predominantly whitish, that on thorax above
also straw-coloured yellowish, paler in front and on sides, more
sericeous yellow on disc and on scutellum, where the longer ones are
distinctly yellowish, that on abdomen above very sparse and short,
sericeous yellowish, longer and distinctly more yellow on sides,
becoming much longer and more golden yellowish on sides of first
segment and with numerous black hairs, tuft-like, on sides of segments
5 and 6 and shorter ones apically.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 53 mm.
Length of wing: about 55 mm.
Locality.—S.E. Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, Sept. 1921).
3 3d C. minuscula n. sp.
Body black above; face and head below, proboscis, pectoral and
pleural regions very dark toffee brown to blackish brown, the face in
front often slightly more yellowish brown; antennal
joints 1 and 2, palps and legs dark reddish brown
or castaneous brown to blackish brown; facial
brush very pale yellowish white to pale yellowish
and with some intermixed black hairs above buccal
cavity and along its sides; pubescence with the
hairs on ocellar tubercle in front, on frons, very
densely on genae, on lower part of face, head below,
on palps, those comparatively densely intermixed
on antennal joint 1 above and below, on the entire
body below, on posterior and lower part of meso-
pleural tuft in front of wings, sides of abdominal ppyq- me. 218.—
segment 1, the sides of the other segments and Antenna of $'Cor-
on the legs very dark blackish brown to dull black, a peviculs
but sometimes with a slight mauvish tint, with the
hair on posterior part of tubercle, thorax above, scutellum and abdomen
above yellowish, that on thorax often slightly paler, but that on thorax
and abdomen usually more golden yellow to deep golden and even
orange golden; wings comparatively feeble, very feebly tinged
yellowish, more greyish hyaline, with the costal and basal parts
740 Annals of the South African Museum.
more yellowish, with the veins yellowish brown or yellowish, the alula
very vestigial, very narrow and almost absent and the squamae dull
whitish and fringed whitish; halteres pale yellowish brown to brown-
ish, with dirty yellowish to pale yellowish brown knobs. Head with
the pubescence comparatively long and shaggy, with the coarser
facets above on slightly more than upper half, well marked off from
the finer lower ones; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 218, right one) about
2, or a little more, times as long as 1 and 2 combined, distinctly
clavate, the thickened apical part rapidly broadened and marked off
from the slender basal part, the apex somewhat obliquely truncated
and the tubercle, formed by fused terminal joints, usually fairly
prominent; proboscis slender, comparatively long, about 23-4 mm.
long. Hypopygvum like that of nigripes but smaller, with the hairs
on basal parts less conspicuous in neck region and with the apical
spout-like part of aedeagus slightly longer, more slender and sharper
when viewed from side.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-53 mm.
Locality.—Western Cape Province: Somerset West (Hesse, Sept.
1927) (Type). Unlabelled specimens, presumably also from the
Western Cape.
This species is recognised by its small size, its dark reddish brown
body below and legs, the dense and conspicuous black hairs on the
genae and the black hair below. From the g-anceps Bezz. (p. 106,
The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region) it differs, according to
the description, in having the face in front more or less yellowish
brown, antennal joint 3 markedly and distinctly clavate apically,
more brownish proboscis and palps, entirely black-haired pleurae
and venter, etc. From small specimens of nigripes it differs in being
entirely black-haired below, by the longer and more slender pro-
boscis, the distinctly clavate third antennal joints and dark brownish
or reddish brown legs and pleurae.
1 3 C. montana n. sp.
This unique g-specimen is very close to minuscula, from which it
differs in the following points:—Pubescence above on thorax paler,
more pale straw-coloured yellowish, that on abdomen also less
yellowish, that on face whiter, with fewer or without any black
intermixed hairs on antennal joint 1 above and apparently without
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 741
any intermixed black hairs circumorally on face; integument of
face in front much darker and the proboscis, head below, pleurae and
legs entirely black; wings as in minuscula, but apparently even
more greyish hyaline, with the discal cross vein ever slightly more
beyond the middle of discoidal cell, quite at apical three-quarters
(about apical two-thirds in mimuscula); legs with much fewer and
feebler spicules or spines on middle and hind tibiae, the hind ones
with only 2 or 3 visible spines on outer lower side (at least 5 in minus-
cula) and none on inner aspect; antennal joint 3 as in minuscula and
the proboscis as slender, about 2 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 44 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality W. Cape Province: Tulbagh Distr.; Sneeuwgat Valley,
alt. 3000-4000 ft. (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1934).
C. anceps Bezz.
(P. 106, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
A careful comparison of Bezzi’s description with small specimens
of nigripes raises a suspicion that anceps is only a small variety or
form of nigripes, in which there is a tendency for the tibiae to be
slightly more dark reddish, due to a slight translucency in a small
specimen. The fact that the third antennal joints are broadened
apically to the same extent, that the wings show the same instability
on the veins separating the marginal and submarginal cells and thus
tending to show 3 submarginal cells, and the yellowish hair towards
upper parts of pleurae seems to support this suspicion. The supposed
2 of anceps, from Namaqualand and referred to on p. 78 (Ann. 8. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921), is not nigripes and also does not agree with
Bezzi’s description of his anceps s. str.
C’. bicolor Bezz.
(Ee vic. Ann. oeotar Mus. vol. xvii, 1921.)
The chief characters of this yellow-haired species are the entirely
black facial brush, the tufts of yellow hair on antennal joint 1 above
and below, the entirely black hair on pectoral and pleural regions and
on legs, the entirely deep ochreous or fulvous-haired abdomen, even
on venter, the almost opaquely milky whitish wings, the almost
VOL. XXXIV. 48
742 Annals of the South African Museum.
equal size of facets of eyes, there being no visible line of division and
the characteristic antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 219, b, right one) the
TEXT-FIG. 219.—(a) Side view of hypopygium of 3 Corsomyza bicolor Bezz.
(5) Antenna of 3 of same species.
apical part of which is very distinctly spindle-shaped. Hypopygium
as shown in text-fig. 219, a.
Locahity.— Namaqualand.
1 g C. oneila n. sp.
(Syn. =-clavicorms Bezz. nec Wied., p. 77, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921.)
As was suspected by Loew (p. 199, Dipt. Faun. Sidafr., 1, 1860,
footnote) and also referred to under nigripes in this paper, the g-
clavicornis of Wiedemann (p. 329, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828)
is doubtfully distinct from the 2 of mnegripes. This 3-specimen,
referred to clavicornis by Bezzi, does not agree with Wiedemann’s
description of a 9-nigripes and is in fact an entirely different species,
with certain distinct characters, necessitating a separate specific
status and the following redescription :—
Body black; head with the greater part of the face castaneous
brown, the face in front more distinctly yellowish brown; legs very
dark blackish brown; pubescence with the hair on ocellar tubercle,
that on antennal joint 1 above and below, that on entire face and on
greater part of head below pale yellowish, that on frons, a few on
sides of vertex, that on genae, some intermixed ones on palps, on
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 748
sides below eyes, predominantly on front coxae and femora, some
intermixed ones on middle coxae and bases of middle femora, a few
intermixed ones on mesopleuron in front of wings and some shortish
ones on sides of first abdominal segment black, that on thorax and
scutellum above yellow, that in mesopleural tuft tending to be more’
creamy yellow or whitish, that on abdomen above more fulvous or
deep ochreous yellow, especially on the sides, with the hair on head
below posteriorly, on propleural part,
on mesopleurae, intermixed ones on
front coxae and bases of front femora,
predominantly on middle legs and
entirely on hind coxae and femora
and the sparse ones on venter white,
the hair on hind tibiae, however,
blackish brown; wings slightly grey-
ish hyaline, with a scarcely perceptible
faint tinge of yellowish, the yellow
more distinct in costal cell, first basal
cell and base, with the veins yellowish,
becoming very slightly darker towards
the extreme apical parts, with the
alula rudimentary, very narrow, but
slightly more distinct thanin mgripes, nove oa. 920). Side view of
with the whitish opaque squamae hypopygium of & Corsomyza
entirely fringed with white; halteres "#7 n. sp. (6) Antenna of 3 of
: 4 same species.
yellowish, with paler knobs. Head ©
with the facets almost imperceptibly coarser in upper half, not
distinctly or visibly marked off from the slightly finer lower ones;
antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 220, b) about 12 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, with the broadened apical part markedly clavate and
well marked off from the very slender and rod-like basal part; pro-
boscis about 3 mm. long. Hypopygium as shown in text-fig. 220, a.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 54 mm.
Locality. E. Cape Province: Dunbrody (O’ Neil, 1902).
The 3 of this species shares with the ¢ of bicolor the character of
having no clear delimitation between coarser upper facets and finer
lower ones on the eyes, the facets themselves being almost of equal
size in bicolor and only very slightly coarser in upper half in the case
of oneilu. Further distinguishing characters are given in the key.
744 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 g C. gonucera nu. sp.
Integument of body more or less dark sienna or castaneous brown-
ish, the frons shining dark sienna brownish, the posterior calli and
scutellum dull brownish and the thorax and abdomen above more
blackish brown, the pleurae also sienna brownish, with the antennae,
palps, proboscis and legs ochreous brownish and the face in front
extensively paler ochreous or yellowish brownish; pubescence with
the hair on sides of tubercle,
on frons, densely on genae, that
on outer sides of facial brush,
intermixed ones on palps, that
on head below, intermixed ones
in mesopleural tuft, on lower
parts of pleurae, in the small
tuft below halteres, at extreme
base of abdomen, on venter
basally and on the coxae and
legs soft, dark brownish, shghtly
paler - tipped and, in certain
lights, with a distinct mauvish
brown tint, that on antennal
joint 1 above and below and
Trxt-ric. 221.—(a) Side view of hypo- in facial brush dense and long,
pygium ot g Corsomyza gonucera 0. Sp. soft pale yellowish, inclining to
(b) Antenna of 3 of same species.
creamy yellowish in certain
lights, with the shorter pubescent hairs transversely across frons in
front more whitish, with the hair on body above soft yellowish, that
on tubercle with more whitish gleams, that on thorax silky yellowish,
that on abdomen distinctly more fulvous or orange golden and with
pale golden yellowish gleams, the orange golden more apparent
towards the bases of the individual hairs, with the hair on venter
more whitish, becoming more yellowish apically; wings greyish
hyaline, but with a faint subopaque whitish tinge, the costal and basal
parts more distinctly tinged yellowish, with the veins pale yellowish,
the alula very vestigial and almost absent, with the opaquely whitish
squamae fringed with white; halteres yellowish, with whitish knobs.
Head with the coarser facets in upper two-thirds of eyes distinctly
marked off from the finer ones below; antennae with joint 3 (text-
fig. 221,65) slender, the gradually thickened apical part laterally
compressed, markedly obliquely truncated and there obliquely sub-
A Revision of the Bombylitdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 745
suleate, with joint 2 produced below into a knob-like or lobe-like
process on the inner side (cf. text-fig. 221, bin the middle); proboscis
slender, about 34 mm. long. Hypopygium as shown in text-fig.
221, a.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 74 mm.
Length of wing: about 74 mm.
Locality.— Without a locality-label, but probably from Namaqua-
land.
Easily distinguished from all other species by the soft yellowish
pubescence on body above, mauvish brown pubescence below, sienna
brown integument, ochreous brown legs and the more distinct lobe-
like prominence on antennal joint 2 below.
2 $$ 12 C. eremobia n. sp.
(Syn. =hirtipes Bezz. nec Macq., p. 76, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921.)
Bezzi referred a § and a Q of this species to Macquart’s hirtipes
(p. 109, Dipt. Exot., 1, 1840). These specimens, however, differ
from Macquart’s description in that the palps are not yellowish, the
beard is not whitish and the posterior femora below, in ¢ at least,
not predominantly white-haired. Moreover, this species is a Nama-
qualand form and not likely to have been collected or obtained by
Serville. Macquart himself is not sure of the sex of his specimen and
compared it with the ¢ of pennipes Wied., confusing the feathery
pubescence on the hind tibiae of the latter with the white hairs on
the hind femora of his hirtipes. As white hair on the hind femora is
more common in the 99 of several species, it is probable that hartipes
is a 2 of a species with reddish tibiae.
Body black; face in both sexes extensively pale ochreous yellow or
luteous, the head below, however, black, the vertex in the Q-allotype
with a small yellowish macula on each side; legs with the tibiae and
tarsi yellowish, only the last tarsal joint black and the apical parts
of the tibiae often slightly darkened; pubescence with the hairs in
the facial brush short, dense, creamy whitish and with a distinct
shorn-off appearance, with the hairs on frons, excepting only the
shorter pubescent white hairs in front in 3, a few intermixed hairs
on antennal joint 1 above in 3, more numerous ones below, the long
hairs on palps, those on genae and all the hair on head below, those
on propleural and prosternal parts, some on pleurae in g, the small
746 Annals of the South African Museum.
tuft below halteres in 3, the hair on venter, those on front coxae and
femora, on middle and hind legs in g and some intermixed ones on
middle femora and also on hind ones in 2 as well as hairs on hind
tibiae in both sexes black, with the hairs on mesopleurae, in the tuft
below halteres and numerous intermixed ones on middle and hind
femora in 2 whitish, with the hair on ocellar tubercle sericeous whitish,
that on body above comparatively dense, with a slight shorn-off
appearance, straw-coloured yellowish to pale sericeous yellowish and
with whitish sericeous gleams,
that on sides of abdominal
segment 1 and some intermixed
ones on the other segments
black in both sexes, some inter-
mixed ones on venter being
also whitish; wings almost
hyaline, with a feeble milky
white tinge in certain lghts,
shightly tinged yellowish in
costal cell, first basal cell and
base, with the veins, especially
costal and first longitudinal,
yellow, the others even very
(a) (6) pale yellowish, with the alula
TEXxtT-FIG, 222.—(a) Side view of hypopygium narrow, but slightly broader
OFS of cena cramer seh) Tes and more developed
the mnigripes-series, with the
opaquely whitish squamae white-fringed; halteres pale yellowish
brown in g and more yellowish in 9, with the knobs entirely whitish
in @ but with a slightly brownish infuscation above and below in dg.
Head with the coarser facets in slightly less than upper two-thirds
of eyes in ¢ well marked off from the finer lower ones; antennae with
joint 1 comparatively thickened and antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 222, b
of 2) slender, comparatively long, more than 2 times as long as
1 and 2 combined, the slender part long and the apical clavate part
well marked off, more spear-blade shaped in 2; head below with
conspicuously dense and bristly hairs and fairly long hairs below
base of proboscis and on palps, these hairs projecting forwards
beyond facial brush; proboscis comparatively stoutish and short,
about 3mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 as shown in text-fig. 222, a.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 83-9 mm.
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. TAT
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locahity.—_ Namaqualand: P.N. (Port Nolloth) (Holotype); Port
Nolloth (Lightfoot, Aug. 1890) (Allotype).
This species can be easily distinguished, from other species with
yellow tibiae, by the short, dense and shorn-off facial brush and the
characteristic black beard below and long forwardly projecting black
hair at base of proboscis and buccal cavity and also by the slightly
thickened first antennal joints.
9 92 C. eremobia var. braunsia n.
These specimens, in the absence of a g, may be considered only as
a variety of the preceding species. Bezzi labelled 2 99, from Port
Nolloth, as hirtupes Macq. From the allotype of eremobua s. str. they
differ in being slightly smaller, with the face in front usually darker,
often more brownish and less extensively luteous, with the pubescence
on head and in facial brush distinctly less dense, less extensive and
longer, more straw-coloured whitish and always with a few intermixed
black hairs circumorally, with the vertex entirely black, with entirely
or predominantly black hair on pleurae, pectus, on middle and hind
coxae and femora, with more intermixed black hairs on sides of
abdomen, also more straw-coloured whitish or sericeous white pubes-
cence on body above and with the feeble milky whitish tinge of
wings more evident. The two 99, labelled by Bezzi, form a sort of
transition stage in having luteous faces, more pale hairs on lower
parts of mesopleurae, etc.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 6-74 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-64 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, Sept. 1928)
(Type); Port Nolloth (Lightfoot, Aug. 1890 and 1889).
C. ruficorns Bezz.
(CaO Anion Aire Mus., vol, xvim, 192i.)
This single damaged g-specimen, fully described by Bezzi, is
characterised by the comparatively sparse pubescence on head and
body, the pubescence being entirely white on the body and legs,
only the fine hairs on genae and frons being mauvish brown; antennae
(now missing) have the third joint red according to Bezzi, its apical
748 Annals of the South African Museum.
part broadened, spatulate, slightly darkened and bilobate at the
end; interocular space comparatively narrower than in other species;
wings comparatively elongate in relation to
body, with the alula very rudimentary; eyes
with the coarser facets in upper two-thirds
distinctly marked off from the finer ones in
lower third. Hypopygiwm as shown in text-
fig. 223.
Locality.—Rhodesia.
3 99 C. karooana n. sp.
Body black above; the frons shining dark
castaneous; face, lower part of head, proboscis
and pleurae dark brownish, the face being
Fee ey Ls ie cc paler castaneous brown; antennal joints | and
view of hypopygium 2 and legs sienna brown to dark brownish;
of 3 Corsomyza rufi- pubescence with a few hairs on ocellar tubercle,
cornis Bezz. Soh ; : .
the sparse hairs in facial brush, some intermixed
ones on antennal joint 1 above, some intermixed hairs on head below,
tuft of longish mesopleural hairs in front of wing-bases, sparse ones on
pleurae, the hairs on sides of abdomen at base, on extreme sides of
the other segments, on venter, intermixed ones on front coxae and
on middle and hind coxae and femora whitish, those on pleurae and
legs more silvery whitish, with the sparse hairs on tubercle, frons,
antennal joint 1 above and below, on genae, palps, fairly numerous
ones on head below, on front coxae and femora, a few intermixed
ones on middle femora and on hind tibiae as well as the hairs on last
tergite and sternite black or very dark blackish brown, with the hair
on body above also comparatively sparse, that on thorax and scutellum
pale sericeous yellowish, slightly denser and distinctly longer than
the very sparse sericeous yellowish to brassy ones on abdomen
discally, those laterally on abdomen longer, denser and more white
or whitish; wings greyish hyaline, becoming slightly yellowish
towards base, the costal cell, first basal cell and base being more
visibly yellowish, with the veins yellowish to yellowish brown, the
costal and first longitudinal veins being strikingly yellowish, with the
alula very vestigial and linear, scarcely evident and the opaquely
whitish squamae white-fringed; halteres -yellowish white and with
white knobs. Head with antennal joint 3 about 14 times as long as
| and 2 combined, as in nigripes, but the apical half more or less
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 749
gradually thickened, the thick part relatively more thickened than
in nigripes, the base very slender; proboscis comparatively long,
about 23-3 mm. long, quite as long as head and thorax together.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 33-4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 10/9/1921).
This small species is easily recognised by its Megapalpus-like
appearance, comparatively sparse pubescence on head and body,
sienna brown to dark brown legs, long proboscis and the shape of
the third antennal joints.
2 99 C. namana n. sp.
(Syn.=clavicornis Bezz. nec Wied., p. 77, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921.) :
One 2 of this species was labelled by Bezzi as clavicornis Wied.
It is, however, entirely different from the ¢-clavicornis of Bezzi,
described in this paper as
oneilii n. sp. and from the 9
of nigripes described by Wiede-
mann as clavicornis (see under
nigripes and oneiliz).
Body black; face in front
luteous to pale yellowish
brown; palps brownish to
blackish brown; legs very dark
blackish brown; pubescence
with the facial brush, hairs
above and below antennal (a) (6)
joint 1, on oceilar tubercle T#XtT-Fic. 224.—(a) Antenna of 2 Corsomyza
. ; namanan.sp. (6) Antenna of 2 Corsomyza
posteriorly and often some on ancepsoides n. sp.
head posteriorly white, with
the hair on frons, palps, genae and head below, some on venter
towards apex, on front coxae and femora, some intermixed ones
on middle femora and also on hind tibiae black, that on pleurae,
some intermixed ones on front femora, predominantly on middle and
hind femora and coxae as well as on venter almost silvery white,
with the pubesence on body above and in mesopleural tuft pre-
dominantly white, that on disc of thorax and scutellum with a slight
straw-coloured yellowish tint and that towards apex of abdomen
wf
RAT TR,
AW, Hiatt need
750 Annals of the South African Museum.
above tending to be even more straw-coloured yellow; wings hyaline,
only very faintly tinged yellowish towards base, the yellow being
more evident in costal cell, first basal cell and base, with the veins
pale yellowish, the alula rudimentary and indicated as a very narrow
ledge, with the opaquely whitish squamae yellow-bordered and
entirely white-fringed; halteres pale yellowish, with whitish knobs.
Head with the pubescence on face dense and comparatively short,
the interocular space comparatively narrow, distinctly narrower than
length of combined antennal joints; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 224, a)
a little more than 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, with the
thickened apical part more or less spindle-shaped as in ¢ of bicolor;
proboscis about 24-22 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-64 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Port Nolloth (Lightfoot, Aug. 1890).
Recognised by its shortish white pubescence on body above and
sides of thorax in front, on pleurae, in facial brush, venter and on
middle and hind legs, by the spindle-shaped thickened apical part
of antennal joint 3 and by the predominantly black hair on head
below.
1 2 C. ancepsordes n. sp.
(Syn.=9-anceps Bezz., p. 78, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.)
This was referred to anceps Bezz. (g described on p. 106, The
Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, and which is doubtfully
distinct from migripes). Compared with Bezzi’s description it does
not agree with the g-anceps, and in view of the dissimilarity existing
between the sexes, as well as the widely separated localities, it is
advisable to describe this specimen as a separate species.
Body black; head above very dark shining blackish brown, the lower
part, below antennae, more toffee brownish, the face in front pale
yellowish brown; antennae, palps and legs dark reddish brown; pubes-
cence with the facial brush yellow, with some intermixed black hairs
circumorally and on lower part of face, with the hair on frons, inter-
mixed ones on antennal joint 1 above and below, the hair on palps,
genae and on head below, on pleurae, sides of abdominal segment 1,
venter and on all the legs black, that on posterior part of ocellar
tubercle and on body above pale yellow, that on abdomen slightly
deeper, more golden yellow; wings hyaline, the costal cell, first basal
cell and base being slightly yellowish, with the veins, especially the
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 751
costal and first longitudinal, pale yellowish, with the alula narrow
and ledge-like, with the opaquely yellowish white squamae fringed
with white; halteres yellowish, with dirty yellowish knobs which are
slightly tinted brownish below. Head with antennal joint 3 (text-
fig. 224, 6) about 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, the apical
third clavate, well marked off from the slender basal two-thirds;
proboscis comparatively stoutish, about 2 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 44 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality. Namaqualand: Port Nolloth (Lightfoot, Aug. 1890).
This 2 resembles the $$ of minuscula and bicolor more than any
other species.
1 2 C. capensis n. sp.
Body, including antennae, face and legs, black; pubescence with
the facial brush straw-coloured whitish, with the erect hairs on frons,
genae, on antennal joint 1
below, on palps, predominantly
on head below, some intermixed
ones in mesopleural tuft, very
numerous and densely inter-
mixed ones on sides of abdomen
from segment 2, intermixed
ones on coxae, all on front
femora below and numerous
ones on middle femora in front
and below apically, black, with
those on posterior part of head
(0)
below, sparsely on pleurae and TeExt-ric. 225.—(a) Antenna of 2 Corsomyza
capensis n. sp. (6) Antenna of 2 Cor-
pectus, sparsely on venter be- SOLU EE UNTRUE GIT Te Ore
low, intermixed ones on coxae,
numerous ones on middle femora below and predominantly on hind
ones white, with the pubescence on body above straw-coloured on
thorax, the mesopleural tuft slightly more yellowish in certain lights,
that on disc of thorax and scutellum more sericeous yellowish, that
on abdomen discally very sparse and short, straw-coloured, becoming
more yellowish on sides of segment 1 and with longer, but compara-
tively sparse, black one laterally on the other segments; wings dis-
tinctly, though faintly, tinged yellowish, becoming distinctly deeper
yellowish towards costal cell and base, with the veins brownish,
752 Annals of the South African Museum.
but yellowish towards base, with the dark-margined, opaquely
whitish squamae fringed with white; halteres pale brownish, with
whitish knobs blackened below. Head with antennal joint 3 (text-
fig. 225, a) a little more than 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
distinctly clavate apically, the broadened apical part, however, not
very broad, more or less fusiform, the fused terminal joints not very
prominent; proboscis shortish and stout, about 14 mm. long.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Cape Province: Cape Peninsula; Cape Town
to Cape Point (Simmonds, 11/1930).
This species has a marked resemblance to some white-haired forms
of nigripes, but may at once be distinguished from any of these by
the clubbed third antennal joints, short proboscis and the extensive
black hair on sides of abdomen from segment 2 to apex and also by
the more numerous black hairs on head below.
6 92 C. camprcola n. sp.
Body, including legs, black; face in front obscure dark brownish;
pubescence with the hairs on frons, in a tuft on antennal joint 1
above and a denser tuft below, on genae, the long ones on palps, on
head below, lower parts of pleurae, intermixed ones on lower part of
mesopleural tuft, intermixed ones on sides of abdomen, towards apex
of venter, on front coxae and femora, intermixed ones on middle
coxae and femora and intermixed ones on hind femora black, with
the hairs in facial brush pale creamy yellowish or whitish, those on
posterior part of head below (often absent), some intermixed ones on
venter, some on middle coxae and femora and more numerous ones
on hind coxae and femora white, with the pubescence on body above
pale straw-coloured yellowish to pale sericeous yellowish, with that
on posterior part of tubercle and on front part of thorax with more
whitish gleams in certain lights, that on sides of thorax often tinted
more yellowish, that on abdomen inclining to be more distinctly
straw-coloured yellowish to sericeous and even deeper yellowish
along sides in some 99; wings greyish hyaline, very slightly sub-
opaquely vitreous or with a very faint yellowish tinge towards costal
and basal part, more evident at base, in costal cell and first basal
cell, with the veins yellowish to yellowish brown, becoming darker
and more brownish in apical and hind parts, with the alula very
eee
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 753
vestigial, indicated only as a very narrow ledge, with the opaquely
whitish and dark-margined squamae fringed with white; halteres
yellowish brown to brownish, with dirty yellowish to whitish knobs,
slightly infused with brown above. Head with the pubescence
comparatively dense; interocular space comparatively broad, much
broader than the combined length of antennal joints; antennal
joint 3 (text-fig. 225, b) a little more than 14 times, often nearly 2
times, as long as 1 and 2 combined, with the clavate apical part more
or less spindle-shaped or elliptical, well marked off from the slender
and rod-like basal part; proboscis comparatively short and stoutish,
about 2 mm. long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 54-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 54-7 mm.
Locality.—_S.W. Cape Province: Malmesbury (Brauns, 5/12/26).
Characterised by the predominantly black hair on the body below,
dark face, clavate third antennal joints and distinct and characteristic
tuft of black hairs on antennal joint 1 above and below.
1 2 C. fusicorms n. sp.
This single 9 may almost be considered as a variety of campicola.
From campicola it differs in having some intermixed white hairs on
front femora, entirely or predominantly white
hairs on middle and hind coxae and femora,
sparser black hairs on frons, fewer black ones on
antennal joint 1 above, more numerous whitish j
and yellowish hairs on venter, predominantly
whitish ones on lower parts of mesopleurae; ‘cael
halteres with the dirty yellowish knobs not AV)’ [| Yy
darkened above; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 226) A MF
with the thickened apical part more distinctly
spear-blade shaped or spindle-shaped, the fused
terminal joints not so prominently conspicuous
and the slender basal part comparatively longer; Trxr-ric. 226. — An-
proboscis slightly more slender and longer, about tenma ofS Corsomyza
Shinn lotic: fusicornis n. sp.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality —W. Cape Province: Clanwilliam (Brauns, Sept. 1928).
Y
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ye
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754 Annals of the South African Museum.
192 C. dissiomilis n. sp.
Body, including face in front, black; femora black, but the tibiae
and tarsi dark reddish brown; pubescence with the hairs on frons,
above and below antennal joint 1, a few intermixed ones circumorally
in facial brush, on genae, on palps and on head below, on venter, sides
of abdomen above, discally on abdomen above on last 2 or 3 segments
and on front coxae and femora black, with the hairs in facial brush
straw-coloured, those on mesopleural and pleural parts, on middle
and hind coxae and femora whitish, with the pubescence on body
above comparatively sparse, that on thorax and scutellum straw-
coloured whitish and denser than on abdomen, more sericeous
yellowish on scutellum, the mesopleural tuft with white and longer
hairs, that on abdomen above short and sparse, whitish, the sides
with slightly longer black ones towards apex and also with distinct
black ones discally above on last two segments at least; wings more
distinctly tinged yellowish, becoming darker towards costal and
basal parts, the costal cell, base and first basal cell being even more
distinctly yellowish, with the veins yellowish, becoming more brown-
ish to dark brownish towards the apical and hind parts, with the
alula narrow and ledge-like and with the dark-bordered and opaquely
whitish squamae fringed with white; halteres pale yellowish brown,
with dirty yellowish knobs. Head with a faint indication of being
transversely depressed across frons, but not to the same extent as
in longipalpis and depressifrons; interocular space on vertex com-
paratively much narrower than in other species, distinctly narrower
than the length of antennal joints combined; antennal joint 3 about
2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, the apical part distinctly ovately
clavate as in capensis (cf. text-fig. 225, a), but more distinctly ovate;
proboscis about 23 mm. long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.— Namaqualand: Van Rhynsdorp (Brauns, Sept. 1928).
Kasily distinguished from other species by its comparatively
sparse pubescence above, especially on abdomen above, the presence
of distinct, short, black hairs discally above on abdomen towards
apex, the distinctly yellowish-tinged wings and the dark reddish
brown tibiae and tarsi.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 755
3 dd 2 99 C. tricellulata n. sp.
Body, including femora, black; palps, tibiae and basal joints of
tarsi pale brownish to dark brownish, the front tibiae often darkened
and the apices of all the tibiae often also slightly darkened, with the
last 2 or 3 tarsal joints always more or less blackened; face toward
genae on each side with a large elongate yellow spot in 92 and with
a darker, more obscure, brownish one in 364, the face itself in front,
at base of buccal cavity, more darkly obscure brownish in both sexes;
pubescence with the facial brush dense, its hairs as well as the hair
on head below, on palps and all the hair on body below, sides of
abdomen and on legs frosty or chalky white, the facial brush in $3
often inclining slightly to creamy whitish and some intermixed hairs
on front femora, towards apex below, dark or blackish, with some
hairs on sides of vertex, hairs on frons in both sexes, on the genae
in the ¢$ and also a few laterally on head below in $¢ and some
isolated ones on genae in 99 black, with the hairs transversely across
middle of frons, just behind white hair on front part of frons, and the
hairs on antennal joint 1 above and below and often on ocellar tubercle
posteriorly yellowish in 99, paler and more creamy yellowish in 3,
with the pubescence on body above, from side, pale straw-coloured
yellowish and with sericeous white gleams on thorax in 3g, becoming
more sericeous yellowish on scutellum and more distinctly whitish in
mesopleural tuft, that on abdomen above sericeous yellowish in basal
half in $$, becoming paler and distinctly white towards apex and along
sides, with the short ones on occiput in 99 golden yellowish, that
on thorax in 99 golden yellow on disc and scutellum, becoming white
anterolaterally above wings and in mesopleural tuft, that on abdomen
in 99 much shorter and sparser, long only on sides of segment 1,
sericeous yellow to golden yellowish discally, paler and more white
apically and laterally; spicules on tibiae and tarsi black; wings
vitreous, with a faint subopaque milky whitish tinge, the costal cell,
base of marginal cell, basal half of first basal cell and base more
subopaquely pale yellowish white to very faintly yellowish, with the
veins yellowish brown, becoming darker in apical and posterior
parts, and the costal, first and fourth longitudinal veins conspicuously
pale yellowish, with 3 submarginal cells constantly present, with
the alula reduced, narrow but distinct, and with the opaquely whitish
squamae fringed with white; halteres yellowish, with the knobs
chocolate brown above and below in 3g, entirely whitish in 99.
Head with the coarser facets in upper two-thirds of eyes in $¢ well
756 Annals of the South African Museum.
marked off from finer lower ones; antennae with joint 3 (text-fig.
227, b of 2) about 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, somewhat
laterally compressed, the basal part narrow and slender, and the apical
broadened clavate part rapidly broadened and with an elongate
broadish depression on the inner side, with the fused terminal joints
prominent as a short, projecting, lobe-like prominence, especially in
22; proboscis about 24-4 mm. long. Thorax with comparatively
denser pubescence on pleural parts than in any other species.
Hypopygium of § (text-fig. 227, a)
with somewhat fine and dense
pubescence on basal parts, that in
neck region denser and that along
lower margin and a few dorsally
longer; basal strut comparatively
small.
Holotype in the Transvaal
Museum, allotype in the South
African Museum and a paratype in
the British Museum.
Length of body: about 6-10 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
(0) Locality.— W. Cape Province:
ee 227 Neds view oO: Samsara (Beans: Sept. 1928)
ypopygium of g Corsomyza tri-
cellulata n. sp. (b) Antenna of 9 of (Types). S.W. Cape Province: Cape
Beto species: Flats (Simmonds, 13/11/30).
Another g-specimen, from Nieuwoudtville (Brauns, Aug. 1928),
may be considered as a form of this species, differing from the typical
3 in having the erect hairs on vertex and ocellar tubercle yellow, those
on basal and front parts of frons also predominantly yellow, the dark
ones on frons being much fewer, the black hairs on genae continuous
with those on frons by a row of much shorter and more indistinct
black hairs and pubescence on disc of thorax, scutellum and abdomen
above distinctly deeper sericeous yellow like that of the typical 9.
This species is easily distinguished from all others by having 3 sub-
marginal cells normally present in all the specimens, in having very
dense frosty or chalky white pubescence on entire body below,
excepting only a few intermixed dark hairs towards apex of front
femora.
The presence of 3 submarginal cells may cause confusion with the
genus Callynthrophora Schin. In the latter genus, however, the frons
in both sexes is broader anteriorly, more tumid, the antennae are
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. T5T
inserted lower down and immediately above the buccal cavity, the
proboscis is very short, the first antennal joints are very short and
more thickened, and antennal joint 2 has a fine, dense coat of whitish,
spinule-like pubescence which in certain lights gives ita silvery white
appearance, etc.
1 2 C. ochrostoma n. sp.
Practically the entire frons, entire face and genae, head below and
a band extending from head below along hind margins of eyes to
vertex, nearly continuous again on frons and then for a little distance
down the occiput on each side, the posterior calli on thorax and the
entire scutellum very pale ochreous yellow, becoming pale orange
yellow along margins of eyes; vertex shining black; greater part of
occiput, front part of thorax, pleurae, pectus and abdomen blackish,
the disc of thorax and the pleurae being more blackish brown, the
coxae inclining to be more black and the undersurfaces of the femora
to be slightly paler and more reddish brown, with the tibiae and tarsi
pale reddish yellow, the front ones being darker and more brownish,
with the last 3 or 4 tarsal joints blackish, the claws reddish brown
but the apices black; pubescence on body above dense on thorax,
composed of dense depressed and also dense erect hairs, those on
scutellum dense and erect, those on abdomen composed of longish
and erect ones, dense laterally, and of short depressed ones in punc-
tures, denser discally and towards apex, with the pubescence on body
above and below entirely yellow, black hairs being entirely absent,
those on abdomen discally slightly more sericeous yellow, with the
dense and somewhat matted pubescence on thorax and that discally
above golden yellowish, with the pubescent hairs and spine-like
spicules on tibiae also golden yellow, the spines slightly tinted reddish
golden and only the spicules on apical tarsal joints darker and more
dark brownish; wings slightly tinged yellowish, the yellow more
distinct towards costal and basal parts, the costal cell, basal half of
first basal cell, and base being even more distinctly yellowish, with
the costal, first longitudinal, third vein and veins towards base very
pale yellowish and almost pale orange yellowish, the parts of veins
towards apex and hind border darker and more brownish, with the
whitish opaque squamae fringed with golden yellow hairs, with the
costal cell scarcely dilated or broadened at about the middle as in
all other species, with the first posterior cell broadly opening on hind
border, with the anal cell comparatively broadly opening on border
VOL. XXXIV. 49
758 Annals of the South African Museum.
of wing and not acute or sessile as in other species, with the axillary
lobe narrower than anal cell and somewhat more reduced than in any
other species, and the alula reduced and narrow; halteres pale yellow-
ish brown, with very pale lemon yellowish knobs. Head with the
interocular space on vertex about 3 times as broad as broad tubercle;
ocellar tubercle slightly, but distinctly, more elevated and prominent
than in other species; antennae with joint 1 very short and only
about 14 times as long as joint 2 (joint 3 unfortunately missing in
this specimen); proboscis about 2 mm. long, with the labella short,
shorter than in other species; palps long, quite half as long as pro-
boscis, pubescent and without separately visible joints. Legs also
without any spines on femora below as in other species of Corsomyza;
tibiae with pubescent hairs longer and denser on hind ones, the
front and middle ones with scarcely stouter spine-like spicules, only
a lower outer row being present, the hind ones with a lower inner and
outer and inner upper row of stouter, more bristle-like spines especially
towards the apex, with the crown of apical spines below on all the
tibiae distinctly longer and more developed than in any other species;
tarsi with a series of more than 3 hairs across apical margin above
on last joint and with the 3 most prominent ones very much shorter
and more inconspicuous than in any other species of Corsomyza;
claws only gradually and slightly curved downwards apically, not
sickle-shaped as in other species and the pulvilli narrower and less
developed, just extending a little beyond middle of claws.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality.—_ Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1931).
This species is easily recognised by its entirely golden yellow
pubescence, very pale ochreous or luteous yellow head in front,
yellow margins behind the eyes and pale ochreous yellow scutellum,
open anal cell, only gradually curved claws, etc. There is no doubt
that this somewhat damaged @ differs from all the other known species
of Corsomyza in certain salient features. Such differentiating
characters, as a scarcely broadened costal cell, a distinctly widely
open anal cell, more reduced axillary cell, more distinctly raised
or elevated ocellar tubercle, shorter first antennal joints, shorter
labella of the proboscis, distinctly longer apical spines on tibiae,
presence of a series of more than 3 bristly hairs across apical margin
of last tarsal joint of which the three longest ones are distinctly
very much shorter than in other species, and the less curved claws,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 759
necessitate the creation of a new genus or at least a new subgenus.
In view, however, of the fact that I have only a single somewhat
damaged 9-specimen, I prefer to retain this species provisionally
in the genus Corsomyza until more specimens and also individuals
of the other sex are available.
Described species not seen by me.
The only species which I am not able to determine or which is not
present in any of the collections before me is C. hirtupes Macq. (p. 109,
Dipt. Exot., 1, 1840).
Gen. Megapalpus Macq.
(Macquart, Suit. a Buffon, 1, 394, 13, 1834; p. 111, Dipt. Exot.,
ii, 1840; Bezzi, p. 85, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921. Syn.
=Phthiria Wied. in part nec Meigen, p. 356, Aussereurop.
Zweifl. Ins., 1, 1828; syn.=Dasypalpus Macq., p. 112, Dipt.
Exot., 11, 1840.)
This genus, first erected by Macquart in 1834, was subsequently
sunk as a synonym of the genus Phthiria Meig. by Kertész in his
Catalogus Dipterorum, vol. v, 1909 and revived again by Bezzi
(p. 85, loc. cit.) in 1921. The genus is so close to Corsomyza Wied.
that it may easily be mistaken for it in the 9-sex. Notwithstanding
the fanciful representations of Macquart (pp. 111 and 112, Dipt. Exot.,
ul, 1840, Tab. XI, figs. 2 and 3) there is no essential difference between
Megapalpus and Dasypalpus, to the latter of which Macquart referred
the 9-capensis Wied. (p. 356, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828).
Megapalpus and Hyperusia Bezz. (see below), on the other hand,
are also almost inseparable generically in the 9-sex.
The generic characters of Megapalpus are as follows:—
Body with comparatively sparse and short, erect and depressed
pubescence above, even on head and thorax in 99, but often with
longer erect ones and no depressed pubescence on thorax and abdomen
in $3, the pleurae almost entirely bare, smooth and shining, even
the femora with few and sparse hairs, fewer in 92. Head with the
interocular space on vertex broad in both sexes, scarcely narrower
in $g; frons also broad, the inner margins of eyes being parallel
or subparallel, not diverging or scarcely diverging down the face
in both sexes, with the head below about as broad as across vertex
above, with the frons and face shining, the erect hairs on vertex,
frons and face sparse, longer and denser in gg, but with no dense
760 Annals of the South African Museum.
facial brush even in gg; buccal rim, especially above, prominent and
protruding, spout-like and slightly more so in 99, with the genae
very much narrower than in Corsomyza; antennae (text-fig. 228, a
and 6) inserted a little distance apart, with joint 1 rod-like, not
thickened, joint 2 small and nodular, joint 3 somewhat laterally —
compressed, almost rod-like or gradually broadened from base,
broader and sometimes more distinctly so in some 92, with the apex
appearing notched; eyes comparatively large and globular in both
sexes, the facets of equal size in both sexes; palps slender, long,
even very long and projecting, apparently single-jointed, no separate
joints being visible, pubescent; proboscis comparatively long or
very long in relation to body. Thorax with a tuft of longer hairs on
mesopleuron in front of wing-bases and with a distinct, stoutish,
though shortish, macrochaetal bristle in front of wing-bases on each
side; scutellum with more bristly and longer hairs than on thorax,
longer in gS. Wings with only 2 submarginal cells, the costal cell
also slightly broadened at about middle as-in Corsomyza, the first
posterior cell widely open, the discal cross vein beyond middle of
discoidal cell, the anal cell acute apically and provided with a short
apical stalk or sessile or even widely opening on hind border, with
the alula reduced, narrow and ledge-like, the basal comb absent.
Abdomen with the last sternite in $d notched at middle apically.
Legs without any spines on femora below; tibiae with the spicules
much reduced, represented by only an outer lower row on front ones,
one or two rows on middle tibiae in addition to hairs and with about
2 rows of insignificant ones, in addition to the sparse hairs, on hind
ones of which those in outer lower row are more distinct, especially
in 99; claws and pulvilli well developed and the hairs across apical
margin above on last tarsal joints absent, inconspicuous or at least
much less developed than in Corsomyza. Hypopygium of 33 (text-
fig. 229) like that of Corsomyza (cf. text-figs. 214-227), the basal
parts with a posterior lobe; the beaked apical joints laterally com-
pressed, acutely pointed apically and with a crest of spine-like,
bristly hairs along their dorsal (upper) parts; aedeagus much like
that of Corsomyza-species, without any ventral aedeagal process.
From Corsomyza this genus differs in having sparser pubescence,
no distinct facial brush, no distinctly and rapidly diverging inner
margins of eyes, much narrower genae, broader interocular space in
$3, more sharply edge-like or prominent buccal rim, more widely
separated antennae, larger and more globular eyes in both sexes,
relatively broader wings, barer pleural regions, absence of a distinct
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 761
tuft of hairs below halteres, presence of a distinct, stoutish, macro-
chaetal bristle in front of wing-bases, much sparser hairs on legs,
more feebly developed spicules on tibiae and absence of 3 very long
bristly hairs apically on last tarsal joints.
Only two species of this genus are known and are separated as
follows :— | i
1. (2) Anal cell more often very acute apically, closed and very shortly stalked
or sessile, not very broadly opening on hind border of wings (when
opening, other characters do not conform); proboscis comparatively
shorter, about 2} mm. long to a maximum of 4 mm.; palps shorter,
rarely 1 mm. long; buccal rim slightly thinner; antennal joint 3 (text-
fig. 228, a) in 99 often distinctly more broadened before apex and the
apical notch less deep and distinct; interocular space slightly broader
-and frons distinctly less depressed in both sexes and without any con-
spicuous, or with only very inconspicuous, silvery whitish, scale-like
hairs in a tuft on each side; sides of face and genae with predominantly
or entirely black hair and also with some or more numerous black hairs
below in mesopleural tuft; gg often with a tendency to be shining
bluish metallic, with longer and slightly sparser hairs on body above and
without any or with only very sparse, fine, depressed, golden pubescence
above, especially on abdomen; abdomen, in addition to golden depressed
“pubescence and shortish or longish erect black hairs, without any or
with much less conspicuous fine white hairs
3 2 nitidus Macq. (p. 761).
2. (1) Anal cell not very, or never, acute apically and opening comparatively
widely on hind border; proboscis comparatively longer, about 4-5 mm.
long; palps longer, more conspicuously projecting, about 1 mm. long
or even slightly longer; buccal rim slightly thicker; antennal joint 3
(text-fig. 228, 6) more rod-like in both sexes, the apical notch sometimes
deeper and more distinct; interocular space distinctly narrower and
frons distinctly more depressed and also with a more conspicuous tuft
of silvery white hairs on each side; sides of face and especially genae
with entirely or predominantly whitish or silvery hairs and without any
or much fewer dark ones in mesopleural tuft; $¢ like 29 shining black,
with denser and shorter hairs on body above and especially on abdomen
in gg, more like 99, and also with much denser depressed golden pubes-
cence in g; abdomen in both sexes with more distinct and more con-
spicuous, short, fine, white hairs, especially on sides when seen from
sides : ‘ : : é . & 2 capensis (Wied.) (p. 763).
M. mtidus Macq.
(P. 112, Dipt. Exot., ii, 1840, Tab. XI, fig. 2; Bezzi, p. 86,
Ann. Sy Amr Mus vol) xvii, 1921, Pl I; fig. 16.)
Characters of specific importance in this species are: Pubescence
in $¢ comparatively long and sparse, composed of long black hairs
762 Annals of the South African Museum.
on head, thorax and abdomen, without any or with only very sparse
fine depressed yellowish or golden pubescence on abdomen above;
Text-rig. 228.—(a) Antenna of
QQ Megapalpus nitidus Macq.
(6) Of 2 Megapalpus capensis
(Wied.).
99 with shorter and slightly denser
erect hairs and very dense pale golden
depressed pubescence on body above
and in both sexes without very dense
whitish hairs on abdomen; hair on frons
predominantly black and with only a
few sparse silvery whitish hairs on each
side, the hairs on face and especially
genae entirely or predominantly black,
with a few black hairs intermixed in
mesopleural tuft as well, with the sparse
hairs on coxae and bases of femora
and at base of abdomen, in gd especially,
whitish, the rest of the hair on femora
below black. Head with the interocular
space on vertex in gg only very slightly narrower than in 99, without
any hairs on face in front above the projecting buccal rim; antennae
with joint 1 slender, rod-like, with some longish black hairs, the
apical ones below longer and more conspicuous, with joint 2 some-
times slightly and sharply produced apically above, with joint 3
(text-fig. 228, a, left one of 9
from side), about 14, or a little
more, times as long as 1 and 2
combined, rod-like, usually
in 92 becoming gradually
broader towards apex, being
broadest beyond middle in
some 99, more or less sub-
groove-like depressed along
inner side, the apex slightly
notched; palps blackish brown
to black, distinctly hairy.
Wings comparatively short
and broad, with a faint smoky
tinge, more pronounced in
some 99, with the veins dark
brownish to blackish brown,
TExt-FIG. 229.—Side view and half of ventral
view of hypopygium of g Megapalpus
nitidus Macq.
the squamae opaquely whitish and fringed with white hairs; halteres
brown, with very dark brownish to blackish knobs in both sexes.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 763
Legs dark blackish brown to black, with the dense spinule-like hairs.
on tibiae below conspicuous, especially in 99. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 229).
Length of body: about 34-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 3-4 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Cape Province, W. Cape Province, 8.W.
Karoo, Namaqualand and Hast Cape Province and Karoo. (In
the Transvaal and South African Museums.)
Being fairly widely distributed in the Cape Province, it shows
regional or local forms. In the series before me the 9-specimens
from.Cape Town differ from those from Namaqualand in having the
fine depressed or semi-depressed pubescence on body above, especially
on the abdomen, darker, even blackish, not brassy or sericeous
yellowish. The anal cell is also variable in regard to its acute apex,
sometimes being acute and distinctly provided with a short stalk,
sometimes sessile on hind border and in some specimens actually
opening narrowly on the hind border as in capensis (Wied.).
M. capensis (Wied.).
(Wiedemann, p. 356, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828 as Phthiria;
Macquart, p. 112, Dipt. Exot., i, 1840, Tab. XI, fig. 3 as Dasy-
palpus; Paramonow, p. 121, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 11,
1931.)
Wiedemann’s description of Phthiria capensis is not complete
enough to state with absolute certainty whether he had before him
a specimen of nitrdus or one of the species dealt with here. However,
after carefully comparing Wiedemann and Paramonow’s descriptions
with some g¢ and 99, chiefly from the British Museum, there appears
little doubt that these specimens agree more with their descriptions
of capensis than with nitidus. Some of the chief characters separating
them from nitedus are given in the key. The species is characterised
by the constantly and comparatively widely open anal cell, which
is never acute and closed or stalked apically; the wings themselves,
as in mitidus, are tinged slightly cinereous or smoky; integument of
body shining black evenin $¢; proboscis is markedly long and slender,
usually 4-5 mm.; palps comparatively very long, usually not less
than 1 mm. long, projecting conspicuously and covered with black
hairs; interocular space is slightly narrower than in nitidus, but the
frons is distinctly more depressed and also with a more conspicuous
tuft of silvery white hairs on each side; antennal joint 3 (text-fig.
764 Annals of the South African Museum.
228, 6, left one from outer side ()); hair on head in front distinctly
more whitish, the hairs on antennae, sides of face and on genae
entirely or predominantly whitish like those on head below; pubes-—
cence on body above short in both sexes, that on abdomen in g¢
being slightly longer but shorter than in g-nitidus, with the fine
depressed scale-like pubescence above and on abdomen brassy or
golden in both sexes, with very fine, erect, whitish hairs on abdomen
in addition to the erect black hairs, especially on sides, with the
tuft of hairs on mesopleuron mainly whitish or creamy and without
any distinct or conspicuous black intermixed ones as in nitidus and
with the hairs across apical margin of last tarsal joint above slightly
longer and more distinct than in nitedus, and sometimes with 3
_ distinctly longer ones present. Hypopygiuwm of 3 scarcely different
from that of nitidus (cf. text-fig. 229), with the apices of beaked
apical joints less rapidly bent downwards.
In the British and South African Museums.
Length of body: about 34-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 3-44 mm.
Locality.—_S. and W. Cape Province: Viljoen’s Pass, Michell’s
Pass (Simmonds), Ceres and Montagu (Turner).
Gen. Hyperusia Bezz.
(Bezzi, p. 84, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; p. 107,
The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
The chief characters distinguishing species of Hyperusia, as labelled
by Bezzi in the South African Museum, from Megapalpus Macq. are
the non-prominent buccal rim which does not distinctly and con-
spicuously protrude forwards, the insertion of the antennae which is
much nearer upper part of buccal rim, the less widely separated and
usually much shorter first antennal joints, the relatively shorter
proboscis (not exceeding 24 mm. in known species) which is also
markedly thickened basally, the less slender and often shorter palps,
the much narrower interocular space in $3, which, as in Corsomyza,
is only about as broad as ocellar tubercle, the division of the eyes in
$g into upper coarser and lower finer facets, the more depressed frons
in 99, the comparatively denser pubescence on body above even in
99, the absence of a stoutish macrochaetal bristle or bristles on each
side in front of wing-bases, the comparatively longer wings, with a
more developed and more distinctly lobe-like alula, very much
broader, more lobe-like and subangularly rounded axillary lobe, the
J
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 765
more numerous hairs on femora below even in 99 and the presence
of 3 longish, apical hairs across apical margin of last tarsal joint as
in Corsomyza. The last sternite of gg is notched at middle apically
as in Corsomyza and Megapalpus. The hypopygium of the gg (text-
figs. 230, 231 and 233) very much like that of Corsomyza (cf. text-figs.
214-227), the bases of basal parts also with a rounded lobe-like part;
beaked apical joints similar, much laterally compressed, claw-like
and with the apex acute and curved downwards; aedeagus similarly
shaped and also without a ventral process ending basally above
middle part in a lobe-like process (shown in dotted outline in text-fig.
230, a); basal.strut more or less racket-shaped and its dorsal margin
deeply or angularly incised towards apex.
Key to the known South African species.
Known 3é.
1. (4) Antennal joint 3 predominantly or entirely yellowish or yellowish red. 2.
2. (3) Claws rapidly curved downwards slightly beyond middle, thus normally
sickle-shaped; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 230, c) more slender, with less
than the apical half gradually thickened; antennal joint 2 with the
upper apical part not very sharply produced and antennal joint 1 about
2 times as long as 2; proboscis more slender and longer, about 2-23 mm.
long; wings with the hind margin at axillary lobe more prominent,
angular and rectangularly rounded; halteres with the knobs entirely
dirty yellowish; tibiae paler, more yellowish or very pale yellowish
brown d 5 ‘ : . : . muscoides n. sp. (p. 767).
(Syn. =minor Bezz. in part.)
3. (2) Claws markedly sickle-shaped, broadly U-shaped, curved downwards
almost at right angles at middle; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 231, c)
distinctly stouter and sometimes slightly shorter, with the apical half
more rapidly thickened, the thickened or clavate part roughly spindle-
shaped, being broadest much before apex; antennal joint 2 with the
upper apical part more acutely pointed, and antennal joint 1 shorter
and only about 14 times as long as 2; proboscis shorter, distinctly stouter
and thicker, only about 14 mm. long; wings with the posterior basal
part or angle at axillary lobe more lobe-like and rounded, less rectafigularly
prominent; halteres with the almost white knobs blackened above and
below; tibiae darker and more brownish : . soror Bezz. (p. 769).
4. (1) Antennal joint 3 entirely dark or black . : ; ooh,
5. (6) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 233, d) distinctly less fie 3 —— as long as
1 and 2 combined, much thicker and stouter, the base broad and from
there gradually broadened apically; proboscis much shorter, about
13-2 mm. long; palps slightly broadened apically, and shorter than
1 mm.; frons with a distinct central furrow evident; wings entirely
with a more distinct milky whitish tint, the anal ceil closed apically
and shortly stalked, with the discal cross vein only a little beyond middle
766 Annals of the South African Museum.
of discoidal cell at more than the apical third; knobs of halteres not
distinctly darkened below; fine depressed pubescence, on abdomen
above especially, sericeous yellowish, and hair on last tibiae entirely or
predominantly whitish : : : transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 772).
6. (5) Antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 233, e) quite, or nearly, 3 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, the basal half distinctly more slender, broadest a little before
apex; proboscis distinctly longer, about 3 mm. long and also compara-
tively stouter towards base; palps more slender and longer, about
1 mm. long; frons without a distinct central furrow; wings distinctly
more hyaline, the faint milky white only distinctly evident towards
base, with the anal cell comparatively broadly opening on hind border,
and with the discal cross vein much beyond middle, at about apical
fourth, of discoidal cell; knobs of halteres darkened or blackened below;
fine depressed pubescence on abdomen above silvery white and bristly
hairs on hind tibiae, on outer side, predominantly dark
nivea Hesse (p. 773).
Known 99.
1. (6) Antennal joint 3 predominantly or entirely yellowish or yellowish red. 2.
2. (5) Face in front on each side of buccal rim dark or black like rest of head
in front, and not yellow or reddish yellow; interocular space narrower,
less than 3 times as broad as tubercle; hairs on head below, on palps
and at least on middle and hind femora and especially hind tibiae,
entirely or predominantly white or whitish; antennal joint 3 usually
comparatively less broad, or at least broadest nearer apex, not markedly
spindle-shaped; anal cell closed apically or tending to be more closed
or sessile on hind border of wings ‘ : 3.
3. (4) Claws normally sickle-shaped, curved dowaspare sliebtly beyond mid@le
and not sharply at middle; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 230, 6) more
slender, the basal half at least slender and apical half broadest some
distance before apex and joint 1 at least 2 times as long as 2; proboscis
much longer, about 2-24 mm. long; wings with the posterior basal
angle at axillary lobe more rectangularly prominent, the anal cell sessile
or very narrowly opening on hind border; tibiae paler, pale yellowish
to very pale yellowish brown; palps and head below with entirely white
hair, and the depressed ii on head and body above distinetly
much denser. . muscordes n. sp. (p. 767).
4. (3) Claws markedly sickle- shamed! very rapidly curved downwards, almost
at right angles, at middle; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 231, b) much stouter
and plumper, rapidly broadening from base, and joint 1 only about 1}
times as long as 2; proboscis comparatively very much shorter, less
than 2 mm. long; wings with the posterior basal angle at axillary lobe
more rounded, the anal cell more acute apically and provided with a
very short stalk; tibiae distinctly darker brownish to very dark brownish;
palps and head below with some dark hairs intermixed and the depressed
pubescence on head and body above sparser . . soror Bezz. (p. 769).
5. (2) Face in front, especially on each side below antennal insertions, with a
distinct diffuse yellowish spot or diffusely yellowish red, contrasting with
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 767
the dark or black rest of head in front; interocular space slightly broader,
a little more than 3 times as broad as tubercle; hairs on head below, on
palps and on femora and tibiae, entirely dark or black; antennal joint 3
(text-fig. 232) markedly broad and flattened, spindle-shaped and broadest
at or near middle; anal cell tending to be constantly broadly open on
hind border of wings . : ‘ . minor Bezz. (p. 771).
6. (1) Antennal joint 3 entirely dats or inlacio ‘ : ‘ , PI
7. (8) Head predominantly black, a yellowish, often obscure or absent, spot
being found only on face on each side of antennal insertions, the first
and second antennal joints black; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 233, c)
becoming gradually broader apically, broadest just before apex; proboscis
shorter, about 14-2 mm. long; hairs on ocellar tubercle, frons, face,
and head below anteriorly silvery whitish, only some hairs on sides of
vertex, on palps, and on posterior part of head below blackish; hair on
front coxae and femora and on middle femora in front entirely or pre-
dominantly black; scutellum entirely black like rest of body; smaller
species, about 4-6 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 4-53 mm.
long ‘ : ‘ transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 772).
8. (7) Head with a small Epon on naciaut, frons in front and entire face and genae
yellow, the first and second antennal joints also yellow; antennal
joint 3 (see fig. 7, p. 109, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region,
1924, by Bezzi) not much broader apically than basally, less club-shaped;
proboscis longer, about 3 mm. long; hairs on ocellar tubercle and vertex
pale yellowish, those on posterior part of frons and on head below dark;
hair on femora dark grey; scutellum with a pair of transversely elongate
ochreous rufous spots and posterior calli and humeral angles of thorax
brownish red; larger species, about 9 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 8-2 mm. . : : luterfacies Bezz. (ex. descr.) (p. 774).
1 g 5 99° H. muscoides n. sp.
(Syn. = minor Bezz. in part, p. 473, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921.)
Body, including face in front, black, with the frons, face, genae and
head below shining black; antennal joint 3, excluding darkened
clavate part apically in $ or extreme apex in 9, tibiae and tarsi pale
ochreous yellow to reddish yellow, only the last 1 or 2 tarsal joints
and apices of claws black; short, fine and erect pubescence on head,
body above and below and on legs in ¢ entirely silvery whitish, the
fine depressed pubescence on abdomen also silvery whitish; in @
the shorter and sparser erect pubescence on head and thorax, the
slightly longer tuft in front of wings, the much shorter sparse ones on
abdomen above, more densely on sides and the hairs on legs white
to silvery whitish, the fine depressed pubescence in 92 whitish in
front, more pale yellowish on disc of thorax and more brassy yellowish
and denser on abdomen, denser towards apex and also more silvery
768 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish on sides of abdomen and on venter; wings vitreous hyaline,
with a faint but distinct milky whitish tint, the costal cell and base
very slightly more subopaquely whitish or very pale yellowish white,
the veins pale yellowish, the anal cell acute apically and very shortly
stalked, sessile or only very narrowly open on hind border, the axillary
lobe very well developed, very broad and lobate, almost rectangularly
rounded, the whitishly opaque squamae fringed with white hairs;
halteres pale yellowish brown, with dirty yellowish to almost whitish
Trext-FIG 230.—(a) Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of ¢ Hyperusia muscoides n. sp. (b) Antenna of 2 Hyperusia muscoides n. sp.
(c) Antenna of g Hyperusia muscoides n. sp.
knobs. Head with the interocular space in § above as wide as ocellar
tubercle, a little less than 3 times as broad as tubercle in 99; frons
more or less transversely depressed at about middle in 99, more
convex in ¢ and with a distinct central furrow in basal half in g;
eyes in ¢ with the coarser facets in upper half marked off from finer
ones in lower half; antennae slightly longer in 99, with joint 1 about
2, or a little more than 2, times as long as 2, joint 2 not very sharply
produced apically above, with joint 3 (text-fig. 230, b and c, 2 left
and ¢ right and outer side of left joints) more slender in 3, becoming
gradually thickened or clavate apically, stouter in 99, the basal half
being less slender, broadest at about the apical fourth and narrowed
again apically; proboscis about 2-2} mm. long. Legs with the claws
normally sickle-shaped, rapidly curved downwards a little beyond
middle. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 230, a).
Types in the South African Museum. |
Length of body: about 43-6 mm.
, ahaa oxaeld
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 169
Length of wing: about 43-5 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Ovamboland; Mafa (Barnard, Feb. 1921)
(Types): N. Damaraland: Tsumeb (Barnard, Feb. 1921).
Easily recognised by the rectangularly prominent axillary lobe, the
entirely black face in 99, the reddish third antennal joints, entirely
silvery whitish pubescence on body, etc. The holotype-3 and a 9-
paratype were referred to and labelled by Bezzi as minor Bezz.
From the 9-type of minor, however, the 99 differ in having an entirely
black face, entirely whitish hair on head below, palps, on femora and
tibiae, much narrower and not spindle-shaped antennal joint 3 and
the anal cell not broadly and constantly open on hind border of wing.
H. soror Bezz.
Peeetoleand 473, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921; p. 109,
The Bombylhidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
There is little doubt that these $¢ and 99, from 8.W. Africa, belong
to this species. There appears to be no. specific and structural
differences between these specimens and the small faded 9-type of
soror on which Bezzi based his description. As the ¢ has not yet
been described and a series of better 99 are available, a fuller re-
description of the species is necessary :—
Body, including face, black; antennal joint 3 pale reddish to orange
yellow, the apical part blackened; tibiae and tarsi brownish, the front
ones even being dark brownish, with the apices of the tibiae also
dark brownish and the last 2 tarsal joints almost black; pubescence
with the erect hairs on body long in 3g, very sparse and shorter in
29, especially on abdomen, also longer and denser on head in 39,
silvery whitish, some intermixed hairs on palps, on head below
towards sides, on prosternal parts and on front femora below dark
or blackish, more so in 99, the rest of the hair on femora and especially
the tibiae white, with the fine, depressed, scale-like pubescence on head
occiput, thorax and abdomen above in 99 comparatively sparse,
sparser than in muscoides, denser only along sides of thorax and
towards apex of abdomen, more silvery on sides of thorax, frons,
occiput and sides of abdomen but distinctly more pale brassy or
sericeous yellowish on disc of thorax and scutellum, becoming more
distinctly brassy or golden towards apex of abdomen, in gd present
only on abdomen and more silvery whitish than in 99, though slightly
pale brassy on disc; wings longer and more developed in 34, slightly
more milky whitish than in muscoides, the costal and basal part
770 Annals of the South African Museum.
more subopaquely whitish, the veins pale yellowish, the alula more
rounded and lobe-like and the opaquely whitish squamae fringed
with whitish hairs; halteres pale brownish to yellowish brown, with
whitish or pale dirty yellowish knobs, blackened above and below
in gS. Head with a central furrow basally on frons in gd, the frons
slightly transversely depressed in 92; antennae with joint 1 very
short, only about 14, or only a little more, times as long as 2, with
joint 2 more or less sharply produced apically above, with joint 3
TExtT-FIG. 231.—(a) Side and ventral views of hypopygium of § Hyperusia
soror Bezz. (b) Antenna of 92, and (c) of ¢ Hyperusia soror Bezz.
(text-fig. 231, b and c, @ and 3, nght one inner side) about 24, or
slightly less, times as long as 1 and 2 combined, gradually broadened
from base, broadest at about apical third or fourth in 33, then rapidly
narrowed again, broader and stouter in 9? (b), the base being less
slender, broadest only a little beyond middle, shghtly flattened or
depressed in both sexes; proboscis short and stout, about 1-14 mm.
long. Abdomen in 99 elongate and pointed apically, the insects
superficially resembling small Mydaids. Legs with the claws markedly
sickle-shaped, rapidly curved downwards, almost at right angles, at
about the middle. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 231, a) much like
that of muscoides but with the beaked apical joints distinctly more
slender especially in apical half; basal strut distinctly larger, broader,
and with the dorsal hook-like process longer; ramus connecting
sides of basal parts to aedeagus also slightly different (cf. text-
figures).
—
-as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennal joint 3 (text-
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 771
Length of body: about 53-7 mm. (very small 3-2 mm.).
Length of wing: about 43-54 mm. (very small 3 mm.).
Locality —S.W. Africa: Damaraland; Otjituo, Okahandya; Kaoko-
veld: Warmbad. (In the British and South African Museums.)
This species is apparently related to, but quite distinct from,
minor Bezz. from Zululand, and it may be taken as the S.W. African
representative of the S.H. African species. From the 2 of minor
these 99 differ in not having a yellowish red spot on each side of the
face, in not having entirely black hair on head below, on femora
and tibiae, and in not having the anal cell of wing constantly open.
H. minor Bezz.
(Pp. 84 and 473, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921; p. 109,
The Bombyhidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
The description of Bezzi is based on a Q-specimen, as is quite
evident from his description of the frons, and not on a ¢ as stated by
him. The 9-type specimen and 2 other 2-specimens
before me are in the South African Museum.
Apart from Bezzi’s description, the chief characters
of this eastern species are as follows:—
The face has a distinct yellowish or reddish yellow
diffuse spot on each side; the hairs on palps, head
below, pectus, femora and tibiae predominantly or
entirely dark or blackish, not pale as stated by Bezzi;
interocular space on vertex in 992 is quite 34 times
fig. 232, left one from inner side) characteristic in
that it is comparatively broad, broadest at about
middle, broader than in any other species, ovate OF payq-mo. 232.—
spindle-shaped, narrowed apically and basally, and Antenna of 9
distinctly hollowed out or depressed on practically Ee a
the entire inner face; frons distinctly transversely
depressed; wings with the anal cell more or less broadly opening on
hind border and also more constantly so than in other species, and
the dirty yellowish knobs of halteres sometimes with a slight darkish
infusion above.
Length of body: about 4-44 mm.
Length of wing: about 34-5 mm.
Locality.— Zululand.
772 Annals of the South African Museum.
2 33 6 99 HA. transvaalensis n. sp.
Body, including antennae, black; face in 99 on each side with a
diffuse yellowish spot, sometimes obscure or more brownish and
even absent; tibiae and tarsi pale ochreous yellow to pale yellowish
brown, the apices of tibiae sometimes slightly darkened and last
or last two tarsal joints and apices of claws blackish; pubescence
with the erect hair on head and body silvery whitish, shorter and
(0) (c) (d) (e)
TEXT-FIG 233.—(a) Side view of beaked apical joint of hypopygium of $ Hyperusia
transvaalensis n. sp. (b) Side view of beaked apical joint of hypopygium of 3
Hyperusia nivea Hesse. (c) Antenna of 9, and (d) of ¢ Hyperusia transvaalensis
n. sp. (e) Antenna of ¢ Hyperusia nivea Hesse.
sparser in 99, only some shorter hairs on posterior part of head below,
those on front femora and also on middle femora in front dark or
blackish, the rest of the pubescence on middle and hind femora and .
the short hairs on all the tibiae (excluding only the dark spicules)
silvery whitish, with the fine, depressed pubescence on thorax and
scutellum above in $2 silvery whitish, becoming very slightly more
yellowish discally on scutellum, that on abdomen denser, denser
again in 99, silvery whitish, but with very faint brassy yellowish
gleams in certain lights in 99 at least, that on venter silvery whitish
and denser in 99; wings vitreous hyaline, with a distinct milky
white tint, the costal cell, basal part of first basal cell and base being
slightly more subopaquely whitish, the veins pale yellowish, the
discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
anal cell acute apically, very shortly stalked or even sessile on hind
border, with the axillary lobe broad and almost rectangularly
prominent posteriorly and the opaquely whitish squamae white-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa, 773
fringed; halteres pale yellowish brown, with very pale yellowish
white to white knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex
in 92 quite 3, or a little more, times as broad as tubercle; frons
slightly transversely depressed in 99; antennae with joint 1 about
24, or a little less, times as long as 2, with 3 (text-fig. 233, ¢ and d,
showing right joints from inner side of both sexes) gradually
widening apically, broadest a little before apex, shghtly more rapidly
broadened in apical part in 3g (d), the fused terminal joints almost
invisible; proboscis about 14-2 mm. long, somewhat thickened
basally, the labella sharply pointed and with sparse spinules; palps
quite as long as antennal joint 3, slightly thickened and clavate
apically. Legs with the spicules on tibiae dark and with 3 long
bristly hairs present across apex of last tarsal joints above, especially
on hind ones, these hairs almost as well developed as in Corsomyza.
Hypopygium of ¢$ like that of soror (cf. text-fig. 231, a), with the
beaked apical joints shaped as shown in text-fig. 233, a, the apical
part rather slender; ramus on each side, joining sides of basal parts
to aedeagus, much like that of soror but slightly more produced
outwardly; basal strut like that of soror.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 4-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-53 mm.
Locality.— Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 21/3/31).
Easily recognised by its entirely black antennae, greyish silvery
pubescence and more conspicuously milky whitish wings. From
muscovdes it differs by the entirely black antennae and other characters
given in the key.
1 § A. nivea Hesse.
(P. 170, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvii, 1936.)
Entire body, including the antennae, black; tibiae and tarsi pale
ochreous yellow, only the last 1 or 2 tarsal joints blackish brown, and
apices of claws black; pubescence with the erect hairs on head,
body above and below, on front femora below, predominantly on
middle femora, entirely on hind femora and tibiae, as well as the
fine depressed pubescence on abdomen, denser above towards apex
and sparse on venter, silvery white, with the hairs on front femora
above and on sides above, on upper front part of middle femora and
some bristly ones on outer upper parts of hind tibiae dark or blackish;
VOL. XXXIV. 50
774 Annals of the South African Museum.
wings almost hyaline, only very indistinctly and faintly tinged
milky whitish, practically only the costal cell, base, basal half of
first posterior cell and to a certain extent the second basal cell being
more distinctly subopaquely milky whitish, the veins pale yellowish,
the costal and first longitudinal veins more conspicuously yellowish,
the anal cell comparatively widely open on hind border, the discal cross.
vein much beyond middle, at least at apical fourth, of discoidal cell,
with the axillary lobe broad, lobe-like, and not markedly subrect-
angularly rounded posteriorly, with the whitish opaque squamae
fringed with white hair; halteres pale yellowish brown, with white
knobs, distinctly darkened below. Head with the eyes on vertex
separated by ocellar tubercle, the space a little broader than the
tubercle; frons without a central furrow, only slightly depressed
medially in front of tubercle; eyes with the coarser upper facets
distinctly marked off from finer ones in about the lower half; antennae
with joint 1 quite 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 (text-fig. 233, e,
right one from inner side) quite 3 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
slender at base, broadened apically, broadest at about apical third,
slightly hollowed or depressed on inner side in apical half; proboscis
about 3 mm. long, becoming stouter basally and with sparse spinules
below; palps about 1 mm. long, not visibly broadened apically.
Legs with at least 3 long bristle-ike hairs apically above on last
tarsal joints as in Corsomyza. Hypopygium also very much like that
of soror (cf. text-fig. 231, a) and transvaalensis; beaked apical joints
shaped as shown in text-fig. 233, b, less slender and shorter apically
than in transvaalensis; rami as in transvaalensis and soror.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 53 mm.
Length of wing: about 54 mm.
Locality.— Bechuanaland: Kaotwe (V.-L. Kal. Exp., 8-12/4/1930).
Recognised by its black antennae, silvery white pubescence,
almost hyaline wings, the comparatively widely open anal cell, as in
minor, etc. H. minor, however, has yellowish red third antennal
joints and predominantly dark or blackish hair on head below and
on legs.
H. luterfacies Bezz.
(P. 108, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This species, described from a single 9-specimen, is not represented
in the collections before me and is the genotype of Hyperusia.
According to the description, it differs markedly from the other
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 775
known species of this genus and is characterised chiefly by the
extensive yellow markings on frons, face, genae, and on occiput,
the yellow first and second antennal joints, the ochreous rufous spots
on scutellum, the more clavate third antennal joints, etc. Tf it
were not for the insertion of the antennae, which is just above the
buccal cavity (see text-fig. 7, p. 109, loc. cit.) this species may easily
be referred to the Corsomyza simplex-series of Corsomyza. Should
luteifacies in fact prove to belong to the above series of Corsomyza,
the genus Hyperusia s. str., based on it, will have to be relegated
as a synonym of Corsomyza. In that case the other species of
Hyperusia described by Bezzi and the new ones described in this
paper would still be entirely distinct from Corsomyza and would then
belong to an entirely different genus.
Gen. Callynthrophora Schin.
(Schiner, p. 313, Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien., vol. xvu, 1867;
Bezzi, p. 80, Ann. 8, Air. Mus.; vol. xvi, 1921.)
Not having seen the genotype-species capensis Schin., I have to
rely on Schiner’s description, on Bezzi’s redescription of the genus,
which he based on marginifrons, and on a new species in the collec-
tions before me for my generic diagnosis of this genus. There is
thus some doubt whether Callynthrophora, as outlined by Bezzi on
a species with two submarginal cells, is generically identical with
that based by Schiner on capensis with three submarginal cells.
Schiner’s generic description of the cephalic characters is rather
vague, and his generic difference of three submarginal cells in this
group of genera is not always valid, as was also stated by Bezzi and
as is evident from the fact that some species of Corsomyza also have
three submarginal cells in the wings. Regarding cephalic characters,
Schiner does not emphasise any dilated or tumid anterior part of the
frons, but merely states that it is very broad across the antennae.
His specific description of capensis is also inadequate and is even
applicable to Corsomyza nigripes Wied., and especially to such forms
as the § of C. anceps Bezz. which show a tendency for three sub-
marginal cells to be present. Provisionally I have to accept Bezzi’s
definition of this genus, which accordingly is characterised by the
comparatively large and broad head, tumidly rounded in front, the
markedly broad frons, which in both sexes is markedly inflated or
tumid in front, the antennae being very low down and just above the
buccal rim as in Hyperusia, the presence of a distinct facial brush
776 Annals of the South African Museum.
as in Corsomyza, the short and thickened first antennal joints, the
presence of a dense coat of silvery whitish, very short, spinule-like
pubescence on inner side at least of antennal joint 2, the slender
third antennal joints with spear-blade or arrow-head shaped, clavate
apical parts, the comparatively short proboscis, long palps, quite
half as long as proboscis, the comparatively sparse pubescence on
body above in 99, the relatively bare pleural regions, the presence
of 2 or 3 submarginal cells on wings, the apically acute and sometimes
shortly stalked anal cell, the widely open first posterior cell, absence
of a basal comb and narrow, somewhat reduced, alula, the presence
of slender hairs only on femora below and no spines, with only a
lower outer and a lower row of spicules on front tibiae, 3 rows of
more bristle-like spicules on middle tibiae and with at least 4 rows
of spicules on hind tibiae in addition to short and longer hairs, with
the apical hairs above on last tarsal joints absent or inconspicuously
minute, and with the claws and pulvilli well developed. The last
sternite in the gg is notched apically at middle. The hypopygium
of gg (text-figs. 234 and 235, a) like that of Corsomyza, etc.; basal
parts with a posterior lobe; beaked apical joints with the beak also
acute, but much less laterally compressed and the crest of bristly
hairs along upper dorsal part less dense; aedeagus more acute apically
and from side less broad than in Corsomyza, also without a ventral
process; lateral and basal struts small, the latter not projecting
basally.
This genus is nearest to Corsomyza, from which it may be readily
distinguished by the markedly inflated and tumid, broad frons,
short and more thickened first antennal joints, which are inserted
much lower down and just above the buccal rim, by the presence of
a dense coat of minute, spinule-like pubescence on second antennal
joints, the absence of 3 distinct, long and conspicuous bristles or
bristly hairs above apically on last tarsal joints and by the hypo-
pygium of the g¢ (cf. text-figs. 234, 235, a, and 214-227).
Key to the known species.
1. (2) Wings with only 2 submarginal. cells constantly present, more greyishly
hyaline, less distinctly yellowish or smoky yellowish towards costal
and basal part; halteres with the knobs darkened or blackish above
and below even in 99; femora with predominantly dark or blackish
hairs below and, even in 99, with numerous intermixed blackish hairs;
mesopleural tuft, especially in $3, with numerous intermixed black
hairs; eyes in gg with the coarser facets in upper half not well marked
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. TT7
off from finer ones in lower half; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 234, 6) with
the arrow-head shaped clavate apical part having the lower lamina
“more developed even in 9° and with joint 1 reddish; pubescence on
body above distinctly paler, more whitish or pale straw-coloured
3 2 marginifrons Bezz. (p. 777).
2. (1) Wings with 3 submarginal cells constantly present, slightly more distinctly
tinged yellowish or darker and more smoky greyish towards costal
and basal parts; halteres with the knobs entirely white or very pale
yellowish; femora with predominantly paler or whitish hairs, the inter-
mixed dark ones much fewer; mesopleural tuft entirely whitish or
yellowish; eyes in gg with the coarser upper facets well marked off
from finer lower ones; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 235, b) with the thickened
apical part slightly longer, narrower and more spear-blade shaped, the
lower lamina not more dilated or produced than upper one or the
thickened apical part is more club-shaped and with joint 1 black; pubes-
cence above distinctly more yellowish, either more creamy yellowish or
reddish yellow . : : : : : ; : 2 oe ee
3. (4) Wings distinctly tinged more smoky greyish towards costal and basal
parts, the costal cell and base, however, more yellowish again; facial
brush pale creamy yellowish, almost whitish in certain lights, and face,
genae and front half of frons very pale yellowish, almost pallid; pubes-
cence on body above much paler, straw-coloured yellowish on thorax,
becoming more creamy yellowish to pale sericeous yellow on scutellum
and abdomen above in certain lights, the hair on body below and base
of abdomen paler and more straw-coloured whitish; halteres pale
yellowish brown, with almost white knobs
j 6 hastaticornis n. sp. (p. 778).
: 4. (3) Wings not tinged smoky greyish towards base, only pale yellowish; facial
brush reddish yellow and the head blackish; pubescence on body above
and below entirely reddish yellow, the legs with scattered paler hairs;
halteres sulphur yellowish . & 2 capensis Schin. (ex descr.) (p. 780).
C. marginifrons Bezz.
GE yo0) Aan. Acr, Mus.,vol. xvii, 1921, Pl. I, fig. 15;
Bezzi, p. 180, loc. cit., referred to as magnifrons.)
Fully described on pp. 80-82 by Bezzi, but the following notes
may be added:—
The third antennal joints (text-fig. 234, b, $ left one from outer
side) with the lower lamina of the arrow-head shaped clavate apical
part more dilated and prominent than the upper one; antennal
joint 2, as in the other species, covered with a dense coat of short,
fine, erect, silvery whitish, spinule-like pubescence; pubescence on
body above not pale yellowish but more straw-coloured to straw-
; coloured yellowish, and sometimes slightly more yellowish in 99,
778 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the hairs on palps not white, as stated by Bezzi, but dark blackish
brown like those on head below; wings more greyish hyaline, the
TEXT-FIG. 234.—(a) Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of g Callynthrophora marginifrons Bezz. (b) Antenna of ¢ of same species.
costal cell and base being sometimes tinged more yellowish; halteres
more or less tinted brownish above in both sexes. Hypopygiwm of
$ (text-fig. 234, a).
Locality.— Namaqualand.
1 3 C. hastaticornis n. sp.
Body, including antennae and legs, black; front part of frons,
face and parts of genae pale ochreous yellow; claws reddish yellow,
with blackish apices; facial brush creamy yellowish; pubescence
with the erect hairs on frons, surrounding facial brush, on genae
and head below laterally, the intermixed stoutish bristly ones on
antennal joint 1 above and below, the intermixed hairs towards apex
and on outer side of front femora, those on outer and inner sides
apically on middle femora, some intermixed ones on hind femora
and pubescence on hind tibiae black, with the erect pubescence on
body above straw-coloured yellowish, that on ocellar tubercle,
occiput, front part of thorax and in tuft in front of wings almost
white, straw-coloured whitish, that on disc of thorax, scutellum and
abdomen above more straw-coloured yellowish, becoming pale
sericeous yellowish to very pale yellowish in certain lights on abdomen
at least, that on head below, on pleural and pectoral parts, venter
and predominantly on coxae and the femora below whitish; wings
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. T79
greyish hyaline, but distinctly, though faintly, pale yellowish brown
towards costal and basal parts and to a lesser extent in second basal
cell, the costal cell and base being slightly more distinctly yellowish,
with the veins brownish, the discal cross vein and basal cross vein
of fourth posterior cell tending to be darkened, with 3 submarginal .
cells present, with the slightly brownish-bordered and opaquely
whitish squamae white-fringed; halteres pale yellowish, with ivory
whitish knobs. Head conspicuously broad, with the coarser facets
TEXT-FIG. 235.—(a) Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Callynthrophora hastaticornis n. sp. (6b) Antenna of g of same species.
of eyes in upper part distinctly marked off from finer lower ones in
less than the lower half; antennae with joint 1 barrel-shaped, with
_a distinct sharp prominence apically above on joint 2 and also with
the dense coat of spinule-like pubescence on 2 silvery whitish, with
joint 3 (text-fig. 235, b) slender, elongate, the thickened apical part
spear-blade shaped; proboscis about 14 mm. long; palps white-haired
and reaching slightly beyond middle of proboscis. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 235, a) differs from that of marginifrons in having more and
longer hairs on basal parts, a slightly differently shaped beaked apical
joint (cf. figures), a distinctly longer and more slender aedeagus, etc.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 8 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality.—_W. Cape Province: Clanwilliam (Brauns, Sept. 1928).
This species differs from marginifrons in having entirely black
antennae, predominantly whitish or pale hairs on palps and femora,
the presence of 3 submarginal cells on the wings, etc.
780 Annals of the South African Museum.
C. capensis Schin.
(Schiner, p. 140, Reise d. Novara. Dipt. Zool. Pt.,
vol. u, pt. 1, 1868.)
This species, described from the Cape, is unknown to me, but is
characterised, according to the description, by the dense reddish
yellow pubescence of the body, the reddish yellow facial brush,
blackish brown antennae and proboscis, pale scattered hairs on legs,
practically hyaline wings, which are only slightly yellowish at base,
etc. For further remarks on this species see under the generic
description.
Gen. Gnumyia Bezz.
(P. 82, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvm; 1921; Malloch, paai2e
Stylops, 1, fig. 8 and 3 A, 1932.)
This genus was fully described by Bezzi and was erected to contain
a species represented by a single g, and not a 2 as stated by Bezzi.
It is nearest to Callynthrophora Schin., but is, however, entirely
different generically in many respects. It is characterised by the
large and broad head, the characteristically inflated and tumid
appearance of the head in front, the genae and front part of face
being almost roundly inflated, the buccal part of face being separated
from the broad genae by a furrow becoming deeper lower down and
the buccal cavity is proportionally small; antennae inserted very
high up above dorsal part of buccal rim, with the first joints widely
separated, more widely than in any other genus in this series, com-
paratively short, with joint 2 nodular or subglobular, scarcely longer
than broad and with the upper apical part produced into a longish,
styliform process, more so than in any other genus in this group,
with joint 3 elongate, slender or equally broad throughout and not
ending in a clavate apical part as in Corsomyza and Callynthrophora,
the extreme apex being pointed; proboscis remarkably short and
stout, scarcely, or not, longer than buccal cavity, the labella tumid
and broad, more like that of a Muscid and with conspicuous scattered
spinules; palps shorter than the proboscis and not longer as stated
by Bezzi, slender, without distinct separately visible joints; wings
with 3 submarginal cells present, with the anal cell very angularly
acute apically and provided with a very short stalk, with the axillary
lobe well developed, without a basal comb and with the alula narrow,
but still lobe-like; pubescence on body distinctly less dense and also
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 781
shorter than in g¢ of Corsomyza and Callynthrophora, that on ocellar
tubercle and vertex longer than the other hairs on head, a distinct
concentrated facial brush is absent, the hairs on genae and extreme
front part of face being distinctly more dense and longer than the
less dense and even scattered short hairs on face in front, that on
thorax being more dense on sides, but even there distinctly less dense
than in Corsomyza and Callynthrophora and the mesopleuron has no
characteristic dense tuft, with less dense hairs on pleurae than on
body above but on the whole with more hair than in the other two
genera, only the metapleurae being entirely bare and even the small
tuft below halteres being wanting; abdomen above with distinctly
sparser and shorter pubescence than in the above-named two genera,
that laterally, however, slightly longer and denser than above, there
being no stoutish bristly hairs or bristles across the hind margins as
stated by Bezzi; last sternite in gg notched apically at the middle;
legs with only longish and dense pubescence on femora below, without
any spines, the tibiae also hairy, dense pubescence being present on
hind ones and only with a few stoutish spicules in an outer lower
row on front tibiae, an inner and outer lower row on middle ones
and more or less three rows on hind ones, with more than 3 hairs
apically above on last tarsal joints as in Callynthrophora. Hypo-
pyguum of 3S (text-figs. 236 and 237) with the beaked apical joints
more or less triangular when viewed from above, the outer side
subangularly produced or at least much produced, the beak distinct
and slender, the joints not laterally compressed but distinctly more
dorsoventrally; basal parts more or less shaped as in text-fig. 237,
in both the known species, finely shagreened and with fine hairs;
aedeagus resembling that of other genera in this group and without
a ventral process; lateral and basal struts small.
The genus is at present represented by only 2 species, the genotype
species brevirostris Bezz. and another new species, fuscipennis,
described below. The 99 of both species are still unknown.
Key to the species.
1. (2) Wings whitish or greyish hyaline, with the costal and basal parts slightly
tinged more yellowish, the costal cell, base of marginal cell, basal half
of first basal cell and base being more subopaquely yellowish white,
the veins on the whole paler and more yellowish; antennae with joint 1
slightly longer, about 2 times as long as 2 and joint 3 entirely black;
lower part of hind margins of eyes and posteriorly below eyes entirely
black or without a small yellowish white spot; posterior calli or at least
scutellum entirely black or at least not distinctly rufous; legs with
782 Annals of the South African Museum.
less dense or conspicuous pubescence on femora and the hind tibiae not
conspicuously feathery; hypopygium (text-fig. 236) with the beaked
apical joints distinctly more dorsoventrally compressed, the beak
longer and the outer side more subangular, with the aedeagus as shown
in figure . : ; 3S brevirostris Bezz. (p. 782).
2. (1) Wings distinctly esa soley baseniaky becoming much darker, even
brownish in costal cell, bases of marginal and enclosed submarginal cells,
first basal cell, extreme base of discoidal cell, to a large extent the second
basal cell and base, the costal cell and first basal cell being slightly
darker, subopaque and the subapical part of costal cell across veins to
the apical part of first basal cell being visibly much darker, with a diffuse
transverse band at base of wing across bases of veins, another diffuse
spot just beyond middle of first basal cell and the apex of costal cell
paler and more subopaquely yellowish white, with a clear spot near apex
of second basal cell, with the veins darker, more brownish and darker
in the more darkly infuscated parts; antennae with joint 1 slightly
shorter, distinctly less than 2 times as long as 2 and with joint 3 muddy
yellowish to middle or beyond middle; head along lower part of hind
margins of eyes and posteriorly below eyes diffusely and more extensively
yellowish white; posterior calli and disc of scutellum obscure reddish
brown; legs with denser and more conspicuous pubescence on femora,
and the hind tibiae more conspicuously feathery; hypopygium (text-
fig. 237) with the beaked apical joints distinctly less dorsoventrally
compressed, the dorsum more convex, the beak slightly shorter and the
outer side more broadly rounded, with the aedeagus more slender
(cf. text-figs. 237 and 236) . : F 3o fuscipennis n. sp. (p. 783).
G. brevirostris Bezz.
(P. 83, Ann, S. Air. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921; Malloch, po i2G;
Stylops, 1, fig. 3 and 3 A, 1932.)
This species, originally described from a single specimen by Bezzi,
is represented by the g-type, not a2 as stated by Bezzi, in the South
African Museum and by 3 other gg in the collections beforeme. The
species 1s characterised by the entirely dark third antennal joints,
the muddy brownish or yellowish head in front, the slender palps
which are about as long as slender part of proboscis (excluding the
labella), the entirely black pubescence on body and legs, which is
dense on front part of frons and lower parts of genae on each side
and which on abdomen is fine, there being no transverse rows of
black bristles across the hind margins as stated by Bezzi (the type-
specimen was evidently pinned after having been preserved in fluid
and hence the close adherence of individual hairs to resemble bristles) ;
scutellum entirely black or at least not distinctly rufous; wings
whitish or greyish hyaline, with the costal and basal parts tinged
as
A Reversion of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 783
slightly more yellowish, the costal cell and base being more sub-
opaquely yellowish white, the squamae dull brownish and with a
dark fringe; legs with the pubescence on hind tibiae at least not
conspicuously feathery. Hypopygium (text-fig. 236) with the basal
parts shaped as in text-figure (too straight in my drawing), the
integument of the basal parts very faintly shagreened in’ certain
lights; beaked apical joints more or less flattened, the outer side
TEXxT-FIG. 236.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of ¢ Gnumyia brevirostris Bezz.
being subangularly prominent and the beak slender, directed down-
wards and slightly outwards, the bristly hairs more or less confined
to postero-lateral parts; aedeagus as shown in figure.
Locality—South-Western and Western Cape Province, Great
Namaqualand and Southern Rhodesia. (In the British and South
African Museums.)
As I have not seen the Rhodesian specimens, figured by Malloch
in Stylops (loc. cit.), I am unable to state from Malloch’s figures
of the head, antenna and wing whether these specimens belong to
the same species as brevirostris Bezz. The third antennal joint, in
the type of brevirostris and the 3 other 3d, is distinctly more slender,
more rod-shaped and not so markedly spindle-shaped as that figured
by Malloch.
3 3S G. fuscipennis n. sp.
Body black; antennal joints 1 and 2 and basal half or two-thirds
of joint 3, the greater part of front part of frons, the entire face and
genae and the front part of head below pale muddy yellow to muddy
brown; basal part of frons, extending along eye-margins on each
784 Annals of the South African Museum.
side, blackish brown or black; posterior calli and scutellum discally
obscurely dark reddish brown to reddish; pleurae infused with very
dark blackish brown and the legs also very dark blackish brown to
black; lower part of head below eyes and along hind margins of
eyes in lower half on each side more or less ivory yellowish; claws
yellowish brown, their apical halves blackened; pubescence on
head and body above and below and also on legs entirely very dark,
soft, blackish brown to black, appearing sooty black in certain lights,
but having a distinct very dark mauvish black or brownish tint in
others, the erect hairs on ocellar tubercle longer than on rest of head,
those transversely at about middle of frons, on lower parts of genae
and in lower parts of the furrows between genae and buccal part
very dense and denser than on face in front, those on body above
sparser and shorter discally on thorax and abdomen, those on sides
of abdomen being slightly denser and longer again, with the hairs on
each side in front of wing-bases not concentrated into a distinct tuft,
those on pleurae sparse, those on femora comparatively dense, much
denser than in brevirostris and those on hind tibiae markedly dense
and even more feathery in appearance; wings tinged smoky brownish
to brownish, becoming much darker and more distinctly brownish
in costal cell and towards bases of the other cells and base, the apical
part of costal cell, a diffuse spot at about middle of first basal cell
and a transverse diffuse spot at base being much paler and more
yellowish to yellowish white and more or less separating a darker
brownish area across apical and basal parts of first basal cell, with
a conspicuous, subopaque, whitish spot at apex of second basal cell
more or less coalescing with the more yellowish white one at middle
of first basal cell, with the veins yellowish, the main longitudinal
ones, however, darker and more brownish, with the opaquely dark
brownish squamae fringed dark blackish brown; halteres brownish,
with very pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the eyes separated
above on vertex by a space broader than the broad ocellar tubercle,
about two-thirds as broad again as tubercle; eyes with the coarser
facets in upper half not very well marked off from finer ones below;
antennae with joint 1 very short, less than 2 times as long as 2,
more widely separated than two posterior ocelli, with a comparatively
long finger-like process apically above on joint 2, with joint 3 rod-
like, slender, its apex pointed and with the apical part slightly
depressed on inner side; proboscis about 1 mm. long, stoutish,
horny, with sparse, but distinct, spinules below, with the labella
broad, fleshy, also sparsely spinulated and shaped like that of some
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 785
Muscidae; palps slender, slightly shorter than in brevirostris, not
quite as long as slender part of proboscis. Hypopygium (text-fig. 237)
differs from that of brevirostris in having the basal parts more dis-
tinctly shagreened, less flattened beaked apical joints, with the dorsum
more convex, the outer lateral part more broadly rounded and the
beak distinctly shorter, with the aedeagus from side more slender,
TEXT-F1G. 237.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of g Gnumyia fuscipennis n. sp.
its apical curved part more slender, longer and more broadly curved
(cf. text-figs. 236 and 237).
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 5-8 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-64 mm.
Locality —S.E. Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 10/12/20) (Type).
Gouph Karoo: Letjiesbos (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
Hasily recognised and distinguished from brevirostris Bezz. by its
brownish infuscated wings and by other characters given in the key.
Crocidium-Group.
To this group I am referring Crocidiwm Lw., Apatomyza Wied. and
Adelogenys n. gen. The group is characterised by having a humped
thorax, by having the anal cell of wings closed and acute apically and
usually provided with a short or very short stalk as in the Corsomyza-
Group and in the Palaearctic Uswnae, by having the second longi-
tudinal vein and the vein separating the two submarginal cells
practically straight or very little bent upwards at their ends, by not
786 Annals of the South African Museum.
having a distinct basal comb, by the relatively sparse pubescence,
especially in 99, by the absence of distinct, stouter, transverse bristles
in rows on abdomen, by having distinct and sometimes dense scaling
on body, by the entire absence of any distinct spines on femora below,
the comparatively poorly developed spicules on tibiae, the presence
of a distinct longer, usually yellowish and dark-tipped apical spur
below on middle tibiae in both sexes and by the usually long and
conspicuous two-jointed palps, the apical joint of which is short and
usually distinct. From the Corsomyza-Group this group may at once
be distinguished by the absence of a circular facial brush, much sparser
and less shaggy pubescence, the different type of third antennal joints,
longer legs and different type of hypopygium in 3g. |
Gen. Crocidium Lw.
(P. 195, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., 1, 1860; Becker, p. 485, Ann. Mus. Zool.
Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912; Bezzi, p. 92, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Paramonow, p. 182, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev.,
Noy tl 193i.)
This genus is characterised by the somewhat humped body, the
rather sparse pubescence and the absence of distinct, long or stoutish
bristles, by the entire absence of spines on femora below, the presence
of a comparatively long spur or spine apically below on middle tibiae,
the absence of a basal comb to wings, the almost straight second
longitudinal vein and vein separating submarginal cells, the apically
acute and closed anal cell, the presence of 4 posterior cells of which the
first opens broadly on the hind border and the markedly broad, lobate
axillary lobe. Originally Crocodvum was referred to the Phthirinae
by Loew and subsequently retained therein by Becker and Bezzi.
When compared with what I take to represent the true Phthiriines,
of which the genus Phthiria Meig. is typical, itis evident that Crocidium
and related genera, such as Adelogenys n. gen. and Apatomyza Wied.,
can no longer be retained in the Phthirunae but apparently form a
group by themselves which can only be relegated to the Bombylinae.
Compared with Phthiria, as representative of the Phthirwnae, it differs
in the following points:—(a) The palps are distinctly two-jointed,
with the apical joint very short. (b) The face is distinctly more
developed and more prominent above the buccal cavity and in front
of the antennae. (c) Frons in 99 not convex in front but more or less
centrally or slightly transversely depressed just behind antennae, thus
not markedly tumid behind antennae towards apex. (d) The third
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 787
antennal joints are, on the whole, narrower and are without an apical
spine-like process and also have the terminal elements, in form of a
style, terminal, the first antennal joint is always much longer. (e)
The wings have the second longitudinal vein and upper vein of second
submarginal cell slightly less straight at their ends. (f) The spicules
on the tibiae are distinctly longer, more developed and more con-
spicuous, and the middle tibiae have one apical spine or spur elongated
and yellowish. (g) The hypopygium of the $¢ have the inner apical
part of basal parts not produced into a conspicuous or long apically
spinulated process.
On the other hand, its relationship to the Bombyliines is more
evident and superficially there is even some resemblance to Bombylius
and Chasmoneura. From Bombylius it may, however, at once be dis-
tinguished by the open first posterior cell, acute and closed anal cell
and almost straight ends of the veins in upper apical part of the wings
as well as the entire absence of spines on the femora below. From
Dischistus s. str. it is distinguished by the much sparser and shorter
pubescence, almost straight veins in apical part of wings, the closed
and acute anal cell, very broad axillary lobe, etc. From Doliogethes
and Chasmoneura it differs by most of the above-mentioned wing-
characters and by the absence of spines on the femora below.
The hypopygvum of the 33 (text-figs. 238-245) without a very long
lobe-like process at bases of basal parts but with a distinct process
present; beaked apical joints either slender, elongate, cylindrical,
sparse-haired and acutely pointed or flattened and twisted as shown
in text-figs. 239 and 240; aedeagus well developed, without a ventral
process, joined on to base of basal parts on each side by a flange or
flap-like ramus (cf. text-figs.); lateral struts either strongly developed,
elongate and directed outwards or much shorter and directed obliquely
downwards or basally; basal strut racket-shaped or tending to be
chopper-shaped.
The known species of this genus have been divided into two distinct
sections in this paper, of which the second section, with unspotted
wings, very much longer proboscis, longer first antennal joints, more
slender and rod-like third antennal joints, brilliantly shining frons and
face and ivory yellowish transverse band on facial region in 99 and
shghtly longer pubescence, is not strictly genotypical according to
Loew and Becker. These differences are, however, not so distinctive
as to justify the erection of a separate genus, and provisionally species
in the second group have been retained in the genus Crocidiwm where
they may be taken as representing transitional forms.
788 Annals of the South African Museum.
Key to the known species of Crocidium.
1. (8) Wings more or less opaquely whitish or distinctly tinged yellowish, dusky
or smoky greyish and always with distinct and conspicuous spot-like
infuscations on cross veins and on other veins or with bands of dark
cloudiness, more or less broken up into spots, the wings showing a mottled
appearance; frons and face in 99 and face in §¢ usually dull and not
brilliantly shining black, the facial region in 992 without a broad ivory
whitish or yellowish band across genae and buccal cavity; proboscis
much shorter and stouter, usually less than 2 mm. long; antennae
with joint 1 usually much shorter than 3 times as long as 2 and, when
about 3 times as long, wings are spotted, with joint 3 usually broader
from side, more humped in appearance; pubescence on the whole denser
in both sexes, but shorter in f¢ . : , ; ' ; ad Maen
(Section 1.)
2. (3) Wings with more rounded spots as follows: at fork of second and third
longitudinal veins, at apex of second basal cell, across apices of anal
and axillary cells, at apex of first basal cell, an elongate one along vein
between discoidal and second and third posterior cells, at base of vein
between marginal and first submarginal cells, at end of second longi-
tudinal vein and small ones near ends of veins in posterior part of wings,
with the rest of wings not cloudy or dusky; scutellum entirely black;
pubescence, ing at least, entirely or predominantly silvery whitish;
halteres with the knobs darkened or blackened above; hypopygium of
¢ (text-fig. 238) with the beaked apical joints slender, cylindrical and
elongate and with the lateral struts longer
3 poecilopterum Lw. (p. 792).
3. (2) Wings with the infuscations less rounded, with a tendency to form trans-
verse bands of spot-like infuscations or with cloudiness in the cells from
apex of costal cell to hind border or from middle of costal cell to hind
border, or even from apex of marginal cell across to posterior cells, or
the wings are tinged smoky or dusky; scutellum with at least hind
margin reddish; pubescence not entirely silvery or sericeous whitish
above and below; halteres in both sexes with the knobs very pale
yellowish or whitish; hypopygium of jg (text-figs. 239-240) with the
beaked apical joints much flattened, broader, more leaf-like and peculiarly
shaped and with the lateral struts much shorter. : ; . 4
4. (7) Wings more or less subopaquely whitish or very pale yellowish white,
with distinct and conspicuous dark spots, at middle of first basal cell,
on apical cross veins of first and second basal cells, at apex or apical part
of anal cell, at base of vein between discoidal and third posterior cells,
on apical cross vein of discoidal cell, at base of vein between submarginal
cells, at apical part of costal cell and also with dark cloudiness or spot-like
cloudiness in some or most of the cells, with the veins pale yellowish in
uninfuscated parts; abdomen above with broadish or conspicuous
yellowish or reddish yellow hind margins in both sexes and femora pre-
dominantly or entirely yellowish in 99, the apices or apical parts more
extensively yellowish in gg; pubescence on head below, coxae and
on venter very pale, whitish, pale sericeous yellowish or straw-coloured
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 789
yellowish, that on disc of thorax in known g¢ at least without much
intermixed dark hair . : ‘ : : 2D.
5. (6) Wings with dark brownish infuscations a base of common sustei of second
and third longitudinal veins, on apical cross veins of first and second
basal cells, at base of vein between submarginal cells, along veins
separating discoidal and third posterior cells and discoidal and second
posterior cells, at apex of supernumerary vein in costal cell and also °
along vein between anal and fourth posterior cells and to a certain extent
along the posterior veins, with a spot-like cloudiness at middle of second
basal cell, at base of first submarginal cell across middle of first base!
cell to base of discoidal cell, and another towards apex of first sub-
marginal cell, with the discoidal cell broader and more triangular;
antennae with joint 1 shorter, only a little more than 2 times as long as
2, with 3 short, laterally compressed, much broadened at about or just
before middle, more humped; face shorter; pubescence on face, genae
and head below distinctly shorter, much sparser and more yellowish,
that and the scaling on head above, thorax above and scutellum,
especially in 99, sericeous to golden yellowish; red on abdomen above
less extensive, only the hind ee reddish; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
figs 239) . : . 6 2 chrysonotum n. sp. (p. 793).
6. (5) Wings with slightly denice ind more dark blackish brown infuscations on
the same sites on cross veins and veins, but also with more extensive
spot-like cloudiness at middle of costal cell and across to apical parts of
anal and axillary cells, at apex of costal cell and across apex of marginal
cell, middle of first submarginal cell, base of second submarginal cell,
middle of first posterior cell, middle of second posterior cell to greater
part of third posterior cell and even apical part of fourth posterior cell,
with the discoidal cell relatively narrower, not triangular; antennae
with joint 1 distinctly longer at least 3 times as long as 2, with 3 very
much longer, more slender, less broadened and only gradually narrowed
apically, the first terminal element also very much longer; face much
longer; pubescence on face, genae, and head below, very much denser
and longer, more shaggy and white, that and the scaling on head above,
thorax above and scutellum in @2 at least deep, orange or cinnabar,
reddish golden; red on abdomen above in 2 more extensive, tergites 2—4
discally being predominantly reddish . Q pterostictum n. sp. (p. 795).
7. (4) Wings uniformly darkly tinged dusky or smoky, with the base, basal part
of costal cell, a spot just in front of fork of second longitudinal vein
and another near apex of second basal cell subopaquely whitish and
with the dark spot-like infuscations less distinct and only indicated,
only that at apex of costal cell and those on apical cross veins of first
and second basal cells spot-like and distinct, with the veins very dark
or blackish and only yellowish at extreme base of wings; abdomen
above with narrower yellowish hind margins and the femora blackened
to much beyond middle in both sexes, almost entirely black in ¢¢;
pubescence on ocellar tubercle, on head below, on coxae and on venter
towards apex in both sexes very dark or blackish, that on disc of thorax
in ¢¢ with very numerous or much intermixed black hairs; hypopygium
of g (text-fig. 240) . ‘ 2 - 6 2 phaeopteralis n. sp. (p. 797).
VOL. XXXIV. 51
790
Annals of the South African Museum.
8. (1) Wings hyaline or vitreous hyaline or greyish hyaline, at most with a very
faint scarcely perceptible milky white tint in certain lights, without
any spots, spot-like infuscations or dark spot-like cloudiness or with
only a faint infuscation on apical cross veins of first and second basal
cells, the wings never showing a speckled or mottled appearance; frons
and face in 99 and face in 9 brilliantly shining black or with a distinet
tendency to be so, and the facial region in 9° at least yellowish or with
a broad ivory whitish or yellowish band across genae and buccal cavity;
proboscis longer, more slender, and usually more than 2 mm. long,
sometimes very long; antennae with joint 1 usually distinctly longer,
at least 3 times as long as 2, with joint 3 more slender, less broadened
from side; pubescence on the whole or usually sparser in both sexes,
but longer in $¢ ‘ : A : A ; ' : Nemes
(Section 2.)
9. (18) Legs entirely black in both sexes, the longer yellowish spur apically below
on middle tibiae not markedly long; abdomen entirely black or with
only relatively very narrow and inconspicuous yellowish hind margins;
face slightly broader and more conically prominent or spout-like,
especially in 99, distinctly smoother and more brilliantly shining black
in both sexes, with the paler and more ivory whitish transverse band
across facial region in 9° narrower, less extensive and confined to lower
half or part of genae; wings without a very distinct indication of a spot-
like infuscation on apical cross veins of first and second basal cells and,
where slightly indicated, legs are entirely black, with the veins on the
whole more extensively dark or black; pubescence tending to be less
dense and sparser, that on sides of face, genae, head below, on front part
of pleurae, on front coxae and front femora even in fg usually less dense
and shaggy, without any or much hair on face medially . : ~- els
10. (15) Palps conspicuous, long and projecting, very much longer than, or at
least as long as first and second antennal joints, and usually thicker;
frons in 99 more medially depressed anteriorly, not transversely from
side to side; pubescence slightly denser and, in gg, more conspicuous,
with the scaling, especially on body below, narrower and less conspicuous;
eyes in known gg with the coarser upper facets imperceptibly grading
into finer lower ones . : , : . ae
11. (12) Wings with all the veins entirely black or blackish even to extreme base,
12. (11
~~
the wings themselves more obviously tinted milky whitish; halteres with
the knobs entirely black above; legs entirely black, not even the knees
pallid; pubescence on the whole denser, that on body below and abdomen
in gg at least, denser and more shaggy, entirely frosty white above and
below; hypopygium (text-fig. 241) : 3 melanopalis n. sp. (p. 800).
Wings with the veins not entirely dark or black, the costal veins and the
others distinctly yellowish or pale yellowish towards base, the wings
themselves more vitreous hyaline; halteres with the knobs entirely very
pale above or only slightly pale brownish, not black above; legs with
the knees, even if only narrowly, pallid or yellowish; pubescence on the
whole sparser, that on body below and abdomen in known 3 less shaggy
and dense, that on occiput and thorax above tending to be yellowish,
pale sericeous yellowish to brownish yellow even in 9@ . : . Id.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 791
13. (14) Wings with the apical cross veins of first and second basal cells not
showing an indication to be distinctly darker, with the discal cross
vein at least at apical third of discoidal cell; palps on the whole narrower,
very much shorter, with finer and sparser hairs and with the apical joint
shorter, very short and not longer than antennal joint 2; proboscis
stouter, the labrum-epipharynx broader and more strongly developed;
pubescence on occiput and thorax above paler
2 nitidilabris n. sp. (p. 801).
14. (13) Wings with a faint indication of a distinct darker infuscation on apical
15. (10
)
cross veins of first and second basal cells, with the discal cross vein a
little beyond middle of discoidal cell and at least at more than apical
third of discoidal cell; palps conspicuous, very elongate, much broader
and more strap-like, especially towards apical part, with denser and
distinctly more numerous hairs and with the apical joint longer, longer
than antennal joint 2 and also not broader than apical part of basal
joint; proboscis distinctly more slender, the labrum-epipharynx narrower;
pubescence on thorax above darker and more brownish, that on sides
of face very dark brownish; hypopygium (text-fig. 242)
3 nigrifacies Bezz. (p. 802).
Palps very much and distinctly shorter, inconspicuous and confined
to base of proboscis, shorter than antennal joints 1 and 2 together,
very slender and with a very short apical joint; frons in 29° with a distinct
transverse depression from side to side; pubescence slightly sparser,
sparser even in gd, with the scaling, especially on body below and in
99, broader and more lanceolate; eyes in gg with the upper coarser
facets well marked off from finer lower ones . : LG:
16. (17) Proboscis very long and slender, about 3-4 mm. Tene palpe shorter ;
abdomen with the hind margins scarcely or only very narrowly pallid
in 99, practically entirely black in gg; ivory whitish or yellowish
transverse band across facial region in 9 distinctly broader, even ex-
tending to part of head below; knobs of halteres in gg darkened or
blackened above; wings with second longitudinal vein undulating;
pubescence on genae and head below and on abdomen denser and longer;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 243) . 3 2 phaenochilum n. sp. (p. 803).
17. (16) Proboscis much shorter, shorter than 3 mm.; palps slightly longer and
more conspicuous; abdomen with the hind margins of the segments
distinctly more broadly or more conspicuously pallid or yellowish, even
in gg and the hind margin of scutellum in 22 sometimes also yellowish;
ivory whitish or yellowish transverse band across facial region in 2°
distinctly narrower, not extending on to part of head below; knobs
of halteres in fg entirely whitish or pale; wings with the second longi-
tudinal vein straight; pubescence on genae and head below and on
abdomen, especially in 99, shorter and sparser; hypopygium of ¢
(text-fig. 244) . 2 2 2 . &d & depressifrons n. sp. (p. 805).
18. (9) Legs with the extreme apices or apical parts of femora and sometimes
the entire hind femora, greater part or entire hind tibiae, greater part or
basal part or even entire middle tibiae, the bases of front ones and the
bases of tarsi yellowish, with the longer spur apically below on middle
tibiae markedly long and much paler yellowish; abdomen usually with
792 Annals of the South African Museum.
much broader and more conspicuous yellowish hind margins, even in
64; face narrower and more convex or conical in both sexes, not entirely
smooth and shining, always with some pubescence, even medially,
with the greater part of facial region in 992 yellowish to ochreous, the
yellow not only occupying most of the genae but sometimes extending
on to sides of face and even up to level of antennae; wings with a
constant and distinct spot-like infuscation on apical cross veins of first
and second basal cells, with the veins more extensively yellowish in basal
half; pubescence comparatively denser, slightly longer and more shaggy
on face, genae, head below, front part of pleurae, on front coxae and on
front femora, with some or even much hair on face medially, that on
occiput, thorax above, and scutellum appearing reddish or brownish
in certain lights; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 245)
3S 2 karooanum n. sp. (p. 807).
In here also immaculatum Bezz. (in lit.).
SECTION 1.
C. poecilopterum Lw.
(P. 195, Dipt. Faun Stidafr., i,.1860, Tab. Il, fig. 8, a9b anda
Bezzi, p. 93, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Paramonow,
p. 185, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 11, 1931.)
Loew, in his Latin synopsis, states that his specimen is a 2, but
from his description of the eyes, . . . “Augen vollsténdig zusammen-
Trxt-Fric. 238.—Greater part of ventral view and side view of hypopygium
of 3 Crocidium poecilopterum Lw.
stossend”’ and from the figure of the head on Table II, it is obvious
that the specimen is a g. Bezzi’s description of the “hitherto not
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 793
described” male is thus merely supplementary, the 2 of this species
being still unrecorded. This species is characterised by the arrange-
ment of the spots on the wings as shown by Loew in his figure, by
the black scutellum, blackish palps, predominantly whitish or silvery
whitish pubescence on body, and by the dorsally darkened knobs of
the halteres. The middle tibiae, as in all the known South African
species of Crocidium, have a long, yellowish apical spur below in
addition to the shorter black ones.
The hypopygium of the 3 (text-fig. 238) with fine, short hairs on
basal parts, but with a few longish ones towards and in neck region;
beaked apical joints slender, cylindrical, and tapering to a fine point,
shaped as shown in figure and with only a few, sparse, fine bristly
hairs above on inner upper side; aedeagus directed outwards,
tapering to a point, the apical half almost at right angles to basal
half; lateral struts very elongate, projecting on each side; basal
strut chopper-shaped.
Locality —Cape Province: Western Province. (In the South
African Museum.)
5 3S T 99 C. chrysonotum nu. sp.
Body black; palps with the basal joints yellowish to brownish
yellow; scutellum with the hind margin or even posterior half
ferruginous red, more distinct in 92; anterior pronotal angle on each
side and posterior calli also reddish; abdomen with the hind margins
of the segments above and below comparatively broadly ochreous to
reddish yellow, slightly broader on sides of segments above; legs
entirely yellowish in 9° or with the femora at least only darkened
at extreme bases or only on front ones, in $¢ blackened to much
beyond middle, the front and middle ones almost entirely dark,
with the last 3 tarsal joints blackish in both sexes and with the
spines on tibiae black, the single long spur on middle tibiae apically
below yellowish and dark-tipped; pubescence above fairly dense on
thorax, especially in gg, shortish in both sexes but longer in 33,
predominantly dull brassy to golden yellowish from side and with a
shght brownish tint in certain lights, that on sides of abdominal
segment 1 and on sides of abdomen in g¢ slightly paler and more
sericeous, with the short depressed pubescence or scaling on abdomen
in $S sparser, sericeous yellowish to pale golden yellowish, that on
abdomen above in 99 shorter, denser, deep golden yellowish, com-
posed mainly of short, depressed scaling, with the pubescence on
794 Annals of the South African Museum.
head above in 99 denser and deep golden, the hairs on sides of face,
genae, and head below sericeous yellowish, becoming paler and
more whitish on head below, slightly longer and denser in gg, the
hair on body below somewhat sparse on pleurae, scarcely paler
yellowish than above, only slightly paler on pectus, that on venter
in gg apparently slightly more sericeous whitish, especially towards
the base; wings slightly more distinctly subopaquely pale yellowish
white to whitish than in poecilopterum, becoming slightly more
TExtT-FIG. 239.—Side view, greater part of ventral view of hypopygium, and
dorsal and hind views of beaked apical joint of ¢ Crocidiwm chrysonotum n. sp.
distinctly yellowish in costal part, with the following distinct dark
blackish brown infuscations: an elongate spot at common base of
second and third longitudinal veins before the fork, a spot near
apex of costal cell, often a distinct spot at about middle of first
basal cell, a spot on apical cross vein of first basal cell, another at
apex of second basal cell, a dark elongate spot along the veins
separating the discoidal from the second and third posterior cells,
a spot at base of second submarginal cell, sometimes extending
faintly to end of second longitudinal vein and in addition sometimes
distinct darker infuscations along the posterior veins as well as a
darker cloudiness at bases of first submarginal and discoidal cells
and even at base of second basal cell, the latter markings sometimes
very distinct and spot-like in some specimens, with the veins dark
brownish in apical half, becoming paler and yellowish towards base;
halteres pale yellowish, with very pale yellowish or almost whitish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 7195
knobs. Head with the eyes in actual contact above in ¢ fora distance
at least 14 times as long as tubercle, the space on vertex in 9 about,
or a little less than, 3 times as broad as tubercle; eyes in ¢ with the
facets in upper three-quarters coarser than those below and well
marked off; frons in 9 depressed medially in front, small and depressed.
in §; antennae with joint 1 short, only a little more than 2 times as
long as 2, with 3 somewhat laterally compressed, much broadened at
about, or just before, middle and also broader basally than apically,
somewhat spindle-shaped, more humped in appearance from side,
the apical part more rapidly narrowed above, with 3 distinct terminal
elements visible (a small basal joint, a much longer second one, and
a terminal style); proboscis about 1 mm. long, with the palps quite
half as long as proboscis. Hypopygiwm of 3 (text-fig. 239) entirely
different from that of poecilopterum (cf. text-fig. 238) with the beaked
apical joints flattened and twisted as shown in the figures (extreme
left figure from above, the second on left from side, the first towards
right from below, and the extreme right one from directly in front),
with the hairs on dorsum sparse and short; aedeagus sharply pointed
apically and the flanges connecting aedeagus to base of basal parts
broad and flattened; lateral struts directed somewhat obliquely
downwards and much shorter than in poecilopterum.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 44-5} mm.
Length of wing: about 33-5 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1930)
(Types); (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936); Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus.
Exp., Nov. 1931). S.W. Karoo: Michell’s Pass (Simmonds, 1—5/12/30}
(British Museum).
This species is easily distinguished from poecilopterum by the
characters given in the key, but especially by the less rounded spots
on the wings, absence of distinct rounded spots at apices of anal and
axillary cells and at end of second longitudinal vein, and entirely
different hypopygium.
1 Q C. pterostictum n. sp.
Body black; humeral part surrounding anterior spiracle, posterior
calli, posterior half of scutellum, hind margin of tergite 1, greater part
of abdomen above from segments 2-4, the hind margins of segments
5 and 6 and broadish hind margins of venter yellowish red; legs pre-
dominantly pale yellowish red, the coxae and extreme bases of femora
796 Annals of the South African Museum.
black, the apices of tibiae and greater part of tarsi blackish or
black; pubescence rather long and dense on head, scutellum and sides
of abdomen towards base, that on occiput, ocellar tubercle, frons, on
antennal joint 1, sides of face, thorax above and on scutellum deep
orange red or reddish golden, the dense pubescence on face, genae and
head below, that on mesopleuron, pleurae, coxae and predominantly
on abdomen, especially on sides of tergite 1 and on basal half and on
venter white, with some intermixed whitish bristly hairs on sides of
scutellum as well, with the hair-like scaling on frons, thorax above,
scutellum and more densely on abdomen above predominantly deep
orange or reddish golden, with some intermixed whitish hairs and
scaling on thorax in front towards the anterior end, with much whitish
scaling on sides of abdomen above, especially towards apex, and denser
white scaling on venter, with the scaling on legs also white, dense on
femora, with the spicules on tibiae, excepting only long yellowish spur
on middle ones, black; wings rather broad, opaquely whitish but with
a blackish transverse band across from middle of costal cell, base of
second and third longitudinal veins, across middle of first basal cell,
across apical part of second basal cell to apex of anal cell, the band not
continuous but more or less constituted of spots of which the one at
middle of first basal cell and the one on apical cross vein of second
basal cell are blacker and more distinctly spot-like, while the rest of
this dark band at apex of anal and axillary cells is in form of diffused
smoky cloudiness, with dark blackish spots also on discal cross vein,
at base of third posterior cell, on apical cross vein of discoidal cell,
at base of vein between submarginal cells and at apex of costal cell as
well as a blackish brown cloudiness from apex of costal cell across
marginal and first submarginal cells, across apical part of second
submarginal cell, across middle of first posterior cell, middle of second
posterior cell to apical two-thirds of third posterior cell into apical
part of fourth posterior cell, with this cloudiness more or less broken
up into spot-like infusions in these cells, with even indications of
darker spot-like infuscations at the ends of the veins, with the veins
themselves yellowish in the unspotted areas of wings, very pale or
ochreous yellowish towards base, with the squamae opaquely yellowish
white to whitish and white-fringed; halteres yellowish, with very pale
yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space above quite 3
times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons with the transverse furrow
distinct; antennae with joint | a little more than 3 times as long as 2,
with 3 about 14 times as long as I and 2 combined, gradually narrowed
apically, with the first terminal joint conspicuous, cylindrical and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 797
bearing a fine hair-like style; proboscis shortish and stout, about 1}
mm.long; palps elongate, quite half or slightly more than half as long
as proboscis, the basal joint very long and slender, the apical one very
short, broad and oval.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr.; Melton Wold
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
This species superficially resembles chrysonotum, but may at once
be distinguished by the slightly different arrangement of the darker
areas on wings, by the cloudy spots forming a band across cells towards
apical part of wings, by the denser white pubescence on face and head
below, and by the very deep orange red or reddish pubescence and
scaling on body above.
6 SS 8 92 phaeopteralis n. sp.
Body black; posterior calli, sightly more than hind half of scutellum,
the humeral angle and to a certain extent a spot surrounding anterior
spiracle just below humeral angle, a spot just below base of wings
and to a certain extent the small area just below wings, the hind
margins of tergites and the hind margins of sternites reddish brown
to reddish yellow, the posterior cell, hind part of scutellum, spot
below base of wings and the hind margins of tergites sometimes more
yellowish, with the hind margins not very broad, but distinctly
broader in 92; legs with the femora black to beyond middle, some-
times almost entirely black, usually predominantly so in 3g, with the
apical part or apex of femora, the tibiae and bases of tarsi yellowish,
the apices of the tibiae and greater part of tarsi blackish or black,
with the spicules on tibiae also black, only long spur apically below
on middle ones slightly more yellowish; pubescence shortish, not
very dense, but distinctly denser in gg and also longer on abdomen
in $3, the face in both sexes almost bare and the pleurae almost
or entirely bare, no metapleural tuft present, with the short bristly
hairs on ocellar tubercle in both sexes, those on disc of thorax in
SS, some often at base of scutellum in some gd, the sparse and
shortish ones on abdomen above in ¢¢ and some across hind margins
of tergites in 33, those on coxae in both sexes and the short somewhat
recumbent hairs on front and middle femora above in ¢¢ black,
with these hairs on thorax above, however, showing paler gleams
798 Annals of the South African Museum.
due to an admixture of more yellowish golden or brownish hairs, with
the bristly hairs on occiput, frons and entire body above in 99,
those on sides of thorax, base of thorax and on scutellum in gd, the
sparse ones on mesopleuron and those on venter in 99 deep orange
or reddish golden, those on thorax in gd, however, paler, gleaming
more whitish in certain lights, the hairs on head below appearing
blackish but gleaming more golden or even whitish in certain lights,
the short and very sparse ones on genae in g¢ whitish, the hairs on
propleural part, mesopleuron and predominantly on abdomen in g¢
whitish, sparse ones on propleural part and to a certain extent on
sides of abdomen basally in 99 also sericeous whitish, with the hair-
like scaling on frons, thorax above, scutellum and abdomen above
denser in 99, gleaming deep orange or reddish golden in 99, but with
a considerable admixture of gleaming whitish scaling on thorax and
on abdomen in 99, that on abdomen, especially on sides and towards
base appearing whitish, with the scaling on body above in g¢ and
on venter in both sexes predominantly gleaming whitish, with the
scaling and hairs on femora in $3 predominantly silvery or sericeous
whitish, the scaling on femora in 92 becoming more yellowish towards
apices, the fine hairs on tibiae, especially above, in both sexes dark;
wings rather broad, dusky, markedly subopaquely smoky greyish
in both sexes, with the costal cell, base, and a transverse spot from
costal cell across fork of second and third longitudinal veins to apical
part of second basal cell more subopaquely whitish, with the veins
blackish, the costal vein, but especially the secondary vein in costal
cell and the extreme basal parts of veins at base of wing, ochreous
yellowish, with the parts of veins at apex of costal cell, the apical
cross veins of basal cells, the basal part of third longitudinal vein
(where it joins second longitudinal one) and at base of this vein
where it branches off from first longitudinal vein, conspicuously black
and diffusely spot-like, sometimes also with the apical cross vein of
discoidal cell and even base of second submarginal cell diffusely
black, these darker parts of the veins giving the wings an appearance
of having a transverse blackish infusion from apical part of costal
cell across to basal cross vein of fourth posterior cell and even down
vein between fourth posterior cell and anal cell, with the discal cross
vein very near apex of discoidal cell, with the squamae opaquely
whitish and fringed with whitish hairs; halteres yellowish brown,
with very pale yellowish to yellowish white knobs. Head with the
eyes in gd in actual contact above for a distance about 14-2 times
as long as tubercle, the interocular space in 99 a little less than 3 times
———
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 799
as broad as ocellar tubercle; eyes in do with the upper two-thirds
at least more coarsely faceted than lower part; frons medially but
also transversely depressed towards apical part, slightly depressed
in $$; face shortish; buccal rims shining; antennae with joint 1
only a little more than 2 times as long as 2, and with sparse, short,
black hairs above, with 3 nearly 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
somewhat laterally compressed and, from side, slightly curved or
humped in appearance, the lower basal part slightly prominent
Trext-Fic. 240.—Side view and ventral view of hypopygium and dorsal views
of beaked apical joint and basal strut of ¢ Crocidium phaeopteralis n. sp.
where the joint is also broadest, then scarcely narrowed for greater
part of length, only the apical part being distinctly narrowed, with
the first terminal element short, cylindrical and joint-like, bearing
a fine hair-like style; proboscis shortish, straight, comparatively
stout, the labrum-epipharynx not much shorter than labial part,
the labella pointed apically and with sparse spinules, the entire
length of proboscis about 14-14 mm. long; palps rather elongate,
slender, quite half as long as proboscis, the apical joint ovate and
much shorter and broader than basal one, with fine short hairs.
Scutellum somewhat thick and tumid. Hypopygium of 3g (text-
fig. 240) with the beaked apical joints flattened and leaf-like, broadish
and shaped as shown in figures (side, ventral and dorsal views);
basal strut peculiarly sinuate along its dorsal margin (seen from side,
from directly in front (ventral) and from dorsal view). The hypo-
pygium of this species resembles that of chrysonotum (cf. text-fig. 239)
in having flattened beaked apical joints.
800 Annals of the South African Museum.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr.; Melton Wold
(Mus. Staff., 1935).
A species easily recognised by the dusky or dark smoky wings.
This species was taken on flowers of Mesembryanthemums.
SECTION 2.
6 $3 C. melanopalis n. sp.
Entire body, including scutellum and legs, black; frons and face
briliantly shining black; pubescence rather dense, but longish and
:.
2h een ew eo?
oes Ree.
e =
(Cli
f--
Trxt-Fic. 241.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of ¢ Crocidium melanopalis n. sp.
denser on occiput, head below, scutellum, abdomen and on coxae, that
on abdomen above and below fairly dense and conspicuous, entirely
frosty white, with slight sericeous gleams, with the hair-like scaling
also entirely white, sparse on thorax but slightly more dense on sides
of abdomen above and on venter, also sparse on pleurae, with the
more flattened scaling on legs denser, but also whitish to cretaceous
whitish; wings hyaline, iridescent, but with a scarcely perceptible
milky whitish tint in certain lights, with the base, alula, and costal
cell slightly more subopaquely whitish, with all the veins, even up to
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 801
extreme base of wings, and the border of wings entirely and con-
spicuously very dark blackish brown to black, with the squamae
subopaquely whitish and fringed with white hairs; halteres whitish
or dirty whitish, with the knobs black above and also much darkened
below. Head with the eyes in actual contact above for a distance
about equal to or subequal to length of ocellar tubercle, the inner
margins of eyes then rapidly diverging anteriorly; coarser upper facets
imperceptibly merging into finer lower ones; frons slightly depressed,
small and triangular; antennae with joint 1 slender, a little more than
3 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined,
slender, rod-like or only very little broader at base in some specimens,
with the first terminal element distinctly joint-like, visible, but small,
conical, situated a little towards outer side and narrower than apex
of joint 3, bearing a fine style; face rather conically prominent;
probiscis rather long, slender, about 2-25 mm. long, with the labrum-
epipharynx nearly as long as Jabial part and very sharply pointed;
palps slender, the apical joint very short and only slightly broader
than basal one. Hypopygium (text-fig. 241) with the beaked apical
joints elongate and pointed; lateral rami as shown in figures; lateral
struts almost rod-like.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 34-43 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-43 mm.
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West Distr., Leeukloof
(Mus. Staff, Oct 1935).
Recognised by the entire black body and legs, the blackish veins of
wings and black knobs of halteres.
3 22 C. nitidilabris n. sp.
Body, including scutellum and legs, black; knees pallid or yellowish
and long apical spur on middle tibiae below also yellowish; a broadish
transverse band across facial region and genae ivory yellowish; frons
and face and upper parts of genae brilliantly shining black, greater
part of face smooth; pubescence sparse, longish and dense only on
head below, sides of front part of thorax, on occiput, scutellum, front
coxae and to a certain extent on the others, predominantly sericeous
whitish on body below, on scutellum and abdomen, that on disc of
thorax with sericeous yellowish to brownish golden gleams, that on
ocellar tubercle even darker, with the depressed scaling on sides of
frons, sides of thorax and venter sericeous whitish, that on disc of
802 Annals of the South African Museum.
thorax and on abdomen above gleaming more sericeous yellowish in
certain lights, that on coxae and legs sericeous whitish becoming pale
dull yellowish on hind femora above; wings hyaline, iridescent, with
a scarcely perceptible milky tint in certain lights, the base, alula and
costal cell slightly more subopaquely whitish, with the veins very
dark blackish brown, becoming paler and distinctly pale yellowish at
bases of wings, with the squamae subopaquely whitish and fringed
with white hairs; halteres dirty yellowish, with very pale yellowish
white to almost white knobs. Head with the interocular space only
a little more than 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons gradually
widening anteriorly, medially depressed, especially anteriorly; face
rather broad and prominent, spout-like projecting; antennae with
joint 1 about, or a little more than, 3 times as long as 2, with 3 slightly
more than 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, slender and rod-like,
only imperceptibly thickened at base, with the first terminal element
small, conical and bearing a fine hair-like style; proboscis slender,
becoming thicker basally, about 2 mm. long; palps long, slender,
with the apical joint very short and ovate.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-44 mm.
Locality — Central Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov.
1935).
1 gC. nmgrifacies Bezz.
(P. 93, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Paramonow,
p. 184, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev., No. 11, 1931.)
This unique g-specimen and type is somewhat damaged and
denuded. It is chiefly characterised by the black body and legs, the
abdomen, however, with almost imperceptible pallid hind margins;
face rather short and broad and brilhantly shining, smooth; pubes-
cence sparse, but longish on sides of face, genae, head below, on
thorax above, scutellum, coxae and venter, predominantly white, but
that on ocellar tubercle and on each side of face dark and blackish
brown, that on thorax above more yellowish brown, appearing slightly
reddish brown in certain lights and with intermixed dark hairs;
wings vitreous hyaline, with the veins very dark or blackish brown,
showing up conspicuously, becoming paler and more pale yellowish
brown to yellowish at base, with a very feeble and scarcely perceptible
darker infuscation on apical cross veins of first and second basal
A Revision of the Bombylitdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 803
cells, with the squamae subopaquely pellucid and fringed with white
hairs; halteres with the knobs brownish above and below. Head
with the eyes in contact above for a distance about 14 times as long
as ocellar tubercle, with the coarser upper facets passing imperceptibly
into finer lower ones; antennae with joint 1 about 3 times as long
as 2, with 3 rather shortish and not quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined; proboscis remarkably slender, about 23 mm. long;
palps conspicuous, rather long, with the long basal joint becoming
TExtT-FIG. 242.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Crocidium ngrifacies Bezz.
broader and more strap-like in apical half, with fairly dense pubes-
cence, with the apical joint slightly longer than in other species and
longer than antennal joint 2. Hypopygvum (text-fig. 242) resembles
that of poecilopterum (cf. text-fig. 238) in the elongate, slender and
sparsely-haired beaked apical joints; aedeagus is, however, longer
and more tubular in apical part, where it is rapidly bent upwards.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Pead, Sept. 1911).
This species is near karooanum, but differs in having a smooth
brilliantly shining face, dark hairs on sides of face, entirely black
legs, etc.
1 3 10 99 C. phaenochilum n. sp.
Body, including scutellum and legs, black; knees may be very
obscurely yellowish or brownish; hind margins of abdomen may be
804 Annals of the South African Museum.
very narrowly or obscurely pallid in some 99, entirely black in
dS-specimen; frons and face as well as sides of face brilliantly shining
black in 99, and face also brilliantly shining black in $; broad trans-
verse band across facial region and genae from side to side in 99,
and even extending to front part of head below, ivory yellowish
to ivory whitish; pubescence on the whole sparse, longer on head
below, sides of thorax in front of wings and on scutellum, but also
long on coxae and abdomen, that on thorax above shorter in 92, that
Text-Fic. 243.—Ventral and side views of hypopygium of $ Crocidium
phaenochilum n. sp.
on occiput and thorax above, especially sides and towards base
with golden or brownish golden gleams, that sparsely on frons, on
ocellar tubercle appearing dark especially in 99, that on genae,
head below, coxae, scutellum, abdomen and legs silvery whitish,
without any hairs on convex middle part of face, with the scaling
on occiput and frons yellowish grey in 9° at least, the tuft of flattened
scales on each side of frons anteriorly in 99 cretaceous or frosty white,
the scaling on thorax and scutellum (where not denuded) straw-
coloured yellowish in 99 at least, the scaling on abdomen above and
the flattened scaling on genae, sides of head behind eyes, on pleurae,
venter, coxae and legs denser, more conspicuous and cretaceous or
frosty whitish; wings hyaline, iridescent, with a very faint milky
whitish tint in certain lights, with the veins brownish to dark brown,
becoming more distinctly yellowish in costal part and base, with
the discal cross vein much beyond the middle of discoidal cell at
less than apical third of discoidal cell, with the apically acute anal
A Revision of the Bombylizdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 805
cell shortly stalked, with the slightly whitish opaque squamae fringed
with white hairs; halteres with the almost whitish or very pale
yellowish knobs, darkened above in g. Head with the eyes in ¢ in
contact above for a distance nearly, or about, 14 times as long as
ocellar tubercle, the interocular space in 99 on vertex a little less
than 3 times as broad as tubercle; upper coarser facets of eyes in ¢
well marked off from finer lower ones; frons in 99 distinctly trans-
versely depressed anteriorly; face somewhat prominently convex
above buccal cavity and more so than in the poecilopterum-series;
genae broad and broader lower down; antennae with joint 1 quite
3 times as long as 2, the sparse hairs on them whitish in ¢ and dark
in 99, with joint 3 rod-like, almost equally broad throughout, with
only a small terminal joint, bearing a short style, visible; proboscis
comparatively long and slender, conspicuous, thinner or attenuated
apically, about 3-4 mm. long; palps remarkably short, distinctly
shorter than antennal joints 1 and 2 combined and confined to base
of proboscis, very much shorter and thinner than in most other species
of Crocidium. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 243) has some resemblance
to that of melanopalis (cf. text-fig. 241), the beaked apical joints, how-
ever, longer and more slender and basal strut is differently shaped, etc.
It is nearer that of karooanum (cf. text-fig. 245) in some respects.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-5 mm.
Locality —Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936)
(Types). South West Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner,
Dec., 1929) (in the British Museum).
This species is easily recognised by the very long and slender
proboscis, very short palps, the smooth and shining face, the tuft
of frosty white scaling on each side of antennae in 99, transversely
depressed frons in 99, etc. It can only be confused with the following
species from which it may at once be distinguished by the long and
slender proboscis and almost entirely black body.
1 $12 C. depressifrons n. sp.
These two somewhat denuded specimens obviously belong to the
same category as phaenochilum where the frons is transversely
depressed in the 99.
Body, including legs and scutellum, black; narrow hind margins
of abdomen in both sexes and also narrow hind margin of scutellum
VOL. XXXIV. 52
806 Annals of the South African Museum.
in 2 pallid or yellowish; knees also yellowish; a broad transverse
band across facial region and genae in @ ivory yellowish; frons
and face in 9 and face medially in g smooth and brilhantly shining
black; pubescence rather sparse, longish only on genae in J, on head
below in both sexes, on scutellum in 3, on abdomen in ¢ and on coxae
in both sexes, entirely sericeous whitish on body below, on scutellum
and abdomen in both sexes, that on disc of thorax more golden
brownish, with the scaling on disc of thorax in @ especially more
Ke OME
eee eres
CPE eric ee
TExtT-FIG. 244.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of g Crocidium depressifrons n. sp.
golden above and whitish on sides, that on abdomen above with
more sericeous whitish gleams even in 9, that on body below and on
legs sericeous whitish in both sexes and with a tuft of frosty white
scales on each side of antennae in 9; wings hyaline, iridescent, with
an almost imperceptible milky tint in certain lights, the base and
costal cell more subopaquely pale yellowish white or whitish, with
the veins brownish to dark brownish, becoming pale yellowish
basally, with the squamae pellucid and white-haired; halteres dirty
yellowish or brownish yellow, with almost white knobs. Head in
3 with the eyes in actual contact above for a distance about 14 times
as long as tubercle, with the coarser facets in upper two-thirds well
marked off from finer lower ones; interocular space in Q a little
more than 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 9 with a distinct
transverse depression just before middle from side to side; face
with the medial convex part in g well marked off, broader in 9;
antennae with joint 1 a little more than 3 times as long as 2 in 9
and about 3 times in g, with 3 tending to be more humped in appear-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 807
ance in Q, appearing broadest just beyond middle, less perceptible
in 3; proboscis about 2 mm. long, slender apically; palps much
reduced, very much shorter and much more slender than in any
other species except phaenochilum, not or scarcely longer than
antennal joints 1 and 2 combined, inconspicuously thin, with the
apical joint very short. Hypopygium of $ (text-fig. 244) with the
beaked apical joints elongate and pointed; lateral ramus from each
basal part broad, flange-like and produced into a spine-like process
(as in figure); lateral struts elongate and well developed as in
poecilopterum.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 3-4 mm.
Length of wing: about 33-4 mm.
Locality—Central Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff., Nov.
1935).
Easily recognised by its inconspicuous palps and transversely
depressed frons in 2. From phaenochilum it is distinguished by the
shghtly longer palps, much shorter proboscis, narrower transverse
ivory whitish or yellowish band across facial part in 2, yellowish hind
margin of scutellum in 2, broader and more distinct pallid or yellowish
hind margins of abdomen even in 4, entirely white knobs to the
halteres in ¢ and straighter second longitudinal vein.
19 gd 44 92 C. karooanum nx. sp.
Greater part of body, including scutellum, usually black; broadish
hind margins of tergites and sternites ochreous yellowish, narrower
and sometimes very narrow in 3g, that onside of tergite 1 the broadest
and those above sometimes finely edged whitish; the scutellum
and even apical parts of first antennal joints, the humeral angle on
each side, a spot on each side above front coxae, an indefinite infusion
in front of wings on each side and more or less the sutural parts on
pleurae in some 99 also yellowish; frons and face in 99 tending to
be shining black; facial part of head in 99 broadly ivory yellowish or
yellowish across buccal cavity and genae, the face above buccal cavity
usually black or dark, but the entire facial region and genae from
level of antennae may be ochreous yellowish in some 99, the head
below, however, black; legs with the femora almost entirely black
in $3, but with the apices of especially the middle and hind ones in
some 99 yellowish, sometimes the entire hind femora and greater
part of middle ones in some 99 are also yellowish, with the front
808 Annals of the South African Museum.
tibiae almost entirely black in gg and blackened to a variable extent
in 99, sometimes almost entirely yellowish in some 99, with the basal
part or basal half of middle tibiae in 3, greater part of or even
entire middle ones in 99 and the entire or greater part of hind tibiae
in both sexes as well as bases or basal halves of tarsi in both sexes
yellowish, with the apices of middle and hind tibiae darkened or
blackened to a variable extent in both sexes but tending to be more
extensively darkened in $3, with all the spicules and spurs on tibiae,
excepting only long, yellowish black-tipped one apically on middle
tibiae below, black; pubescence fairly dense, denser and longer in
33, fairly dense on genae, head below, occiput, scutellum and on
coxae in both sexes, and on abdomen in 3g, with much hair on
meso- and sternopleurae in front, especially in gg, and also with longish
hairs on front femora in both sexes, that on head below, on genae
and face and entire body below sericeous whitish in both sexes,
that on abdomen above and below in gg and predominantly on
abdomen of 99 also sericeous to silvery whitish, that on ocellar
tubercle, sides of frons and as a short tuft on each side of antennae
in 99 and the fine pubescence on antennal joint 1 very dark, dark
brownish to black, that on ocellar tubercle, occiput, thorax above
and scutellum in $3 yellowish brown to brownish or reddish golden,
having a more ochreous tint in certain lights and darker tint in
others, with some whitish intermixed hairs on pronotal part and
sides and usually with whitish hairs across hind margin of scutellum,
with the shorter erect pubescence on thorax, the longer ones on occiput
and towards base of thorax and on scutellum in 99 sericeous to deep
golden yellowish, that on scutellum usually less deep golden than
on disc of thorax, with all these hairs in some 929 only very pale
sericeous yellowish, those on scutellum almost whitish, with the hair-
like scaling on frons, thorax above and scutellum in 99 sericeous
yellowish to deep golden yellowish, sometimes very pale and almost
silvery in some 99, that on abdomen above in 99 slightly more
yellowish towards base and paler towards apex, that on body above
in gg very sparse, sericeous yellowish to golden on thorax and
scutellum and whitish when present on abdomen, that on head
behind eyes, on pleurae and coxae and densely on venter in both
sexes entirely whitish, denser in 9?, the dense scaling on legs pre-
dominantly silvery whitish, that on middle and hind femora above,
in 92 at least, with a more yellowish or ochreous sheen, with a very
fine silvery tomentum sometimes visible on yellow parts of facial
region in 29. Wungs vitreous to greyish hyaline, sometimes iridescent,
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 809
with the base, alula and costal cell slightly subopaquely whitish,
with the rudimentary basal comb sericeous yellowish, with the veins
yellowish in costal region and base, darker and more brownish to
blackish brown towards apex, with a distinct darker spot-like in-
fuscation on apical cross veins of first and second basal cells in both
sexes, with the squamae subopaquely to opaquely whitish and fringed
with white hairs; halteres pale yellowish white, with almost white
y 9
.
ae
\
ayane
tit
.
i
44
h
' a
at
it
nt
iJ
abes
ar)
a
at)
a
Trxt-Fic. 245.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of ¢ Crocidium karooanum 2. sp.
knobs. Head with the eyes above in g¢ in actual contact or con-
tiguous for a distance about or nearly 2 times as long as ocellar
tubercle, with the facets in more than upper half of eyes in $$ much
coarser and well marked off from finer lower ones; interocular space
in 92 about, or a little less than, 3 times as broad as tubercle; frons
in 99 longitudinally depressed, slightly more broadly so anteriorly;
face slightly conically prominent, distinctly more so in 99, not entirely
bare, with some pubescence medially even in 92; antennae with
joint 1 quite 3 times as long as 2, with 3 quite 14 times as long as 1
and 2 combined, more or less slightly curved, having a slight humped
appearance, the hump just beyond middle above, the joint more or
less equally broad from side, the apical part, however, narrowed,
with only a single, small, conical or cylindrical terminal joint, bearing
a fine style, visible; proboscis tending to be rather stoutish, about
14-3 mm. long; palps long, slender and conspicuous, with joint 1
810 Annals of the South African Museum.
ovate, shorter than the long basal one and also slightly broader.
Hypopyguum of 3 (text-fig. 245) with the lateral struts and basal
strut markedly developed, with the lateral rami broad and beaked
apical joints elongate. There is a distinct similarity between the
hypopygium of this species and that of phaenochilum (text-fig. 243).
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-6 mm. (small forms only about 3 mm.).
Length of wing: about 4-6 mm. (small forms only about 3 mm.).
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr.; Melton Wold
(Mus. Staff., Oct. 1935) (Types). Namaqualand: Bowesdorp (Mus.
Exp., Nov. 1931); Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936). Little
Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 18/10/20) (Transvaal Museum).
Easily recognised by the hyaline or greyish hyaline wings showing
two faint, but distinct, spot-like infuscations on apical cross veins
of basal cells, by the yellowish costal veins and yellowish brown
pubescence on thorax and scutellum. This species may prove to be
the same as immaculatum Bezz. (in lit.), from Willowmore and
referred to on p. 93, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvin, 1921, and p. 77,
Broteria (Ser. Zool.), xx, Fasc. II, 1922. As there are more than one
species with unspotted wings and as immaculatum Bezz. has never
been properly described (see also Paramonow, p. 184, Trav. Mus.
Zool. Kiev, No. 11, 1931), it is advisable to describe this species
separately. Asis evident from the description, this species is slightly
variable in size, in the extent of the yellow on body and legs especially
in 99, in the coloration of the pubescence on the thorax and the
distinctiveness of the spots on cross veins. Some specimens from
Namaqualand appear to differ from the more typical form in having
slightly more yellow on the body and legs in the 92 at least. The
entire facial region, excluding the face medially, is often yellowish
and apparently more distinctly ochreous yellowish; apices or apical
halves of the first antennal joints, the scutellum, humeral part of
thorax on each side and even infusions on pleurae are sometimes
yellowish in such 99. The greater part of middle femora, the entire
hind femora and all the tibiae in these 99 also tend to be yellowish,
and the hind margins of the abdomen are also broader yellowish.
The $$ from Namaqualand, on the other hand, do not appear to differ
from the typical forms. Some 992 from the Nieuwveld Karoo also
differ from the typical form in having almost the entire hind tibiae
darkened.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 811
Adelogenys n. gen.
Three species, in the material before me, differ to such an extent
from Crocidium and the descriptions of Apatomyza Wied. that the
erection of a separate genus is necessary to contain them. This new
genus obviously belongs to the Crocidiwm-group, differing from the
above-named two genera in important characters. The chief generic
characters are :—
Body elongate, Therevid or Empid-like, with much yellow or
red, the thorax convex above, convexly rounded (when viewed
from side), thus markedly humped as in Crocidiwm, more or less
laterally compressed, the pleurae high and the front coxae
elongated in conjunction with the high pleurae, the scutellum also
raised above level of first abdominal tergite, the metanotum thus
exposed even to a greater extent than in Crocidium, with the head
globular or spherical and the abdomen elongate; pubescence short
and sparse in both sexes, composed of sparse, short, erect hairs and
denser, depressed, hair-like scaling, the erect hairs more conspicuous.
on occiput, sides of head behind eyes, on head below, on base of thorax,
on scutellum, on abdomen and to a certain extent on coxae, with very
sparse hairs on pleurae, the greater part of pleurae being bare or
patchily covered with scaling, the scaling denser on body above, on
venter, coxae and legs. Head markedly spherical, the occipital
region scarcely or only slightly depressed or flattened, and very much
less so than in Crocidium, more like that of Apatomyza (as figured by
Becker); ocelli arranged in a triangle on a slight prominence or
tubercle, more distinct in gg; eyes almost circular from side, convex
and more so in known 3g, separated by much more than width of
ocellar tubercle in 99, narrowly separated above in known <¢:
frons in 92 more or less equally broad throughout, the inner
margins of eyes parallel or subparallel and not broadly diverging
apically and down the sides of face as in Crocidium, the distance across
buccal cavity thus equal or scarcely broader than frons, gradually
diverging apically in known gd, medially depressed behind antennae
in 99 and slightly less so in known ¢$¢, not brilliantly shining; face
rather short, but somewhat prominent or conical, not smooth and
briliantly shining black as in some species of Crocidium ; genae much
reduced, almost absent, scarcely evident, represented along the inner
margins of eyes as a narrow line, almost wanting or even obliterated
at about the middle, only narrowly visible on each side above and
below at level of upper and lower parts of buccal cavity, the narrow
812 Annals of the South African Museum.
groove separating genae from buccal rims, thus practically only
separating inner margins of eyes from buccal rims, these rims them-
selves at middle at least representing false genae; antennae with the
first joints close together, joint 1 short, not longer than about 3 times
as long as 2, with only short, sparse hairs, with 3 elongate and longer
than 1 and 2 combined, broadest before middle and nearer base, more
rapidly narrowed to apex along lower edge, more than the apical half
being slender, the joint sometimes appearing slightly humped and
even subspindle-shaped, ending apically in 2 terminal joints, the
apical one of which is longer and bears a style; proboscis short or
long, relatively stoutish; palps elongate, slender, projecting con-
siderably and conspicuously as in Crocidium, the basal joint very
elongate and slender, and the apical joint very much shorter or very
short, broad and ovate or clavately broadened apically, with fine
hairs. Wungs slightly tinged pale greyish brown or even distinctly
brownish, rather elongate, narrowish at base, with the alula reduced or
much reduced, at least not broadly lobate as in Crocidiwm, with the
axillary lobe also much narrower than in Crocidium, not triangularly
lobate, only arcuately rounded, with 4 posterior cells of which the first
is broadly open posteriorly, with two submarginal cells and an apically
acute and shortly stalked anal cell, with the basal comb wanting, with
the second longitudinal vein and vein separating submarginal cells as
in Crocidium, with the discal cross vein also beyond middle of dis-
coidal cell, with the squamae roundly lobate; halteres with the knobs
markedly elongate longitudinally, much more so than in Crocidium.
Legs markedly elongate and slender, without any spines on femora,
with very sparse pubescence, but with fairly dense scaling, with the
spicules on tibiae not strongly developed, but with one long, more
strongly developed, apical spur below on middle tibiae in both sexes;
claws well developed and curved downwards apically and the pulvilli
long in both sexes. Hypopygium of known ¢ (text-fig. 246) very much
like those of Crocidium; the basal parts similarly shaped; beaked
apical joints flattened dorso-ventrally and bifid apically, the outer
apical part being produced spine-like, forming a bifid process with
beak (see middle figure); aedeagus as in Crocidiwm and without a
ventral process; lateral ramus on each side, joining each basal part to
aedeagal part, also broadish and flange-like as in Crocidium; lateral
struts slightly more rod-like than shown in figure.
This genus appears to be even more closely related to Apatomyza
Wied. (p. 325, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. i, 1828, Tab. IV, fig. 1, a—d;
Becker, pp. 440 and 487, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb.,
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 8138
vol. xviii, figs. 31 and 32, 1912), a genus which is only known to me
through short and vague descriptions. From Apatomyza it appears
to differ in having very much shorter first antennal joints, shorter apical
joint of palps, more elongate abdomen and unspotted wings. There is,
however, a probability that Adelogenys may prove to be synonymous
with Apatomyza Wied. It also appears to be related to Semiramis
Beck. (p. 485, loc. cit.) described from Persia. According to the brief
description and figures of Becker, Semiramis differs from this genus in
having longer and more slender palps and in having the alula of wings
more developed.
The genotype is A. culicoides n. sp.
The three known species may be separated by the following
key :—
1. (2) Small species, about 23-33 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 3-4 mm.,
having a mosquito-like superficial appearance; wings only very feebly
tinged, very slightly greyish brown or yellowish brown, with the alula
more reduced, vestigial and narrow; proboscis very much shorter,
about 1 mm. long; apical joint of palps relatively longer, clavate apically;
halteres with the knobs very pale, whitish and conspicuous; antennal
joint 3 very much broadened in basal third and then more rapidly
narrowed apically, more so along lower edge, and antennal joint 2 black;
fine scaling on occiput, thorax and scutellum distinctly more silvery or
with more silvery gleams in both sexes 3S 2 culicordes n. sp. (p. 814).
2. (1) Slightly larger or much larger species, about 5-74 mm. long, with a wing-
length of about 6-8} mm., more resembling Empids; wings distinctly
tinged or infuscated darker brownish, with the alula slightly less reduced
and broader; proboscis very much longer, about 3-4 mm. long; apical
joint of palps relatively shorter, ovoid or ovate; halteres with the knobs
darker, yellowish brown or brownish; antennal joint 3 comparatively
less broadened in basal half, the apical half at least slender and both
antennal joints 1 and 2 yellowish; fine scaling on occiput, thorax and
scutellum distinctly gleaming more brassy yellowish or golden wily
3. (4) Larger species, about 74 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 84 mm.;
greater part of proboscis, face, metapleural part, almost entire coxae,
the entire scutellum, the much broader hind margins of abdomen and
the entire femora and tibiae yellowish; antennal joint 1 thicker and
stouter; proboscis slightly shorter and stouter, about 3 mm. long
2 namaquensis n. sp. (p. 816).
4. (3) Smaller and more slender species, about 5 mm. long and with shorter wings;
greater part of proboscis, the face, entire pleurae and metapleurae,
greater part of coxae and scutellum almost entirely, black, the hind
margins of abdomen more narrowly yellowish and the femora predomi-
nantly dark; antennal joint 1 distinctly more slender; proboscis slightly
longer and more slender, about 4 mm. long 2 braunsii n. sp. (p. 817).
814 Annals of the South African Museum.
16 gd 12 99 A. culicorides n. sp.
Body black; antennal joint 1, face, buccal rims, basal joints of palps,
proboscis above, humeral angle and down across anterior thoracic
spiracle to above front coxae, around base of wing, the post-alar
edge-like calli, the sides and apex of scutellum, metapleural in-
fusions to a variable extent, the posterior edge of metapleurae,
the broadish hind margins of all the tergites and the hind margins
of sternites yellowish, ochreous yellowish to pale yellowish brown,
with the entire scutellum and basal part of abdomen above in some
specimens predominantly ochreous yellowish or yellowish, with the
hypopygium in gg and apical part of abdomen in 99 also almost
entirely or predominantly yellowish; frons and face in gg very
pale and almost whitish or ivory whitish; legs with the greater basal
parts of coxae blackish or very deep blackish brown, their apical
parts and the trochanters more, or entirely, yellowish, with the femora
tending to be dark, more brownish to even blackish, their apical parts
becoming paler, yellowish, with the hind ones sometimes more
yellowish than brownish, the tibiae predominantly or entirely
yellowish, their apices sometimes slightly darkened, especially on
the hind ones, with the bases of the tarsi also yellowish, the hind
ones usually predominantly very dark, with the spicules and apical
spurs on tibiae black, only the longer apical spur below on middle
tibiae yellowish; pubescence very sparse and short, only that on
occiput, sides of thorax in front, that towards base of thorax, on
scutellum and that on abdomen more evident, especially in 3d,
but with the fine, depressed, hair-like scaling on body above denser
and more conspicuous in both sexes, with the erect pubescence
predominantly whitish above and below in 3g, showing sericeous or
silvery gleams in certain lights, that on abdomen in gd denser,
becoming even more conspicuous towards apex, with the erect
pubescence in 92 on occiput, thorax, scutellum and abdomen above
slightly more yellowish, showing more sericeous yellowish gleams in
certain lights, that on thorax even more golden in certain lights,
that on coxae, head below and venter more silvery whitish as in 3d,
with the fine scaling predominantly or entirely silvery whitish above,
below, and on coxae and legs in some 34, that on frons in 99 dense
and gleaming silvery, that on occiput brassy in some gg, more
golden in 99, that on thorax predominantly silvery whitish but
with an admixture of more brassy or golden scales, especially along
two central stripes or on middle and on disc medially, that on
‘4
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 815
abdomen in 99 dense and gleaming pale brassy yellowish or pale
’ sericeous yellowish, appearing more silvery whitish above towards
apex, that on body below whitish as in $4, with the scaling on legs
sericeous or silvery whitish; wings relatively long, very feebly, but
distinctly, tinged greyish yellowish, a feeble brownish tinge being
perceptible in certain lights, iridescent, with the veins brownish to
dark brownish, the basal parts of costal and first longitudinal veins
Text-Fic. 246.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium, and
dorsal view of beaked apical joint of g Adelogenys culicoides n. gen. and n. sp.
and base of wings pale yellowish brown, with the alula much reduced
and very narrow, with the discal cross vein a little beyond middle of
discoidal cell, with the squamae small, subopaquely whitish and with
sparse, fine, whitish fringe; halteres dirty yellowish, their bases
brownish, with the knobs remarkably large, conspicuous, elongate,
and almost white. Head with the eyes above in gd separated,
about as broad as front part of prominent ocellar tubercle, the inner
margins gradually diverging anteriorly, with the facets all of equal
size; interocular space in 92 on vertex about 3 times as broad as
tubercle, the inner margins of eyes tending to converge slightly
down rest of frons; frons distinctly medially depressed in front just
behind antennae in both sexes; face short and not very prominent;
antennae with joint 1 short, only about 2, or very slightly more,
816 Annals of the South African Museum.
times as long as 2, with very sparse and fine hairs, with 3 quite, or
even a little more than, 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadest
in basal third, more rapidly narrowed along lower edge, the lower
basal part thus showing a slight dilatation and the dorsum slightly
curved, with the terminal elements distinctly visible as a short basal
joint and a longer apical one, the latter bearing a very fine, hair-like
style apically; proboscis about 1 mm. long, relatively stoutish,
with sparse, hair-like spinules on labella; palps conspicuous, pro-
jecting for nearly or quite half the length of the proboscis, slender,
the basal joint elongate and very much longer than apical one, the
apical one becoming gradually thickened or clavate apically. Thorax
from side markedly arched or convex, humped. Legs slender and
elongate. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 246) and as described for genus.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 23-3} mm.
Length of wing; about 3-4 mm.
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Victoria West Distr.; Melton Wold
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
Superficially these insects resemble Culicids when resting on the
flowers of Mesembryanthemums.
1 Q A. namaquensis n. sp.
Body black; anterior part of frons, the entire face, buccal rims, the
greater part of proboscis and basal joints of palps, antennal joints 1
and 2, the humeral sclerite and sclerites above front coxae, the posterior
calli, the scutellum, the greater part of the metapleurae, abdominal
segment 1, broadish hind margins of the other abdominal segments,
broader on sides of segments 2 and 3, the hind margins of venter, the
coxae to a great extent, the entire femora and tibiae and bases of tarsi
yellowish; pubescence with the short erect or suberect hairs on occiput,
sides and base of thorax and scutellum yellowish to golden yellowish,
those on disc of thorax almost blackish and very short, those on head
below and the thorax below white, those on abdomen above sericeous
yellowish, more whitish on sides and whitish on venter, with the
depressed hair-like scaling golden on frons and thorax above, more
sericeous yellowish on sides of thorax, golden and denser on scutellum,
dense on abdomen, golden discally, silvery whitish below on venter,
with the sparse scaling on pleurae silvery whitish, the scaling on femora
whitish, becoming slightly dull yellowish on the upper surfaces; wings
infuscated, entirely subopaquely yellowish brown, the veins yellowish
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 817
brown, becoming darker brownish in apical half, with the costal vein
in apical part (along so-called stigma) black, with the third longi-
tudinal vein slightly bending downwards at discal cross vein, which is
much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the second submarginal
cell as in species of Crocidium, with the apically acute anal cell pro-
vided with a very short stalk, with the squamae subopaquely yellow-
ish, having a silvery white fringe; halteres yellowish, with very pale
yellowish brownish knobs, the outer and inner carinate edges of which
are reddish brown. Head with the interocular space on vertex a
little less than 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons depressed
in front half and with a slight raised subtubercular prominence on
each side of antennae anteriorly; antennae with joint | a little more
than 2 times as long as 2, with very fine and short hairs, with joint 3
directed outwards, a little more than 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, broadest just before middle (side view), then gradually
narrowed basally and more rapidly towards apex, the apical part,
however, rod-like and ending in the terminal joints, of which the first
is smaller and shorter than the second, the latter ending in a style;
proboscis about 3mm. long; palps nearly 1 mm. long, the apical joints
very short, broad and oval.
Length of body: about 74 mm.
Length of wing: about 84 mm.
Locality— Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1930).
This species is easily recognised by its superficial resemblance to an
Empid and by its yellowish brown infuscated wings. Superficially
it also has a marked resemblance to Pseudoamictus (Pseudempis)
heteropterus, from which it may readily be distinguished by the presence
of 4 posterior cells on the wings and by the much shorter less hairy
first antennal joints.
1 9 A. braunsi n. sp.
In the Transvaal Museum there is a 9-specimen of a species which
obviously belongs to this new genus Adelogenys in its body-characters.
The wings, excepting only the basal part of the left one, are unfor-
tunately missing. There is, however, no doubt whatever that it
belongs to Adelogenys. It is also very near to A. namaquensis, from
which it differs in being much smaller, with narrower body, only about
5 mm. long, with the body more predominantly black, the face, entire
pleurae (excepting only the hind margin of metapleurae) and entire
scutellum being black, with the ivory yellowish hind margins of
818 Annals of the South African Museum.
abdomen above and below distinctly narrower and less yellowish, not
much broadened on sides of segments 1-3; legs with the coxae almost
entirely black, the femora predominantly dark brownish, only the
bases and apices yellowish with the tibiae and bases of tarsi yellowish,
with the legs also more slender; pubescence as in namaquensis, the
very short dark suberect hairs on disc of thorax apparently slightly
denser, that on abdomen towards base slightly longer and more
whitish; wings (judging from remaining basal half of left one in
specimen) also yellowish brown and with yellowish veins. Head with
the inner margins of eyes across buccal cavity slightly wider apart
than across frons, the margins thus diverging very slightly from frons
down the face, with antennal joint 1 very slender and also reddish,
about, or nearly, 3 times as long as joint 2 (3 missing), with the pro-
boscis more slender much darker, dark brownish and slightly longer,
about 4 mm. long, with the palps brownish, shorter and even more
slender, the apical joints, however, also dark and ovate.
Localhity.—Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, Sept. 1917).
Gen. Apatomyza Wied.
(P. 325, Aussereurop. Zwetfl. Ins. 1, 1828, Tab. IV, fig. 1, a-d; Becker,
pp. 440 and 487, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb.,
vol. xvii, figs. 31 and 32, 1912.)
This genus is not represented in the extensive collection of
Bombyludae before me. Apparently it is only represented by the
unique genotype and species-type in the Copenhagen Museum and
has never been taken or recorded since it was described by Wiede-
mann in 1828. According to Wiedemann and Becker, this genus
is characterised by its superficial resemblance to a Therevid, very
elongate first antennal joints, elongate third antennal joints ending
in a distinct two-jointed terminal part bearing a style, somewhat
conically prominent face, shortish proboscis, distinctly two-jointed
palps, the apical joints of which are clavate, Phthiria-like wings,
which are spotted and almost like those of species of Crocidium, and
comparatively long legs, with shortish and sparse hairs. Becker
also states that the type-specimen is a 3 with comparatively broad
interocular space, which is, however, narrower than an eye. The
figure of the head from above (Tab. IV, fig. 1, b) given by Wiedemann,
on the contrary, appears to be that of a9. Becker, however, states
that the hypopygium is symmetrically constructed, thus supporting
his contention that it is a 3. Unless Becker has mistaken paired
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 819
terminal elements or plates at the apex of the abdomen in the 9
for the partly fused and always symmetrical basal parts of the .
hypopygium, this genus is peculiar in this respect.
The solitary species on which the genus is based, A. punctipennis
Wied. (p. 326, loc. cit., Tab. IV, figs. 1, a—d), is characterised by the
leather brownish antennae, reddish yellow face and vertex, yellowish-
haired thorax, rusty brownish pleurae which are blackish in the
middle, ferruginous scutellum, abdomen and legs and yellowish
wings, which are feebly spotted on the cross veins. ~
Locality.—S. Africa: Cape.
Subfam. Heterotropinae.
Apparently this subfamily is represented only by a single known
genus Heterotropus Lw., which is represented by numerous species
in the Palaearctic Region. The distinguishing characters of this
subfamily are essentially those given under the genus Heterotropus
(see below). From Crocidium Lw. and Adelogenys n. gen., the genus
Heterotropus differs in having much shorter first antennal joints, a
conical face marked off from upper parts of the genae and base of
antennae by a transverse depression or groove, in having much
sparser and shorter pubescence and no dense scaling on body, a
shorter and more basally acute second submarginal cell and a distinct
downward bend in third longitudinal vein, in having much feebler
spicules on tibiae and no long apical spur below on middle tibiae.
The Heterotropinae are in fact very near the Crocidium-group, and
also show relationships with the Phthirwnae.
Gen. Heterotropus Lw.
(P. 181, Beschreib. Europ. Dipt., 1, 1873; Engel, p. 156, Die
Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 76 (Bombylidae), 1933.)
The 9-type of Heterotropus munroi Bezz., in the Transvaal Museum,
and a 9-specimen in the collections of the South African Museum can
only be referred to Heterotropus. The characters of this genus, as
based on these 99, are: Body not humped but rather depressed,
especially the abdomen, with the integument almost bare, the pleurae
bare, the head above, thorax above and especially the abdomen
above and below with only very short, scarcely visible, sparse hairs
and with extensive yellow markings on the body of 9° at least.
Head (text-fig. 247) with the occiput hollowed out behind and below
820 Annals of the South African Museum.
ocellar tubercle; frons convex and continuously convex with vertex,
the interocular space on vertex broad in 99; antennae with joint 1
short, but longer than 2, with joint 3 elongate, tapering apically and
with its terminal joints developed (with at least 2 joints visible);
face well developed, the upper part, just above buccal cavity, pro-
jecting horizontally, conically prominent, distinctly marked off from
bases of antennae and from upper parts of genae by a transverse,
groove-like depression which is continuous with the furrows separating
genae from buccal cavity; genae well developed and _ broadish;
proboscis relatively short and stout; palps slender and two-jointed,
the apical joint, however, scarcely separately visible. Thorax
slightly narrower than head; scutellum transverse and broader than
long; wings hyaline, not spotted, with 4 posterior cells, the second
submarginal cell short, acute basally, with the third longitudinal vein
bending towards discoidal cell at level of the discal cross vein and
joining the second longitudinal vein at a point a little before level
of base of discoidal cell, the very short discal cross vein itself beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the anal cell acute apically and provided
with a short stalk as in the Crocidiwm-group and in the Phthiwrwnae,
with the alula lobe-like, not very broad, but its posterior margin
arcuately rounded. Legs comparatively stout, shortish, the femora
almost bare, without scaling and with only very short, scarcely
visible, sparse hairs; tibiae more hairy, the spicules short, not
strongly developed, even the apical crown of spines short and feeble;
claws and pulvilli well developed. The ¢g is unknown to me but,
according to both Loew (loc. cit.) and Paramonow (p. 127, Trav.
Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 6, 1929) the gd are much like the 99, differing
only in having less extensive yellow on the body, slightly denser and
more conspicuous pubescence and contiguous or very narrowly
separated eyes.
H. munrow Bezz.
(P. 246, Bull. Soc. Ent. d’ Egypte, 1925 (1926); Paramonow,
p. 143, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 6, 1929.)
This is the only species of Heterotropus recorded from Southern
Africa, and as the original description is in French and the Egyptian
journal not well known in South Africa, I am appending a description
of the 92 before me: Face, genae, head below and body ivory
yellowish, the buccal cavity being more whitish; head above occiput,
sides of thorax and a longitudinal band on each side towards middle
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 821
of thorax, broader towards base, the scutellum, broad transverse
apical bands across abdomen above and the entire sides of abdomen
also pale yellow; a spot on each side lower down on occiput, a central
spot on upper part on occiput, a small mark behind each eye nearer
vertex, a transverse spot on each side of frons anteriorly, a central
mark on frons continued posteriorly as a A-shaped mark (the arms
of which embrace and include each lateral ocellus), a small spot on
each side along margins of eyes at level of base of face, a broad central
band (narrowed posteriorly) on disc of thorax, a longitudinal band
TEext-FIc. 247.—Head of 2 Heterotropus munroi Bezz.
on each side on disc (broadened anteriorly), a small spot on each
side near humeral angle, an oval spot on each side just above wing-
bases, a small ovate spot at about middle along anterior margin of
mesopleuron on each side, the broad basal parts of abdominal
segments above and a faint narrow longitudinal line on each side of
venter, black; antennae yellowish, but with the upper parts of joints
1 and 2 and greater part of 3 brownish; proboscis predominantly
yellowish, somewhat darkened apically, but blackened below just
before base of labella, with the palps pallid; legs yellowish, the hairs
and spicules also pale yellowish, a small spot on trochanters, the
extreme apices of hind tibiae, the apices of first tarsal joints, the apical
halves or more of second joints and the rest of the tarsal joints black
or blackish brown; wings vitreous hyaline, with a very faint yellowish
tinge in certain lights, iridescent, with the veins very pale yellowish,
with the discal cross vein much shorter than the other cross veins,
with the vein separating third posterior and discoidal cells almost
straight, with the squamae pellucid; halteres yellowish, with pale
yellowish knobs. Head (text-fig. 247) with the interocular space on
vertex a little more than 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons
VOL. XXXIV. o3
822 Annals of the South African Museum.
slightly wrinkled, the inner margins of eyes only gradually diverging
apically, with very sparse, short and pale hairs on occiput and vertex;
face and genae almost bare, with only very minute and sparse hairs
discernible in certain lights; antennae with joint 1 a little longer
than 2; proboscis about 14 mm. long, faintly striate in basal part.
Thorax above with fine almost bloom-like pubescence, especially on
black marks, and with fine, short, sparse, erect hairs, with more
distinct and longer hairs on propleural parts just below humeral
angles. Abdomen sometimes somewhat flattened, more or less shining
above, with only very sparse and short whitish hairs being visible,
especially on sides and sides of segment 1.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—Central Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Thorne, Mar. 1931);
also Hopetown (Type).
Superficially these insects resemble species of Phthiria, such as
P. laeta and crocogramma. The structural differences and the
different pale yellow markings are, however, obvious.
Subfam. Phthirinae.
The genera Crocidium Lw., Phthiria Meig., Apatomyza Wied.,
Geron Meig., Pseudoamictus Big., Apolysis Lw. and Oligodranes Lw.
have all been placed in the true Phthirwnes by Loew, Becker and
Bezzi. In view of the fact that the genera of this ill-defined sub-
family differ markedly from each other in important characters it is
necessary to remove the more aberrant genera to obtain more
uniformity in the group. The preceding Ethiopian genera, namely
Crocidium Lw., Adelogenys n. gen. and Apatomyza Wied., possessing
certain common characters, I have referred to a special group of the
Bombyliinae. The genera Geron Meig., Amictogeron n. gen., and
Pseudoamictus Big. have been transferred to a new subfamily
Geroninae (see farther down). The remaining genera Phthiria Meig.,
Apolysis Lw. and the genus Oligodranes Lw., though differing in
wing-characters, are remarkably uniform in certain other generic
characters, and appear to constitute a well-defined group which I am
referring to the true Phthirwnae. The distinctive characters of the
Phthiriinae are:—Body with the thorax more or less humped in
appearance, the pleural parts being high;. pubescence on the whole
sparse, often very sparse and short, composed of short, erect hairs,
the greater part of body and pleurae often bare, with scaling very
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 823
poorly developed and more often wanting. Head with a distinct trans-
verse frontal depression towards the apex, the apical part in the region
of the antennae more or less prominent, raised, giving it a tumid
appearance; face just in front of antennae very short, practically
non-existent, the buccal cavity almost reaching antennae; buccal
cavity usually very broad and furrow between it and genae or inner
margins of eyes very shallow or scarcely indicated, the genae often
very narrow; palps usually with the apical joint not separately
visible, and when so not short but elongate; antennae with joint 1
very short, never more than about 1} times as long as 2, with 3
always modified, broadish from side and ending apically either in an
upper and lower spine-like process, a subapical process or an upwardly
directed apical process, with the terminal elements, usually repre-
sented as a slender style, never terminal to joint 3 but situated in a
slight depression or hollow between the apical processes or above
just in front of the apical process (cf. text-figs. 248 a, 253 a, 257 a
and 6, and 263 a). Wings with either 4 or 3 posterior cells, with 2
submarginal cells, with or without a discoidal cell, always with the
anal cell apically acute and provided with a stalk, with the axillary
lobe very broad and triangularly lobate, with the alula well developed,
with the second longitudinal vein and vein between the submarginal
cells straight to their ends, with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell,
when present in forms with 3 posterior cells, straight and not markedly
S-curved as in the Geroninae and in all genera without a basal comb
to wings. Abdomen without a lobe-like process ventrally on segment 8
in 92 and with the last sternite in Jd of some genera scoop-like and
conically produced. Legs without any spines on femora below, with
the spicules on tibiae very poorly developed, scarcely evident, almost
absent and with the apical crown of spurs short or very poorly
developed and without one long spur below on middle tibiae and
without a few longer spines at base of hind tarsal joints below as in
the Geroninae, with distinct longish bristly hairs apically on last
tarsal joint, with the pulvilli broader and more foliate than in
Crocidium-group, and with the spine-like empodium also longer.
Hypopygium of $$ with the inner apical part of basal parts more
often elongate, much produced and spinulated apically (cf. text-
figs. 248-256 and 258-263).
824 Annals of the South African Museum.
Gen. Phthiria Meig.
(Illiger’s Mag. Ins., 1, 268, 44, 1803; Becker, pp. 440 and 484, Ann.
Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St Petersb., vol. xvu, 1912; Bezzi, p. 96,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Engel, p. 139, Die Fliegen.
d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 69 (Bombylidae), 1933.)
Not having examined European forms of this genus, it is difficult
to state whether the Ethiopian representatives strictly conform to
the Palaearctic genus as defined by Meigen and the other authors.
According to references and abbreviated descriptions of this genus in
the literature at my disposal, the species, dealt with in this paper, can
at present only be referred to Phthiria. No author, however, appears
to have described this genus fully enough so as to preclude confusion
with other related Phthirunae. Generic characters common to the
South African species may be shortly summarised as follows:—Body
less humped than in Crocidium and Adelogenys, often almost bare and
sometimes with extensive yellow markings, especially in 992, some-
times with quite dense and longish, even shaggy pubescence, usually
more developed in 3g. Head with the eyes in 3g in contact above,
broadly separated in 99, the eyes in $3 sometimes distinctly larger
than in 99; frons more or less convex and sometimes very convex in
3d, especially apically, sometimes convex beyond transverse depression
in 99; frontal part of head sometimes markedly and conically produced
in front of anterior level of eyes to antennal insertions, the frontal part
thus almost spout-like; face above buccal cavity very short and
practically non-existent; genae usually very well developed and broad
and the edges of buccal cavity sharp and prominent; antennae with
joint 1 very short or at least not longer than about 13 times as long as
2, sometimes scarcely as long as 2, with 3 usually laterally compressed,
more or less spindle-shaped or elliptical, broadest at about, or just
before, middle and ending apically in an upper apical or subapical,
spine-like process, sometimes comparatively long and also in a lower
apical process or prominence, which two processes together sometimes
form a bifid process, with the terminal or stylar element not distinctly
visible or sometimes visible as a bristle-like style just above the lower
apical process of joint 3 on the inner side and with fine hairs present
on joint 3 above in some species (cf. text-figs. 248 and 253, a for
shape of joints, etc.); proboscis either long or shortish and sometimes.
with distinct and even dense and longish hairs on labral part; palps
slender, usually conspicuous, separate joints not being visible. Wangs
almost similar to those of Crocidiwm and also with 4 posterior cells.
—
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 825
and more or less with straight veins in upper apical part, the first
posterior cell open and the anal cell closed and acute apically and
the alula and axillary cells well developed, without any spots or
infusions on cross velns in the South African species. Legs with the
spicules on tibiae usually feebly developed, especially on front ones
and sometimes only evident towards apices of the others; muddle
tibiae without a conspicuous and long, apical spur below as in Croci-
dium. Hypopygium of $3 (text-figs. 248-256) with the inner apical
part of basal parts in neck region usually prominent or produced into
a process, which is broad from side, provided at apex towards the
outer side and more dorsally with a crest of shortish spines, with the
dorsum of basal parts often provided with long, bristly hairs; beaked
apical joints usually slightly curved (see figures), hollowed out below,
with comparatively few and sparse, or without any, hairs above, but
sometimes with a few, usually two, longer, stouter and more spine-
like, bristly hairs nearer apex on inner side; aedeagus usually straight
or curved upwards apically, without a ventral process, joined on to
basal parts on each side by a broadish, flange-like ramus or merely
by a strap-like ramus which is under the lateral struts (cf. text-figs.),
the aedeagus often produced basally below middle part into a con-
spicuous process on each side; lateral struts directed outwards and
upwards in most of the species.
This genus is very rich in species in the Palaearctic Region and there
is no doubt that the South African subregion also has many still un-
recorded forms. Most species of Phthiria are probably associated
with flowers and, when more attention is given to the very numerous
insects dependent or associated with our flowering plants, there is no
doubt that the list of species given in this paper will be considerable
enlarged.
Key to the South African species.
Ye)
1. (16) Proboscis without any hair or dense hairs on labral part; head with
the apical frontal part beyond anterior level of eyes to antennal insertions
scarcely and not markedly or strikingly conically produced and narrowed
apically, the front part of head not so markedly spout-like, with the
frons, even if convex, not markedly boss-like; abdomen entirely black
or with comparatively narrow yellowish hind margins; hypopygium
(text-figs. 248-255) . : : : . : : : ae
2. (11) Antennae with joint 3 ending apically in an upper and a lower spine-like
process, both more or less equally prominent and forming a more sym-
metrical bifid process, the lower process at least also well developed,
826
ey)
Annals of the South African Museum.
with joint 1 usually very short and transverse, scarcely as long as 2;
frons narrower in front behind antennae and less markedly tumid;
wings less markedly subopaquely milky whitish and the veins usually
darker, more brownish or even dark blackish brown and if paler, wings
at least are not milky whitish; pubescence on the whole sparser and
shorter, that on legs almost absent, shorter or very poorly developed;
last tarsal joint with shorter and less conspicuous bristly hairs apically
and spine-like empodium shorter; hypopygium (text-figs. 248-252)
with the inner apical part of basal parts produced into a longer process,
with the aedeagus never or much less distinctly curved apically . 3.
. (6) Legs entirely or predominantly yellowish or the tibiae are yellowish; venter
with the narrow hind margins yellowish or pallid and with the last
sternite mainly yellowish . : 3 » Vy eae
4, (5) Legs with the femora, tibiae and bases of tare gollowite venter with
slightly broader and more conspicuous yellowish hind margins; proboscis
slightly shorter and stouter, about 14 mm. long; pubescence shorter and
less dense; wings with the veins more brownish or yellowish brown;
hypopygium (text-fig. 248, b) with a longer aedeagus
laeta var. xerophila n. (and laeta s. str.) (p. 832).
5. (4) Legs with only extreme apices of femora, the entire middle and hind tibiae
and upper surfaces of front tibiae yellowish; venter with narrower and
less conspicuous hind margins; proboscis distinctly longer and more
slender, about 3 mm. long; pubescence on the whole denser and slightly
longer; wings with the veins darker and more blackish brown; hypo-
pygium (text-fig. 250) with a shorter aedeagus
fallax n. sp. (p. 836).
6. (3) Legs entirely black or dark, only the knees sometimes narrowly yellowish
or pallid; venter entirely black or with scarcely perceptible pallid hind
margins and with the last sternite black or dark . : oe
7. (10) Wings vitreous or glassy hyaline, with the discal cross vein distinetly or
much beyond middle of discoidal cell; knees narrowly pallid or yellowish;
hypopygium (text-figs. 249 and 251) with the two stouter spine-like
bristles on outer or inner side near apex of beaked apical joints shorter
and less conspicuous and with the inner apical process of basal parts
broader from side : s . cee
8. (9) Antennae with joint 3 longer, with distinet siertials bristly hairs above,
with the upper apical spine-like process a little farther back, the lower
one more terminal and more prominent or stouter, the two together
forming a distinctly less symmetrical bifid process; proboscis longer,
about 3-34 mm. long; pubescence with that on sides of face and that
towards apices of femora, especially middle and hind ones, dark or even
blackish; wings more strongly developed, broader and comparatively
longer; slightly larger species, about 5-54 mm. long, with a wing-length
of about 5-6 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 249) without a distinct basally
projecting lobe on each side where ramus joins aedeagus, with the basal
strut shorter and narrower . : . . crocogramma n. sp. (p. 833).
9. (8) Antennae with joint 3 shorter, without distinct hairs above, with the
upper apical spine-like process more apical in position, about as strongly
developed as lower one and forming with the latter a more distinctly
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 827
symmetrical bifid process; proboscis shorter, only about 13-2 mm. long;
pubescence entirely sericeous whitish even on face, genae and femora;
wings less strongly developed, narrower and comparatively shorter;
smaller species, about 33-4 mm. long and with a wing-length of about
4 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 251) with a distinct basally projecting
lobe on each side where ramus joins aedeagus, with the basal strut
broader and longer. ‘ : ‘ flavigenualis n. sp. (p. 837).
(In here also pulla Bezz.)
10. (7) Wings distinctly, though very faintly, dusky or cinereous greyish, with a
feeble brownish or yellowish tint in certain lights, with the veins paler
and with the discal cross vein tending to be at or only a little beyond
middle of discoidal cell; legs deep sienna brownish to blackish brown,
the knees not pallid or paler; hypopygium (text-fig. 252) with the two
spine-like bristles near apex of beaked apical joints very conspicuous
and stout, and with the inner apical process of basal parts distinctly
more slender. . pubescens Bezz. (in lit.) (p. 839).
11. (2) Antennae with joint 3 endins sepdcilly in a distinctly more powerful,
prominent and longer, upper, spine-like process, sometimes very con-
spicuous, the lower process much feebler, these two processes together
not forming a very distinct symmetrical or bifid process, with joint 1
usually tending to be longer, as long as, or even longer than, joint 2:
frons distinctly broader and tending to be more tumidly prominent
just behind antennae; wings distinctly more conspicuously or evidently
subopaquely milky whitish, and the veins usually paler and more
yellowish; pubescence on the whole denser and longer, more shaggy,
that on femora longer; last tarsal joint with longer and more conspicuous
bristly hairs and spine-like empodium more prominent; hypopygium
(text-figs. 253-255) with the inner apical part of basal parts scarcely
produced, or if produced the process is distinctly shorter, with the
aedeagus often curved upwards apically . ; om E28
12. (13) Antennae with joint 1 distinctly longer, quite 14 times as atoms as 2,
with distinctly longer hairs above, with 3 more distinctly spindle-shaped
(text-fig. 253, a), broader, broadest at about middle, more distinctly
humped in appearance, with some scattered, short, bristly hairs above,
with the upper, apical, spine-like process long and well developed,
conspicuous, the lower process not prominent; pubescence on body
denser, more shaggy and longer; tumid front part of frons tending to
be more or less shining black; hypopygium (text-fig. 253, b) with the
beaked apical joints more flattened, broader and blunter apically,
with the inner apical part of basal parts not produced into a conspicuous
process . : ‘ lanigera Bezz. (p. 840).
13. (12) Antennae with ae 1 dissmctly horlee, less than 14 times and subequal
to joint 2, with much shorter hairs above, with joint 3 narrower, less
humped above and, if spindle-shaped, with the upper apical process
distinctly shorter, less strongly developed, with the lower apical process
more prominent, the two together forming a more distinct bifid process,
without or with scarcely any bristly hairs above; pubescence on body
distinctly less dense and shaggy; tumid front part of frons dull; hypo-
pygium (text-figs. 254 and 255) with the beaked apical joints more
828 Annals of the South African Museum.
slender and more acute apically and with the inner apical part of basal
parts produced into a conspicuous process, the apex of which has a
distinct crest of spines 5 . 14,
14. (15) Antennal joints 3 more elongate, Jonben ee 2 bixnisd as ‘eee as 1 and 2
combined, less obviously spindle-shaped, the upper apical process longer,
more acute apically, and slightly more curved, the lower apical process
scarcely prominent; face and genae with entirely white hair; proboscis
slightly shorter, only about 1$ mm. long; wings with the vein between
anal and fourth posterior cells and the one between anal and axillary
cells not entirely straight and with the apical stalk of anal cell shorter
than apical cross vein of discoidal cell; venter with very narrow yellowish
hind margins; hypopygium (text-fig. 254) . simmondsii n. sp. (p. 842).
15. (14) Antennal joints 3 shorter and broader, more spindle-shaped, with the
upper apical process shorter, stouter, blunter and not curved, the lower
apical part more prominent and process-like, forming a more distinct
bifid process with the upper one; face and genae with entirely black
hair; proboscis longer, about 2-24 mm. long; wings with the vein
separating anal and fourth posterior cells and the one between anal and
axillary cells markedly straight and with the apical stalk of anal cell
longer, quite as long as apical cross vein of discoidal cell; venter entirely
black; hypopygium (text-fig. 255) : . nogribarba n. sp. (p. 843).
16. (1) Proboscis with fairly dense and longish hair on labral part; head with
the apical frontal part beyond anterior level of eyes to antennal insertions
markedly and strikingly conically produced and narrowed apically,
the front part of head markedly spout-like, with the frons markedly
convex and boss-like; abdomen with broad and conspicuous yellowish
hind margins; hypopygium (text-fig. 256) . pilirostris n. sp. (p. 844).
ee
1. (14) Proboscis without any hair or dense hairs on labral part; head with the
apical frontal part beyond anterior level of eyes to antennal insertions
scarcely and not markedly or strikingly conically produced and narrowed
apically, the front part of head and frons not so markedly spout-like,
with the frons also shorter and distinctly narrower; body not predomi-
nantly or almost entirely yellowish above and below, the thorax above
and basal halves of the tergites at least black or entire body above and
even to a certain extent below may be black : : : <es
2. (13) Antennae with joint 3 ending apically in an upper and a lower spine-like
process, both more or less equally prominent, or the lower one tending
to be more prominent, both together forming a more symmetrical bifid
process, with joint 1 very short and transverse, shorter or scarcely as
long as 2; frons in front slightly less convex or tumidly prominent;
wings vitreous or glassy hyaline, slightly greyish hyaline or dusky,
but not conspicuously or very markedly subopaquely milky whitish,
with the veins usually darker; pubescence much sparser, very sparse
or almost wanting, that on legs short, sparse or very poorly developed;
last tarsal joint with shorter or less conspicuous bane hairs apically
and spine-like empodium shorter ; : ee
3. (6) Legs entirely or predominantly yellowish or the tibiae are predominantly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 829
yellowish; wings more vitreous or glassy hyaline without or with only
a very feeble milky whitish tint in certain lights; body with the yellow
more extensively developed, the coxae, head below, prosternal part
and the pleural part below wings and the hind margins of venter entirely,
predominantly or more extensively yellow; antennal joint 3 (text-
fig. 248, a) with the upper apical spine-like process nearer apex, thus
forming a more symmetrical bifid process together with the lower apical
one; scutellum on the whole broader, more transverse and less than
half as long as broad . : : ‘ : or es
4. (5) Occiput or greater part of occiput avd a conspicuous, broad, central band
on head above, extending from occiput to base of antennae black;
scutellum with the hind border or the sides conspicuously black and
the base of the thorax above also entirely black; abdomen with the
yellow hind margins slightly narrower and not conspicuously broadened
on sides; pubescence tending to be sparser and paler sericeous yellowish
or more often more whitish above on thorax . laeta Bezz. (p. 831).
5. (4) Greater upper part of occiput and the head above entirely yellow or
yellowish; scutellum entirely or more extensively yellow and even
the basal part of thorax above with much yellow; abdomen with the
yellow hind margins distinctly much broader, much broader on sides,
and sometimes with the entire abdomen predominantly yellowish and
even sides of thorax more broadly yellowish; pubescence tending to
be denser, more conspicuous and more distinctly sericeous yellowish to
golden yellowish above on thorax . laeta var. xerophila n. (p. 831).
6. (3) Legs entirely very dark blackish brown or black, only the knees being
narrowly pallid or yellowish; wings sometimes with a more distinct,
though feeble, milky whitish tint or even cinereous or yellowish tint;
body entirely black or with the yellow less extensively developed, the
coxae, head below, prosternal parts and pleural part just below wings,
predominantly black or with much black, and the yellowish hind margins
of venter very much narrower, greater part of venter being more blackish;
antennal joint 3 with the upper apical process or spine farther back
and more subapical, the apical bifid process thus less symmetrical;
scutellum apparently narrower, more tumid, Los | transverse and quite
half as long as broad . ‘ ; so) te
7. (12) Body with extensive yellow eee on See hoa dauealian pleurae
and on abdomen and knees narrowly yellowish; wings glassy or vitreous
hyaline or with a very feeble subopaque milky whitish tint but not
dusky or faintly yellowish; proboscis slightly longer, about 2-3} mm.
long; head below, genal region and scutellum not tending to be con-
spicuously smooth and shining . : : , : ; “tek
8. (11) Head with some yellow behind eye-margins on vertex or upper part of
occiput, with the yellow on pleurae more extensive, the mesopleuron
with more yellow and sternopleuron practically half yellow, with
practically entire upper surface of scutellum yellow and the yellow
hind margins of tergites and sternites distinctly broader and more
conspicuous; wings more vitreous or glassy hyaline, much broader and
longer; interocular space on vertex slightly broader about or at least
2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennal joint 3 with the upper
830 Annals of the South African Museum.
apical process slightly farther back and the bifid process formed with
lower process less symmetrical; proboscis longer, about 3-34 mm. and
stouter; slightly larger forms, about 5-54 mm. long and with a wing-
length of 5-6 mm. : at Ds
9. (10) Head above with a broad, venient Blais bane octane from occiput
- to bases of antennae; sides of thorax in front of wings less broadly
yellowish, the disc of thorax entirely black, the scutellum less extensively
yellow and hind margins of abdomen above and _ below less broadly
yellowish; wings clearer hyaline . ; crocogramma n. sp. (p. 833).
10. (9) Entire frons yellow; sides of thorax in front of wings more broadly
yellowish, the base of thorax above also yellow, the scutellum entirely
and more extensively yellow and the hind margins of the tergites more
conspicuously and broadly yellowish; wings with a more distinct sub-
opaque milky whitish tint in certain lights
crocogramma n. sp. (var.) (p. 835).
11. (8) Head without any yellow on each side of occiput behind eyes, with the
yellow on pleurae more reduced, the mesopleuron and greater part of
sternopleuron black, with only the discal part of scutellum yellowish,
the sides more broadly black and the yellowish hind margins of tergites
and sternites very much narrower; wings with a more conspicuous
subopaque milky whitish tint, distinctly narrower and shorter; inter-
ocular space slightly narrower and even less than 2 times as broad as
tubercle; antennal joint 3 with the upper apical process slightly less
subapical in position, and the bifid process formed with lower process
more symmetrical; proboscis shorter, more slender, only about 2 mm.
long; smaller form, only about 3 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
4mm. ; ‘ cognata n. sp. (p. 835).
12. (7) Body entirely blank, oan any yellow markings, the legs entirely
very dark blackish brown or black and the knees not paler; wings dis-
tinctly, though very faintly, tinged greyish yellow or cinereous yellow,
with a faint brownish tint in certain lights; proboscis on the whole
shorter, only about or scarcely 2 mm. long; head below genal parts
and scuttelum more or less brilliantly shining and smooth
pubescens Bezz. (in lit.) (p. 839).
13. (2) Antennae with joint 3 (text-fig. 253, a) ending apically in a distinctly
more powerful, prominent and longer, upper spine, usually very con-
spicuous, the lower apical process feebler, these two processes together
not forming a very distinct symmetrical or bifid process, with 3 also
more distinctly humped above, with joint 1 usually longer and even
at least 1} times as long as 2; frons in front distinctly more convex or
tumidly prominent; wings distinctly more conspicuously subopaquely
milky whitish, with the veins usually much paler and more yellowish;
pubescence distinctly very much denser, shaggy and conspicuous, that
on sides of face sometimes blackish and that on legs longer and denser;
last tarsal joint with longer and more conspicuous bristly hairs apically
and with the spine-like empodium longer. (Head below and a longi-
tudinal band on pleurae yellowish) oem lanigera Bezz. (p. 840).
14. (1) Proboscis with fairly dense, longish and conspicuous hair on labral part;
head with the apical frontal part beyond anterior level of eyes to antennal
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 831
insertions markedly and strikingly conically produced and narrowed
apically, the front part of head markedly spout-like, with the frons also
distinctly longer and also broader; body predominantly and almost
entirely yellow or yellowish above and below, even the thorax above
only with 3 reddish brown or brownish lines and only the extreme
bases of the tergites along midline above dark
pilirostris n. sp. (p. 844).
P. laeta Bezz.
(B96, Ann. S. Afr, Mus., vol. xvii,>1921.)
This species of Phthiria is easily recognisable by the extensive
yellow markings on the body in 99, predominantly yellowish legs
and poorly developed pubescence and almost bare body in 99 at
least. It can only be confused with crocogramma un. sp., from which,
however, it may be readily distinguished by the characters given in
the key. This species as well as the other similarly marked species
are peculiar in that only the 99 are so strikingly marked and that
the 92 superficially resemble certain Acalypterate Diptera, such as
the Oscinidae or Chloropidae, in the shape of the body and the ex-
tensive yellowish markings. The third antennal joint of 99 is shown
in text-fig. 248, a (left one from outer side). The male of laeta s. str.
is still unknown, but probably does not differ from that of the variety
described below.
Locality Eastern Transvaal, Natal, Eastern Province and even
the Western Cape Province. (In the Imp. Institute, British and South
African Museums.)
2 $d 4 99 P. laeta var. xerophila n.
These specimens may be taken to represent a Karoo and Namaqua-
land variety of laeta s. str. The 99 differ essentially in having no
central black band on head above, no distinct, or a much less
developed, transverse, black mark on each side of antennae, more or
less yellowish first antennal joints, in having the pleural parts (along
middle just below wings) predominantly or entirely yellow, in having
the base of thorax discally yellowish, an entirely yellowish scutellum,
the sides or hind borders of which are not, or scarcely, darkened,
in having the abdomen above almost entirely yellow or pale reddish
yellow, the hind margins being distinctly more broadly yellow, the
extreme apical margins of which are sometimes more ivory whitish
and the sides of the segments almost entirely or more broadly yellow,
832 Annals of the South African Museum.
the venter is predominantly yellow, with the femora more uniformly
yellowish and the front ones not slightly darkened above and with
the pubescence on body slightly denser and more yellowish sericeous
to golden. :
The g-specimens, which I take to belong to this species, have
the body black; last ventral segment and the very narrow hind
margins of venter yellowish; legs with the femora, tibiae and basal
parts of tarsi yellowish as in 99, only the apices of hind tibiae and
(a) (6)
Text-Fic. 248.—(a) Antenna of 2 Phthiria laeta Bezz. (b) Side view and
greater part of ventral view of hypopygium of 3 Phthiria latea var. xero-
phila n.
the apical parts of all the tarsi dark blackish brown; pubescence
sparse, but longer than in 99, straw-coloured yellowish, that on genae
and head below silvery whitish and that on frons also whitish;
wings as in 99, but with a scarcely evident yellowish tint in certain
lights. Head with the eyes in contact above for a distance nearly
3 times as long as ocellar tubercle, with the distinctly coarser facets,
in more than the upper half, well marked off from finer ones below;
frons small, slightly convex; edge of buccal rims more or less sharp
and separated from genae by a more or less distinct furrow; antennae
with joint 1 very short, about as long as 2, with 3 somewhat spindle-
shaped, shortish, without any distinct bristly hairs above; proboscis
slender, about 14 mm. long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 248, b) with the
inner apical part of basal parts, in neck region, produced and ending
apically along outer margin in a few short spines; beaked apical
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 833
joints elongate and narrow, flattened dorsoventrally and bearing a
few bristly hairs and 2 conspicuous spine-like ones before the middle
on outer side; aedeagus pointed and projecting beyond apical process
of basal parts, with the posterior aedeagal strut on each side visibly
projecting behind; lateral struts comparatively short and directed -
outwards and downwards. :
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 33-45 mm.
Length of wing: about 38-5 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Garies Distr.; Klip Vlei (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1931) (Types and paratypes). S. Karoo: Worcester (Turner,
Sept.—Oct. 1931) (British Museum); Prince Albert Rd. (Turner,
Nov. 1931) (British Museum).
In the British Museum there are also 2 99, from Matjiesfontein,
which probably constitute a bridging form between laeta s. str. and
the var. xerophila in that much of the black on the head above is
still present and the base of the thorax is also black.
Ti corre: crocogramma ite 0
Body black, entirely black in 3, only the hind margins of venter
scarcely yellowish, with the following yellowish or ivory yellowish
spots and markings in the 99; the head above (excepting a broad,
central black band from occiput to antennae), the margins behind
eyes, the sides of face and genae, the head below (excepting a broad
central black band), the humeral angle and side in front of wing-bases
on each side of thorax above, an elongate spot and posterior calli on
each side of thorax, the greater part of scutellum, the small area
around anterior spiracle, a transverse band across chest above front |
coxae, a spot at base of wing, an elongated spot along middle of
mesopleurae, the middle of the metapleurae and down in front of last
coxae, the comparatively broad hind margins of the abdominal seg-
ments, sometimes very broad on sides of segments | and 2, the broad
hind margins of venter and the sides of venter; legs, including coxae
and trochanters, black, only the knees yellowish, with the hairs whitish
and the spicules on tibiae black; pubescence short and sparse in 99
as in laeta, only that on occiput, sides of thorax, on scutellum and sides
of abdomen slightly longer, almost absent on pleural parts, all almost
whitish to very pale sericeous yellowish on thorax and abdomen above,
sparse but longer in g and whitish, that on frons, sides of face, genae
and on apices of femora blackish in 3; wings glassy hyaline, iridescent.
834 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the apical part of costal cell yellowish, with the veins brownish,
becoming more yellowish towards base, the discal cross vein at about,
or just a little beyond, middle of discoidal cell, the discoidal cell
scarcely narrower basally than apically, with the squamae pellucid and
fringed with sparse, short, whitish hairs; halteres yellowish brown
or yellowish, the knobs almost whitish. Head with the interocular
space on vertex in 99 about 2 times as broad as tubercle, with the eyes
in contact above in 3 for a distance quite 2 times as long as tubercle,
Text-Fic. 249.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of § Phthiria crocogramma n. sp.
the upper facets coarser than those in lower half; frons in 29 trans-
versely depressed just beyond middle as in laeta, the front part thus
raised and somewhat convex, longitudinally convex in g; antennae
with joint 1 very short, not longer than 2, transverse, with joint 3
broad (from side), elongate, somewhat spindle-shaped, usually broadest
near or just before middle, with some fine, scattered hairs above,
stronger and more conspicuous in g, the joint laterally compressed
and ending near apex above in a short, spine-like process, not quite
forming a symmetrical bifid process with the slightly stouter and
more prominent lower apical process and with the terminal joints only
indicated as a slender, short, bristle-like style just above base of lower
apical process; face in front above almost wanting, the buccal rims
somewhat sharply edge-like, prominent, the buccal cavity thus funnel-
shaped, without any distinct furrow between it and the genae;
proboscis comparatively stout, about 3-33 mm. long; palps slender
and straight. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 249) much like that of laeta
v. zerophila (cf. text-fig. 248, b), with, however, very much longer and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 835
denser hairs on basal parts, those in neck region also long, with the
inner apical process of basal parts also broader from side and with
more numerous and longer spines in the apical crest; beaked apical
joints with longer and denser hairs above and, like zerophila, with two
longer and more conspicuous spine-like bristles towards their apices;
aedeagus much shorter, not projecting beyond apical process and
with the posterior aedeagal struts shorter; the posterior structures
on the whole shorter than in /aefa (shown a little too short in the
figure).
Types in the South Afmcan Museum.
Length of body: about 5-5} mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality—South West Africa: Kaokoveld; Kaross (Mus. Exp.,
Feb. 1925).
Easily separated from laeta by the black legs, less extensively
yellowish pleurae and by characters given in the key. The species
seems to be slightly variable in the nature of the yellow markings.
One paratype, from Kaross, differs from the allotype-2 in having the
base of the thorax above also yellow, the scutellum more extensively
yellow and the entire frons and sides of head above also yellow and
without a central black band. In this respect it appears to bear the
same varietal relationship to the typical form as the var. zerophila
bears to laeta s. str.
3 22 P. cognata n. sp.
These three females are almost inseparable from 29 of crocogramma.
They nevertheless show certain distinct and constant differences
which appear to be specific. From crocogramma they differ in being
slightly smaller, less bulky. The yellow markings on body with the
following differences: no yellow behind eye margins on each side of
occiput, yellow markings on pleurae less extensive, the mesopleuron
and greater part of sternopleuron being black, the yellow on scutellum
more discal, the sides of scutellum being more broadly black and
yellow hind margins of tergites and sternites distinctly very much
narrower and less conspicuous and the knees scarcely or only very
obscurely yellowish; pubescence on the whole whiter, that on thorax
above not slightly sericeous yellowish; wings slightly shorter and
narrower in relation to body, distinctly tinted subopaquely milky
whitish and not so clear glassy hyaline as in crocogramma. Head with
the interocular space on vertex narrower, even less than 2 times as
836 Annals of the South African Museum.
broad as ocellar tubercle, with the upper apical spine of third antennal
joint slightly less subapical in position and thus forming a more
symmetrical bifid process with lower one, with the proboscis shorter
and less stout, only about 2 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 3 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality —_S.W. Africa: Damaraland; Narebis (Barnard, Feb.
1921) (Type). Kaokoveld: Kamanyab (Mus. Exp., Mar. 1925).
1 g P. fallax nu. sp.
Body, including scutellum, black; narrow hind margins of venter
and entire last sternite yellowish; knees, upper surfaces of front
tibiae and the entire middle and hind tibiae yellowish, only the
Trxt-Fic. 250.—Side view and greater part of ventral view of hypopygium
of g Phthiria fallax n. sp.
extreme apices of the latter darkish; pubescence rather dense for
this series, but less dense and shaggy than in the lanigera-series,
predominantly white on body above and below, with sericeous
gleams, that on thorax above slightly straw-coloured yellowish in
certain lights, that at apex of abdomen more distinctly gleaming
sericeous yellowish, that on coxae and femora whitish; wings glassy
hyaline, iridescent, with a very feeble subopaquely milky whitish
tint in costal cell, base and on alula, with the veins dark brownish,
becoming pale yellowish at extreme base and along supernumerary
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 837
vein in costal cell, the apical half of costal border blackish, with the
squamae subopaquely whitish and white-fringed; halteres with very
pale yellowish white knobs. Head with the eyes in contact for a
distance about 14 times as long as ocellar tubercle, the upper coarser
facets more or less well marked off from lower finer ones; frons
tubercularly prominent behind antennae; antennae with joint 1
very short, only about as long as 2, with 3 subspindle-shaped, broadest
just before middle but more narrowed apically than basally and
shghtly more rapidly apically along upper margin, ending apically
in a symmetrically bifid process as in laeta and flavigenualis, without
any distinct hairs above; proboscis about 3 mm. long, slender
apically; palps elongate and slender. Hypopygium (text-fig. 250)
superficially resembling that of laeta but with the aedeagus less
projecting, the basally directed aedeagal struts above middle part
distinctly much shorter, etc.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality —Nieuwveld Escarpment: Fraserburg Distr.; Teekloot
(Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
This species differs from ¢$¢ of laeta and its varieties in having
entirely black femora and slightly denser pubescence.
4 33 P. flavigenualis n. sp.
Body, including scutellum and legs, black; knees yellowish;
pubescence sparse, entirely sericeous whitish above and below, that
on thorax above, however, with very slightly pale sericeous yellowish
gleams in certain lights and that at apex of abdomen also more
sericeous yellowish, that on coxae and fine pubescent hairs on femora
whitish; wings glassy hyaline, iridescent, with an almost impercep-
tible milky whitish tint in certain lights, with the alula and base very
shgthly more subopaquely whitish, with the veins brownish, becoming
pale yellowish towards base, the apical half of costal border and apical
part of first longitudinal vein very dark, blackish brown or black,
with the squamae subopaquely whitish and fringed with very fine
white hairs; halteres with the knobs almost white. Head with the
eyes above in contact for a distance about 14 times as long as ocellar
tubercle, with the coarser upper facets in more than upper halves of
eyes more or less well marked off from finer lower ones; antennae
with joint 1 very short, scarcely or about as long as short transverse
VOL. XXXIV. 54
838 Annals of the South African Museum.
joint 2, with 3 spindle-shaped, broadest just before, or at about,
middle, without any distinctly visible hairs above, with the processes
at apex more or less symmetrically bifid as in laeta; proboscis about
12-2 mm. long, slender; palps very slender, rather long, the short
apical joint clavate apically. Hypopygium (text-fig. 251) with the
ramus from each side of each basal part ventrally produced on each
side of aedeagus into a basally directed lobe (these structures are
better made out in the figure); aedeagus rather blunt apically.
TExtT-FIG. 251.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium
of § Phthiria flavigenualis n. sp.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 33-4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality Central Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Mus. Staff, Nov.
1935).
This species obviously belongs to the laeta-series but differs from
the 3 of laeta in having an entirely black body, without yellowish
hind margins even on venter and entirely black legs. From the 3
of crocogramma it differs in having relatively shorter third antennal
joints which are without distinct hairs above and which have the
upper apical spine less subapical in position and thus forming with
the equally developed lower one a more symmetrical bifid process, in
having a shorter proboscis, entirely white hair on femora and shorter
wings. This species may prove to be the same as pulla Bezz. (p. 78,
Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922).
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 839
1 $12 P. pubescens Bezz. (in lit.).
(Pe. 98, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Bezzi;pp. 77 and 78,
Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922.)
The Q-specimen was referred to pubescens Bezz. by Bezzi himself.
In Broteria he referred a g from Willowmore to the same species.
This § in the Hungarian Museum, never having been described and
not represented in the material before me, is not determinable from
the references and key in Broteria. The 9 before me, on the other
hand, was labelled by Bezzi as pubescens in his own handwriting and
was partly described in the key and reference (pp. 96 and 98, Ann. 8.
Afr. Mus., vol. xvii). It is very doubtful. whether the 9-pubescens,
as labelled by Bezzi, belongs to the same species as the ¢ in the
Hungarian Museum. There is very little doubt, I think, that the
$-specimen referred to in this paper does belong to the same species
as the labelled 9-pubescens. The species is thus described here and
based on the 92 in the South African Museum and the ¢ in the British
Museum, without any reference to the g in the Hungarian Museum :—
Body, including the legs, entirely black, the legs of the g, however,
slightly more brownish; genae and edges of buccal cavity and the head
below more or less brilliantly shining in Q, less so in g; scutellum and
abdomen also more or less shining; pubescence (as far as this is not
denuded in 9) short and sparse, straw-coioured, slightly longer in 3,
the depressed hairs on abdomen in 2 more sericeous yellowish, the very
fine depressed and bloom-like pubescence on sides of frons in front
and down sides of upper parts of genae silvery whitish, the short hairs
on femora sparse and slightly yellowish sericeous; wings distinctly
though faintly, tinged yellowish or cinereous yellowish, appearing
dusky or even slightly brownish in certain lights, with the veins
yellowish brown, the costal and first longitudinal veins slightly darker,
with the discal cross vein only a little beyond the middle of the dis-
coidal cell and with the apical stalk of anal cell long and about as long
as apical cross vein of discoidal cell; halteres yellowish, with pale
dirty yellowish to whitish knobs, which in the ¢ are slightly darkened
above towards base. Head with the interocular space on vertex in Q
about 2 times as broad as tubercle, the eyes in ¢ in contact above for
a distance nearly 2 times as long as the tubercle; frons transversely
depressed at about middle in 9, the front part only slightly raised,
less than in Q of lanigera Bezz., more like that of laeta and croco-
gramma, in g it is roundly convex; buccal rims somewhat edge-like
and prominent as in crocogramma and without a distinct groove
840 Annals of the South African Museum.
between them and the genae; antennae with joint 1 very short,
transverse and only about as long as 2, with joint 3 broadish, only a
little narrowed apically and basally, ending apically in an upper and
lower spine-like prominence, the two together forming an apical bifid
process, the upper one very slightly more developed, with distinct,
short, bristly hairs above on joint 3in g; proboscis about 2 mm. long.
Hypopygium of g (text-fig. 252) with the basal parts provided with
conspicuous hairs dorsally, the inner apical process in neck region long
TextT-Fic. 252.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium
of § Phthiria pubescens Bezz.
and slender and provided apically with a crest of a few spines; beaked
apical joints flattened, narrow, with two stoutish and conspicuous
spine-like bristles near apex on outer side and two finer ones nearer
base on inner side, otherwise without any distinct hairs; aedeagus
straight and projecting beyond beaked apical joints; lateral struts
and basal strut poorly or feebly developed.
Length of body: about 33-4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.— Transvaal: Junction of Marico and Crocodile Rivers
(Tucker, Feb. 1918) (9-Allotype). Natal: Weenen (Thomasset,
Mar.—Apr. 1924) (g-Holotype).
Easily recognised by the distinct dusky wings and the more or less
shining front and lower part of head.
P. lanigera Bezz.
(P. 97, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
This species, in contrast to all the preceding ones, is characterised
by its comparatively dense and long whitish pubescence in both sexes,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 841
the absence of extensive yellow markings and the characteristic shape
of the third antennal joint (text-fig. 253, a of 2, left one from outer
side) which is more or less humped, broadest at about or just before
middle and ending apically in a comparatively long and well-developed
upper apical spine-like process and a scarcely evident prominence
below, with the latter of which is associated the terminal style or
bristle. The 92, contrary to Bezzi’s statement that it is like the d,
differs in addition to the sexual characters from the ¢ in having a
(a) (0)
TExt-FIG 253.—(a) Antenna of 2 Phthiria lanigera Bezz. (b) Side and greater
part of ventral views of hypopygium, and dorsal view of beaked apical joint
of 3 of the same species.
narrow line along hind margins of eyes, the greater part of head below,
the genae and buccal cavity ivory yellowish to whitish and the humeral
angle of thorax, a transverse band across chest above front coxae,
a longitudinal central band on mesopleurae and the metapleurae
(continuous with mesopleural band) as well as sides of first abdominal
segment and sometimes even part of the venter ivory yellowish to
yellow. Pubescence on 2 above whitish to pale sericeous yellowish,
the short depressed pubescence on disc of thorax, scutellum, abdomen
above and even on head above sometimes golden, the bristly hairs on
sides of face sometimes with numerous intermixed blackish ones.
The interocular space on vertex in 9 very little more than 2 times as
broad as tubercle. The hypopygiuwm of ¢ (text-fig. 253, 6) with
apically directed bristly hairs on basal parts, even longer towards
neck region, with the inner apical part of basal parts not elongate and
produced, broad and lobe-like (see ventral and dorsal views in middle
842 Annals of the South African Museum.
and extreme right of 6), the margin with minute spines; beaked apical
joints more or less hollowed out below, shaped as in figures and with
sparse short hairs above, no stout and elongate spine-like bristles
being present; aedeagus curved upwards in apical part, with the
posterior aedeagal struts prominent posteriorly.
Locality.—_S.W. Cape Province: Cape Peninsula and Hottentot’s
Holland Area. (In the British and South African Museums.)
1 3 P. simmondsi n. sp.
This unique g-specimen differs from the g-type of lanigera in
having distinctly shorter and less dense, also whitish, pubescence,
TExtT-FIG. 254.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium
of ¢ Phthiria simmondsii n. sp.
predominantly black hairs on frontal tubercle, the latter also dis-
tinctly duller and slightly more convex; antennae with joint 1 very
much shorter, less than 14 times, only about as long as, length of
2, with joint 3 more elongate, less prominently humped at middle,
its upper apical spine shorter, less prominent and slightly more
curved downwards and the lower apical part apparently slightly
more prominent; proboscis slightly shorter, only about 14 mm. long;
wings as in lamigera. Hypopygium (text-fig. 254) differs from that of
lanigera (cf. text-fig. 253, b) in having the inner apical part of basal
parts distinctly produced into a process, the apex of which bears a
crest of spines; beaked apical joints are less blunt and the inner part
near apex bears two spine-like bristles as in those of laeta and croco-
gramma;, aedeagus is almost straight apically and the basal strut is
shorter and feebler.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 843
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—_S.W. Cape Province: Fransch Hoek (Simmonds, Nov.—
Dec. 1930).
2 3¢ P. mgribarba n. sp.
Also very near lanigera Bezz., from the g-type of which they differ
in having distinctly shorter and slightly less dense silvery white
TExtT-FIGc. 255.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium
: of § Phthiria nigribarba n. sp.
pubescence, entirely black, bristly hairs on frons, face, genae and
front part on head below, entirely black venter, without even narrow
pallid or yellowish hind margins, more shining integument of thorax
and scutellum above; wings also milky whitish, but with paler, more
pallid or yellowish veins, with the veins separating fourth posterior
and anal and anal and axillary cells straight, more straight than in
any other species and with the apical stalk of anal cell also much
longer than in other species; antennae with very much shorter first
joints than in lanigera, these only about as long as 2 and with joint 3,
though spindle-shaped and broadest at about middle, shorter and
with a distinctly shorter and blunter upper apical process and also a
prominent process apically below, the third joints are also more
distinctly grooved on the inner side in apical part than in lanigera or
summondsi; halteres with the knobs entirely ivory yellowish and
scarcely darkened above as in g-lanigera; legs with slightly shorter,
eee ah nee abe
844 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish pubescence and with the knees scarcely yellowish. From
summondsw it differs in the entirely black pubescence on frons, face
and genae, the longer proboscis (about 2-24 mm. long), absence of
yellowish hind margins on venter, broader and shorter third antennal
joints and by the wing-characters already given above. The hypo-
pygium (text-fig. 255) somewhat like that of simmondsw (cf. text-
fig. 254), but the forwardly directed bristly hairs on basal parts
very much longer, especially those towards middle of dorsum;
beaked apical joints without 2 visible stoutish hairs on inner side
above near apex; aedeagus distinctly and rapidly curved upwards
apically and on the whole more slender along its entire length;
posterior processes to which ramus from each basal parts is also
attached broader and more prominent.
Type in the Transvaal Museum. ©
Length of body: about 4-44 mm.
Length of wing: about 44 mm.
Locality. —S.W. Cape Province: Malmesbury (Brauns, Oct. 1926).
2 53 3 92 P. pilirostris n. sp.
Head, antennae, proboscis, palps, thorax, scutellum, pleurae,
more than the basal halves of abdominal tergites medially above,
the genitalia and the basal halves of the sternites in gg black; the
body of 9° predominantly chrome to ochreous yellow, the pleurae,
sides of thorax above and scutellum usually paler and more yellowish
white to even ivory yellowish, with the third antennal joints, the
hollow part of head behind connected with a central band to and
including the ocellar tubercle, a broadish band narrowed anteriorly
on each side of frontal part of head from eyes to antennal insertions,
the proboscis and to a certain extent the palps, the lower part below
post-alar calli on each side, the hypopleuron and sometimes lower
part of sternopleuron, the basal parts of abdominal tergites medially
and discally and becoming smaller towards apex, the bases of sternites,
the last telescoped sternite (genital part) and sometimes two rows of
spiracular or spiracle-like spots on each side of abdomen and even a
row on each side of venter, black or blackish, with 3 broadish longi-
tudinal bands discally on thorax brown to reddish brown, the lateral
ones shortened and the central one extending down the declivity in
front and on to the scutellum and all three usually becoming darker
or more blackish brown posteriorly, the central one almost black
down the declivity to pronotal part, with the lower part of meso-
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 845
pleuron and even on to pteropleuron and sometimes the pectus or
lower halves of sternopleuron also dark or reddish brownish, with a
distinct or indistinct brownish central spot also on frontal part of
head above just behind antennae and with the basal parts of tergites
on sides of abdomen also tending to be more brownish or the spiracle-
like spots on sides of abdomen may be dark brownish; the compara-
tively broadish hind margins of the tergites and sternites in 3g
(broader on sides of abdomen) and the post-alar calli in gg ochreous
yellowish; legs predominantly yellowish in 99, the coxae more
yellowish white, the trochanters more dark brownish, the apices of
hind tibiae, the hind tarsi and greater part of the other tarsi in 99
blackish to black, with the legs in $3 predominantly black, the extreme
apices of the femora, the greater part of the front and middle tibiae
and bases or basal parts of hind tibiae, however, yellowish brown
to reddish or sienna brownish; pubescence in density and length
somewhat intermediate between the laeta-series and lanigera-series,
however, denser and slightly longer in $¢ than in 99, that on genae,
basal part of thorax above, on scutellum and on front coxae in both
sexes apparently the longest and more conspicuous, though sparser
in 99, that on abdomen in both sexes also conspicuous and more so
than in the laeta-series but much less so than in the lanigera-series,
that on legs in both sexes shortish, more pubescent than on body
but denser, slightly longer in 33, with the pubescence on body and
legs in $$ predominantly sericeous whitish, that on disc of thorax,
scutellum and to a certain extent discally on abdomen above with
distinctly more yellowish or sericeous yellowish gleams, that at apex
of abdomen appearing dark or blackish, that on ocellar tubercle,
Sparse ones on frons, that on antennal joints 1 and 2, on the genae
and on labral part of proboscis in $3 distinctly black or very dark
blackish brown, with the pubescence in 9? on the whole more distinctly
yellowish or sericeous yellowish, gleaming even more golden especially
above, that on head and on labral part of proboscis also gleaming
golden, that on body below and on legs slightly paler and more pale
sericeous yellowish, with the hairs on genital segment appearing
distinctly darker. Wings greyish hyaline, with a feeble, though
distinct, yellowish to faint yellowish cinereous tint somewhat like
those of pubescens, highly iridescent, with the extreme base distinctly
pale yellowish, with the veins very dark blackish brown, only yellowish
at extreme base, with the discal cross vein a little or distinctly beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the base of second submarginal cell not
acute, moderately truncate, with the squamae slightly subopaquely
SS
846 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish or pale yellowish and fringed with whitish to pale sericeous
yellowish hairs; halteres yellowish, with almost white or ivory
whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in $¢ in actual contact above
for a distance quite 14 to nearly 2 times as long as ocellar tubercle,
the line of contact somewhat impressed, with the coarser facets in
upper two-thirds of eyes grading into finer lower ones, with the
interocular space on vertex in 99 comparatively broad and nearly
3 times as broad as tubercle; ocellar tubercle very prominent and
TExtT-FIG. 256.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of 3 Phthiria
ptlirostris Nn. sp.
pimple-like in 33; eyes relatively larger in $3, smaller and somewhat
narrowed towards front part of head in 99; sides of head behind eyes
more exposed in 99; frons in gg rather markedly convex and raised
boss-like, in 92 broad and long, the inner margins of eyes practically
straight and gradually diverging apically, the transverse depression
on frons in 99 slightly beyond the middle and anterior part of frons
also raised; frontal part of head in both sexes remarkably produced
conically and narrowed apically with the antennae situated at apex
and this front part beyond anterior level of eyes thus much more
projecting than in other species and together with buccal part appear-
ing more distinctly spout-like; face above buccal cavity practically
non-existent, the sides of facial part and the genae well developed
and more so than in other species; buccal cavity also with sharp
edges; antennae with joints 1 and 2 very short, joint 1 only a little
longer than 2 and slightly thicker than 2, with 2 transverse and broader
than long, with 3 laterally compressed, elliptical, broadest just at
about or slightly beyond middle, very much resembling that of laeta
and as in the latter ending apically in an upper apical and a lower
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 847
apical process, the two constituting a bifid process which is more
or less symmetrical, with a terminal stylar element on the inner side
at base of lower apical process and with 2 or 3 distinct short bristly
hairs in front of middle along dorsal margin, more distinct in 3d,
with slightly more conspicuous and darker hairs on joints 1 and 2 in
3¢ than in 99; proboscis about 14-2 mm. long, unique in this genus
in having dense and fairly long hair on the labral part and which
becomes shorter towards apex, ceasing just in front of junction of
labella, the labella tapering apically; palps slender, conspicuous,
quite 4? mm. long, apparently shorter in gg than in 99. Legs with
the spicules on tibiae more apparent on middle and especially hind
ones, those in $¢ more conspicuous and those on front tibiae in both
sexes wanting; apical joint of tarsi with the hairs apically above
not very conspicuous; claws well developed and curved downwards
apically; pulvilli as long as claws and an empodium is visible medially
as a short spine. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 256).
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 34-44 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This peculiar species is easily recognisable by the presence of
dense hair on the labral part of the proboscis, the markedly and
conically produced frontal part of head, which is much more produced
than in any other known South African species, the almost entirely
yellow body in 92 and the comparatively broad yellow hind margins
of abdomen in 32.
Species not seen by me.
P. pulla Bezz.
(P. 78, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. II, 1922.)
This species was described by Bezzi from a g-specimen from
Willowmore. It is not represented in the collections before me and
has not been incorporated in my key. From Bezzi’s description it
is difficult to place it in the key. He compares it with the g-pubescens
Bezz. (in lit.) in the Hungarian Museum, which has never been
described, and which is in all probability different from the pubescens
Bezz. described in this paper. From his description of the third
antennal joints and the pubescence, pulla appears to come in the
laeta and crocogramma-series. It appears to differ from the ¢ of
laeta var. xerophila n. in having black legs. From nigribarba it
848 Annals of the South African Museum.
differs in having white hairs on the frontal triangle and face. From
simmondsw it appears to differ in size (2-8 mm. long), white hairs on
the frons anteriorly, in having a more distinct bifid process apically
on antennal joint 3, and in having broader yellowish knees. There
is a probability that flavigenualis n. sp. may be the same as pulla.
Gen. Apolysis Lw.
(P. 197, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860; Becker, p. 439, Ann. Mus.
Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912; Engel, p. 127,
Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 69 (Bombylidae), 1933.)
This peculiar genus has been adequately described by Loew. Its
chief diagnostic characters are the presence of only 3 posterior cells
in the wings, absence of a discoidal
cell, the straight second longitudinal
vein and vein between submarginal
cells, the apically acute and stalked
anal cell, the broadly triangular axillary
lobe and the apically spined and
peculiar third antennal joints (see text-
figs. 257, a and 6). Additional points
of interest are: eyes in gd usually in
contact above but sometimes separated ;
the palps are either long and well
developed, with the apical joint slightly
ae thicker than basal one or the palps may
A be very short in some species; proboscis
(0)
Tuercrrg .267/— ta) Auteauet cr ane, be short and stoutish or even long
Apolysis humilis Lw. (b) An- and slender; pubescence, though sparse
ae of 2 Apolysis brevirostris i comparison with some other genera,
is usually denser and more developed
than in Oligodranes, being denser and longer on head, genae,
sides of thorax, scutellum and abdomen, longer on coxae and
femora below, especially in $g and also in 33 with a row of longer,
fine hairs on outer sides of tibiae, which is rarely absent; thorax
almost subglobularly convex; wings usually not markedly tinted
milky whitish; abdomen with the last sternite in $¢ scoop-like and
conically produced, with the hind margins above and below, especially
in 99, pallid or yellowish; last tarsal joint visibly broader than the
other joints, bearing distinct longish bristly hairs apically, with the
pulvili well developed, conspicuous and strap-like, and the spine-
ee ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 849
like empodium longish and distinctly discernible. Hypopygium of
3S (text-figs. 258-262) with the inner apical angle or part (I.Ap.A.)
of basal parts (Ba.Pt.) considerably produced and prominent,
spinulated apically and acting as a sort of guide to the aedeagus;
aedeagus also much produced beyond basal parts, lying along middle
of scoop-like and conically produced last sternite (L.8.); beaked
apical joints (shown enlarged to right of left-hand figure in text-
fig. 258) small and provided on the inner side with a membranous,
flattened process or flap, sometimes quite broad (text-figs. 261-262).
There are probably very many more species of this genus than have
been collected.
Key to known South African species.
—
. (8) Palps elongate and conspicuous, at least as long as the antennae, the apical
joints slightly thicker than the basal ones; antennal joint 3 distinctly
longer, much more than 2 times as long as broad; wings on the whole
slightly more elongate, more greyish or cinereous hyaline, even distinctly
cinereous, with the veins on the whole darker; pubescence on body
apparently slightly denser and more conspicuous even in 99; larger
forms about 3-4 mm. long, with 4 wing-length of about 31-45 mm... 2.
2. (3) Abdomen in both g¢ and 92° with only very narrow, scarcely perceptible,
pale, pallid or yellowish hind margins, those on venter often more con-
spicuous; pubescence on occiput, thorax above and scutellum in both
sexes distinctly darker, even blackish or blackish brown; halteres in ¢¢
at least with the knobs darker or even blackish above
3 2 humilis Lw. (p. 851).
3. (2) Abdomen in both sexes with more conspicuous or broad yellowish hind
margins above and below and venter often entirely or almost entirely
yellowish; pubescence on occiput, thorax above and scutellum in both
sexes distinctly paler, almost whitish in known gg and much paler,
more yellowish or pale yellowish brown, not blackish; halteres with the
knobs in both sexes entirely very pale ae white or at least pre-
dominantly pale yellowish . : "vets
4. (7) Wings more greyish or glassy Hale! eae even ath a very slight
subopaquely whitish tint in certain lights; pubescence on occiput,
thorax above and on scutellum slightly paler, whitish in known ¢ and
straw-coloured yellowish in 99, that on abdomen above in 9° at least
also paler and more whitish; last See in QQ not predominantly
yellowish . ; Oe
5. (6) Abdomen with only Broddiah vellowich hind margins iabbwe aad below, the
venter, even in Q, not entirely or predominantly yellowish; wings com-
paratively longer, greyish or glassy hyaline, not distinctly subopaquely
whitish in certain lights, with the second submarginal cell longer, at least
subequal to length of part of third longitudinal vein from it to cross
vein; legs on the whole darker; proboscis slightly longer about 2 mm.
long : : ; : : : . 2 cingulata n. sp. (p. 853).
850
Annals of the South African Museum.
6. (5) Abdomen with the venter even in gg predominantly or entirely yellowish;
wings apparently shorter, more subopaque, more distinctly subopaquely
whitish in certain lights, with the second submarginal cell relatively
shorter, much shorter than length of part of third longitudinal vein from
it to cross vein; legs paler and more reddish brown; proboscis slightly
shorter only about 14 mm. long. E 3 xanthogaster n. sp. (p. 853).
7. (4) Wings with a distinct, though slight, smoky brownish or cinereous tinge,
thus distinctly darker; pubescence on occiput, thorax and scutellum
above slightly darker in 29, deeper yellowish or even brownish in certain
lights, that on abdomen above in 9& at least slightly more yellowish or
straw-coloured yellowish; last tergite in 99 as well as venter predomi-
nantly or entirely yellowish : F . 2 fumalis n. sp. (p. 855).
8. (1) Palps very short, not conspicuously visible and much shorter than antennae,
the apical joints scarcely visible and not much thicker than basal ones;
antennal joint 3 shorter, more ovate, not, or not very much more than,
2 times as long as broad; wings relatively shorter, clearer and with a
more distinct and evident milky white tint, with the veins slightly or
much paler or even whitish; pubescence on the whole distinctly sparser,
even in gg; smaller forms about 13-3 mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 14-3 mm. 5 ; a AOE
9. (10) Proboscis very short and palitenie or seoaeish: aly abou mm. long;
antennal joint 3 comparatively shorter, more ovate or oa wings with
the first basal cell scarcely longer than second basal cell, the veins
darker; last tarsal joint scarcely more thickened or broader than the
other joints, the bristly hairs apically also shorter, with the pulvilli less
conspicuous and the spine-like empodium shorter; interocular space
in 99 slightly broader, at least 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle;
slightly smaller species, about 13-2} mm. long, with a wing-length of
about 14-24 mm.; body above excepting only certain lines and spots,
covered with slaty grey bloom . . 6 & brevirostris n. sp. (p. 856).
10. (9) Proboscis distinctly very much longer, much more than } mm. long,
remarkably slender; antennal joint 3 slightly longer, more elongate-
ovate; wings with the first basal cell distinctly much longer than second
basal one, the veins much paler and even for the greater part much paler,
very pale yellowish and sometimes even whitish towards base; last
tarsal joint distinctly and visibly thickened or much broader than the
others, the fine bristly hairs at its apex longer and more conspicuous,
with the pulvilli more conspicuous and the spine-like empodium dis-
tinctly longer; interocular space in known @Q narrower, scarcely, or
slightly less than, 2 times as broad as tubercle; slightly larger species,
about 23-3 mm. long, and with the wings about 2%-3 mm. long; body
without any greyish bloom on thorax at least, tending to be black or
shining black. : , Joa
11. (14) Eyes in fd in actual wonton Rbegs fier a distanie auaite 3 times as long
as ocellar tubercle, with the upper facets distinctly coarser than the
lower ones; interocular space in 98 distinctly narrower, subequal or
even slightly narrower than length of antennal joint 3; knees black or
dark like rest of legs; pubescence, though sparse, distinctly longer and
denser, especially in gg, that on coxae and legs very much denser,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 851
longer and more conspicuous, and outer sides of tibiae with a row of
distinctly longer hairs; wings slightly less conspicuously milky white,
and with the veins at extreme base of wing darker and more blackish;
hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 261) with the basal strut longer and more
slender, with the lateral struts directed almost horizontally and the middle
part of aedeagus slightly broader, etc. . : » 2:
12. (13) Integument of body, especially thorax and seutellam Sniaing. abdomen
without or with scarcely perceptible pallid hind margins above and
below; wings more distinctly subopaquely whitish towards base;
halteres with the knobs tending to be more darkened above in gg
& 2 thornei n. sp. (p. 857).
13. (12) Integument of body dull black, not brilliantly shining; abdomen with
more distinct pallid hind margins, especially on sides and on venter;
wings slightly less markedly whitish towards base; halteres with the
knobs entirely whitish : : : : 3 thornei n. sp. (p. 859).
(Slight var.)
14, (11) Eyes in §¢ separated above by a space broader than the ocellar tubercle,
by the width of one posterior ocellus on each side of tubercle, with the
upper facets not coarser than lower ones; interocular space in 99 slightly
broader and a little broader than length of antennal joint 3; knees pallid
or yellowish; pubescence distinctly much shorter and sparser (though
longer in g than in 9), that on goxae and legs very much shorter and
sparser, and without a row of longer, more conspicuous hairs on outer
sides of tibiae; wings on the whole appearing more milky whitish,
and with extreme base of wings less blackish and more brownish; hypo-
pygium of ¢ (text-fig. 262) with the basal strut much shorter and broader,
the lateral struts more directed basally, and the middle part of aedeagus
narrower, etc. . : ; : 3 2 maherniaphila n. sp. (p. 859).
A. humilis Lw.
fe 197, Dipt. Faun. Sudafr., 1, Tab. Il, fig. 9, 1860; Bezzi, p. 102,
Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Engel, p. 130, Die Fliegen.
d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 69 (Bombyhidae), 1933.)
From the clear and concise description of Loew it is quite easy to
identify this species. It is characterised by the predominantly dark
body in both sexes, the hind margins of the abdominal segments,
even in 99, only very narrowly and scarcely perceptibly yellowish or
pallid, only the venter with slightly broader margins; pubescence
on head above, on occiput, thorax and scutellum above, even in 3d,
very dark, more blackish brown in certain lights, even those on sides
of face with intermixed dark ones; body covered for the greater part
with a greyish brown or slaty brownish bloom; wings not entirely
clear but slightly dusky, feebly cinereous in certain lights, with the
veins dark brownish, with the first basal cell not very much longer
852 Annals of the South African Museum.
than second basal one; halteres with the knobs distinctly darkened
above in 6g; antennal joint 3 (text-fig. 257, a (3$)) typical for
Apolysis, with joint 1 quite 14 times as long as 2; proboscis about
14-14 mm. long, rather stoutish; palps conspicuous, elongate; eyes
s ay A NW
re \ “a
Bes eels
TExtT-FIG. 258.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium and last sternite of
hypopygium and dorsal view of aedeagus of 3 Apolysis humilis Lw.
in go in actual contact for a distance quite 23-23 times as long as
tubercle (front view), with the interocular space on vertex in 99
nearly 3 times as broad as tubercle. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 258,
side view, dorsal view and that of aedeagus and last sternite in
position) showing the position of genitalia with respect to the last
scoop-like sternite (L.8.) together with the embedded terminal
segments (T.S.); beaked apical joints not separately visible but
showing at apical part of basal parts (Ba.Pt.) as an outwardly
directed tooth or spine (also shown enlarged); aedeagus (Ae.) (in
position and from dorsal view in middle upper figure) and middle
part together with the ramus (R.), by which it is attached to the
basal parts on each side, are shown enlarged above, with the lateral
struts (L.Str.) directed towards base of abdomen.
te sot la a A PII ae -
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 853
Locality —S.-Western Cape Province and, according to Loew,
also in the Eastern Cape (in the South African Museum).
This species was also collected by Dr. Bequaert on flowers in the
Cape Peninsula. This species probably does not occur much beyond
the South African subregion.
1 9 A. congulata n. sp.
Body black; rims of buccal cavity, broadish hind margins of
abdomen above and hind margins of venter broadly ivory yellowish,
the abdomen itself rather shining; legs with the tibiae and tarsi tend-
ing to be less dark than the femora, more blackish brown, with the
knees slightly yellowish; pubescence sparse, with that on occiput
and thorax above deeper straw-coloured yellowish, that on face
shorter and sparser than in 2 of humilis, whitish, that on abdomen
straw-coloured yellowish and not so white as in humilis, with that on
legs more whitish, as in humilis, with the fine spicules on basal joints
of tarsi having a slightly yellowish sheen; wings greyish hyaline,
with a very slight subopacity, with the veins dark brownish
throughout, with the second submarginal cell subequal or equal in
length to part of third longitudinal vein to cross vein; halteres with
the knobs very pale yellowish, only slightly darkened above towards
base. Head with the interocular space on vertex a little more than
2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons with the central and
transverse depression rather shallow as in humilis but the transverse
_ depression is less forward, the slightly raised part of frons in front
thus longer than in humilis; antennae with joint 3, as in humilis,
but shghtly more narrowed basally (side view), thus appearing more
humped behind the depression lodging the style, with the upwardly
directed subapical spine-like process also a little longer; proboscis
about 2 mm. long, slightly longer and also stouter than in humilis;
palps also elongate and conspicuous.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 3} mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 1/4/23).
1 g A. xanthogaster n. sp.
Body black; antennal joints 1 and 2, palps, to a certain extent
the proboscis, but especially the legs, reddish brownish, the tibiae and
VOL. XXXIV: 55
854 Annals of the South African Museum.
tarsi even paler; hind margins of abdomen above pallid and the
entire venter distinctly yellowish; pubescence on body above dis-
tinctly longer and more shaggy than in humilis, especially that on
genae and thorax above, entirely whitish, that on femora also
slightly longer than in humilis; wings rather shortish, relatively
shorter than in humilis or cingulata, subopaquely greyish hyaline,
with a slight milky whitish tint, more evident than in either humilis
or cingulata, with the veins also paler, more yellowish brown, with
Trext-ric. 259.—Ventral and side views of hypopygium and last sternite in
position of g Apolysis xanthogaster n. sp.
the second submarginal cell comparatively short, its length much
less than distance of third longitudinal vein from cross vein to base
of second submarginal cell and the first basal cell about as long as
second basal one; halteres with entirely very pale yellowish knobs.
Head with the eyes in actual contact for a distance only about
14 times as long as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 even slightly
shorter than in humilis, with joint 3 distinctly more narrowed basally
(side view) and the apical part below the spine-like process slightly
more produced than in humilis; proboscis only about 14 mm. long
and on the whole more slender than in humilis; palps elongate.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 259, dorsal view and side view and also
showing last sternite and its embedded terminal segments) like that
of humilis (cf. text-fig. 258), but with the basal parts narrower, with
the spine of beaked apical part directed more upwards; inner apical
angle or part of basal part on each side narrower; lateral struts
(shown in black) directed straight outwards and not towards base as
in humilis.
Type in the British Museum.
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 855
Length of body: about 3 mm.
Length of wing: about 3} mm.
Locality.—O.F.S.: Harrismith (Turner, Mar. 1927).
This species may easily be recognised by its rather longish, pale
pubescence, yellowish venter and shortish, somewhat subopaque,
wings.
4 99 A. fumalis n. sp.
Body black, with greyish or brownish grey bloom on head, thorax and
pleurae, two medial stripes, a broader lateral band and a spot above
wings on each side of thorax, however, black; legs either blackish or
tending to be dark brownish, even yellowish brown in some specimens;
part of metapleural plate behind hind coxae, sides of first abdominal
segment, the broadish hind margins of the other segments and the
entire, or greater part of, venter yellowish, the last tergite also mainly
yellowish, the last sternite, however, black or dark; pubescence
similar in density to that of humilis, that on occiput, thorax and
scutellum above, not very dark but yellowish, that on occiput slightly
darker, that on genae pale straw-coloured yellowish, that on abdomen
also more or less straw-coloured to sericeous yellowish, that on legs
shightly more whitish; wings rather long, distinctly, though faintly,
tinged dusky or smoky brownish, with the veins dark brownish to
blackish brown, with the second submarginal cell elongate, subequal
in length to part of third longitudinal vein from cross vein to base of
submarginal cell, the first basal cell only a very little longer than
second basal one; halteres with the knobs entirely pale yellowish. Head
with the interocular space about, or a little more than, 2 times as
broad as tubercle; frons with the transverse depression at about, or
just a little beyond, middle; antennae with joint 3 more like that of
xanthogaster than humilis, the apical part beyond spine more rotun-
dately produced than in humilis; proboscis about 14-2 mm. long,
rather stoutish; palps on the whole slightly shorter than in all the
preceding species, scarcely as long as antennae.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 3-34 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-44 mm.
Locality.— Natal: Weenen (Thomasset, 5/24) (Type), (Thomasset,
4/24). S. Rhodesia: Umtali; Vumbu (Mackie, 5/32) (Imp. Inst. Ent.).
Easily recognised by the relatively long, dusky wings and yellowish
venter.
856 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 3 4 92 A. brevirostris un. sp.
Body black, with slaty greyish bloom on body, two narrow central
stripes, a median basal stripe and a much broader stripe (broken up into
2 large spots) on each side of thorax and in undenuded state a row of
quadrate markings discally on abdomen on each side in 99, black;
legs in 99 dark reddish brown or dark brownish even blackish, the
tibiae and tarsi tending to be paler, on the whole darker in g; hind
margins of abdomen above and below narrowly yellowish or pallid in
TExt-FIG. 260.—Side and ventral views of hypopygium of $j Apolysis
brevirostris n. sp.
29, those on venter sometimes very broadly so or at least more broadly
than those above, entirely black in $; pubescence sparse, longer in 4,
predominantly or entirely whitish above and below, even that on
occiput has a more whitish sheen than in fumalis or cingulata; wings
rather shortish, clear or glassy hyaline with, however, a more distinct
milky whitish tint in certain lights than in all preceding species, with
the veins pale brown to dark brownish, with the first basal cell not,
or scarcely, or only very slightly longer than the second basal one and
second submarginal cell subequal or almost subequal to part of third
longitudinal vein between it and cross vein; halteres with almost
white knobs, the upper part tending to be slightly darkened towards
base in some 9-specimens, but distinctly blackened above in g. Head
with the interocular space on vertex in 9? about, or a little less than,
3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, with the eyes in contact above for
a short distance in 3; frons with the depression in 99 just before
middle and more evident than the very shallow central depression;
antennae (text-fig. 257, b 2) with joint 1 very short, scarcely longer
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 857
than 2, with 3 especially in 92 much shorter than in other species,
more oval; proboscis remarkably short and stout for Apolysis, only
about, or even less than, 4 mm. long; palps very short and not at all
visible beyond buccal cavity as in other species. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 260). }
Q-Type in the British Museum, j-type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 14-2} mm.
Length of wing: about 14-24 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 6—15/10/1928) (2-Type) ;
Worcester (Turner, Sept. 1928). Gouph Karoo: Prince Albert Road
(Turner, Nov. 1931). Namaqualand: Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Nov.
1936) (3-Type).
Kasily distinguished from all other species by its small size, very
short proboscis, short palps and more hyaline wings.
7 5S 2 99 A. thornei n. sp.
Body black, with the head, thorax and pleural parts and to a
certain extent the scutellum shining, sometimes brilliantly shining
black, with the abdomen usually covered with a slaty grey bloom in
both sexes; hind margins of abdominal segments, especially in 99
very narrowly and often obscurely pallid or yellowish, only those on
last few segments in 92 more broadly or conspicuously pallid or
yellowish; legs entirely black or very dark; pubescence on the whole
much sparser than in other species of Apolysis, longer and denser in
$3, long and denser on genae, head below, antero-laterally on thorax,
on scutellum and especially on abdomen in J, entirely silvery whitish
in both sexes, that on frons and upper parts of genae in g¢ fine and
shining silvery (viewed from above), that on femora in g¢ slightly
longer and denser than in 99; wings clear but with a very distinct
milky white tint, more developed than in other species of Apolysis,
with the veins pale, sometimes almost whitish in 99, pale yellowish
brown to pale brownish in $3, becoming darker along costal part and
apically in both sexes, with the extreme bases of main veins and base
of wing black, with the first basal cell distinctly longer than second
basal one and second submarginal cell subequal to, or sometimes even
shghtly longer than part of third longitudinal vein from cross vein to
base of submarginal cell, with the apical stalk of closed anal cell rather
long, with the squamae opaquely whitish, white-fringed and its basal
part black; halteres with almost white knobs, which are slightly
darkened above in gg. Head with the eyes in 3¢ in actual contact
858 Annals of the South African Museum.
above for a distance quite 3 times as long as ocellar tubercle, separated
on vertex in 92 by a distance about or even slightly less than 2 times
as broad as tubercle; frons transversely depressed in 99 slightly before,
or at about, middle, convex, small and triangular in gg; antennae
rather short, with joint 1 very short only a little, or sometimes scarcely,
longer than 2, with 3 rather short, relatively shorter than in other
species (brevirostris excepted), more oval, the apical rounded part
beyond apical spine even slightly less roundly produced than in
TEXT-FIG. 261.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium of
3S Apolysis thornet n. sp.
humilis; proboscis slender, rather long, curved, more slender than in
all the preceding species of Apolysis and more like that of the following
species maherniaphila, about 14-2 mm. long; palps very short, con-
fined to extreme base of proboscis and not visibly projecting. Abdomen
in g3 with the last sternite scoop-like and scarcely less conical than
in humilis. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 261, and without last sternite
in position) with the flattened lobe on inner side of beaked apical
joints broader and larger than in humilis or xanthogaster; lateral
ramus on each side attached to aedeagus as shown in figures.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 24-3 mm.
Length of wing: about 2-3 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West—Victoria West Distr. ;
Melton Wold (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1935) (Holotype); Beaufort West
Distr. (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1935) (Allotype). Moordenaars Karoo
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 859
(Laingsburg Distr.) (Mus. Exp., March 1937). Namaqualand:
Kamieskroon (Mus. Exp., Sept. 1930).
This species is easily distinguished from all the preceding species
of Apolysis by its very slender proboscis, very short palps, clear
milky white wings, comparatively sparse and entirely whitish pubes-
cence and shining anterior part of body. Its resemblance to A.
maherniaplula n. sp., the following species, is very remarkable and
in the 99 the only differences are the more distinct and more con-
spicuous, though short, pubescence on body, longer hairs on femora
and also on outer sides of tibiae, less conspicuously milky white wings,
distinctly much narrower interocular space and legs without yellowish
knees. These insects were caught by Mr. Thorne and myself in the
corolla tubes of the red flowers of Mahernia grandiflora and M. nana.
The 3 $d from the Moordenaars Karoo in the Laingsburg District
and the single specimen, from Kamieskroon in Namaqualand, appear
to be structurally identical with the typical $$ of thornei, differing
only in not having the front part of body and pleurae so brilliantly
shining, in having the pallid hind margins of tergites, especially on
sides, and of sternites sometimes more conspicuous and in having the
knobs of halteres entirely whitish. These specimens may be taken
to represent a slight variety or deviation from the types. The
specimens from the Moordenaars Karoo were taken by Mr. Thorne
from the corolla tubes of Mahernia nana.
9 3g 4 92 A. mahernaphila n. sp.
Body and legs black, with the thorax and scutellum shining black,
the abdomen dull black and with ashy grey or greyish bloom; narrow
hind margins of abdominal segments above and below pallid to
yellowish especially in 92 and more broadly so towards apex and on
sides in 99, sometimes scarcely visible in some $¢; knees pallid or
yellowish in both sexes; third antennal joints tending to be dark
blackish brown or even dark brownish in some specimens; pubes-
cence silvery whitish, short and sparse on occiput, frons and genae,
slightly longer on head behind eyes, practically absent on thorax
above only present antero-laterally on each side, sparse and short
on scutellum, practically only sparsely present on mesopleural part,
but denser on abdomen in both sexes, on the whole slightly more
conspicuous all over body in gd, also with a few longish ones on
coxae, with the pubescence on legs also silvery whitish, sparse and
fine, those on femora below in gd only slightly longer than in 99,
860 Annals of the South African Museum.
but not developed to the same extent as in other species of Apolysis,
with those on tibiae fine and short and without conspicuous longish
ones on the outer side as in other species of Apolysis; wings with a
distinct subopaque milky white tint, more developed and more
conspicuous than in any species of related genera, with only the
extreme base of wing blackish, with the veins dark along apical
half of costal part and apical part of wing, the greater part towards
base, however, whitish and pallid, with the squamae opaquely milky
TEextT-Fic. 262.—Side and greater part of ventral views of hypopygium
of g Apolysis maherniaphila n. sp.
white, with the cross vein on long second posterior cell (i.e. combined
discoidal and second posterior cell) a little beyond level of second
basal cell, the second basal cell thus distinctly much shorter than
first basal cell; halteres with almost white knobs and a slightly
brownish and dark base. Head with the eyes separated above in g,
the interocular space on vertex a little narrower in g¢ than in 99,
broader than the broad ocellar tubercle on each side by the width
of one posterior ocellus in gg, about 2 times as broad as ocellar
tubercle in 99, with the tubercle slightly more raised in the 33;
frons transversely depressed at about middle, the depression extending
medially towards tubercle as: well, the front part towards antennal
insertions thus appearing slightly more raised; face just below
antennae and above buccal cavity practically non-existent; genae
very narrow, practically linear, broader only along their upper parts;
buccal cavity comparatively broad and separated from inner margins
of eyes and narrow genae by a scarcely perceptible groove; antennae
with joint 1 very short, only a little more, or scarcely more, than the
fale
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 861
length of 2, with 3 rather short, tending to be only a little more than
2 times as long as broad; proboscis slender, comparatively long and
curved, about 14-12 mm. long; palps short, equally thick throughout
and joints scarcely separately visible, but apical joint apparently
scarcely shorter than basal one. Legs with the claws well developed
though small, curved and with the pulvilli well developed, broadish
and extending even slightly beyond the claws. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 262) resembling that of Thorne:, but with the basal strut
much shorter and broader; other differences may be seen by a
comparison of figs. 261 and 262.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 2-25 mm.
Length of wing: about 2-22 mm.
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West Distr.; Leeukloof
(Mus. Exp., Oct. 1935) (Types); Beaufort West—Victoria West
Distr.; Melton Wold (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1935).
These insects are easily recognisable by the shining black anterior
part of body, long proboscis, milky white wings, white-knobbed
halteres and sparse pubescence on front part of body. Like Apolysis
thornei n. sp. they were found on or in the corolla tubes of the red
flowers of Mahernia grandiflora, a plant which has a localised distribu-
tion in the Nieuwveld Karoo in the Beaufort West area. They seem
to be associated with Apolysis thorner n. sp. in their connection with
this plant and are invariably caught together with representatives
of A. thornei. Similarity of environment and habits have resulted
in a striking resemblance of these two species. Their morphological
and ecological resemblance may thus be ascribed to convergence.
This species differs from thornei in having more conspicuously milky
white wings, separated eyes in the gd, a distinctly sparser and shorter
pubescence on the body and legs and without any row of longish
hairs on the tibiae.
Gen. Oligodranes Lw.
(P. 160, Ent. Zeit. Stett., v, Tab. IT, figs. 13-16, 1844; Becker,
p. 440, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvi, 1912;
Engel, p. 134, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 69 (Bombyliidae),
1933.)
According to the descriptions and figures of Loew and Hngel and
the keys of Becker (loc. cit.) and Engel, there is very little doubt that
four specimens in the collections before me belong to the Palaearctic
862 Annals of the South African Museum.
genus Oligodranes, first described from Greece and Asia Minor.
These four specimens, representing two separate species, however,
differ in certain important features from those described by Loew.
They differ in having more slender and shorter palps, the apical
joints of which are not “birnférmig,” in having much shorter and
sparser pubescence on body and legs, a differently shaped third
antennal joint (cf. text-fig. 263, a and Loew (loc. cit., Tab. II, figs. 13
and 15)), and relatively more slender proboscis. As they represent
the first recorded species from Southern Africa and the Ethiopian
Region and probably deviate slightly from the Palaearctic forms, a
detailed description of this genus, as based on the South African
material, is appended :—
Body small, with the thorax roundly convex when viewed from
the side, thus humped in appearance, with the pleurae slightly
laterally compressed and high in conjunction with the humped
thorax; pubescence very sparse, consisting of sparse, short, erect
hairs on head, thorax and scutellum above and on abdomen, the
pubescence slightly longer in $g¢ and also more evident or con-
spicuous on abdomen in both sexes, short and inconspicuous even
on occiput, with the pleural parts and pectus bare, with sparse
hairs on coxae and with very fine, short, downy and inconspicuous
hairs on legs. Head with the eyes above in known ¢ in actual
contact for some distance, the upper facets coarser than the lower
ones; interocular space on vertex in 92 much broader than ocellar
tubercle, the inner margins of eyes only gradually diverging anteriorly;
frons thus only slightly broader apically than basally in 992, very
small in g, centrally slightly depressed in 99 and also distinctly
transversely towards apex, the part on which the antennae are
situated, however, appearing slightly tumid; face below antennae
practically absent as in other Phthirwnae, the buccal cavity extending
up to antennal insertions; genae very narrow, practically absent in
lower part where a very feeble or shallow furrow-like depression
separates the edges of buccal cavity from inner margins of eyes;
buccal cavity thus relatively broad; antennae (text-fig. 263, a) with
the first joints inserted close together, very short as in Apolysis, with
joints 1 and 2 combined much shorter than 3, with 3 much resembling
that of Apolysis, somewhat laterally compressed, broad from side,
ending apically in an upwardly directed process or spine, behind
which there is apically and dorsally a slight depression or excavation
lodging the true terminal elements in form of a fine, hair-lhke style;
proboscis comparatively long and slender in relation to body, being
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 863
slightly more thickened basally; palps, in comparison with many
species of Apolysis, not very long, though distinct, very slender
throughout, the scarcely separately visible apical joint (more distinct
in Palaearctic forms) not thicker than basal one. Wangs with
2 submarginal cells and 3 posterior cells, with a distinct discoidal
cell present, which has straight sides and a straight apical cross vein,
with the anal cell acute apically and provided with a stalk, with the
_ second longitudinal vein straight and both it and the vein between
submarginal cells not bent up at their ends, with the second sub-
marginal cell more obtuse and not so markedly acute basally as in
Apolysis, with the discal cross vein much before middle of discoidal
cell, with the axillary lobe well developed and triangularly lobate as
in other Phthiriines, with the alula well developed and lobate;
knobs of halteres oval. Abdomen with 7 visible tergites in ¢ and 8
in 99, with the last sternite in ¢ slightly conical but not very elongate
and pointed apically as in Apolysis. Legs without any spines on
femora below, only with short pubescent hairs, shorter than in other
Phthiriines and also with short hair on tibiae, no distinct stouter
spicules being visible and without a row of longish hairs on outer
side of hind tibiae, with the apical spurs on tibiae minute; tarsi with
the last jomt very slightly broader than the others, but with the
apical bristly hairs much shorter and less conspicuous than in
Apolysis, with the claws and pulvilli well developed but much less
so than in the former two genera and the spine-like empodium visible
but shorter and more insignificant than in Apolysis. Hypopygvum
of 3 (text-fig. 263, b), based on that of O. namaénsis n. sp., very small,
with the outer apical parts or angles of basal parts broad and
triangular; beaked apical joints somewhat flattened and with short
bristles or setae; aedeagal or middle part with the lateral struts
almost vestigial, very small, the basally directed strut more or less
lobe-like, with the aedeagus (as far as this can be made out) short
and apparently in form of two stylet-like processes, the aedeagus
produced basally and above middle part into an aedeagal strut on
each side; lateral ramus on each side from basal parts joined on to
apical aedeagal part.
The two known South African species may be separated as
follows :—
1. (2) Body with the humeral angle, post-alar calli and hind margins of tergites
and sternites in 9 and the post-alar calli and the narrow hind margins
_ of tergites and sternites in ¢ distinctly pallid or yellowish; antennal
joint 1 slightly shorter and scarcely longer than 2; proboscis slightly
864 Annals of the South African Museum.
shorter, about 1 mm. long; palps apparently slightly shorter, not quite
or scarcely as long as third antennal joint; wings with the veins slightly
darker and more dark brownish to blackish brown
db 2 namaensis n. sp. (p. 864).
2. (1) Body with the humeral angle and post-alar calli in 992 entirely black like
rest of thorax and pleurae, the hind margins of tergites also entirely
black or only very obscurely and narrowly greyish, the sternites with
very narrow or scarcely perceptible pallid hind margins in 99; antennal
joint 1 slightly longer and distinctly longer than, quite 14 times, as long
as joint 2; proboscis distinctly longer, quite 14 mm. long; palps
apparently slightly longer, quite as long as, or even slightly longer than,
third antennal joint; wings with the veins tending to be slightly paler
and more yellowish . ; : : . QQ elegans n. sp. (p. 865).
1g 12 0. namaénsis n. sp.
Body, including scutellum and legs, black; the humeral angle and
anterior spiracular area in 9, infusions just below base of wings in both
(2)
Trext-Fic. 263.—(a) Antenna of 2 Oligodranes namaénsis n. sp. (6) Side and
ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ Oligodranes namaénsis n. sp.
sexes, the post-alar calli broadly in &, obscurely in J, the narrow hind
margins of tergites and sternites, more conspicuous in 2, yellowish;
knees of femora tending to be pallid or yellowish; pubescence entirely
whitish above and below, with sericeous gleams, that on thorax in
2 with a feeble straw-coloured sheen in certain lights, very sparse in
both sexes, but more evident on abdomen and on sides of thorax in
front of wings. Head with the eyes above in ¢ in actual contact for
a distance quite 2 times as long as ocellar tubercle, with the interocular
space in 9 about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 very short, only a little longer than joint 2, with 3 (text-fig. 263,
a (2)) broadish, about 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined, broadest
towards apex just behind slight excavation, gradually and very
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 865
slightly narrowed basally; proboscis slender, about 1 mm. long; palps
very slender and not quite as long as third antennal joint. Wangs
hyaline, iridescent, with a very feeble milky whitish tint in certain
lights, more distinct at base, with the veins brownish to dark brownish,
becoming distinctly paler and more yellowish at extreme base, with
the discal cross vein at about basal third or fourth of discoidal cell,
with the squamae subopaquely whitish and fringed with very fine and
sparse whitish hairs; halteres with almost white or whitish knobs.
Abdomen with the last sternite in g slightly longer than the others,
more conical and slightly scoop-like. Hypopygium of 3S (text-fig.
263, 6) as described for the genus.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 2 mm.
Length of wing: about 24 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Kamuieskroon (Mus. Staff, Sept. 1930).
These specimens were obtained by sweeping flowering Mesembryan-
themums.
2 92 O. elegans n. sp.
These two specimens differ only in slight details from namaénsis.
Body black, the humeral part and posterior calli also black, only the
sternites have very narrow and obscure pallid or yellowish hind
margins; antennae, proboscis and legs very dark blackish brown to
black; pubescence on body and legs whitish and with sericeous gleams,
very sparse on body, that on abdomen more conspicuous, with a
greyish bloom or pruinescence visible in certain lights on frons in front
and around antennal insertions; wings hyaline and iridescent, with
a very faint milky whitish tint in certain lights, more distinct towards
base, with the veins slightly paler and more yellowish brown than in
namaénsis, the squamae subopaquely whitish and also fringed with
whitish hairs, the discal cross vein quite at basal third of discoidal
cell; halteres yellowish, with the knobs very pale below, but slightly
more yellowish or even tinged more brownish above. Head with the
interocular space above about, or nearly, 2 times as broad as tubercle;
frons with the central and anterior depression slightly more distinct
than in namaénsis; antennae with joint 1 slightly longer than in
namaénsis, quite 14 times as long as 2, with 3 as in namaénsis but
apparently slightly more truncate apically and with the extreme base
tending to be pallid, also about 2 times as long as 1 and 2 combined;
proboscis slightly curved and slightly longer, about 14 mm. long;
866 Annals of the South African Museum.
palps very slightly longer than in namaénsis, quite as long as third
antennal joints. |
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 2 mm.
Length of wing: about 24+ mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner,
December 1929). 3
Geroninae n. subfam.
The genera Geron Meig., Amictogeron n. gen. and Pseudoamictus
Big., though having such characters in common as a straight second
longitudinal vein, which does not markedly bend upwards at its end,
an apically acute and stalked anal cell, more or less sparse and shortish
pubescence, a humped thorax and a characteristic greyish white bloom
on body above, nevertheless differ in certain important characters
from the true Phthiriines. These characters, common to all three
genera, are so distinctive that these genera can no longer be retained
in the Phthirwnae, and the erection of a new subfamily Geroninae,
based on the genus Geron Meig., is necessary.
The chief diagnostic characters of this new subfamily, as dis-
tinguished from the Phthirwnae, are as follows:—
Wings also with 3 posterior cells, but with the vein separating the
discoidal and second posterior cells (the latter the combined second
and third posterior cells of Bombyliinae) always distinctly and usually
markedly S-curved, with the upper vein of second basal cell more or
less always thickened or dilated, knob-like, near its base; abdomen
normally with at least 8 segments visible in $¢ and 9 in 99, with
segment 8 in 9? produced below on each side ventrally into a down-
wardly or posteriorly directed lobe-like or tongue-like process or
lappet; antennae with joint 3 gradually tapering from a broader base
to a sharp point or fine style, no distinct, separately visible, terminal
joints or spine-like processes being present; interocular space on
vertex in 92 never much more than about 2 times as: broad as ocellar
tubercle; hairs on genae, lower parts of genae or front part of head
below on each side always projecting or directed forwards to form a
characteristic and usually very distinct, slightly upwardly directed,
tuft or brush; tarsi with a group or clump of denser and longer spines,
or at least with more numerous and slightly longer spines, below at
bases of the first or basal joints of middle and hind tarsi, but especially
on hind ones; thorax above, especially in 99, usually with a fairly
‘A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 867
conspicuous, central, longitudinal band, broader in front, and a
lateral, narrow stripe or band on each side of dull greyish white or
slaty grey bloom, the head above and below, the face, pleural parts
and venter, especially in 99, always with some or conspicuous dull
greyish white or slaty grey bloom. Hypopygium of gd (text-figs.
264-298) distinctly more complex and entirely different from the type
found in the Bombyliwnae and Phthirunae, mainly differing in having
the basal parts single and not divided into two symmetrical parts by
a medial dorsal suture or impression, in having no distinct, separately
movable, beaked apical joints, these joints being represented by
processes or lobes (Ap.Pr.), on each side apically of basal part, which
are without tufts of hairs or scattered hairs; basal part itself with
much of its surface poorly chitinised or even membranous; middle
part usually ladle-shaped, with the lateral struts (L.Str.) and basal
strut (Ba.Str.) directed inwards, with a sort of central guide (C.G.)
on which the bases of the rami abut and which is produced apically on
each side and dorsal or even ventral to aedeagus (Ae.) into a blade-
like, prong-hke or spine-like process (Pr.) and often basally into a
blunt projection or process, sometimes with additional spines or
prongs on each side of aedeagus or ventrally on each side at base of
the apical lobes of basal part and even with a dorsal sheath-like guide
(in Geron) to aedeagus; the arch-like junction of ramus (R.) (the rod
or sclerite on each side connecting sides of basal part to the middle
part) always towards or in apical half of basal part and assuming a
variety of shapes, the ramus itself, or together with the sides of basal
part, may be produced apically into strap-like, recurved, flattened,
spine-like processes or even into spined processes. The numerous
figures of the hypopygia of Geron, Amictogeron and Pseudoamictus
will make clearer the differences when compared with those of
Bombyluinae and Phthirvinae.
Gen. Geron Meig.
(Meigen, p. 169, Beschreib. Europ. Dipt., 11, 1851; Loew, p. 196,
Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860; Brunetti, p. 279, Faun. Brit. Ind.,
vol. 1, 1920; Bezzi, p. 98, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921,
and p. 112, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924;
Engel, p. 130, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief., 69 (Bombyliidae),
1933.)
The fact that there are 3 posterior cells in the wings of at least
4 South African genera in the Geron-group has caused some confusion
868 Annals of the South African Museum.
in the allocation of species to the various genera on the part of Bezzi
at least. In his two papers (loc. cit.), dealing with South African
species of Geron, he referred no less than 4 species, namely barbatus
Bezz., luctuosus Bezz., leptocerus Bezz., and dicroma Bezz. (nec
Macq.), to the genus Geron, all of which definitely do not belong
to it, and which are referred to other genera in this paper. The
generic characters of Geron have been based by Meigen, Loew,
Becker, Paramonow and Engel on the Palaearctic species gibbosus
Oliv. (hybridus Meig.) and its supposed varieties. The South African
species, which have all been referred to hybridus by Loew and Bezzi,
but which I am referring to new species, are generically identical
with the European forms and may also be considered as showing
the generic characters of Geron s.str. Three of these species, how-
ever, show distinct transitional characters, which connect Geron with
Pseudoamictus Big. and Amuictogeron n. gen.
The generic characters of Geron, as based on the South African
species and some LHuropean representatives, are as follows:—
Body with the thorax very convex above, distinctly humped, the
pleural parts somewhat laterally compressed and the front coxae
long in conjunction with a humped thorax. Head more or less
globular, not dorso-ventrally compressed; eyes in g¢ always in
contact above for some distance, the upper coarser facets imper-
ceptibly merging into the lower and finer ones, the line of contact
above rarely not distinctly impressed, with the interocular space in
°° not more than 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle on vertex;
frons usually small in 33, in 92 gradually widening apically, distinctly
transversely depressed from side to side anteriorly in 99; face rarely
without whitish hairs or flattened silvery scaling on sides and, if
face is bare, the pubescence is at least conspicuous on each side of
its base or on sides of antennae; genae narrow, sometimes ivory
whitish or yellowish in both sexes, bare in the middle, usually with
hairs or scale-like hairs on its upper part, without or with a very
indistinct furrow between them and the buccal cavity; antennae
close together or contiguous basally, with joint 1 always slender,
rod-like, never longer than about 4 times as long as joint 2 and never
with very long and shaggy hairs, with joint 3 gradually tapering
to a fine point, no distinct terminal joints being separately visible;
palps short, slender, not visibly jointed; proboscis long and slender.
Wings with the second submarginal cell always less than 2 times
as long along lower vein than broad apically, thus very much shorter
than in the other related genera, with the alula always well developed
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 869
and produced tongue-like or lobe-like, with the vein between discoidal
and second posterior cells only slightly or feebly S-curved, with
the discal cross vein usually beyond the middle of the discoidal cell
and rarely at exactly the middle, and with the wings never darkly
infuscated but sometimes with a distinct opaque milky whitish
tint; halteres very rarely with darkened or blackened knobs.
Abdomen with the extreme sides of the tergites below rounded and
lobe-like, overlapping the sternites and with the sides below of
segment 8 in the 9? produced into a lobe-like process on each side
as in the other related genera. Legs without any spines on femora
below, but with the spicules on tibiae visibly developed and some-
times conspicuous and in 4 rows on the hind ones at least, with at
least one apical spur or spine below on the middle tibiae slightly
longer than the others; claws well developed and curved downwards
apically, and with the pulvilli also well developed. Pubescence on
body with the erect hairs usually whitish, silvery whitish, or even
slightly tinted yellowish, but never with distinct black hairs above
on head, antennae, thorax and abdomen, with the erect hairs dense
and longer only on occiput, head below, front part and sides of thorax,
mesopleurae, the sides of abdomen, on venter and on coxae, those
on rest of pleurae usually sparse, with fine hair-like scaling on thorax
above, scutellum and to a certain extent on abdomen, especially in
09, with the scaling on head, frons in 99, mesopleuron, coxae, femora
and venter in both sexes broader, more flattened, denser and silvery
white. Hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 264-280), like that of the other
Geroninae, is more complicated than in any other genus belonging
to the Bombylidae-Homoeophthalmae. The hypopygium can only
be satisfactorily studied in a liquid medium. As in other Geroninae
the basal parts form a single structure, not being divided into two
symmetrical parts by a dorsal suture or impression and what is
designated by me as dorsal is more commonly ventral in position in
the intact and set insect, the aedeagus (Ae.) and its attendant
structures being more constantly dorsal in position. The basal
part is usually more membranous than chitinous on each side towards
the apex, the membranous part not having hair or only a few bristly
hairs. The dorsum sometimes with hairs towards apex and in some
cases with a few or a row of distinct hook-like spines on each side
(see text-figs. 274 and 275). —
The distinct and freely movable beaked apical joints of other
Homoeophthalmae are entirely absent, being represented simply by
scarcely movable lobes, by paired or symmetrical extensions, pro-
VOL. XXXIV. 56
870 Annals of the South African Museum.
cesses or lobes (Ap.Pr.) apically on the basal part. These processes
in Geron (cf. text-figs. 264, 269 and 274) assume various shapes in
the different species and are thus of taxonomic value in their separa-
tion. They are lobe-like, spine-like, hook-like or dentate and
are represented singly, in duplicate or even in triplicate on each
side apically. The aedeagal apparatus is complex, composed of a
median straight, curved or even duplicated aedeagus proper (Ae.),
ending basally in a spoon-shaped or ladle-like structure (side view),
TExT-FIG. 264.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of $ Geron
gibbosus Oliv. (=hybridus Meig.).
which has a lateral, flattened or flap-like process (L.Str.) on each
side, corresponding to the lateral struts of other Bombyludae and a
dorsally (ventrally) directed bat or racket-shaped basal strut (Ba.Str.)
as in other Bombyludae. The medial aedeagal structure passes
through a central guide (C.G.) which is usually produced into a
flattened lobe-like process on each side towards base and apically
is often pitchfork-like, produced into a long apically directed, straight
or curved, spine-like or sabre-like process or prong (Pr.) on each
side of the aedeagus either above or below. These prongs, when
present, together with the aedeagus, are lodged in or move to and
fro in a central or median dorsal (ventral) guide (D.G.) in the form
of a partially chitinous or entirely chitinous trough-like or sheath-
like structure, usually thinned out towards. base or apex or broadened
apically or basally, where it is also joined on to the subsidiary apical
processes or lobes of the basal part by means of ligaments or mem-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 871
branes. In some species where the central guide is not produced
apically into a prong there is nevertheless present on each side a
curved or U-twisted spine. Ventral (dorsal) to the aedeagus the
central guide abuts, or is joined, on to the basal part apically on each
side by a raised strap-like or arch-like ramus (R.), which is sometimes
produced apically into a prominent flattened, lobe-like or even
spine-like process (cf. text-figs. 264-280).
Geron differs from the other related genera, such as Pseudoamictus
and Amictogeron by the very much shorter second submarginal cell,
the more produced and lobe-like alula, the shorter, more slender and
contiguous first antennal joints, which are always without con-
spicuously long hairs or black hair, the lateral hairs or scale-like
pubescence on sides of antennae or face, the medially bare and
narrower genae, the absence of shortish or long black hairs on frons,
thorax or abdomen, and by the differences seen in the hypopygium
of the ¢ (cf. text-figs. 281-298).
The separation of the species of Geron is a very difficult matter.
External characters of taxonomic value are remarkably few and
even these are so variable that they become unreliable when several
species are examined. In the case of the 99 it is almost impossible
to distinguish the various species satisfactorily and more so to
allocate them to their respecitve gg. In the case of the g it is
absolutely necessary and essential that the hypopygium should be
studied, for this structure appears to afford the only reliable evidence
for their separation. The appended key to the known species is
thus unsatisfactory, and most of the characters advanced are only
of relative value. Species of Geron are usually poorly represented
in collections and it is almost certain that more organised and con-
centrated field collecting will ultimately bring to light very many
more species than are scattered through the various collections at
present.
Of all the South African species before me at least 5 species,
described by me as new below, have been seen by Bezzi and referred
by him to the Palaearctic gibbosus Oliv. (hybridus Meig.) (Klassif. d.
Zweifl., 1, 186, 17, 1804, and also as syn. of gibbosus Meig., p. 169,
Beschreib. Europ. Dipt., 1, 1851), and similarly representatives of
the new species from South West Africa have probably been referred
to gibbosus Oliv. (hybridus Meig.) by Loew (p. 196, Dipt. Faun.
Siidafr., i, 1860). Moreover, several specimens, from East and West
Africa, in the British Museum have also been determined as hybridus
by Bezzi (p. 114, The Bombyhidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924).
872 | Annals of the South African Museum.
Both Loew and Bezzi thus maintained that the Palaearctic gibbosus
is very widely distributed throughout the Palaearctic and Ethiopian
Regions. As I have tried to prove under other genera in this paper
there are no reasons for believing that Palaearctic Bombyliuds are
found in Hastern and Southern Africa. The failure of both Loew
and Bezzi to distinguish the Ethiopian species from the Huropean
forms is due to the remarkable similarity and uniformity of the
external characters of the species of Geron. The British Museum
has kindly placed at my disposal a g-specimen from British East
Africa (coll. R. J. Stordy), a 2 from South Nigeria (coll. G. C. Dudgeon),
ad from Haifa in Palestine and a 2 from Nazareth also in Palestine;
all reputed to be gibbosus Oliv. (hybridus Meig.). In addition to
these there are in the South African Museum 2 somewhat damaged
Q-specimens from Hurope. From this material it appears that there
are at least 3 entirely different species all lumped together as gibbosus.
In the first instance, the ¢ from British East Africa, also referred to
by Bezzi (p. 114, The Bombylhidae of the Ethiopian Region), is
definitely not gibbosus Oliv. (hybridus Meig.), but belongs to a new
species, described by me below as psammobates. The 92, from South
Nigeria, also referred to by Bezzi (p. 114, loc. cit.), does not belong
to the same species as the $ from Hast Africa, and also does not agree
with the reputed 99 of gibbosus from the Palaearctic Region. The
3, from Haifa in Palestine, does more or less agree with the best
existing description of gibbosus Oliv. (hybridus Meig.) given by
Paramonow (p. 185 (123), Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev, No. 6, 1929).
The hypopygium of this g is appended here (text-fig. 264) for com-
parison with the hypopygia (text-figs. 265-280) of the South African
species. Whether this § is a specimen of gibbosus s. str. is also
doubtful. The 9, from Nazareth, may or may not belong to the same
species as the g from Haifa. From all this it is very doubtful whether
any of the other African specimens, referred to gibbosus (hybridus) and
not seen by me, belong to Palaearctic forms, and also whether such
Palaearctic forms as hybridus Meig., gibbosus Meig., gibbosus Oliv.,
oliviert Macq., halteralis Wied. and erythropus Bezz. may not be
distinct and separate species after all, the separate specificity of
which can only be cleared up by a study of the ¢ genitalia and a
more thorough study of external characters.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 873
Key to the South African species of Geron.
1. (10) Genae in both sexes entirely black or dull black and net ivory whitish or
yellowish; pubescence on sides of face and down genae with more hairs
and distinctly much fewer, narrower, less conspicuous, silvery white,
scale-like hairs or scaling; hind margin of metapleural plate, above
hind coxae, and sides of abdominal segment 1 entirely black or not
distinctly yellowish or reddish; wings rarely with the veins pale and,
when pale, they are slightly more subopaquely tinged yellowish; hypo-
pygium of known g¢ with a single spine-like process or apical lobe
apically on basal part, or with a spine-like process on each side at bases
of apical lobes, but no distinct accessory, nodular or lobe-like, processes
being present at their bases and with the stylet-like processes ventral
to the aedeagus : : na
2. (9) Second submarginal cell of wing — sad aistindtly _— longer than
broad, and often nearly 2 times as long as broad; pubescence, on the
whole, shorter and less dense, that on disc of thorax without intermixed
dark ones; legs on the whole with all the tibiae darker and the spicules
on them feebly developed; smaller a about 4-5 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 4-5 mm. . 3.
3. (8) Legs entirely black in both sexes; wings more feebly sinensis whitish,
with the veins much darker, brownish to very dark blackish brown to
black, even the extreme bases of main veins at base of wings blackish
and hind margins of squamae tending to be darker, with the discal
cross vein nearer middle of discoidal cell; eyes in g in actual contact
above for a distance at least 3 times as long as tubercle, the frons much
shorter; antennal joint | slightly longer, at least 3 times as long as 2
4.
4. (7) Wings with a distinct, even if only very faint, milky whitish tint in certain
lights, the veins darker, more blackish brown to black and even dark
at base; pubescence, especially in gg, on the whole slightly less dense,
entirely frosty whitish; eyes in fg in contact above for a shorter distance,
usually about 3 or 4 times as long as ocellar tubercle; hypopygium of ¢¢
(text-figs. 265 and 266) with the apical lobes to basal part more or less
directed outwards and without or with a small insignificant spine
ventrally on each side at bases of apical lobes, with the basal strut much
smaller, ete. : or
5. (6) Knobs of halteres util more T hisaeaee: or very gee Peerr in gg; inter-
ocular space on vertex in 99 narrower, only about 2 times broad as
tubercle, subequal to, or about as broad as, length of antennal joint 1;
proboscis slightly shorter, only about 13-2 mm. long; wings slightly
less distinctly milky whitish; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 265) with the
apical lobes to basal part more horizontal and aedeagal complex slightly
different (cf. text-figs. 265 and 266) - fo Q nigerrimus n. sp. (p. 884).
6. (5) Knobs of halteres predominantly ivory whitish above in $4, only slightly
darkened at extreme base above; interocular space on vertex in 99
relatively broader and slightly broader than 2 times as broad as tubercle
or more than length of antennal joint 1 and frons also relatively broader;
874
Annals of the South African Museum.
proboscis slightly longer and about 24 mm. long; wings more distinctly
tinged milky whitish; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 266) with the apical
lobes less horizontal and sometimes even slightly curved and with a
slightly different aedeagal complex (cf. text-figures)
3 2 anceps n. sp. (p. 885).
7. (4) Wings distinctly clearer and more vitreous hyaline, the veins slightly more
brownish and more yellowish brown at base; pubescence in g on the
whole longer and denser, that on disc of thorax with faint straw-coloured
yellowish gleams in certain lights; eyes in g in contact above for a longer
distance about 5, or nearly 5, times as long as tubercle; hypopygium
(text-fig. 267) with the apical lobes projecting apically and with a pointed
secondary spine ventrally at the base of each, with the basal strut rather
large and broad, etc. . : ‘ 6 orthoperus n. sp. (p. 887).
8. (3) Legs with the middle and hind tibiae in § at least more yellowish brown;
wings with a distinct, though faint, more subopaque greyish or yellowish
tinge, with the veins pale yellowish brown even at extreme base, with
the hind border of squamae pallid and with the discal cross vein more
beyond middle of discoidal cell; eyes in ¢ in actual contact, or contiguous,
only for a short distance, subequal to ocellar tubercle, the frons thus
distinctly longer; antennal joint 1 slightly shorter and less than 3 times
as long as 2 : ; . 6 munror n. sp. (p. 888).
9. (2) Second submarginal cell shorter rae aprAlte and scarcely longer than
10
broad apically; pubescence on the whole, especially on abdomen, in 2
at least, longer and much denser, that on disc of thorax with intermixed
darkish hairs; legs with the middle and hind tibiae paler yellowish
and their spicules on at least the hind ones more strongly developed;
larger species, about 64 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 6} mm.
Q nigrifacies n. sp. (p. 889).
. (1) Genae always ivory whitish or yellowish in both sexes; pubescence on sides
of antennae, face and down genae, or at least on sides of antennae, com-
posed of fewer hairs, but with a dense tuft or patch of more conspicuous
and broader silvery white, scale-like hairs; hind margins of metapleural
plate and sides of abdominal segments, especially in 99, usually more
distinctly and extensively yellowish or reddish; wings with the veins
on the whole paler, pale brownish to yellowish, even at extreme bases of
main veins; hypopygium of known g¢ (text-figs. 269-280) with accessory
apical processes or distinct nodular structures at bases of the apical
processes of basal part, with the aedeagus represented by a single medial
part, having prongs or stylet-like processes dorsal to it . ; aula
11. (12) Face in front of antennae more prominantly projecting, cone-like, more
conspicuously brilliantly shining and without scaly, silvery white hairs
on the sides, entirely smooth; wings with the second submarginal cell
slightly, but distinctly, longer than broad apically; pubescence on
vertex and ocellar tubercle in both sexes with some distinct dark, blackish
brown or black bristly hairs ; ; . d & nasutus Bezz. (p. 890).
12. (11) Face in front not prominently projecting or cone-like and not brilliantly
shining, usually dull and with distinct silvery white scaling or frosty
white hairs on the sides in both sexes; wings with the second submarginal
cell on the whole shorter and more usually broader apically, usually at
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 875
least as broad or even broader apically as long along the lower vein;
pubescence on vertex and ocellar tubercle entirely white or pale, rarely
sericeous yellowish or darker : ; : . 13.
13. (48) Legs with the femora predominantly or satel esis or black and, if
with yellowish, then only at extreme apices; sides of abdominal segments
below and hind margins of venter in §¢ usually entirely dark or black,
or at least less conspicuously yellowish; edge of metapleural plate,
above hind coxae, sides of abdominal segment 1 and sides of some of the
other segments usually darker, black or at least much less extensively
and conspicuously yellowish or reddish in 99; known 92° usually with
paler and more brassy yellowish to silvery scaling above : {ss (14).
\ ee (34).
14. (25) Eyes in actual contact above for a longer distance, distinctly more and
sometimes much more than 3 times as long as ocellar tubercle (front
view), with the line of contact more deeply impressed . ‘ sy Le
15. (22) Wings with a very faint, though distinct, milky white tint in certain
lights, with the upper vein of second submarginal cell more distinctly
S-curved, its base more distinctly bent at right angles to third longi-
tudinal vein; face less convex along middle towards apex and there
not distinctly ivory whitish or yellowish like the genae; femora entirely
black or very dark, their apices also tending to be black; edge of meta-
pleural plate and sides of first abdominal segment entirely dark or black;
hypopygium (text-fig. 269, 270 and 280) without very long and con-
spicuous bristly hairs towards apex on basal part dorsally and on sides,
and with the prongs of central guide much shorter : . 16.
16. (17) Antennal joint 1 longer, at least 3, or even slightly more, sirnbe as long
as 2 and with distinctly longer hairs; pubescence distinctly longer
and denser, that on occiput, thorax in front and sides of face denser
and longer and composed of flattened scale-like hairs and long hairs,
those on squamae longer and more conspicuous; front tibiae on the whole
darker; hypopygium (text-fig. 269) . transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 891).
17. (16) Antennal joint 1 shorter, less than 3 times as long as joint 2 and also
with shorter hairs; pubescence shorter and less shaggy, that- on sides
of face shorter and composed only of flattened silvery scale-like hairs,
that on squamae distinctly shorter; front tibiae more distinctly or
entirely yellowish especially on upper surfaces; eam (text-
figs. 270 and 280) different . : . 18.
18. (19) Eyes in actual contact for a distance vanles a little more ‘ina 3 times
as long as tubercle; wings more distinctly tinted milky whitish, with
the upper vein of first posterior cell quite, or very nearly, 3 times as
long as that part of it between first posterior and second submarginal
cells; silvery white scsi on abdomen and legs denser; hypopygium
(text-fig. 270) . ; : turneri n. sp. (p. 893).
19. (18) Eyes in actual contact aaa a aeemnce cligtinetlke longer and much more
than 3 times, even up to 5 times, as long as tubercle; wings more vitreous
hyaline, the upper vein of first posterior cell distinctly much less than
3 times as long as the part of it between first posterior and second sub-
marginal cells; silvery scaling on abdomen and legs less dense; hypo-
pygium (text-fig. 280) : : : : : ‘ ; . (20:
876 Annals of the South African Museum.
20. (21) Wings with the veins paler yellowish, without any distinct milky whitish
tint even at base, with the discal cross vein only very little beyond
or even at about the middle of discoidal cell; proboscis, relative to body,
very much longer, about 34 mm. long; smaller form, about 34 mm. long
and with a wing-length of about 4 mm.
nomadicus n. sp. (var. of) (p. 915).
21. (20) Wings with the veins darker and more brownish towards apex and with
a very faint milky white tint towards base, with the discal cross vein
much beyond middle of discoidal cell; proboscis very much shorter,
about 24 mm. long; slightly larger form, about 5 mm. long, with a
wing-length of about 5 mm. : nomadicus n. sp. (var. of) (p. 915).
22. (15) Wings glassy or vitreous hyaline, with the upper vein of second sub-
marginal cell less S-curved, its base less bent at right angles to third
longitudinal vein; face slightly more convex medially towards apex
and there with an ivory whitish or yellowish macula; middle and hind
femora tending to be slightly more extensively or broadly yellowish
apically; edge of metapleural plate and sides of first abdominal segment
more conspicuously reddish and if not face has a macula; hypopygium
(text-figs. 271 and 272) often with long and conspicuous bristly hairs
towards apex dorsally and on sides and with the prongs of central guide
very long or differently shaped . : 2 aoe
23. (24) Wings with the veins usually paler and more allomiole pubeseames
on front part of thorax and sides and on abdomen denser and slightly
longer; body more bulky and wings usually slightly longer, about
43-5 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 44-54 mm. and with
the scutellum broader and less tumid; hypopygium (text-fig. 271)
with the apical processes of basal part arrow-head shaped, with long
hairs on basal part, shorter rami, long prongs on each side from basal
guide, etc. : : maculifacies n. sp. (p. 895).
24. (23) Wings with the veins > away darker especially towards apical parts;
pubescence on front part and sides of thorax and on abdomen distinctly
less dense; body distinctly narrower and smaller, about 3-4 mm. long
and with a wing-length of about 4-44 mm., with the scutellum narrower
and distinctly more inflated or tumid in appearance; hypopygium
(text-fig. 272) with slender, apically directed and finger-like apical
process, short hair on basal part, produced rami on each side, etc.
gariepinus n. sp. (p. 897).
25. (14) Eyes in actual contact above for a shorter distance, scarcely more than
3, and even less, times as long as tubercle and with the line of contact
less deeply impressed . : . 26;
26. (33) Legs with the tibiae and tarsi sites or at ibe predoovaeale pale
yellowish; antennal joint 1 on the whole longer, usually more and
even much more than 23 times as long as 2; face without a pallid apical
spot; wings with a more distinct milky white tint, with distinctly paler
veins and with the discal cross vein tending to be definitely or much
beyond middle of discoidal cell; pubescence longer and denser on body;
hypopygium without 4 dentate or incisor-like processes in a row apically
on basal part and with the central guide (through which aedeagus passes)
not elongately stirrup-shaped; larger species, more than 34 mm.long 27.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 877
27. (30) Eyes in actual contact for a distance about 3 or slightly more times
28.
29.
30.
dl.
32.
33.
as long as tubercle; antennal joint 1 distinctly longer, a little more than
3 times as long as joint 2; proboscis stouter; second submarginal cell
on the whole broader apically, its upper vein more $-curved and the
apical cross vein of discoidal cell more distinctly S-curved; larger
and more bulky species, about 5-6 mm. long and with a wing-length
of about 53-6 mm.; hypopygium (text-figs. 274 and 275) 3 | 28:
(29) Pubescence on body long, dense and shaggy, very dense on occiput,
front part and sides of thorax and on venter; wings with the second
submarginal cell distinctly broader apically, much broader than second
posterior cell, the upper vein distinctly more S-curved and its apical
part thus more bent upwards; front tibiae on the whole with more
yellowish and the middle and hind tarsi more extensively yellowish
at their bases; hypopygium (text-fig. 274) . furcifer n. sp. (p. 899).
(28) Pubescence on body shorter and sparser, not very conspicuously dense on
head, thorax and abdomen; wings with the second submarginal cell dis-
tinctly narrower apically, not much broader than second posterior cell, its
upper vein less markedly S-curved and less bent upwards apically; front
tibiae much darker and bases of middle and hind tarsi less extensively
yellowish; hypopygium (text-fig. 275) dubtosus n. sp. (p. 901).
(27) Eyes in actual contact for a shorter distance, only about 23-3 times
as long as tubercle; antennal joint 1 shorter, scarcely and even distinctly
shorter than 3 times as long as joint 2; proboscis distinctly more slender;
second submarginal cell on the whole narrower apically, its upper vein
distinctly less S-curved and its apical end practically straight; smaller
species, more slender, about 5 mm. long and with a wing-length of
about 5mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 276) . : dl.
(32) Tibiae, aeueeinlly middle and hind ones, and the bases of tarsi aalbd,
(26
)
pale yellowish to pale yellowish brown; wings with the veins paler
and more yellowish, the vein between submarginal cells bent at right
angles to meet third longitudinal vein; hypopygium (text-fig. 276)
with the apical lobes of basal parts directed more apically and having
a prominent secondary lobe on each side basally
¢ australis n. sp. (p. 902).
(31) Tibiae slightly darker and more brownish or dark brownish, the front
ones and the apices of the others darker; wings with the veins distinctly
darker, more blackish brown, the vein between submarginal cells less
rapidly bent at right angles at its base; hypopygium with the apical
lobes directed downwards and without a longish and prominent secondary
lobe on each side at their bases ¢ dissors n. sp. (p. 903).
Legs with the tibiae and tarsi very dark; antennal joint 1 shorter, only
about 24 times as long as joint 2; face with a pallid apical spot; wings
not distinctly tinted subopaquely milky whitish, but with even an almost
imperceptible cinereous yellowish tint, with darker veins and with
the discal cross vein tending to be at middle of discoidal cell; pubescence
shorter and much sparser; hypopygium (text-fig. 277) with 4 incisor-
like processes in a row apically on basal part and with the central guide
elongately stirrup-shaped; small species, only about 35 mm. long
parvus n. sp. (p. 905).
878 Annals of the South African Museum.
34. (41) Wings with a distinct and sometimes conspicuous subopaque milky
white tint, with the veins on the whole yee more pallid or
yellowish ‘ é 3 . 3d.
35. (40) Antennal joint 1 diateetly, leneers a leat 3, or even more, times as
long as joint 2 and with distinctly longer hairs; interocular space
broader, more than 2, even about 24, times as broad as tubercle; pubes-
cence on body distinctly longer, denser and more shaggy, that on occiput,
front part and sides of thorax, mesopleuron and abdomen longer and
more conspicuous, that on frons and sides of face denser and composed
of both silvery scale-like hairs and silvery hairs; front tibiae on the whole
darker and the femora tending to be entirely black; wings with the
discal cross vein tending to be distinctly much beyond middle of discoidal
cell and the upper vein of first posterior cell distinctly very much less
than 3 times as long as that part of it between first posterior and second
submarginal cells , ; -. a0:
36. (39) Edge of metapleural plate, sides of sbilomite ell dopnioute 1-5 dante or at
least indistinctly and obscurely yellowish; pubescence on occiput,
front part and sides of thorax and mesopleuron slightly longer but
sparser; head more distinctly spherical, with the eyes comparatively
broader lower down and the first antennal joints more slender and with
sparser and shorter hairs; tarsi with at least the bases of middle and hind
ones more broadly yellowish; body less bulky . ; | ame
37. (38) Antennal joint 1 only about 3 times as long as joint 2, the hates on them
shorter and sparser; femora and tibiae more slender; pubescence on
body less dense and slightly shorter; wings with the second submarginal
cell, across apical part, pei to or even less than length of lower
vein : : ; transvaalensis n. sp. (p. 891).
38. (37) Antennal joint 1 Aen more than 3, quite 34, times as long as joint 2,
the hairs on them slightly longer and dorset femora and tibiae dis-
tinctly stouter; second submarginal cell, across apical part, distinctly
broader than length of lower vein é ; furcifer n. sp. (p. 899).
39. (36) Edge of metapleural plate, sides of abdominal segment | and sides below
of segments 2-5 and hind margins of venter broadly yellowish red or
yellowish; pubescence on body above slightly shorter but very dense
and conspicuous; head more elongate from above to below, the eyes
more elongate and the first antennal joints distinctly stouter and with
denser and longer hairs; tarsi on the whole much darker, almost entirely
dark; body more compact and bulky . : niveus n. sp. (p. 904).
40. (35) Antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter, less than 3 times, only about 24
times as long as 2 and with shorter hairs; interocular space on vertex
slightly narrower, only about 2 times as broad as tubercle; pubescence
on body shorter, sparser and less shaggy, that on head, thorax and venter
comparatively shorter, that on sides of face composed practically only
of flattened, silvery white scaling; front tibiae paler and yellowish, like
the others and the apices of the femora tending to be also yellowish;
wings with the discal cross vein tending to be much nearer, or at, middle
of discoidal cell and the upper vein of first posterior cell tending to be
3, or nearly 3, times as long as that part of it between first posterior and
second submarginal cells. , : : turnert n. sp. (p. 893).
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 879
41.
42.
43.
44,
45.
46.
47.
48.
(34) Wings only greyish hyaline, vitreous hyaline, or only with a very feeble
cinereous or yellowish tinge, without any distinct milky whitish tint,
with the veins on the whole darker : j «) 42.
(47) Face in front with a distinct triangular ivory solicarish or ayellowieh
spot; wings with the second submarginal cell tending to be as long along
lower vein as broad apically or even shorter than broad apically and
with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell usually distinctly, even if
only slightly, S-curved; antennal joint 1 longer usually at least 3 times
as long as 2; tibiae usually paler and more yellowish and undersurfaces
of front ones usually darkened; lobes of abdominal segment 8 below
usually broader and less produced : . 43.
(46) Antennae with joint 1 slightly longer, quite 3 fants as iodeia. as 2; wings
with the discal cross vein distinctly or much beyond middle of discoidal
cell, the veins darker and the wings themselves without a slight yellowish
tinge; proboscis slightly longer, 2-3 mm. long; slightly larger forms,
about 3-5 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 4-54 mm. . a» 44,
(45) Body distinctly more bulky and also larger, about 44-5 mm. and with
a wing-length of about 44-54 mm.; scutellum apparently broader and
flatter, less inflated in appearance; wings with the veins more yellowish;
pubescence on the whole denser, the scaling on body below also denser;
interocular space on vertex distinctly narrower and not or scarcely 2 times
as broad as tubercle, the frons thus more rapidly narrowing basally;
femora usually with more yellowish or brownish apically; genital
armature (text-fig. 273, a) . : : maculifacies n. sp. (p. 895).
(44) Body distinctly smaller, narrower, more slender and less bulky, about
3-4 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 4-44 mm.; scutellum
distinctly narrower and distinctly more tumid or inflated; wings with
the veins darker especially towards the apical parts; pubescence on
the whole less dense; interocular space on vertex distinctly broader,
quite 2 times as broad as broadish tubercle, the frons thus distinctly
less narrowed basally; femora on the whole darker and less yellowish
apically; genital armature (text-fig. 273, 6) . gariepinus n. sp. (p. 897).
(43) Antennae with joint 1 tending to be slightly shorter, scarcely 3, or only
about 24, times as long as 2; wings with the discal cross vein at, or at
about, the middle of discoidal cell, with the veins distinctly paler
yellowish, the wings also with a very faint yellowish tinge in certain
lights; proboscis slightly shorter, only about 2 mm. long; slightly smaller
and more delicate form, not longer than 34 mm. and with a wing-length
of not longer than 34 mm. . . ‘ ; . parvus n. sp. (p. 905).
(42) Face in front without a distinct yellowish or ivory yellowish macula;
wings with the second submarginal cell distinctly much longer along its
lower vein than broad apically and with the apical cross vein of discoidal
cell almost straight or at least straighter; antennal joint 1 distinctly
shorter than 3 times or even 24 times as long as 2; tibiae more brownish
yellow and undersurfaces of front ones not darkened; lobes of abdominal
segment 8 below distinctly longer and more produced
delicatus n. sp. (p. 907).
(13) Legs with the middle and hind femora entirely or predominantly pale
yellowish, pale brownish or ochreous yellow or at least with the apical
880
Annals of the South African Museum.
parts or halves yellowish or more broadly so; sides of abdominal segments
below and hind margins of venter in gg much more broadly or more
distinctly yellowish or pallid; edge of metapleural plate, above hind
coxae, sides of abdominal segment 1 and sides of some of the other
segments distinctly more broadly and more conspicuously or extensively
yellowish or yellowish red in 99; known 99 usually with more golden
scaling above . . {33 (49).
192 (57).
49. (52) Eyes in actual contact for a shorter distance, less than, or not very
much more than, 3 times as long as tubercle, with the line of contact
not very deeply or markedly impressed; ocellar tubercle less pimple-
like and prominent; face less convexly prominent; pubescence longer,
denser, more shaggy, especially on occiput and front part of thorax and
venter : . 50.
50. (51) Antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter, less than 3 times as long as joint 2;
eyes in actual contact above for a distinctly longer distance, about 3,
or even a little more, times as long as tubercle; thorax and scutellum
above with the fine scaling more brassy or very pale golden; second
submarginal cell not very much broader apically than second posterior
cell and the wings less markedly milky whitish; hypopygium (text-
fig. 278) with the apical processes of basal part shorter and less com-
pressed, and the apically projecting prongs of central guide also shorter
peringueyt n. sp. (p. 907).
51. (50) Antennal joint 1 distinctly much longer, slightly more than 3 times
as long as joint 2; eyes in actual contact above for a shorter distance,
less than 3 times as long as tubercle; thorax and scutellum above with
the fine scaling (where present) more silvery whitish; second submarginal
cell distinctly much broader apically than second posterior cell and wings
distinctly more milky whitish; hypopygium with the apical processes
of basal part longer and more flattened and the apically projecting
prongs of central guide distinctly longer
lactipennis n. sp. (p. 909).
52. (49) Eyes in actual contact above for a distinctly longer distance, 4 or more
53. (54
)
times as long as tubercle, with the line of contact usually very markedly
impressed; ocellar tubercle distinctly more elevated and pimple-like;
face appearing more convexly prominent, owing to the more impressed
line of contact and depressed frons; pubescence on the whole distinctly
sparser, less dense and slightly shorter, even though more abundant on
occiput, front part of thorax and venter than on rest of body . - Ou
Wings distinctly tinted more subopaquely milky whitish; pubescence
on occiput, front part and sides of thorax and mesopleuron distinctly
denser and entirely white or frosty white, that on sides of face more
extensive and composed of silvery flattened scale-like hairs and hairs,
with the fine scaling on abdomen above at least tending to be paler and
more silvery whitish or very pale brassy yellowish; antennal joint 3
more distinctly rapidly attenuated towards apex; front part of line of
contact at base of frons slightly more deeply depressed; thorax (from
side) more broadly and roundly convex; hypopygium (text-fig. 279)
with 2 longish apical processes on each side of basal part and without a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 881
long apical process to the ramus on each side and with the prongs of
central guide broadened spear-blade like apically
psammobates n. sp. (p. 910).
54, (53) Wings more hyaline, not or scarcely tinted milky whitish; pubescence
55.
56.
Dike
58.
59.
60.
61.
on occiput, front part of thorax and mesopleuron on the whole shorter
and distinctly less dense and on body above with a slight straw-coloured
to even distinctly yellowish tint, that on sides of face less, extensive
and composed mainly of flattened silvery scaling, with the fine scaling
above, and on abdomen especially, tending to be more deeply or dis-
tinctly brassy or golden yellow; antennal joint 3 more gradually atten-
uated apically; front part of line of contact or base of frons scarcely
or not markedly impressed; thorax (from side) more semicircularly
rounded and more humped; hypopygium (text-fig. 280) with only one
distinct bluntish process on each side apically of basal part and with a
long apical process to each ramus and with the prongs of central guide
not broadened apically : : DD:
(56) Pubescence on body above and on aonial ‘oinit L palets more sical whit-
ish to straw-coloured whitish; upper vein of second submarginal cell tend-
ing to be less bent upwards at apex. . nomadicus n. sp. (p. 912).
(55) Pubescence above and to some extent that on antennal joints above
distinctly more yellowish or sericeous yellowish or at least with a
distinct faint yellowish or even brownish tint in certain lights; upper
vein of second submarginal cell tending to be more bent upwards at
apex ; : : nomadicus var. breyeri n. (p. 914).
(58) Interocular space on aie muankedlly broad, apparently nearly 3 times
as broad as ocellar tubercle, the frons thus broad, its sides very nearly
subparallel; wings with the veins darker and very dark blackish brown;
the ivory yellowish on genae extending round upper rim of buccal cavity
latifrons n. sp. (p. 915).
(57) Interocular space on vertex distinctly narrower, only about 2, or even
less, times as broad as ocellar tubercle, the frons thus narrower especially
towards base, its sides distinctly and more markedly converging towards
base; wings with the veins paler, either yellowish or when dark not very
dark blackish brown; the ivory yellowish on genae not extending round
upper rim of buccal cavity and if there is yellow on face it is in form of
a detached medial spot : : f) 59.
(60) Antennal joint 1 much longer, much more en 3 ried neal 4 times
as long as joint 2; wings more markedly tinted subopaquely whitish,
with the veins much paler and the second submarginal cell distinctly
much broader apically than the second posterior cell; extreme sides
of abdominal segments and even the hind margins laterally more con-
spicuously and broadly reddish yellow . . lactipennis n. sp. (p. 909).
(59) Antennal joint 1 distinctly much shorter, only about 3, or even less,
times as long as 2; wings much less tinted subopaquely whitish, the
veins on the whole less pallid and the second submarginal cell subequal
to or only slightly broader apically than second posterior cell; extreme
sides of abdomen less broadly and conspicuously reddish or yellowish
61.
(62) Wings more distinctly, though faintly, tinted milky whitish and veins
882
Annals of the South African Museum.
often paler; antennal joint 1 slightly shorter, less than 3 times as long
as 2; pubescence on the whole whiter and the fine scaling on hind part
of thorax and on scutellum paler, less deep brassy or golden and more
silvery; hind and middle femora becoming more brownish in basal half
peringueyt n. sp. (p. 907).
62. (61) Wings more vitreous hyaline or glassy hyaline, scarcely or only very
63.
indistinctly tinted milky whitish and veins usually darker; antennal
joint 1 distinctly longer, at least about 3 times as long as 2; pubescence
on body above, especially on occiput, thorax, sides of thorax or even
on abdomen inclining to become straw-coloured or even slightly yellowish
and, if not, the fine scaling at base of thorax and on scutellum and
on abdomen above distinctly more yellowish, brassy to deep golden
yellowish; hind and middle femora on the whole tending to be entirely
pale yellowish or reddish yellow . d : . 63.
(70) Interocular space on vertex slightly proaties at jeaat 2 times as broad
as tubercle, the frons on the whole broader, less rapidly narrowed to
vertex and slightly more convex in front of tubercle; face without a
distinct ivory whitish or yellowish macula apically; pubescence on body
above tending to be tinted slightly straw-coloured or even slightly
yellowish even if only on occiput and ocellar tubercle; middle and hind
femora usually very pale yellowish; upper vein of second submarginal
cell slightly more bent upwards at apex : . 64.
64. (67) Pubescence paler, that on ocellar tubercle, siden ie on hones paler
65.
G7;
68.
and more whitish, the fine scaling on body above also paler and more pale
brassy yellowish, that on thorax in front more silvery; interocular
space appearing slightly narrower, scarcely 2 times as broad as tubercle
65.
(66) Front femora distinctly more yellowish or pale yellowish brown apically:
edge of metapleural plate, sides of abdominal segments 1-5 and hind
margins of ventral segments distinctly more broadly and conspicuously
yellowish; wings slightly more greyish or subopaquely whitish especially
towards base, the upper vein of second submarginal cell more bent
upwards at apex; pubescence on front part of body slightly longer;
proboscis slightly longer and about 4 mm. long
psammobates n. sp. (p. 912).
. (65) Front femora entirely dark or black; edge of metapleural plate and
sides of abdomen much less conspicuously or broadly yellowish; wings
distinctly clearer and more hyaline, the upper vein of second submarginal
cell less distinctly bent upwards at apex; pubescence on the whole
sparser and shorter; proboscis usually shorter and less than 4 mm.
long 3 “ . nomadicus n. sp. (p. 912).
(64) Pubescence on sasiline paperaley soipu: thorax above and even on
abdomen above at base tending to be more distinctly yellowish to yellow,
the fine scaling above denser and distinctly deeper golden; interocular
space apparently slightly broader and tending to be at least 2 times
as broad as tubercle . : te GBs
(69) Pubescence on thorax above, stellt and sbadmen distiaetly less
dense, the disc of thorax tending to be bare, the scaling on body and
abdomen less dense; legs more slender and middle femora and even
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 883
69.
70.
a
72.
73.
hind ones tending to be darkened at bases; antennal joint 1 more
slender; wings with the veins paler; smaller and less bulky form, less
than 7 mm. long and with a wing-length of less than 8 mm.
nomadicus var. breyeri n. (p. 914).
(68) Pubescence on thorax, scutellum and abdomen distinctly very much
denser, the short erect hairs much denser on disc of thorax, with the
deep golden scaling on body above very much denser, especially so on
abdomen; legs comparatively much stouter, and the middle and hind
femora entirely yellow; antennal joint 1 stouter; wings with the veins
on the whole darker; larger and distinctly more bulky form, about
7 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 8 mm.
bechuanus Hesse (p. 916).
(63) Interocular space on vertex apparently slightly narrower, scarcely, or
even slightly less than, 2 times as broad as tubercle, the frons slightly
longer, narrower, more rapidly narrowed to vertex and on the whole
planer and not so distinctly raised in front of tubercle; face with a
distinct ivory whitish or yellowish macula apically; pubescence on body
above entirely white or frosty white; middle and hind femora more pale
brownish yellow, tending to be more darkened towards bases, upper
vein of second submarginal cell less bent upwards at apex. 3 tual
(74) Antennae with joint 1 slightly longer, quite 3 times as long as 2; wings
with the discal cross vein distinctly or much beyond middle of discoidal
cell, the veins darker, the wings themselves without a slight yellowish
tinge; proboscis slightly longer, 2-3 mm. long; slightly larger forms
about 3-5 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 4-54 mm. . oe a2.
(73) Body distinctly more bulky and also larger, about 44-5 mm. long and
with a wing-length of about 43-53 mm.; scutellum apparently broader
and flatter, less inflated in appearance; wings with the veins more
yellowish; pubescence on the whole denser, the scaling on body below
also denser; interocular space on vertex distinctly narrower and not
or scarcely 2 times as broad as tubercle, the frons thus more rapidly
narrowed basally; genital armature (text-fig. 273, a)
maculifacies n. sp. (p. 895).
(72) Body distinctly smaller, narrower, more slender and less bulky, about
3-4 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 444 mm.; scutellum
distinctly narrower and distinctly more tumid or inflated; wings with
the veins darker especially towards the apical parts; pubescence on the
whole less dense; interocular space on vertex distinctly broader and
quite 2 times as broad as broadish tubercle, the frons thus distinctly
less narrowed basally; genital armature (text-fig. 273, b)
gariepinus n. sp. (p. 897).
. (71) Antennae with joint 1 tending to be slightly shorter, scarcely 3, or
only about 24, times as long as 2; wings with the discal cross vein at,
or at about, the middle of discoidal cell, with the veins distinctly more
yellowish, the wings also with a very faint yellowish tinge in certain
lights; proboscis slightly shorter, only about 2 mm. long; slightly
smaller and more delicate form, not longer than 3$ mm. long and with
a wing-length of not longer than 3$ mm. : parvus n. sp. (p. 905).
884 Annals of the South African Museum.
3 3d 5 92 G. ngerrimus n. sp.
Body, including entire legs, black; genae also entirely dull and
black, the front part of face sometimes slightly pallid; the integu-
ment of frons, face, head below, a central band on thorax above in
front half, the sides and pleurae, sides of abdomen and the venter
with greyish white bloom; pubescence with the longish erect hairs
on head and body above and below frosty or silvery whitish, the fine
and depressed scale-like hairs or scaling, densely on frons, along hind
margins of eyes, on thorax above, on the pleurae, on abdomen above
TExt-FIG. 265.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and of
aedeagal complex of 3 Geron nigerrimus n. sp.
and more densely on venter and legs silvery whitish; wings with a
faint milky whitish tint, with the veins very dark blackish brown
to black, the main veins, even at extreme base of wing, being blackish,
with the second submarginal cell distinctly longer along its lower
vein than broad apically, the veins of the cell sometimes subparallel,
with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell
and vein separating discoidal cell and second posterior cell sometimes
only feebly S-curved, with the squamae sometimes dark-bordered;
halteres with the ivory whitish knobs distinctly blackened above in
doh at least. Head with the eyes in actual contact above in ¢¢ for a
distance at least 3 times as long as ocellar tubercle (front view) and
with the slightly coarser facets in upper part imperceptibly merging
into finer lower ones, with the interocular space on vertex in 99
about 2 times as broad as tubercle or subequal to length of antennal
joint 1; frons gradually widening anteriorly in 99, slightly trans-
versely depressed just behind antennae, small and triangular in gd;
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 885
antennae with joint 1 about 3 times as long as joint 2, with entirely
white hairs, those below in gg being slightly longer, with joint 3
gradually tapering to a point; face slightly ridge-like centrally and
not very prominent anteriorly; proboscis slender, about 12-2 mm.
long; palps short and only visible at base of proboscis especially in
29. Thorax almost hemispherically convex above, giving this small
species a markedly humped appearance. Legs slender, with the
spicules on tibiae, and especially hind ones, more feeble and more
poorly developed than in many other species. Hypopygiuwm (text-
fig. 265) with the apical process or lobe on each side of basal part
produced or directed outwards horizontally, with the lateral ramus
on each side, connecting the apical part of basal part to central
guide, produced apically into a flattened, somewhat racket-shaped,
lobe; aedeagus curved (see left-hand figure) and having on its ventral
side an apically directed stylet-like process (see left-hand figure and
ventral view of aedeagus on extreme right); dorsal to aedeagus
(see left-hand figure) there is a flattened, strap-like strand on each
side attached apically and together with its partner forming the
dorsal guide to aedeagus (shown in dotted outline and from side
above aedeagus). This species and the following three species are
peculiar in that the aedeagus has stylet-like or prong-like processes
ventral to it and not dorsal.
Types in the British Museum, paratypes in the Imperial Institute
and South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-5 mm.
Locality —S.-Western Cape Province: Cape Town to Cape Point
(Simmonds, Nov. and Dec. 1930) (Types). 8.-Western Karoo:
Michell’s Pass (Simmonds, 1-5/12/30). Namaqualand: Kamies-
kroon (Mus. Esp., Nov. 1936); Nieuwoudtville (Ogilvie, 18—22/11/31).
Kasily recognised by the entire black legs and the very dark veins
of the wings.
1 g 3 G2 G. anceps n. sp.
Externally there appear to be no specific characters to distinguish
these specimens from nigerrimus, but as the g-hypopygium, however,
differs in certain respects from that of the latter they have to be
referred to a separate but very similar species. The only dis-
tinguishing characters appear to be that the wings are slightly more
distinctly milky whitish, the knobs of the halteres in the $3 are
predominantly ivory whitish above, only the base or extreme base
VOL. XXXIV. 57
886 Annals of the South African Museum.
above is darkened or blackish above whereas in the 992 they are
entirely ivory whitish as in 99 of nzgerrimus, the interocular space on
vertex in 99 are, however, distinctly a little broader than in nagerrumus
and a little broader than 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle or a
little broader than length of first antennal joints, and the proboscis
appears to be longer and about 24 mm. The hypopygium of the $
(text-fig. 266, showing ventral view (middle right-hand figure) of
aedeagal complex and aedeagus, a lateral view of the same (middle
left-hand figure), the apical lobes of basal part (extreme right-hand
figure) and lateral lobes and apically produced part of lateral ramus
TExt-FIG. 266.—Apical processes of basal part of hypopygium (left and right) and
the side and ventral (dorsal) views of aedeagal complex of 3 Geron anceps 0. sp.
from a side view (extreme left)) is different in many respects from
that of nigerrimus (cf. text-fig. 265) in that the apical lobes tend to be
less horizontal and sometimes even slightly curved apically, the
aedeagal complex has a slender curved apically directed spine on
each side of aedeagus and another shorter one on each side near the
base of the outer ones (see middle right-hand figure), the dorsal
guides to aedeagal complex (shown on extreme right under apical
lobes) are in form of elongate leaf-like structures. As in ngerrimus,
there is a stylet-like apically directed process on each side ventral to
the aedeagus.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-5 mm.
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Fraserburg Distr.; Teekloof (Mus.
Staff, Nov. 1935) (Types); Beaufort West. Distr. (Mus. Staff,
Nov. 1935).
This species seems to occur in the high-lying part of the Karoo
above the escarpment.
——-— = - -- =—
ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 887
1 3 G. orthoperus n. sp.
This single g-specimen is also superficially almost inseparable
from nigerrumus and anceps, and unless the hypopygium is examined
there appear to be practically no external differences. From both
the ¢ of nigerrimus and anceps it appears to differ in having the eyes
in contact above for a distinctly longer distance, much more than
3 times and nearly or about 5 times as long as ocellar tubercle, in
TExtT-FIG. 267.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views and separate parts of
hypopygium of $ Geron orthoperus n. sp.
having the wings more vitreous hyaline, no distinct milky whitish
tint being so apparent, and with their veins also more uniformly
brownish and even more distinctly yellowish towards or at base.
From nigerrimus it also differs in having the knobs of halteres pre-
dominantly ivory whitish above and below. The pubescence on
occiput, front part and sides of thorax above, on abdomen and on
coxae is also relatively longer and denser than in $¢ of nigerrimus
and anceps and that on thorax in front discally above with a faint
straw-coloured yellowish tint in certain lights. The hypopygium
(text-fig. 267) resembles that of anceps in many respects, but the
apical lobes of basal part are straight and there is also on each side
ventrally at base of each apical lobe a long and prominent spine,
much longer than that of anceps; aedeagal complex (figure on extreme
right) much like that of anceps and the apically directed spines and
processes very similar; the dorsal guide to aedeagal complex (shown
on extreme left) also similar; the basal strut is larger. As in niger-
ramus and anceps, it will be seen that the aedeagus has stylet-like
processes ventral to it and not dorsal as in other species of Geron.
888 Annals of the South African Museum.
Type in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Length of proboscis: about 22 mm.
Locality.—S.- Western Karoo: Ceres (Mackie, 2/1932).
1 3 G. munroi n. sp.
This species is only represented in the collection by a single
d-specimen, which differs in important features from the other
species. |
Body, including the entire genae, black; integument of face, sides
of thorax, along a central line in front half of thorax, pleurae, sides
of abdomen and venter
with slaty grey bloom;
legs with the coxae, tro-
chanters and femora black,
the middle and hind tibiae
brownish, but the front
ones even darker, with the
basal parts of the tarsi
yellowish brown, the rest
of tarsi dark; pubescence
sparse, but denser on
occiput and abdomen and
as in nigerrumus distinctly
sparser and shorter than
in the other species in this
category, entirely frosty
white, the scaling on body and legs silvery whitish, denser on
sides of abdomen, venter and legs; wings very faintly, but
distinctly, more subopaquely yellowish white or greyish and dis-
tinctly less milky whitish than in mgerrimus, with the veins pale
yellowish brown throughout, even the extreme base being only
slightly more yellowish, with the second submarginal cell distinctly
much longer along lower vein than broad apically, the veins only
gradually diverging, with the discal cross vein much beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the vein between discoidal and second posterior
cells only very slightly S-curved, with the squamae more milky
whitish and with a pallid hind border; halteres yellowish, with dark
base and ivory whitish knobs. Head with the eyes only contiguous
TExtT-FIG. 268.—Interior view and side view of
hypopygium of 3 Geron munroi n. sp.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 889
above for a very short distance, only about as long as tubercle,
the inner margins gradually diverging posteriorly on each side of
tubercle and also anteriorly, the line of contiguity not impressed;
frons longer and larger than in g¢ of other species, slightly depressed
at base; face slightly raised centrally, its front part slightly convexly
prominent above buccal cavity; antennae with joint 1 slender and
only about 2 times as long as joint 2; proboscis slender, about 2 mm.
long and palps short. Hypopygium (text-fig. 268) with the base of
basal part rather produced on each side, with the apical process on
each side of basal part directed apically and spine-like; ramus on
each side, joining side of basal part to central guide, also produced
into a “shoehorn-like” process; aedeagus apparently in form of 2
slender spine-like processes; central guide with the apically directed
prong on each side broadened apically and ventral to aedeagus. The
basal ladle-shaped part of aedeagal part has been left out in the left-
hand figure but is shown in the right-hand one. In the case of
munrot the apically directed stylet-like processes are also ventral to
aedeagus as in the preceding species.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.— i. Cape Province: Hast London (Munro, 27/2/19).
192 G. mgrifacies n. sp.
Body, including entire genae, black; integument of body below,
sides of abdomen and a central line on thorax above with slaty grey
bloom; legs with the coxae, trochanters and femora black, the front
tibiae almost black, the middle and hind ones more yellowish, only the
apices being also blackish, the tarsi, excepting only the yellowish bases,
black; lobe-like processes on sides below of segment 8 yellowish;
pubescence comparatively long for the species in this category, denser
than in other forms, slightly longer and denser on occiput, face, lower
parts of genae, sides of abdomen, on venter, coxae and femora, silvery
whitish, but with intermixed brownish hairs on disc of thorax, with
the broader depressed scaling behind eyes (absent on sides of face)
silvery whitish and the finer scaling and short pubescence on thorax,
scutellum and abdomen above brassy yellowish, more whitish ante-
riorly on thorax, that on abdomen denser and arranged more
transversely, that on venter and legs denser and broader and silvery
white; wings feebly subopaque, with a slight whitish tint, more
890 Annals of the South African Museum.
evident basally, with the apical part of costal cell yellowish, with the
veins very dark blackish brown, yellowish at base, but extreme base
black*again, even the hind border of squamae brownish, with the
second submarginal cell only very slightly longer along lower vein than
broad apically, the veins thus more rapidly diverging than in mger-
rumus and munroi, with the discal cross vein slightly beyond middle
of discoidal cell; halteres dirty yellowish, with dark base and ivory
yellowish knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex about
2 times as broad as tubercle; frons broad, slightly convex in ocellar
region and transversely depressed anteriorly, with bristly hairs on
each side; face comparatively broad, with fairly dense hairs on each
side, scarcely prominent above buccal cavity; antennae with joint 1
fairly densely-haired, at least 3 times as long as joint 2; proboscis
long, about 4 mm. long, with the palps short and confined to extreme
base of proboscis.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 64 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality.—South West Cape Province: Cape Town (Simmonds,
6/12/30).
Hasily distinguished from species in the second category by the
black genae, longer and more extensive hairs on sides of face (a much
narrower central part without hairs), absence of closely adpressed
scale-like pubescence on sides of face, down the genae and even on
frons, etc.
G. nasutus Bezz.
(P. 114, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
Bezzi’s description is based on a single g-specimen from Mt. Mlanje
in Nyasaland. The distinct, smooth, brilliantly shining and conic-
ally prominent face of this species at once distinguishes it from all
other South Ethiopian species of Geron. A single, somewhat denuded,
Q-specimen from Kamanyab in the north western part of South West
Africa belongs to this series and probably represents the undescribed
2 of the above species.
Body black; genae ivory whitish; legs with the middle and hind
femora and all the tibiae yellowish, the front tibiae, however, slightly
more brownish and the tarsi dark; face smooth, brilliantly shining
black, distinctly conically prominent and without silvery white
pubescence or scaling on its sides or down the genae; pubescence on
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 891
body predominantly whitish, some bristly hairs on vertex and ocellar
tubercle, however, more blackish brown, with the scaling on frons
and as a dense tuft on each side of antennae, that behind eyes, on
pleurae, venter and on legs silvery white and slightly broader, that
on thorax above finer, whitish towards sides, becoming distinctly
more yellowish or brassy discally and basally and also pale brassy on
abdomen above. Head with the interocular space on vertex about
2 times as broad as tubercle, with joint 1 of the antennae at least 3
times as long as joint 2 and fine-haired, with the proboscis also about
3 mm. long, but the palps short (described as long for the 3). Wings
as described for the 3, the veins, however, more brownish, only those
at extreme base yellowish, with the second submarginal cell distinctly
longer than in most of the species in the second category.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
4 $3 3 92 G. transvaalensis un. sp.
Body black, with the lower parts of body and an anterior central
stripe on thorax sometimes covered with a slaty grey bloom especially
in 92; narrow hind margin of metapleural plate above hind coxae,
the narrow hind margin of sides of abdominal segment 1 and extreme
sides below of some of the other segments slightly or obscurely reddish;
middle and hind tibiae and basal parts of middle and hind tarsi pale
yellowish brown or yellowish, the front tibiae on the whole dark, and
the apices of the others also darkened, and all the spicules on tibiae and
tarsi black; ventral lobes below on segment 8, and the genital lobes
in 92 also yellowish; pubescence entirely white and with silky gleams,
somewhat long and shaggy, longer and denser in 3g, denser on occiput,
front part of thorax, mesopleurae, sides of abdomen and venter in
both sexes, but much more so in g4, that on coxae also conspicuous,
with the hairs on femora in $¢ more developed, with the pubescence
on sides of face in form of dense silvery scaling and silvery white long
hairs, with silvery hairs on frons in 99 as well as silvery scaling, with
the fine scaling on body above silvery to very pale brassy in 99, sparser
on thorax and almost absent on these sites in ¢¢, denser on abdomen
and also much denser here in 92, very dense and silvery white on venter
in both sexes where the scaling is also more concentrated across hind
margins of segments, those on pleurae sparser but denser again on
coxae and femora; wings glassy but with a distinct subopaque milky
892 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish tint, more evident basally and on alula, with the veins pale
yellowish brown, paler basally and slightly more brownish in costal
part, with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal
cell, and with the squamae subopaquely whitish, yellowish-margined
and fringed with whitish hairs; halteres with ivory whitish or yellowish
knobs and brownish bases. Head with the eyes in actual contact in
33 above for a distance about 4, or a little more, times as long as
tubercle (front view), with the line of contact impressed, with the
m™
eae
Si
ff
~~
TExtT-FIG. 269.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and some
of its parts of g Geron transvaalensis n. sp.
interocular space in 99 quite 2 times as broad as tubercle; eyes in
33 with the upper facets coarser and more coarse towards line of
contact, almost imperceptibly merging into finer ones below; ocellar
tubercle in $g more raised and more prominent than in 99; frons in
99 comparatively broad, gradually becoming broader apically, trans-
versely depressed anteriorly as in all the species and very slightly
convex medially in front of tubercle, small, triangular and depressed
in $3; face appearing slightly more convex in $g; antennae with
joint 1 about 3, or a little more, times as long as 2, with 3 gradually
narrowed to a sharp point, quite 14 times as long as 1 and 2 combined;
proboscis about 3-3 mm. long. Hypopygvum of ¢ (text-fig. 269)
with apically directed bristly hairs on basal part of which one on each
side is stouter and more spine-like, with the basal part produced
apically on each side into an upper dentate process (Ap.Pr.), a smaller
medial process and a stoutish lower process, the latter two excavated
on the inner side (see enlargement to left of left-hand figure); apical
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 893
part on each side ventrally of basal part also conically produced and
lodging the apical parts of ramus (R.) and prongs of guide to the
prongs (Pr.) from central guide (C.G.) and aedeagus (Ae.); aedeagus
(Ae.) almost straight from central guide (C.G.); cential guide (C.G.)
with a comparatively short apically directed prong (Pr.) on each
side and a comparatively long basally directed lobe-like process on
each side; guide to aedeagus and prongs also produced on each
side into a long prong-like apical process; basal strut (Ba.Str.) to
basal part of aedeagus curved and shaped as in figure (side view).
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about 5-54 mm.
Length of wing: 5-54 mm.
Locality—Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 30/12/13) (Holotype);
(13/12/14) (Allotype); (7/12/15, 17/12/13 and 2/12/15) (Paratypes).
1 g 2 99 G. turneri n. sp.
Body black, with the sides of head, front part and sides in front of
thorax as well as an abbreviated central line on thorax in front and
the lower parts of body covered with a greyish or pale slaty grey
bloom; legs with the femora very dark blackish brown, their extreme
apices more yellowish, all the tibiae yellowish and the bases of the
tarsi also yellowish, with the front tibiae slightly darkened below
and apically and the front tarsi almost entirely dark; posterior
ventral lobes and genital lobes in 99 yellowish; pubescence entirely
gleaming silvery whitish, not very dense, much longer in 3, denser
and longer on occiput, front and sides of thorax, on head below,
mesopleurae, sides of abdomen and venter and on the coxae in both
sexes, that on sides of face in form of silvery white, dense, flattened,
scale-like hairs only, with fine, sparse, pale brassy yellowish scaling
on thorax and scutellum above in 99, more silvery ones on abdomen
above in both sexes, with the denser, broader scales on sides of head,
frons in 99, pleural parts, coxae and venter in both sexes gleaming
silvery white, those on middle parts of pleurae almost wanting,
those on legs dense and silvery white, with the scaling on abdomen
above more concentrated transversely across hind margins, especially
in 99; wings glassy, but with a distinct, though faint, subopaque
milky whitish tint, more evident towards base, the veins pale
yellowish brown, paler at base, but more brownish or brown towards
apex, with the discal cross vein a little, or even much, beyond middle
894 Annals of the South African Museum.
of discoidal cell, with the upper vein of first posterior cell quite or
very nearly 3 times as long as part of this vein separating second
submarginal and first posterior cells, the second submarginal cell also
much broader apically than long along its lower vein, with the
squamae milky whitish and fringed with white hairs; halteres with
ivory whitish to almost white knobs. Head with the eyes in actual
contact above in g for a distance about, or nearly, 4 times as long as
tubercle (front view), with the interocular space on vertex in 99
Trxt-FiG. 270.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of 3 Geron
turneri Nn. Sp.
about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 99 rather more rapidly
narrowed towards vertex than in transvaalensis, with only a few
hairs on each side but much scaling; antennae with joint 1 about
2% times as long as joint 2; proboscis slender, about 24-3 mm. long.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 270) with the basal part ending apically
on each side in an elongate process and an inwardly directed or curved
claw-like process as well as a knob-like process on each side at bases
of the other processes; aedeagus slightly curved; central guide to
aedeagus produced basally into a lobe-like process on each side, and
an apically directed prong.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 4-44 mm.
Length of wing: about 33-4 mm.
Locality.—S. Karoo: Worcester (Turner, Dec. 1933).
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 895
1 $5 99 G. maculifacies n. sp.
Body black, with the body below and an anterior central stripe on
thorax covered with greyish white bloom; legs with the femora very
dark blackish brown to black, their apices more sienna brown or
reddish brown, with the tibiae and basal parts of tarsi yellowish, the
front tibiae sometimes darkened or at least dark along lower surface;
hind margin of metapleural plate, sides of abdominal segment 1
and sides of some of the other segments yellowish, especially in 99;
ventral lobes of segment 8 in 92 and the genital lobes also yellowish;
a central apical spot or stripe on face, especially in 99, ivory whitish
or yellowish like the genae; pubescence comparatively short in 4d,
much shorter in 99, also denser in 3, entirely white in both sexes,
that on sides of face composed of flattened, scale-like silvery hairs,
with the fine scaling on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above
denser in 92, paler in 3, but deep brassy to golden yellowish in 99,
with the broader flattened ones on body below denser and silvery
whitish in both sexes, very dense behind eyes, on mesopleuron,
coxae, legs and venter; wings glassy hyaline, not tinted milky
whitish but very faintly subopaquely yellowish white at extreme
base, the veins pale brownish to brown, becoming very pale yellowish
at bases and darker along first longitudinal vein and costal part,
with the upper vein of second submarginal cell scarcely or only
very slightly bent upwards at its end, the second submarginal cell
about as broad or slightly broader apically than long along its lower
vein, with the distance between second submarginal cell and discal
cross vein thus markedly long, with the discal cross vein well beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae slightly opaquely whitish
and fringed with white; halteres with the knobs ivory whitish to
very pale lemon yellowish. Head with the impressed line of contact
of eyes above in ¢ a little more than 5 times as long as tubercle,
with the interocular space on vertex in 92 comparatively narrow in
comparison with other species, only or scarcely 2 times as broad as
tubercle; ocellar tubercle in ¢ rather prominent and pimple-like;
frons in 9? rather long and narrow, fairly rapidly narrowed towards
vertex, more plain above than in other species, no very distinct
convexity being visible in front of tubercle and the transverse
depression in front apparently shallower; antennae with joint 1
about 3, or even less, times as long as 2; face slightly more convexly
prominent in front than in other species in this category; proboscis
fairly long, about 24-3 mm. long. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 271)
896 Annals of the South African Museum.
with somewhat long and conspicuous bristly hairs on dorsum and
sides of basal part, there being a conspicuous patch on each side
where ramus joins the basal part, with only a single pair of well-
developed apical processes, the subsidiary process at base of these
small and inconspicuous; aedeagus shortish, but the apically directed
prongs of central guide, on each side of it, long and projecting.
Genital armature of 2 (text-fig. 273, a) is under the produced lobes of
sternite 8.
TExtT-FIc. 271.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of ¢ Geron
maculifacies n. sp.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 43-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-5} mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner, Dec.
1929) (Types); Damaraland; Otjituo (Tucker, Jan. 1920). Natal:
Durban (Muir, 1905) (Imp. Institute).
This species appears to be slightly variable, the middle and hind
femora in some 9? tending to be entirely yellowish. The species is
easily recognised by the ivory whitish or yellowish spot on face in 99,
the very roundly humped thorax, the almost glassy hyaline wings,
and the comparatively narrow frons and vertex in 99. The denuded
2 from Natal, though having yellowish middle and hind femora,
agrees in other respects with the 9-allotype and paratypes and may
also be considered as a form of maculifacies.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 897
2 3S 4 92 G. gariepinus n. sp.
Body black; genae and a triangular spot on face in front ivory yellow-
ish; hind margin or edge of metapleural plate, sides of tergite 1, and
extreme sides of the other tergites below and genital segment below
in $9 yellowish or reddish, with the extreme sides of tergites below
in $¢ sometimes obscurely yellowish; legs with the femora pre-
dominantly black in both sexes, but the apical parts in 99 tending
to be more brownish and the hind ones in some 99 even tending to be
TExtT-FIG. 272.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of ¢ of Geron
gariepinus N. sp.
brownish or reddish brown, with the tibiae and basal parts or basal
halves of the tarsi yellowish brown or reddish yellow in both sexes,
the undersurfaces of front tibiae usually slightly darkened; pubes-
cence predominantly sericeous whitish, that on occiput and thorax
above in 9° especially in front with a distinct yellowish to brownish
sheen, that on body below in both sexes entirely white, with the
pubescence on sides of face silvery whitish and composed of flattened
scales, with the flattened scaling behind eyes on each side and on
body below and on legs silvery whitish, that on disc of thorax in
99 more yellowish, gleaming more brassy yellowish; wings glassy
hyaline, iridescent, showing a very feeble milky whitish tint in certain
lights, with the veins dark brownish, becoming darker towards
apical parts and distinctly yellowish towards base and at base of
wings, with the discal cross vein just beyond middle of discoidal cell,
with the second submarginal cell broadish apically, the breadth
subequal to length of lower vein, with the squamae subopaquely
898 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish and fringed with white; halteres whitish, with whitish knobs
in both sexes. Head with the eyes in g¢ in contact above for a
distance about 4 or 5 times as long as ocellar tubercle (in front), the
line of contact somewhat impressed, with the interocular space on
vertex in 2° about 2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1
quite 3, or a little more, times as long as 2; proboscis about 2-24 mm.
long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 272) differs from that of the
preceding species in having the apical processes of basal part directed
TExtT-FIG. 273.—(a) Parts of genital armature of 2 Geron maculifacies n. sp.
(6) Parts of genital armature of 9 Geron gariepinus Nn. sp.
apically and slender, in having the ramus on each side prominently
produced apically, a much shorter aedeagus, etc.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 3-4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-44 mm.
Locality Namaqualand: Little Bushmanland; Goodhouse (Mus.
Exp., Nov. 1936) (Types). S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand;
Aiais on the Great Fish River (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This species is very near maculifacies, from which it differs in having
distinctly darker veins in the wings, relatively broader interocular
space in 99, somewhat narrower and more tumid or inflated scutellum,
somewhat smaller, narrower and less bulky body, slightly shorter
wings and entirely different type of g-hypopygium (cf. text-figs. 271
and 272). The genital armature of the 9 (text-fig. 273, b) is also
entirely different. Both the structures of maculifacies and gariepinus
(text-fig. 273, a and b) are drawn for comparison. When the apical
part of the abdomen of a 9-maculifacies is boiled in a weak solution
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 899
of NaOH and dissected it is found that just under the produced lobes
of the eighth segment below on venter there is a modified sternite
or plate (P.), consisting of 2 parts the bases of which are united (see
figure a) and below it (all from a ventral view) there is a peculiar
structure (shown just above it in text-fig. 273, a, and also in side
view). The last tergite (not shown) covers it dorsally and its position
is also shown in dotted outline in the lower figure (a) just below the
plate. Connected with it on the sides are certain sclerites (shown in
dotted outlines and to right), which are also probably reduced terminal
abdominal segments. When the abdomen of a 2 of gariepinus is
similarly treated there is below the produced lobes of segment 8 on
venter and viewed from a ventral view a plate (P.) and attendant
structures (text-fig. 273, 6, ventral view and side view) which are
entirely different from that of maculifacies.
Zide Leo iG. jurcijer n. sp.
These two g-specimens and a 9, which I take to belong to the same
species, resemble transvaalensis very closely. Body black; edge of
metapleural plate scarcely or not yellowish and sides of abdominal
segment 1 and extreme sides of basal segments entirely black or only
very obscurely pallid; tibiae and bases of tarsi pale yellowish, only the
front tibiae more darkened, with the legs stouter than in transvaalensis;
pubescence distinctly longer, denser, more shaggy and more con-
spicuous than in transvaalensis in both sexes but especially in the 3
where it is very dense on occiput, head below, front part of thorax,
mesopleuron and venter, entirely frosty white in both sexes, with the
fine hair-like scaling on thorax, scutellum and abdomen above in 9
also very pale brassy yellowish and denser than in gg where the |
scaling is more silvery, with the denser and broader scaling on frons
in 9, head below in both sexes and on body below and legs silvery
whitish, with the pubescence on sides of face also composed of flattened
silvery scaling and hairs as in transvaalensis; wings also with a very
distinct subopaque milky whitish tint, even slightly more pronounced
than in transvaalensis, the veins pale yellowish brown, becoming paler
at base and more brownish towards apex and along costal vein, with
the second submarginal cell across its apex distinctly broader than
length of its lower vein, the end of the upper vein thus more distinctly
bent upwards, the discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of
discoidal cell, with the whitish squamae slightly larger and broader
than in transvaalensis; halteres with ivory whitish knobs. Head
900 Annals of the South African Museum.
with the eyes in gd in actual contact for a much shorter distance, only
about 3 times as long as tubercle (front view), the line of contact
scarcely or only slightly impressed, the upper facets on the whole
distinctly less coarse and the ocellar tubercle not so conspicuously
raised; interocular space on vertex in 2 also 2 times as broad as
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 a little more than 3 times as long as
joint 2, apparently slightly longer than in transvaalensis, but with
~~ =
Bach. ARS
TEXxT-FIG. 274.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and various
parts of it of g Geron furcifer n. sp.
distinctly longer and denser white hairs, and with the apical part of
joint 3 slightly more slender; proboscis about 34 mm. long. Hypo-
pyguum of 3 (text-fig. 274) very different from that of transvaalensis
(cf. text-fig. 269) and from other species of Geron, with 4 apically
directed hook-like spines in a row on the dorsal apical aspect of basal
part on each side, with the apical process on each side (corresponding
to beaked apical joints of other Bombyliids) slightly movable in an up-
and-down direction, with 2 processes near base on each side; ramus
on each side, and joining on to basal part, shaped as shown in figure and
produced towards apex into an inwardly directed spine; central guide
(shown from side, from below and from apical part of hypopygium,
figures to the right) produced basally on each side into a process, but
with the obliquely and apically directed wing or lobe not produced
into a prong as in other species of Geron; separate prong on each side
of aedeagus (shown separately on extreme left), twisted as shown in
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 901
figure; aedeagus somewhat dilated basally and produced as shown
in figure.
Types in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 54-6 mm. we
Locality— Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 11/11/17) (Types); Eng.
d. boom (? Pretoria) (28/12/06).
Recognised by its conspicuous white pubescence, short line of
contact of eyes in g and subopaque milky whitish wings.
1 3 G. dubiosus n. sp.
Body black; edge of metapleural plate and sides of abdominal
segments also entirely black; hind margins of sternites very obscurely
dubiosus n. sp.
and narrowly pallid; legs with the femora entirely black, the front
tibiae and tarsi also black, the middle and hind tibiae and extreme
bases of tarsi yellowish, the apices of hind tibiae, however, dark;
pubescence (where still indicated in denuded specimen) not very long
and dense, entirely white, with the denser scaling on body below
silvery whitish; wings with a subopaque milky whitish tint, more
evident towards base and in costal cell, the veins brownish, becoming
darker apically and along costal veins, with the second submarginal
cell only about as broad, or even slightly narrower, than long along
its lower vein, the discal cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal
VOL. XXXIV. 58
902 Annals of the South African Museum.
cell; halteres with ivory whitish knobs. Head with the eyes above
in actual contact for a distance about 3 times as long as tubercle (front
view), the line of contact not so deeply impressed as in species with a
longer contact; antennae with joint 1 a little longer than 3 times as
long as 2 and with shortish hairs on it; proboscis about 3 mm. long.
Hypopygium (text-fig. 275) nearest to that of furcifer (cf. text-fig. 274)
in that the central guide to aedeagus is not produced apically into a
prong; prong or hook on each side separate and shown obliquely from
behind in the middle figure and its position under ramus in dotted line
in right figure; basal part with only 1 hook-like spine on each side
dorsally towards apex; ramus, on each side, produced apically some-
what as in nomadicus (cf. text-fig. 280), the side on each side of basal
part also produced together with it; central guide as in furcifer, not
produced apically into a long prong but merely ending in a slightly
inwardly directed hook.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality —Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Thorne, Mar. 1931).
This somewhat denuded ¢ differs from furcifer in having much
shorter and less dense pubescence, shorter hairs on antennal joint 1,
darker front tibiae and narrower second submarginal cell across
apex, etc.
3 33 G. australis n. sp.
Body, including edge of metapleural plate and femora, entirely black;
front tibiae very dark blackish brown, almost black, the middle and
hind ones and basal parts of middle and hind tarsi yellowish; pubes-
cence entirely white, not very long but comparatively dense, especially
on occiput, head below, front part of thorax, mesopleuron and venter,
that on sides of face composed mainly of flattened silvery scale-like
hairs, but also with intermixed long white hairs, with the fine hair-like
scaling on abdomen above with a very faint brassy or sericeous
yellowish tint, the denser and broader scales on body below and
femora silvery whitish; wings distinctly subopaquely milky whitish,
slightly more so towards base and in costal cell, the veins pale brownish
yellow to brownish, becoming slightly darker towards apex and paler
towards base, with the second submarginal cell subequal apically to
its length along lower vein, the upper vein almost straight at end,
with the discal cross vein distinctly or even much beyond middle of
discoidal cell, the apical cross vein of the latter cell, however, only
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 903
slightly S-curved, the squamae whitish and white-fringed; halteres
with ivory whitish or yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes above in
actual contact for a distance of only about 23 times as long as ocellar
tubercle, the line of contact not or scarcely impressed; antennae with
joint 1 scarcely 3, or even distinctly less than 3, times as long as joint
2; proboscis comparatively slender, about 3mm. long. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 276) with a pair of slightly downwardly directed apical
processes on basal part and another pair of shorter apical processes
=f }\
= D
fi 7 he
SE Che
W4, ae “SN
Muy UL fjn -.
bast i =.028
4 Lhe [le ye,
' 0h’ )
Mf, ie gen
Text-F1c. 276.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of ¢ Geron
australis Nn. sp.
more to the inside below the stouter ones; central guide with the prong,
on each side, arising pitchfork-like directly from body of guide, the
basally projecting lobe, on each side of central guide, much reduced,
not prominent and lobe-like as in many other species.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality.—S. Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, Dec. 1921) (Type).
S.E. Karoo: Cradock (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
Distinguished from related species by the comparatively short line
of contact of the eyes in $¢ and the shortish first antennal joints.
1 g G. dissors n. sp.
This male is externally practically indistinguishable from the ¢ of
australis, differing only in having the tibiae not pale yellowish or pale
yellowish brown but more brownish, the front ones almost black and
904 Annals of the South African Museum.
the others also very dark apically, in having the veins in wings dis-
tinctly darker, more blackish brown, becoming paler and more
yellowish at base and with the base of vein separating submarginal
cells less rapidly bent down at right angles to third longitudinal vein.
The hypopygium, however, differs from that of australis (cf. text-fig.
276) in having the apical lobes of basal part more directed downwards
and without any secondary, obvious or distinct processes or lobes at
bases of apical ones on each side; the apically directed curved stylet-
like process on each side from central guide and dorsal to aedeagus as
in australis but slightly longer and projecting slightly more apically.
In other respects the structures are the same for both species.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 44 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Length of proboscis: about 24 mm.
Locality.—Central Karoo: Middleburg (Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
2 99 G. nweus n. sp.
Body black; edge of metapleural plate, side of abdominal segment 1
and sides and to a certain extent hind margins laterally of segments
2-5, the hind margins of ventral segments, the lobes below on segment
8 and the genital lobes yellowish; legs with the femora entirely
black, the middle and hind tibiae yellowish, the front tibiae obscurely
yellowish above and the tarsi on the whole dark, the basal parts
also darker than the tibiae and more brownish yellowish; pubes-
cence comparatively dense for 99, entirely frosty white, that on
occiput, head below, front part and sides of thorax, mesopleuron,
first abdominal segment, coxae and venter being especially dense,
that on antennal joint 1 dense and conspicuous, that on frons and
that intermixed with silvery scales on sides of face also conspicuously
developed, with the fine hair-like scaling on body above very distinct
on front part and sides of thorax, base of thorax, on scutellum and
transversely across abdomen above, silvery whitish, those on thorax
with a slight, but faint, straw-coloured yellowish sheen, with the
broader and denser scaling on body below, frons, behind eyes and
on femora silvery whitish, those on frons and sides of face specially
conspicuous; wings with a distinct, subopaque milky white tint,
becoming more evident towards base, the veins yellowish brown to
brownish, becoming much darker towards apex and paler basally,
with the second submarginal cell considerably broader apically than
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 905
long along lower vein, with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond
middle of discoidal cell, squamae opaquely whitish and white-
fringed; halteres with ivory whitish or yellowish knebs. Head with
the interocular space on vertex quite 24 times as broad as tubercle;
frons itself comparatively broad, with the area in front of tubercle
convex, medially longitudinally depressed to the transverse de-
pression; antennae with joint 1 comparatively stoutish, about, or a
little more than, 3 times as long as 2; proboscis rather stout, about
34-32 mm. long. The body is rather bulky.
Type in the Imperial Institute and paratype in the Rhodesian
Museum.
Length of body: about 6-63 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Matopo Hills (Ogilvie, 10/1931) (Type);
Sawmills (12/12/26).
Distinguished from other known 92, with entirely black femora,
by the dense, frosty white pubescence, longer and denser hairs on
antennal joint 1, stouter antennal joint 1, much red on sides of
abdomen, slightly stouter legs, darker tarsi and larger size.
13 5 92 G. parvus n. sp.
(Syn. =hybridus Bezz. nec Meig., p. 167, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921.)
Body black, even entire abdomen black in 3; edge of metapleural
plate, sides of tergite 1 and extreme sides of some of the basal
segments in 99 slightly reddish or obscurely reddish; legs slender,
entirely very dark or reddish brown in 3 and some 99, even the tibiae
and tarsi being very dark, with the tibiae paler and even yellowish
in some $9 and even with the hind femora tending to be yellowish in
one 2; face with a small but distinct pallid or yellowish macula
apically, more evident in 99; pubescence comparatively sparse in
both sexes, entirely whitish above and below, with the scaling on
body above whitish in 3, straw-coloured yellowish to very pale
brassy yellowish in $9, silvery whitish on body below and legs in
both sexes; wings greyish hyaline, iridescent, with a very faint and
scarcely perceptible yellowish or greyish yellow tint in certain lights,
with the veins yellowish to pale yellowish brown becoming slightly
darker apically, with the discal cross vein at about or tending to be
at middle of discoidal cell and apical cross vein of discoidal cell very
slightly S-curved, almost straight, with the squamae subopaquely
906 Annals of the South African Museum.
whitish and fringed with whitish hair; halteres with almost white
knobs. Head with eyes in ¢ in actual contact for a distance about
3 times as long as ocellar tubercle, the line of contact scarcely
impressed and the tubercle not very prominently pimple-like; inter-
ocular space in 99 only just or even a little narrower than 2 times as
broad as tubercle, the inner margins of eyes rather rapidly converging
towards tubercle; frons in 9? thus rather narrowish basally; antennae
with joint 1 rather short, only about 24 or scarcely 3 times as long
as 2; proboscis about 2mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 277)
Trext-Fic. 277.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of 3 Geron
parvus N. sp.
peculiar in having 4 incisor-like, flattened processes in a row apically
on basal part; aedeagus long and curved; central guide with the
prong on each side long, slender and curved, the prongs arising some
distance away from the U-shaped body of central guide (see figure
to left); basal strut narrow and bat-shaped.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 33 mm.
Length of wing: about 35 mm.
Locality.—South West Africa: Ovamboland; Mafa (Barnard, Feb.
1921) (Holotype); Damaraland; Otjituo (Tucker, Jan. 1920) (Allo-
type); Kaokoveld; Hoarusib Otshu (Mus. Exp., Mar. 1926). Natal:
Durban (Muir, 1905) (in Imp. Institute).
Recognised by its smallish size, shortish first antennal joints,
yellowish macula on face, and very slightly cinereous yellowish wings
in which the discal cross vein is at about the middle of discoidal cell,
and by the peculiar type of hypopygium. From maculifacies it
-A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 907
differs in being smaller, more greyish yellowish wings in which the
discal cross vein is at about middle of the discoidal cell, and in having
a different type of hypopygium.
1 2 G. delicatus n. sp.
Body black; lobes on segment 8 below and genital lobe yellowish;
legs with the femora very dark blackish brown, almost black, the
tibiae and basal parts of tarsi brownish yellow; pubescence sparse,
entirely whitish and with silky or silvery gleams, the fine hair-like
scaling on body above with a very pale brassy yellowish tinge, sparse,
with the denser and broader scaling below, behind eyes, on frons and
sides of face (intermixed on face with some hairs) and on legs silvery
white; wings greyish hyaline, not tinted milky whitish, iridescent,
with the veins brownish yellow, the discal cross vein at about middle
of discoidal cell and apical cross vein of this cell almost straight, with
the second submarginal cell distinctly longer along its lower vein
than broad across apex, the squamae opaquely whitish; halteres with
ivory yellowish knobs. Head almost spherical, with the interocular
space on vertex about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons compara-
tively broad and with numerous hairs on each side; antennae with
joint 1 short, about 24 times as long as 2; proboscis comparatively
stout and long for so small an insect, about 2 mm. long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 3 mm.
Length of wing: about 3 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 13/12/14).
Also one of the small and delicate species, distinguished from the
preceding species by the paler tibiae, absence of a pale spot on face
and also by the relatively broader frons and longer and stouter
proboscis.
2565 12 G. peringueyi n. sp.
(Syn.=hybridus Bezz. nec Meig., p. 99, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
VO a Xavaliey LO Zit.)
Body black; extreme sides of abdominal segments 2-5, hind mar-
gins of ventral segments and edge of metapleural plate (obscurely)
yellowish or pallid; legs with at least the middle and hind femora,
the tibiae and basal parts of tarsi yellowish or pale brownish yellow,
the femora in 9-allotype slightly more brownish towards base and
front femora in both sexes predominantly dark, the apical part being
908 Annals of the South African Museum.
yellowish, with the undersurfaces of front tibiae and apices of the
others also darkish; pubescence entirely frosty whitish, slightly
longer and much denser in gg and very dense on occiput, front and
sides of thorax, mesopleuron, venter and coxae, with the fine hair-like
scaling on body above pale brassy to golden yellowish, also distinct
on thorax of ¢g, but much denser on abdomen above in both sexes,
with the broader and flattened scaling on body below silvery whitish,
very dense behind eyes and on sides of face where they are tuft-like
TExtT-FIG. 278.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of g Geron
peringueyt N. Sp.
and intermixed with some longish hairs, dense on coxae and on
abdomen below more or less concentrated as bands across hind
margins, also very dense on legs; wings with a distinct subopaque
milky white tint, becoming more evident towards base and in costal
cell, the veins yellowish to yellowish brown, becoming darker towards
apex, with the second submarginal cell distinctly broader across apex
than long along its lower vein, the upper vein also distinctly bent
upwards, with the discal cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal
cell, with the squamae opaquely whitish and white-fringed; halteres
with very pale yellowish to ivory whitish knobs. Head with the eyes
in $3 in actual contact above for a distance a little more than 3 times
as long as tubercle, the line of contact not or scarcely impressed;
interocular space on vertex in 9 about 2 times as broad as tubercle;
frons in 2 also slightly centrally depressed, the depression merging
into the anterior transverse depression; antennae with joint 1 com-
paratively short, a little less than 3 times as long as joint 2; proboscis
about 3-34 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 278) with the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 909
basal part produced apically into a pair of slightly divergent dentate
processes at the bases of which there are 2 inwardly curved hook-like
processes, one on each side and also a lobe-like prominence internal
to these on each side; aedeagus straight and shortish; central guide
with a comparatively long basally directed process on each side and
a flattened forwardly directed prong. |
Holotype in the Imperial Institute, allotype in the British Museum
and paratype in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality—S. Karoo: Ceres (Mackie, 2/1932) (Holotype). S.W.
Cape Province: Cape Town; Cape Point (Simmonds, 1930) (Allotype).
Namaqualand: O’okiep (Peringuey) (labelled as hybridus by Bezzi).
This species, with its reddish femora, is easily recognised by the
comparatively short first antennal joints. There is some doubt
whether the 9 actually belongs to this species, but the short first
antennal joints agree with those of the J-specimens.
1312 G. lactipennis n. sp.
(Syn.=hybridus Bezz. nec Meig., p. 99, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921.)
Body black; edge oi metapleural plate, sides of first abdominal
segment, sides below and even hind margins laterally of segments 2—7
in 9, and sides of segments 2-6 in ¢ pallid or yellowish; legs with
the entire middle and hind femora in 3, the hind femora and apical
halves of middle ones in 9 and the tibiae and basal parts of all the tarsi
in both sexes pale yellowish, with the apical halves of front tibiae in
$ also yellowish, with the extreme apices of hind tibiae and the apices
and undersurfaces of front tibiae darkish; pubescence entirely silvery
whitish, longer and denser in 4, especially on front part of body, with
the fine hair-like scaling above more silvery whitish in 3, very pale
golden or brassy on base of thorax and on scutellum in 9, the broader
and denser scaling on body below and on legs silvery whitish, arranged
more as bands across hind margins on sides of abdomen and on venter;
wings more or less conspicuously tinted subopaquely milky whitish,
more so than in other species of Geron, the veins pale yellowish,
becoming slightly darker towards apex, with the second submarginal
cell considerably broader apically than long along its lower vein, the
discal cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell, the squamae
opaquely whitish, yellowish-margined and fringed with whitish hairs;
910 Annals of the South African Museum.
halteres with pale yellowish knobs. Head with the eyes in ¢ above in
actual contact for a distance of only about 24 times as long as tubercle,
the line of contact scarcely impressed; interocular space in 9 on vertex
about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 3 depressed basally,
broadly transversely depressed in 2; antennae with joint | about 3,
or even very slightly more, times as long as joint 2; proboscis rather
long, about 4 mm. long. Hypopygiuwm of 3 very much like that of
peringueyt (cf. text-fig. 278), the apical processes, however, distinctly
longer, more slender and more laterally compressed, much flatter,
the hook-like processes at the bases of the others also longer, their
apical parts more curved downwards and sharp; basal part itself
slightly more slender; central guide with the apically directed prongs
distinctly longer.
Holotype in the South African Museum, allotype in the Transvaal
Museum. :
Length of body: about 6-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-64 mm.
Locality—S. Rhodesia: Salisbury (Tucker, Mar. 1917) (Holotype
labelled as hybridus); Bulawayo (Stevenson, 8/12/24) (Allotype).
This species is recognised by its more conspicuous milky white
wings, long first antennal joints and extensive red on sides of abdomen.
The 9-specimen is somewhat damaged, but I believe it to belong to this
species. The species is very close to peringueyt.
4 33 2 92 G. psammobates n. sp.
(Syn. =hybridus Bezz. nec Meig., p. 114 The Bombylidae of
the Ethiopian Region, 1924 in part.)
Body black; narrow edge of metapleural plate (obscurely) and
narrow margins of sides of abdominal segments 2—4 reddish or pallid;
legs with the extreme apices of front femora, apical halves or apical part
of middle femora and apical half or part of, or even entire hind femora
yellowish to yellowish brown, with the upper surfaces of front tibiae,
the entire middle and hind tibiae and basal parts of tarsi yellowish to
pale brownish, with the extreme apices of hind tibiae slightly darkened
(1 paratype has the femora more extensively darkened); pubes-
cence fairly dense, entirely white, having a soft woolly appearance,
with the fine scaling on abdomen above very pale brassy yellowish
to pale sericeous, the broader and denser scaling on body below and
on legs silvery whitish, that on abdomen on sides concentrated in
bands across the hind margins, that on sides of face dense, tuft-like
“A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 911
and intermixed with longish hairs; wings with a distinct subopaque
milky whitish tint, more evident towards base, the veins yellowish to
yellowish brown, becoming darker towards apex and along costal
part, with the upper vein of second submarginal cei! distinctly bent
upwards at its end and the cell about as broad apically as long along
lower vein, with the squamae opaquely whitish and fringed with
longish white hairs towards its base, with the discal cross vein much
beyond middle of discoidal cell; halteres with ivory whitish knobs.
Se Se ee
Text-ric. 279.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of $ Geron
psammobates n. sp.
Head with the eyes above in gd in actual contact about 4, or even
slightly more, times as long as tubercle, the line of contact impressed
and sometimes very deeply so anteriorly where frons is also depressed ;
ocellar tubercle pimple-like, prominently raised; antennae with joint
1 about 3 times as long as 2, with 3 rather rapidly narrowed beyond
middle, the apical part thus markedly slender and sharply pointed;
proboscis about 3 mm. long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 279) with the
apical processes of basal part arranged as shown in figures; apically
directed prong on each side of central guide spear-blade shaped and
broadened apically; guide to prongs and aedeagus broadened apically
and narrow basally (to right of figures and viewed from directly
apically).
Type of g in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 44-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality.—Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 28/12/12) (Type). 5S.
Rhodesia: Bulawayo (6/2/27) (Rhodesian Museum). Brit. E.
Africa (Stordy) (in British Museum, placed as hybridus).
912 Annals of the South African Museum.
Two somewhat damaged 9-specimens from Southern Rhodesia:
Beit Bridge (Mackie, 4/1932) and Matopo Hills (Ogilvie, 4/1932) in the
collection of the Imperial Institute appear to belong to this species
where they may be provisionally placed. |
They are characterised by having the edge of metapleural plate,
sides of first abdominal segment, sides of segments 2-6 below, the
hind margins of ventral segments and the ventral lobes broadly
yellowish; legs with the apical parts of front femora, entire middle
and hind femora, upper surfaces of the front tibiae, the other tibiae
and the basa] parts of the tarsi yellowish; pubescence also white, the
fine scaling on body above yellowish on occiput, whitish on thorax
in front and brassy or pale golden at base of thorax, on scutellum and
on abdomen above, the rest of the scaling as in g¢ silvery whitish;
wings as in gg. Head with the interocular space on vertex about 2
times as broad as tubercle, with antennal joints 1 and 2 as in gg
(3 missing), with the proboscis rather long and slender, about 4 mm.
long.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
This species seems to be slightly variable in size, in the red on
femora and the intensity of the milky white tint on wings. I| have no
doubt that the 4 g-specimens belong to the same species, for the
hypopygium is identical in all the specimens. The 3-paratype from
British East Africa (Stordy) was forwarded to me by the British
Museum as hybridus Meig and I believe is one of the three $3 referred
to by Bezzi on p. 114 (loc. cit.) as coming from Southern Abyssinia.
This $ differs from the type only in having the femora more exten-
sively darkened.
7 33 5 92 G. nomadicus n. sp.
Body black; extreme sides of abdominal segments below very
narrowly and narrow hind margins of venter in g¢ obscurely pallid or
yellowish; edge of metapleural plate, sides of first abdominal segment,
extreme sides of the other segments and hind margins of the venter in
2@ slightly more broadly reddish; legs with the apical halves or apical
parts or even upper surfaces of middle and hind femora in gg and
almost the entire middle and hind ones in 99, the tibiae and basal
parts of tarsi in both sexes yellowish, pale yellowish brown or even
pale ochreous brownish, with the under surfaces and apices of the
front tibiae and apices of hind tibiae more or less darkened, with the
greater part of tarsi in gg and 99 black; pubescence on the whole
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 913
sparse, denser and slightly longer in 34, dull whitish, but with a faint
straw-coloured sheen on occiput, disc of thorax and even on scutellum,
the hairs on ocellar tubercle being distinctly darker and more evidently
yellowish or even brownish in certain lights, with the fine scaling on
abdomen above in 3¢ pale brassy yellowish, that on thorax, scutellum
and abdomen above in 99 more golden yellow, that on occiput in 99
especially yellowish golden, the broader and denser scaling’ on body
below dense in patches on front part of pleurae, dense on coxae and
TExtT-FIG. 280.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of $ Geron
nomadicus Nn. Sp. -
very dense on venter and legs, entirely silvery white, the pubes-
cence on sides of face composed mainly of dense, flattened, silvery
white scales; wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent, not distinctly tinted
subopaquely whitish, only very slightly so towards base, the veins
yellowish to pale yellowish brown, becoming slightly darker towards
apex and along costal and first longitudinal veins, with the discal cross
vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the second
submarginal cell usually slightly broader apically than long along its
lower vein, with the squamae opaquely milky whitish and white-
fringed; halteres with ivory whitish knobs. Head with the eyes in
3S in actual contact above for a distance at least 44 times as long as
tubercle, the line of contact deeply impressed; interocular space in
2° on vertex about 2, or even slightly less, times as broad as tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 about 3, or even a little more, times as long as 2;
proboscis slender, about 23-3 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig.
280) with the basal part produced apically into blunt, slightly diverg-
914 Annals of the South African Museum.
ing lobes at the bases of which there is on each side another boss-like
prominence; ramus on each side, joining side of basal part to aedeagal
apparatus, produced apically into a slightly inwardly directed blade-
like or flattened process; aedeagus slightly curved apically; central
guide with the basal process on each side slightly horizontal and the
apical prong slender.
‘Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-53 mm.
Locality.—S. W. Africa: Kaokoveld; Warmbad (Mus. Exp., Feb.
1925) (Types); Zesfontein (Mus. Exp., Feb. 1925). N. Namaqualand:
Goodhouse (Mus. Exp., 1936).
It is possible that the specimens from South West Africa and referred
to gibbosus Meig. by Loew (p. 196, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr. i, 1860), may
belong to this species. The species appears to be variable and several
distinct forms are recognisable.
5 33 4 99 G. nomadicus var. breyeri n.
The hypopygium of the 3 of these specimens is identical with that
of nomadicus s. str. and as there appear to be no distinct, external and
structural differences, these specimens may be taken to represent a
more or less distinct variety of namadicus. Externally this variety
differs from the typical form in having the pubescence on body above,
especially on occiput and front part of thorax, in the §g more especially,
more distinctly and more deeply straw-coloured yellowish and even
yellowish, the hairs on ocellar tubercle even more distinctly dark or
brownish, the fine scaling on occiput and rest of body above deeper
and more conspicuously golden, especially in 29, where it is also much
denser on the abdomen, with this golden scaling thus enhancing the
yellow colour of the erect hairs; second submarginal cell even slightly
broader apically and its upper vein distinctly more bent upwards
at end.
Holotype in the Transvaal Museum, allotype in the South African
Museum.
Locality.—Transvaal: N.H. Zoutpansberg Distr. (Breyer, 7 and
8/16) (Types). S.W. Africa: Grt. Karas Mts. (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
S. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 1/12/23). Portuguese EH. Africa:
Porto Amelia (Ogilvie, 6/1932) (In. Imp. Institute). Zululand:
Mfongosi (Jones, Mar.—Apr., 1935).
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 915
1 3 G. nomadicus var.
The tendency of nomadicus to form slight varieties is still further
supported by a 3-specimen, from Zesfontein in South West Africa,
which shows the following differences:—Legs with the femora black
and the tibiae and bases of tarsi yellowish, the front tibiae tending
to be slightly darkened below and at apex and the front tarsi
almost entirely black; wings with the discal cross vein scarcely
beyond middle of discoidal cell. Head with the first antennal
joints comparatively short, only very little more than 2 times as
long as joint 2, these joints also tending to be dark brownish, with
the proboscis about 33 mm. long.
1g 12 G. nomadicus var.
This variety of nomadicus differs from the former only in having
slightly darker veins on the wings and a more distinct milky whitish
tint especially towards the base, in having the discal cross vein, as
in nomadicus s. str., distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell.
Locality—Karoo: Murraysburg Distr. (Thorne, Mar. 1931) and
Aberdeen (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
1 2 G. latifrons un. sp.
Body black; genae and upper margin of buccal cavity ivory yellow-
ish; hind edge of metapleural plate, sides of tergite 1 and sides of all
the other tergites below, where they overlap venter, and to a certain
extent the hind margins of these tergites on extreme sides of abdomen
pale yellowish red; legs with the front femora and more or less
basal part of middle femora black, with the apical part of middle
femora, the hind femora, the upper surfaces of front tibiae and the
entire middle and hind tibiae as well as bases of tarsi pale reddish
yellow; pubescence rather dense on occiput, front part of thorax,
mesopleuron, venter and coxae, entirely sericeous whitish above
and below, the dense tuft of hairs on sides of face silvery whitish,
with the scaling on frons, sides of head behind eyes, on body above
and more densely on venter and that on legs gleaming silvery whitish;
wings vitreous hyaline, with a very feeble milky whitish tint in
certain lights, but with the base, alula, and costal cell slightly more
distinctly milky whitish, with the veins very dark brown, even
blackish brown towards apex, with the apex of costal cell and the
916 Annals of the South African Museum.
base of wings yellowish, with the discal cross vein just beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the second submarginal cell broad apically
and broader than long along lower vein, with the squamae opaquely
whitish and fringed with white; halteres yellowish, with whitish
knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex comparatively
broad, nearly 3 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons thus very
broad, the inner margins of eyes only gradually diverging anteriorly,
the frons depressed anteriorly; face above buccal cavity subequal in
length to combined antennal joints 1 and 2; antennae with joint 1
nearly 4 times as long as 2; proboscis about 34 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 55 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Grt. Karas Mts. (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1936).
This species differs from the 99 of all the other known South African
species by its relatively broad interocular space. From the @ of
peringueyt nu. sp., which it very much resembles, it differs in having a
broader interocular space and much darker wing-venation.
1 2 G. bechuanus Hesse.
(P. 170, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. xvii, 1936.)
Black; edge of metapleural plate, sides of abdominal segment 1
and sides and hind margins below of the other segments and the
ventral lobes on segment 8 rather conspicuously yellowish; legs
comparatively stout for a Geron, with the middle and hind femora
entirely ochreous yellowish, the upper surfaces of front tibiae, the en-
tire middle and hind tibiae and bases of tarsi also ochreous yellowish;
pubescence short, but comparatively dense for a 9, very dense on
abdomen, also dense on front part of pleurae and on coxae, that on
body above with a distinct sericeous yellow sheen, even distinctly
subgolden on occiput, base of thorax and base of abdomen above,
that on body below more silvery whitish, with the finer, hair-like
scaling above denser than in other species and conspicuously dense
on base of thorax and especially abdomen, very deep golden and on
abdomen more concentrated across hind margins as bands, the
scaling on frons and sides of face dense and brilliantly silvery white,
that on face almost entirely composed of scales, the scaling on body
below broader, silvery whitish and dense on front part of pleurae,
on coxae and legs and very dense on venter; wings greyish
hyaline, with a distinct, subopaque milky whitish tint in costal cell
A Revision of the Bombylizdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 917
and basal part, the veins dark brownish in apical half, becoming more
yellowish towards base, the discal cross vein much beyond middle of
discoidal cell, with the second submarginal cell broader apically than
long and with its upper vein much bent upwards at end, the squamae
opaquely whitish and white-fringed; halteres with very pale yellowish
knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex about 2 times as
broad as tubercle; antennae with joint 1 rather stoutish, about
3 times as long as 2; proboscis about 4 mm. long. Body on the
whole rather bulky for a Geron.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 7 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality. — Bechuanaland: Metsimaklaba (V.-L. Kal. Exp.,
T-12/3/1930).
This 9 is characterised by the comparatively dense pubescence,
remarkably dense scaling on abdomen, markedly stoutish legs and
the compact, somewhat bulky, body. It is very close to the 9 of
nomadicus var. breyeri, from which it is distinguished by the characters
given in the key.
Species unknown to me.*
G. capensis Walk.
(P. 195, Insect. Saund. Dipt. iii, 1852; Loew, pp. 196 and 197,
Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860 (as synomym of gibbosus Meig.);
Bezzi, p. 114, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
There is no doubt that capensis Walk. belongs to Geron and to
the category with yellowish legs and ivory whitish genae, but as
Walker’s description is so brief and vague it is impossible to establish
its identity without examining the actual specimen. This difficulty
is even greater now that I have shown that both Loew and Bezzi
confused several South African species with the Palaearctic gibbosus
Oliv. (hybridus Meig.). In all probability I have myself redescribed
Walker’s species as a separate species. Species, such as either
turneri, australis, dubiosus or peringueyt, which are found more to
the south of the subcontinent, may eventually prove to be synonymous
with capensis.
* For G. semifuscus Séguy (p. 15, Mem. Mus. Zool. Univ. Coimbra (1), No. 67,
1933), described from Natal, see Appendix to Part II.
VOL. XX XIV- 59
918 Annals of the South African Museum.
G. dicroma Big. nec Bezz.
(P. 374, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., vol. lx, 1892.)
This species was described as questionably from the Cape Province
by Bigot. From Bigot’s description it is difficult to state whether
this species is to be placed in the genus Geron s. str. as defined in
this paper. The specimen from Aus, which Bezzi referred to this
species (Bezzi, p. 101, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921), obviously
does not belong to it and does not agree with Bigot’s description
(see under Amictogeron n. gen. in this paper).
Amictogeron n. gen.
This new genus is erected to contain the three South African
species, leptocerus Bezz., barbatus Bezz. and bezziw (un. n. for dichroma
Bezz. nec Bigot), described by Bezzi and referred by him to the
genus Geron, as well as several other new species described in this
paper. These species show certain characters which are more or
less common to all of them and not present in the genus Geron s. str.
The characters of this new genus are:—
Body with the thorax convex and humped as in Geron; the pleurae
also more or less laterally compressed. Head more or less globular;
eyes in dS in contact above for a long distance, the line of contact
usually impressed, with the upper facets coarser and imperceptibly
merging into finer lower ones, with the inner margins, opposite
bases of antennae in 93, distinctly and often more conspicuously
sinuate than in Geron, with the interocular space in 9° only a little
broader than ocellar tubercle on vertex, narrower than in Geron
and not, or scarcely, 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons small and
triangular in $g, broader, longer, and gradually becoming wider
towards apex in 99, the middle part in 99 usually shghtly longitudin-
ally raised and with a duplicated row of short, blackish bristly hairs
on each side (not along eye-margins), distinctly somewhat broadly
transversely depressed anteriorly; face always bare, without any
hairs or silvery scales as in Geron, usually dull, somewhat medially
raised, the sides being distinctly depressed and also without any
silvery scaling or whitish hairs on sides of antennal insertions; genae
narrow, never gleaming ivory whitish or yellowish as in some species
of Geron, never bare in the middle, but always provided with com-
paratively long, forwardly projecting, often conspicuously long hairs,
especially in 3g, only the extreme upper part of genae being bare
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 919
and also without a distinct furrow between them and the buccal
cavity; antennae with the first joints elongate, distinctly longer
than in Geron, never shorter than about 3 times as long as the second
joints, more often much more than 3 times as long as second joints,
sometimes slightly more separated at their bases than in Geron
but not to the same extent as in Pseudoamictus, often very elongate
in some $3, often very much thickened or dilated and knob-like at
their bases, especially in gg, with very long and bushy or shaggy
pubescence in the majority of the species and in all the forms always
with entirely or much black or very dark hair, with the third antennal
joints more slender than in Geron, less rapidly tapering to a point,
usually more rod-like and slender throughout, ending in a scarcely
separately visible terminal joint, which again ends in a minute and
insignificant style; palps very slender, slightly longer than in Geron,
and also not visibly jomted; proboscis asin Geron. Wings sometimes
infuscated, with the second submarginal cell always considerably
longer than in Geron, always much more than 2 times as long along
lower vein than broad apically, thus very elongate and with the upper
and lower veins sometimes nearly parallel, with the alula always less
developed and narrower than in Geron, not distinctly produced and
lobate, with the apical cross vein of the discoidal cell usually more
distinctly S-curved than in Geron and with the discal cross vein at
about, or beyond, the middle of discoidal cell; halteres only rarely
without extensive dark or blackish brown on knobs above. Abdomen
with the extreme sides below not so lobe-like and overlapping the
sternites as in many species of Geron, the sides of segment 8 below in
22 also produced lobe-like as in Geron. Legs as in Geron, but with
the spicules on tibiae usually more poorly developed, but also with
a stouter and longer spur apically below on middle tibiae; claws well
developed, curved downwards apically and the pulvilli also well
developed. Pubescence on body with the erect hairs on the whole
less dense and shorter, even in 34, than in Geron, but with the hairs
on the first antennal joints and on genae usually denser, longer, more
bushy, and often very conspicuous, those on body above in 99 very
much shorter and sparser than in g¢ and also very much shorter and
less dense than in Geron, those on pleurae sparser in 92, with the
erect pubescence on antennae, frons, upper parts of occiput, thorax
above and on scutellum never entirely pale or whitish as in Geron,
but with at least some of the hairs on these, or on some of these,
sites dark or black, without any flattened silvery white scaling on
head behind the eyes, on genae or frons as in Geron, but with fine,
920 Annals of the South African Museum.
depressed, hair-like scaling on thorax above, scutellum, on abdomen
above and below, very sparsely on pleurae and more densely on legs.
Hypopygium of 33g (text-figs. 281-295) agreeing with that of Geron
in having the basal part single and not divided into two symmetrical
parts by a dorsal suture or depression. As in the case of Geron the
basal part is not uniformly chitinous, but a great part of the dorsum
is membranous, marked off on each side by a more chitinous strip or
area (cf. text-fig. 291) in the form of a narrow chitinous strap on each
side, passing into the more rigid chitinous sides. The bristly hairs
or bristles, if present, are situated dorsally or dorso-laterally on these
chitinous parts. The basal part passes apically into a flattened,
lobe-like or lappet-like apical process on each side, corresponding to
the true beaked apical joints of Bombylunae. As in Geron these
lobes or processes appear to be more or less immovable or at least
not hinge-like and movable as in the Bombyliines. They are usually
flattened, lappet-like and more or less triangular and not boss-like
or finger-like as in Geron. Dorsally each apical process (see text-
figs. 289, 293, 294, etc.) usually has an adpressed spine (Sp.) and at
their bases ventrally there is either a single spine, a recurved process
or spine or a flattened spine (V.Pr.) on each side or even a projecting
spined process. The medial aedeagal complex (shown in dotted
outlines) is lodged in the basal part and attached on each side towards
the apical part of basal part by a ramus (R.). The sides of the basal
part joining on to the ramus are usually prolonged flap-like or lobe-
like. This prolongation is intimately connected with the ramus on
each side. This connection, of ramus and side, assumes various forms
and is of taxonomic value in the separation of the species. The
ramus on each side is usually produced apically into a strap-like,
hook-like or spine-like process, into a strongly recurved spine or
even into more complex processes (see figures). The ramus on each
side abuts, or is joined, on to a medial or central guide-like structure
(C.G.), which is not so well defined as in Geron and which surrounds,
or into which passes, the middle part of the aedeagal complex.
Towards the base on each side it may be prolonged into a blunt or
flap-like process and towards the apex it may be prolonged into
either a single process dorsal to aedeagus or into a prong-like at-
tenuated blade or spine (Pr.) on each side. The middle part is very
much like that of Geron and is ladle-like, with the attendant structures,
such as lateral struts (L.Str.) and basal strut (Ba.Str.), directed
inwards. .
In this genus there is usually a marked sexual dimorphism, the
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 921
99 having more yellowish markings on the pleurae and abdomen,
paler or more yellowish femora and tibiae, no long and bushy hairs
on first antennal joints, no basal, markedly knob-like thickening
on first antennal joints, shorter and usually sparser pubescence on
body and denser scaling. The genus can only be confused with
the following genus Pseudoamictus, from which it differs in having
a distinctly more humped thorax, more globular head, distinctly
narrower part across buccal cavity, less widely separated first antennal
joints, narrower genae, distinctly narrower interocular space in 99,
and long, impressed line of contact of eyes in gd, etc. In certain
respects Amictogeron constitutes a bridging or transitional genus
between Geron and Pseudoamictus, but having more in common
with the latter. In fact Geron luctuosus Bezz., referred to Pseudo-
amictus in this paper, is actually so close to Amictogeron, even in the
genitalia, that it may be considered as a transitional species.
In view of the fact that barbatus (Bezz.) and leptocerus (Bezz.) are
described only from gg, and that the 9-barbatus, from Willowmore,
doubtfully belongs to the former, and that the other specimens,
labelled as barbatus in the South African Museum, do not agree with
Bezzi’s description, Amictogeron meromelanus n. sp. is designated as
the genotype.
The species of this genus, as in the case of Geron, are extremely
difficult to distinguish externally, and in some cases differences in the
structure of the hypopygium of the $¢ appear to be the only criteria
for their separation. The following key is thus not a very satisfactory
attempt to distinguish the species :—
Known 36.
1. (8) Antennae with joint 1 more slender, thinner, scarcely or not thickened
towards base, with very short, sparser, dark or blackish hairs, the hairs
very much shorter than the joint itself; beard below head much shorter,
less dense and not very conspicuous; pubescence on body much shorter;
body on the whole with more extensive pale yellowish or yellowish red
to brownish, the pleurae, sides of abdomen basally, the base of or entire
venter, the coxae and legs and sometimes antennal joint 1 yellowish,
pale yellowish red or reddish to a variable extent . : : eee
2. (3) Eyes contiguous above for a shorter distance, only a little more than
2 times as long as ocellar tubercle, the eye-margins themselves not in
actual contact; frontal triangle larger and longer; body on the whole
more extensively yellowish below, the greater part of abdomen being
yellowish and the legs almost entirely very pale yellowish; wings more
hyaline, not even faintly tinged cinereous or greyish, with the knobs of
922 Annals of the South African Museum,
halteres entirely yellowish; hypopygium (text-fig. 285) broad and
compact, with the apical part directed outwards, with the ramus on each
side produced into a long, conspicuous, slender, curved spine and with
the spine at base of apical lappets also long and slender
bezzui n. n. (dichromus (Bezz.) nec Bigot) (p. 936).
3. (2) Eyes in actual contact above for a longer distance, considerably more
than 2 times as long as tubercle, the eye-margins in actual contact
and the line of contact much impressed; frontal triangle smaller and
very much shorter; body below, though reddish, less extensively and
conspicuously so, the greater part of abdomen above and towards apex
being black, and the legs, on the whole, darker or not so extensively
pale yellowish; wings with a very faint greyish or yellowish cinereous
tinge and with the knobs of halteres sometimes darkened above; hypo-
pygium (text-figs. 286-288) differently shaped, with the apical lappets
directed backwards and with the ramus not produced into a long and
slender spine, etc. : ‘ : «ae
4. (7) Legs on the whole darker, ihe coxae and io vite more brownish;
venter basally also much darker; wings with the veins darker or more
reddish brown, the knobs of halteres dark or dark brownish above;
pubescence with more numerous intermixed darker hairs on occiput
and front part of thorax; eyes in contact above for a shorter distance,
not much: more than 4 times as long as tubercle; hypopygium (text-
figs. 286, 287) without a characteristic spined process on each side at
base of apical lappets and the ramus on each side produced into a curved
process, etc. : é Le Nae
5. (6) Pubescence on greater ate of aay ‘below aia on shone more gleaming
sericeous or silvery whitish, that on femora, especially hind ones, pre-
dominantly whitish and with the scaling on body also more silvery;
proboscis distinctly shorter, only about 2 mm. long; antennal joint |
slightly shorter, not quite 4 times as long as 2; wings with a more
distinct cinereous tinge, with the veins paler and with the discal cross
vein tending to be nearer middle of discoidal cell, with the knobs of
halteres entirely brown above; hypopygium (text-fig. 286) with an
apically produced process dorsal to aedeagus which ends in two asym-
metrical prongs, with the aedeagus not S-curved, etc.
leptocerus (Bezz.) (p. 937).
6. (5) Pubescence on greater part of body with a slightly more straw-coloured
yellowish tint, that on thorax above and on scutellum more distinctly
yellowish, that on hind femora towards apices darker, with the scaling
on thorax and abdomen above gleaming more brassy yellowish; proboscis
longer, about 3 mm. long; antennal joint | slightly longer, quite, or
even slightly more than, 4 times as long as 2; wings more greyish
hyaline, with the veins much darker, dark brownish, with the discal
cross vein distinctly much beyond middle of discoidal cell and with the
knobs of halteres only partly darkened above; hypopygium (text-fig. 287)
without any apically produced process dorsal to the aedeagus, with the
aedeagus tubular and much S-curved, etc. . disparilis n. sp. (p. 939).
7. (4) Legs on the whole very much paler, the coxae and femora like the tibiae
very pale yellowish; venter more extensively yellowish at base; wings
A Revision of the Bombylicdae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 923
with the veins much paler and more yellowish, the knobs of halteres
entirely very pale yellowish; pubescence with entirely or predominantly
pale hairs on occiput and thorax in front; eyes in contact above for a
longer distance, more than 4 times as long as tubercle; hypopygium
(text-fig. 288) with a characteristically spined process on each side at
base of apical lappets and the ramus on each side produced into a
flattened, strap-like process, etc. . ‘ . basutoénsis n. sp. (p. 941).
(Syn. =leptocerus (Bezz.) in part.)
»8. (1) Antennae with joint 1 stouter, thicker, distinctly and often conspicuously
thickened at base, with very dense, bushy or at least much longer black
hairs, the hairs longer than, or at least subequal to, joint; beard below
head very dense, bushy and very much longer and conspicuous; pubes-
cence, though sparse, distinctly very much longer and relatively denser;
body much darker, entirely or predominantly black above and below,
only the legs in some cases or even only the tibiae yellowish or at least
not very pale yellowish s : : : é oe
9. (18) Antennal joint | distinctly longer, elsnidate, iaally more, or much more,
12.
13.
14,
than 5 times as long as 2, usually less markedly or rapidly thickened
at base; wings with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell es more
oblique, more markedly S-curved : : 5 10s
. (17) Wings infuscated, distinctly dusky or ace cinereous brownish,
brownish or very dark smoky brownish; antennal joint 1 on the whole
less markedly, or less rapidly, thickened basally; eyes in contact for a
distinctly longer distance, much more than 3 times as long as tubercle;
frons anteriorly narrower, the space surrounding antennal insertions
narrower and smaller, the sinuosity on each side of inner eye-margins
less deep; oe with the femora entirely yellowish, brownish or entirely
dark ; sya.
. (14) Wings darker, very dank blackish roan or Teak ine Somes appearing
almost black in certain lights; antennal joint | distinctly shorter, slightly
more than 4, or about 5, times as long as 2, not or very slightly thickened
towards base, the black hairs on it distinctly shorter, slightly less dense
and less conspicuous; pubescence on body above shorter, slightly
sparser; hypopygium (text-fig. 289) . 5 : : Sle
(13) Legs entirely very dark blackish brown or black; itbesoibe on thorax
in front, pleurae and mesopleurae entirely very dark blackish brown or
black; wings apparently slightly darker . phaeopieris n. sp. (p. 942).
(12) Legs with the femora, tibiae and greater part of tarsi pale yellowish;
pubescence on thorax in front, propleural parts and mesopleurae with
a paler, more golden brownish or yellowish sheen in certain lights; wings
apparently slightly less dark . phaeopterrs n. sp. (var. of it) (p. 944).
(11) Wings slightly or distinctly less darkly tinged, more cinereous or smoky,
not appearing almost black in certain positions; antennal joint 1 dis-
tinctly longer and more than 5 times as long as 2, distinctly more knob-
- like and thickened at base, the black hairs on it longer, denser, and more
conspicuous; pubescence above distinctly longer and denser . FU
. (16) Wings distinctly darker and more brownish; antennal joint | distinctly
longer, at least 7 times as long as 2, with much longer and entirely black
hairs; pubescence on abdomen distinctly more golden yellowish;
924
Annals of the South African Museum.
proboscis longer, about 4 mm. long; hypopygium (text-fig. 290) with
a spined process on each side at bases of apical lappets, with the apical
part of rami produced into a strap-like lobe and with ‘an apically directed
blade-like spine on each side dorsal to aedeagus
marshalli n. sp. (p. 945).
16. (15) Wings less darkly tinged, more cinereous; antennal joint 1 shorter, only
18.
19.
20.
21.
about 6 times as long as 2, with the hairs on it shorter and appearing
more greyish; pubescence on abdomen duller, more greyish or pale
yellowish grey and with more intermixed dark ones towards apex;
proboscis less than 4 mm. long; hypopygium (text-fig. 291) with only
a single medial short spine at base of apical lappets and a large, flattened
one on each side, with the apical parts of rami produced into an outwardly
directed spine and without an apically produced prong or spine on each
side dorsally to aedeagus . lasiocornis n. sp. (p. 946).
. (10) Wings vitreous or glassy hyaline, Aes tinged at all; antennal joint 1
distinctly more rapidly and markedly thickened or knob-like at base;
eyes in contact for a shorter distance, scarcely more than 3 times as
long as tubercle; frons anteriorly distinctly broader, the space surround-
ing antennal insertions broader and the sinuosity on each side of antennae
on inner margin of eyes deeper; legs with the bases or basal halves of
femora blackened and the apical parts yellowish; hypopygium (text-
ies, AA) : ; dasycerus n. sp. (p. 948).
(9) Antennal joint 1 shorten at maanieeale, elongate, usually only about 5,
or less than 5, times as long as 2, more conspicuously, more markedly
and more rapidly thickened or dilated, knob-like at base; wings with
the apical cross vein of discoidal cell shorter, less obliquely situated
and on the whole less markedly S-curved . : ° 5 Beh
(24) Antennal joint 1 distinctly stouter, thicker or even incrassate, gradually
(23
)
becoming very much thicker basally, with distinctly denser, finer and
usually longer pubescence on it; pubescence on body as a whole much
denser and more shaggy; spicules on tibiae, sie hind ones, usually
more developed and more conspicuous . : : . 20:
Antennal joint 1 distinctly very much stouter, very bron or knob-like
at base, the pubescence on it finer and denser; pubescence on thorax
and scutellum above with more numerous dark or black hairs; wings
with the veins paler, pale brownish or yellowish brown . : eae
(22) Wings slightly more greyish hyaline, the veins distinctly darker and more
brownish, with the knobs of halteres more uniformly brownish; pubes-
cence on antennae, occiput and thorax above more predominantly dark,
with more black hairs on genae, pleurae, squamae, coxae and femora;
tibiae and bases of tarsi slightly darker; antennal joint | slightly longer,
a little longer than 5 times as long as 2; hypopygium (text-fig. 293)
with long hairs on basal part, with a single stout spine medially at base
of apical lappets, with the single dorsal process to aedeagus provided
with a slender spine on each side arising from base of the process itself
and with the apical process of ramus on each side flattened and broadened
apically . . . peringueyt n. sp. (p. 950).
22. (21) Wings distinctly more Haabosatiely whitish in certain lights, with the
veins paler and more yellowish; with the knobs of halteres paler and
—
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 925
more yellowish below; pubescence on antennae, occiput and especially
on thorax above with more intermixed whitish or pale hairs among
the more brownish ones, with the pubescence on genae, head below,
body below and on abdomen entirely or predominantly white; tibiae
and basal parts of tarsi distinctly paler yellowish; antennal joint 1
slightly shorter and only about 5 times as long as 2; hypopygium
(text-fig. 294) with fewer and much shorter hairs on basal part, without
a long and curved spine at bases of apical lappets, with the process
dorsal to aedeagus ending in a dorsally directed and slightly shorter
ventrally directed process and with the apical process of ramus merely
curved and hook-like . , , ? barbatus (Bezz.) (p. 952).
23. (20) Antennal joint 1 distinctly less saute not so incrassate, less rapidly and
less thickened at base, the pubescence on it slightly sparser; pubescence
on thorax and scutellum above entirely or almost entirely whitish like
that on body below; wings with the veins very much darker, dark
blackish brown to black; hypopygium (text-fig. 295)
consors n. sp. (p. 954).
24. (19) Antennal joint 1 less uniformly stout, not tending to be incrassate,
more rapidly thickened and knob-like at base, with sparser and less
conspicuous hairs on it; pubescence on body sparser; spicules on tibiae
more feebly developed and scarcely visible in some forms ‘ . 25.
25. (32) Pubescence on the whole sparser and shorter, that on antennal joint 1
shorter and much sparser, less bushy, predominantly whitish or very
pale on body, that on head and genae below, that on pleurae, on legs
and the numerous intermixed hairs on body above whitish; legs with
at least the middle and hind tibiae paler, pale brownish or yellowish;
hypopygium (text-figs. 281-283 and 295) with the apically produced
process of ramus on each side usually recurved or directed outwards
and without a subsidiary spine or process on the outside : 326:
26. (29) Pubescence on disc of thorax entirely or predominantly pale or whitish,
with very few or without any intermixed dark or blackish hairs; wings
with the discal cross vein at about, or very near, the middle of discoidal
celle ; : : é aan ihe
27. (28) Pubescence on bady distinotly ieuned and more shaggy in appearance,
28, (27
~—
that on genae, on coxae and femora longer, with the black hairs across
occiput extending down behind eye-margins to head below on each
side; wings with a slightly more distinct, though feeble, milky tint
and with the veins darker, blackish brown or black; antennal joint 1
relatively longer and stouter, less rapidly thickened at base and with
distinctly longer hairs; proboscis about 2 mm. long; legs with the
middle and hind tibiae more darkened towards their apices and with
all the tarsi predominantly blackish; hypopygium (text-fig. 295) with
the apically directed process from ramus on each side short and hook-like
and with the process dorsal to Bye ending in an upper and lower
branch, etc. 5 j consors n. sp. (p. 954).
Pubescence on body distinctly shorten: sparser and less shaggy, that on
genae, coxae and femora much shorter and with the dark hairs on
upper part of occiput confined to occipital part above; wings without a
distinct milky whitish tint and with the veins more yellowish brown;
926
Annals of the South African Museum.
antennal joint 1 relatively shorter, more rapidly thickened at base and
with distinctly shorter hairs; proboscis only about 14 mm. long; legs
with the tibiae sienna brownish and not darkened at their apices and
basal parts of tarsi also sienna brownish; hypopygium (text-fig. 283)
with the apically produced process from ramus on each side ending in
a basally directed or recurved spine, with the process dorsal to aedeagus
not produced apically into an upper and lower branch, etc.
anomalus n. sp. (p. 934).
29. (26) Pubescence on disc of thorax and scutellum with more numerous inter-
mixed dark or blackish hairs, giving a blackish appearance in certain
lights; wings with the discal cross vein more distinctly and constantly
beyond middle of discoidal cell and with the base of second submarginal
cell distinctly broader, appearing more subtruncate : 2 OOE
30. (31) Tibiae much darker, the middle and hind ones brownish, dau brownish
to reddish brown, the front ones almost black; proboscis slightly longer,
about 24-3 mm. long; wings with the veins even darker, with the apical
cross vein of discoidal cell less S-curved, with the base of vein separating
submarginal cells distinctly more rapidly bent, almost at right angles
to third longitudinal vein; slightly larger species, about 34-5 mm. long
and with a wing-length of about 4-53 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 281)
with a prominent, recurved, central, hook-like spine at base between
apical lappets, with the apically produced process of ramus on each side
broader and strap-like, the aedeagus much shorter and having a more
slender dorsal process d ‘ meromelanus n. sp. (p. 929).
31. (30) Tibiae much paler and more yelbowish even the front ones yellowish;
proboscis slightly shorter, only about 2 mm. long; wings with the veins
less conspicuously blackish, with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell
distinctly more S-curved and with the base of vein between submarginal
cells more gradually bent; slightly smaller form, about 4 mm. long
and with a wing-length of about 4 mm.; hypopygium (text-fig. 282)
without a central hook at bases of apical lappets, with the apically
produced process of ramus on each side much narrower, the aedeagus
longer and having the dorsal process stouter and curved and directed
dorsalwards 5 ; ; . karooanus n. sp. (p. 933).
32. (25) Pubescence comparatively ignger and denser, that on antennal joint 1
long, dense and more conspicuous, that on occiput, genae, head below,
on thorax above, on scutellum and on femora predominantly black;
legs almost entirely dark, even the tibiae appearing very dark reddish
or blackish brown; hypopygium (text-fig. 284) with the apically produced
process from ramus on each side almost straight and sharply pointed
and having an outwardly directed subsidiary spine or process
fuscipes n. sp. (p. 935).
Known 29.
1. (6) Wings distinctly more darkly infuscated, tinged brownish, very dark
blackish brown or smoky brown and slightly more so towards base. 2.
2. (8) Antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter, only a little more than 4 or 5 times
as long as 2, scarcely, or not, thickened at base and with the blackish
‘A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 927
hairs on it shorter, less dense and less conspicuous; pubescence on
body on the whole sparser and shorter, that on abdomen with more
numerous short dark ones in addition to the short pale ones and the
brassy scaling; femora tending to be more extensively darkened above
and apically; wings distinctly slightly darker, more blackish brown or
dark brownish . ‘ . phaeopteris n. sp. (p. 942).
3. (2) Antennal joint | distinctly lonwars hiike 6 or 7 times as long as 2, distinctly
more visibly thickened at base and with the hairs on it longer, denser
and more conspicuous; pubescence on body denser and longer, without
any or very much fewer short dark hairs on abdomen above; femora
and tibiae more extensively yellowish, only the apices less extensively
darkened; wings distinctly less darkly infuscated . : ; nee:
4. (5) Antennal joint 1 distinctly longer, at least 7 times as long as 2, with longer
hairs on it especially below; propleurae, greater part of pleurae, sides
broadly of the dark scutellum, greater part of venter and the coxae
predominantly yellowish brown; fine hair-like scaling and the short
hairs on body above, especially abdomen, deeper golden yellowish;
wings slightly more distinctly brownish; proboscis longer, about 4 mm.
long : . marshallr n. sp. (p. 945).
5. (4) Antennal joint 1 shiottes, anal about 6 sins as long as 2, with slightly
shorter hairs on it; pleurae darker, only the sclerite above front coxae,
hind part of metapleurae, last tergite and lobes of segment 8 below
yellowish, the front coxae obscurely yellowish, without any yellow on
sides of the more ferruginous scutellum; fine scaling and short hairs
on abdomen paler and more sericeous or pale brassy; wings slightly
less brownish; proboscis shorter, only about 2 mm. long
lasiocornis n. sp. (p. 946).
6. (1) Wings vitreous or glassy hyaline or greyish hyaline and, if tinged, then
only very faintly and scarcely perceptibly cinereous oe but without
any distinct dark tint : ; hele
7. (18) Legs with the femora, or at least middle sail fd ones as ae as the coxae
to a variable extent entirely or predominantly yellowish; humeral angle
on each side and to a certain extent the anterior spiracular area distinctly
or conspicuously pale yellowish and the metapleural parts usually more
extensively or more yellowish . : : : i} 18)
8. (11) Pubescence on body sparser, shorter and less shanna ie on first antennal
joints shorter, very much sparser, that on occiput, head below, abdomen
and coxae sparser, shorter and less conspicuous; antennal joint 1 slender,
not even slightly thickened at base and usually yellowish; knobs of
halteres entirely yellowish; body below more extensively yellowish, the
greater part of metapleurae, the entire coxae, legs and venter being
paler yellowish . ; 9.
9. (10) Wings with the veins very ae dane, plnekicn prow: a the discal
cross vein very much beyond middle of discoidal cell; yellow colouring
on body slightly less developed, the scutellum being entirely black and
greater part of tarsi dark; frons with a more distinct, central, longi-
tudinal depression anteriorly; proboscis black and slightly longer.
about 3 mm. long : , . disparilis n. sp. (p. 939).
10. (9) Wings with the veins much male sollowish or pale reddish brown, with
928
Annals of the South African Museum.
the discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell; yellow colouring
on body below more developed, the sides of scutellum also tending to be
reddish brown and greater part of tarsi also yellowish; frons more
transversely depressed anteriorly; proboscis tending to brownish or
yellowish brown, slightly shorter and only about 24 mm. long
basutoénsis n. sp. (p. 941).
11. (8) Pubescence on body slightly denser or much denser, slightly longer and
12.
13.
14.
16.
iis
more shaggy in appearance, that on first antennal joints distinctly much
denser, longer and more shaggy, that on occiput, head below, abdomen
and coxae denser, longer and more conspicuous; antennal joint 1 stouter
and more often tending to be distinctly thickened at base and usually
entirely dark or black; knobs of halteres darkened or dark brownish
above; body below less extensively yellowish, the greater part of meta-
pleurae, coxae and venter Re darker and with the a sometimes
darkish . : Ze
(15) Antennal joint 1 lenges and more alee at eget 5 sina’ as alae as 2
and with a distinctly less shaggy pubescence, which is not entirely black;
proboscis distinctly longer, about 3-34 mm. long; pubescence on the
whole tending to be shorter, ae on occiput, head below, front
coxae and on mesopleuron . ; . 13.
(14) Wings very faintly, but distinctly, more analy or tinged cinereous, with
the veins darker and more blackish brown and with the second sub-
marginal cell more narrowed basally; face with a yellowish macula in
front and the inside of buccal rims also yellowish, the sides of scutellum
broadly reddish brown, the venter with much broader yellowish hind
margins, the front femora darker or even blackish and the apices of the
hind ones also blackened; pubescence on the whole slightly less dense
cheilicterus n. sp. (p. 938).
(13) Wings vitreous hyaline, with the veins slightly paler brownish and with
the second submarginal cell distinctly more truncate at base; face not
yellow in front and the inside of buccal rims not yellow, the scutellum
entirely black, the venter with much narrower yellowish hind margins,
the front femora more brownish and hind ones entirely yellowish; pubes-
cence on the whole denser . : : waltont n. sp. (p. 957).
. (12) Antennal joint 1 shorter and distin ctl much stouter, tending to be
more distinctly thickened at base and with distinctly longer and very
much denser pubescence, especially below, the hair being entirely or
predominantly black; proboscis distinctly shorter, only about 2 mm.
long; pubescence on the whole distinctly denser and more shaggy in
appearance, especially on occiput, head below, front coxae and meso-
pleuron . 16.
(17) Antennal joint 1 lice, Bae aigtinchley more othinkeneel at bac midalls
and hind coxae and greater part of venter predominantly or entirely
dark, the tibiae paler yellowish and middle and hind femora with their
apices blackened above; pubescence with the hairs at base of abdomen
on sides of tergite 1 more silvery whitish and the scaling above more
brassy or sericeous yellowish : ; . capicolus n. sp. (p. 955).
(16) Antennal joint 1 slightly more slender and not so visibly thickened at
base; all the coxae, metapleural part, sides of tergites 1 and 2 and base
‘A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 929
of venter as well as apex of abdomen yellowish red, the tibiae slightly
darker and femora not so distinctly darkened above apically; pubes-
cence with the hairs at base of abdomen on sides more sericeous yellowish
and the scaling above deeper golden yellowish
montanits n. sp. (p. 956).
18. (7) Legs with all the femora and coxae black, only the extreme apices of the
femora may be obscurely brownish; humeral angle dark or black and
metapleural part also less distinctly yellowish and even entirely black
IS).
19. (20) Wings very faintly dusky, due to a very faint greyish cinereous tinge,
with the discal cross vein not much beyond middle of discoidal cell,
with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell more S-curved and joining
fourth longitidunal vein nearly opposite base of vein separating sub-
marginal cells, with the knobs of halteres only slightly brownish above;
antennal joint 1 distinctly shorter, only about 3 times as long as 2;
posterior edge of metapleural plate and base of venter more distinctly
yellowish red. ; ; , nigrifemoris n. sp. (p. 931).
20. (19) Wings vitreous hyaline, with the discal cross vein more distinctly beyond
middle of discoidal cell and with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell
tending to be less markedly S-curved and joining fourth longitudinal vein
more towards centre of wing, with the knobs of halteres much darker
and even very dark blackish brown above; antennal joint 1 slightly
longer, about 334 times as long as 2; base of venter at least not con-
spicuously yellowish red, usually very dark or even entirely blackish 21.
21. (22) Wings with the veins much darker and dark blackish brown or black;
legs with the tibiae distinctly darker, dark reddish brown to obscure
ferruginous brownish, the front ones predominantly dark or black
and with all the femora entirely black; antennal joint 1 with entirely
or predominantly black hair above and below
meromelanus n. sp. (p. 929).
22. (21) Wings with the veins more brownish; legs with all the tibiae paler and
more distinctly yellowish and with the hind femora also slightly yellowish
or yellowish brown below; antennal joint 1 with predominantly or more
numerous pale hairs above . : ‘ . namaénsis n. sp. (p. 932).
9 So 12 92 A. meromelanus n. sp.
Body black; extreme front part of face and inside of buccal rims
more or less obscurely pallid to yellowish; a small obscure spot on
each side above front coxae in both sexes, the sutural parts of meta-
pleurae obscurely, sometimes the hind edge of metapleural plate,
the extreme base of venter, the hind margins of apical sternites, the
ventral lobes on segment 8 and genital segment in 99 also yellowish;
legs with the coxae and femora in both sexes entirely black, the
front tibiae also very dark or black, the middle and hind ones
yellowish brown, dark brownish or reddish brown to very dark
930 Annals of the South African Museum.
brownish, becoming dark at apices and even tending to be entirely
very dark in some specimens, with the tarsi almost entirely dark
only the bases obscure reddish brown or brownish, less so in some
specimens; pubescence not very dense, on the whole longer and
more shaggy in gd, especially on first antennal joints, thorax above
and on abdomen, that on occiput, genae, head below, mesopleural
part, coxae and abdomen longer than on rest of body in both sexes,
predominantly white, giving the insects a hoary or greyish appear-
ance, that on body below entirely
white, that on antennae in both
sexes, the short rows of bristly
hairs on frons in 99, the hairs
on ocellar tubercle in both sexes,
the longish hairs behind eye-
margins on occiput in gd, the
shorter ones in 99, the inter-
mixed hairs on disc of thorax
and scutellum in $4, the much
shorter and apparently denser
intermixed ones on thorax of 99,
the slightly longer intermixed
ones on scutellum in 99 and the
TExtT-Fi¢. 281.—Side ysat ori aa geet longish bristly hairs across hind
views of hypopygiam of & Amicoveon os avging of tengites 8 and 9 in 99
black, with the scaling on body
above fine, not very dense, apparently slightly denser in 99, gleaming
almost silvery whitish but with feeble pale brassy gleams, more so
on abdomen above and even more yellowish on abdomen above in
09, that on pleurae and venter sericeous whitish and much denser on
venter in both sexes, the scaling on legs silvery whitish, appearing
very slightly more yellowish on tibiae in certain lights and with the
very fine hairs and the spicules on tibiae dark or blackish, with the
pale hairs on sides of thorax in front of wings in 99 having slight
sericeous yellowish gleams in certain lights; wings glassy hyaline,
iridescent, with the costal part and base slightly subopaquely milky
whitish, with the apical part of supernumerary cell in costal cell
yellowish, with the veins very dark, blackish brown to black, very
dark even at extreme base of wings, with only the supernumerary
vein in costal cell more yellowish, with the discal cross vein distinctly
a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the apical cross vein of
discoidal cell on the whole not very markedly S-curved and with the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 931
second submarginal cell somewhat truncate basally, its upper vein
rather rapidly bending down at base to join third longitudinal vein,
with the squamae subopaquely whitish or subpellucid and fringed
with whitish hairs; halteres pallid or yellowish, their knobs yellowish
below and very dark brownish or blackish brown above in both sexes.
Head with the eyes in contact above in g¢ for a distance about
33-4 times as long as ocellar tubercle (front view), with the line of
contact impressed; interocular space on vertex in 99 only a very
ttle broader than tubercle; frons in 99 gradually diverging anteriorly,
medially depressed in front, small, triangular and somewhat de-
pressed in $3; face shghtly convex medially but not very prominent;
antennae with joint 1 distinctly broadened or thickened at base in
3d, more slender and not or scarcely perceptibly broadened at base
in 99, with very much longer bristly hairs above and below in 33,
quite 4 times as long as 2 in both sexes, with 3 almost rod-like, only
sradually tapering apically, but more so at apex; proboscis about
24-3 mm. long; palps slender. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 281)
without long hairs on dorsum of basal part, with a prominent,
recurved, hook-like spine at base of lappet-like apical processes;
ramus on each side from basal part produced on inner side apically
into an outwardly directed pointed strap-like process (see middle
figure); aedeagus rather shortish, its dorsal apically produced process
(shown in outline in left-hand figure) thinning out apically.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 33-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-54 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West Distr. (Mus. Staff,
Nov. 1935) (Types); Fraserburg Distr.; Teekloof (The Escarpment)
(Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
These insects were caught settling on the flowers of Mesembryan-
themums.
1 2 A. mgrifemoris n. sp.
This single 2 and the following species, as well as meromelanus, are
distinguished from the 99 of other species, with non-infuscated wings,
by having entirely or predominantly black femora.
Body black; metapleural part only slightly yellowish; sides of
tergite 1, base of venter and the apical parts of venter also yellowish;
legs dark blackish brown or black, with only the extreme apices of
femora and the tibiae brownish, the tarsi dark; pubescence with the
932 Annals of the South African Museum.
short, erect hairs on occiput, frons, first antennal joints, thorax above,
scutellum, and at apex of abdomen blackish, those on head below
and on entire body below white, those on abdomen also whitish,
with the fine scaling above, especially on abdomen, brassy yellowish,
denser on venter and more silvery whitish, the scaling on legs whitish;
wings very feebly cinereous, the veins dark blackish brown, with the
discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal cell, the apical
cross vein of discoidal cell unsymmetrically S-curved and joining
fourth longitudinal vein almost opposite base of the vein separating
the submarginal cells, with the latter vein gradually bent down to
third longitudinal vein; halteres with the knobs slightly brownish
above. Head with the first antennal joint comparatively short for
this genus and only about 3 times as long as 2 and with the hairs on
it also relatively short.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—Southern Karoo: Michell’s Pass (Simmonds, 1-5/12/1930).
1 2 A. namaénsis n. sp.
This 2 differs from nigrifemoris in having entirely clear hyaline
wings, with the discal cross vein more beyond middle of discoidal
cell and the S-curved apical cross vein of discoidal cell normally
situated as in the majority of species, in having very much paler and
more yellowish tibiae, distinctly longer first antennal joints, which
are more than 3 times as long as second joints, in having denser
pubescence and scaling on abdomen, especially on sides and on
venter, denser and slightly longer hairs on coxae, with some whitish
hairs on frons in front and also in having some pale hairs on antennal
joint 1 above, with the knobs of halteres extensively dark blackish
brown above. It is even closer to the 2 of meromelanus, from which
it differs in having the tibiae paler and even the hind femora slightly
yellowish brown below, in having the veins in wings slightly paler,
more brownish and in having numerous pale hairs on antennal
joint 1 above.
Type in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality.—Namaqualand: Nieuwoudtville (Cockerell,18-—22/11/1931).
~A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 933
1 g A. karooanus n. sp.
This somewhat damaged specimen is also near meromelanus.
Body entirely black; legs with the coxae and femora black,
the tibiae pale yellowish brown; pubescence on disc of thorax, on
scutellum, occiput above and the long hairs on antennal joint 1
black, those on antennal joint 1 not very dense but very long towards
base, with the longish hairs on genae, the hair on head below, those
TEXT-FIG. 282.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium
of 3 Amictogeron karooanus nN. sp.
on sides of head behind eyes, intermixed ones on sides of thorax and
above, and all those on coxae, pleurae and on abdomen white, only
a few towards apex of abdomen blackish, with the hairs on femora
appearing more brownish in certain lights, with the fine scaling on
abdomen above pale brassy, denser and more silvery on venter and
sides, that on legs also whitish; wings hyaline, iridescent, with the
veins very dark brown, with the discal cross vein much beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the apical cross vein of this latter cell
unsymmetrically S-curved; halteres with the knobs yellow below
and dark above. Head with the eyes in contact above for a long
distance; antennae with joint 1 only slightly thickened at base and
quite 4 times as long as 2; proboscis about 2mm.long. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 282) with a slender outwardly curved process on each side
at apical part of ramus from each side of basal part; aedeagus long,
its dorsal process not projecting apically, but recurved dorsalwards
(shown in dotted outline in left-hand figure); base between apical
lappets without any distinct spine or spines process.
Type in the Imperial Institute.
VOL. XXXIV. 60
934 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—Karoo: Graafi-Reinet (Ogilvie, 24—27/10/1931).
From meromelanus this species differs in being slightly smaller, in
having a slightly shorter proboscis, paler tibiae and a different type
of hypopygium.
1 g A. anomalus n. sp.
Body black; legs with the coxae and femora black, the tibiae reddish
brown, the front ones darker, with the bases of the tarsi also brownish ;
pubescence on the whole sparse, predominantly pale or whitish above
TExtT-FIG. 283.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium
of ¢ Amictogeron anomalus n. sp.
and below, only the longish hairs on first antennal joints, on ocellar
tubercle and sparse ones across occiput black; wings greyish hyaline,
iridescent, with the veins pale yellowish brown, becoming darker and
even blackish brown at base, with the discal cross vein at about the
middle of discoidal cell, with the apical cross vein of discoidal cell not
strongly S-curved, with the upper vein of second submarginal cell not
very rapidly bent to meet third longitudinal vein; halteres yellowish,
with the knobs deep dark brownish above and yellowish below. Head
with the eyes in contact above for a long distance; antennae with
joint | about 4 times as long as 2, with 3 rather stoutish; proboscis
relatively short, about 14 mm. long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 283) with
a distinct spined process present on each side nearer midline ventrally
at base of apical lappet-like lobes; apically produced part of ramus on
each side recurved basalwards ending in a slender spine; dorsal process
dorsal to aedeagus composed of two contiguous blade-like processes.
—-
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 935
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 4 mm.
Locality.—Southern Karoo: Montagu (Turner, 23-30 Sept. 1924).
1 3 A. fuscipes n. sp.
Body entirely black; legs very dark, with the coxae and femora
also black, the tibiae and tarsi scarcely less dark, very deep dark
blackish brown; pubes-
cence entirely black on
head, thorax above and
on scutellum, that on
abdomen slightly sparser
than on front part of
body, predominantly
straw - coloured whitish,
more whitish on venter,
with some scattered black-
ish intermixed hairs dis-
cally above on abdomen
and distinct black hairs
towards apex, with the TExtT-Fic. 284.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of
hypopygium of g Amictogeron fuscipes n. sp.
black hairs on antennal
joint 1 long and dense, bushy, those on upper part of occiput
also long, those on genae also long, black and dense, with some
hairs on sides of thorax, above wing-bases, straw-coloured, with the
hairs on pleural parts and on coxae more or less straw-coloured, those
on femora black, with very sparse pale or pale brassy scaling indicated
on thorax and abdomen; wings vitreous hyaline, with the veins very
dark blackish brown or almost black, with the apical cross vein of
discoidal cell much §-curved, unsymmetrical and with the discal cross
vein at about the middle of discoidal cell; halteres with the knobs
dark blackish brown above. Head with the eyes in actual contact
for a distance quite 5 times as long as ocellar tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 thickened or knob-like at base, a little more than 4 times as
long as 2, with 3 slender, rod-like, very slightly thicker basally than
apically; proboscis about 2 mm. long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 284)
with the apical spine-like produced part of ramus on each side longish
and having an outwardly directed subsidiary spine or prong and the
936 Annals of the South African Museum.
common base of the contiguous apically directed prongs on each side
above aedeagus much broadened.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 44 mm.
Length of wing: about 44 mm.
Locality.—Southern Karoo: Michell’s Pass (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1934).
Easily recognised by its dense black hair on first antennal joints,
genae and thorax above, and dark, almost entirely black, legs.
A. bezzw n. n. (dichromus (Bezz.) nec Bigot).
(P. 101, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921.)
As this single j-specimen does not agree at all with Bigot’s descrip-
tion of Geron dicroma (p. 374, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., vol. 1x1, 1892) and
ae a“
ie,
TExT-FIG. 285.—Side, apical and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium
of g Amictogeron bezzi n. n. (dichromus (Bezz.) nec Bigot).
as it does not belong to Geron, a new name for it is essential. Bigot
examined and described a 9-specimen as questionably coming from the
Cape. Bezzi, on the other hand, described this 3 fairly fully, making
it easily recognisable. There is no doubt that it belongs to Amicto-
geron, as defined in this paper, and it is distinguished from all other 33
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 937
of this genus by the predominantly yellowish abdomen, only the
dorsum of which is dark, by the extensively yellowish metapleurae,
predominantly yellowish coxae and legs, the yellowish first antennal
joints and the comparatively large frons, the actual inner margins of
the eyes being only contiguous for a short distance, only a little more
than 2 times the length of ocellar tubercle. The hypopygium (text-
fig. 285, lateral, ventral and apical views) with the basal part’ compact,
with the apical lappets (Ap.Pr.) vertical to longitudinal axis, with the
plate on each side, obliquely at base of each apical lappet, produced
into a long dorsally directed spine (V.Pr.); ramus (R.) connecting
aedeagal complex (in dotted outline in left-hand figure) on each side
of side of basal part also produced into a ventrally directed spine;
aedeagus (Ae.) without a dorsal process or prong; middle part with
the basal strut comparatively large and racket-shaped.
Locality —S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand.
A. leptocerus (Bezz.).
(PR. 100),Ann. 5. Afr: Mug: vol. xvi, 1921.)
Bezzi based his description of this species on a $-specimen from the
Kastern Transvaal and a somewhat damaged ¢ from Basutoland. A
TExt-FIG. 286.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and view of
recurved apical process of ramus of § Amictogeron leptocerus (Bezz.).
careful comparison of the two specimens, however, shows that only
the g-type from the Transvaal belongs to this species; the other
specimen being an entirely different species. The ¢ of leptocerus is
chiefly characterised by the slender first antennal joints, which have
only very shortish dark hairs on them, by the slender and rod-like
938 Annals of the South African Museum.
third antennal joints, the comparatively shortish white beard, the
distinctly cinereously-tinged wings with reddish brown veins, by its
yellowish brown legs of which the apical parts of the femora are
slightly darkened and by the eyes which are in actual contact for a
distance at least 4 times as long as ocellar tubercle. Hypopygiuum
(text-fig. 286) is peculiar in that the apically produced prong or blade
(in dotted outline) on each side from the central guide-like part and
above the aedeagus is unsymmetrical, the right one being longer,
slightly flattened and directed dorsalwards between the bases of the
apical lappet-like lobes of basal part and ending in a recurved spine
whereas the left one is much shorter; ramus on each side (see also
figure to the right) is apically produced together with side of basal
part into an outwardly directed curved spine.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Length of proboscis: about 2 mm.
Locality.—Eastern Transvaal: Barberton (Edwards, Dec. 1911).
2 99 A. chewlicterus un. sp.
These two specimens may prove to represent the female sex of
leptocerus. One 9 was actually taken at the same locality and by the
same collector. Certain characters, however, even for 99, appear to
exclude specific identity with the g-type of leptocerus and provisionally
the specimens are referred to a separate species showing the following
characters :—
Body predominantly black; face medially and inside of buccal
rims yellow; the humeral angle and anterior spiracular area below it
on each side, a spot below wings, the hind part of metapleurae, the
sides of tergite 1, the hind margins of sternites, the hind margins
laterally of tergites towards apex of also hind margins of last two
tergites also yellowish; posterior calli and sides of scutellum broadly,
infusions to pleurae and even to a certain extent the sides of abdomen
near base more or less reddish brown or ferruginous; legs with the
coxae also yellowish brown to ferruginous, the front coxae being paler
and more yellowish, with the front femora very dark or blackish brown,
the middle and hind ones paler and more yellowish, only darkened
apically, with the front tibiae and tarsi very dark blackish brown or
almost black, the middle and hind tibiae yellowish like their femora,
but also darkened apically, their tarsi also darkened; pubescence
short and rather dense, predominantly whitish, that on head below
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 939
and body below entirely whitish, that on first antennal joints darkish,
appearing brownish in certain lights, that on frons with brownish
golden gleams, that on ocellar tubercle and across occiput blackish,
more yellowish to rufous lower down on occiput and more whitish
towards its sides, that on thorax above brownish to blackish brown
but those on sides appearing paler with more pale yellowish or brownish
golden gleams in certain lights, the bristly hairs on scutellum dark,
pubescence on abdomen above as below predominantly whitish, the
bristly hairs across hind margins of tergites 7-9, however, blackish
brown, with the fine scaling on body and abdomen above rather dense,
gleaming pale sericeous yellowish, shghtly more yellowish discally on
thorax and more silvery on sides, that on abdomen above denser and
distinctly more golden, becoming paler towards apex, that on venter
even denser and on the whole more whitish, that on legs whitish;
wings faintly, but distinctly dusky, having a slight yellowish cinereous
tinge, with the veins brownish to dark brownish, paler and more
yellowish brown at extreme base, with the discal cross vein at about
middle of discoidal cell, with the alula very narrow and axillary lobe
also narrowish, with the squamae subopaquely subpellucid and fringed
with whitish hairs; halteres yellowish, with the knobs yellowish
below and deep dark brownish above. Head with the interocular
space on vertex scarcely, or only very slightly, broader than ocellar
tubercle; frons gradually diverging anteriorly and slightly trans-
versely depressed anteriorly; face somewhat convex medially;
antennae with joint | rather long, quite 5 times as long as 2, distinctly,
though very slightly, thicker at base, the pubescence short, but dense,
with joint 3 long, slender, the apical part tapering to a point; pro-
boscis about 3-34 mm. long.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-6 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-64 mm.
Locality—K. Transvaal: Barberton (Edwards, Dec. 1911) (Type).
EK. Cape Province: Toise River (Munro, 20/11/23) (Transvaal Museum).
The longer first antennal joints, much longer proboscis, much
darker anterior femora and tibiae and much darker wing-venation
seem to exclude it as the @ of leptocerus Bezz.
1319 A. disparilis n. sp.
Body black; antennal joint 1 in 9, the humeral angle, the posterior
calli, the sutural parts of the pleurae, the hind part of metapleurae
940 . Annals of the South African Museum.
and greater part of venter in both sexes, the sides broadly of basal
part of abdomen in @ and the hind margins and sides of tergites
towards apex in 2 as well as apical part of abdomen in ¢ pale reddish
brown to yellowish brown, paler in 9; legs with the coxae brownish
in g, paler and more yellowish in 9, with the femora and tibiae pale
yellowish in @, slightly more brownish in 3, the front femora darkened
in ¢ and only so above in 9, with the greater part of tarsi darkened
in both sexes, the apical parts even blackish; front part of face in 2
ivory yellowish; pubes-
cence predominantly pale,
pale straw-coloured
yellowish on body below
and on pleurae, that on
abdomen in g appearing
whiter especially on ven-
ter, that on thorax above
distinctly more yellowish,
that towards base of
thorax and on scutellum
distinctly deeper yellow-
ish, subgolden, with inter-
TExtT-FIG. 287.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of mixed dark or blackish
hypopygium of 3 Amictogeron disparilis n. sp.
hairs on disc of thorax in
both sexes, with intermixed blackish and yellowish hairs on occiput
and dark hairs on first antennal joints, with the hairs on head
below more silvery whitish, with the scaling on body above
gleaming very pale brassy, paler in g, even more golden on
thorax in front in 2 and to a certain extent also in g; wings
greyish hyaline, but with a very faint, scarcely perceptible cinereous
or yellowish tinge, with the veins dark brownish to blackish
brown, paler and more yellowish brown at base, with the discal
cross vein much beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the squamae
pellucid; halteres with the knobs entirely very pale yellowish in Q,
yellowish below but slightly blackish brown towards outer side above
in g. Head with the eyes in contact above in ¢ for a distance about
4 times as long as ocellar tubercle, the line of contact impressed;
interocular space in 9 though appearing narrow on vertex is really
quite 14 times as broad as narrow tubercle; frons in 2 rather narrow
and only gradually diverging anteriorly, centrally distinctly longi-
tudinally depressed in apical half; face also narrow in 2; antennae
longer in 3 than in 9, with joint 1 in 3 also relatively longer than in Q,
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 941
quite 4 times as long as 2, only a little more than 3 times as long as
2 in 9, with 3 also longer and more gradually pointed in ¢; proboscis
slender, about 3 mm. long; palps slender. Hypopygium of 3 (text-
fig. 287) with the lateral ramus on each side from basal part produced
apically into a curved prong; aedeagus tubular and markedly
S-curved and apparently without a dorsal apically directed prong or
process.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 53-64 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Fraserburg Distr.; Teekloof (Mus.
Staff, Nov. 1935).
This species resembles leptocerus (Bezz.) very closely, but differs
in having slightly more straw-coloured yellowish pubescence on body
below, more yellowish hairs on base of thorax and scutellum, less
distinctly cinereous wings and entirely different hypopygium. From
cheilicterus the 2 differs in having shorter and yellowish first antennal
joints, with much shorter and sparser pubescence on them, in having
more extensive yellow on body below and legs, etc. .
/
13129 A. basutoénsis n. sp.
(Syn. =leptocerus (Bezz.) in part.)
The 3, which Bezzi referred to leptocerus (p. 100, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921), and a 2 from the same locality apparently belong to
one and the same species, which is entirely different from leptocerus.
From this latter species and cheilicterus it is distinguished by having
clearer and more hyaline wings, with much paler and more pale ‘
yellowish brown to pale brownish veins, entirely yellowish knobs to
the halteres, much more extensively yellowish body below in 9, the
entire venter being yellow in the 9, by having all the coxae and legs
paler yellowish in both sexes, the femora not darkened apically and
the tibiae also paler, by having no reddish on sides of scutellum in Q,
yellowish first antennal joints in 2, the eyes in contact in ¢ for a
slightly longer distance, more than 4 times as long as ocellar tubercle,
the fine scaling distinctly more yellowish and in 2 at least more
golden on abdomen above and the erect pubescence on thorax and
scutellum in both sexes less dark. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 288)
has a spined process (see middle figure) on each side near centre at
base of apical lappet-like lobes; ramus on each side, which joins side
942 Annals of the South African Museum.
of basal part on to aedeagal complex, is produced apically into a
strap-like process; central guide-like part, joined on to bases of rami,
TEXT-FIG. 288.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium
of § Amictogeron basutoénsis n. sp.
produced on each side apically and above aedeagus into a long,
stylet-like process, the apices of which are directed outwards.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4-5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-54 mm.
Length of proboscis: about 24 mm.
Locahity.— Basutoland: Likhoele (Dieterlin).
5 3S 5 99 A. phaeopteris n. sp.
Body black; genae to a certain extent, the humeral part on each
side, the propleural part above each front coxa, a faint band across
pleurae to, and including, metapleural parts, sides of abdominal
segment 8 and the dorsum of 9 in 92 yellowish; legs with the coxae
and trochanters black in gg, the coxae more brownish in 99, the
femora entirely very dark, blackish brown and even black in gd,
slightly paler and more brownish in 99, darkened above apically in
29, with the tibiae yellowish brown to dark brown, the tarsi blackish
for the greater part, with the spicules and spines on tibiae and tarsi
black; pubescence with the erect hairs longer and denser in 64,
those on thorax above, on pleurae, on coxae and femora below in
33 entirely black, those on pleurae, coxae and legs in 9? whitish,
those on thorax and scutellum in 39 sparse and blackish brown, those
on abdomen in gd gleaming golden brownish or yellowish or even
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 943
sericeous yellowish in certain lights (especially from behind), those
towards apex black, those on abdomen in 92 very much shorter, pre-
dominantly whitish to sericeous whitish, but with dark ones discally
and on segments 8 and 9, with the hairs on occiput, head behind, on
first antennal joints, on genae and head below in 3¢ entirely black,
those on antennal joint 1 very long, dense and bushy, those on genae
long and projecting forward brush-like, those on head in,?2 very
much shorter and also much shorter on first antennal joints, those
TExt-FIG. 289.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium
of g Amictogeron phaeopteris n. sp.
on occiput brownish, those on frons along middle and on the antennae
black, those on genae fine and sparse and whitish like those on head
behind eyes and on head below, with fine, long blackish hairs on
femora in gg and very sparse, much shorter, pale or whitish ones in
2°, with the fine, depressed scaling sparse on thorax, denser on
scutellum and abdomen above in 99, almost confined only to abdomen
in gd, brassy yellowish to golden, sometimes deeper golden on
abdomen above, paler on sides and silvery whitish on venter; wings
darkly and often very darkly infuscated, very dark smoky brownish,
the brown tinge predominating, the costal part slightly darker, with
the veins very dark blackish brown to black, with the discal cross
vein just, or a little more, beyond middle of discoidal cell, with the
apical cross vein of the latter much S-curved and lying almost
parallel with hind margin of wing, the upper part of discoidal cell
thus elongate and lobe-like, with the second submarginal cell very
944 Annals of the South African Museum.
elongate, its upper and lower veins almost parallel, only gradually
diverging apically, with the alula very narrow, with the squamae
slightly brownish and fringed with blackish hairs in gd, slightly more
yellowish or whitish fringed in 99; halteres yellowish brown in 3$¢,
slightly more yellowish in 99, with the upper part of knobs extensively
dark blackish brown in both sexes. Head with the eyes in contact
above in §¢ for a comparatively long distance, at least 5 times as long
as ocellar tubercle, the line of contact very deep; interocular space
in 92 on vertex only a little broader than tubercle, the inner margins
of eyes gradually diverging anteriorly; antennae with joint | elongate,
quite 5 times as long as 2 in 3d, appearing a little shorter in 99,
distinctly, though only very slightly, thickened towards base, with
3 slender, longer than 1 and 2 combined, only gradually tapering
apically; proboscis about 13-2 mm. long in 99 and 2-3 mm. long in
3S. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 289) with the apical lappet-like
lobes (Ap.Pr.) of basal part provided with a spined process (V.Pr.)
nearer centre ventrally, and with another flattened spine on sides of
apical lobes; ramus (R.) on each side ending apically in a long
process; central guide (C.G.) produced on each side into a basal
process and an apically directed blade or prong (Pr.) above the
aedeagus (Ae.).
Types in the British Museum, paratypes in the Transvaal and
South African Museums.
Length of body: about 3-6 mm. (gg the larger).
Length of wing: about 3-64 mm.
Locality.—East Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, Aug. 1932)
(Types); Somerset Hast (Turner, Nov. 1932); Katberg (Turner, Dec.
1932). S.W. Western Karoo: Michell’s Pass (Mus. Exp., Oct. 1934).
EK. Transvaal: Barberton (Munro, 27/5/14). N.E. Transvaal:
Mariep’s Mt. (van Son, Apr. 1932); Louis Trichardt (Lawrence,
Jan.—Feb. 1928).
Kasily recognised by the darkly infuscated wings. The species is
slightly variable in size and coloration. The specimens from the
N.E. Transvaal appear to be distinctly darker and with darker
femora. The g-paratype from Barberton probably represents a
variety or form in which the femora and tibiae are pale yellowish, the
wings slightly less dark and the hair on thorax in front, on the pro-
pleurae, and on metapleural part more brownish golden in certain
lights.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 945
1 $ 2 99 A. marshalli n. sp.
Body black; 992 with the humeral angles, propleural part, an indefinite
spot on mesopleuron, a longitudinal band above coxae on each side,
the metapleural regions, greater part of venter, the lobes of segment 8
and apex of abdomen, the sides broadly of the scutellum and the coxae
pale reddish or yellowish brown: the pleural parts, especially meta-
pleurae, in $ darker and dull dark brownish; face in 99 yellowish;
legs with the femora and tibiae in 29 yellowish brown, the apical parts
of the femora above, apical parts of tibiae and the hind tibiae more
extensively dark above, with the tarsi more blackish, with the coxae
in g very dark blackish brown (the rest of legs in g-specimen un-
fortunately missing); pubescence comparatively dense, longer and
denser than in phaeopieris, that on head, thorax and scutellum above
and on coxae in ¢ black, with some intermixed brownish or golden
brownish hairs on antero-lateral parts of thorax, the hair on pleurae in
$ predominantly yellowish brown to brownish golden, that on abdomen
in ¢ sericeous yellowish to pale yellowish or brownish golden when
viewed from behind, with the hairs on antennal joint 1 and on genae
in § long and dense, much longer than in phaeopteris and also very
much longer than in 99, with the pubescence on body below, the
genae, head below and on coxae in 92 much sparser and shorter than
in § and silvery whitish, that on antennal joint 1, especially below,
on ocellar tubercle, the shorter and sparser hairs on thorax above and
on scutellum and those towards apex of abdomen in 992 black, with
some hairs on antennae above, those on frons, occiput, intermixed
ones on thorax in front and on scutellum and the sparse ones on
abdomen above in 99 yellowish, becoming more sericeous on abdomen,
deeper yellowish on head, with the fine scaling on body denser in 99,
golden yellowish on thorax, more brassy yellowish on abdomen in 99,
more sericeous yellowish on that of ¢ and silvery whitish on venter
in both sexes; wings tinged smoky brownish, darker and more
brownish towards costal part, slightly darker and more brownish in 3,
but in both sexes slightly less darkly tinged than in phaeopteris, with
the veins very dark blackish brown, with the discal cross vein at about
the middle of discoidal cell, the apical cross vein of this latter cell
markedly S-curved, with the alula narrow and the squamae sub-
opaquely yellowish brown and margined with sericeous yellowish hairs,
slightly paler in 99; halteres with the knobs blackish brown above in
both sexes. Head with the eyes in ¢ in actual contact above for a
distance slightly more than 4 times as long as ocellar tubercle, the line
946 Annals of the South African Museum.
of contact very deep, with the interocular space on vertex in 99 scarcely
2 times as broad as tubercle; antennae with joint | distinctly much
longer than in phaeopteris, at least 7 times as long as 2, also distinctly
more thickened at base, even slightly so in 299; proboscis about 4 mm.
long; palps slightly longer and more conspicuous than in phaeoptervs.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 290) resembles that of phaeopteris, but
differs in having no flattened, lateral, ventral spine at bases of apical
lappet-like lobes in addition to the central spined process; ramus on
TExtT-FIG. 290.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and view of
apically directed prongs in ¢ Amictogeron marshalli n. sp.
each side also entirely different (cf. text-figs. 290 and 289); apically
directed dorsal prong (Pr.) on each side of aedeagus above as in
phaeopteris.
Types in the Imperial Institute.
Length of body: about 6-7 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-7 mm.
Locality.—S. Rhodesia: Umtali; Vumbu (Ogilvie, 5/1932) (Holo-
type); (Mackie, 5/1932) (Allotype).
I have great pleasure in naming this species after Sir Guy
A. K. Marshall, C.M.G., who collected so many interesting insects in
Rhodesia and who so kindly placed all the unnamed South African
Bombylidae in the Imperial Institute at my disposal.
3 3g 4 99 A. lasiocornis n. sp.
This is another species with dusky or infuscated wings and also
superficially resembling phaeopteris and marshalli. It is, however,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 947
specifically distinct in important respects. Compared with phaeop-
teris it differs in the following characters :—
Wings, though distinctly infuscated, are distinctly less dark, more
cinereous or paler smoky brownish, without a deep brownish or bronzy
tinge, the second submarginal cell less elongate, its upper and lower
veins less subparallel and the upper one bending less rapidly to third
longitudinal vein at its base; pubescence in g¢ at least distinctly
longer and denser, the hairs on antennal joint 1 in 33 longer, denser
TEXT-FIG. 291.—Side, ventral (dorsal) and dorsal (ventral) views
of hypopygium of 3 Amictogeron lasiocornis n. sp.
and more conspicuously bushy and more like those of marshalli, those
on genae and head below also longer, those on abdomen in g¢ not
yellowish or subgolden but greyish white or dull whitish, only those
towards apex black, with the hairs on antennal joint 1 in 99, even
though much shorter than in 3d, distinctly longer than in 2-phaeop-
teris, the beard and hairs on pleurae, coxae and venter in 92 also
whitish; pleurae in 29 with only the metapleural part and anterior
spiracular part above front coxae obscurely yellowish, the humeral
part and mesopleural part dull or blackish, there being no distinct
indication of a yellowish longitudinal band as in phaeopteris and
marshalli; legs with all the coxae darker and the middle and hind
femora and tibiae in 22 on the whole paler yellowish, the femora not
distinctly blackened above and apically, with the femora and tibiae
in the $¢ also brownish to dark blackish brown, the tibiae more
yellowish. Head with the eyes in 33g in actual contact above for a
distance at least 4 times as long as ocellar tubercle, with antennal
joint 1 distinctly more conspicuously dilated or thickened and knob-
948 Annals of the South African Museum.
like at base in $g than in phaeopteris, less so in 29, also much longer
than in phaeopteris, at least 6 times as long as 2 in both sexes, with the
proboscis about 2 mm. long. From marshalli it differs in having
slightly less infuscated wings, shorter first antennal joints, with less .
extensive yellowish on body below in 99, shorter proboscis, more
greyish pubescence on abdomen in gd, etc. Hypopygium of 3 (text-
fig. 291) differs from that of phaeopteris and marshallc in having no
prong or blade-like apical extensions on each side dorsal to aedeagus,
in having a characteristic and differently shaped aedeagus, an out-
wardly directed spine to apically produced part of rami on each
side, etc.
Holotype in the British Museum and allotype in the Imperial
Institute.
Length of body: about 4-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 44-6 mm.
Locality. — Natal: Weenen (Thomasset, 5/1924) (Holotype);
(Thomasset, 3/4/25); (Thomasset, 2840 ft. alt., 6/8/1923) (Allo-
type). | |
The 9-allotype is labelled as being near barbatus (Bezz.). This
species, however, differs entirely from specimens labelled as barbatus
in the South African Museum and also from Bezzi’s description.
1 g A. dasycerus n. sp.
Body, including pleurae and abdomen, entirely black; legs with the
coxae and more than basal halves of the femora black, the apical parts
of femora and tibiae yellowish brown, the apices of hind tibiae at least
darkened, the tarsi dark or blackish but the bases more or less also
yellowish brown; pubescence fairly dense, longish and shaggy, that on
antennae, genae, head below, occiput, thorax in front, on front coxae
and on abdomen long and conspicuous, predominantly black on head,
pleurae, coxae, venter and on femora, that on thorax above with much
intermixed yellowish or pale yellowish brown hair, that on abdomen
composed of yellowish brown hairs intermixed with blackish hairs,
the yellowish ones more obvious in certain lights, with the fine scaling
(where present) comparatively sparse and gleaming golden above,
paler on venter; wings vitreous hyaline, appearing greyish hyaline
in certain lights, the costal cell and extreme base feebly yellowish,
with the veins very dark blackish brown, with the discal cross vein
a little beyond middle of discoidal cell and apical cross vein of dis-
coidal cell distinctly S-curved, with the alula narrow and not lobate,
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 949
with the squamae subopaquely pellucid whitish, dark-bordered and
fringed with blackish hairs; halteres yellowish, with the knobs dark
brownish above and yellowish below. Head with the eyes in contact
for a distance quite 3 times as long as ocellar tubercle; frons depressed,
triangular but rather large in a g for this genus; genae with dense,
TEXT-FIG. 292.—Side, apical and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium, and
side view of aedeagus and process in g Amictogeron dasycerus N. sp.
conspicuous, forwardly projecting, bristly hairs; antennae with joint 1
elongate, distinctly thickened knob-like at base, with very dense, long
hairs as in phaeopteris and lasiocornis, the joint itself about 6 times as
long as 2, with joint 3 slender; proboscis about 24 mm. long. Legs
with longish sparse hairs on femora as in phaeopteris-series. Hypo-
pygium (text-fig. 292) with the apical lappet-like processes directed
outwards or dorsalwards, with a hook-like spine on each side medially
at base of lappet-like processes; ramus on each side from basal part
joined on to middle part of ramus which abuts on to middle aedegal
part, the medial part of ramus produced apically on each side into a
VOL. XXXIV. 61
950 Annals of the South African Museum.
process (shown from side view, ventral view and in top figure from
behind or an apical view), with the aedeagus and processes dorsal to
it shown on left top figure and with the bristly hairs on each side
dorsally on basal part long and conspicuous.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 7 mm.
Locality—Nieuwveld Karoo: Beaufort West Distr.; Leeukloof
(Mus. Staff, Oct. 1935).
This species obviously belongs to the phaeopteris-series but may at
once be distinguished from phaeopteris, lasiocornis and marshallt by
its clear wings, basally distinctly more thickened first antennal joints
and femora, which are blackened in basal parts, different type of
hypopygium, etc.
2 33 A. peringueyr n. sp.
(Syn. = barbatus (Bezz.) in part, p. 99, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
Wolly Saiatiny ISA.)
These two $3 were referred to barbatus (Bezz.) by Bezzi. As they
do not entirely agree with Bezzi’s description of the true barbatus
(p. 115, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924), they are
here described as an entirely separate species.
Body black; legs with the coxae, trochanters and femora also
black, the tibiae pale yellowish brown, the greater part of the tarsi
blackish brown to black; pubescence dense and long on upper part
of occiput and on head below, very long and dense, bushy on first
antennal joints and on genae, slightly shorter, but also dense on thorax,
pleurae, scutellum and coxae, sparser on abdomen, that on occiput,
antennal joint 1, thorax and scutellum above very dark blackish
brown to blackish, that on genae also predominantly black, but
sometimes with some admixed whitish hairs, that on head below
more whitish, but also with intermixed dark ones, that on pleurae
predominantly dark, appearing very dark dull brownish in certain
lights, due to dark and yellowish intermixed hairs, that towards
pectus with an admixture of whitish ones, that on coxae, front ones
especially, sometimes with more numerous whitish hairs, with the
hairs on femora predominantly dull brownish, those on abdomen
discally showing straw-coloured yellowish gleams, but darkish in
certain lights, those towards apex distinctly black and those towards
and on venter distinctly whitish, those on sides of segment 1 more
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 951
sericeous yellowish, with the fine scaling above very sparse and only
indicated on abdomen and with pale brassy gleams, that on venter
denser and more silvery, that on femora dull whitish, becoming more
yellowish above; wings vitreous hyaline, iridescent and without a
TEextT-F1G. 293.—Side and ventral (dorsal) and, below, apical views of
hypopygium of g Amictogeron peringueyi n. sp.
very distinct milky whitish tint, with the veins dark brownish to
brown, with the discal cross vein a little beyond middle of discoidal
cell and with the upper apical part of discoidal cell moderately long,
the apical cross vein thus more symmetrically S-curved, with the
second submarginal cell almost parallel-sided, the upper vein fairly
rapidly bent towards third longitudinal vein, the alula very slightly
more lobate than in other species, with the squamae subopaquely
greyish, the fringe gleaming yellowish brown in certain lights;
halteres pale brownish, with the knobs almost entirely brown to
952 Annals of the South African Museum.
dark brownish. Head with the eyes in contact above for a distance
quite 5 times as long as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 1 stout,
gradually thickened basally, the base distinctly very broadly club-
like, the joint about 5-6 times as long as 2; proboscis about 24-3 mm.
long. Hypopygium (text-fig. 293, lateral, ventral and apical views)
compact and broad, the hairs on basal part long and conspicuous;
apical lappet-like lobes (Ap.Pr.) directed outwards and with a single
recurved, powerful spine (V.Pr.) ventrally at their bases; ramus (R.),
on each side and joining aedeagal complex to sides of basal part,
produced apically into a peculiarly shaped process (shown in figures) ;
central guide (C.G.), to which ramus is joined, produced into a single
process (Pr.) above aedeagus (Ae.) from which there projects a slender
spine on each side.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-5} mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality.—E. Cape Province: Knysna (Peringuey, Oct. 1916).
This species differs from the description of barbatus (Bezz.) in not
having entirely white hair on head below and body below.
1 3 A. barbatus (Bezz.).
(P. 115, The Bombylhidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924; Bezzi,
p. 78, Broteria (Ser. Zool.), vol. xx, Fasc. I1, 1922; p. 99) Anne
S. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921.) ‘
This solitary g-specimen, from O’okiep in Namaqualand, was
referred to and labelled as barbatus by Bezzi himself. It more or
less agrees with Bezzi’s description, but there is nevertheless much
doubt as to its specific identity and more so in view of the fact that
the two g¢ described above as peringueyi were also referred to this
species by Bezzi. Moreover, it is impossible to state whether this
specimen actually does belong to the same species as the 3-type
from Simonstown in the British Museum. The 9, from Willowmore,
may also prove to be an entirely different species. The characters of
this g-specimen, which is provisionally referred to barbatus, are:—
Body black; venter with narrow pallid hind margins; legs with
the coxae and femora black, the tibiae pale yellowish, even the front
ones yellowish, the tarsi dark in apical parts; pubescence on head
below, on genae, head behind eyes, sides of thorax in front, the pleurae
and on coxae predominantly whitish and.dense, only a very few in-
ea
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 953
conspicuous dark intermixed ones on head below and on pleurae, the
erect hairs on thorax and scutellum above, those on occiput and very
densely on antennal joint 1 dark blackish brown, with, however,
some whitish intermixed ones on thorax in front and sides, the
pubescence on abdomen entirely white, without any distinct dark
or blackish ones even apically, with the fine, hair-like scaling on
abdomen sparse above, sericeous yellowish to brassy, dense on venter
and silvery whitish, with the scaling on femora silvery whitish;
Text-Fic. 294.—Side, ventral (dorsal) and apical views of hypopygium
of § Amictogeron barbatus (Bezz.).
wings hyaline, but with a distinct subopaquely milky whitish tint,
the veins very dark blackish brown, the discal cross vein beyond
middle of discoidal cell and the apical cross vein of this cell only
slightly S-curved, with the alula broader and more lobate than in
any other species except peringueyi, with the squamae subopaquely
whitish and with whitish fringes; halteres with the knobs pale
yellowish below and almost black above. Head with the eyes in
contact for a long distance, as in peringueyi; antennae with joint 1
stout as in the latter species, markedly thickened at base, at least
5 times as long as 2, with 3 rapidly narrowed to a point in apical
part, otherwise rod-like; proboscis about 24 mm.long. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 294) nearest to that of peringueyi, yet entirely different,
with only short hairs on basal part, without a long recurved spine at
base of apical lappet-like lobes (Ap.Pr.); apically produced part of
ramus (R.) on each side differently shaped, and with a single apically
produced process dorsal to aedeagus (Ae.), which process branches
into a dorsally directed and ventrally directed process respectively
(see Pr. in figures).
954 Annals of the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 54 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality Namaqualand.
This species is separated from peringuey by the characters given in
the key.
1 g A. consors n. sp.
Body black and abdomen also entirely black; legs with the coxae
and femora entirely black, the front tibiae very dark blackish brown
TEXT-FIG. 295.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of J
Amictogeron consors n. sp.
or almost black, the middle and hind tibiae yellowish, becoming
darker apically, the tarsi almost entirely dark or blackish, only the
bases of middle and hind ones obscurely reddish brown or brownish;
pubescence somewhat shaggy, but not very dense, that on first
antennal joints, on genae, head below, occiput, abdomen and coxae
longish, predominantly whitish, that on genae conspicuous, the long
hairs on first antennal joints, those on ocellar tubercle and along
hind margin of eyes on occiput down to head below black, without
any distinct visible black intermixed hairs on thorax above, pubes-
cence on entire abdomen and body below whitish, with the fine
scaling (where not denuded) gleaming whitish, with very feeble brassy
reflections on abdomen above, more whitish and slightly denser on
venter, the scaling on legs silvery whitish; wings glassy hyaline,
iridescent, with the costal cell and extreme base subopaquely milky
whitish, the apical part of costal cell yellowish, with the veins very
dark blackish brown, tending to be more brownish at base, with the
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 955
discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell, with the second
submarginal cell narrowed basally, its upper vein not very rapidly
bent down to third longitudinal vein, with the squamae subpellucid;
halteres yellowish, the knobs yellowish below but extensively very
dark blackish brown above and around sides. Head with the eyes
in actual contact for a distance a little more than 4 times as long as
ocellar tubercle, the line of contact impressed; frons depressed,
small; face broadish, not prominent; antennae with joint 1 stoutish,
distinctly thickened towards base, with longish hairs above and below,
quite 4 times as long as 2, with 3 rod-like, only gradually tapering
to a point in apical part; proboscis about 2 mm. long. Hypopygium
(text-fig. 295) with the lateral ramus on each side from basal part
broadened apically (as seen in left-hand figure), its middle part on
each side abutting on middle part of aedeagus, produced apically
into an outwardly directed hook; process dorsal to aedeagus ending
apically in a longer and shorter process; middle aedeagal part also
produced dorsally into an apically directed short process (see figure
on left).
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 4 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality—Karoo: Prince Albert Distr.; Spitzkop (near Meiring’s
Poort in the Swartbergen) (Mus. Staff, Nov. 1935).
This species belongs to the peringueyi and barbatus-series, but is
intermediate between them and the other species with thickened first
antennal joints. From the specimen from O’okiep (labelled as
barbatus) it differs in having less thickened first antennal joints, less
dense pubescence, much darker femora and anterior tibiae and
almost black veins in the wings. From peringueyi n. sp. it differs in
the less thickened first antennal joints, predominantly whitish
pubescence and also by the almost black wing-venation. The hypo-
pygium more closely resembles that of barbatus (cf. text-fig. 294), but
differs in essential details when these figures are compared.
1 2 A. capicolus n. sp.
Body black; humeral angle, sclerite on each side above front coxa,
posterior part of metapleural area, ventral lobes of segment 8 and
last tergite yellowish; legs with only the front coxae predominantly
yellowish, the middle and hind femora, all the tibiae and basal parts
of tarsi yellowish, only the apical parts of femora above and extreme
956 Annals of the South African Museum.
apices of tibiae tending to be brownish; pubescence with the long
hairs on genae, head below and the hair on pleurae, coxae, femora
and abdomen silvery whitish, the hair on antennal joint 1 dense and
black, that on frons and tubercle also black, that on occiput sericeous
yellowish, the sparse hairs on thorax above blackish, but intermixed
anterolaterally with sericeous yellowish to whitish ones, with the
longer hairs at apex of abdomen black, with the fine scaling on body
above denser on abdomen, sericeous yellowish, especially on abdomen,
silvery whitish on venter and femora; wings hyaline, iridescent,
becoming very faintly whitish towards base, the veins very dark
brownish, the discal cross vein at about middle of discoidal cell,
with the apical cross vein of this latter cell more or less symmetrically
S-curved; halteres with the knobs blackish brown above. Head
with the interocular space slightly less than 2 times as broad as
tubercle; antennae with joint 1 comparatively short and stout,
distinctly slightly thickened at base, quite 4 times as long as 2;
proboscis about 2 mm. long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 44 mm.
Length of wing: about 44 mm.
Locality.i—_8.W. Cape Province: Cape Peninsula; Fish Hoek
(Munro, Oct. 1931).
1 29 A. montanus n. sp.
Very near capicolus, differing only in having the sides of abdominal
segments 1 and 2 broadly reddish yellow, entire ventral segment 1,
the hind margins of the other ventral segments broadly and even sides
of hind margins of tergites 5-7, in addition to 8 and the terminal
segments, pale reddish or yellowish brown, all the coxae yellowish,
in having even darker veins in wings, a distinctly more obliquely
S-curved apical cross vein to discoidal cell, the upper limb of which is
distinctly more curved than lower one, in having slightly shorter black
hairs on first antennal joints, distinctly more yellowish or sericeous
yellowish hairs at base of abdomen above, deeper golden scaling on
abdomen above and on thorax and also in having more slender
first antennal joints, which are scarcely visibly thickened at their
bases.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 44 mm.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 957
Locality—S.W. Cape Province: Fransch Hoek (Simmonds,
Nov.—Dec. 1930).
When the $¢ of both this and the above species are known this 9
may prove to be only a form of the preceding species.
1 2 A. waltoni un. sp.
Body black; humeral part, sclerite above each front coxa, greater
part of metapleurae, sides of first abdominal segment, hind margins of
ventral segments, the apical part of abdomen, the femora, tibiae and
basal parts of tarsi yellowish; coxae tending to be infused with brownish
and front femora slightly more brownish; pubescence with the erect
bristly hairs dark blackish brown on first antennal joints, frons, upper
part of occiput, thorax and scutellum above, those on genae, head
below and entire body below whitish, those on abdomen also whitish,
but those on hind margins of tergites 6-9 and even on the ventral
segment before the ventral lobes black, with the fine depressed scaling
comparatively dense and conspicuous on body, especially on abdomen,
pale brassy yellowish, becoming whiter on sides of abdomen and silvery
whitish on venter and on femora; wings hyaline, iridescent, with the
veins brownish, the discal cross vein at about the middle of discoidal
cell, the apical cross vein of this cell unsymmetrically S-curved, with
the second submarginal cell almost parallel-sided, the upper vein
rapidly bent down, almost at right angles, to third longitudinal vein;
halteres with the knobs yellowish below and brownish above. Head
with the interocular space on vertex a little broader than tubercle;
antennae with joint 1 rod-like, not thickened at base, a little more
than 4 times as long as 2, with 3 very slender, scarcely broader at
base than towards apex; proboscis about 34 mm. long; palps brownish
and comparatively long.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 5 mm.
Length of wing: about 6 mm.
Locality —E. Cape Province: Albany Distr.; Resolution (Walton,
28/9/27).
From cheilicterus this species differs in having more hyaline wings,
paler venation, shorter first antennal joints, more uniformly yellowish
femora and no yellowish spot on face.
958 Annals of the South African Museum.
Gen. Pseudoamictus Big.
(P. 342, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., vol. lxi, 1892; Paramonow, p. 477, Trav.
Mus. Zool. Kiev, tom. xv, No. 9, 1930; syn.=Pseudempis Bezz.
(p. 94, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii, 1921), by Bezzi himself on
p. 473, loc. cit., under Gonarthrus chioneus and again by Para-
monow on pp. 479 and 480, loc. cit.).
The identity of this genus has up to now been wrapped in confusion.
In 1828 Wiedemann (p. 353, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins. 1) described an
insect from the Cape as Amictus heteropterus, the wing-venation of
which, according to Wiedemann himself, deviated from that of Amictus
Wied. s. str. (p. 352 and 353, loc. cit.). Macquart (p. 113, Dipt. Exot.
11) in 1840 again referred briefly to the genus Amictus and gave a
figure of the wing of A. heteropterus on Pl. 11, fig. 5, loc. cit. In 1892
Bigot drew up a key to separate the genera of Bombyludae (pp. 327-342,
Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., vol. 1xi) in which he referred Amictus heteropterus
Wied. to a new genus Pseudoamictus (p. 342, loc. cit.), a generic name
which was ignored by Becker in his more comprehensive key to the
subfamilies and genera of Bombyludae (pp. 432-442, Ann. Mus. Zool.
Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., vol. xvu, 1912). In 1921 Bezzi again ignored
Bigot’s generic name and redescribed Amictus heteropterus as Pseu-
dempis (p. 94, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xviii), which genus he, however,
subsequently referred to Pseudoamictus Big. as a synonym in an ap-
pendix to his paper (p. 473, loc. cit.). Finally in 1930 Paramonow
reproduced the description of Bezzi’s Pseudempis, comparing it with
his own and Wiedemann’s description of Amictus heteropterus and, not
having seen Bezzi’s synonymic note on Pseudempis, expressed his
doubt as to the validity of Pseudempis as a separate genus from
Pseudoamictus Big.
After a careful comparison of the specimens on which Bezzi based
the description of Pseudempis with the descriptions of Pseudoamictus
(=Amuictus) heteropterus given by Wiedemann and Paramonow, no
other conclusion can be arrived at but that Pseudempis is generically
identical with Pseudoamictus Big. . Moreover, one g-specimen in the
South African Museum has a label “B.170” on it, thus proving that
it was one specimen of the batch of Bombyliidae forwarded to Bigot
by Peringuey in 1892. Paramonow’s doubts are to be ascribed to
slight inaccuracies in Bezzi’s generic description of Pseudempis and
Bezzi’s confusion of a g-specimen of heteropterus s. str. with the 2 of
another species from Namaqualand.
In addition to heteropterus (Wied.) and bezzi (Par.), the species
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 959
luctuosus, described by Bezzi under Geron, should also be referred to
Pseudoamictus. As none of the authors have given a satisfactory
generic description of this genus, it is necessary to redescribe it here
and to compare it with Geron and Amictogeron:—
Body with the thorax only slightly convex or humped above, much
less so than in the other two genera; pleural parts thus less high and
compressed; head, pleurae, stripes or bands on thorax above and the
venter also with much greyish or slaty grey bloom. Head on the whole
less, steep, with a tendency to be more dorso-ventrally flattened,
slightly broader; face, as in Amuctogeron, entirely bare, but more
uniformly convex, not distinctly depressed on sides or medially convex;
genae broad, much broader than in Geron or Amictogeron, the distance
from eye to eye across buccal cavity considerably broader than across
face or front part of frons, not almost subparallel as in the other two
‘genera, with the narrow groove on each side of buccal rims, separating
them from genae, also more distinct, the genae not bare in the middle
as in Geron, but only the extreme upper parts bare as in Amuictogeron;
eyes in gd separated above, even if only very narrowly and if sub-
contiguous then only so for a very short distance, never in actual
contact for a long distance; interocular space on vertex in 9? not
broader than about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons in
33 larger, broader and longer than in either Geron or Amuictogeron;
antennae with the first joints separated or slightly separated at their
bases, elongate, stout or incrassate, slightly thicker basally, at least
6 times as long as second joints, with dense and long, dark or blackish
hairs, especially in $g, with the second joints globular, with the
third joints about equal, or subequal, in length to the first, straight,
thicker at their bases and gradually tapering apically, the apical part,
however, more marked off and slender, passing into an indistinctly
marked off terminal joint, which ends in a minute style; palps very
slender, but slightly longer than in Geron or Amictogeron, no separate
apical joint being distinctly visible. Wangs elongate, usually darkly
infuscated, with a tendency for base of second submarginal cell to be
opposite or nearly opposite apex of discoidal cell, the discal cross vein,
unlike that of Geron and Amictogeron, thus tending to be distinctly
farther removed from basal fork of second and third longitudinal veins
than from base of second submarginal cell; discal cross vein at about,
or beyond, middle of discoidal cell; apical cross vein of discoidal cell
markedly S-curved; anal cell acute apically, sessile on hind border or
only very shortly stalked; axillary lobe slightly less lobate and more
like that of Amictogeron; alula narrow like that of Amictogeron and
960 Annals of the South African Museum.
not so distinctly lobate as in Geron. Legs without any spines on
femora below, only fine hairs; tibiae with the spicules on the whole
less developed than in Geron and Amuctogeron, being practically
confined to apical parts or lower apical parts of the tibiae, with at
least one apical spur on middle tibiae below slightly longer and stouter
than the others as in the other two genera; tarsi also with more
numerous and slightly longer spicules in a clump or patch at bases of
first joints below. Abdomen in 99 also with segment 8 produced below
into a lobe on each side. Pubescence less dense and also shorter than
in Geron, without any flattened, silvery white scaling on head or sides
of head, composed of erect hairs, shorter in 99 and subdepressed or de-
pressed, much denser and finer hairs or hair-like scaling, with the erect
hairs denser on occiput and thorax, dense and long on genae and head
below, dense on coxae, sparse on pleurae, the metapleural part almost
bare, denser again on abdomen, where the hairs are slightly longer across
hind margins of segments (no distinct bristles being present), with the
finer depressed pubescence and scaling very dense on abdomen. Hypo-
pyguum of 3S (text-figs. 296-298) very much like that of Amictogeron,
also with a single, undivided basal part, ending apically on each side
in an apical lappet-like lobe, which is provided dorsally with a spine
as in Amictogeron, with the strongly chitinised strand on each side
from base of each apical lappet-like process obliquely to side some-
times provided with a strong apically directed spine; ramus on each
side produced apically into a strap-like process or a bifid process;
central guide-like part, abutting on bases of rami, with or without an
apically directed prong on each side and dorsal to aedeagus. The
general structure of the hypopygium can be better made out from
the figures. Contrary to Paramonow’s statement, this genus is not
nearest to Phthiria Meig., a genus which is entirely different in very
important respects, but to Amictogeron and Geron together with which
it is to be referred to an entirely separate subfamily, the Geroninae,
defined above.
Key to the known species.
1. (4) Large species, about 9-103 mm. long, with more elongate wings, about
10-12 mm. long; head more subglobular, with the eyes in gg more
broadly separated above, only a little narrower than ocellar tubercle at
narrowest part, with the frons in 99 almost bare, only a few darkish
hairs in front of tubercle, more distinctly transversely depressed towards
anterior part, with antennal joint 1 slightly less separated from its
partner at base, the face above buccal cavity not conspicuously yellowish;
wings paler, more yellowish brown, the veins brownish to dark brownish,
_— =”
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 961
with the discal cross vein more distinctly beyond middle of discoidal
cell; humeral angle, anterior spiracular part, posterior calli, hind
margins of venter and apex of venter, as well as hind margins of some
tergites in some specimens, yellowish or yellowish red; femora in both
sexes predominantly or entirely yellowish like the tibiae and greater
part of tarsi; pubescence with the dark hairs on body above and on
antennae more dark brownish to blackish or mauvish brown, and with
the scaling on abdomen above deeper yellowish or deep golden; hypo-
pygium of $9 (text-figs. 296 and 297) with a strong apically directed
spine on each side ventrally on chitinised strand extending obliquely
from base of apical lappets to side, the central guide produced apically
on each side above aedeagus into a blade-like prong, and the apical part
of ramus not ending in two spines : : ‘ eo ee
2. (3) Hair on genae, head below, sides of head, Sieniae: coxae, venter and the
depressed scaling or intermixed hairs on thorax above and on scutellum
entirely or predominantly yellowish or golden, with the hairs on antennal
joint 1, on ocellar tubercle, thorax above and scutellum usually more
yellowish brown or dark brownish to purplish, those on abdomen
predominantly yellowish, those on antennae also distinctly longer and
with a more rufous brown tint towards apex; antennal joint 1 with a
distinct reddish or brownish tint and often more or less reddish towards
apices; interocular space on vertex in 99 a little narrower or scarcely
2 times as broad as tubercle; legs with all the femora entirely yellowish
and with more dull yellowish scaling on them; hypopygium of ¢ (text-
fig. 296)- . 2 . 6 & heteropterus (Wied.) (and varieties) (p. 962).
3. (2) Hair on genae, head below, sides of head, the pleurae, venter and coxae
and the scaling on thorax and scutellum entirely silvery whitish, even
the hair towards base of abdomen whitish, the hairs on antennae, ocellar
tubercle, thorax and scutellum and also towards apex of abdomen
usually darker and more mauvish or purplish black, those on rest of
abdomen yellowish, those on antennae distinctly shorter and less bushy,
especially in g, and dark purplish brown; antennal joint 1 entirely very
dark or black; interocular space in 2 about 2 times as broad as tubercle;
legs with the front femora predominantly castaneous brown, even the
others below towards their bases sometimes more castaneous brown to
dark brownish; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 297)
3S & bezzw (Par.) (p. 964).
(n.n. heteropterus (Bezz.) nec Wied.)
4, (1) Much smaller species, only about 5-54 mm. long, with less elongate wings,
only about 5-6 mm. long; head distinctly more dorso-ventrally depressed,
with the eyes in gg more narrowly, or scarcely, separated at narrowest
part where they are subcontiguous and only about as broad as front
ocellus, with the frons in 99 distinctly more convex, only depressed
medially anteriorly and with more numerous short bristly hairs, with
the first antennal joints more separated basally, with the face above
and buccal cavity pale ivory yellowish; wings darker, more blackish
brown, the veins also darker and very dark blackish brown to black,
with the discal cross vein nearer middle, or at about middle, of discoidal
cell; all these sites entirely dark or black in both sexes, only segment 8
962 Annals of the South African Museum.
below and its lobes in 99 yellowish; femora in both sexes black, the tibiae
yellowish red to reddish and the greater part of tarsi dark; pubescence
with the dark erect hairs on antennae above and body above black and
slightly longer relative to body, with the scaling on abdomen above paler,
more sericeous yellowish; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 298) with only a
slender spine on each side nearer sides of apical lappet-like lobes, without
an apically directed process on each side and above aedeagus, and with
the apical part of ramus ending in 2 characteristic spines
3 & luctuosus (Bezz.) (p. 965).
P. heteropterus (Wied.).
(P. 353, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1, Tab. IV, fig. 7, 1828; Bezzi,
p. 94, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvi, 1921, as Pseudempis; Para-
monow, p. 477, Trav. Mus. Zool. Kiev, tom. xv, No. 9, 1930.)
After a careful comparison of the specimens in the South African
Museum with the descriptions of Wiedemann and Paramonow, there
is no doubt that the g-specimen of Pseudempis heteropterus, referred
to by Bezzi, as well as some other $4 and a 9 from Cape Town are
in fact Pseudoamictus heteropterus. Paramonow’s doubts about the
conspecificity of Bezzi’s species and this species are in part correct,
for the 2 from Namaqualand is a slightly different species. As
Bezzi based the generic description of Pseudempis on a § and a 2
belonging to different forms, he not only confused slight specific
differences but also sexual differences. The species is very easily
recognised by its resemblance to an Hmpid or a Scatophaga as stated
by Paramonow, by its rather elongated yellowish brown wings, the
middle parts of the cells of which are sometimes slightly clearer or
more translucent, by its long and thickened first antennal joints, its
yellowish legs, predominantly yellowish hair on head below and body
below (one ¢ has the hair below slightly more whitish), the dark
brownish to purplish brown erect hairs on antennae, occiput, thorax
above and apical part of abdomen and more yellowish or golden
hairs on greater part of scutellum and abdomen, by the much denser,
finer, depressed golden scaling above, especially on abdomen; longish
lobes on segment 8 below in $2 yellowish, the hind margins on abdomen
yellowish to reddish yellow, narrow and sometimes not distinct above,
but broad on venter. The wing-venation or wing-characters are
slightly variable and not specifically reliable, the infuscation being
even slightly darker in some specimens, and the supernumerary small
cell at inner base of second posterior cell, mentioned by Paramonow,
cannot be a specific character. That the veins are to a certain
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 963
extent unstable is proved by the fact that the S-curved apical cross
vein of discoidal cell sometimes has an indication of a short stump or
appendix nearer upper loop on one wing or on both wings and the
anal cell is shortly stalked, sessile, or even narrowly open on hind
border. The eyes in $¢ are separated above, at narrowest part, a
little narrower than ocellar tubercle, the inner margins of eyes diverg-
ing posteriorly and anteriorly from this point, the part in front of
tubercle being slightly raised and the frons itself slightly depressed,
/ a;
A ie
ce
tC .
be
ee
ee
ee
Co.
,
TExtT-FIG. 296.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium and side view
of aedeagus and prongs in ¢ Pseudoamictus heteropterus (Wied.).
with a tuft of a few purplish brown hairs at base of depression on
each side. The interocular space on vertex in 92 is only very little
less than 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle, and the frons in 99 is
also shghtly, but broadly, depressed anteriorly, almost entirely bare,
with only a few indistinct hairs on each side a little in front of tubercle.
The hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 296) with the apically directed spine
from oblique chitinous strand on each side, from base of each lappet-
like apical lobe, long and conspicuous (see lateral and ventral views
in the figures); the apically produced process, on each side from each
ramus, strap-like, and also with a shorter sharp process from the
base of each on the outer side; aedeagus and the contiguous apically
directed processes dorsal to it are shown in dotted outline in left-hand
figure and separately in the right-hand figure. A g and 2 from Ceres
District in the Cold Bokkeveld appear to constitute a more distinct
variety. From the Cape specimens, which I take to represent the
more typical form, they differ in being darker, with even darker
blackish brown or very dark purplish brown hair on antennal joint 1,
964 Annals of the South African Museum.
ocellar tubercle and on disc of thorax, in having distinctly darker
brownish wings, which appear more purplish brown and with darker
veins, in having the interocular space on vertex in @ slightly broader
and nearly 2 times as broad as tubercle, and in 3, at narrowest part,
about as broad as tubercle. In the colour of the wings they resemble
the next form bezzi (Par.) from which they differ, however, in having
golden hair on genae and thorax below, and golden scaling on thorax
above.
Length of body: about 9-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-12 mm.
Locality.—S. Western Cape Province.
TS 200" Po bezen {Par
(N.n. for heteropterus Bezz. nec Wied., p. 478, Trav. Mus. Zool.
Kiev, tom. xv, No. 9, 1930; Bezzi, p. 95, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, as Pseudempis.)
One 9-specimen, referred to by Bezzi (p. 95, loc. cit.), is slightly
different from heteropterus s. str. Together with a $ from the same
locality and another 2 from Namaqualand, this specimen is here
referred to bezzw, a new name to which Paramonow referred
Bezzi’s specimens (in Bezzi’s material actually applicable only to
the 9-specimen).
This species is scarcely distinguishable from heteropterus. Com-
pared with the g and 9 of the latter it differs in having slightly darker |
wings and darker veins; legs with the front femora predominantly
dark brownish and the undersurfaces of the others also shghtly
brownish towards the bases, with the tarsi in 99 at least, especially
front ones, very slightly more thickened, with the scaling on the
femora distinctly more silvery whitish and not dull yellowish white;
pubescence with the erect hairs on genae, head below, sides of head,
on entire pleurae, on coxae, and on venter as well as the fine depressed
scaling and intermixed depressed hairs on thorax, scutellum and base
of abdomen distinctly frosty or silvery whitish and not yellowish or
golden, with the hairs on first antennal joints distinctly shorter and
less bushy and entirely very dark purplish brown or blackish, those
on extreme upper parts of genae in g, those on thorax above, on part
of scutellum and towards apex of abdomen also darker and more
purplish black than in heteropterus. Head with antennal joint 1
entirely black, not tending to be brownish, with the interocular space
in 99 only slightly broader than in heteropterus and quite 2 times as
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 965
broad as tubercle. The hypopygium. (text-fig. 297) very much like
that of heteropterus, but the spine on each side near base ventrally
of apical lappet-like lobes less developed, with the ramus slightly
—
(Ly Pe Clb lre WAR :
+ Wie 5 Rt) ‘
., Sos
DY
”
' ~ ~
LEP tie had
Caan
TExt-Fic. 297.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of ¢
Pseudoamictus bezzi (Par.).
different (cf. text-figures), with the aedeagus much longer and the
prongs dorsal to it also longer, etc.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 10-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 11-12 mm.
Locality — Namaqualand: O’okep (Lightfoot, Sept. 1890) (Types);
Lelefontein (Lawrence, Sept. 1932).
P. luctuosus (Bezz.).
(P. 99, Ann. S. Atr. Mus., vol. xvin, 1921.)
This species was described by Bezzi under Geron, but as it is
generically different from the latter and also different in many respects
from Amictogeron, and being much closer to heteropterus and bezzii,
it is transferred to Pseudoamictus in this paper. It apparently
constitutes a bridging or transitional species between Amictogeron
and Pseudoamictus with the latter of which it has, however, more in
common. The species is easily recognised by the very darkly
infuscated wings, which have very dark and almost black veins, the
entirely black body, only segment 8 below and its lobes below in
22 being yellowish, by the more or less yellowish white face and
buccal cavity, the entirely black femora, reddish or reddish yellow
VOL. XXXIV. 62
966 _ Annals of the South African Museum.
tibiae, and predominantly dark tarsi, the elongate and stout, some-
what widely separated and black-haired first antennal joints, the
somewhat depressed head, with very narrowly separated, sub-
contiguous eyes above in gd, the narrowest part about as broad as
front ocellus, by the distinctly more convex frons in 99, which has
more numerous black hairs than in the other two species, by the erect
black hairs on antennae, occiput, thorax above, sides of thorax,
TEXT-FIG. 298.—Side and ventral (dorsal) views of hypopygium of 3
Pseudoamictus luctuosus (Bezz).
scutellum, and towards apex of abdomen, all of which are compara-
tively longer than in the other species, especially in gg and also by
the paler, more sericeous yellowish scaling on body above. Hypo-
pyguum of 3 (text-fig. 298) is also entirely different from that of
heteropterus (cf. text-fig. 296) in having no apically directed prongs
from central guide on each side above aedeagus, in having the
apically produced part of ramus on each side ending in 2 spines, etc.
The hypopygium has a greater resemblance to the type found in
Amuctogeron.
Types in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 5-54 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-6 mm.
Locality.— Basutoland: Maseru (Dieterlin).
Subfam. Cyrtoswnae.
This subfamily is represented in the Palaearctic region by a number
of genera, chiefly characterised by a reduced wing-venation. As far
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 967
as | am aware, only two insects belonging to this subfamily have been
described from Southern Africa. This omission is probably due to
the fact that the Cyrtosiines are amongst the smallest of known
Bombyludae and thus more likely to escape the attention of collectors
rather than to a natural paucity of species. Some Palaearctic forms
have been collected on flowers, and there is reason to believe that the
Kthiopian representatives of the same genera or indigenous genera
are also anthophilous and that, when more attention is given in this
direction, many more interesting forms will have to be added to our
list. Basing the diagnostic characters of this subfamily on the reduced
and anomalous wing-venation, as defined by Becker and others, the
South African representatives of Platypygus Lw. and Empidideicus
Beck. and the new genus Onchopelma, described in this paper, are
characterised as follows:—
Body usually small, with extensive yellow markings, even in 3d;
pubescence very poorly developed, short, sparse, and inconspicuous,
the greater part of head, pleural and pectoral regions being bare and
smooth, much as in members of the Heterotropinae. Head sub-
globular or sometimes also elongate, and with the occipital region
more developed, the eyes being shifted forwards; frons sometimes
equally broad in both sexes on the vertex, sometimes depressed and
eroove-like in both sexes, with the inner margins of eyes converging
or tending to converge anteriorly; antennae in all cases distinctly
quadriarticulate, a distinct and prominent fourth joint, sometimes
resembling a stylar element, being conspicuous (text-figs. 299, 302 a
and 305 a), with the third joints broader and longer and with all
the joints usually covered with distinct, short pubescence or hairs;
proboscis rarely very long, usually short and stoutish; palps, in the
South African forms seen by me at least, minute, sometimes not
discernible and, when visible, inconspicuously small. Thorax
roundly convex from side, humped in appearance. Wangs (text-
figs. 300, 302 6 and 305 b) in all cases without a second submarginal
cell, the position of this cell being taken up by the first posterior cell,
sometimes without a discoidal cell, and in some forms even without a
marginal cell, usually with 4 posterior cells present, with the anal cell
open or even closed apically, with the alula wanting or very vestigial,
the squamae much reduced in size and without any distinct basal
comb. Legs usually shortish, without any spines on femora below,
only with fine pubescent hairs, without any distinct spicules on tibiae,
their apical spurs even minute and inconspicuous; tarsi with the
basal joints of hind ones in some $¢ produced basally into a hook-like,
968 Annals of the South African Museum.
curved process (text-fig. 303); claws and pulvilli, though small, well
developed in all the known species. Hypopygium of 3d (text-figs.
301 6, 304 b, 806 and 307) usually very minute, the various structures
very difficult to make out even under a very high power. The basal
parts are separated as in Bombyliinae and usually with short, bristly
hairs dorsally above. True apical joints are not present, but these
are represented by lobes or processes (Ap.Pr.). At the bases of these
ventrally on each side there is an apically directed hook. The
aedeagal complex ends apically in a distinct aedeagus (Ae.) the
broadened base of which has on each side attached to it or connected
with it a basally directed rod (Ro.), and sometimes even a ventrally
directed rod (text-fig. 304, 6, V.Ro.). The middle part has the usual
lateral struts (L.Str.) and a basally directed basal strut (Ba.Str.).
The latter is unusual in that it has a dorsal process (seen in side views)
or a flattened extension (text-fig. 304, 6), and sometimes even a
flattened lateral process on each side (text-figs. 306 and 307). The
last sternite in the $g usually has the upper apical angle or part on
each side prolonged or produced into a distinct, spine-like process
(text-figs. 301 and 304, a).
Of the three genera* represented in the collections, the new
genus Onchopelma is a very peculiar genus and not represented in the
Palaearctic Region. The known representative of the genus Platy-
pugus Lw. is not genotypical but is represented by a form which 1s
very near the subgenus Cyrtisiopsis Séguy, but having different
wing-characters, is here referred to a new subgenus Ceratolaemus. In
addition to a fairly typical representative of the genus Empidideicus
Beck. there is also represented a species which is not genotypical in
its wing-characters and which is here placed in a new subgenus
Anomaloptilus. The two species Empididercus beckert and Glabellula
mellea, which are unknown to me and which have been described by
Bezzi from Namaqualand (see pp. 180-181, Denkschr. Med.-Nat.
Ges. Jena, Bd. 13 (Bombylidae, pp. 177-181), fig. 1, 1908) also
appear to belong to the Cyrtoswnae.
Gen. Platypygus Lw.
(P. 127, Ent. Zeit. Stettin, v, 1844; Hngel, p. 120, Die Fliegen.
d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 69 (Bombylidae), 1933.)
There is no doubt that the specimens before me belong to this genus,
all the known Palaearctic species of which have been described by
* For Doliopteryx n. gen. near Wmpidideicus see Appendix in Part II, vol. xxxv.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 969
Engel (pp. 121-127, loc. cit.) after Paramonow’s detailed descriptions
and keys. Itis, however, evident that the ¢ and $2 before me differ
from all the Palaearctic species in having no discoidal cell in the wings
and also in having a more distinct and longer basally directed process
on head below. These specimens are much nearer to the Subgen.
Cyrtisiopsis Séguy (see Engel, p. 9, Lief. 65, and p. 120, Lief. 69, loc.
cit.), to the species melleus Lw., of which there appears to be much
external resemblance (cf. text-fig. 58, Engel, loc. cit.) but from which
they differ in having no discoidal cell in the wings, a much longer and
more spine-like process in neck region on head below, etc. In view
of the constant absence of a discoidal cell and the other slight
differences, a new subgenus Ceratolaemus is proposed for this South
African representative of Platypygus.
Ceratolaemus n. subgen.
The characters of Platypygus and the new subgenus are :—
Body small, somewhat elongate and with much yellow markings;
pubescence very short and very sparse, the greater part of body being
‘
Ly
Text-Fic. 299.—Head and antenna of ¢ Platypygus (Ceratolaemus n. subgen.)
xanthogrammus n. sp.
almost bare and shining, apparently slightly denser, or at least more
evident in g, evident only on occipital part, disc of thorax, across
posterior margin of scutellum, on abdomen and on legs, entirely absent
on pleural parts and very fine on venter, that on femora in $ apparently
slightly longer and more conspicuous. Head (text-fig. 299) elongated,
much longer than broad, very different from the usual Bombyliud-
head, characterised by a greater development of the posterior part;
occipital part and part behind eyes remarkably developed, convex,
970 Annals of the South African Museum.
the occiput behind ocelli not flattened or depressed, but continuously
rounded and convex with the sides behind eyes and together narrowed
to neck; head below and behind eyes slightly flattened and produced
basally into a backwardly projecting conical process or tooth just
below neck and just about touching the prosternal region; eyes
slightly shifted forwards, comparatively large in both sexes, con-
tiguous or with their margins only narrowly separated on head below,
comparatively broadly separated above on vertex in both sexes and
with a minute kink in their inner margins on each side just behind
antennal insertions; frons broad in both sexes, very gradually
TEext-FIG. 300.—Wing of Platypygus (Ceratolaemus n. subgen.) xanthogrammus
ne sp:
narrowed apically, distinctly depressed in both sexes and more so
apically; facial region in front of antennae somewhat narrow, but
rather prominently raised from a side view, appearing carinate, with
the face itself, in front of antennal insertions, short and apically
slightly raised above level of antennal insertions, the base thus
slightly depressed, with the genae narrow, not demarcated from rims
of buccal cavity by a distinct groove, with the buccal cavity itself
short and narrow; ocelli situated in form of a triangle, but not raised
tubercle-like above the surface, the ocelli rather far apart; antennae
(cf. text-fig. 299) with the first joints very short, not, or scarcely,
longer than second joints, situated close together in the depressed part
of head (deeper apical part of frontal depression), with the second
joints transverse, with the third joints the broadest, somewhat ovate,
broadest nearer base, with a distinct and conspicuous terminal joint
at apex of the third, ending apically in some fine bristles and a stylar
element, with fine, short, bristly hairs on all the joints; proboscis
rather short, stout, horny, covered with fine spinules and with the
labella short, narrow and pointed; palps not visible. Thorax broader
than head, roundly almost semicircularly rounded and convex from
side, thus appearing humped, slightly laterally compressed, the front
part steep to pronotal region and neck. Wungs (text-fig. 300) narrowed
ee |
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 971
at bases, without any basal comb, with only 1 submarginal cell,
without any discoidal cell, with 4 posterior cells of which the first is
parallel to axis of wing, opening at apex of wing like a submarginal
cell, with the anal cell open, the axillary lobe poorly developed and
not very broadly lobate, with the alula wanting and with the micro-
trichiae along hind border and apical border well developed and with
the fine, microscopic hairs on surface of wings more conspicuous than
in the following genera. Abdomen with 7 visible segments above in 3
and 8 in 99, with the hypopygium of ¢ partly visible externally and
with a slight, short, spout-like prominence apically in 99, with the
upper apical angle on each side of last sternite in ¢ produced into a
long spine-like process (text-fig. 301, a). Legs without any spines on
femora or distinct spicules on tibiae, only short hairs being present,
the apices of tibiae, however, with small spurs below; claws and
pulvilli well developed, with the apical joint of tarsi provided with
3 longish bristly hairs apically above. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig.
301, 6) with the basal parts (Ba.Pt.) as shown in figures; the apical
process (Ap.Pr.) in form of a bidentate structure; aedeagal complex
with the aedeagus (Ae.) distinct and slender and joined on to basal
parts by a ramus (R.) on each side; the basal strut (Ba.Str.) and
lateral struts cannot be distinctly made out and are minute in contrast
with the same structures in Onchopelma and Empidideicus; the basally
directed rod on each side (Ro.) is, however, distinct.
This genus and subgenus differs from all other South African
Cyrtosiinae by the peculiar type of elongated head, the great develop-
ment of the occipital region and the presence of a horizontal, back-
wardly directed, dentate process on head below. From the description
of Cyrtosia Perr. (Perris, p. 55, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., vol. vin, Pl. 7,
figs. a-2, 1839) and Becker (p. 436, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp. St.
Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912) this genus differs by the distinctly more
elongate head, presence of a process on head below, absence of visible
palps, absence of an alula, presence of only 2 pulvilli, etc. Only one
species is known, and this species P. (Ceratolaemus) xanthogrammus
n. sp. is also the type of the new subgenus.
137 9° P. (Ceratolaemus) xcanthogrammus 0. sp.
Head above and behind eyes, edges of buccal rims and front part of
face just above buccal cavity, proboscis, greater part of thorax above,
pectus and broad basal parts of abdominal segments above shining
black, the pectoral region, however, duller black; antennae very dark
972 Annals of the South African Museum.
blackish brown; face just in front of antennae and to a certain extent
part of the depression in which antennae are situated, genal parts and
interior of buccal cavity, basal membrane of proboscis, a median stripe
or band on head below, ending towards apex of backwardly projecting
process on head below, the humeral parts of thorax on each side, a
triangular spot on each side of thorax above mesopleuron, the posterior
calli, entire scutellum, greater part of mesopleuron, pteropleuron,
metapleurae in part and a longitudinal band across pleurae just above
a ------- - -
(a) (0)
Text-FIG. 301.—(a) Process on each side of last sternite of g of Platypygus
(Ceratolaemus n. subgen.) xanthogrammus n. sp. (6) Side and ventral views
of hypopygium of ¢ of same species.
blackish sternopleural parts, the hind margins of abdominal tergites
(broader in 92 and becoming broader towards apex in both sexes),
very broad hind margins of, or practically entire, venter in both sexes,
pale yellowish; legs, including the coxae, also predominantly pale
yellowish, the femora above and the extreme apices of the tibiae very
slightly darker in some specimens, with the tarsi becoming distinctly
darker and more blackish brown towards apices, the basal part being
yellowish; pubescence short, slightly denser and more evident in 3,
denser and shorter on occipital part in both sexes, also shorter on
abdomen than on thorax, entirely dark blackish brown, but having a
paler sericeous sheen in certain lights, that towards apical part of
abdomen above, however, paler and more sericeous in certain lights
and that on venter sericeous, that on coxae short, sparse and pale,
that on femora dark and slightly longer and more evident in 3, that
on tibiae and tarsi also dark, but all the hairs on legs with a slight
——— = = =—
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 973
sericeous sheen in certain lights; wings (text-fig. 300) with a distinct,
but faint, yellowish brownish tinge, iridescent, with the veins dark
brownish to blackish brown in basal half and in costal part, becoming
slightly paler towards apex, with the first basal cell distinctly longer
than second one, with the squamae opaquely yellowish and with a
very sparse fringe of short, pale hairs; halteres yellowish, with the
knobs more or less slightly brownish above and almost white below.
Head (text-fig. 299) subequal to, or only a little shorter than, thorax
(without scutellum), with the ocelli yellowish or yellowish red, with the
interocular space on vertex equally broad in both sexes, not quite 2
times as broad as distance between two posterior ocelli, the inner
margins of eyes only gradually narrowing anteriorly, appearing almost
subparallel; frons deeply impressed, slightly deeper anteriorly;
antennae (text-fig. 299) situated in anterior depression of frons, with
the joints as described for the genus and as shown in text-figure;
proboscis about 4-1 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3S (text-fig. 301, b)
as described for the genus. The different structures are very difficult
to make out even under a very high power and the basal strut in this
figure is more or less suppositional.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 24-24 mm.
Length of wing: about 24-3 mm.
Locality. Natal: Weenen (Thomasset, 5/1924) (Holotype);
(Thomasset, 8/1924) (Allotype); (Thomasset, 4/1924, 6-7/1923).
Onchopelma n. gen.
Body with the integument shining, especially above, with much
yellow markings, especially in 92; pubescence very fine and soft, on
the whole sparse, longer than in the other described Cyrtosiine-
genera, longer and denser on ocellar tubercle, sides of thorax, on
humeral parts and on mesopleuron, sparser but not much shorter on
abdomen, distinctly denser and more conspicuous in 4, that on legs
also fine, sometimes longer than in the other genera, that on femora,
especially in 3, slightly longer than on tibiae, the greater part of
head, including frons, face, genae and sides of head behind eyes
and greater part of pleurae and pectus, however, bare, especially in
°°, with the pubescence on venter short and fine. Head subglobular,
about as broad as thorax; occipital region normal, somewhat flattened
or slightly hollowed out medially below ocellar tubercle; ocelli
situated in a triangle on vertex, slightly raised above surface; eyes
974 Annals of the South African Museum.
large, very broadly separated above in 99, in actual contact above
in known 4, with the upper facets in ¢ distinctly coarser than lower
ones, with the inner margins of eyes above in 99 subparallel or only
slightly converging apically; frons broad and more or less convex
in 99, with only a very faint indication of a central longitudinal!
depression at about middle and sometimes with a slight transverse
depression apically, with the frons very small and triangular in g;
face in front of antennae sloping down to meet buccal cavity at an
oblique angle, the front thus slightly prominent; buccal cavity well
developed, deep and broad, its upper edge rectangular, its sides
edge-like and without any or with a scarcely perceptible indication
of a depressed line separating them from eye-margins, distinct genal
regions thus wanting or scarcely indicated; antennae (text-fig 302, a)
well developed, distinctly quadriarticulate, the fourth or terminal
element being conspicuous, joint-like, broad and ending in a stylar
element, with the first joints close together, slightly longer than the
second joints and smoother or less pubescent than the other joints,
with the second joints longer than broad, with the third joints the
longest and slightly broader nearer base, slightly flattened on inner
side; proboscis shortish and comparatively stout or plump, the
labella well developed and with fine hair-like spinules; palps small
and not easily discernible, hidden in basal sheath on each side of
proboscis. Thorax roundly convex from side, humped in appearance,
but to a less extent than in other Cyrtosiines; scutellum transverse.
Wings (text-fig. 302, b) with a marginal cell present, but with only
1 submarginal cell, with 4 posterior cells and without a discoidal cell,
with the anal cell acute apically and stalked, with the vein separating
submarginal cell and first posterior cell and that between anal and
axillary cells markedly straight, with the first basal cell distinctly
much shorter than second one, with the axillary lobe well developed
and more broadly lobate than in other Cyrtosiines, with the alula
reduced or wanting, with the squamae small and much reduced;
halteres shortish and with subglobular or oval knobs. Abdomen
with 7 visible segments in § and 8 in 99, with the greater part of
the g-hypopygium exposed, and with the upper apical angle of last
sternite in g§ very sharply and angularly produced (text-fig. 304, a).
Legs comparatively stout and shortish; femora without any spines
below; tibiae on the whole short and even hind ones not longer
than the femora, without any distinct long spicules, but with short,
bristle-like or spine-like hairs especially below, but with short apical
spurs below; tarsi on the whole short and stoutish, the hind ones in
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 975
S$ more slender and elongate than in 99, with the basal joint of hind
tarsi in $ (text-fig. 303) produced basally into an outwardly directed,
curved, hook-like process, covered with hairs and having a long,
spine-like bristle projecting outwards and upwards; claws and
pulvilli well developed, but slightly more so in 99. Hypopygium of
3 (text-fig. 304, b) with distinct bristly hairs on basal parts (Ba.Pt.),
the basal parts connected to aedeagal complex by their prolonged
basal part; apical processes (Ap.Pr.), corresponding to the beaked
apical joints of Bombyliines, lobe-like and having a stoutish hook
(5)
Text-Fic. 302.—(a) Right antenna of J Onchopelma pulchella n. gen. and
n.sp. (5) Right wing of same.
ventrally at their bases; aedeagal complex with the aedeagus (Ae.)
slender, with the basally directed rod (Ro.) on each side slender, and
also with a ventrally directed apically curved rod-on each side (V.Ro.);
lateral struts (L.Str.) well developed; basal strut (Ba.Str.) without
a process on each side, very broad and with a flattened laterally
extended flange dorsally on each side (best seen in the figures).
This genus is easily recognised by the wing-characters, the quadri-
articulate antennae, the short and stoutish proboscis, shortish legs,
and remarkable hook at base of basal joint of hind tarsus in g¢. In
this latter respect alone this genus is unique in South African Bomby-
ludae. There is no other known South African genus with which
this genus can be compared. Superficially the 92 resemble some 92
of Heterotropinae and of Phthiria in the extensive yellow markings,
but the wing-characters and other generic characters are entirely
different. It shows no resemblance to the other South African
Cyrtosiinae described in this paper. The genotype is O. pulchella n. sp.
The two known species may be separated as follows:—
1. (2) Body with more black, even in 9, the entire occipital region and basal
part of frons shining black, the thorax above entirely shining black
in ¢ and with very extensive black markings in 9, the abdomen pre-
976 Annals of the South African Museum.
dominantly shining black and with only the hind margins ivory yellowish
or whitish, the pleurae entirely shining black; antennae darker and much
longer, with joint 3 much longer than 1 and 2 combined; frons in 2
much broader, quite, or even slightly more than, 2 times as broad as
ocellar tubercle on vertex; face in 2 longer; proboscis distinctly more
slender, with shorter labella; pubescence on body and legs slightly
longer : : 3 2 pulchella n. sp. (p. 976).
2. (1) Body in @ at least pisdomin onthe, wallow. only the medial part of occiput
black, with only 3 black stripes on thorax above, the abodmen pre-
dominantly- yellow, with only a transverse black fascia at bases of
tergites 1-3 and a central and lateral row of black spots on the others,
the pleurae and venter entirely yellow; antennae shorter, with joint 1
and 2 yellow, with joint 3 very much shorter, subequal to 1 and 2
combined; frons much narrower, distinctly less than 2 times as broad
as tubercle on vertex; face much shorter; proboscis distinctly much
plumper and stouter, the labella longer and more developed; pubescence
on body and legs slightly shorter : . & trilineata n. sp. (p. 978).
1g192 O. pulchella n. sp.
Body with the entire occipital region, sides of head behind eyes,
the proboscis, head below, the thorax, scutellum, pleural and pectoral
regions in ¢ brilliantly shining
black; in 2 with the occipital
region, basal half of frons, base of
head below, proboscis, pleural and
pectoral regions, a very broad
central stripe on disc of thorax,
broadened anteriorly and _ pos-
teriorly, a broad sublateral S-
Text-Fic. 303.—Right hind leg of ¢ oyrved mark on each side
Onchopelma pulchella n. gen. and i ‘ : :
n. sp. showing hook at base of tarsus. Coalescing posteriorly with central
stripe, an elongate oblique spot
on each side of thorax just above wing-bases, a lateral stripe on
each side from humeral angle to base of wing and the posterior
half of scutellum brilliantly shining black; frons in 3, front half
of frons in 2, face in both sexes, excepting only the slightly brownish
or darkened medial part, the genal part in both sexes, the sides
of head broadly behind eyes and front part of head below in Q,
a large triangular spot on each side across humeral angle and front
part of thorax in g, two narrow medial stripes on thorax in 9, becoming
broader anteriorly on each side and directed outwards across humeral
part, the broadish sides of thorax in 2 coalescing with humeral part
of central stripes and surrounding oblique black spot on each side,
:
:
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 977
the posterior callar regions in 9, the basal half of scutellum in 9,
and upper margin of mesopleuron in 9 very pale ivory yellowish (pale
areas in dg, however, slightly more ivory whitish); abdomen above
briliantly shining black, with the hind margins and sides of segments
narrowly ivory yellowish in 4, shghtly broader and more pale yellowish
in 2, with the venter entirely yellowish in 9, but with large, transverse,
discal and rectangular shining black spots in 3, only the sides and
hind margins being almost whitish; legs with the coxae blackish
(2) (6)
TExtT-FIG. 304.—(a) Last sternite of § of Onchopelma pulchella n. gen. and n. sp.
(6) Side and ventral views of hypopygium of § of the same species.
brown, more so in g, the femora, tibiae and basal joint of tarsi very
pale, almost whitish, paler in 3, with the extreme bases of femora
in g, especially front ones, infused with blackish brown, with the
apical parts of tarsi yellowish brown, slightly darker in 4, the apices
of claws black; antennae predominantly blackish brown, joints 1
and 2 slightly paler and more yellowish brown; pubescence longer
and denser in g, especially on sides of thorax and on abdomen above,
entirely silvery whitish in g, that on occiput and intermixed ones on
ocellar tubercle in 9 darker and more brownish in certain lights, the
rest of the pubescence on thorax and abdomen also silvery whitish
as in g, that on legs whitish in both sexes, that on tibiae below and
towards apices tending to be more sericeous yellowish, with the
hairs on femora slightly longer towards apices and more so in 4g;
wings (text-fig. 302, 6) entirely hyaline, iridescent, with the veins
978 Annals of the South African Museum.
pale yellowish brown, very pale yellowish at extreme base of wings
and at ends of veins, and with the veins enclosing second posterior
cell whitish, with the squamae opaquely whitish to yellowish white
and fringed with short pale hairs; halteres whitish and with whitish
knobs. Head with the eyes in g in actual contact above, from a little
in front of tubercle, for a distance at least 2 times as long as tubercle,
with the interocular space on vertex in 2 broad, about 2 times as
broad as ocellar tubercle; frons in 9 with a slight central depressed
line in basal half, with a fairly conspicuous, black, shining, slightly
depressed, facet-free spot on each side opposite antennae on inner
margins of eyes in 2; face longer, broader and more developed in 9; |
antennae (text-fig. 302, a) rather long, finely pubescent, with joint 1
a little, but distinctly, longer than 2 in 9, scarcely longer than 2 in 4,
with 3 elongate and in 2 at least about 14 times as long as 1 and 2
combined, with joint 4 about 2 times as long as 2 in 9, subequal to
1 and 2 combined in 3, with a minute stylar element at apex of 4;
proboscis about 1 mm. long. Legs with the basal part of basal joint
of hind tarsus in $ produced into a hook-like curved process as shown
in text-fig. 303. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 304, b) as described for
genus, with the basal strut (Ba.Str.) very broad and racket-shaped.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 3$ mm.
Length of wing: about 3 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner, Jan.
1930).
2 92 O. trilineata n. sp.
Body above and below predominantly pale chrome yellowish, with
the following shining black regions: the medial part of occipital
region, the proboscis, three longitudinal stripes on thorax above of
which the central one does not reach the base and the lateral ones
are broadened anteriorly and indented on the outer side at level of
wings and do not reach the shoulders, a broad transverse band across
basal halves of tergites 1-3 and a central row of segmental spots and
a row of smaller lateral segmental spots on each side at bases of the
rest of the tergites, all becoming smaller apically; eyes and antennal
joints 3 and 4 blackish brown, the bases of the third joints sometimes
tending to be yellowish; legs predominantly chrome yellowish like
rest of body, only the last tarsal joint of hind tarsus and the apices
of all the claws blackish, with the apical parts of the front and middle
tarsi and sometimes the coxae sometimes slightly darker yellowish;
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 979
pubescence on the whole sparser and shorter than in 93-pulchella, that
towards apex of abdomen slightly longer than at base and on thorax,
that on femora and tibiae much shorter and less conspicuous than in
pulchella, with all the hairs gleaming pale sericeous yellowish; wings
clear hyaline, iridescent, with the veins pale yellowish, with the ends
of those on hind border whitish and those enclosing second posterior
cell almost entirely whitish, with the squamae opaquely pale yellowish
white and fringed with pale hairs; halteres pale yellowish, with the
knobs whitish. Head with the interocular space on vertex about
14 times as broad as ocellar tubercle; frons narrower than in 2 of
pulchella, with a central depressed line, with the smooth, depressed,
black, shining spot along inner margins of eyes on each side, opposite
antennae, inconspicuous and scarcely evident; face slightly shorter
than in 9 of pulchella and slightly depressed on each side basally;
antennae comparatively much shorter than in pulchella, with the
smoothish first joints subequal in length to second joints, with joint
3 subequal in length to 1 and 2 combined, slightly broader just before
base, with joint 4 a little more than half as long as 3 or subequal, or
a little longer than, joint 2; proboscis stout and plump, about 1 mm.
long, stouter than in @ of pulchella, the labella distinctly longer and
more developed.
Type in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 3-3} mm.
Length of wing: about 3-34 mm.
Locality.—_S.W. Africa: Great Namaqualand; Aus (Turner, Jan.
1930).
As is evident from the description these 99 differ from the 2 of
pulchella practically only in colour and some details. In view of the
absence of the ¢ it is advisable to refer them provisionally to a separate
species, but there is a probability that pulchella may be a variable
species and that trilineata may prove to be only a yellow variety of it.
$
Gen. Empidideccus Beck.
(ee oi eAeten wrbyaaens m.. Dipt. vu, 1907; Engel,.p; 100,
Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg., Lief. 69 (Bombylidae), 1933.)
The general characters of this genus, based on the South African
material before me, are as follows:—
Body small, with much yellow markings; pubescence remarkably
short, practically only present on body above, apparently slightly
denser in $¢, that on occipital region short and scarcely visible, that
980 Annals of the South African Museum.
on thorax above denser and pubescent, only a few on each side in
front of wings slightly longer and more distinctly bristly, that on
abdomen above also very short and pubescent, the pleural parts bare,
that on legs very fine and pubescent and apparently more evident
in $3. Head subglobular, slightly longer than high, with the
occipital region normally developed, but only slightly flattened
medially behind ocelli, not very deeply excavated lower down; eyes
sightly shifted forwards, large, broadly separated above on vertex
in both sexes, with the inner margins converging apically, the space
across vertex thus broader than space across front part of frons,
(2) (0)
Text-Fic. 305.—(a) Antenna of Empidideicus turnerin. sp. (6) Right wing
of Empidideicus turneri n. sp.
with the eyes also broadly separated on head below, the median
lower part of head being longitudinally sulcate; ocelli situated rather
transversely, the front medial ocellus only a little in front of the
widely separated hind ones; frons depressed in both sexes, deeper
in front, with the sides subcarinately prominent or edge-like and more
or less subparallel; facial part narrow, slightly carinately prominent
from side, the face itself depressed basally just in front of antennae
and continuous with apical depressed part of frons, then horizontal
or step-like to buccal cavity, which is also narrow, its rims raised
and edge-like and not visibly separated by a groove from margins of
eyes; antennae (text-fig. 305, a) with the first joints very close
together and very short, narrower than second joints, with the latter
transverse and slightly longer than the first, with the third joints
broad, usually ovate, usually broadest at base and more rapidly
narrowed towards apex on lower side, covered with short bristly
hairs, which are slightly longer on inner side, with the third joints
ending in a long, slender, terminal joint, which itself ends apically
in an obscure stylar element and some short bristly hairs; proboscis
rather stumpy, shortish, stoutish, but tapering apically, the labella
pointed; palps minute, hidden by basal sheath of proboscis and only
visible as a very short, bristle-liike process at base of proboscis on
=
= *
oo °
. Diy
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 981
each side. Thorax only very little, or scarcely, broader than head,
roundly convex or humped in appearance from side; pronotal ledge
in neck region not visible as in Platypygus; scutellum triangular,
transverse and somewhat tumid. Wings (text-fig. 305, b) unique in
having the marginal cell as well as a second submargina! cell wanting,
this marginal cell which is present in all other South African Bomby-
liidae is entirely absent or only indicated as a vestigial or very, minute
cell at base of submarginal cell and the latter occupies the position
. of the normal marginal cell, with 4 posterior cells present and without
a discoidal cell, with the anal cell open at end, with the alula not
developed and without any basal comb, with the squamae rather
narrowish and small. Abdomen, when not telescoped, with 7 visible
segments in $¢ and 8 in 99, and with the hypopygium in g¢ partly
visible externally, and with the upper apical angle of last sternite in
$3 sharply produced. Legs without any spines on femora below and
without any distinct spicules on tibiae; claws and pulvilli well
developed. Hypopygium of 33 (text-figs. 306 and 307) with the
basal parts (Ba.Pt.) small and shell-lke; apical process (Ap.Pr.)
lobe-lke or knob-like, having a prominent hook at its base ventrally;
aedeagus (Ae.) shortish and tubular; rods (Ro.) on each side of base
of aedeagus very prominent and long; lateral struts (L.Str.) promi-
nent and well developed; basal strut (Ba.Str.) peculiar in having
a medial dorsal apically directed process and also a dorso-ventrally
flattened process on each side as shown in the figure.
The known South African species of the Empidideicus-series may
be separated as follows :—
1. (6) Wings without a discoidal cell; thorax discally either black and with
narrow yellowish longitudimal lines or with triangular yellowish spots
on humeral angles, anterior angles and posteriorly or it is discally
predominantly yellow : : : : : : : ga Nr 3
2. (5) Palps very short, minute, vestigial and imconspicuous; terminal element
of antennal jomt 3 distinct, longer and more conspicuous; body, not-
withstanding the yellow markings, predominantly black above or with
much black, the black on thorax above predominant and only the hind
margins of tergites yellowish - : 3 : : ae ee
3. (4) Terminal element of antennal jomt 3 — , slender and rod-like and quite
half as long as joint 3; proboscis sticactie and shorter than head and
pectus combined; thorax discally with 2 very narrow, parallel, yellow
Imes and with yellow markings on side, the larger one in front of wings
on each side with a conspicuous black spot . ¢ Q éwrneri n. sp. (p. 982).
4, (3) Termimal element of antennal joint 3 short and thick; proboscis longer,
as long as head and pectus combined; thorax discally above with a
triangular yellow spot on anterior angle and connected with it on each
VOL. XXXIV. 63
982 Annals of the South African Museum.
side a humeral spot and also with an elongate yellow spot near hind
angles and without a conspicuous black spot in yellow in front of wings
(? Q) beckert Bezz. (p. 985).
(Ex. descr.)
5. (2) Palps very long and conspicuous and as long as proboscis; terminal element
on antennal joint 3 very short, broad and inconspicuous; body pre-
dominantly yellow, only 3 obscure darkish lines on disc of thorax and
the abdomen yellow . ‘ (? 3) (Glabellula) mellea Bezz. (p. 985).
(Ex. descr.)
6. (1) Wings with a distinct discoidal cell; thorax discally entirely black or
dark and only the sides more or less continuously yellow
3 2 EL. (Anomaloptilus n. subgen.) celluliferus n. sp. (p. 983).
4 33 8 99 EH. turners n. sp.
Body predominantly black; the extreme apical depression of
frons, face (excepting only dark front part just above buccal cavity),
edge-like buccal rims, longitudinal sulcus on head below, the basal
sheath of proboscis to a certain extent, the declivous neck region on
thorax in front, 2 medial longitudinal stripes on disc of thorax,
broadened in front and posteriorly where at base they more or less
coalesce, the humeral parts, a triangular spot on each side just above
mesopleuron and continuous with humeral spot, a large spot on each
side of thorax just above wings, connected medially with the central
stripes and enclosing an oval black spot, the posterior calli, the entire
or at least greater part of scutellum, the upper parts of pleurae and
along sutures of rest of pleurae, the hind margins of tergites, becoming
much broader towards apex and distinctly broader on the sides
(the latter usually enclosing a row of shining, black, segmental,
spiracle-like spots on each side), the hind margins of the ventral
segments, the exposed parts of g-hypopygium and the genital
segment of 99 in part, pale lemon yellowish to yellow, slightly more
evident in 99; legs predominantly yellowish, the basal two-thirds
of femora in ¢¢ distinctly much darker and even more blackish brown
than in 99, where the femora are sometimes almost entirely yellowish,
with the apices of joints 1 and 2 and entire joints 3-5, or apical
halves, of the tarsi as well as the claws dark or black in both sexes;
pubescence on entire body and legs with a sericeous yellowish or
silky sheen in certain lights, that on occipital part and sides of thorax
appearing dark in certain lights, that on antennal joints dark, that
-on legs more apparently silky or sericeous; wings (text-fig. 305, 0)
greyish hyaline, slightly more greyish in certain lights, iridescent,
with the veins very dark brownish to blackish brown, especially
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 983
along costal and main veins, the veins separating basal cells and anal
and axillary cells whitish, with the first basal cell only a little longer
than second one, with the squamae opaquely yellowish; halteres
lemon yellowish, with much paler yellowish to pale yellowish white
knobs. Head with the interocular space on vertex in both sexes a
little less than 2 times the distance between 2 posterior ocelli, the
inner margins of eyes from vertex converging anteriorly, the distance
across front part of frons much less than across vertex; frons itself
with subparallel, shghtly ridge-
like sides, the surface deeply
depressed and more so an-
teriorly; antennae (text-fig.
305, a) with joints 1 and 2
very short, with 1 slightly
shorter and narrower than 2,
with 3 the broadest, somewhat
flattened, ovate, broadest at
base, more rapidly narrowed
along inner side, nearly 2 times ne
as long as 1 and 2 combined, yh OW
ending apically in a _ long, a
slender terminal joint, about, R
or a little more than, half as [yxs1¢, 306.—Side and ventral views of
long as 3 and itself ending hypopygium of g EHmpidideicus turnerr
in a stylar element and short ™ ‘?
bristly hairs; proboscis from a little less than 4 to } mm. long.
Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 306) with the apical processes (Ap.Pr.) of
basal parts (Ba.Pt.) knob-like or lobe-like; rods (Ro.) broadish and
sabre-shaped; basal strut (Ba.Str.) with the lateral process on each
side and apically directed dorsal process well developed. (All these
structures are better made out from the figures.)
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 13-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 13-12 mm.
Locality —S. Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, Feb. 1922)
(Types); Somerset East (Turner, 1—26/1/31, 2331/12/30, 25-30/11/30).
2 33 3 92 E. (Anomaloptilus n. subgen.) celluliferus n. sp.
These specimens are almost indistinguishable from Hmpidideicus
turneri, but as there is one very important and constant distinguishing ~
984 Annals of the South African Museum.
character present in all the specimens it is desirable to refer them to
a new subgenus Anomaloptilus. Structurally this new subgenus does
not differ from Empidideicus s. str., but the constant presence of a
distinct discoidal cell in the wings at once distinguishes it from the
latter. In addition the hypopygium of the 3 (text-fig. 307) also
differs in having the basal parts distinctly more widely separated
dorsally, the two parts being connected by a strap-like band, in
having the apical processes to basal parts distinctly more developed,
more projecting flap-like
and overhanging (see the
figures), in having the
hook-lke process on
each side at base
ventrally of the apical
process stouter and more
conspicuous, etc. The
new species celluliferus,
apart from these sub-
generic differences,
differs from turneri also
Trext-FIc. 307.—Side and ventral views of hypo- in having the thorax
pygium and apical or dorsal view of apical lobe above predominantly
of basal part of § Hmpidideicus (Anomaloptilus black, there being ne
n. subgen.) celluliferus n. sp. ‘
. discal, central, narrow,
yellowish lines. Only the anterior broadened parts of these lines
are represented anteriorly on each side as a yellow spot, confluent
with the yellow on humeral part and the sides of thorax are also
yellow, the black on the disc thus more or less continuous with the
yellow on sides and not broken up into more or less 3 large black
spots on each side by a central yellow line and its offshoots as in
turnere.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 13-12 mm.
Length of wing: about 13-12 mm. |
Locality.—S. Cape Province: Mossel Bay (Turner, 15/3/—20/4/32)
(Types); Mossel Bay (Turner, Feb. 1922). N. Hast Cape Province:
Aliwal North (Turner, Dec. 1922).
Ld
Mes Saw thal te Gaal
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 985
E.. beckert Bezz.
(P. 180, Denkschr. Med. Nat. Ges. Jena, Bd. 13 (Bombyliidae) 1908.)
A single specimen (? 9) of this species was described by Bezzi from
material collected at Steinkopf in Namaqualand by members of
Schultze’s Forschungsreise. According to the description this species
is characterised by having a strongly convex occipital region, small
eyes which are broadly separated, large buccal cavity, small palps,
longish proboscis which is as long as the head and pectus combined,
an oval third antennal joint with a short and thick terminal element,
by having a triangular yellow spot anteriorly on each side of thorax
which is confluent with another on humeral angle, an elongate yellow
spot on hind angles, yellow pleurae with triangular black spots below,
a large and yellowish scutellum, large pale yellowish halteres, by
having pale pubescence on occiput and abdomen, the latter of which
has yellowish white hind margins, by having longish legs which are
yellow and with only the tarsi darkened and wings which are hyaline
and with a venation as described by Becker for Empididercus. The
length of body is given as 14 mm. and the wings’as 2 mm.
From the description there appears to be very little doubt that this
species is a true Hmpidideicus and somewhat resembling turneri or
celluliferus, from which I have endeavoured to separate it in the key.
Glabellula mellea Bezz.
(Pp. 180-181, loc. cit., fig. 1, A and B, 1908.)
This peculiar species was also described by Bezzi from the same
locality as the preceding species. According to Bezzi’s description, it
(2 3) appears to be chiefly characterised by having an entire yellow
body, only three obscure darkish lines being present on thorax above,
by having very long and conspicuous palps which are as long as the
proboscis, smallish eyes, a very short and broadish terminal element
to the third antennal joint (cf. Bezzi, fig. 1, B, loc. cit.) and by having
a slightly aberrant type of wing (cf. Bezzi, fig. 1, A, loc. cit.) in which
some of the veins are yellowish and others colourless. Bezzi himself
appears to be doubtful as to the generic identity of this species, stating
that it appears to be transitional between Empidideicus Beck. and
Glabellula Bezz., but differs from the known species of the latter in
having very elongate palps, no second longitudinal vein and no
discoidal cell in the wings.
As stated by Bezzi, there is no doubt that this species will eventually
986 Annals of the South African Museum.
have to be removed to a separate and new genus or at least to a new
subgenus of Empididercus. As in the case of other Bombylids, such
as Apolysis, Phthiria and Oligodranes, which are adapted to, or are
associated with, an existence in or on certain kinds of flowers, the
representatives of the Cyrtosinae also appear to show certain directions
in the evolution of certain characters which have probably been
brought about by an adaptation to specific types of floral environment.
Subfam. Cythereinae.
The pecuhar genus Oniromyia Bezz. has been referred to this
subfamily by Bezzi (p. 71, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921). Apart
from this genus there appears to be no other South African repre-
sentative of this subfamily in the extensive collections before me.
According to Becker (pp. 433 and 455, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Imp.
St. Petersb., vol. xvii, 1912), the chief distinguishing characters of
this subfamily are the broadly separated antennae, very broad vertex,
long proboscis, broad head, non-marginated or non-bisected eyes and
the position of base of the second longitudinal vein, which arises from
the third longitudinal vein a good distance away from the base of the
latter and thus nearer or just in front of discal cross vein, where it is
usually bent at right angles to third vein, much like the condition
in the Anthracinae and Exoprosopinae. Oniromyia Bezz., however,
appears to depart from this diagnosis in having the antennae more
approximate, narrower wings in which the second longitudinal vein,
though arising far away from base of third vein, is also far away from
discal cross vein and is not markedly bent at right angles to third vein.
Moreover, the reduction of the ocelli is another character not mentioned
in the case of the Palaearctic forms. Not being acquainted with the
Palaearctic representatives of this subfamily, it 1s impossible for me
to verify the inclusion of Oniromyia in this subfamily, and provision-
ally this genus is retained in it.
Gen. Oniromyia Bezz.
(P. 71, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921; Bigot, as ? Hurycarenus on
p. 371, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. lxi, 1892, and also as “ Xethomyza”
on a determination label, 1892.)
The genotype specimen on which Bezzi based his generic description
is not a 2 but a J, and his statement that “the male is still unknown”
is thus incorrect and to him it was the @ that was unknown. A
——————— ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 987
description of this interesting genus is appended in order to supple-
ment and correct Bezzi’s observations.
Body elongate, tapering posteriorly from broad head and thorax,
not humped; pubescence with the erect hairs and bristly hairs dense,
longish and well developed on head, first antennal joints, thorax above,
on scutellum, mesopleuron, in the metapleural tuft, sides of tergite 1,
on sternites 1 and 2 ventrally and on last tergite and sternite in both
sexes, the pubescence on head and front part of thorax being denser,
more conspicuous and more shaggy, slightly denser and longer in $<,
with the rest of the pubescence in form of depressed, flattened, elongate
scaling, dense on head, especially on sides of frons, anterior part of
frons, on genae, along hind margins of eyes, along sides of thorax above,
towards base of thorax, on scutellum and very dense on abdomen,
especially on sides, dense on mesopleuron, upper parts of sterno-
pleuron, very dense on venter below and also on legs, sparser on frons
discally and on thorax above. Head well developed, very broad,
broader than thorax and distinctly broader than high; occiput flat,
but with a slight groove obliquely downwards on each side from eyes
to middle; ocelli much reduced and vestigial, the posterior ones
widely separated and elongate, subreniform, the median front ocellus
wanting or indicated only as a feeble scar-like depression, or even very
minute and globule-like, usually in a slightly smoother and more
depressed part, about as far removed from each posterior ocellus as
these are removed from each other, with the broad area so enclosed
distinctly raised, boss-like, but centrally longitudinally depressed,
deeper posteriorly (Bezzi’s statement that there are “no ocelli and no
ocellar tubercle” is thus also incorrect); eyes very large and convex,
not leaving much of posterior part of head to bulge as in many other
Bombyliid genera, equally and very broadly separated on vertex in
both sexes, the interocular space much broader than breadth of one
eye; frons thus very broad in both sexes, the sides parallel, with the
surface convex, distinctly depressed on each side on vertex at corners
of eyes, also with an indication of, or even a distinct, central, depressed
line from ocellar boss to the apical transverse depression, with the
apical part distinctly transversely depressed in both sexes, the middle
of this depression, just in front of antennae, forming a slightly broader,
triangular, bristle-free and scale-free area; face remarkably short,
bare, the upper margin of buccal cavity almost reaching antennae;
buccal cavity with sharp edge-like rims, separated from a distinct
genal region on each side by a groove-like depression, deeper in upper
part; antennae not contiguous, but distinctly, though not broadly,
988 Annals of the South African Museum.
separated, with the first joints much dilated apically, the lower apical
part tumidly, globularly or tubercularly prominent, long and shaggy-
haired below, with joint 3 the longest, longer than 1 and 2 combined,
club-like broadened at base, then slender to apex or sometimes very
slightly broadened again apically, with some hairs in apical half, the
joint ending apically in a very short basal joint or element and a
longish terminal style; proboscis long, tapering to apex, with scaling
on labral part above in basal half, with the labella slender and elon-
gate; palps rather short, no distinct joints separately visible. Thorax
with the lower part of sternopleuron, the pteropleuron and meta-
pleural part, excepting only for a tuft of scaling below halteres, bare;
scutellum broadish, transverse and somewhat truncate across hind
margin. Wings (cf. Bezzi, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, Pl. 1, fig. 13)
remarkably narrow and feeble for the size of the insect, the base very
narrow, the alula being absent and axillary lobe very narrow, with 2
submarginal cells and 4 posterior cells of which the first is closed
apically and provided with a short or very short stalk, with the third
posterior cell very much narrower on hind border than on discoidal cell,
with the vein separating submarginal cells directed obliquely forwards
and almost straight, with the anal cell open and its supernumerary
vein long and well developed, with the discal cross vein a little or even
much beyond middle of discoidal cell, without any basal comb to wings
and with narrow and rather long squamae. Abdomen elongate,
tapering posteriorly, with the last tergite (sternite) in jg elongate and
scoop-like. Legs rather powerfully developed and stoutish; femora
with some distinct spines on hind ones below; tibiae with at least 4
rows of well-developed spicules on middle and hind ones and with
long and stoutish spurs apically below on all of them; claws and
pulvili well developed. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 308) showing
dorsal, lateral and ventral views; basal parts more or less separate,
divided by a sutural depression, especially basally above, deeply
foveately depressed above (see left-hand figure), with some fine hairs
on each side dorsally, with the apical part of each basal part provided
with short, dense spines; the beaked apical joints of Bombylines
represented by immovable apical parts or processes (Ap.Pr.), shaped
as in figures and provided with spines and hairs at their apices;
aedeagal complex with the aedeagus (Ae.) conspicuous and well
developed, curved upwards, with the aedeagal complex joined on to
basal parts on each side by a ramus (R.) (also shown between right-
hand figures) above which there is on each side a shell-hke plate
or process (see right-hand figure); lateral struts small. The sides of
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 989
basal part on each side of aedeagus are produced into a membranous
flap (Mem.).
This genus is peculiar in having shortish, very narrow and feebly
developed wings, with narrow base, very broad head and interocular
space in both sexes, much reduced ocelli and dense scaling on proboscis
above. The genotype is O. pachycerata (Big.), the only known species.
O. pachycerata (Big.).
(Ee ait, Ann. Soe: Ent. Fr., lu, 1892; Bezzi, p. 72,
Ann. §. Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921, Pl. I, fig. 13.)
This species was first described by Bigot as questionably belonging
to Eurycarenus Lw. One 3-specimen in the South African Museum
was, however, labelled by Bigot himself as ““ Xethomyza pachycerata.”’
TextT-FIG. 308.—Dorsal, lateral and ventral views of hypopygium of ¢ of
Oniromyia pachycerata (Big.).
Subsequently Bezzi supplemented Bigot’s original description by his
own description (p. 371, loc. cit.). To both descriptions the following
details may be added:—Hind margins of venter yellowish like the
front and middle tibiae and the rims of buccal cavity also yellowish;
pubescence with the longish hairs on greater part of frons, those on
disc of thorax, on scutellum and at apex of abdomen in both sexes
black, those on occiput and narrowly along inner margins of eyes on
frons, those across front part of thorax, those on mesopleuron, in
metapleural tuft and some intermixed ones on scutellum creamy
yellowish to pale yellowish, with the macrochaetal bristles and inter-
mixed bristles on posterior calli slightly more reddish yellow, with
the dense hairs on antennae below, sides of frons in front, on head
990 Annals of the South African Museum.
below, lower part of metapleural tuft, sides of tergite 1, on venter at
base, somewhat sparsely on coxae and on femora whitish, those on
antennae and head in front more frosty whitish, with the scaling on
sides of frons and anterior part of frons dense and white, that on dise
of frons sparse, that on occiput yellowish and concentrated in a denser
patch just behind tubercle, that behind eye-margins dense and white,
that on disc of thorax sparse, dull yellowish and more or less con-
centrated in three discal stripes, that on sides of thorax denser and
white, that at base of thorax and on scutellum dense and yellowish,
that on abdomen above denser than on thorax, disposed as dense,
snow whitish tufts on each side of the hind margins of the tergites, as
conspicuous large patches of velvety black scaling on the sides of
tergites and as yellowish scaling in a row of patches on each side
discally, as another central row of patches and as transverse bands
across the hind margins, with the scaling on pleurae frosty whitish,
that on venter very dense and also silvery whitish, that on coxae and
legs dense and silvery whitish, that on apices of hind femora, on hind
tibiae and on proboscis above velvety black; wings greyish hyaline,
with the veins brownish, becoming slightly paler towards base and
with a distinct tendency for a darker, blackish brown infusion along
apical sinuous part of second longitudinal vein and the vein between
the submarginal cells; head with the interocular space in both sexes
about 2 times the distance between the posterior ocelli, with the pro-
boscis about 5-6 mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 308).
Length of body: about 9-11 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-8 mm.
Locality.— Western Cape Province, 8. Western Karoo and Nama-
qualand. (In the British, Transvaal and 8. African Museums.)
Subfam. Systropinae (Systropodinae).
Representatives of this subfamily are very easily recognisable and
unique among Bombyliidae and even among Diptera in having a
body-form which very closely resembles that of certain Aculeate
Hymenoptera (Fam. Sphegidae), such as Sphex, Sceluphron (Pelopoeus),
and sometimes also that of some Vespidae, such as Belonogaster. The
chief characters of this subfamily are the same as those given for the
genus Systropus (see below), the only Ethiopian genus dealt with in
this paper. The several African genera into which Enderlein (p. 70,
Wien. Ent. Zeit., xliii, 1926) subdivided this genus are discussed under
Systropus. |
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 991
Gen. Systropus Wied.
(P. 18, Nov. Dipt. Gen., 1820; p. 359, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., 1,
1828; Loew, p. 200, Dipt. Faun. Siidafr., i, 1860; Westwood,
p- 571, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1876; Bezzi, p. 102, Ann. 8S.
Afr. Mus., vol. xvii, 1921, and p. 116, The Bombyliidae of the
Ethiopian Region, 1924; Engel, p. 85, Die Fliegen d. Pal. Reg.
Lief. 67 (Bombyliidae), 1932.)
This genus was based by Wiedemann on a South African species,
which he described as macilentus (see under macilentus). Repre-
sentatives of this genus are very remarkable in that they simulate
certain Aculeate—H ymenoptera, such as Sphex and Sceliphron and even
Belonogaster in body-form. Not only is there a very close morpho-
logical and structural similarity, but even the colour pattern is
simulated. This structural resemblance is even greater than in the
case of other Diptera, such as certain genera of Syrphidae, Asilidae
and Conopidae, which appear to mimic Vespidae. Members of
Systropus are unmistakable and easily recognisable and are sure to
be mistaken for Aculeate-Hymenoptera by the layman. They cannot
be confused with any other Dipterous genus. All the Ethiopian
species are here referred to the genus Systropus as was done by Karsch
and Bezzi. Enderlein, however, divided Systropus into six distinct
genera (pp. 69-70, Wien. Ent. Zeit., xlii, 1926) as follows :—
(1) Coptopelma, with 3 submarginal cells and with the eyes in
contact above in 99.
(2) Diaerops, with 3 submarginal cells and with the eyes linearly
separated above in 99.
(3) Dimelopelma, with 3 submarginal cells and with the abdominal
petiole 2-jointed.
(4) Coptodicrus, with 3 submarginal cells, a 3-4 jointed abdominal
petiole and with the eyes in 92 linearly separated above.
(5) Symballa, with 3 submarginal cells, a 3-4 jointed abdominal
petiole and with the eyes in 99 in actual contact above.
(6) Systropus Wied. s. str. with only 2 submarginal cells and with
the eyes in both sexes separated by a very narrow line above.
These distinguishing characters of Enderlein appear to be more
specific than generic, and are confusing especially where $d are
concerned. That Enderlein himself was doubtful about the allocation
of certain species is proved by the fact that on p. 70 (Loc. cit.) marshalla
Bezz. is placed as the genotype of Diaerops, but on p. 91 marshalli
992 Annals of the South African Museum.
Bezz. is again referred, together with clavatus Karsch and sanguineus
Bezz., to the genus Coptodicrus.
The chief characters of Systropus are as follows:—
Body shaped like that of Sphex, Sceliphron or Belonogaster, with
segments 2 and 3 or 2-4 or 5 narrow, cylindrical, forming a kind of
stalk or petiole, with the apical segments thicker, forming a knob-
hike or club-like part, with the metasternal part of thorax greatly
developed, supplementing the stalked abdomen and more developed
than in any other Ethiopian Bombylid-genus; pubescence usually
in the form of silvery whitish pubescent hairs, rather shortish, not
very dense, denser and longer across hind margin of scutellum, on
metasternal part behind, on the sides of tergite 1 and towards apex
of abdomen, sometimes also denser on posterior part of pteropleuron
and on hind coxae, also longish, but sparser, on head below and on
lower parts behind eyes, with dark or blackish hairs on antennal
joints 1 and 2, finer and more pubescent ones on abdominal stalk, on
the club or on part of club and in some species on disc of thorax or in
a longitudinal band on each side of disc of thorax, with the propleural
callosity, the sternopleuron and sutural part between meso- and
metapleurae bare or practically bare, with the third antennal joints
also bare, the frons and genal parts of face usually covered with
a very fine and short, brilliantly gleaming or silvery white tomentum
or pruinescence, with fine and hair-like scaling on legs, sometimes
with brilliant silvery pubescence on outer sides of front and middle
tibiae, with the silvery pubescence on body sometimes more flattened
and more scaly especially on pleural parts and on metasternum, and
sometimes with distinct black scaling on abdomen. Head broad,
quite as broad, or even broader, than thorax, slightly broader than
high, short, with the occipital part flattened and depressed, not
extending rim-like beyond hind margins of eyes; eyes very large,
practically occupying the entire head, in actual contact above for a
good distance in both sexes or only very narrowly or linearly separated
in both sexes or sometimes contiguous or subcontiguous for a shorter
distance in 99, with the upper anterior facets in gg and in some $9
coarser than the others; ocelli, contrary to Loew’s statement that
they are wanting, are present and arranged in a triangle, enclosing
a tubercle-like prominence on vertex, the lateral ocelli, however,
sometimes more linear and small; frons comparatively narrow, more
or less convex towards antennal insertions, rapidly narrowed towards
vertex, its length depending upon the sex or the contiguity of the
eyes, usually shorter in $¢ and longer in species with narrowly
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 993
separated eyes; antennae elongate, usually close together at base
and situated on a slightly boss-like or raised part, with the first joints
elongate, slender, the second ones not transverse, always much
longer than broad, often quite half as long as third joints, with the
latter flattened, laterally compressed, broadish, much broader than
first or second joints, shghtly narrowed and rounded apically or even
shghtly pointed and without a visible style or terminal elements;
face vertical, usually represented as a central ridge in front of
antennae, covered with some distinct hairs; genal part scarcely or
only imperceptibly demarcated from buccal rims by a shallow,
groove-like depression, more distinct lower down; proboscis usually
long, slender, with long and slender labella; palps slender, always
visible, more or less pointed, usually somewhat flattened and without
any separately visible joints, with only very fine, scarcely perceptible
hairs. Thorax short and very deep or high from disc to end of
metapleural part above hind coxae, the metasternal part strongly
developed, pushing the coxal part of hind legs forward, the meta-
sternum itself rugulose and more or less transversely wrinkled behind;
scutellum flattened, its hind margin feebly emarginate or subtruncate;
a flattened, depressed or foliate scutellar callosity present on each
side behind squamae and below base of scutellum. Woangs (cf. text-
figs. 8 and 9 on pp. 122 and 124 in The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian
Region of Bezzi and Wiedemann’s figures 6, a and d, Tab. V, Ausser-
europ. Zweifl. Ins., i, 1828) without a basal comb, with 2 or 3 sub-
marginal cells, 3 posterior cells, with the alula usually wanting,
minute and rarely present and the base of wings thus narrow, with
the first posterior cell open, the anal cell closed apically and provided
with a short stalk, the axillary lobe elongate and narrowish, its
margin appearing discontinuous with rest of hind margin of wings,
due to an indentation at end of vein between anal and axillary cells,
with the vein between discoidal and second posterior cells (combined
second and third posterior cells) S-curved, with the squamae narrow;
halteres with very long and slender stalks. Abdomen with the last
sternite in 99 either elongate and scoop-like and enclosing an elongate
process or two parallel lamellae or shorter, emarginate apically and
with the middle process projecting or there is merely a process at
end of abdomen, narrowed towards apex and sometimes bifid (cf. text-
figs. 309 b, 312, 318 a, and 320 6). Legs with a distinct, elongate-
elliptical, demarcated callus or pad-like area on outer faces of front
femora more or less in basal half in both sexes, with the surface of
this area flat, microscopically sculptured or rugulose and, when
994 Annals of the South African Museum.
viewed from side, showing a very short silvery or whitish tomentum;
hind femora, tibiae and tarsi elongate and strongly developed, the
hind femora with or without a few spines below, the hind tibiae with
3 rows of stoutish spicules, the tibiae themselves more or less thickened
apically; apical spurs on front and middle tibiae small and incon-
spicuous, long and strongly developed on hind ones; claws and pulvilli
well developed, the middle pulvillus or empodium is represented by
a spine-like process below. Hypopygium of 33 (text-figs. 310, 311,
313, 314, 317, 319, 321-323, 325, and 326) is complicated and
peculiar in that the last abdominal segment is structurally modified
to such an extent that it is more intimately connected with the true
hypopygial elements than in all the preceding genera. There appears
no doubt that it thus plays a greater role in the copulatory act than
homologous structures in other Bombyliids in this first division of
this family. As in the case of the Palaearctic Usia and in the genus
Toxophora the last abdominal segment, opposed to the hypopygium,
is also produced on each side into a prong or process. The hypopygial
structures of Systropus are also constantly reversed in position in
that the usual basal part (Ba.Pt.) of the hypopygium is ventral in
position and the usual last sternite, enclosing the aedeagal structures
in most other Bombylids, is dorsal in position and corresponding to
a last tergite (L.T.). This latter segment, shown in all the figures, is
usually somewhat sunk in or lower than the tergite before it and is
alluded to as the last tergite. Apically on each side its apical angle
is produced into an elongated process, prong, or spine (T.P.) which is
straight, curved or even hook-like. The apical margin of this last
tergite is usually emarginate and on each side between the prongs
and attached by a membrane there is a subtriangular or triangular
plate (T.T.). Towards the inner side of each terminal plate above
there is an oval or elongate and sometimes very broad, black, in-
durated, callus-like area, the surface of which is shagreened, file-like
or appearing faceted (see figures). These and similar plates present
in all other Bombyliud-genera probably represent modified terminal
abdominal segments. The last tergite in Systropus is attached to the
ventrally situated basal part (Ba.Pt.) of hypopygium on each side
laterally and towards the base as shown in the figures and also
medially on the inside to the apical part of the hypopygial ramus (R.)
of the aedeagal complex by a transverse, flattened, strap-lke or
band-like, chitinous band, extending from the base of one prong
(T.P.) to the other and often produced towards the centre into an
apically directed process or lobe (M.A.):- on each side. The actual
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 995
attachment to the apical part of the ramus (R.) is by means of a
tough membrane. The hypopygium itself consists of a single basal
part (Ba.Pt.) more or less feebly divided into two parts by a slight
medial depression. Apically each part ends in an apical joint (Ap.Jt.)
which assumes a variety of shapes in the various species (cf. text-
figures) and usually ends in a sharp or spine-like beak directed
inwards. The aedeagus (Ae.) of the aedeagal complex, lodged in
the hollow of the basal part, is usually shortish and more or less
hidden by the rest of the armature, consisting of an aedeagal process
(Ae.Pr.), corresponding to the ventral aedeagal process of some
other Bombyliids, an accessory process (Ac.Pr.) and the ramus (R.).
The aedeagal process is either very prominent, inflated or tumid
apically, or more slender and bifid apically. The accessory process
(Ac.Pr.) is either leaf-shaped and twisted or merely rod-like or
lobe-like and is usually connected or joined on each side to the basally
directed aedeagal struts (P.Str.). The aedeagus passes into the
middle part which has the usual lateral strut (L.Str.) on each side
and the medial basally directed basal strut (Ba.Str.). The aedeagus
is also produced into a basally directed, flattened, strap-lke or
boomerang-shaped aedeagal strut (P.Str.) on each side in the hollow
of the basal part and usually projecting basally a little beyond bases
of basal part. The entire aedeagal structure is joined on to the basal
part on each side by means of the ramus (R.), both together forming
a jaw-shaped or f)-shaped structure, the apical part of which may be
broadened or produced into a lobe or spine on each side.
Representatives of this genus of which the life-histories are partly
known are parasitic on the caterpillars of a peculiar family of nocturnal
moths, the Limacodidae, which in South Africa are often beautifully
coloured. The slug-like caterpillars of these moths are to be found
feeding on various kinds of plants. Prior to pupation the caterpillars
usually construct ovoid or oval, hard or horny cocoon-cases, which
are often attached to the food plants. The only two South African
species known to parasitise Limacodids have both been bred from
cocoon-cases and only their pupal cases are thus known. In the
last sternite of a 9 of Systropus macilentus and of snow? structures
(text-figs. 309 and 320, a) were found which without doubt represent
the still unlaid eggs. The shape of these eggs is as shown in the
figures in dorsal or ventral and side views; the narrower pole is
constricted off into a rim-like edge; either the dorsal or ventral
surface is sometimes slightly less chitinous and on the opposite side
there is nearer the broader pole a less chitinous, translucent and more
996 Annals of the South African Museum.
membranous oval or slit-like pore or hole, which from a side view
appears bubble-hke. How parasitism in this genus is initiated is
still a mystery. We do not know whether the egg is deposited on
the caterpillar or whether a free triungulin-type of first instar attacks
the caterpillars or finds its way into the cocoons. Judging from the
type of egg figured, there is a probability that the egg is glued on to
the caterpillar as in the case of Tachinid-flies and that the first instar,
hatching inside this chitinous shell, finds its way into the caterpillar
through the oval pore in the same way as the larvae of some
Tachimdae do. At least one species of Systropus (S. bicuspis Bezz.),
from Southern Nigeria, has, however, according to Dr. Neale, been
bred from the cocoon of Stenomutilla beroe, a Mutillid-wasp.
The shape and structure of the known pupae, based on empty
pupal cases, are as described and figured by Westwood (pp. 572-573,
Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., Pl. 10, figs. 6-9, 1876), by Engel (p. 85, Die
Fliegen d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 67 (Bombyliidae), fig. 38, 1932), and text-
fig. 315 in this paper. There are no cephalic spines, only a transverse
sharp ridge above rudiments of antennae and the embedded spines
on abdomen do not project outwards.
Key to the known South African species.
1. (16) Wings with only 2 submarginal cells present . ; ; pane
2. (7) Antennal joint 2 much shorter, very much less than hale only about or
a little more than 4, as long as 3; proboscis on the whole shorter,
3-34 mm. long; front and middle tibiae on the outer sides without
any, or with only inconspicuous and feeble, silvery hairs, the hind
femora shorter and with some spines below at about middle; ptero-
pleuron without or with only very short silvery hairs posteriorly and
with the silvery hairs on metasternal part shorter, sparser or at least
distinctly less dense and the club of abdomen without or with scarcely
any silvery pubescence in apical part; scutellar callosities broader,
more quadrate, and more uniformly depressed; wings with the first
posterior cell not distinctly, or scarcely, narrowed at apex : = Seae
3. (6) Wings on the whole darker, uniformly dark brownish, becoming even darker
towards base and even slightly darker in 99; propleural callosity,
front coxae and outer sides of front and middle tibiae castaneous brown
or reddish brown and not ivory yellowish and without even faint or
feeble silvery pubescence; apices of hind femora and hind tibiae con-
spicuously darkened or blackened, the greater part of hind legs being
pale reddish brown; hind part of metasternum black; hypopygium of
$3 (text-figs. 310 and 311) with the apical joints more rounded, ending
in a well developed, spine-like beak, with the apical part of ramus not
very broad and not ending in a lateral spine, etc. . ; : ae
4. (5) Antennal joints, face, the sides of thorax broadly, base of thorax, apical
spot on scutellum, the pteropleuron and: metapleurae, base of tergite 1,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 997
tergites 2-5 above and medially below and legs, including basal joints
of tarsi, pale reddish brown; wings on the whole darker and even in 3g
more distinctly brownish; halteres paler brownish above; pubescence
on thorax above, on pleurae, metasternum and tergite 1 more in form
of fine silvery hairs; proboscis slightly longer, about 34 mm. long; hypo-
pygium of ¢ (text-figs. 310 and 311) . 3 2 macilentus Wied. (p. 1001).
5. (4) Antennae, face and genae, greater part of thorax above, the entire scutellum,
f the greater part of pteropleuron and metapleurae, entire tergite 1, the
dorsum of rest of tergites black, with the coxae, front and middle femora,
apical parts of their tibiae and all the tarsi very dark, almost black;
wings slightly less dark, the apical part at least less dark; halteres
slightly darker above; pubescence, especially on posterior part of thorax,
on scutellum, on mesopleuron, metapleurae, metasternum behind and
on sides of tergite 1, more distinctly in form of broader, brilliantly
shining, silvery scaling or scale-like hairs; proboscis only about 3 mm.
long ‘ : : . & namaquensis n. sp. (p. 1006).
. (3) Wings, though alle dightiy paler and more smoky greyish or cinereous,
only smoky brownish at base and along costal part, especially in 29;
propleural callosity, front coxae, a subapical spot on front femora below
and outer faces of front and middle tibiae ivory yellowish to whitish,
with faint, but distinct, silvery pubescence on these parts on tibiae;
legs black, the hind ones entirely so; the pteropleuron, middle sterno-
pleuron, entire metapleurae and hind part of metasternum pale reddish
brown; hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 313 and 314) with the apical joints
broad and flattened and the beak short and blunt, with the apical part
of ramus broad and produced into a spine on each side, etc.
3 2 barnardi n. sp. (p. 1006).
7. (2) Antennal joint 2 distinctly much longer, about half or much nearer to
half as long as joint 3; proboscis also longer than 33 mm.; front and
middle tibiae on the outer sides with conspicuous brilliantly shining
silvery pubescence and hind femora longer and without spines below;
pteropleuron with distinctly longer, or with a tuft of distinctly longer,
silvery hairs posteriorly and the silvery hairs on metasternal part on
the whole also denser and club of abdomen with conspicuous silvery
pubescence in apical part or at least with paler hairs; scutellar callos-
ities narrower, their hind edges more turned down; wings with the
first posterior cell distinctly more narrowed at apex : : a8:
8. (9) Wings entirely glassy hyaline; humeral angle and across anterior spiracle
and including prosternal callosity on each side, a large rounded spot
on each side of thorax above bases of wings, the posterior angle of thorax
on each side, the front coxae and to a certain extent outer sides of front
tibia ivory whitish; antennae with joint 1 entirely black or dark, with
the apical part of joint 3 (text-fig. 316) more distinctly and more sharply
produced outwards; pubescence on metapleural and metasternal part
slightly longer and denser, that towards apex of abdomen not con-
spicuously silvery; hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 317) with the black
callus-area on terminal me of last sternite (tergite) very narrow and
linear : ‘ : - & munror n. sp. (p. 1010).
9. (8) Wings not eanrely, aeasy or vitreous hyaline, either tinged smoky or
VOL. XXXIV. 64
998
Annals of the South African Museum.
brownish or with at least costal part brownish; humeral angle, anterior
spiracular part on each side, spot or macula on each side above wing-
bases and posterior angles of thorax not ivory whitish, but usually
reddish or ferruginous red; antennae with joint 1 not entirely dark,
the basal part or basal half brownish or reddish brown, with the apical
part of joint 3 even if acute not distinctly produced or prolonged;
pubescence on metapleural and metasternal part on the whole shorter,
less dense and less shaggy, that towards apex of abdomen conspicuously
silvery; hypopygium of 3¢ (text-figs. 319 and 321-323) with the callus-
area on terminal plates distinctly broader . : =
10. (11) Wings clearer, more hyaline, only the base, costal cot iting cell
and extreme apex of first submarginal cell in gg and also first basal
cell, basal half and upper part of first submarginal cell in 99 very dark
brownish, with the spot-like infuscation at base of second and third
longitudinal veins darker and more conspicuous; frons, entire first
antennal joints, face and genal regions and base of tergite 1 reddish
or reddish brown; propleural callosity above front coxae only ivory
yellowish in upper part and small sclerite above it black; outer parts
of front and middle tibiae and tarsi scarcely, or only slightly, yellowish;
antennal joint 2 on the whole shorter, more often scarcely half as long
as 3; eyes above subcontiguous for only a short distance in both sexes;
scutellar callosities very dark blackish brown or black; thorax above
slightly more coarsely rugulose and general pubescence on body distinctly
denser, that on antennal joint 1 above entirely silvery whitish; hypo-
pygium of ¢ (text-fig. 319) with the apical joints more lobe-like, not
produced into a long spine-like beak, with the apical part of ramus
scoop-like, the accessory process broadly lobe-like, the apical prongs of
last tergite long, slender and curved and the black callus-areas on
terminal plates short . ‘ ; - 6 Gcrudelis Wstwd. (p. 1012).
11. (10) Wings distinctly tinged smoky, cinereous or even blackish brown, even
if only slightly, the base and costal regions being darker than the rest,
the dark, however, not so well marked off and the spot-like infuscation
at base of second and third longitudinal veins less conspicuous; first
antennal joints usually darkened in apical part or half or even entirely
blackish, the apical part of frons, face and genal regions yellow or
predominantly yellow, the entire first tergite black; propleural callosity
and triangular sclerite above it entirely pale ivory yellowish; outer
parts of front and middle tibiae and tarsi usually much paler, sometimes
conspicuously ivory yellowish; antennal joint 2 longer, at least about
half as long as 3; eyes above in actual contact for a much longer distance
in both sexes; scutellar callosities very pale yellowish to almost white;
thorax above finer rugulose and general pubescence sparser and less
conspicuous, and that on antennal joint 1 above entirely dark or with
only a few intermixed whitish hairs; hypopygium of gg (text-figs.
321-323) with the apical joints provided with a spine-like or hook-like
beak, with the apical part of ramus produced apically on each side into
a lobe or process, the accessory process more prong- or spine-like, the
apical prongs of last tergite much shorter and less slender and the black
callus-area on terminal plates much broader and more prominent . 12.
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 999
12. (15) Wings in relation to body slightly longer, distinctly less darkly infuscated,
cinereous or less darkly smoky, only the costal part slightly darker
than rest; antennal joint 1 predominantly reddish or pale reddish
brown, only the apical part or half darkened; sides of thorax above
continuously reddish from broad humeral spot to post-alar calli and
at least the posterior part of pteropleuron is reddish; pubescence on
thorax and scutellum above entirely silvery whitish, no distinct dark
hairs being obvious; hypopygium of jg (text-figs. 321 and 322) . 13.
13. (14) Pleural parts predominantly black, the greater part of metapleurae
also black; front coxae tending to be darker in front; tergites 2-5 on
the whole much darker and more blackish above, and tergite 5 with the
dorsum and apical half of sides very dark or blackish; pubescence on
body, especially on metasternal part behind, apparently shorter and less
dense, and that on first antennal joints entirely black; slightly larger
form, 17-18 mm. long, with a wing-length of about 11-114 mm. and the
proboscis about 5 mm. long; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 321) with the
apical process of last tergite on each side shorter and more lobate, its
apical part more dilated, the aedeagal process longer and more slender,
the accessory process shorter and more reduced, the apical lobes of
apical part of ramus nearer together and shorter, the black callus-area
on terminal plates broader, etc. . : 3 2 snowi Adams (p. 1015).
14. (13) Pleural parts with the entire metapleural region, greater part of ptero-
pleuron and sutural part between meso- and ‘metapleurae reddish:
front coxae paler and tending to be pale ivory yellowish in front to a
greater extent; tergites 2-5 on the whole less dark and more brownish
above, and tergite 5 entirely or predominantly pale reddish yellow;
pubescence on body, especially on metasternal part behind, slightly
denser and longer and that on first antennal joints with much intermixed
silvery hairs; smaller form, about 13-14 mm. long, with a wing-length
of about 8-84 mm. and the proboscis about 3-3} mm. long; hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 322) with the apical process of last tergite longer and
more spine-like, more curved, the aedeagal process broader basally,
the acessory process longer and joining on to basally directed aedeagal
struts, the apical lobes of apical part of ramus more widely separated
and longer, the black callus-area narrower, etc.
5 3g zuluénsis n. sp. (p. 1018).
15. (12) Wings apparently shorter in relation to body, distinctly more darkly
infuscated, dark smoky brown, even darker in basal and costal parts;
antennal joint 1 much darker, dark brownish, only extreme base paler;
legs on the whole distinctly darker, darker brownish, the hind femora
dark blackish brown above and the other femora also much darkened
above; sides of thorax above, on each side, not continuously reddish,
the red only present as a large humeral spot and from above wings to
post-allar calli, the pteropleuron is entirely black and only the lower
part of metapleurae is reddish; pubescence on thorax and scutellum
above also silvery whitish, but with distinctly visible short blackish
hairs medially in front and in a longitudinal abbreviated band on each
side near middle and medially on hind border and also discally on
scutellum; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 323) . 3 fwmosus n. sp. (p. 1019).
1000 |
Annals of the South African Museum.
16. (1) Wings with 3 submarginal cells constantly present . y ie
17. (20) Wings darkly tinged smoky brownish, even darker in costal sii Gala
part, usually more distinctly so in 99, with the veins much darker,
dark brownish to blackish brown; eyes in both sexes contiguous or in
actual contact for a long distance; antennal joints 1 and 2 much darker,
the first dark brownish, the second blackish and longer; proboscis
entirely or predominantly black; scutellum entirely or predominantly
black and scutellar callosities yellow; hind legs with the tibiae darkened
or blackened towards apex and hind tarsi entirely very dark or black, with
the callus on front femora larger, nearly half as long as femora; halteres
with the knobs very dark or blackish above; club of abdomen on the
whole shorter and plumper; superficially resembling Sphegids, less than
20 mm. long, with a wing-length of considerably less than 18mm. . 18.
18. (19) Wings with a more marked off darker, more dark brownish infuscation
in first basal cell, base of second basal cell, basal half or greater part of
marginal cell and enclosed submarginal cell, more extensive in 99,
with the cut-off third submarginal cell (text-fig. 324) narrowed apically
as a result of a hindward bend or sinuosity of vein between it and normal
second submarginal cell; antennal joint 2 much shorter, distinctly or
much less than half as long as 3; sides of thorax above and across base,
propleural callosity, pteropleuron and entire metapleural part as well
as base of tergite 1 reddish, tergites 2-5 scarcely, or not, darkened above;
legs as a whole paler reddish, with the front coxae dark, the front and
middle tibiae not ivory whitish or yellowish on the outer sides and
hind femora with some spines below at about middle; thorax above
and scutellum and on mesopleuron with coarser sculpture and with the
short, blackish brown hairs on disc of thorax and scutellum distinctly
more obvious; slightly smaller form, about 12-15 mm. long and a wing-
length of about 7-9 mm.; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 325) with the apical
joints shorter and with a distinct broadish spine-like beak, the broadened
apical part of ramus produced into an outwardly directed spine on each
side, the aedeagal process merely knob-like apically, the chitmous strap-
like band inside last tergite produced into 2 long spines, ete. ete.
3 2 sanguineus Bezz. (p. 1021).
(? In here probably also clavatus Karsch.)
19. (18) Wings more uniformly tinged darkly, only a narrower costal part slightly
darker, with the first submarginal cell much broadened apically, the
vein separating submarginal cells not markedly sinuous or bent hind-
wards at middle; antennal joint 2 much longer, at least half as long as
3 in gd; sides of thorax not reddened all round, a transverse humeral
spot continuous with propleural callosity and a transverse stripe on each
side in front of wings yellow, the greater part of pleural regions, excepting
only the reddish sutural part between meso- and metapleurae, black,
with tergite 1 above entirely black, and tergites 2-5 above more darkened
and even blackish above especially in 3g; legs slightly darker, the femora
more blackened or darker brownish-scaled above, with the front coxae
and outer faces of front and middle tibiae and tarsi ivory yellowish and
silvery-haired, and hind femora without any spines below; thorax
above, scutellum and mesopleuron with distinctly finer sculpture and
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1001
with the 2 longitudinal bands of darkish hairs very fine and scarcely
visible; slightly larger forms, about 153-18 mm. long and with a wing-
length of about 10-11 mm.; hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 326) with the
apical joints distinctly longer, having 2 short spines on inner side, with
the broadened apical part of ramus arcuately rounded in the middle
and with a blunt angular prominence laterally, with the aedeagal process
more inflated apically and appearing triangular from side, with the
strap-like chitinous band inside last tergite broader and only slightly
arcuately produced on each side medially, etc. etc.
3 & leptogaster Lw. (p. 1024).
(? In here probably also clavatus Karsch.)
20. (17) Wings predominantly tinged yellowish, the costal and basal parts broadly
yellowish, the posterior clearer part more greyish, being slightly more
mauvish at apex, with the veins predominantly yellowish; eyes sub-
contiguous or very narrowly separated in both sexes; antennal joints 1
and 2 very pale yellowish red and joint 2 much shorter; proboscis
almost entirely reddish below and basally above; scutellum predom-
inantly reddish, the scutellar callosities dark velvety brown; hind legs
predominantly yellowish red, even basal half of hind tarsi reddish,
only apical parts of tarsi and bases of femora dark and with the callus-
area on front femora much shorter, narrower and not half as long as
the femora; halteres with the knobs paler and more brownish yellow
above; club of abdomen more elongate; body superficially resembling
Vespidae (Belonogaster), 20-22 mm. long, with a wing-length of about
184 mm. . 5 : 2 : - & Qmarshalli Bezz. (p. 1026).
S. macilentus Wied.
(P. 360, Aussereurop. Zweifl. Ins., i, Tab. V, fig. 6, 1828; as maci-
lentus Wied. by Macquart, p. 116, Dipt. Exot., ii, Pl. 12, fig. 4,
1840.)
Apparently some confusion exists about the identity of this species
and the original specimens of Wiedemann. Subsequent authors,
such as Macquart, Schiner and Karsch, have been unable to determine
macilentus correctly. The fact that some species of Systropus have
3 submarginal cells and others only 2 has contributed to the existing
confusion. The superficial similarity of the different species and the
possibility that Wiedemann may have described macilentus from
specimens belonging to more than one species is also probable. The
problem seems to centre round the presence or absence of 3 sub-
marginal cells in macilentus and the specimen or specimens designated
as types of macilentus. Bezziin 1924 (p. 116, The Bombylidae of the
Ethiopian Region) drew attention to the fact that the Berlin material,
assumed by Schiner and Karsch to be typical, may not have been the
same species as that in Westermann’s collection from which the
1002 Annals of the South African Museum.
drawing of Wiedemann was most likely made. According to both
Schiner (p. 134, Nov. Reis. Zool., Theil 1, Bd. i, 1868) and Karsch
(p. 654, Zeit. Ges. Natur., lil, 1880), who based their conclusions on
the Berlin material, macilentus has 3 submarginal cells. According
to Wiedemann’s figures on Table V, fig. 6 a and d (loc. cit.) and Mac-
quart’s figure in PI. 12, fig. 4 (loc. cit.), the wings of macilentus certainly
show only 2 submarginal cells. In view of the fact that the type
cannot be satisfactorily located and that both Wiedemann’s and
Macquart’s descriptions agree very closely with their figures and with
certain specimens from the Little Karoo and the Cape Peninsula in
the Transvaal Museum collections, these latter specimens may be
provisionally regarded as representing the typical macilentus of
Wiedemann. Moreover, from the figures and descriptions of these
authors it is also evident that macilentus s. str., like the 5 gg and 2 99
before me, cannot be confused with any other species in the Systropus-
material at my disposal. These specimens show certain distinct
specific characters which are also portrayed and described by Wiede-
mann and Macquart. A supplementary redescription of the species
is as follows:—
Body with antennal joints 2 and 3, greater part of proboscis, dise
of thorax above, greater part of scutellum, mesopleuron, neck region,
sternopleuron, metasternum behind, more than apical half of tergite 1,
a line on each side below on tergites 2-5, black or blackish, with
segments 6-8 or 9 (club) more dark castaneous brownish, appearing
dark on account of dark pubescence; ocellar tubercle, antennal joint 1,
face and upper parts of genal parts, palps and to a certain extent base
of proboscis below, the broadish sides of thorax, from shoulders to
base and even across base, the propleural callosity above front coxae
and across anterior spiracular part to shoulders, the pteropleuron,
mesosternal part, metapleural part and sides of metasternum to
tergite 1, sometimes the posterior part of scutellum, the base trans-
versely across tergite 1 and entire tergites 2-5 pale reddish brown to
reddish; legs predominantly pale reddish brown, the coxae more
castaneous brown, margins of elliptical callus on outer side of front
femora also dark castaneous, with the clavate apical parts of hind
femora and tibiae and last 4 joints of all the tarsi blackish, with 2 or 3
dark spines on hind femora below at about the middle and with the
hind femora relatively short; pubescence not very dense or long, not
so long and conspicuous as in crudelis-group, predominantly silvery
whitish as in other species, that on first antennal joints black, the
erect hairs medially on face dark brownish, those on occipital
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1003
margin behind tubercle brownish, those on disc of thorax distinctly
brownish, the brownish ones being more or less arranged in two
longitudinal bands, with the pubescence on abdomen predominantly
dark brownish to blackish, that on tergite 1 silvery whitish, with the
scaling on legs predominantly dark on femora, paler on tibiae, but
without a conspicuous silvery pubescence on outer sides of front and
middle tibiae; wings more or less uniformly dark brownish, showing
a slight reddish brown sheen in certain lights, becoming slightly
Ke bigs a SUS
\
a - \N N \
A Ni SN <a " aS ‘ Ss LAA,
JUSS SQ
Ay NINE hy SoS Se RANE
yt ae Ly - Se y . u
NY SUALUBAH
| Poe ee S SS Sn
(6) (c)
TExt-F1Gc. 309.—(a) Egg of 2 of Systropus macilentus Wied. (b) Side view and dorsal
view of last sternite of 2 of S. macilentus, the dorsal view with the tergite
removed showing the actual last tergite and genital lamella in position.
(c) The genital plate below last enclosed tergite and lamellae.
darker towards base and even slightly more so in 9, with the veins
brownish, darker along costal and first longitudinal veins, with a
faint indication of also being darker at base of second longitudinal
vein, on discal cross vein and at base of vein between submarginal
cells, with only 2 submarginal cells constantly present, the first
posterior cell not perceptibly narrowed apically and with the discal
cross vein a very little beyond middle of discoidal cell, the squamae
brownish; halteres with the knobs very dark castaneous brown to
blackish brown above, very pale yellowish below. Head with the
eyes in $g more or less in contact for a comparatively long distance,
about 34—4 times as long as tubercle, either in actual contact through-
out this length or subcontiguous for a short distance before the
actual contact or even showing a very narrow line for the greater part
of this length, touching above for about 14 times as long as tubercle in
2, then gradually diverging apically; frons in 2 thus longer; antennae
with the first joints about, or only very little more than, 3 times as
1004 Annals of the South African Museum.
long as 2, with 3 rather pointed apically and quite 3 times as long as 2;
proboscis about 3-3; mm. long; palps slender and visibly projecting
from buccal cavity. Genital parts of 2 (as shown in text-fig. 309, b
and c, with the penultimate visible tergite shown in left-hand figure
and in right-hand one with this tergite removed, showing the real last
tergite and lamellae enclosed in last sternite and with (c) the peculiarly
e AcPr WP Ae Fong
cee
REINS as IPs | ee eee
vi ee . iy A ee
pst, L Sh Ba Skt “PS Sh
(a) (5)
TeExt-Fic. 310. —(a) Side view of pane of g Systropus macilentus Wied.
(b) Ventral view of hypopygial structures (basal part of hypopygium removed)
of g of same species.
shaped chitinous plate under the true last tergite) with the last
sternite slightly produced; actual last tergite ending in a triangular
lamella on each side, each of which is, however, fused to the other
ventrally and with a peculiarly shaped chitinous plate (c) below last
enclosed tergite, incised apically, with a lateral process on each side
which is attached to sides of last sternite and with a medial, back-
wardly directed process ending in three slender, jointed, gristle-lke,
rod-like processes or rods (see figures). The egg (text-fig. 309, a) is
hard, brownish and chitinous, as described under the genus and about
4mm. long. Hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 310 and 311, showing side
view of both the hypopygium and last tergite in fig. 310, a, a ventral
view of last tergite containing the hypopygial structures, but with the
basal part of hypopygium (Ba.Pt.) removed, a ventral view of basal
part (Ba.Pt.) and a dorsal view of last tergite in fig. 311, a and 5b)
with the apical joints (Ap.Jt. in fig. 310, a and fig. 311, a) more or less
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1005
subglobular, but flattened towards beak above (apical view shown to
right of text-fig. 311, a); aedeagus (Ae.) with the aedeagal process
(Ae.Pr.) knob-like or inflated apically; accessory processes (Ac.Pr.)
on each side of aedeagal process leaf-shaped and twisted and joined
on to the basally directed aedeagal strut (P.Str.) on each side; ramus
(R.) strap-like and not much broadened apically, only slightly knob-
like on each side apically; lateral and basal struts (L.Str. and Ba.Str.)
as shown in figures; last tergite (L.T. in fig. 310, @ and 6b and
Sha eh f
Weilag
: ee ny ;
Text-Fic. 311.—(a) Basal part, apical joints, and visible parts of hypopygium of
3g Systropus macilentus Wied. (6b) Last tergite and terminal lappets (the
rest of armature removed).
fig. 311, 6) with the apical prong (T.P.) slightly broadened and com-
pressed apically, with the terminal plate (T.T.) on each side as shown
in figures and its black-callus area almost bean-shaped and shortish,
with the chitinous band inside the last tergite produced into a sharply
pointed process on each side near middle (M.A.). These latter
processes are attached to apical part of ramus by membranes.
Lengtb of body: about 14-17 mm.
Length of wing: about 83-10 mm.
Locality — Western Cape Province: Muizenberg (Munro, Nov.
1931). Little Karoo; Oudtshoorn (Brauns, 5/9/09).
From all other species, with 2 submarginal cells, this species differs
in the markedly shorter hind legs, relatively shorter hind femora, the
characteristically darkened hind femora and tibiae and the very
darkly infuscated wings.
1006 Annals of the South African Museum.
1 gS. namaquensis n. sp.
A single g-specimen, in the South African Museum, with the
hinder part of the abdomen missing, is so close to macilentus that it
may almost be considered as a variety of the latter. Certain distinct
differences, however, seem to be of specific value. Compared with
macilentus, this $ agrees in having the same shortish hind legs, which
are also pale reddish brown and with the apices of the femora and
tibiae black, in having darkly-tinged wings, no ivory yellowish on
outer sides of front and middle tibiae and no silvery pubescence on
these tibiae. It differs from macilentus in having the first antennal
joints, frons, face and genae black and not reddish brown, in having
the greater part of thorax above black, the red being represented only
as a much smaller spot on humeral parts, connected with a large
pre-alar spot by a scarcely perceptible narrow red line, entirely absent
across base, in having the pteropleuron and greater part of meta-
pleurae black and not red, with tergite 1 entirely black and tergite 2
blackish above and below, in having darker and more dark castaneous
brown front and middle legs, the entire tarsi being almost black; |
pubescence on thorax distinctly more glittering or brilliantly shining
silvery and distinctly more scale-like, the fine hairs of macilentus
being replaced by flattened scales, especially on metasternum and
even on sides of tergite 1; wings on the whole slightly less darkly
tinged than in macilentus. Head with the eyes above contiguous for a
distance also about 3 times as long as ocellar tubercle, with antennal
joint 1 a little more than 4 times as long as 2, with 3 a little more than
3 times as long as 2 and also pointed, with the proboscis only about
3mm.long. Legs with 2 spines below on hind femora.
Locality Namaqualand: Guiftsberg (Van Rhynsdorp) (Sept.
1D?
263 12S. barnardi n. sp.
Body with the antennae, proboscis, disc of thorax above, scutellum,
anterior spiracular part, mesopleuron, sternopleuron, greater part of
tergite 1, a broad line on each side below on tergites 2-5 and the club
of abdomen black; the sides of upper parts of face and genal region,
the sides of thorax above, broadened at shoulders and in front of wings,
the entire meso- and metapleural regions, the pteropleuron, entire
metasternum, a large spot basally on each side of tergite 1 and tergites
2-5 pale reddish brown, with the face medially dark blackish brown;
lower part of buccal rims, base of antennae, scutellar callosities,
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1007
propleural callosities, greater part of front coxae, a spot below near
apex on front femora and narrow outer faces of front and middle
tibiae conspicuously ivory yellowish: legs, including middle and
hind coxae, black or blackish; pubescence black or blackish on
antennae, on face medially, with the short hairs along hind margins
of eyes in occipital region also black, the short ones more or less
in longitudinal bands on disc of thorax, that on scutellum, on
mesopleuron, on dorsum and
also below on tergites 2-5 and
the more conspicuous hairs on
club of abdomen black, those
on thorax being slightly more
blackish brown, with the rest
of pubescence on thorax silvery
whitish, that on tergite 1 also
silvery but dark discally, with
the fine pubescence on sides of
tergites 2-5 silvery whitish, that
on legs predominantly dark or
blackish, that on coxae, on outer
faces of front and middle tibiae
and sparsely towards base of TEXxT-FIG. 312.—Dorsal view of last ster-
hind femora silvery; wings nite of Q of Systropus barnardi n. Sp.
tinged smoky or cinereous showing enclosed lamellae, last tergite
?
and other structures.
becoming darker towards base
and in costal part, more especially in, with only 2 submarginal
cells present, with the veins very dark blackish brown, almost black,
the squamae darkish, but fringed with whitish hairs; halteres with
the stalks very dark blackish brown, the knobs yellowish brown to
brown above and pale yellowish below. Head with the eyes above in
$3 in actual contact for a long distance, about 4 times as long as ocellar
tubercle, separated in 2 by a narrow space in front of tubercle, about
as broad as narrow front part of tubercle, then with the inner margins
gradually diverging, the frons thus longer than in ¢ and clothed with
silvery tomentum apically and velvety black basally; antennae with
joint 1 about, or a little less than, 4 times as long as 2, with 2 a little
less than 4 as long as 3; proboscis about 3-34 mm. long; palps rather
shortish, dark. Abdomen with segments 2-5 forming the stalk.
Legs with about 2 or 3 spines on hind femora below just before middle;
callus-like area on outer basal side of front femora more coarsely
rugulose than in other species, the tomentum on it whitish when
1008 Annals of the South African Museum.
viewed from side and the surface with at least 3 transverse, groove-
hke depressions. Genital part of 2 with the last sternite (text-fig. 312,
TEext-Fic. 313.—Side view of basal part and aedeagal armature and a view of
same (the last tergite being removed) of § of Systropus barnardi n. sp.
Text-ria. 314.—Side view of last (dorsal) tergite, a dorsal view of terminal
plate, and chitinous band inside last tergite of g Systropus barnardi n. sp.
showing a dorsal or view inside last sternite to expose the internal
structures and also the lamellae from side in lower right-hand figure)
scoop-like, not much produced medially apically; the lamellae longer
a ae
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1009
than in macilentus; last small tergite shaped as in figure and also
ending basally in a spine-like process; plate below last tergite (shown
to the right in upper figure) slightly differently shaped from that of
macilentus, also lying on floor of last sternite and with the 3 processes
from recurved medial apical process very much longer and coiled
spirally as shown in figure. Hypopygium of 3 (text-figs. 313 and 314,
showing side view of basal part and aedeagal armature, a view of same
with the last tergite removed, a side view of last tergite, a view inside
last tergite to show the chitinous band and its prongs, etc.) with the
apical joints not ending in a very distinct spine (shown in apical view
to left of text-fig. 313, from side and from below in middle figure) ;
aedeagal process somewhat inflated apically; ramus (R.) very broad
apically and ending in a spine on each side; accessory process on each
side of aedeagal process leaf-shaped but narrower than in macilentus;
black callus on terminal plates longer than in macilentus; the prong
on each side of last tergite longer and more curved inwards and
upwards and the processes
of chitinous band inside last
tergite (to right below in
text-fig. 314) with subsidiary
processes.
Types in the South African
Museum.
Length of body: about
13-17 mm.
Length of wing: about
74-95 mm.
Locality —S.W. Cape Pro-
vince: Hottentot’s Holland
Mts. (4000 ft.); Caledon
(Barnard, 1919).
This species is easily recog-
nisable by its dark or black
legs and entirelyred metasternum. The holotype- and allotype- speci-
mens were hatched in the Museum from Limacodid-larvae, probably
belonging to some species of Parathosea. Only the pupal skin of the
pupa is known. The pupal case (text-fig. 315 of 2) has the cephalic
transverse ridge very much reduced and not prominently projecting as
in the pupa of crudelis (ci. Westwood’s figures 6-8, Pl. 10, Trans. Ent.
Soc. Lond., 1876); abdominal segments 2-8 each with a transverse
row of flattened embedded spines across middle and not reaching sides
Text-Fic. 315.—Empty pupal case of
Systropus barnardi n. sp.
1010 Annals of the South African Museum.
of the tergites, with these spines longer and more strongly developed
and less numerous than in crudelis, their basal ends slightly broadened,
almost all the spines of equal length, only those along midline slightly
shorter; bristle-like processes on each side of 2—7 inconspicuous, short
and very much shorter than in crudelis, which latter species also has
a distinct process on sides of tergite 1. The 3 pupal case differs from
that of 2 in having a tumid or tubercular process on each side
terminally, thus forming a bifid process.
Length of pupal case: about 11 mm.
1 3 S. munror n. sp.
Body for the greater part black; front part of frons, antennal
prominence, front part of face, genae, a broadish transverse macula,
occupying humeral angles, anterior spiracular area
and propleural callosity on each side, a large rounded
spot on each side of thorax in front and just above
bases of wings, the posterior angles of thorax, the
scutellar callosities, the squamae, the entire front
coxae and outer faces of front tibiae conspicuously
ivory yellowish or whitish; segments 2-5 of abdomen
ochreous yellow, but with a dark line on each side
below and with dark scaling on dorsum, with the
dorsal and apical part of tergite 9 also yellowish;
femora with the front ones very pale and more
yellowish, even becoming yellowish white towards
Text-Fic. 316.— apex below, the callus on outer side more reddish
ees mee yellow, with the middle and hind femora more sienna
joints of g of brownish, dark to blackish above, the hind ones dark
Bee min anically and without spines, with the middle tibiae dark
but more yellowish on outer surfaces, the hind ones
predominantly dark or blackish, with the tarsi blackish, the basal parts
of front and middle ones more yellowish to brownish, especially on outer
surfaces; pubescence predominantly gleaming silvery whitish, that on
first antennal joints above also silvery and markedly conspicuous and
dense, that on thorax, pteropleuron, metapleurae, metasternum and
sides of tergite 1 dense and longish, appearing shaggy, that on sides
basally of tergite 1 blackish, that on club of abdomen short, sparser
and more in form of scaling, black, but with a sericeous sheen in
certain lights, that towards apex paler and more yellowish but not
ee Re ee: a
ee a
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1011
conspicuously silvery as in crudelis, that on outer sides of front tibiae
silvery. Thorax with the sculpture not very much coarser than in
crudelis, less rugulose and more in form of puncturation than in latter
but apparently less coarse than in sanguineus or macilentus; wings
clear vitreous or glassy hyaline even in costal cell, with the veins
blackish brown and an indication of a faint spot at fork of second and
third longitudinal veins, with only 2 submarginal cells present, the
Text-Fic. 317.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢$ of Systropus munroi n. sp.
vein separating them showing an indication of a stump-like promi-
nence (in this unique specimen), with the alula much reduced as in
other species; halteres brownish yellow, the knobs very pale ivory
yellowish above and below and more extensively so than in crudelis.
Head with the eyes separated above by a narrow line about 2 times
as long as ocellar tubercle; antennae with joint 1 quite 5 times as long
as 2, with 2 thus relatively short and distinctly less than half as long
as 3, with 3 (text-fig. 316) produced or prolonged apically and out-
wardly into an acute point more distinct and conspicuous than in
other species; proboscis about 4 mm. long. Abdomen with segments
2-5 constituting the stalk. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 317, showing
side view of hypopygium and last dorsal tergite in position, to the
right above a dorsal view of terminal plate and below it shape of
chitinous band inside last tergite and to left below a ventral (dorsal)
view of apical part of rami and accessory processes) with the apical
joints differently shaped from those of crudelis (cf. text-figures);
ramus shaped as shown in lower left-hand figure; last tergite with a
sharp prong on each side, with the callus-area on terminal plates
1012 Annals of the South African Museum.
narrow and linear and with the chitinous band inside last tergite (see
lower right-hand figure) broad and scoop-like.
Type in the Transvaal Museum.
Length of body: about 14 mm.
Length of wing: about 9 mm.
Locality — Transvaal: Pretoria (Munro, 9/1/23).
This species cannot be confused with any other South African
species having 2 submarginal cells. It may be distinguished from all
of them by the entirely clear glassy hyaline wings and ivory whitish
or yellowish markings on thorax and also by the relatively dense and
longish silvery whitish pubescence on thorax, metapleurae, meta-
sternum and sides of tergite 1. Superficially it resembles leptogaster,
but may at once be distinguished by the clear wings which have only
2 submarginal cells.
S. crudelis Wstwd.
(P.. 574, Trans. Ent,- Soc. lLond., Pl 10, figs. 1202 3eieie
Bezzi, p. 120, The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region,
1924.)
This species appears to be fairly common and widely distributed
in Southern Africa. It is easily recognisable by its greyish hyaline
wings, which in gg have only the extreme base, costal cell, marginal
cell and extreme apex of first submarginal cell infuscated brownish,
but in 99 are more broadly brownish, the brown also occupying
basal half of first submarginal cell, the first basal cell, the upper half
of apical half of first submarginal cell and to a certain extent even
the second basal cell, and also by the slightly darker and more con-
spicuous brownish spot at junction of second and third longitudinal
veins; pubescence on body relatively longer and denser than in
other species, that towards posterior part of pteropleuron longish
and tuft-like, with the pubescence predominantly silvery whitish,
that on abdominal segments 7-8 or 9 (on club) also silvery whitish
like that on stalk, dark ones being present towards apical half of
segment 5 and on entire 6 of club, with silvery hairs above on first
antennal joints and even basally on second ones, yellowish hairs on
face, no distinct dark ones on occiput or disc of thorax and scutellum,
with brilliantly glittering silvery pubescence especially on outer faces
of front and middle tibiae and sparser silvery, scale-like pubescence
on upper faces of hind femora, which are also entirely without spines
below; pleural parts predominantly black, a large humeral spot and
E
i
7
ee eee ee ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1013
another in front of wings on each side of thorax above, the base of
tergite 1 and tergites 2-4 and base of 5 reddish brown like face,
first antennal joints and legs, with the dorsal part of stalk tending
to be dark and with a distinct blackish line on each side below on
segments 2-4 and with the apical parts of tarsi dark brownish;
(a) (0)
_ Trxt-ric. 318.—(a) Dorsal view of apical part of abdomen of 2 Systropus crudelis
Wstwd. showing last sternite and genital lamellae, and the last hidden tergite
in position. (b) Genital plate below last enclosed tergite.
scutellar callosities and only upper parts of propleural callosities
dark blackish brown. Head with the eyes above very narrowly
separated in 99 by a space as broad as front ocellus, still narrower in
3S but still not in actual contact; frons slightly longer in 92; antennae
with joint 1 about 34, or a little more, times as long as 2 in $¢ and
sometimes slightly shorter in 99, with joint 2 a little less than half as
long as 3 in $¢ and in 99 apparently shorter, sometimes nearer a third
the length of 3, with 3 somewhat bluntly rounded apically. Genital
segment of 9 (text-fig. 318 (a), dorsal view of apical part of abdomen
showing the last sternite, with the genital lamellae in position and
also in dotted outline the position and shape of the last enclosed
tergite which is connected with the lamellae, and (b) the genital
VOL. XXXIV. 65
1014 Annals of the South African Museum.
plate below last enclosed tergite) with the last sternite emarginate
apically, with the genital lamella appearing as 2 lobes from above
but boat-like continuous ventrally; last enclosed tergite ending
basally in an upwardly directed spine-like process; genital plate (b)
also ending basally in 3 slender coiled processes as in barnardi,
its ventral scoop-like plate and dorsal plate separated apically.
Hypopygium of 3g (text-fig. 319, showing side view of hypopygium
TExt-FIG. 319.—Hypopygial structures of g of Systropus crudelis Westwd.
and last dorsal tergite in position in middle, to the left a view from
above hypopygium with the last tergite removed and views of
terminal plate and below on right the shape of chitinous band inside
last tergite) with the apical joints (also shown in apical view to right
of left-hand figure) somewhat hollowed out when viewed from
abdomen below and not ending in a distinct beak; aedeagus short
and hidden by the inflated aedeagal process, which is membranous
on sides, only the apical part above being distinctly chitinous;
accessory processes prominent and lobate; ramus scoop-like apically;
basally directed aedeagal struts well developed; basal strut very
broad and shaped as shown in figure; last tergite with the prong on
each side long and slender and curved or twisted as shown in figures,
with the callus-area on terminal plates short and narrowish, not
extending beyond middle of plates, the plates themselves with
somewhat acute apical angles, with the chitinous band inside last
tergite produced medially as shown in lower right-hand figure.
Locality.—Natal, N.W. Cape Province, Transvaal and Bechuana-
land. (Natal, Transvaal and South African Museums.)
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1015
The pupal stage of this species has been figured by Westwood
(loc. cit., Pl. 10, 6-8) and by Engel (p. 85, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg.
(Bombyliudae), Lief. 67, fig. 38, 19-32). One specimen in the collec-
tion from Natal is labelled as having been bred from the cocoons of
the Limacodid-moth, Coenobasis amoena Feld., a very beautifully
coloured South African species, the larvae of which feed on species
of Acacia. Mr. Bryant of Prieska has also sent several’ similar
empty cocoons of this moth, attached to twigs of Acacia. From an
unhatched cocoon in this batch a @ of S. crudelis hatched in the
Museum. Mr. Bryant in a letter also states that the caterpillars of
the Limacodid-host practically denude the branches and twigs of the
Acacia of their leaves.
S. snowi Adams.
(Pe 1bG. Kanss Une ser, bollom, 1905.)
A 3-specimen, determined by Adams himself, and two 99 (one of
which has the greater part of the abdomen missing) are in the South
African Museum. There is no doubt that the 92 belong to this
species and, judging from the description and figure of the genitalia
of a Q-specimen from Thysville in the Belgian Congo, referred to this
species by Curran (p. 41, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. lvu, 1927-—
1928) there is also no doubt that Curran’s specimen is not a Q of
snowi. A supplementary description, based also on 99, is as follows :—
Body black, with the first antennal joints, ocellar tubercle, base of
proboscis above and below, the entire sides of thorax above, broadened
at shoulders and above wing-bases, the anterior spiracular part, the
hind part of pteropleuron, the sutural part between meso- and meta-
pleural parts, lower part of metapleurae, basal angle on each side
of tergite 1, tergites 2-4 and basal half of 5, coxae and legs reddish
brown, the dorsum and a line below on each side of tergites 2-5
darkened or blackish; facial region, base of antennal insertions,
propleural callosity, scutellar callosities and outer faces of front
and middle tibiae and tarsi ivory yellowish; pubescence with the
hairs on antennae entirely black, those on face sericeous, the pubes-
cence on thorax, pleurae, scutellum, tergite 1, sides of tergites 2-5
and towards apical part of club silvery white, that towards hinder
part of pteropleuron rather longish and tuft-like, that on apical half
of segment 5 and that predominantly on 6 of club blackish, that on
outer sides of front and middle tibiae and tarsi brilliantly silvery;
wings tinged smoky brownish, not quite so dark as in macilentus,
1016 Annals of the South African Museum.
namaquensis, leptogaster and fumosus, more like those of barnardi,
slightly darker and more brownish towards costal part and base
especially in 99, with the veins very dark brownish to blackish brown,
with only 2 submarginal cells present and with a- tendency for vein
between them to be bent at nght angles to third longitudinal vein,
with the first posterior cell distinctly narrowed apically, sometimes
tending to be closed, with the squamae yellowish and silvery-haired;
halteres with brownish stalks, the knobs dark brown to blackish
ERIS
oO
FWY
ENN
»~
Se
Se
RS
SS
= LoS
hs
RO
SSS 5
YT ---g
(2) (0)
TExtT-FIG. 320.—(a) Dorsal (or ventral) view of egg of 2 Systropus snowi Adams.
(6) Ventral view of last sternite of 29 Systropus snowi Adams, with last tergite
removed to show genital lamellae and hidden tergite in position. Side views
of these structures and a dorsal view of genital plate and coiled processes
also shown.
brown above, pale yellowish below. Head with the eyes in ¢ in
contact for a long distance, a little more than 4 times as long as
tubercle, in contact for a shorter distance in 99, only about half as
long as in g or only about 2 times as long as tubercle; antennae with
joint 1 about 23 times as long as 2, but slightly shorter in 99, with
2 rather long, a little shorter in 99, a little more than half as long as
3 in g and a little less than half as long as 3 in 99, with 3 scalpel-blade
shaped, the apex pointed and slightly directed outwards; proboscis
rather long, about 5 mm. long; palps yellowish, rather long and
practically smooth. Abdomen with segments 2—4 forming the stalk,
the club rather elongate; genital segment of 2 (text-fig. 320, b,
ventral view, with the tergite removed to show the genital lamellae
and hidden tergite in position, lateral view of last sternite, side view
of genital lamellae and dorsal view of the genital plate and 3 coiled
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1017
processes when the genital lamellae and hidden tergite are removed)
with the last sternite produced, chitinous, horny, not divided but
bifid apically. Egg taken from dried 9 (text-fig. 320, a, dorsal or
ventral and side view) about ? mm. long, narrowed apically,
with a distinct rim-like apical part constricted off, slightly dorso-
ventrally flattened and having a slit-like pore on one side, which
in profile appears raised, with the side in which the pore is
situated covered with short and dense spinule-like hairs and the
Text-Fic. 321.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢ of Systropus snowi Adams.
other side practically smooth; an apical cap or opercular plug is
also present. Legs without any spines on hind femora below and
with these femora also comparatively long; callus-like area on outer
basal side of front femora very finely aciculate. Hypopygium of 3
(text-fig. 321, showing side view of combined hypopygium and last
tergite and to the left a view of the structures with the dorsal tergite
removed) with the apical joint as shown in the figures (apical, lateral
and ventral views), ending in a curved spine or beak, its outer part
convex; aedeagal process long and slender, bifid apically; accessory
processes reduced (see upper figure in outline); ramus bilobate
apically; last tergite with the apical prongs shortish, lobate and
dilated apically, with the terminal plates triangular and the callus-
area broad and prominently developed, as long as plates, with the
chitinous band inside last tergite as shown in lower right-hand figure.
Length of body: about 17-18 mm.
Length of wing: about 11-114 mm.
Locality.— Rhodesia.
1018 Annals of the South African Museum.
4 g3 S. zuluénsis n. sp.
(Syn.=snowi Bezz. nec Adams, p. 105, Ann. S. Afr. Mus.,
| vol. xvii, 1921.) :
One J-specimen of this species was determined as snow by Bezzi.
Superficially this species has a very great resemblance to snow, but
differs in certain important details as given in the key.
Body with the antennal joints 2 and 3, greater part of proboscis,
disc of thorax, scutellum, mesopleuron, sternopleuron, metasternum,
TExtT-FIG. 322.—Side and apical views of hypopygium of ¢ of Systropus
zuluénsis n. sp.
tergite 1, segments 6-8 (club) black, the dorsum of stalk darkened
above; greater part of first antennal joints, base of proboscis below,
the sides of thorax above broadly, broader at shoulders and above
wings on each side, the anterior spiracular part, posterior half of
pteropleuron, sutural part of mesopleural part, entire metapleural
part (only lower part in snowz), tergites 2-4 and entire 5 and not half
of 5 as in snowi, and the legs reddish brown; face and facial part,
propleural callosities, scutellar callosities, anterior coxae in part and
to a certain extent the outer faces of front and middle tibiae and tarsi
ivory yellowish, the tibiae and tarsi, however, not so conspicuously
yellowish as in snowi; pubescence with intermixed silvery hairs above
on first antennal joints and not entirely dark as in snow, the general
pubescence on body also slightly longer and denser, more conspicuous
than in snowi, that on front and middle femora also apparently paler;
wings also tinged smoky greyish or greyish brown as in snowi, becom-
ing slightly darker towards costal part, with the veins very dark
brownish, more blackish brown along costal part, the first posterior
;
:
:
5
7S
owe
A Revision of the Bombyliuidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1019
cell narrowed to a lesser extent and also with only 2 submarginal cells
present; halteres with the stalks brownish and the knobs very dark
blackish brown above and very pale below. Head with the eyes in 3g
in actual contact or contiguous for a distinctly shorter distance, only
about 2 times as long as ocellar tubercle, then very gradually diverging
a little before more rapidly diverging; antennae with joint 1 also
about 24, or a little more, times as long as 2, with 2 about half, or very
httle less as long as 3 and with 3 also scalpel-shaped and pointed;
proboscis slightly shorter, about 3-34 mm. long. Legs also without
any spines on hind femora below and with callus area on front femora
also microscopically aciculate. Hypopygium of ¢ (text-fig. 322,
showing side and apical views of combined structures) resembles that
of snowz but differs in having the aedeagal process broader basally,
the accessory processes longer, more developed and joining on to the
basally directed aedeagal strut on each side, in having the apical
processes of ramus longer and more broadly separated, the apical
prongs of last tergite longer and sharper and in having the chitinous
band inside last tergite more strap-like and not produced into 2
prominent apically directed lobes as in snow.
The species is on the whole also slightly smaller than snow.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 13-14 mm.
Length of wing: about 8-85 mm.
Locality— Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones, Dec. 1911) (Type); (Jones,
May 1916).
1 3 S. fumosus n. sp.
Body for the greater part black, with the first antennal joints
obscurely, a large humeral spot on thorax above on each side, a large
spot above wings on each side, extending to post-alar calli, the anterior
spiracular part, the sutural part between mesopleurae and meta-
pleurae and lower part of metapleurae yellowish to reddish brown,
the spots on thorax more reddish, with tergites 2-4 and half of 5
yellowish, but blackened above and with a blackish line on each side
below; apical part of frons, the face and genal parts, propleural
-eallosity, scutellar callosities, front parts of front coxae and outer
faces of front and middle tibiae and tarsi ivory yellowish; legs
yellowish brown, the femora, especially hind ones, and the last 4
tarsal joints brownish above, the tarsi and hind femora above even
blackish; pubescence with the hairs on antennal joints, those in two
bands on dise of thorax and on scutellum discally and medially
1020 Annals of the South African Museum.
behind, the scaling more or less discally above on tergite 1 and on
stalk above, on apical half of segment 5, predominantly or entirely on
segments 6 and 7 and the scaling above on hind femora black or
blackish, the rest of the hairs on face, head below, thorax above, on
pleural parts, metasternum, sides of tergite 1 and the scaling on sides
of stalk and the pubescence towards apex of club as well as that on
outer sides of front and middle tibiae and the sparser scaling on hind
femora below silvery, the hairs on pteropleuron posteriorly tuft-like;
TExtT-FIG. 323.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢ of Systropus fumosus n. sp.
wings very darkly infuscated as in macilentus, dark smoky brownish,
becoming darker in costal cell, base of marginal cell and at base, with
the veins dark blackish brown and even darker along costal veins,
with only 2 submarginal cells present and with the first posterior cell
narrowed apically, with the squamae yellowish and white-fringed;
halteres with the stalks dark brownish, the knobs black above in
basal half, pale ivory yellowish in apical half and below. Head with
the eyes above in actual contact for quite a long distance, about
3 times as long as ocellar tubercle, slightly divergent in front of
tubercle and then gradually diverging towards apex from end of
contiguous part; antennae with joint | nearly 3 times as long as 2, with
2 a little less than half as long as joint 3, with 3 scalpel-blade shaped,
rather pointed apically. Abdomen with segments 2-4 forming a
stalk. Legs without any spines on hind femora below and with the
callus-area in basal half on outer side of front femora microscopically
rugulose. Hypopygium (text-fig. 323, showing a side view of com-
Ҥ
i
a eee ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1021
bined structures, a view of the hypopygium with the last tergite
removed and a dorsal view of terminal plate) with the apical joints
ending in a curved beak as in snow2 and zuluénsis; aedeagal process
bifid apically and basally divided to encircle aedeagus; accessory
processes pointed and lobe-like (shown in outline to right above of
left-hand figure) connected to aedeagal struts; apical part of ramus
ending in two blunt lobes; last tergite with the callus-area on terminal
plates long, broad, well developed and almost coarsely faceted and
with the chitinous band inside last tergite as in snowt.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 144 mm.
Length of wing: about 8 mm.
Locality.—Portuguese East Africa: Inhambane (Lawrence, Jan.
1924).
Superficially this species resembles leptogaster Lw., but may at once
be distinguished by having only 2 submarginal cells, shorter and
slightly darker wings and broader reddish spots, not yellowish ones,
on thorax laterally.
S. sanguneus Bezz.
(Es 103. Ann, S52 Air, Mus vel. xvin, 1921.)
The description of this species, the type of which is in the South
African Museum, was based on a g-specimen. A good series of both
3g and $9 before me enables me to supplement Bezzi’s description.
The chief diagnostic characters are:—Body with the first antennal
joints, face and upper parts of genal region, the sides of thorax above
broadly, narrower base of thorax, propleural callosities, sutural parts
between mesopleuron and sternopleuron and also between metapleurae
and mesopleurae, the pteropleuron, the entire metapleurae, base of
tergite 1, segments 2-5 and base of 6 and legs reddish, the stalk slightly
darkened above and with a black line on each side below and the
greater part of front coxae and trochanters, apices of hind tibiae, the
hind tarsi and last 4 joints of the other tarsi also blackish, there being
no ivory yellowish on propleurae, front coxae and front and middle
tibiae, only the scutellar callosities and lower buccal rims yellow;
pubescence with dark hairs on entire antennae, on face, on head
below, with short brownish pubescence mostly on black parts of dise
of thorax above, on scutellum, with blackish or dark, fine, scale-like
pubescence on entire abdomen, the hairs towards apex of abdomen
also black, that on pleural and metasternal parts, tergite 1 and mostly
1022 Annals of the South African Museum.
on sides of thorax above silvery white, that on legs in form of blackish
scaling on hind femora above, short blackish scale-like pubescence on
front and middle femora and tibiae, there being no brilliant silvery
pubescence on the latter; wings not greyish hyaline as stated by
Bezzi, but distinctly dusky, tinged smoky or cinereous, darker
towards costal part and base, distinctly much darker and more dark
brownish at base, in costal cell, first and second basal cells, enclosed
third submarginal cell, greater part of marginal cell and even at base
of first posterior cell and at base of axillary cell in 99, this darker
anterior part more or
less distinctly marked
off from less infuscated
part, somewhat similar
to that of crudelis, with
the veins very dark
blackish brown, with 3
submarginal cells present
of which the third cell
(formed from apical part
of first one by a cross
vein) is smallish, with
Text-FIc. 324.—Apical part of wing of Systropus the vein between it and
sanguineus Bezz., showing shape of third sub-
marginal cell. normal second. sub-
marginal cell arising
almost at right angles from base, then much curved or bent posteriorly
before passing to costal border, the third cell thus markedly narrowed
apically, giving it a characteristic shape (text-fig. 324), with the first
posterior cell not narrowed apically, with the squamae dark brownish.
Head with the eyes above in 3g in actual contact for a long distance,
at least 3 times as long as tubercle, then almost contiguous for a
distance about as long as tubercle before diverging apically, sub-
contiguous in 99 or very nearly touching, the space being about as
broad as front ocellus for a distance about 14-2 times as long as
tubercle, the frontal triangle being thus distinctly longer than in 3d;
antennae with joint 1 on the whole relatively much shorter than in
any of the known species and distinctly more so in 99, about 53-6
times as long as 2 in $¢ and about 44 times as long as 2 in 992, with2
also relatively shorter, about 4 or a little more, as long as joint 3 in
33, about 4, or less than 4 as long as 3 in 99, with joint 3 thus slightly
longer in 9? and bluntly pointed; proboscis about 24-3 mm. long;
palps with distinct, though sparse, fine hairs. Legs with 2-3 black
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1023
spines on hind femora below just before middle, with the callus-area
on outer basal half of front femora microscopically and aciculately
punctured and, viewed from side, with a very fine whitish tomentum.
Genital segment of 2 with the last sternite elongate, scoop-like, much
longer than in crudelis (cf. text-fig. 318), the sides curled up and
enclosing the genital lamellae, the apical margin truncate and not
emarginate as in crudelis. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 325, showing
the structures as seen from side and from above when last tergite is
hy
A if
tole? at
24,
sh be
fig
7A
ay
yey
oe
Bu
TExtT-FIG. 325.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢ of Systropus sanguineus Bezz.
removed and also the apical prongs, terminal plate and chitinous
band inside last tergite) with the aedeagal process inflated apically;
accessory processes triangularly leaf-shaped and twisted; ramus
much broadened basally on each side, where it joins on to basal part,
broadened apically and with an outwardly directed spine on each
side; last tergite with the apical prongs curved inwards and upwards
apically, somewhat flattened, with the callus-area on terminal plates
somewhat irregular in outline, indented on outer side and broad
basally and with the chitinous band inside last tergite shaped as in
macilentus.
Length of body: about 12-15 mm.
Length of wing: about 7-9 mm.
Locality.—S.W. Cape Province, Cape Flats and Stellenbosch.
(British, Transvaal and 8S. Afr. Museums.)
This species is easily recognisable from the descriptions and cannot
be confused with leptogaster Lw. or even with macilentus Wied. It is
probable that this species is the one which Schiner and Karsch con-
1024 Annals of the South African Museum.
fused with the true macilentus (see under macilentus in this paper)
and which Enderlein renamed Coptopelma schinert n. n. (p. 70, Wien.
Ent. Zeit., xlii, 1926) as the genotype of his new genus Coptopelma.
Not having seen sanguineus, Enderlein referred the latter to his new
genus Coptodicrus (p. 91, loc. cit.). The species clavatus, described by
Karsch (p. 657, Zeit. Ges. Natur., liii, 1880) as coming from the Cape,
may also prove to be the same as sanguineus Bezz., in which case
Karsch’s name would have priority.
S. leptogaster Lw.
(P. 200, Dipt. Faun. Stidafr., 1, 1860; Bezzi, p. 121,
The Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, fig. 8, 1924.)
Enderlein (p. 70, Wien. Ent. Zeit., xliii, 1926) referred this species
to his new genus Symballa. Having been in doubt as to the identity
of the macilentus of Schiner and clavatus of Karsch, Bezzi refers both
as probably belonging to leptogaster. From Schiner’s notes on the
wing-venation of macilentus Schin. (nec Wied.) it is, however, obvious
that he was acquainted with leptogaster and that his macilentus is not
the leptogaster of Loew. On the other hand, it is more likely that
clavatus Karsch is identical with sanguwineus Bezz. (see under
sanguineus) than with leptogaster. The chief characteristics of
leptogaster are :—
Body with the thorax predominantly black; front part of frons,
face, buccal region, a narrowish transverse elongated spot on each
side above in front of wings, the posterior calli, the humeral part, the
anterior spiracular part, the propleural callosity, the scutellar callosi-
ties, the front coxae and the outer faces of front and middle tibiae and
tarsi ivory yellowish (the narrow, elongated, transverse, yellowish
spots on each side of the thorax distinguish this species from all other
known South African species with 3 submarginal cells, there being
no extensive red on sides as in most other species); first antennal
joints, base of proboscis below, posterior part of pteropleuron, sutural
part between meso- and metapleurae and extreme lower part of meta-
pleurae reddish; abdominal segments 2-5 yellowish brown or reddish,
usually blackened or darkened above and with the brownish or
reddish hind femora also darkened or even blackened above by dark
scaling, the hind tibiae and tarsi and last 4 joints of the other tarsi
also blackish; pubescence predominantly silvery whitish as described,
but that on antennae and across occipital part, just behind ocellar
tubercle, blackish, the fine ones on disc of thorax and tergite 1 above
“e
ee ee ee ee
a a te oe eee er
7
4
4
calla ei
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1025
dark brownish in certain lights, the fine scale-like pubescence on sides
of stalk silvery, that above black, that on club predominantly blackish,
but with some intermixed paler and more sericeous gleaming hairs
towards apex, with the pubescence on legs predominantly blackish,
that on outer sides of front and middle tibiae conspicuously silvery
or sericeous, that on hind femora below and also to a certain extent
on outer sides of front ones finer and sparser but also silvery; wings
distinctly tinged dusky or smoky brownish in both sexes, not hyaline
as in g-crudelis, the costal cell and base appearing darker, with the
TExT-FIc. 326.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢ of Systropus leptogaster Lw.
veins very dark blackish brown, with 3 distinct submarginal cells
present (cf. fig. 8, p. 122, Bezzi, loc. cit.), with the first posterior cell
tending to be slightly narrowed apically, with the squamae opaquely
yellowish. Head with the eyes above in $¢ touching or in contact
for a distance at least 3 times length of ocellar tubercle, slightly
diverging basally before tubercle and in front of contiguous part, at
first gradually diverging for a distance subequal to length of tubercle
before the margins diverge more rapidly, contiguous in 92 for a
shorter distance, the frons longer; antennae with joint 1 about 3, or
a very little more, times as long as 2, with 2 about half as long as 3
or in 9° sometimes shorter, with 3 bluntly rounded apically. Abdomen
with segments 2-4 forming the stalk; the last sternite in 92 not
produced, not much longer than the opposing tergite, its apical
margin indented medially; genital lamellae sometimes projecting
posteriorly beyond last sternite as a narrow, pointed, horny process,
composed of two contiguous lobes. Legs without any spines on hind
femora below and with the callus on front femora minutely and
1026 Annals of the South African Museum.
microscopically rugulose. Hypopygium of 3 (text-fig. 326, showing
side view of combined structures in middle and to the left a view of
hypopygium from above with the last tergite removed) with the apical
joints elongated, flattened on the inner side above and below and
ending in 2 shortish spines (best seen in the apical view to right of left-
hand figure); aedeagal process inflated apically and triangular in
shape from side; accessory processes ending in sharp beak-like points;
ramus with the basal half of imbs on each side broadly ovate and the
apical part as shown in the figures; last tergite with the callus-area
on terminal plates also irregular and indented in outer margin, with
the apical prongs finger-like, curved inwards and upwards and with
the chitinous band inside last tergite strap-like.
Length of body; about 15$-18 mm.
Length of wing: about 10-11 mm.
Locality.—Natal, Portuguese East Africa, and North and Hast
Transvaal. (In British, Transvaal, Durban and South African
Museums.)
This species is probably slightly variable, and one specimen,
from P.K. Africa (Masiene) in the South African Museum, differs
from the typical 3g in being darker, in having the yellow markings
on thorax more obscure, the abdomen markedly black above, only
segments 2—4 yellowish on sides, segment 5 being entirely black like
rest of club and not reddish brown as in the typical form and with
the third antennal joints distinctly longer and quite 24 times as long
- as second joints.
S. marshalli Bezz.
(P. 118, The Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
Of this species there is only represented a single 2 in the collections
before me. It can be easily determined from Bezzi’s description, and
is remarkable in that it simulates members of the Vespid-genus
Belonogaster. It is also the largest species in Southern Africa,
having a body-length of about 20-22 mm. and a wing-length of about
184 mm. The species is characterised as follows :—
Body with the red or reddish fairly extensive, the antennal joints 1
and 2, the frons, face, proboscis below and basally above, humeral
parts, area above wings and posterior calli on each side, the base of
thorax, greater part of scutellum, anterior spiracular part, propleural
callosities, sutural parts and pleurae, base of tergite 1, segments 2-5,
the apical part of club (in the 9 at least), the coxae, more than the
ee ee :
scene tie Se a
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1027
apical parts of front and middle femora, more than apical halves of
hind femora and the basal halves of tibiae being pale reddish brown;
scutellar callosities velvety brownish; pubescence on body, especially
on metasternum sparse, much sparser, shorter and apparently finer
than in other species, predominantly pale, that on antennae also
sparse and short, pale on first joints, that on legs predominantly
pale or sericeous, only that towards bases or in basal halves of femora
blackish. Wangs with the base, costal cell, first and second basal
cells, basal part of marginal cell and base of first submarginal cell
yellowish, the yellowish becoming darker in apical half of marginal
cell, in more than apical half of first submarginal cell and also in the
cut-off third submarginal cell, all these parts as well as the normal
second submarginal cell being tinged slightly mauvish, with the rest
of the wings greyish hyaline, with the veins in yellowish parts
yellowish, becoming darker towards apex, with the vein separating
second submarginal cell from enclosed first and cut-off third sub-
marginal cells bent at right angles basally and with the cross vein
cutting off third submarginal cell from first submarginal cell practically
in line with this straight basal part, with the first posterior cell
narrowed apically and with the discal cross vein very much beyond
_ middle of discoidal cell. Head with the eyes narrowly separated
above for quite a long distance, about as broad as front ocellus in
this 2 at least; antennae with joint 1 about 44 times as long as 2,
with 2 thus shortish and not much more than $ as long as 3, with
joint 3 thus long, at least subequal in length, or even slightly longer
than joint 1, bluntly pointed apically. Legs without any visible
spines below on hind femora and with the callus-area on outer side
basally on front femora relatively much smaller than in the other
species, finely rugulose. Abdomen with the last sternite in 2 elongate,
scoop-like, but relatively shorter than in 2 of sanguineus, the enclosed
genital lamellae broad.
Locality Rhodesia. (In the Rhodesian Museum.)
This species was placed by Enderlein first in his new genus Diaerops
(p. 70, Wien. Ent. Zeit., xl, 1926) as the genotype, and farther down
in the same paper again in his other new genus Coptodicrus (p. 91,
loc. cit.).
Species unknown to me.
S. clavatus Karsch (p. 657, Zeit. Ges. Natur., li, 1880) (see
comments under sanguineus Bezz. and leptogaster Lw. in this paper).
S. macilentus Schiner (nec Wied.) (p. 134, Nov. Reis. Zool., Theil. 1,
1028 Annals of the South African Museum.
Bd. i, 1868) or Coptopelma schineri n.n..of Enderlein (p. 70, Wien.
Ent. Zeit., xlii, 1926) (see comments under macilentus Wied. and
sanguineus Bezz. in this paper).
The other Ethiopian species, S. bicuspis, rugosus, sericeus, silvestrii,
trigonalis and trispinosus of Bezzi and of holaspis and miobrochus of
Speiser, have not been collected or recorded from Southern Africa
and are not dealt with in this paper.
Subfam. Toxophorinae.
This subfamily, to which at present only the unique genus Tozo-
phora Meig. can be referred, is characterised and distinguished from
all other subfamilies in Southern Africa by the presence of a distinct
and well-developed prothorax, visible in front of mesonotal part as
a conspicuous ring or collar which is slightly lower in level than the
mesonotum and which also has stout macrochaetal bristles. This
pronotal collar thus abuts on the occipital region and not the
mesonotum as in all other subfamilies in this first division of the
Bombyliidae. The representative genus of this subfamily is further
characterised by the dense scaling on all three antennal joints, the
presence of scales on the costal border of wings, the apical cross vein
of the enclosed submarginal cell which is characteristically situated
transversely near apex of wing, the somewhat incrassate femora,
especially the hind ones, all of which are without any spines in 99
but with some spines on at least middle and hind ones in gg, the
well-developed spines and spurs on the tibiae, the conspicuous and
often feathery scaling on hind tibiae, the arched or humped body,
the arcuately emarginate hind margin of mesonotum, the flattened
scutellum, the dense scaling on abdomen and absence of bristles on
abdomen, especially above, where the dark and pale scaling is arranged
in a conspicuous pattern of patches and spots or longitudinal bands.
The hypopygium of the 3g also differs from those of genera belonging
to other subfamilies in having the apical part of the basal part some-
times produced scoop-like and armed with a brush or comb of flattened
bristles or produced into a single, curved, flattened process and in
having the part of the aedeagal complex, facing the inside of basal part,
produced on each side into a basally directed scapuliform or shoulder-
blade shaped process. The aedeagus itself is also different (cf. text-
figures). The last sternite, which is reversed and dorsal in position,
is armed on each side with a process, reminiscent of similar processes
in the Cyrtosuinae, Systropinae and the Palaearctic Usia.
itn + lear sla a ell ly -
> ale ee nll ae pigtail ne: Ral eee hate
Pee eae
- Soe ea ee
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1029
Gen. Toxophora Meig.
(Illiger’s Mag. f. Ins. ii, 270, 58, 1803; Becker, p. 476, Ann. Mus.
Zool. Acad. Imp. St. Petersb., xvii, 1912; Bezzi, p. 128, The
Bombylidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924; Engel, p. 81, Die
Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg., Lief. 67 (Bombylidae), 1932.)
This genus is unique among Bombylidae and easily distinguished
from all other genera in this family by the presence of a very distinct
collar-like or ring-like pronotum, which is conspicuously visible in
front of the mesonotum. The chief characters of the genus may be
summarised as follows:—
Body somewhat elongate, curved, with the abdomen elongate and
tapering apically, with the thorax convex in profile, humped in
appearance and with the general shape and build of body somewhat
resembling that of certain Hymenoptera and more particularly that
of some parasitic bees, such as Crocisa and Coelioxys; pubescence
in the form of dense, hair-like scaling on pronotal ring, sides of
mesonotum and upper parts of mesopleuron, more flattened and
broader scaling on sides of frons, antennal joints, head just behind
eyes, sides of thorax above, on scutellum, metapleural part, on
abdomen above and below, on coxae, femora, tibiae and even on
front border of wings basally, with this flattened and depressed scaling
very dense on abdomen where it is usually arranged in distinctive
and conspicuous patterns of symmetrically arranged patches or spots
of pearly white, yellowish chrome or orange yellowish, submetallic
_ deep blue, very dark blackish brown or black scales, with either the
pale or the dark ones forming a background, the scaling also very
dense and bushy on all the antennal joints, as a white tuft on each
side of frons in front, dense and usually pearly white on coxae and
dense and white or black on tibiae, those on hind ones especially
being dense and feathery, with distinct bristle-like or hair-like
pubescence on body much reduced, dense only on occipital region,
present as hairs on first antennal joints below, as a fan of bristly hairs
on squamae and as somewhat sparse, transversely arranged hairs on
venter, with stoutish macrochaetal bristles on body as follows:
2 behind ocellar tubercle, 3 on each side in humeral part of pronotal
collar and usually 4 in a row across front margin of pronotal collar,
1 upwardly directed one on mesopleuron on each side in front of
wings, 8 on each side of mesonotum of which the 4 front ones are in
a row and stouter and 4 are clustered together just above wings,
3 on each side just above wings, 2 on the post-alar calli and 1 usually
VOL. XXXIV. 66
1030 Annals of the South African Museum.
on each side across base of mesonotum and a few across hind margin
of scutellum, those behind level of wings sometimes strongly developed,
with a few bristles on each side of tergite 1 and which are usually
white and also usually with white bristles along hind margin of hind
coxae. Thorax humped in appearance, convex in profile, with the
prothoracic or pronotal part well developed, conspicuous, collar- or
ring-like and lower in level than the mesonotum; mesonotum with
the hind margin arcuately emarginate in front of scutellum and not
truncate or straight as in most other genera; scutellum itself rather
more flattened than in other genera. Wangs with the costal cell
elongate, longer than in most other genera and with the Sc.-vein
very distinct, dividing it into 2 cells, with 3 submarginal cells present,
the apical cross vein of the enclosed submarginal cell characteristically
situated transversely near apex of wing, with the discal cross vein
never before middle of discoidal cell, the apical cross vein of the latter
much §-curved, the upper loop sometimes at right angles to first
posterior cell, with only 3 posterior cells present, with the anal
cell closed and acute apically, provided with a stalk, the upper vein
of anal cell characteristically curved to lower vein which has a
characteristic kink near apex of the cell, with the alula well developed
and lobate, the squama narrow but distinct and with a fringe of
fan-like white bristles, with the basal comb represented by flattened,
adpressed scaling and with distinct scales even along costal border,
with the front part of wings sometimes infuscated or darker than
hinder part and with the cross veins sometimes darker or distinctly
infuscated or even spotted. Head broader than long; occiput not
hollowed out and not very convex, the upper part usually with
depressed scaling and lower part with bristles; eyes large, with the
hind margins not entirely straight but with a gentle curve or sinuosity,
the eyes in actual contact above in $3 for a good distance, separated
on vertex by about 2 times width of ocellar tubercle in 99, with the
inner margins in 99 gradually diverging apically and with the upper
facets in $¢ coarser than rest; frons small, triangular and slightly
elevated in gd, large and more or less brilliantly shining in 99,
medially or transversely depressed at about, or just in front of,
middle in 99, the apical part behind antennae raised slightly spout-like,
with a characteristic tuft of pearly white, flattened scales on each
side in both sexes; antennae elongate, characteristic, with the first
joints very elongate and close together basally, with the second joints
also elongate, always much longer than broad, either shorter than
the third, subequal to or even longer than the third, with the third
* gaat
Et ight nl eigen gi oi aggn
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1031
joints tapering to a point or even to a long, slender, spine-like style,
with all the joints covered with dense, adpressed, but sometimes
bushy scaling, that on joint 1 broader and flatter and tending to
be denser and more bushy on sides, with the upper surface of joint 2
usually free from scaling but covered with gleaming, silvery tomentum
giving the joint a grooved appearance, with the scaling on joint 3
more hair-like or even shortly bristle-like; face not very prominent,
not very short, broad and bare but with short silvery pubescence
or pruinescence on sides; buccal cavity broad, the genae thus narrow,
the genae also with silvery pruinescence; palps rather long, somewhat
flattened and broadest basally, with shortish hairs and longer ones
along sides, the palps not visibly differentiated into distinct joints;
proboscis on the whole not very long, finely spinulated, with the
labella elongate and with even longer, though apparently sparser,
spinules especially below. Abdomen elongate, tapering, very densely
covered with pale and dark scaling in a pattern of rows of sym-
metrically arranged patches and spots. Legs with the femora rather
stout, the hind ones especially being distinctly somewhat incrassate,
narrowed basally and apically, without any spines in 92 but with 2
stoutish spines on outer side in basal half and sometimes with 1 or
2 smaller ones on inner side of hind ones in gg, and usually also with
shorter spines on the middle and front ones in gg; tibiae with rather
conspicuous spines or spicules especially on hind ones and with
these spines distinctly grooved, with very dense, flattened, somewhat
bushy or feathery and fluted scales, especially on hind tibiae; claws
curved down apically and the pulvilli well developed, extending
beyond middle of claws. Hypopygium of 3d (text-figs. 327-332),
as in the case of Systropus, appears to act in conjunction with the
last abdominal segment and the basal part (Ba.Pt.) of the hypo-
pygium is constantly ventral in position, the opposing sternite
(cf. text-figs. 328, 330, and 332 on extreme right) being dorsal or
tergal in position. This last sternite (tergite) is attached to each
side of basal part of hypopygium by a stoutish, chitinous process
(text-fig. 328, T.P., and also shown on sides of basal part in text-
fig. 331) arising from near base of last sternite (tergite) on each side
as shown in text-fig. 331 and text-fig. 332 on extreme right. This
process may be roughly club-shaped, thickened at middle and bifid
apically or blade-like, boomerang-shaped and flattened. It some-
times has a tuft of longish, bristly hairs or it may be smooth. The
last sternite (tergite) ends apically on each side in a terminal plate
(I.T.), probably representing modified last abdominal elements as
1032 Annals of the South African Museum.
in other genera. These plates are usually quadrangular or sub-
quadrangular, but may also be bilobed (cf. text-fig. 330, right-hand
figure), the outer lobe with a comb or crown of short spines. The
hypopygium itself consists of an undivided basal part (Ba.Pt.),
ventral in position and lodging the aedeagal complex. The basal
part is often produced apically into a comb of flattened spines (text-
figs. 327 and 331) or simply into a medial process or bilobed process,
or it may be without any comb or process as in text-figs. 330 and 332.
Lodged apically in the basal part is a distinct apical joint (Ap.Jt.)
on each side as shown separately in the figures. This apical joint
may be flanked on the outer side by another process, which has
shortish, stoutish, spine-like hairs directed brush-like towards the
apical joint (cf. text-figs.). The aedeagal complex is joined on to the
basal part beyond middle on each side by a brace-like or strap-like
ramus (R.), which usually forms a flattened process or blinker-like
plate, extending from sides of basal part (see lateral and dorsal views
of the hypopygium in text-figures). The blinker-like plate really
consists of the base of the ramus doubled upon itself (cf. text-figs. 327,
330, and fig. 331 to the left), the basal part of which joins on to the
process on each side of last sternite (tergite). The aedeagal complex
consists of a true apical aedeagal part (Ae.), usually curved towards
the basal part; the exit of the penis being between this aedeagal
' part and a complicated chitinous structure between it and the inside
of basal part. This partially chitinous structure is best made out
in side views. Basally it is produced on each side into a scapuli-
form, basally directed, flattened process or plate (Ba.Pr.), which is
not really homologous with the basally directed aedeagal process of
Systropus and other genera. To this process the ramus and aedeagal
part are conjointly connected as shown in the figures. Basally the
aedeagal part passes into the middle aedeagal part with its usual
lateral struts (L.Str.) and a chopper-shaped or subtriangular, pointed
basal strut (Ba.Str.), directed towards the inside of the basal part.
Near the base on each side of the basal strut there is often a horizontal,
lateral, flattened, triangular or wing-like extension (cf. text-figures).
Key to the known South African species of Toxophora.
1. (2) Wings with more than front half very darkly tinged, very dark smoky
brownish, the infuscation extending practically to apices of all apical
cells, in the discoidal cell and even basal part of second posterior cell;
scaling with the long ones on outer sides of first antennal joints exten-
sively silvery whitish, with the dark ones on base of thorax, on scutellum
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1033
and abdomen above very characteristically deep purplish or ultra-
marine blue and with a submetallic sheen, with the medial white scaling
on abdomen above very narrow and linear, with a central stripe of
dark scaling on venter and the dense scaling on hind tibiae predomi-
nantly or entirely very dark or blackish brown
3& 2 coeruleiventris Karsch. (p. 1036).
2. (1) Wings usually less darkly tinged, and if with the front half very dark,
the darker infuscation does not extend into discoidal cell or into second
posterior cell or the clearer hinder part is not clearly marked off from
dark front part: scaling with the longish ones on outer sides of first
antennal joints entirely or predominantly dark or blackish, and if with
whitish ones the wings are not so dark, with the dark ones on thorax,
scutellum and abdomen above darker and duller even if bluish, with
the pale scaling on abdomen above white, whitish or yellow, broader,
sometimes much broader and often broken up into spots, without a
central stripe of dark scales on venter and with the scaling on hind
tibiae with much white or pale ones especially towards base or in basal
half . : 5 : : : P : : : ‘ a tbe
3. (4) Wings with a distinct stump or appendix on apical cross vein of discoidal
cell, with the discal cross vein at about or only a very little beyond
middle of discoidal cell and without any distinct infuscation or infusion
on discal cross vein or apical cross vein of enclosed submarginal cell;
scaling on sides of antennal joint 1 predominantly white; hypopygium
of ¢ (text-fig. 329) with the basal part produced medially and apically
into a curved, flattened, bifid process and with the beaked apical joints
triangular, shortish and foveately depressed towards base above
3 epargyroides n. sp. (p. 1038).
(Syn. =epargyra Bezz. nec Herm.)
4. (3) Wings without any stump or appendix on apical cross vein of discoidal
cell, with the discal cross vein distinctly beyond or much beyond middle
of discoidal cell and usually with distinct, though often faint, spot-like
infuscations on cross veins; scaling on sides of antennal joint 1 entirely
or predominantly dark or black; hypopygium of known g¢ without a
medial narrowish, curved, bifid process apically to basal part, there
being either no process or a broadened scoop-like process provided with
a comb of flattened, spine-like bristles and with the beaked apical
joints usually more elongate and more slender and not distinctly roundly
foveately depressed above . : : : P : : ss
5. (14) Wings with the front half or part usually distinctly darker than hinder
part and usually with distinct or much yellowish or yellowish brown
in the darker part, a milky whitish tint, if present, very indistinct and
faint; pale scaling on body and especially on abdomen usually with
much yellowish or ochreous yellowish ones in both sexes, the sides of
abdomen in g¢ usually with much yellowish scaling towards apex
and if entirely white-scaled in either fg or 929 the front half of wings
is at least much darker or with much yellowish or brownish . 2G:
6. (9) Antennae relatively longer, with joint 2 distinctly much longer, but subequal
to 3; wings with the apical part of discoidal cell more subacute, the
vein meeting the fourth longitudinal vein more obliquely; scaling
1034 Annals of the South African Museum.
with distinctly more white ones on body in both sexes, that on front
and sides of thorax, on sides of abdomen more whitish or entirely white,
that on sides of tergites 1 and 2 in dg and sometimes all the pale bands
in 29° cretaceous or pearly whitish and the dark scaling on abdomen
above more dark bluish or violaceous, distinctly more extensive, the dark
bands so formed much broader in both sexes and extending to near.
apex where the dark or black spots are much broader and with the scaling
on venter predominantly or entirely cretaceous whitish; front femora
in §¢ with distinct and longish hairs at base below; hypopygium of gd
(text-fig. 330) without any scoop-like apical part to basal part and without
an apical comb of flattened, spine-like bristles, with the apical joints
very elongate, with the apically directed process on each side of last
sternite (tergite) flattened, pruning-knife shaped and bluntly rounded
apically and with the apical part of outer lobe of the apical lappet-like
segments to last sternite provided with a comb of chitinous spines. 7.
7. (8) Scaling on abdomen with those on sides of all the tergites or on sides to
beyond tergite 2 in gg and along sides and middle in 99 cretaceous or
pearly white, that towards apex on sides and along middle above in gg
chrome or ochreous yellowish . . & 2 cyanolepida n. sp. (p. 1040).
(Syn. =diploptera Bezz. nec Speis.)
8. (7) Scaling on abdomen with those on sides of tergites 1 and 2 in both sexes
cretaceous or pearly whitish, that on spots along middle of abdomen
above and on sides ochreous to chrome yellowish in both sexes
d 2 cyanolepida n. sp. (p. 1043).
(Slight var. of.)
9. (6) Antennae relatively shorter, with joint 2 distinctly much shorter and
distinctly shorter or much shorter than 3, with 3 being sometimes about
1} times as long as 2; wings with the apical part of discoidal cell dis-
tinctly more truncate, the vein more rapidly bent up and meeting fourth
longitudinal vein at right angles; scaling with that on thorax in front,
sides of thorax and pale ones on abdomen more distinctly yellowish,
richer, more chrome or orange yellow, that on sides of tergite 1 pearly
whitish and with the dark scaling on abdomen above more black or
blackish brown, duller, less purplish or violaceous and distinctly less
extensive, the dark bands relatively narrower and more spot-like, the
spots on extreme sides of abdomen and in apical part above much
smaller, the chrome or orange yellow scaling being much more extensive
in both sexes and with the scaling on venter usually more creamy
yellowish to distinctly chrome yellowish even if only towards apex;
front femora in gg without any distinct and conspicuous hairs basally
below or with only insignificant ones or a spine; hypopygium of g¢
(text-fig. 331) with the apical part of basal part slightly produced scoop-
like and provided with a comb of flattened, spine-like bristles, with
the apical joints distinctly shorter, with the apically directed process
on each side of last sternite (tergite) more spindle-shaped, narrowed
apically and the apex either bifid or slightly thickened and with the
outer lobe of apical lappet-like segment to last sternite not provided
with a comb of dark chitinous spines. ‘ ; ‘ ; et
10. (13) Wings with only faint spot-like infuscations or spots on cross veins,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1035
only the discal cross vein and apical cross vein of enclosed submarginal
cell being very distinctly dark and with the upper loop of apical cross
vein of discoidal cell less rapidly bent upwards; scaling on venter more
creamy yellowish to distinctly yellow, sometimes entirely yellow or with
yellow scales towards apex . : 4 ap uels
11. (12) Wings on the whole less darkly timed or rae the iackee yellowish
or yellowish brown in front part less dark and the infuscations on cross
veins less conspicuous; scaling on body above more ochreous or chrome
yellowish, thus paler, that on thorax paler chrome yellowish’and with
the dark scaling on abdomen discally above in form of two rows of
spots, those on tergites 1-3 larger and tending to be separate and with
the scaling on venter almost entirely yellowish or ochreous yellowish
like that above . F ‘ , : 3& 2 australis n. sp. (p. 1044).
(Syn. =maculata Bezz. nec Rossi.)
12. (11) Wings on the whole darker, more dusky and more darkly tinged, the front
part more apparently yellowish brown and the spot-like infuscations
on cross veins more distinct and conspicuous; scaling on body above
deeper and richer yellowish, deep chrome to orange yellow, that on
thorax distinctly more orange yellow and with the dark scaling on
abdomen discally above practically only broken up into spots on each
side from tergite 4 to apex, that on tergites 1-3 on each side in form of
a distinct and continuous black band and with the scaling on venter
much paler, almost entirely white or creamy whitish, becoming slightly
more yellowish only at apex and much paler than above
3& 2 australis n. sp. (p. 1047).
(Slight var. of.)
13. (10) Wings spotted, with at least 3 distinct, conspicuous, rounded, blackish
spots on discal cross vein, on apical cross vein of enclosed submarginal
cell and at apex of discoidal cell respectively and also with smaller
infuscations at base of apical cross vein of discoidal cell, at base of
discoidal cell and on apical cross vein of second basal cell, with the upper
loop of apical cross vein of discoidal cell more rapidly bent upwards
at right angles; scaling on venter predominantly and distinctly more
pearly whitish . : : ; 3 2 punctipennis Bezz. (p. 1048).
14. (5) Wings more uniformiy cinereous or tinged greyish cinereous and usually
not very dark, the front part not distinctly much darker or with more
yellowish than hinder part, but rather with a more distinct subopaque
milky whitish tint in certain lights, the veins very dark or blackish;
scaling with the pale ones on body above and below and on abdomen
entirely or predominantly cretaceous or pearly whitish and if yellowish
ones are present they are only to be found along middle of abdomen
above in some (4, the sides of the abdomen iG covered with white
scaling . , JU:
15. (16) Abdomen with ie ia sake aise nasgindh a more aatnaek deep bluish
or violaceous sheen, with the scaling along middle above yellowish in ¢¢
and if white in some 99 the dark scaling has a distinct bluish sheen
cyanolepida n. sp. (p. 1040).
(Some g¢ especially.)
16. (15) Abdomen with the dark scaling above more dark blackish brown or
1036 Annals of the South African Museum.
black, dull and without any distinct or obvious bluish sheen and with |
the pale scaling on abdomen in both sexes entirely cretaceous or pearly
white like the rest of the pale scaling on body : , ete
17. (18) Antennae relatively shorter, with joint 2 very much shorter distinctly
much shorter than 3 and with 3 ending more bluntly and not in a long
slender style; wings with the upper loop of apical cross vein of discoidal
cell more distinctly and more rapidly bent up at right angles and also
at right angles to fourth longitudinal vein; white scaling on abdomen
in form of elongated, oblique spots on each side of tergites, beginning
at base and extending obliquely down to the hind border and of a series
of subtriangular spots at bases of tergites along the middle line above
and with the rest of the abdomen above and on sides covered with black
scaling and with the scales on hind tibiae predominantly black; smaller
and more slender species, about 54-6 mm. long and with a wing-length
of about 4-5 mm. : 5 . 6 & obliquisquamosa n. sp. (p. 1049).
18. (17) Antennae relatively more elongate, with joint 2 only a little shorter than
3 and with 3 ending in a very long, slender and attenuated, spine-like
style; wings with the upper loop of apical cross vein of discoidal cell
more gradually bending upwards to fourth longitudinal vein; white
scaling on abdomen in form of broad transverse bands across apical
halves of tergites on each side, the basal halves of tergites being covered
with black scaling and of a series of larger, more triangular spots of white
scales at the bases of tergites along midline above and with dense white
scaling in basal half or basal part of hind tibiae; larger and bulkier
species, about 84 mm. long and with a wing-length of about 64 mm.
2 crocisops n. sp. (p. 1051).
T. coeruleiventris Karsch.
(Entom. Nachr., xii, 25.38.1887; Bezzi, p. 106, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvii, 1921; Bezzi, p. 1385, The Bombylidae of the Ethio-
pian Region, 1924.)
This beautiful species was originally described from Delagoa Bay
and appears to be a South Hast African form not found in the more
dry or more arid interior of Southern Africa. It may at once be
distinguished from all other South African species by the more or less
deep blue integument, the dense, deep purplish or ultramarine blue,
metallic shining scales at base of mesonotum, on scutellum and on
abdomen above, by the entirely pearly white scaling in form of a
narrow, linear, central stripe on abdomen above and much broader
band on each side of abdomen in both sexes, by the broad central
band of black or dark scaling on venter, especially in 92 and by the
entirely or predominantly black or dark scales on hind tibiae. The
antennae are characterised by having deep purplish blue scales on
the first joints and extensive, dense, pearly. white scales on sides of
a
>
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1037
_the first joints, by having the second joints subequal in length to, or
even distinctly longer than, third joints and by not having the terminal
TExtT-FIG. 327.—Parts of hypopygium of ¢ of Toxophora coeruleiventris Karsch.
style of joint 3 very elongate and slender.
The frons in 99 is also more
distinctly transversely depressed in front and apparently without a
very distinct medial depression in front of front ocellus as in other
species. From all the other known
South African species it, moreover,
differs in having more than the front
half of the wings very dark blackish
brown or very dark smoky brown, the
infuscation extending practically to
apices of wings, into greater part of
discoidal cell, into basal part of second
posterior cell and occupying also the
second basal cell and even upper parts
of anal cell, with the cross veins also
slightly darker. Hypopygium of ¢
(text-figs. 327 and 328, showing side
and dorsal views and in text-fig. 328
a side view of last sternite (which is
tergal in position)) with the basal
5
TExT-FIG. 328.— Last sternite
(tergite) of g of Toxophora
coeruleiventris Karsch.
part (Ba.Pt.) produced apically into a slight scoop-like process,
provided with a comb of flattened, spine-like bristles; the process
1038 Annals of the South African Museum.
(T.P.) on last sternite and other structures as shown in the text-
figures.
Localhity.—Zululand, Transvaal, Delagoa Bay and South Rhodesia.
(In the Imp. Institute, Transvaal and 8. African Museums.)
1 g T. epargyroides un. sp.
(Syn.=epargyra Bezz. nec Herm., p. 167, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xviii, 1921.)
Body black, with the hind margins of abdominal tergites tending to
be reddish brown under the scaling; antennae and even sutural parts
of pleurae also more obscure brownish; pubescence with the bristly
hairs on occiput, anterior angles on pronotal collar, the fan-like bristly
hairs on squamae, few bristles on sides of tergite 1, the bristly hairs on
venter and the 3 bristles along hind edge of hind coxae whitish, with
the hair-like scaling on pronotal collar, anterior and lateral margins of
mesonotum also white, with the macrochaetal bristles on thorax and
scutellum black, with the more flattened, broader, depressed scaling
on sides of antennal joint 1, as a tuft on each side of antennae, along
hind borders of eyes laterally, on sides of mesonotum, across hind
margin of scutellum and more or less very densely as 3 broadish,
- longitudinal bands on abdomen and also scaling across hind margins
of the tergites, on venter, especially the sides and across hind margins
of sternites, more sparsely on pleurae but denser on metapleurae and
coxae and on the femora and tibiae cretaceous white and with pearly
gleams, that on tibiae especially even opalescent in certain lights, and
that on middle band on abdomen more distinctly yellowish towards
base, with the rest of the scaling on abdomen above very dark brownish
and, as far as this has not been denuded, in form of 2 broad longi-
tudinal bands more or less broken up across the hind margins of the
tergites by the tergital fringe or border of white scales and practically
without any dark scales on tibiae and a few at extreme apices of hind
femora, with the bristles on anterior and middle trochanters and the
spines on tibiae, in basal parts of front and middle femora and 2 on
outer side of hind femora black; wings greyish hyaline, with a faint
opacity in costal and first basal cells, with the veins brownish, the base
of costal vein, however, blackish, with the discal cross vein just beyond
middle of discoidal cell, with the apical part of discoidal cell truncate,
the upper loop of its apical cross vein bent at right angles to fourth
longitudinal vein and to rest of the apical cross vein and provided
with a distinct and characteristic apically directed stump or appendix
Sa CR a rapist se li
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Dipiera) of Southern Africa. 1039
at the latter bend (thus producing a tendency for second posterior cell
to be divided into two cells); halteres yellowish, the knobs entirely
yellowish. Head with the eyes in contact above for a distance at
least, or nearly, 24 times as long as ocellar tubercle; antennae rather
slender, with joint 1 a little more than 23 times as long as 2, with 2
quite half as long as 3, with 3 tapering to a long and slender style;
proboscis about 2 mm. long. Legs with 1 spine near base of front
femora below, with about 6 spines on outer side and 4 on inner side in
th ,
4
4 i
4
mah any
ya ane -
Re RL
iit P Y
4 Ny
TExtT-Fic. 329.—Parts of hypopygium of § of Toxophora epargyroides n. sp.
basal half of middle femora and with 2 longer and stouter spines in
basal half of hind femora on outer side. Hypopygium (text-fig. 329,
showing a view from above, another from side and in middle above
an apical view of the aedeagal complex and in middle below a view of
the right apical joint and accessories) with the basal part produced
apically into a medial upwardly bent bifid process, with the ramus not
broadly produced into a blinker-like flap on each side where it arises
from basal part as in the case of coeruleiventris and other species;
beaked apical joints foveately depressed above and with a distinct
beak.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 6 mm.
Length of wing: about 5 mm.
Locality—South West Africa: Damaraland; Otjituo (Tucker,
Jan. 1920).
This species cannot be confused with any other known species from
Southern Africa, and may at once be distinguished by the characteristic
1040 i Annals of the South African Museum.
apically directed stump or appendix to the part of apical cross vein of
discoidal cell which bends up at right angles to fourth longitudinal
vein. Identical wing-characters are also present in the Palaearctic
epargyra and the American amphitea. Bezzi (p. 167, Ann. S. Afr.
Mus., vol. xviii) referred this species to the species epargyra of Hermann
originally described from Asia Minor. There is no reason to believe
that a Palaearctic species of Toxophora occurs in Southern Africa,
though superficially there may be a very close resemblance. The
species of Toxophora are very difficult to separate owing to a remark-
able uniformity of wing-characters and scale-pattern on the abdomen.
From the description of epargyra Herm. (after Paramonow and Engel,
p. 82, Die Flegen. d. Pal. Reg., Lief. 67 (Bombyliidae), 1932) this
species differs in having distinctly longer first antennal joints in
relation to the second joints and also longer third antennal joints.
15 gd 10 99 T. cyanolepida n. sp.
(Syn.=diploptera Bezz. nec Speis., p. 106, Ann. 8. Afr. Mus., vol.
xvii, 1921; p. 134, The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region,
1924; Brunetti, 1924; Hesse, p. 171, Ann. Trans. Mus., vol. XV,
Part 3, 1936.)
Body black; the trochanters and outer apical parts of the coxae and
sometimes the extreme hind margins and sides below of the tergites
reddish brown or obscure brownish; pubescence with the macro-
chaetal bristles, the hairs below on antennal joint 1, the short inter-
mixed hairs on the other antennal joints, the spines on tibiae and the
spines on femora in $¢ black, with the bristly hairs on occiput straw-
coloured yellowish to white, the fringe on squamae almost silvery
white, the bristles on side of tergite 1, the fine hairs transversely on
venter and the 3 stoutish bristles on hind coxae whitish to very pale
straw-coloured yellowish, with the pale scaling on body as follows:
some cretaceous white ones sometimes on antennal joint 1 above, a
dense tuft of longish cretaceous white scales always present on sides
of antennal insertions, a patch of silvery white scales on each side
behind eyes on sides of head and also towards lower parts of head,
some flattened and adpressed straw-coloured to whitish or even
slightly yellowish scales on occiput, dense straw-coloured whitish or
yellowish, or even cretaceous whitish, hair-like and erect scales on
pronotal ring and along sides of thorax in front of wings and along
upper part of mesopleuron, flattened, depressed, whitish scales on
sides of mesonotum and across hind margin of scutellum, narrower,
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1041
flattened and adpressed whitish to distinctly ochreous yellowish scales
on disc of mesonotum, usually denser anteriorly, along sides and
sometimes as a distinct, narrow central stripe, more evident in front
half, with some elongate white scaling on bases of wings above, as a
broad longitudinal band of dense pearly white scaling on each side of
the abdomen above in both sexes or with that on tergites 1 and 2,
pearly white, the rest of band ochreous to chrome yellow in both sexes,
as a central, dorsal, usually narrower band of pearly white scaling in
some 29 and entirely chrome or ochreous yellow in g¢ or in some 99,
which central band may be more or less broken up into spots, or even
connected to lateral bands across hind margins, as a dense band of
pearly white or cretaceous white scaling on sides of venter and across
hind margins of sternites, as dense white scaling on coxae, metapleurae,
on outer surfaces of front and middle femora and tibiae, predominantly
on hind femora and outer basal parts or halves of hind tibiae, that on
tibiae sometimes with a distinct yellowish tinge, with the dark scaling
occupying most of antennae, across upper part of occiput, sparsely on
disc of mesonotum, more densely on scutellum and as 2 broad longi-
tudinal bands on abdomen above, very often resolved into a row of
subquadrate spots on each side from tergite 3 to apex, those towards
apex becoming smaller where the yellowish scaling across the hind
margins are more distinct, with this dark scaling especially on the
scutellum and abdomen above very dark deep purplish or bluish black,
that on the latter sites often distinctly very dark purplish submetallic
bluish, with the very dark blackish brown or graphite-gleaming scales
on legs present on upper and inner surfaces of front and middle femora
and tibiae, on apical parts or even apical halves of hind tibiae. Wings
variable in the intensity of their infuscation, the front half and includ-
ing first basal cell being tinged darkly smoky brownish in some forms
and more so in 99, the rest of wings being cinereous or greyish hyaline
or the entire wings may tend to be more greyish cinereous or more
faintly smoky, the front part being slightly darker and, in some $3
especially, the entire wings may even be only slightly greyish hyaline,
with the veins dark blackish brown to very dark, the discal cross vein
and apical cross vein of enclosed submarginal cell being always more
or less darker or spot-like, the darker infusion along them being
distinctly more conspicuous and spot-like in forms with darker wings,
with the discal cross vein distinctly or much beyond middle of dis-
coidal cell and with the upper loop of apical cross vein of the latter
usually not markedly bent at right angles; halteres yellowish brown to
brownish, the knobs very pale yellowish to yellowish white, darkened
1042 Annals of the South African Museum.
basally above. Head with the eyes in $d in actual contact above for a
distance at least 24 times as long as ocellar tubercle, separated in 99
on vertex by a space about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 9?
slightly medially impressed just a little before middle; antennae with
joint 1 about 12-2, or even a little more times as long as 2, usually
relatively longer in 99, with joint 2 equal to, subequal to or even a
little shorter than 3, provided above with a furrow-like area, bare of
long scales but covered with silvery tomentum or fine pubescence,
TExtT-FIG. 330.—Parts of hypopygium and side view of last sternite (tergite)
of § Toxophora cyanolepida n. sp.
with joint 3 tapering to a relatively long and slender style; genae
with short, silvery pubescence; proboscis about 24-3 mm. long,
distinctly and finely spinulated. Legs with some longish hairs basally
below on front femora in $3, with about 4-7 spines on outer sides of
middle femora below in gg and with 2 longer and stouter spines in
basal half on outer side and 1 longish one at base on inner side of hind
femora in 3g. Hypopygium of 3S (text-fig. 330, showing side and
dorsal views of hypopygium with the last sternite (tergite) removed,
a side view, on extreme right, of last sternite (tergite) and parts of
these structures separately) without any process or comb of flattened
spines apically to basal part; apical joints elongate and narrow;
aedeagal complex with the aedeagus blunt and shaped as shown in
figures, the scapuliform basally directed process on each side broad;
last sternite (on right) dorsal or tergal in position, with the apically
> oe Po
\
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i
?
reetp
er. sa
EE A I aig a tas
j
t
4
A Revision of the Bombyludae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1048
directed process on each side, flattened, boomerang-shaped, rounded
apically and curved upwards apically, with the outer lobe of apical
lappets of last sternite (tergite) provided with a comb of slender,
chitinous spines.
Types in the Transvaal Museum, paratypes in the British Museum,
Imperial Institute and South African Museum. /
Length of body: about 8-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 6-8 mm.
Locality — Transvaal: N. E. Zoutpansberg Distr. (Breyer, July—
Aug. 1916) (Types). 8. Rhodesia: Bulawayo (Stevenson, 25/12/24);
Matopo Hills (Ogilvie, Apr. 1932); Vumbu Mts. (Stevenson, 30/1/24);
Bulawayo (Rhod. Mus., 3/9/13). Zululand: Mfongosi (Jones, March—
April 1935). Natal: Weenen (Thomasset, Jan.—Mar. 1924 and 1926).
South West Africa: Damaraland; Grootfontein (Lightfoot, Dec.
1918); Grt Namaqualand; Aus. (Turner, Jan. 1930). Bechuana-
land: Gemsbok Pan (Vernay-Lang. Kal. Exp., 23/4-5/5/30); Damara
Pan (Vernay-Lang. Kal. Exp., 15—-21/4/30). Nieuwveld Karoo: Teek-
loof (Fraserburg Distr.) (Mus. Exp., Nov. 1935). Karoo: Murrays-
burg Distr. (Mus. Exp., November 1935); Graaff-Reinet (Ogilvie,
2427/10/31). Gouph Karoo: Letjiesbos (Mus. Exp., March 1937).
Little Karoo: Willowmore (Brauns, 1/11/10 and 20/12/21). South
Karoo: 38 miles E. of Ceres (Turner, 17—25/11/24).
This species is distinctly variable in the intensity of the infuscation
of the wings and in the colour of the pale scaling on the abdomen.
Apart from less variable forms, at least two forms are recognisable:
(1) a typical form with the pale scaling on sides of all the tergites or
much beyond tergite 2 in gg and all three bands in 99 entirely pearly
white; (2) a more southern form, usually from Natal and the Karoo,
with the pale scaling on sides beyond tergite 1 or 2 and the central
band yellow or chrome yellow in both sexes. Transitional forms are,
however, also found and in some Karoo-specimens the wings are not
very darkly infuscated. This species was referred to diploptera Speis.
(p. 77, Zool. Kilimandjaro-Meru. Exp. II, Abt. 8-14, 1905-1906) by
Bezzi and several specimens before me have been labelled as such by
both Bezzi and Brunetti. In view of the fact that superficially the
species of Toxophora very much resemble each other and that several
almost inseparable species are found in Southern Africa, there is
reason to doubt that the present species is the same as that of Speiser.
Compared with Speiser’s description of the original diploptera, this
species differs in having the third antennal joints equal to or subequal
to the second ones, no white scaling on sides of first antennal joints,
1044 Annals of the South African Museum.
by the presence of white scaling on outer surfaces of front and middle
tibiae and basal part of hind tibiae and by the presence of distinct
spot-like infuscations on discal cross vein and apical cross vein of
enclosed submarginal cell, which are not mentioned for diploptera by
Speiser.
10 93 8 99 T. australis n. sp.
(Syn=maculata Bezz. nec Rossi, p. 105, Ann. 8S. Afr. Mus.,
vol. xvill, 1921; Loew, p. 198, Dipt. Faun. Stidatr., 1, 1660)
Body black; the trochanters and outer apical parts of coxae obscure
brownish or reddish brown; pubescence with the macrochaetal
bristles, the hairs below first antennal joints in both sexes and the
trochanteral bristles, the spies on femora in gg and the spines on
tibiae in both sexes black, with the bristles on occiput yellowish to
golden or orange yellowish, the fringe on squamae silvery whitish, the
bristly hairs on venter, the bristles on side of tergite 1 and the 3 or 4
bristles on hind coxae whitish to straw-coloured whitish or yellowish,
with the scaling on antennae entirely or predominantly very dark
blackish brown to blackish, the tuft of scales on each side of frons in
front pearly or cretaceous white but sometimes with a few dark scales
at the base of tuft, some scales across upper part of occiput also dark
or blackish, with the dense, suberect, hair-like scales on pronotal
collar, anterior part and sides of mesonotum in front of wings and along
upper part of mesopleuron yellowish, chrome yellowish to rich orange
yellowish, with the adpressed and flattened scaling on occiput and
sides of head, around sides of mesonotum and on a central, discal
stripe also chrome to orange yellowish, that on lower part of post-alar
calli and corners of scutellum white, that on rest of disc of mesonotum
above dull blackish brown, with a broad central band of ochreous to
orange yellow scales on scutellum, which is continuous with the central
band on abdomen above, with the dense, flattened, pale scaling on
abdomen predominantly yellow, chrome yellow, ochreous to orange
yellow, that on tergite 1 pearly or cretaceous white, the broad,
longitudinal bands of ochreous or orange scaling on sides of abdomen
joined across the hind margins of tergites by similarly coloured
transverse bands of dense scales, with the central, longitudinal band of
chrome yellow, ochreous yellow to orange yellow scales above com-
paratively broad and with the very dark blackish brown to black
scaling on abdomen above in form of a broadish band on each side
above, resolved into a row of spots beyond tergite 3 or 4, the spots
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1045
becoming smaller apically and on extreme side of abdomen above
there is on each side another row of black or dark-scaled spots, with
the scaling on venter very dense and predominantly ochreous yellowish
or yellowish in some forms, only the first sternite at base being
cretaceous white-scaled, in others the scaling on venter is more or
less whitish towards base, becoming more creamy yellowish’ to dis-
tinctly yellowish apically, with the sparse scaling on mesopleural part,
the denser scaling on metapleurae, the coxae, on the outer or hinder
surfaces of the front and middle femora and tibiae, the greater part
of hind femora and the outer surfaces of hind tibiae cretaceous to
pearly whitish, but sometimes with distinct yellowish ones on femora
above, with the scaling on upper and front or inner surfaces of front
and middle femora and tibiae, extreme apices of hind femora and the
inner surfaces of hind tibiae very dark or blackish and with a greasy
lustre; wings tinged, cinereous to distinctly smoky, the front part to
and including second basal cell distinctly yellowish or amber yellowish
to yellowish brown, becoming more smoky again in apical part of
marginal cell, the enclosed submarginal cell and the apex, with the
veins very dark blackish brown to black, an indication of, or a fairly
distinct, spot-like infuscation being present on discal cross vein and
apical cross vein of enclosed submarginal cell and sometimes also
indicated on apical cross vein of second basal cell, with the discal
cross vein distinctly beyond middle of discoidal cell and tending to be
double in some specimens and with the upper loop of apical cross vein
of discoidal cell tending to be rather rapidly bent upwards and to
_ meet fourth longitudinal vein at right angles; halteres yellowish brown
to brownish, the knobs pale yellowish to yellowish white, but darkened
or blackened basally above. Head with the eyes above in g¢ in actual
contact for a distance about 24 times as long as tubercle and separated
in 29 by a space about 2 times as broad as tubercle; frons in 9? more
triangularly depressed than in cyanolepida; antennae with joint 1
about 2-22 times as long as 2, relatively longer in 99, with 2 always
shorter than 3, the joint in 9? apparently shorter than in $d, with the
silvery pubescent area above distinct, with joint 3 at least 14 times as
long as 2, ending in a comparatively long and slender style, more
apparent in g$; genae with the silvery pubescence distinct; pro-
boscis about 2-24 mm. long and finely spinulated. Legs with 1 or
2 small spines at base below on front femora in 3g, with a few short
spines on middle trochanters in $¢, with about 3-5 spines on middle
femora below and 2-3 stouter spines in basal half on outer side and
1 or 2 shorter ones on inner side of hind femora in 33. Hypopygium
VOL. XXXIV. 67
1046 Annals of the South African Museum.
of $¢ (text-fig. 331, showing side and dorsal views of the hypopygial
structures, with the last sternite (tergite) removed and separate
views of certain structures) with the basal part produced apically into
an arcuately rounded slightly scoop-like part, provided with a comb
of about 17-20 flattened spine-like bristles; apical joints rather
bluntly pointed and with the base produced lobe-like (see figures to
the right, showing apical and obliquely lateral views); blinker-like
process on each side of basal part at base of strap-like ramus broad,
th eae
Bona) =
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. Seek 4
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TExt-F1G. 331.—Parts of hypopygium of $ T'oxophora australis n. sp.
as shown in figures to the left; aedeagal complex with the aedeagus
bluntly rounded, the scapuliform basally directed process on each side
broad; basal strut on the whole more bluntly pointed apically than
in other species, the apical margin or edge as in figure; last sternite
(tergal in position) with the apically directed process (shown still
attached to basal part in the middle figures) not flattened and blade-
like as in cyanolepida, but narrowed apically and bifid at apex,
provided with long and bushy bristly hairs.
Types in the South African Museum, paratypes in the Imperial
Institute, British and Transvaal Museums.
Length of body: about 6-9 mm.
Length of wing: about 5-7 mm.
Locality.—Nieuwveld Karoo: Teekloof, Fraserburg Distr. (Mus.
Exp., Nov. 1935) (Types): Beaufort West Distr. (Mus. Exp., Nov.
1935): Van Wyk’s Vlei (Alston, 1885). Karoo: Murraysburg
(Mus. Exp., March 1931 and Nov. 1935): Aberdeen (Mus. Exp.,
Nov. 1935). Eastern Karoo: Albany Distr.; Resolution (Walton,
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1047
22/1/29). Northern Karoo: Aliwal North (Turner, Dec. 1922);
Kimberley (Power, 1918). S. Western Karoo: Michell’s Pass (Mus.
Exp., Oct. 1934); Matjiesfontein (Turner, 14-27/11/28). Southern
Karoo: Worcester (Turner, Jan. 1929). Southern Cape: George
(Ogilvie, 4-7/11/31). :
This species is easily recognised by its rich ochreous to orange
yellow scaling on body, by the two broadish bands of black scaling on
the abdomen above which are broken up into a row of black spots
towards apex, by the lateral row of black spots on sides of abdomen,
by the predominantly yellowish or yellow scaling on venter and by
the relatively short second antennal joints. The species is variable
and occurs in more or less two forms: (1) A typical form with less
dusky wings and only faint or less distinct infuscations on cross
veins, with more ochreous or chrome yellow scaling on body above,
with the dark scaling on abdomen above practically in form of
2 rows of spots right up to scutellum and with the scaling on
venter more extensively or even entirely yellowish or yellow. (2) A
second form with apparently darker wings and more pronounced
spots on cross veins, with deeper and more distinctly orange yellow
scaling on body above, especially the abdomen, where the dark
scaling is in form of a continuous, fairly broad band on each side
to tergite 3 or 4 and only broken up into spots in apical half or
towards apex and with the scaling on venter more whitish or even
predominantly whitish towards base, becoming creamy to yellowish
apically.
This species was labelled as and referred to the Palaearctic maculata
Rossi (p. 328, Faun. Etrusca., ii, Table IV, fig. 11, 14, 1569) by Bezzi
(p. 105, loc. cit.). Apart from the superficial resemblance which this
species bears to maculata, there is no reason to believe that a Palae-
arctic species also occurs in Southern Africa. No Palaearctic Bomby-
lid has been found to occur in South Africa and in all cases of such
reputed occurrences, such as Systoechus ctenopterus Mik. and Geron
gibbosus Oliv., I have been able to show that the South African
species are entirely different though superficially resembling Palae-
- arctic forms. In both Geron and Tozophora a number of the species,
even within the limits of Southern Africa, are superficially alike and
extremely difficult to separate specifically and, judging from the
descriptions of Palaearctic species of these genera, the superficial
and specific resemblances are of the same nature in Europe and Asia.
Not having seen a specimen of 7’. maculata Rossi s. str., it is difficult to
find differences between the two species, when such differences have
1048 Annals of the South African Museum.
to be based on inadequate descriptions. Compared with the more
detailed redescription of Engel (p. 84, Die Fliegen. d. Pal. Reg. Lief. 67
(Bombyhidae), text-fig. 37 and Pl. II, fig. 26, 1932), australis differs
from maculata in having distinct and often conspicuous spot-like
infuscations on the discal cross vein and apical cross vein of enclosed
submarginal cell, a character which is not mentioned by Engel or
figured by him in his illustration on plate II, fig. 26. Moreover,
australis has no white scales on sides of the first antennal joints, the
undersurfaces of the femora are not covered with orange-coloured
scales, the venter is not entirely covered with white scaling, but is
either predominantly yellow-scaled or with much yellow scaling
towards apex and the last sternite in 99 is not black-scaled. The
specimen or specimens referred to maculata by Loew (p. 198, loc. cit.)
are probably also referable to australis n. sp.
T. punctipennis Bezz.
(P. 105, Ann. 8. Afro Mus., vol) xvi 192 onal
The Bombyhidae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924.)
This species can at once be recognised by the characteristic and
distinct spot-like infuscations on the discal cross vein, apical cross
vein of enclosed submarginal cell, at apex of discoidal cell, on apical
cross vein of second basal cell and also at base of the apical cross
vein of discoidal cell, and of these 5 spots the first 3 are very distinct
and conspicuous. The species is very near to australis and nearer
to it than to any other South African species. The chief differences
are the spots on the wings already alluded to and the entirely pearly
white or white scaling on the venter, no extensive yellow scaling being
present. The pattern of ochreous or chrome yellow scaling and spots
of dark or black scaling on abdomen above is the same and the thorax
also has yellowish to chrome yellowish scales on sides, anteriorly and
on a central stripe above, but in some specimens the thorax may be
white-scaled. The antennal joints have practically the same propor-
tions, The apical part of discoidal cell of wings is distinctly more
truncate than in australis. From maculipennis Karsch (Entom.
Nachr., xii, 56, 10 (1886) et xiii, 24, 2, 1887; Bezzi, p. 130, The
Bombyliudae of the Ethiopian Region, 1924) this species differs in
not having intensely infuscated wings, in having white tufts on sides
of frons anteriorly and extensive silvery white scaling on outer surfaces
of legs. The hypopygium of the 3 very closely resembles that of
australis (cf. text-fig. 331), differing only in having the apical part of
pi aaa a PE mentee is
ae Se
A Revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1049
basal part less scoop-like and shorter, less produced, in having the
comb of spines less developed, the comb more spread out and the
individual spine-like bristles shorter, finer and more slender, in
having the basal produced part of apical joints shorter, less prominent
and produced, in having the blinker-like flap on each side of basal
part at base of ramus more acute or pointed apically, and in having
the basal strut distinctly more sharply pointed apically, its apical
edge more straight and not so sinuous as in australis. The last
sternite (tergite) has the apical part of the apically directed process
on each side not bifid but more or less thickened and blunt or truncate
and the bristly hairs on this process are distinctly finer and very much
shorter.
In the Transvaal, British and South African Museums.
Locality.—Natal, Zululand, 8. Rhodesia, Damaraland and Ovam-
boland.
1 ¢ 6 99 T. obliquisquamosa n. sp.
Body, including legs, black; trochanters and apices of coxae
reddish brown; the antennae (when denuded), the genae and some-
times the extreme sides of tergites below also tending to be brownish
or obscure brownish; pubescence with the stoutish macrochaetal
bristles on body and spines on tibiae and spines on femora in ¢ black,
with the bristly hairs on antennae below also black, with the bristles
on occiput and sides of head whitish, but sometimes with some
brownish gleaming ones medially on lower part of occiput, with the
bristly hairs on squamae, those on venter and the bristles on sides of
tergite 1 as well as those on hind coxae straw-coloured or whitish,
with some scales on antennal joint 1 above, the tuft on each side of
antennae, the patch on head behind laterally, the dense, hair-like
scaling on pronotal collar, sides of mesonotum, on mesopleuron, the
flattened ones across hind margin of scutellum, the dense and ad-
pressed, flattened ones on sides of tergite 1 and as oblique patches on
sides of tergites 2-7 (each extending from base obliquely down the
side transversely across to hind margin of each tergite), those broken
up into a row of central spots along midline on abdomen above
occupying the bases of tergites but more or less as a central line or
stripe just behind scutellum and towards the apex and sometimes
continued on to scutellum, those across hind margins of last few
abdominal tergites, those densely on sides of venter and across hind
margins of sternites, those on coxae, metapleurae, the outer surfaces
of front and middle femora and tibiae and on hind femora cretaceous
1050 Annals of the South African Museum.
white, with pearly or opalescent gleams on sides of mesonotum and
on mesopleural parts, with the dark scaling on antennae, upper part
of occiput, on disc of thorax and greater part of abdomen not occupied
by white scaling, on the upper and inner faces of front and middle
femora and tibiae, the apices of front and middle tibiae, on the apical
parts of hind femora above and on entire hind tibiae very dark deep
blackish brown to almost black especially on abdomen, but having
(0)
TExtT-FIc. 332.—(a) Side and dorsal views of hypopygium of g Toxophora
obliquisquamosa n. sp. with the last sternite (tergite) removed. (b) Side
view of last sternite, showing apical lappet, the outer lobe of each of which
is provided with a comb of spines.
a deep violaceous brown to bronzy violaceous, even burnished, sheen
or lustre in certain lights, appearing now paler and now almost black
as the insect is moved about, the almost black violaceous, however,
dominant; wings tinged faintly smoky or greyish cinereous, with a
faint subopaque whitish tint in certain lights, the front half not
darker as in most of the other species, with the veins very dark
blackish brown to black, the cross veins only very slightly, or scarcely,
darker than the rest, with the discal cross vein much beyond middle
of discoidal cell, with the upper loop of apical cross vein of discoidal
cell very rapidly bent upwards, practically at right angles to fourth
longitudinal vein; halteres yellowish to yellowish brown, with
yellowish knobs the upper basal part of which is distinctly darkened
or blackened, more extensively darkened in 3. Head with the eyes
CEG Oe get
ee eh
Pe
i
_.
A Revision of the Bombylidae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1051
in contact above in ¢ for a distance about 24 times as long as ocellar
tubercle; the interocular space in 92 about 2 times as broad as
tubercle; frons in 92 with a more or less triangular depression in front
of front ocellus and in front half of frons; antennae with joint | about
3, or even a little more, times as long as 2, with 2 thus relatively
short, with 3 distinctly longer, about 14-2 times as long as 2, ending
rather bluntly, more blunt than in other species and not prolonged
into a long and slender style; proboscis about 2 mm. long. Hypo-
pygium of $ (text-fig. 332, a, showing a side view and a dorsal view,
the last sternite being removed) with the basal part not produced
apically; apical joints elongate slender (see apical view in middle),
curved upwards from middle, practically smooth; ramus from basal
part narrow and the blinker-like lappet from its base shaped as shown
in left-hand figure; aedeagus produced apically into 2 spines, the
true aedeagus, however, represented by a short spine-like process
below them; the basally directed process on each side of aedeagal
complex narrowish; last sternite (text-fig. 332, 6, side view) dorsal
in position, produced basally on each side, where it is joined on to
basal part, into a flattened process, with the apical lappet on each
side of last sternite divided into 2 lobes, the outer one of which is
more chitinous, ending apically in a row or comb of ctenate spines.
Types in the British Museum.
Length of body: about 53-64 mm.
Length of wing: about 4-5 mm.
Locality —S. Western Cape Province: Worcester (Turner, Dec.
1933) (Types). Southern Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 1-
18/12/1928). S.E. Cape Province or Hastern Little Karoo: Albany
Distr.; Resolution (Walton, 30/11/28) (in the Transvaal Museum).
This species is very easily recognisable by its entirely white scaling
on body, oblique white patches on abdomen, entirely dark scaling on
hind tibiae, faintly smoky or cinereous wings and rather bluntly
pointed third antennal joints. It can only be confused with the
following species crocisops n. sp., from which it differs by the characters
given in the key and under that species.
2 99 T. crocisops n. sp.
Body and legs black; trochanters yellowish brown and genae also
obscure brownish: pubescence with the macrochaetal bristles, the
bristly hairs below the first antennal joints, some of the bristles on
sides of tergite 1, some of the bristles along hind edge of hind coxae
1052 Annals of the South African Museum.
and the spines on tibiae black, with the bristles on occiput medially
brownish, those laterally and on sides of head below white, with some
or sometimes all the bristles on sides of tergite 1, the hairs on venter
and at apex of abdomen whitish or white, with at least 1 bristle on
hind coxae brownish, with the pale scaling on body cretaceous or
pearly whitish, no yellowish scaling being present, and distributed as
follows: some on antennal joint 1 above, in a dense tuft on each side
of antennae, on a patch behind each eye on sides, as suberect hair-like
scaling on pronotal collar, front margin of mesonotum, densely on
sides of thorax and on mesopleuron, as dense, flattened and depressed
scaling across hind margins of mesonotum and scutellum, as broadish
transverse bands in apical halves on sides of tergites 2-5, sides of
tergite 1 and greater part of sides of apical tergites, as a row of central
triangular spots on abdomen above at bases of tergites but tending to
extend to apical margins towards apex of abdomen where they are also
bigger, as dense transverse bands across apical margins of sternites
and also longitudinally on sides of venter, on bases of wings above, on
metapleurae, dense on coxae, on outer surfaces of front and middle
femora, on practically entire hind femora, on outer surfaces of front
and middle tibiae and on at least basal halves of hind tibiae, with the
dark scaling on body dense on antennae, very deep, dark violet
blackish, but showing reddish brown or bronzy gleams in certain lights,
that on occiput also showing the same gleams, that on thorax above
blackish brown, sparse, showing violaceous gleams, sometimes appear-
ing coffee brownish and intermixed with sparse whitish scales, that on
scutellum deep violaceous, showing brownish gleams, that on abdomen
above, occupying the areas not taken up by the conspicuous white
markings, very dark blackish brown to black but gleaming either very
deep violet to brownish or reddish violet in different lights, sometimes
with a bronzy, violaceous brown sheen in other lights and as in the
case of the white scaling the dark ones are also concentrated across the
hind margins of the tergites (where they occupy such sites), with some
dark scaling across bases of sternites especially towards apex, with
very dark blackish brown scaling on inner and upper surfaces of front
and middle femora and tibiae, at apices of hind femora and in apical
halves of hind tibiae, the scaling on hind tibiae feathery in appearance
and with a more brownish sheen; wings tinged faintly greyish
cinereous, appearing more smoky in certain lights, with the veins very
dark blackish brown or black and with a spot-like infuscation or
infusion along common base of second and third longitudinal veins,
along discal cross vein and along apical cross vein of enclosed sub-
Se ee ee
A Revision of the Bombyliudae (Diptera) of Southern Africa. 1053
marginal cell, with the discal cross vein much beyond middle of
discoidal cell, with the upper loop of apical cross vein of discoidal cell
tending to be bent upwards at right angles and to be also darker, with
the fringe of whitish squamae white; halteres yellowish brown, the
knobs yellowish but slightly darkened above basally. Head with the
interocular space on vertex about 2 times as broad as ocellar tubercle;
frons medially slightly depressed in front of front ocellus; antennae
with joint 1 curved, appearing as if sagging down at the middle, with
joint 3 slightly longer than 2, the relation of joints (7 : 3-5: 4), with 3
ending in a comparatively long and slender style and with the silvery
pubescent area on joint 2 above very narrow or at least narrower than
in majority of species; proboscis shortish, about 24-23 mm. long and
very distinctly spinulated.
Type in the South African Museum.
Length of body: about 83 mm.
Length of wing: about 64 mm.
Locality.—West Cape Province: Olifant’s River Valley between
Citrusdal and Clanwilliam (Mus. Exp., Oct-Nov. 1931) (Type).
Southern Karoo: Matjiesfontein (Turner, 1427/11/28) (in the British
Museum).
This species is easily recognisable by its somewhat bulky body,
characteristic pattern of white patches on the abdomen and cinereous
wings. Superficially it has a marked resemblance to species of
Crocisa, a genus of parasitic bees. From obliquisquamosa, the only
other known species with similar cinereous wings and peculiar white
pattern on the body, it differs in being larger, in having longer
antennae, longer second joints and a long and slender style to the
third, in having the patches of white scaling on sides of abdomen
transverse and not oblique, etc.
Part II, containing Division II, an Appendix, a Bibliographical
List, and an Index to both parts, in vol. xxxv.
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