Leylaiya whiteheadi Greathead and Evenhuis 2001, sp. n.
Creators: name: Greathead, D. J.
name: Evenhuis, N. L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2001
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Bombyliidae
Leylaiya
Leylaiya whiteheadi

description: Leylaiya whiteheadi Greathead and Evenhuis sp. n.  (Figs 20, 24, 27)  
 Etymology: Named for Dr. Vin Whitehead of the South African Museum, who brought the specimens below to NLE’s attention and was a kind and generous host during his visit to South Africa.   
 Material examined: Holotype ^ and 2^ paratypes from SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Boesmanland: Rietfontein, Rotnaarskoker, 2918 Cc, 16.iv.1989, S[igrid] Liede. The holotype lacks the left antenna beyond the scape and the right wing is torn off at the base and missing. Holotype in SAMC. Paratypes in SAMC and BPBM.   
 Diagnosis: This species is easily separated from the other three known species in this genus by the characteristic black and white pattern of the thorax and abdomen (Fig. 24).   
 Description: ^. Length: 1.78–2.06 mm. Head (Figs 24 a, b): Black with white to yellow patterning; occiput black with white posterolaterally; eyes dichoptic, separated at vertex by 3 x distance between lateral ocelli; frons black, narrow white patch laterally adjacent to inner eye margin, thin white line above antennae; face yellow, tip of oral margin black; antennae black; scape cylindrical; pedicel subconical, slightly wider than long; first flagellomere lanceolate, length about 2 x greatest width; second flagellomere minute, with microscopic apical style; venter of head black; proboscis thin, strap-like, extremely long when extended (more than body length), accordion-like when retracted in oral groove below head (Fig. 20); labrum sclerotised, stiff, pointed apically, length slightly less than height of oral margin; palpus not evident. Thorax (Figs 24 a, b): Mesonotum dark brown to black dorsally with patterning, with scattered dark hairs; scutellum yellow with narrow blackish median line; coxae black; femora black basally, yellowish apically; tibiae and tarsi yellowish; halter stem and knob yellowish white. Wing (cf. Fig. 27): Hyaline; veins dark brown; costa ends at end of vein M 1; vein Sc complete; base of Rs connected to vein R 1; R 4+5 slightly curved to wing margin; vein M 1 curved toward wing margin, converging with vein R 4+5 at wing margin resulting in narrow cell r 5, width less than crossvein r-m; A 1 straight to wing margin; fringe of hair on posterior margin of wing. Abdomen (Fig. 24 b): Dorsum with black and yellow patterning; venter sclerotised black.   
 Remarks: Little is known of the biology of this species. Liede et al. (1991) recorded the type series as visiting flowers of Conophytum pellucidum in northern Cape. The flower species has a comparatively long tubular corolla, which would apparently necessitate the Leylaiya adults to extend the proboscis to its full length in order to reach nectar.
description: Published as part of Greathead, D. J. & Evenhuis, N. L., 2001, Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera: Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae), pp. 105-224 in African Invertebrates 42 (1820) on pages 124-125, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7909975