Afroholopogon melas Londt 2005, sp. n.
Creators: name: Londt, Jason G. H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Asilidae
Afroholopogon
Afroholopogon melas

description: Afroholopogon melas sp. n.   Figs 39–41, 79  
 Etymology: Gr. melas (black). Refers to the dominant colour of this species.   
Description: Based on holotype.  
 Head: Antenna: Black, fine silver pruinose, black setose; segmental formula 1.0:0.7:2.6:0.2:0.9. Face black, silver pruinose except for mystacal area, mystax black, strong, extending almost to antennal sockets. Face width:head width ratio 1.0:4.4. Frons and vertex black, shiny apruinose, black setose. Occiput black, silver pruinose, black setose. Proboscis dark red-brown, brown setose. Palpi dark red-brown, black setose.   
 Thorax: Mesonotum black, shiny apruinose except for narrow silver lateral margin and extensive area postsuture. Setation: ac – fine black setae mostly postsuture; dc – fine black setae mostly postsuture; npl – 2 black; sa – 1 black; pa – 2 fine black. Scutellum black, largely shiny apruinose with silver anterior and posterolateral margins, disc asetose, margin with approx. 7 thin black setae. Pleura black, fine silver-gold pruinose except for bare areas on anepisternum, katepisternum and meron, sparsely black setose. Wing 5.8 x 2.3 mm, light brown, microtrichia brown, covering membrane extensively, basal angle of r 4 21°. Halter dark red-brown with orange-yellow knob. Legs: cx black, fine red-gold pruinose, black setose; trochanters black; fem black distal tips red-brown, black setose (some fine orange setae); tib orange, black setose; tar dark red-brown, black setose.   
 Abdomen: Terga black, shiny apruinose except for narrow silver lateral margins, black setose. Sterna black, fine red-gold pruinose, long black setose. Genitalia: Holotype not dissected, topotypic paratype ơ illustrated (Figs 39–41): Hypopygium rotated through between 90–180°; epand (in dorsal view) incised to approximately half length to form broadly basally fused distally rounded lobes; goncx externally distally broadly bilobed and projecting (in lateral view) beyond level attained by epand; hypd (in lateral view) long and projecting distally well beyond levels attained by epand and goncx, tapering gradually (in ventral view) to slightly club-shaped medial process; medial process (in lateral view) with distinctive dorsally directed subapical scoop-shaped process.   
Variation: Sexes similar. Specimens show no variation of note.  
 Type specimens: SOUTH AFRICA: ơ holotype, 2ơ 9^ paratypes, ‘Sth Africa: Cape Prov / Franschhoek Pass / 3319 CC [3354S 1909E] 21.xi.1986 / Londt & Quickelberge / Grass & macchia on / summit of pass 800 m’ (1^ BMNH).   
 Distribution (Table 1), phenology (Table 2) and biology: Known only from the type locality (Fig. 79) and collected only during November. The species apparently occurs sympatrically with africanus, but they may fly at slightly different times of summer (melas a little earlier in the season).   
 Similar species: A. capensis and also africanus and peregrinus (see discussion).
description: Published as part of Londt, Jason G. H., 2005, A review of afrotropical Afroholopogon Londt, 1994 with the description of a new genus and new species (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), pp. 203-252 in African Invertebrates 46 (1937) on page 221, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7666864