Ancylorhynchus gessi Londt 2011, sp. n.
Creators: name: Londt, Jason G. H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Asilidae
Ancylorhynchus
Ancylorhynchus gessi

description: Ancylorhynchus gessi sp. n.   Figs 9, 39, 84–86  
Etymology: Named for Dr Fred Gess (AMGS), who, together with his wife Sarah, collected many interesting Afrotropical Asilidae, including the holotype and a paratype of this new species.  
Description:  
 Male (based on holotype. Condition: Excellent; slightly greasy.).   
 Head: Blackish, silver-grey pruinose, pale yellow to whitish setose. Antenna (Fig. 9): Scape and pedicel blackish, whitish setose, postpedicel orange-brown proximally becoming dark red-brown distally, terminal stylus ‘segment’ present, dark red-brown tipped with pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element. Segmental ratios: 1:0.4:4.5:0.3. Face black, uniformly silver-grey pruinose (slightly weaker laterally on epistomal margin), mystax shiny whitish occupying entire facial profile. Frons and vertex black, fine silver-grey pruinose, pale yellow whitish setose; ocellar tubercle fine pale yellow setose. Occiput black, uniformly silver pruinose, pale yellow to whitish setose. Palpus dark red-brown, whitish setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, whitish setose.   
 Thorax: Black with orange areas dorsally, fine silver-grey pruinose, white and pale yellowish setose. Prothorax entirely blackish, fine silver-grey pruinose, pale yellow-white setose. Mesonotum black except for orange postpronotal lobes and posterolateral regions from just anterior of transverse suture to posterior margin (including postalar lobes), fine silver pruinose, fine moderately long white and pale yellow setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (translucent pale yellow when present): few dc confined to posterior region, 2 npl, 1 spal, 3 pal. Scutellum entirely dark red-brown to black, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely pale yellow setose, hind margin with 4 pale yellow weakly developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely blackish, entirely silver-grey pruinose, setae white to pale yellow confined to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot black. Legs: cx dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, white setose; tro dark red-brown; fem orange with dark red-brown ventral parts, tib yellowish with dark red-brown ventral parts (tib 3 almost entirely dark red-brown), tar uniformly dark red-brown; legs entirely pale yellowish white setose, claws dark red-brown with red-brown proximal parts. Wings (Fig. 39): 9.2× 3.4 mm. Veins orange-brown to dark red-brown. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), distal cells brown (from about first fork of Rs), slightly orange stained basally and anteriorly and some centrally situated veins bordered by light brownish stain, cells mostly transparent. Haltere orange, slightly darker basally.   
 Abdomen: Predominantly blackish with orange to brown-orange patches, fine silver-grey pruinose, pale yellowish white setose. T1 predominantly orange with broad dark red-brown medial area; T2–3 blackish with large orange patches posterolaterally; T4–5 blackish with small brown-orange patches posterolaterally. Sternites similar to tergites but orange areas extensive and along posterior margins.   
 Genitalia (Figs 84–86): Large and bulbous. Epand bifid, bulbous, forming pair of relatively large, well-developed, distally down-curved, stout lobes. Lobes closely associated proximally, each having fairly straight appearance in dorsal view, distal parts not inwardly directed, but laterally compressed and ventrally directed. Proct simple, projecting beyond epand in dorsal view, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused posteromedially. Goncx relatively poorly developed, distal end somewhat truncate, lacking posteriorly directed terminal process and dorsal finger-like process; inner lobe relatively weakly developed, slender, straight. Gonst slightly laterally compressed, posteriorly directed, tip relatively straight. Hypd large, well developed, cup-shaped; proximal margin broad, slightly indented medially; distal end smoothly and broadly rounded with some small mediodistal corrugations. Aed hidden from view in undissected genitalia.   
 Female (topotypic female paratype): Similar to male. Head more yellowish setose and gold pruinose. Antennae orange except for dark red-brown stylus. Orange parts of mesonotum more extensive (black area confined to a somewhat cross-shaped central marking that fails to reach posterior margin). Pleura partly orange (posterior part of anepst and entire ktg). Legs almost entirely orange (except for dark red-brown cx and terminal tarsomeres). Wing: 10.5×4.0 mm (slightly larger than ♂).   
Variation: A species displaying little individual variation of note.  
Holotype: ♂ NAMIBIA: ‘in cop’, ‘ Namibia, N of Kalkveld / on road to Otjiwarongo / 20.50S 16.13E / 25.iii.1997 / F.W. & S.K. Gess’ (AMGS).  
Paratypes: 2♂ 1♀ NAMIBIA: 1♂ ‘ Kaoko Otavi [18°18'S: 13°42'E] / S. W.A. ’ ~ ‘ Mus. Exped. / Mar. 1926 ’ (SAMC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘ Kamanyab [waterhole, 19°48'S: 14°50'E] / S. W.A. ’ ~ ‘ Mus. Exped. / Mar. 1925 ’ (SAMC); 1♀ same data as holotype (AMGS).  
Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from Namibia (Table 1). Adults have been collected only in March (Table 2). The biology is unknown, but localities are dominated by the Savanna biome.  
 Similar species: A member of the reynaudii species-group with close similarities to whiteheadi.
description: Published as part of Londt, Jason G. H., 2011, A review of Afrotropical Ancylorhynchus Berthold, 1827 (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), pp. 471 in African Invertebrates 52 (2) on pages 496-498, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0214, http://zenodo.org/record/7917250