Ancylorhynchus greatheadi 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 greatheadi

description: Ancylorhynchus greatheadi sp. n.   Figs 10, 40, 87–89  
Etymology: Named after Dr David J. Greathead, whose collecting activities have led to the discovery of a number of interesting Afrotropical Asilidae, including this species from Eritrea.  
Description:  
 Male (based on holotype. Condition: Excellent.).   
 Head: Red-brown to dark red-brown, silver pruinose, white setose. Antenna (Fig. 10): Red-brown, scape and pedicel white setose, postpedicel tipped with obliquely positioned pit-enclosed spine-like sensory element (terminal stylus ‘segment’ absent). Segmental ratios: 1:0.3:5.2. Face dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose except lateral parts of epistomal margin, mystax shiny white occupying ventral ⅓ of face. Frons and vertex dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose, white setose; ocellar tubercle fine white setose (no macrosetae). Occiput dark red-brown, uniformly fine silver pruinose, white setose. Palpus red-brown, white setose, terminal palpomere swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, pale yellow setose.   
 Thorax: Red-brown to dark red-brown with orange-brown areas dorsally, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. Prothorax anteriorly brown-orange, posteriorly red-brown, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. Mesonotum red-brown with lateral parts brown-orange, fine silver-grey pruinose, fine moderately long white setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (white when present): dc weak confined to region posterior of transverse suture, c. 2 npl, 1 spal, 1 pal. Scutellum entirely red-brown, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely white setose, hind margin with c. 4 white weakly developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely dark red-brown, entirely fine silver-grey pruinose, setae white, confined to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot red-brown, not contrasting with scutellum. Legs: Entirely red-brown, white to pale yellow setose, cx silver pruinose, claws dark red-brown with orange proximal parts. Wings (Fig. 40, paratype): 5.6× 2.2mm. Veins brown-yellow. Membrane entirely microtrichose, transparent (lacking staining). Haltere yellow with red-brown base.   
 Abdomen: Predominantly red-brown with some yellow areas, fine silver-grey pruinose, white setose. T1 red-brown; T2 red-brown with large yellow posterolateral areas that coalesce medially; T3–4 red-brown with small yellow areas posterolaterally; T5–7 red-brown with narrow posterior margins; terminalia red-brown. Sternites similar to tergites but yellow areas cover entire posterior margins.   
 Genitalia (Figs 87– 89 paratype): Epand bifid, forming pair of parallel, moderately slender lobes that just out beyond all other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, each being relatively straight with slightly inwardly curved distal tips. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly to fairly broadly-rounded tip; dorsal finger-like process poorly-developed appearing as a slight bump bearing a few longish setae; inner lobe well developed, distal end pointed, sclerotised and medially directed. Gonst somewhat compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly. Hypd well developed, a little broader than long, tapering fairly rapidly to slightly bilobed apex; distal third flattened with group of long setae arising from base of flattened region (Fig. 87, lateral view); Aed not visible in ventral view.   
 Female: There is a fair degree of sexual dimorphism. Females are generally more orange in colour (e.g. the head, including face, palps and antennae are orange; the mesonotum is orange with a central dark marking; the legs are entirely orange). Females are generally slightly larger than males (♂ wing length ranges from 5.6–7.5 mm (average 6.4 mm), ♀ wing length ranges from 6.4–7.9 mm (average 7.1 mm)).   
Variation:There is very little variation. One male from Waddi Damas is somewhat paler than other males but this may be a consequence of being teneral.  
Holotype: ♂ ERITREA: ‘ Eritrea: / Salamona [15°39'N: 39°01'E] / 30.iv.1961 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH).  
Paratypes: 5♂ 5♀ ERITREA: 2♂ ‘ Eritrea: / Barentu [15°07'N: 37°36'E] / Dist. / 18.ix.1960 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘ Eritrea: nr / Gogni [15°08'N: 37°21'E] / 17.ix.1960 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 2♂ ‘ Eritrea: / Waddi / Damas [15°30'N: 39°12'E] / 14.iii.1956 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ similar data as holotype (BMNH); 2♀ ‘ Eritrea: / Salamona / 9–10.iv.1961 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH); 1♀ ‘ Eritrea: / Salamona / 29.iv.1961 / D.J. Greathead’ (BMNH).  
 Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from the type series collected in East Africa (Eritrea) (Table 1). Adults have been collected in September as well as in March and April (Table 2). The biology is unknown, but vegetation maps suggest that the environments occupied are dominated by Acacia savanna and desert scrubland. Greathead (1967) provides further details on habitats, where the specimens were collected.   
 Similar species: A member of the nomadus species-group with close similarities to funebris and susurrus.
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 498-499, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0214, http://zenodo.org/record/7917250