Ancylorhynchus similis Londt 2011, sp. n.

Ancylorhynchus similis sp. n.

Figs 21, 51, 117–119

Etymology: From Latin similis (similar); referring to the fact that this species resembles nomadus.

Description:

Male (based on holotype. Condition: Poor; both antennae broken off beyond pedicel; right pro- and mesothoracic legs missing, metathoracic leg broken off beyond tibia; left metathoracic leg broken off at midlength of femur; left wing missing; generally dirty.).

Head: Dark red-brown, silver pruinose, pale yellow to white (= whitish) and dark red-brown setose. Antenna (Fig. 21, paratype): Scape and pedicel dark red-brown, pale whitish setose, postpedicels missing (proportions of scape and pedicel suggest a long strap-like postpedicel lacking stylus ‘segment’). Segmental ratios: 1:0.4:?. Face dark red-brown, silver pruinose except for lateral parts of epistomal margin, mystax whitish occupying ventral ⅓ of face. Frons and vertex dark red-brown, fine silver-grey pruinose, whitish setose; ocellar tubercle fine whitish setose (no macrosetae). Occiput dark red-brown to black, uniformly silver pruinose, whitish setose. Palpus dark red-brown, dark red-brown setose, terminal palpomere slightly swollen, apex with terminal sensory pit. Proboscis dark red-brown, whitish setose.

Thorax: Uniformly dark red-brown to black, silver-grey pruinose, mainly whitish setose. Prothorax entirely dark red-brown to black, fine silver-grey pruinose, whitish setose. Mesonotum uniformly dark red-brown to black, fine silver-grey pruinose, fine moderately long whitish setose. Mesonotal macrosetae (whitish except for npl): dc confined to region posterior to transverse suture, 3 dark red-brown npl, 1 spal, 3–4 pal. Scutellum entirely dark red-brown, fine silver pruinose, disc sparsely whitish setose, hind margin with c. 6 whitish weakly developed macrosetae accompanied by minor setae. Pleura entirely dark red-brown to black, entirely silver-grey pruinose, setae whitish confined to anepst, kepst and ktg. Anatg and mes pnot dark red-brown to black. Legs: cx dark red-brown to black, silver pruinose, whitish setose; tro dark red-brown; fem, tib and tar uniformly dark red-brown, entirely whitish setose, claws dark red-brown with red-brown proximal parts. Wings (Fig. 51, paratype): 6.5× 2.6 mm. Veins dark red-brown. Membrane extensively microtrichose (some proximal cells partly bare), extensively brown stained (basal parts transparent). Haltere orange with brown proximal half.

Abdomen: Predominantly orange (anterior segments dark red-brown), fine silver pruinose, whitish setose. T1 entirely dark red-brown to black, T2 orange with dark red-brown anterior ⅓; T3–4 entirely orange; T5–terminalia dissected and macerated. Sternites similar to tergites but S2 entirely dark red-brown.

Genitalia (Figs 117–119): Epand bifid, forming pair of parallel, moderately slender lobes that jut out beyond all other genital structures. Lobes closely abut proximally, each being relatively straight (slightly sinuous in dorsal view) with slightly inwardly curved distal tips. Proct simple, dorsally situated cerc appearing fused proximally. Goncx well developed, outer lobe projecting posteriorly to fairly narrowly-rounded tip; dorsal finger-like process well-developed; inner lobe well developed, distal end as sclerotised, medially directed pointed structure. Gonst compressed, dorsally directed, tip curved anteriorly. Hypd moderately developed, twice as broad as long in ventral view with smoothly curved posterior margin. Aed sub-triangular with tiny bifid distal tip.

Female. Similar to ♂ except for following differences: Head more extensively blackish (including entire antenna); palpal setae white; all mesonotal macrosetae white; wing length 8.5 and 8.9 mm (slightly larger than ♂); T2 with strongly silver pruinose areas situated anterolaterally (posteromedial area blackish); T4–5 bright orange, posterior margins strongly silver pruinose.

Holotype: ♂ GHANA: ‘ Gold Coast / Accra. [05°33'N: 00°13'W] / 22.vi.1941. / K.M. Guichard / B.M. 1945–39’ (BMNH).

Paratypes: 2♀ CÔTE D’IVOIRE: 2♀ ‘ Côte d’Ivoire: Comoé / Nat. Park. Kakpin / Camp 16–18.iv.1989 / 08°40’N 03°12’W / JGH Londt. Malaise / and savanna woodland’ (NMSA).

Distribution, phenology and biology: Known only from West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana) (Table 1). The species has been collected in April and June (Table 2). The biology is largely unknown, but I collected two females in ‘savanna woodland’.

Similar species: A member of the nomadus species-group, with close similarities to nyukinus.