Dolichopodidae) from Tropical Africa

Igor Ya. GRICHANOV

Grichanov, I.Ya. Eight new species of Medetera Fischer von Waldheim

(Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Tropical Africa

M. polleti sp.n., M. chumakovi sp.n., M. rikhterae sp.n., and M.

subchevi sp.n. from Namibia, M. norlingi sp. n. from Namibia,

Botswana, and Angola, M. edwardsi sp.n. from Uganda, M. cederholmi

sp.n. from Sierra Leone and Ghana, M. pospelovi sp.n. from Ghana are

described. Two names are synonymized. New records and key to 29 known

species of Afrotropical Medetera are given.

I.Ya. Grichanov, All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection,

Podbelskogo 3, St.Petersburg-Pushkin, 189620, Russia.

Key words: Diptera, Dolichopodidae, Medetera, Tropical Africa.

Introduction

The world fauna of the genus Medetera s.l. numbers nearly 400

mostly Holarctic species. The Palearctic fauna of the genus was

recently revised by Negrobov & Stackelberg (1971-1977), Nearctic fauna

by Bickel (1985), Neotropical fauna (partly) by Robinson (1975), and

Oriental fauna by Bickel (1987; see also Negrobov et al., 1991).

Grichanov (in litt.) transferred 52 species of the "aberrans" group to

the genus Saccopheronta. The "melanesiana" group (Bickel, 1987),

probably, should be separated as independent genus of Medeterinae. The

last key to Afrotropical species of Medetera was published by Parent

(1936). Some species mostly described by females have doubtful status.

Treating unidentified material from the collections of the

Natural History Museum, London [NHML], the Hungarian Natural History

Museum [HNHM], the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg [ZIN], and

Lund University, Sweden [Lund], I found 14 Afrotropical species. In

this paper M. polleti sp.n., M. chumakovi sp.n., M. rikhterae sp.n.,

and M. subchevi sp.n. from Namibia, M. norlingi sp. n. from Namibia,

Botswana, and Angola, M. edwardsi sp.n. from Uganda, M. cederholmi

sp.n. from Sierra Leone and Ghana, M. pospelovi sp.n. from Ghana are

described. Two names are synonymized. Medetera turneri Parent is

transferred to the genus Saccopheronta (Grichanov, in litt.). New

records and key to 29 known species of Afrotropical Medetera are given

below.

Holotypes and paratypes of the new species including a male

paratype of M. pospelovi are deposited in the Natural History Museum

(London). Holotype and paratypes of M. pospelovi are conserved in the

Hungarian Natural History Museum. Paratype of M. norlingi, holotype

and paratype of M. cederholmi are deposited in Lund University.
 
 

List of Afrotropical species of Medetera

(for references see Dyte & Smith, 1980)

afra Curran, 1927:15 - South Africa, Kenya

= longitarsis Curran, 1924:227

araneipes Parent, 1929:43 - Sudan

beckeri Parent, 1929:44 [new name for Oligochaetus sp. n. unnamed,

Becker, 1923:12] - Kenya, Zaire, Cameroun, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo (!),

Congo (!), Gambia (!), Angola (!), Zambia (!).

= currani Parent, 1931:46 (female), n. syn.

= viridipalpa Negrobov et Schumann, 1990:229, n. syn.

capensis Curran, 1926:13 - South Africa

cederholmi sp.n. - Sierra Leone, Ghana

chumakovi sp.n. - Namibia

ealensis Parent, 1936:10 - Zaire

edwardsi sp.n. - Uganda

grisescens de Meijere, 1916:259 - Seychelles, Mauritius (!); Burma,

India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ceylon, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand,

Vietnam, Malaysia, Samoa, New Caledonia, Hawaii, Australia

= hawaiiensis Van Duzee, 1933:343

= atrata Van Duzee, 1933:344

= cilifemorata Van Duzee, 1933:344

= palmae Hardy, 1939:351

hamata Parent, 1936:11 - Zaire

luteoscutata lachaisei Couturier, 1985:287 (as species), n. stat.

- Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone (!)

luteoscutata luteoscutata Parent, 1936:12 - Zaire, Tanzania (!)

mainei Curran, 1925:117 - Zaire

munroi Curran, 1925:176 - South Africa

nocturna Curran, 1927:15 (female) - Sierra Leone, Zaire

norlingi sp. n. - Namibia, Botswana, Angola

normalis Curran, 1924:226 - South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia (!),

Congo (!), Ghana (!), Sierra Leone (!), Gambia (!)

otiosa Parent, 1934:135 - South Africa, ?Zaire

penura Curran, 1926:401 - South Africa

polita Parent, 1936:12 - Zaire

polleti sp.n. - Namibia

pospelovi sp.n. - Ghana

praedator Curran, 1926:401 - South Africa

rikhterae sp.n. - Namibia

rutilans Parent, 1935:126 - Zaire

simplicis Curran, 1924:227 - South Africa, Namibia (!), Zaire

subchevi sp.n. - Namibia

subviridis Parent, 1939:278 (female) - Kenya

varitibia Parent, 1935:127 (female) - Zaire, Tanzania
 
 

Descriptions and new records

Medetera beckeri Parent

Material examined. 1 male & 2 females, Togo: Lome, 14.VIII.1971,

R.Mable [ZIN]; 2 males & 1 female, Congo Brazzaville, Orstom Park /

1.I.1964, leg. Endrody.-Y., Balogh, Zicsi [HNHM]; 1 male, Congo:

Kindamba, Meya / 9-27.XI.1963, leg. Balogh, Zicsi [HNHM]; 1 male,

Ghana: Kwadaso / 10-24.VII.1965, leg. Endrody-Y. [HNHM]; 3 males,

Ghana: Kumasi, 1-25.VI.1965, leg. Endrody-Y. [HNHM]; 1 female, Gambia:

Bakau, Cape St. Mary at Sun Wing Hotel, swept in veg. along the beach,

5.XI.1977, UTM 28PCK1991, Loc. 26 / Lund Univ., Syst. Dept., Sweden

Gambia/Senegal. Nov. 1977, Cederholm - Danielsson - Hammarstedt -

Hedquist - Samuelsson; 1 male & 4 females, Gambia: Kotu stream about 3

km SW Bakau, swept in veg. 22-23.XI.1977, UTM 28PCK1688, Loc. 3 / Lund

Univ., Syst. Dept., Sweden Gambia/Senegal. Nov. 1977, Cederholm -

Danielsson - Hammarstedt - Hedquist - Samuelsson; 1 male, Ghana: E.

Region, Accra, Legon, At light, 9.III.1969, O.W. Richards, B.M.

1969-210; 3 males & 3 females, Nigeria: Ile-Ife, W State, 15 Aug.

1971, Col. J.T. Medler / DD-45-48 [NHML]; 3 males & 2 females,

N.Nigeria: Niger Prov., Abuja, X.1954, R.W. Crosskey / Com. Inst. Ent.

Coll. No. 14043; 2 females, CK. 97, Keneba, Gambia, M.C.D. Speight, 21

Sept. 1975: rainy season / in malaise trap by 4 ft. grass between lawn

& Arachis crop [NHML]; 5 males & 4 females, Ndola, N. Rhodesia / Com.

Inst. Ent. Coll. No. 12312; 1 female, Angola (A26), Salazar, I.I.A.A.

9-15.III.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 2 males & 2

females, Caught on wall on house at Oct. 3.64, Waniehambu / Presented

by Liverpool Sch. Trop. Med., B.M. 1971-458.

Diagnosis. M. beckeri differs from other species by the following

characters. Two strong scutellars with a pair of greatly reduced

lateral hairs; 4 strong dorsocentrals; 2 black propleural setae; legs

mostly reddish-yellow, coxae entirely and femora in basal half brown;

1st to 4th tarsomeres of midtarsus with distinct apical setulae.

Remark. Becker (1923) briefly described Oligochaetus sp.n.

unnamed by a male and a female from South Cameroun (Hosemann coll.),

which Parent (1929a, b) discussed as Medetera beckeri Parent. These

specimens were redescribed by Negrobov and Schumann (1990) as M.

viridipalpa sp.n. Parent (1931) also described a female of M. currani

sp.n. having no difference from M. viridipalpa. So, I regard these

names as synonyms to M. beckeri. This species is possible synonym to

M. mainei Curran or M. praedator Curran.

Distribution: Kenya, Zaire, Cameroun, Nigeria, Ghana,

Togo (!), Congo (!), Gambia (!), Angola (!), Zambia (!).

Medetera otiosa Parent

(Fig. 1)

Material examined. 2 males and 2 females, RSA: Cape Prov.,

Wilderness, N. Park, 17 km SE George, 33ø59'S, 22ø39'E, 14.X.1994,

Loc. 18, leg. R. Danielsson [Lund].

Diagnosis. M. otiosa differs from other species by the following

characters. Two strong scutellars with a pair of greatly reduced

lateral hairs; 2 strong dorsocentrals with a row of hairs

anteriorly; antenna black; legs black, knees reddish; posterior

basitarsomere 2/5 as long as next tarsomere; m-cu slightly shorter

than apical part of CuA1.

Distribution: South Africa, ?Zaire.

Medetera edwardsi sp.n.

(Fig. 2)

Holotype. Male, Uganda: Mbarara, 15.XI.1934, F.W. Edwards, B.M.

1935-203.

Description. Male. Frons and face entirely grey pollinose, with

green ground colour. A row of several fine short black postocular

setae at the top of eye and a row of white postocular setae in the

middle present. One strong vertical seta laterally on frons. Ocellar

tubercle with one pair of strong setae. Ventral postcranium covered

with sparse white irregular setae. Face widest under antennae. Ratio

of height of epistome to its maximal width to height of clypeus to its

minimal width, 13 : 9 : 7: 7. Antenna short, mostly yellow; pedicel

slightly swollen, with ring of short apical setulae; first

flagellomere mostly brown, rounded, with short terminal hairs. Arista

apical, pubescent. Length ratio of scape to pedicel to first

flagellomere to arista, 3 : 3 : 4 : 39. Palpus and proboscis short,

dark-brown, grey pollinose, with light hairs.

Thorax bronze-black, grey pollinose, with brown-black setae. Two

pairs of strong dorsocentral setae with the 1st one half as long as

the 2nd and a row of hairlike setae gradually decreasing in size

anteriorly. Two rows of short acrostichals extending to mesonotal

flattening. Scutellum with a pair of strong median setae and two

lateral hairs, 1/3 as long as medians.

Legs mostly yellow, anterior coxa at base, midcoxa and hindcoxa

and last tarsomeres of all tarsi brown. Coxae with light setae and

hairs; fore and middle coxae with numerous hairs; middle and hind

coxae each with one fine external seta. Fore legs without setae. Fore

tarsus simple. Length ratio of fore coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus

(segments from first to fifth), 20 : 32 : 30 : 12 : 7 : 5 : 4 : 4.

Middle tibia with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal at base and two

apical setae. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with 1 or 2 short

apico-ventral setulae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora to tibia

to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 15 : 37 : 42 : 17 : 10 : 8 :

5 : 5. Hind femora without long setae. Hind tibia with several short

subapical dorsal setae, with yellow apical postero-ventral scale. Hind

tarsus simple. Length ratio of hind coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus

(segments from first to fifth), 12 : 40 : 42 : 9 : 16 : 10 : 6 : 6.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow-brownish. Costa without long hairs.

Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 65 : 45. R4+5 and M1+2 weakly

convergent. M1+2 slightly bowed anteriorly. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu

to maximal distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1, 7 :

11 : 18. Lower calypter yellow, with dirty-yellow cilia. Halters

yellow.

Abdomen bronze-black, with short setae; 1st tergum with longer

lateral white hairs along posterior margin; 7th segment short.

Epandrium elongate, narrowed apicad. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium

elongate, narrow, raising at basal 1/3 of epandrium. Epandrial lobi

reduced to 2 separate setae. Short epandrial hairs and simple

epandrial seta at base of hypandrium present. Cercus short, with

pointed apex bearing 2 strong setae, large rounded baso-ventral

process, and one strong basoventral seta, dorsally densely setosed.

Surstylus represented by the longest narrow dorsal process, median

lobe with narrowed rounded apex, and short narrow ventral process.

Female unknown.

Length: body without antennae 1.5 mm, antenna 0.6 mm, wing-length

2.0 mm,

Distribution: Uganda.

Etymology. The species is named for the collector, Dr. F.W.

Edwards.

Diagnosis. M. edwardsi sp. n. is a sister species to M. norlingi

sp. n., having only fine difference in colouration and ratios of

podomeres mainly. Study of hypopygium morphology of these two species

(Figs. 2-3) demonstrates distinct specific characters. See also

diagnosis of M. norlingi.

Medetera norlingi sp.n.

(Fig. 3)

Holotype, male, S.W. Africa (29), Kahn River, 5 mls. N. Usakos,

30-31.I.1972 / general sweeping / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Paratype, male, Botsw.: Kgatleng Distr., Pilane 7 km SW Mochudi,

On grass and herbs, 21.12.1981, Ulf Norling [Lund].

Additional material: 3 females, S.W. Africa (W43), Onguma Fm., 55

mls NW Tsumeb, 17-19.II.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 10

females, South West Africa (W31), Okahanja, Camping place, 4.II.1972,

Riverside vegetation, Malaise-Trap / Southern African Exp. B.M.

1972-1; 1 female, Angola (A11): Bruco, 26.II-3.III.1972 / Malaise trap

/ Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Description. Male. Frons and face entirely grey pollinose, with

green ground colour; face slightly shining near suture. A row of

several fine short postocular setae at the top of eye and a row of

white postocular setae in the middle present. Ventral postcranium

covered with sparse white irregular long setae. Face widest under

antennae, with almost parallel sides. Ratio of height of epistome to

its maximal width to height of clypeus to its minimal width, 12 : 9 :

7 : 7. Antenna short, mostly yellow; pedicel slightly swollen, with

ring of short apical setulae; first flagellomere mostly brown, ovate,

slightly higher than long, with short terminal hairs. Arista apical,

microscopically pubescent. Length ratio of scape to pedicel to first

flagellomere to arista, 3 : 3 : 4 : 36. Palpus and proboscis short,

brown, grey pollinose, with light hairs.

Thorax bronze-blue-black (holotype) or dark-green-black

(paratype), grey pollinose, with dark-brown (holotype) of light-brown

(paratype) setae. Two pairs of strong dorsocentral setae with the 1st

one half as long as the 2nd and a row of hairlike setae gradually

decreasing in size anteriorly. Two rows of short acrostichals

extending to mesonotal flattening. Propleura with one light seta.

Scutellum with a pair of strong median setae and two lateral hairs,

1/3 to 1/2 as long as medians.

Legs mostly yellow, 5th tarsomeres of all tarsi brown, middle and

hind coxae more or less brownish. Coxae with light setae and hairs;

fore and middle coxae with numerous hairs; middle and hind coxae each

with one fine external seta. Fore legs without setae. Fore tarsus

simple. Length ratio of fore coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus

(segments from first to fifth), 23 : 38 : 35 : 14 : 8 : 6 : 5 : 5.

Middle tibia with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal at base and one

or two apical brown setae. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with 1 or 2

short brown apico-ventral setulae. Length ratio of middle coxa to

femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 17 : 38 : 43

: 24 : 15 : 10 : 5 : 5. Hind femora without long setae. Hind tibia

with one or two short subapical dorsal setae, with yellow apical

postero-ventral scale. Hind tarsus simple. Length ratio of hind coxa

to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 15 : 43 :

47 : 10 : 19 : 11 : 6 : 5.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow. Costa without long hairs. Ratio of

parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5 and M1+2,

14 : 5. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 62 : 42. R4+5 and M1+2

weakly convergent. M1+2 slightly bowed anteriorly. Ratio of cross-vein

m-cu to maximal distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1,

8 : 11 : 15. Lower calypter yellow, with white cilia. Halters

light-yellow.

Abdomen bronze-black, with short light setae; 1st tergum with

longer lateral white hairs along posterior margin; 7th segment short.

Epandrium elongate, narrowed apicad. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium

long and narrow, raising at basal 1/3 of epandrium. Epandrial lobi

reduced to 2 separate setae. Short epandrial hairs and pedunculate

epandrial seta at base of hypandrium present. Cercus with narrow blunt

apex bearing 2 strong setae, large rounded apico-ventral process, and

one strong midventral seta, dorsally densely setosed. Surstylus

represented by single structure with long and narrow dorsal and

ventral processes, and median lobe expanded apically.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters.

Length: body without antennae 1.6 mm, antenna 0.6 mm, wing-length

1.9 mm, wing-width 0.7 mm.

Distribution: Namibia, Botswana, Angola.

Etymology. The species is named for the collector, Dr. Ulf

Norling.

Diagnosis. M. norlingi sp. n. and M. edwardsi sp. n. can be

included into "petulca" Group (Bickel, 1985), differing from other

species by mostly yellow legs, two strong dorsocentrals with the 1st

one half as long as the 2nd, yellow-brownish antenna, and long narrow

dorsal process on surstylus. See also diagnosis of M. edwardsi.

Medetera subchevi sp.n.

(Fig. 4)

Holotype, male, South West Africa (W31), Okahanja, Camping place,

4.II.1972, Riverside vegetation, Malaise-Trap / Southern African Exp.

B.M. 1972-1.

Paratypes. 4 males & 3 females, same labels (1 male with

additional label "at light"); 1 male & 4 females, S.W. Africa (W39),

Kombat, 16-17.II.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 1 female,

S.W. Africa (W36), Otjikoko Sud Fm., 33 mls ENE Omaruru, 10-13.II.1972

/ at light / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Description. Male. Frons and face entirely densely grey

pollinose. A row of fine short black postocular setae at the top of

eye present. One strong vertical seta laterally on frons. Ocellar

tubercle with one pair of strong setae. Ventral postcranium covered

with sparse long white irregular setae. Face widest under antennae,

with nearly parallel sides. Ratio of height of epistome to its maximal

width to height of clypeus to height of palpus, 19 : 11 : 9: 9.

Antenna short, scape and pedicel orange-brownish; pedicel somewhat

swollen, with short hairs; first flagellomere black, rounded, as long

as high, with short terminal hairs. Arista apical, microscopically

pubescent. Length ratio of scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to

arista, 3 : 3 : 5 : 40. Palpus short, shining-black, slightly

pollinose, with marginal hairs. Proboscis short, brown, with light

hairs.

Thorax bronze-black, entirely grey pollinose. Three pairs of

strong dorsocentral setae, gradually decreasing in size anteriorly

with short setulae in front of the first one. Acrostichals short,

biseriate. Propleura with two white setae. Scutellum with a pair of

strong median setae and two short lateral hairs.

Legs light-yellow, trochanters and 5th tarsomeres of all tarsi

brownish; coxae black with brownish apices, grey pollinose. Anterior

coxa with short white hairs and several yellow apical setae. Middle

and hind coxae each with one fine external seta; midcoxa with light

hairs also. Fore legs without setae. Fore tarsus simple. Length ratio

of fore coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to

fifth), 30 : 43 : 42 : 27 : 17 : 14 : 10 : 8. Midfemora with a row of

fine yellow ventral setae in basal half, nearly as long as diameter of

femora, and a row of sparse short ventral setae in apical half. Middle

tibia with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal yellow setae at base,

and one apico-ventral yellow seta. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with a

few strong brown apical setulae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora

to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 22 : 58 : 61 : 37 :

19 : 15 : 10 : 9. Hind femora with a row of short yellow dorsal setae

in basal half. Hind tibia with several short yellow subapical dorsal

setae, with apical postero-ventral scale, and 2 to 4 apical brown

spinules. Hind basitarsomere simple, with one or two strong apical

setulae. Length ratio of hind coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus

(segments from first to fifth), 16 : 55 : 61 : 14 : 36 : 21 : 12 : 9.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow. Costa without long hairs. R1 short,

extending to basal third of wing. Ratio of parts of costa between R2+3

and R4+5 to those between R4+5 and M1+2, 22 : 6. Ratio of apical to

basal part of M1+2, 62 : 53. R4+5 and M1+2 weakly convergent, nearly

parallel at apex. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu to maximal distance between

R4+5 and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1, 10 : 14 : 14. Lower calypter

yellow, with white cilia. Halters yellow.

Abdomen olive-bronze-green, with short dark setae; 7th segment

short; 8th segment large. Hypopygium black with brown appendages.

Epandrium narrowed apicad. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium

baso-ventral, long, narrow. Epandrial lobi fused, with two long simple

bristles. No epandrial seta. Cerci fused in basal 2/3. Cercus with

wide ventral eminence and rounded apex (in dorsal view), dorsally and

apically setosed. Lobi of surstylus partly fused, broad, with short

subapical setae.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters. Acanthophorites thin, much longer than cercus; cercus

small, bearing long apical seta.

Length: body without antennae 1.8-2.1 mm, antenna 0.7 mm,

wing-length 2.1 mm, wing-width 0.7 mm.

Distribution: Namibia.

Etymology. The species is named for Bulgarian entomologist, Dr.

M. Subchev.

Diagnosis. M. subchevi sp. n. has some relations to North

American "petulca" Group of species (Bickel, 1985). It is keyed to

Afrotropical M. araneipes Parent, differing by wing vein m-cu

distinctly shorter than apical part of CuA1 and another ratio of

podomeres.

Medetera polleti sp.n.

(Fig. 5)

Holotype, male, S.W. Africa (29), Kahn River, 5 mls. N. Usakos,

30-31.I.1972 / general sweeping / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Paratypes. 2 males & 1 female, same labels; 1 male & 1 female,

S.W. Africa (11), Aar Farm, 25 mls ESE Aus, 15-17.I.1972 / Southern

African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 2 females, S.W. Africa (13), Barby Farm, 25

mls W Helmeringhausen, 17-18.I.1972 / general sweeping / Southern

African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 2 males, South West Africa (W31), Okahanja,

Camping place, 4.II.1972, Riverside vegetation, Malaise-Trap /

Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Description. Male. Frons and face entirely grey pollinose. A row

of several fine short black postocular setae at the top of eye and a

row of white postocular setae in the middle present. One strong

vertical seta laterally on frons. Ocellar tubercle with one pair of

strong setae. Ventral postcranium covered with sparse white irregular

setae. Face narrow, widest under antennae. Ratio of height of epistome

to its maximal width to height of clypeus to its minimal width, 24 :

12 : 10 : 8. Antenna short, scape and pedicel dark-yellow; pedicel

slightly swollen, with ring of short apical setulae; first

flagellomere black, ovate, slightly longer than high, with short

terminal hairs. Arista subapical, microscopically pubescent. Length

ratio of scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to arista, 2 : 4 : 6 :

35. Palpus short, black, grey pollinose, with light hairs. Proboscis

short, black, with light hairs.

Thorax bronze-black, grey pollinose. Three pairs of strong

dorsocentral setae gradually decreasing in size anteriorly, with

microscopic hairs in front of the first one. Two rows of short

acrostichals extending to mesonotal flattening. Propleura with one

light seta and 3 short hairs. Scutellum with a pair of strong median

setae, no lateral hairs.

Legs mostly yellow, 5th tarsomeres of all tarsi and anterior

femora in basal third brown; sometimes (in females) all femora

yellow-brownish. Coxae, femora, and tibiae with light setae and hairs.

Coxae black, fore and middle coxae with numerous hairs; middle and

hind coxae each with one fine external seta. Fore legs without setae.

Fore tarsus simple. Length ratio of fore coxa to femora to tibia to

tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 37 : 57 : 55 : 28 : 20 : 15 :

10 : 7. Middle tibia with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal at base,

and one or two apical setae. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with 3 or 4

short black apico-ventral setae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora

to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 25 : 65 : 73 : 45 :

27 : 19 : 13 : 10. Hind femora without setae. Hind tibia with several

short subapical dorsal setae, with black apico-ventral scale. Hind

basitarsomere with small baso-ventral tooth. Length ratio of hind coxa

to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 20 : 67 :

79 : 19 : 53 : 25 : 14 : 11.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow-brownish. Costa without long hairs.

Ratio of parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5

and M1+2, 26 : 8. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 80 : 58. R4+5

and M1+2 weakly convergent, nearly parallel at apex. M1+2 slightly

bowed anteriorly, nearly straight. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu to maximal

distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1, 17 : 15 : 8.

Lower calypter yellow, with white cilia. Halters light-yellow.

Abdomen black, with short light setae; 1st tergum with long

lateral white hairs along posterior margin; 7th segment short; 8th

segment large, with short light hairs. Hypopygium black with brown

appendages. Epandrium inflated basally, narrowed apicad. Foramen

mid-lateral. Hypandrium mid-ventral, elongate, narrow, tapering.

Epandrial lobi reduced, bearing long bristles. Short epandrial seta

present. Cerci fused except apices. Cercus narrow, with narrow

baso-ventral process bearing subapical seta, three short flattened

apical setae, dorsally densely setosed. Lobi of surstylus fused.

Surstylus long, narrow, with pointed apex bearing subapical seta, with

narrow ventral subapical setiferous process and ventral subapical

prominence bearing thick seta.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters. Tergum 9+10 with a pair of long acanthophorites, with long

lateral setae; cercus rather short, bearing fine apical seta.

Length: body without antennae 2.4-2.6 mm, antenna 0.8 mm,

wing-length 2.5-2.8 mm, wing-width 0.8-0.9 mm.

Distribution: Namibia.

Etymology. The species is named for Belgian dipterologist, Dr. M.

Pollet.

Diagnosis. M. polleti sp. n. can be associated with

"diadema-veles" Group of species (Bickel, 1985, 1987), though having

epandrial seta and just 3 strong dorsocentrals, and lacking lateral

scutellars. Wing vein m-cu twice longer than apical part of CuA1,

scape and pedicel yellow-brownish, legs mostly yellow. Hypopygium

strongly differs from this in other Afrotropical species of the genus.

Medetera normalis Curran

(Fig. 6)

Material examined. 1 female, Gambia: Kotu stream about 3 km SW

Bakau, swept in veg. 22-23.XI.1977, UTM 28PCK1688, Loc. 3 / Lund

Univ., Syst. Dept., Sweden Gambia/Senegal. Nov. 1977, Cederholm -

Danielsson - Hammarstedt - Hedquist - Samuelsson; 2 females, Gambia:

Bakau at Tropic Bungalow, swept in meadow rich in flowers, at the

beach, 16-18.XI.1977, UTM 28PCK1790, Loc. 25 / Lund Univ., Syst.

Dept., Sweden Gambia/Senegal. Nov. 1977, Cederholm - Danielsson -

Hammarstedt - Hedquist - Samuelsson; 1 male, Sierra Leone: Freetown,

Cape Sierra Hotel area, 13ø17'W, 8ø31'N, 1.XII.1993, loc. 2, on

windows / Lund University Sierra Leone Expedition 1993, leg. L.

Cederholm - R. Danielsson - R. Hall; 2 males, Congo Brazzaville, Congo

river / 21-31.XII.1963, leg. Endrody.-Y., Balogh, Zicsi [HNHM]; 1

female, Ghana: New Longoro / VII-VIII.1965, leg. Endrody-Y. [HNHM]; 1

female, Ghana: Bobiri, forest res. / 25-30.VI.1969, leg. Endrody-Y.

[HNHM]; 2 males & 5 females, S.W. Africa (W39), Kombat, 16-17.II.1972

/ Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1; 1 female, S.W. Africa (30), Ameib

Farm, 19 mls NW Karibib; 31.I-2.II.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M.

1972-1; 1 female, Natal: Weenen, XII.1923, H.P. Thomasset / Pres. by

Imp. Inst. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1932-338; 1 female, Zanzibar, Nazi Moja,

X-XI. 1924, H.J. Snell / Pres. by Imp. Bur. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1926-212.

Diagnosis. M. normalis differs from other species by the

following complex of characters. Face entirely pollinose; first

flagellomere ovate, arista dorsal; two strong dorsocentrals with a row

of small setae anteriorly; four strong scutellars with lateral ones

half as long as medians; one long and one short black propleural

setae; femora blackish except apices, tibiae reddish-yellow; coxae

with light, sometimes brown, setae; posterior basitarsomere 1/3 as

long as next tarsomere; m-cu equal or somewhat shorter than apical

part of CuA1; m-cu 1.5 to 2 times shorter than maximum distance

between R4+5 and M1+2.

Distribution: South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia (!), Congo (!),

Ghana (!), Sierra Leone (!), Gambia (!).

Medetera rikhterae sp.n.

(Fig. 7)

Holotype, male, S.W. Africa (11), Aar Farm, 25 mls ESE Aus,

15-17.I.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M. 1972-1.

Paratype. Female, same labels.

Description. Male. Frons black, entirely grey pollinose. Lower

part of epistome and clypeus metallic violet, weakly pollinose. A row

of several fine short black postocular setae at the top of eye and a

row of white postocular setae in the middle present. One strong

vertical seta laterally on frons. Ocellar tubercle with one pair of

strong setae. Ventral postcranium covered with sparse white irregular

setae. Face somewhat narrowed in the middle. Ratio of height of

epistome to its maximal width to height of clypeus to its minimal

width, 20 : 12 : 11: 11. Antenna short, black; pedicel slightly

swollen, with ring of short apical setulae; first flagellomere

rounded, as long as high, with short hairs. Arista apical, practically

bare. Length ratio of scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to

arista, 4 : 4 : 7 : 45. Palpus short, black, grey pollinose, with

short light hairs. Proboscis short, black, with sparse short hairs.

Thorax bronze-blue-black, weakly grey pollinose; mesonotum with

copper and violet reflection in places. Two pairs of strong

dorsocentral setae with the 1st one half as long as the 2nd and a row

of short setulae in front of the first one. Two rows of microscopic

acrostichals extending to mesonotal flattening. Propleura with 3 or 4

light seta. Scutellum with a pair of strong median setae and 2 lateral

setae, half as long as medians.

Legs entirely black. Coxae and femora with light setae and hairs.

Fore and middle coxae with numerous hairs; middle and hind coxae each

with one external seta. Fore legs without setae. Fore tarsus simple.

Length ratio of fore coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from

first to fifth), 40 : 53 : 55 : 32 : 29 : 20 : 8 : 7. Middle tibia

with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal fine setae at base, and one

or two apical setae. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with 1 or 2 short

black apico-ventral setae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora to

tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 25 : 65 : 65 : 51 : 29

: 17 : 8 : 6. Hind femora with several long dorsal setae in basal

third. Hind tibia slightly thickened at apex, with subapical posterior

excavation and 2 apical spurs. Hind basitarsomere with small

baso-ventral tooth. Length ratio of hind coxa to femora to tibia to

tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 20 : 67 : 78 : 18 : 44 : 25 :

9 : 7.

Wings hyaline, veins brown. Costa without long hairs. Ratio of

parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5 and M1+2,

23 : 5. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 88 : 80. R4+5 and M1+2

strongly convergent. M1+2 slightly bowed anteriorly, nearly straight.

Ratio of cross-vein m-cu to maximal distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to

apical part of CuA1, 14 : 23 : 12. Anal vein foldlike. Lower calypter

yellow, with white cilia. Halters yellow.

Abdomen black, with short light setae; 7th segment short; 8th

segment large, with short hairs. Hypopygium black with brown

appendages. Epandrium broad, narrowed apicad. Foramen mid-lateral.

Hypandrium mid-ventral, elongate, narrow. Epandrial lobi fused,

forming a single pedicel bearing two long bristles. Cerci separated.

Cercus subtriangular, simple, dorsally and apico-ventrally setosed.

Lobi of surstylus fused to the apex. Surstylus long, nearly straight,

with 3 short apical setiferous processes.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters. Posterior tibia and tarsus simple.

Length: male body without antennae 2.7 mm, female body 3.1 mm,

antenna 0.9 mm, male wing-length 2.8 mm, female wing-length 3.3 mm,

male wing-width 0.9 mm, female wing-width 1.1 mm.

Distribution: Namibia.

Etymology. The species is named for Russian dipterologist, Dr. V.

Rikhter.

Diagnosis. M. rikhterae sp. n. has some relations to Oriental

"gracilis" Group and widely distributed "diadema-veles" Group of

species (Bickel, 1985, 1987), differing from other species by entirely

black legs, modified posterior tibia, simple cercus etc. It differs

from Afrotropical species of the genus having black legs by 4 strong

scutellars, 2 pairs of strong dorsocentrals, white cilia on coxae and

femora, modified posterior tibia and tarsus, and short apical section

of CuA1 on wing.

Medetera pospelovi sp.n.

(Fig. 8)

Holotype, male, Ghana: Mampong, 21-27.12.1965, leg.

Endrody-Younga [HNHM].

Paratype. 3 males & 4 females, same labels; 1 male & 2 females,

Ghana: Bobiri / 13.I.1966, leg. Endrody-Younga [HNHM].

Description. Male. Frons bronze-black. A row of fine black

postocular setae ending with short postvertical seta at the top of eye

present. One strong vertical seta laterally on frons. Ocellar tubercle

with one pair of strong setae. Ventral postcranium covered with sparse

long light irregular setae. Face somewhat narrowed in the middle.

Epistome metallic blue-green, clypeus silvery pollinose. Ratio of

height of epistome to height of clypeus to its minimal width, 20 : 14

: 11. Antenna short, black; pedicel with incomplete ring of apical

setae; first flagellomere asymmetric, higher than long, with short

hairs. Arista apico-dorsal, microscopically pubescent. Length ratio of

scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to arista, 3 : 3 : 5 : 55.

Palpus short, metallic-black, with dark seta. Proboscis short, black,

with dark hairs.

Thorax black-brown, with blue reflection, greyish-silvery

pollinose. Three pairs of strong dorsocentral setae decreasing in size

anteriorly, with a row of hairs in front of the first one. Two rows of

acrostichals extending to mesonotal flattening. Propleura with one

light seta and one short hair. Scutellum with a pair of strong median

setae and 2 lateral setae, nearly 2/3 length of medians.

Legs entirely brown. Coxae brown-black, grey pollinose, with

black ciliation. Fore coxa with lateral row of short hairs and several

apical hairs; middle and hind coxae each with one fine external seta.

Fore legs without setae. Fore tarsus simple. Length ratio of fore coxa

to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 40 : 57 :

55 : 42 : 28 : 21 : 12 : 10. Middle tibia with one antero-dorsal, one

posterodorsal at base, and several apical setae. Length ratio of

middle coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to

fifth), 30 : 60 : 67 : 52 : 30 : 20 : 11 : 5. Hind femora with a row

of black dorsal setae in basal half. Hind tibia with strong subapical

dorsal seta. Hind tarsus simple. Length ratio of hind coxa to femora

to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 20 : 68 : 62 : 51 :

30 : 21 : 10 : 6.

Wings hyaline, veins brown. Costa without long hairs. Ratio of

parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5 and M1+2,

16 : 4. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 85 : 70. R4+5 and M1+2

convergent. M1+2 slightly bowed posteriorly. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu

to maximal distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1, 11 :

18 : 16. Lower calypter yellow, with light cilia. Halters yellow.

Abdomen short, black, greyish pollinose, with short dark cilia;

7th segment short. Hypopygium dark-brown with brown appendages.

Epandrium rounded. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium baso-ventral.

Epandrial seta long, positioned near epandrial lobes. Epandrial lobi

small, bearing strong bristles. Cercus divided into basal setosed

section articulated with large expanded ventrally distal section

bearing outer elongate fingerlike projection. Surstylus fused to

epandrium, undivided, U-shaped, with 3 ventral setae as figured.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters. Tergum 9+10 with a pair of short acanthophorites, with

long setae; cercus long and narrow, bearing long apical seta.

Length: body without antennae 2.1-3.2 mm, antenna 0.8 mm,

wing-length 2.7 mm, wing-width 0.8 mm.

Distribution: Ghana.

Etymology. The species is named for Russian entomologist, Dr.

S.M. Pospelov.

Diagnosis. M. pospelovi sp. n. is the only Afrotropical

representative of Australasian "salomonis" Group of species (Bickel,

1987). It differs from the closest M. austrofemoralis Bickel by 3

pairs of strong dorsocentrals, legs without silvery pruinosity, and

morphology of hypopygium.

Medetera luteoscutata luteoscutata Parent

(Fig. 9)

Material examined. Male, Tanzania: Amani, Tanga region /

1-18.II.1987, leg. Mahunka, Zicsi [HNHM].

Diagnosis. M. luteoscutata differs from major part of known

species of the genus by black body, one pair of strong dorsocentrals,

and more haired anterior half of mesonotum; male fore basitarsomere

with antero-ventral apical process, half as long as next tarsomere;

3rd tarsomere of the same tarsus with postero-dorsal apical process

almost reaching apex of the next article. Antenna black; arista

apical, pubescent; 4 strong scutellars; anterior coxa with apical hook

of glued hairs; midtibia with 2 dorsal setae at base; m-cu half as

long as apical section of CuA1; halter knob yellow-brown. Examined

male from Tanzania slightly differs from original description (Parent,

1936) in colouration as follows. Scutellum entirely dark-brown,

somewhat paler at margin; all coxae yellow; midfemora in apical half

and hindfemora in apical 4/5 brown; hindtibia dark except apices.

Anterior tarsus looks like this figured by Couturier (1985).

Distribution: Zaire, Tanzania (!).

Medetera luteoscutata lachaisei Couturier

Material examined. Female, Sierra Leone: S. of Freetown, close to

Sussex, 13ø11'W, 8ø20'N, 30.XI.1993, loc. 4, swept at road side / Lund

University Sierra Leone Expedition 1993, leg. L. Cederholm - R.

Danielsson - R. Hall.

Diagnosis. Examined female from Sierra Leone is identical to

description of M. lachaisei by Couturier (1985). It differs from the

description of M. luteoscutata (Parent, 1936) and examined male from

Tanzania by entirely yellow scutellum and midfemora.

Distribution: Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone (!).

Medetera chumakovi sp.n.

(Fig. 10)

Holotype, male, South West Africa (W31), Okahanja, Camping place,

4.II.1972, Riverside vegetation, Malaise-Trap / Southern African Exp.

B.M. 1972-1.

Description. Male. Frons and face greenish-black, entirely

pollinose. A row of several fine short brown postocular setae ending

with longer postvertical seta at the top of eye, and a row of white

postocular setae in the middle present. One strong vertical seta

laterally on frons. Ocellar tubercle with one pair of strong setae.

Ventral postcranium covered with sparse white irregular setae. Face

with nearly parallel sides. Ratio of height of epistome to its maximal

width to height of clypeus to its minimal width, 15 : 10 : 9 : 8.

Antenna short, black; pedicel slightly swollen, with ring of short

apical setulae; first flagellomere subtriangular with rounded apex, as

long as high, with short terminal hairs. Arista middorsal, practically

bare. Length ratio of scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to

arista, 5 : 4 : 5 : 36. Palpus and proboscis short, shining black,

with short hairs.

Thorax dark-bronze-blue, entirely grey pollinose. Five pairs of

strong dorsocentral setae, gradually decreasing in size anteriorly,

with anterior 3 setae half as long as 4th one, 4th seta 2/3 as long as

5th one, and microscopic hairs in front of the first one. Two rows of

acrostichals extending to mesonotal flattening, with setae longer than

distance between rows. Propleura with one light seta. Scutellum with a

pair of strong median setae and 2 lateral setae, half as long as

medians.

Legs mostly yellow, 5th tarsomeres of all tarsi brown;

trochanters and anterior femora at base darkened. All coxae

brown-black, fore and middle coxae with numerous dark, though shining

light, hairs; middle and hind coxae each with one external seta. Fore

legs without setae. Fore tarsus simple. Length ratio of fore coxa to

femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 28 : 40 : 41

: 18 : 13 : 9 : 6 : 6. Middle trochanter with one dorsal seta. Middle

tibia with one antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal at base, and one or

two apical setae. 1st to 4th tarsomeres each with 1 or 2 short

apico-ventral setae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora to tibia to

tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 18 : 44 : 47 : 26 : 16 : 11 : 6

: 6. Hind leg without strong setae. Hind tibia with short

apico-ventral spur. Hind tarsus simple. Length ratio of hind coxa to

femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 12 : 45 : 58

: 14 : 27 : 15 : 8 : 6.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow-brownish. Costa without long hairs.

Ratio of parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5

and M1+2, 18 : 5. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 65 : 58. R4+5

and M1+2 weakly convergent. M1+2 slightly bowed anteriorly, nearly

straight. Ratio of cross-vein m-cu to maximal distance between R4+5

and M1+2 to apical part of CuA1, 11 : 14 : 17. Basal 2/3 of basal

section of CuA1 distinctly thickened. Lower calypter yellow, with

white cilia. Halters yellow.

Abdomen bronze-blue-black, with short light setae; 7th segment

2/3 as long as epandrium; 8th segment large, with short hairs.

Epandrium elongate, narrowed apicad. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium

baso-ventral, long, narrow. Epandrial lobi reduced to short separated

pedicels, each bearing short bristle. Cerci divided. Cercus elongate,

with two flattened apical setae, dorsally and apico-ventrally setosed.

Lobi of surstylus fused. Surstylus long, narrow, with narrow dorsal

subapical process and short ventral subapical setiferous process

bearing thick ventral seta.

Female. Unknown.

Length: body without antennae 1.9 mm, antenna 0.6 mm, wing-length

2.3 mm, wing-width 0.8 mm.

Distribution: Namibia.

Etymology. The species is named for Russian entomologist, Dr.

M.A. Chumakov.

Diagnosis. M. chumakovi sp. n. can be included into widely

distributed "apicalis" Group of species, being closely related to

Oriental M. liwo Bickel (Bickel, 1987), differing from the last

species in hypopygium morphology. It can be distinguished by the

following characters: 4 scutellars; 5 strong dorsocentrals decreasing

in size anteriorly; all coxae brown-black; legs yellow; arista

middorsal; basal part of CuA1 thickened.

Medetera grisescens de Meijere

Material examined. Male, Mauritius: Trou aux Cerfs, 15.VI.1971

(A.M. Hutson), B.M.1971-346.

Diagnosis. Bickel (1987, redescription) belongs this species to

"diadema-veles" Group, which is characterized by the following

characters: 4 strong dorsocentrals decreasing in size anteriorly; male

posterior basitarsomere with antero-ventral basal tooth; hypopygium

inflated basally; epandrial seta lost; surstylus fused almost to tip.

M. grisescens has lateral scutellars about 2/3 length of medians;

epandrial lobe bristles branched distally; cercus with apical toothed

blade-like seta and midventral clavate projection. Examined male from

Mauritius somewhat differs from the description by Bickel: ratio of

m-cu crossvein to distal section of CuA1 0.9 rather than 0.6; ratio of

first three posterior tarsomeres, 0.8 : 2.0 : 1.0 rather than 0.7 :

1.6 : 0.7; apical seta on surstylus somewhat wider, and seta at base

of cercal projection longer.

Distribution: Seychelles, Mauritius (!); Burma, India, Nepal,

Bangladesh, Ceylon, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia,

Samoa, New Caledonia, Hawaii, Australia.

Medetera cederholmi sp.n.

(Fig. 11)

Holotype, male, Sierra Leone: Freetown, Cape Sierra Hotel area,

13ø17'W, 8ø31'N, 23.XI.1993, loc. 2, at light 18-24 / Lund University

Sierra Leone Expedition 1993, leg. L. Cederholm - R. Danielsson - R.

Hall.

Paratype. Female, same labels.

Additional material. Female, Ghana: Kumasi, 26.V.1967, leg.

Endrody-Y. [HNHM].

Description. Male. Frons and face entirely grey pollinose,

epistome metallic, weakly pollinose. A row of several fine short black

postocular setae at the top of eye and a row of white postocular setae

in the middle present. One strong vertical seta laterally on frons.

Ocellar tubercle with one pair of strong setae. Ventral postcranium

covered with sparse white irregular setae. Face somewhat narrowed in

the middle. Ratio of height of epistome to its maximal width to height

of clypeus to its minimal width, 19 : 12 : 10 : 10. Antenna short,

black; pedicel slightly swollen, with ring of short apical setae;

first flagellomere rounded, as long as high, with short terminal

hairs. Arista subapical, microscopically pubescent. Length ratio of

scape to pedicel to first flagellomere to arista, 4 : 4 : 5 : 48.

Palpus short, shining green, with light hairs. Proboscis short, black,

with light hairs.

Thorax blueish-black, pollinose. Two pairs of strong posterior

dorsocentral setae of equal length, with a row of short setulae

gradually decreasing in size anteriorly. Two rows of short

acrostichals extending to mesonotal flattening. Propleura with one

long and one short light setae. Scutellum with a pair of strong median

setae and 2 curved lateral setae, nearly 2/3 length of medians.

Legs including coxae yellow, 5th tarsomeres of all tarsi brown.

Coxae with light setae and hairs. Fore and middle coxae with several

hairs; middle and hind coxae each with one external seta. Legs very

long, thin. Fore legs without setae. Fore tarsus simple. Length ratio

of fore coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus (segments from first to

fifth), 45 : 63 : 72 : 48 : 37 : 29 : 16 : 10. Middle tibia with one

antero-dorsal, one posterodorsal at base, and one or two apical short

setae. Length ratio of middle coxa to femora to tibia to tarsus

(segments from first to fifth), 23 : 60 : 88 : 64 : 48 : 28 : 11 : 7.

Hind femora with several short dorsal setae in basal third. Hind tibia

with one short subapical dorsal seta, with short black apico-dorsal

spur. Hind tarsus simple. Length ratio of hind coxa to femora to tibia

to tarsus (segments from first to fifth), 16 : 65 : 108 : 23 : 72 : 34

: 13 : 8.

Wings hyaline, veins yellow-brownish. Costa without long hairs.

Ratio of parts of costa between R2+3 and R4+5 to those between R4+5

and M1+2, 14 : 3. Ratio of apical to basal part of M1+2, 78 : 78. R4+5

and M1+2 strongly convergent. M1+2 nearly straight. Ratio of

cross-vein m-cu to maximal distance between R4+5 and M1+2 to apical

part of CuA1, 11 : 18 : 20. Anal vein foldlike. Lower calypter yellow,

with yellow cilia. Halters light-yellow.

Abdomen blueish-black, with short dark setae; 7th segment as long

as epandrium; 8th segment large. Epandrium elongate, narrowed in

apical third. Foramen baso-lateral. Hypandrium raising at basal third

of epandrium. Epandrial lobi reduced to short pedicels, bearing long

bristles. Short epandrial seta present. Cerci fused except apices.

Cercus with long narrow apico-dorsal process, and broad apicoventral

prominence bearing apical lobe and short seta, dorsally densely

setosed. Lobi of surstylus fused except apex. Surstylus long, with

longitudinal suture at apex, with long lateral subapical process

bearing two short setae.

Female. Similar to male except lacking male secondary sexual

characters. Tergum 9+10 with a pair of thin acanthophorites, shorter

than cercus, with longer lateral setae; cercus with one subapical and

one basolateral long setae. Midcoxa darkened at base.

Length: body without antennae 2.6 mm, antenna 0.8 mm, wing-length

2.6 mm, wing-width 0.9 mm.

Distribution: Sierra Leone, Ghana.

Etymology. The species is named for Swedish entomologist, Dr. L.

Cederholm.

Diagnosis. M. cederholmi sp. n. is most closely related to

Oriental M. longa Negrobov & Thuneberg (Bickel, 1987, redescription),

differing by yellow coxae, 2 dorsocentrals only, another hypopygium

morphology. It is keyed to Afrotropical M. afra and M. simplicis,

though strongly differing by very long legs, long 7th tergum and many

other characters.

Medetera simplicis Curran

(Fig. 12)

Material examined. male and female, S.W. Africa (W37), Otjitambi

Fm., 27 mls ESE Kamanjab, 13-15.II.1972 / Southern African Exp. B.M.

1972-1; 1 male, Natal: Weenen, III.1924, H.P. Thomasset / Pres. by

Imp. Inst. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1932-338.

Diagnosis. M. simplicis differs from other species by the

following characters. Frons and face pollinose, clypeus shining in the

middle; antenna black, arista apical; 4 strong scutellars with lateral

ones 1/2 to 2/3 length of medians; 4 strong dorsocentrals; 2 white

propleural setae; legs reddish-yellow, anterior coxa dirty-yellow,

greyish in anterior view, with white setae; 2nd tarsomere of

hindtarsus 2.5 times as long as the 1st; m-cu equal or somewhat

shorter than apical section of CuA1; m-cu 1.5 times shorter than

maximum distance between R4+5 and M1+2.

Distribution: South Africa, Namibia (!), Zaire.

Key to Afrotropical species of Medetera

1. Two strong scutellar setae with greatly reduced lateral hairs.....2

- Four strong scutellars, lateral ones at least half as long as

medians..........................................................11

2. Four pairs of strong dorsocentrals with the 1st one at least half

as long as the 4th; legs mostly reddish-yellow, coxae entirely and

femora in basal half brown or black...............................3

- Two or three strong dorsocentrals with 2 or more hair-like setulae

in front of the first one.........................................4

3. Scutellum with two pairs of lateral hairs.............mainei Curran

- Scutellum with one pair of lateral hairs.............beckeri Parent

4. Two strong dorsocentrals with 2 hair-like setae anteriorly........5

- Three strong dorsocentrals gradually decreasing in size anteriorly;

legs mostly yellow; scape and pedicel reddish-yellow or brown.....9

5. Femora mostly black, antenna black................................6

- Legs yellow, antenna brownish.....................................8

6. Femora black in basal half; tibiae yellow (female)..nocturna Curran

- Legs entirely black...............................................7

7. Frons and face shining................................otiosa Parent

- Frons and face entirely pollinose (female)..........rutilans Parent

8. Median lobe of surstylus expanded apically...........edwardsi sp.n.

- Median lobe of surstylus narrowed and rounded apically.............

.....................................................norlingi sp.n.

9. Anterior coxa mostly yellow, greyish anteriorly; posterior

basitarsomere half as long as 2nd tarsomere; arista apical; m-cu

slightly longer than apical part of CuA1; Sudan....araneipes Parent

- Anterior coxa black except extreme apex; posterior

basitarsomere 1/3 length of 2nd tarsomere; Namibia...............10

10. Wing vein m-cu equal to or shorter than apical part of CuA1;

arista apical; posterior tarsus simple...............subchevi sp.n.

- Wing vein m-cu nearly twice longer than apical part of CuA1; arista

dorsal; posterior basitarsus with basoventral tooth...polleti sp.n.

11. Legs mostly black-brown, sometimes knees reddish-yellow or tibiae

brownish........................................................12

- Legs mostly reddish-yellow, sometimes femora mostly dark........20

12. Anterior coxa with pale cilia...................................13

- Anterior coxa with black cilia..................................17

13. Frons purple brilliant; face polished, entirely brilliant violet;

lower calypter with black cilia......................polita Parent

- Frons and face entirely pollinose, faintly brilliant; lower

calypter with pale cilia........................................14

14. Tibia reddish-yellow; antenna brown, arista dorsal; 3 mm..........

...................................................normalis Curran

- At least anterior tibia black; antenna black, arista apical.....15

15. Only anterior tibia black; m-cu as long as apical part of CuA1;

posterior basitarsus 2/5 length of second tarsomere; 2 mm (female)

..................................................varitibia Parent

- Legs entirely black.............................................16

16. Wing-vein m-cu as long as apical part of CuA1; posterior

basitarsus 1/3 length of second tarsomere, with basal tooth;

posterior tibia apically swollen, with two apico-lateral hooks;

size about 3 mm....................................rikhterae sp.n.

- Wing-vein m-cu 2/3 length of apical part of CuA1; posterior

basitarsus half length of second tarsomere; posterior tibia

simple; 2 mm.......................................ealensis Parent

17. Anterior coxa with apical hook of glued setae; postocular setae

entirely black; lower calypter with black cilia; 1.75 mm..........

.....................................................hamata Parent

- Anterior coxa with simple ciliation; 2.5 to 3 mm...............18

18. Hind femora without anterior setae; cercus articulated with large

distal part; surstylus fine, greatly curved ventrad; Ghana........

...................................................pospelovi sp.n.

- Hind femora with several anterior setae in apical half; cercus

simple; surstylus straight, long, narrow; South Africa..........19

19. Postocular setae partly yellow; lower calypter with yellow cilia;

halter yellow......................................capensis Curran

- Postocular setae entirely black; lower calypter with black cilia;

halter brown.........................................munroi Curran

20. Hind femora blackish in apical 2/3; all coxae yellow; male fore

basitarsomere with antero-ventral apical process, half as long as

next tarsomere; one pair of strong dorsocentrals...............20a

- Hind femora entirely yellow or dark in basal part with yellow

apex; middle and hind coxae usually dark; male fore basitarsomere

simple; 2 or more pairs of strong dorsocentrals.................21

20a. Scutellum entirely yellow........luteoscutata lachaisei Couturier

Scutellum mostly greenish-brown..luteoscutata luteoscutata Parent

21. Clypeus wholly white or brown pollinose; face and frons similarly

clothed, ground colour almost entirely hidden; two pairs of strong

dorsocentrals and six or more short hair-like ones in a row in

front of suture; antenna brown; arista dorsal; coxae black; femora

blackish except apices.............................normalis Curran

- Clypeus not wholly pollinose, at least the middle shining, or if

pollinose, then femora yellow; other features various...........22

22. Basal half of anterior four femora black; thorax and abdomen

black...........................................................23

- Anterior four femora wholly pale or but little darkened basally.24

23. Propleura with 2 or 3 black setae; coxae with blackish cilia;

cercus black with black hairs; surstylus brownish-red; 2.0 to 2.5

mm................................................praedator Curran

- Propleura with white setae; coxae with pale cilia; 3.75 mm (female)

.................................................subviridis Parent

24. First flagellomere subtriangular with dorsal arista; all coxae

black-brown; femora yellow; basal part of CuA1 thickened in male..

...................................................chumakovi sp.n.

- First flagellomere usually rounded with apical arista; basal part

of CuA1 simple..................................................25

25. Lateral scutellars about 2/3 length of median ones; frons

pollinose; hind femora black in basal half, or if yellow, then

epandrium greatly inflated basally..............................26

- Lateral scutellars half as long as median ones; femora usually

yellow, or if brown above, then frons mostly shining; epandrium

gradually narrowed apicad.......................................27

26. Clypeus shining black with sides pollinose; thorax and scutellum

tawny brown pollinose, vittae of mesonotum not distinct; femora

reddish, hind femora black in basal half, middle femora sometimes

slightly darkened basally; cercus brown with black hairs;

surstylus brown, bare................................penura Curran

- Clypeus satiny metallic blue-green; thorax grey-brown pollinose,

with 3 bronze vittae; 4 to 6 strong dorsocentrals, decreasing in

size anteriorly; femora yellow, sometimes infuscated at base; male

hind basitarsomere with antero-ventral basal tooth; epandrium

greatly inflated basally; cercus yellow......grisescens De Meijere

27. Antenna mostly yellow with 1st flagellomere mostly brown;

surstylus with long and narrow basodorsal process...norlingi sp.n.

- Antenna entirely black; surstylus without long basodorsal process.

................................................................28

28. All coxae yellow, slightly pollinose; second tarsomere of hind

tarsus 3.2 times longer than first; 7th abdominal segment

approximately as long as epandrium................cederholmi sp.n.

- Middle and hind coxae distinctly dark-greenish, densely pollinose;

second tarsomere of hind tarsus 2.5 times longer than first; 7th

abdominal segment shorter than epandrium........................29

29. Frons shining brownish black; epistome dark-green, pollen not

dense; coxae appearing rather greenish; scutellum shining green

basally, brownish pollinose on apical half and margin; cercus

yellow, with fine yellow hairs; surstylus reddish-brown, slightly

thickened towards apex, with considerable yellow hair at apex.....

.......................................................afra Curran

- Frons only shining in the middle above; epistome densely brown

pollinose; anterior coxa distinctly reddish-yellow; base of

scutellum shining brownish with scarcely a greenish tinge; cercus

brownish-red; surstylus without considerable apical hair..........

..................................................simplicis Curran
 
 

Acknowledgements

I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Brian Pitkin, Dr. Laslo Papp, and

Dr. Roy Danielsson for their kindness in furnishing an opportunity to

study the collections of the Natural History Museum (London), the

Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest), and Lund University. Dr.

Daniel Bickel generously provided his valuable monographs.

References

Becker, Th. 1923. Dipterologische Studien: Dolichopodidae. D.

Aethiopische Region. Entomol. Mitteilungen, 12(1): 1-50.

Bickel, D.J. 1985. A revision of the Nearctic Medetera (Diptera:

Dolichopodidae). United States Department of Agriculture Technical

Bulletin 1692: 1-109.

Bickel, D.J. 1987. A Revision of the Oriental and Australasian

Medetera (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). Records of the Australian Museum,

39: 131-182.

Couturier, G. 1985. Medetera lachaisei, espece nouvelle de

Diptere Dolichopodidae des Ficus de la foret de Tai (Cote d'Ivoire).

Revue Fr. Entomol. (N.S.), 7(5): 287-289.

Dyte, C.E. & Smith, K.G. 1980. Family Dolichopodidae. In R.W.

Crosskey (ed.). Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region.

Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), London: 443-463.

Grichanov, I.Ya. (in litt.). Four new species of Saccopheronta

Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Tropical Africa with notes on

the world fauna of the genus. Int. J. Dipter. Res.

Negrobov, O.P. & Stackelberg, A.A. 1971-1977. Dolichopodidae,

Unterfamilie Medeterinae. In E. Lindner (ed.). Die Fliegen der

Palaearktischen Region. Stuttgart, IV, 29, 284 (1971), 289 (1972), 302

(1974), 316 (1977): 238-354.

Negrobov, O.P. & Schumann, H. 1990. Eine neue Art der Gattung

Medetera Fischer, 1814 aus Kamerun and Zaire (Diptera,

Dolichopodidae). Dtsch. Entom. Z., 37 (4-5), p. 229-230.

Negrobov, O.P., Tsurikov, M.N. & Esenin, A.B. 1991. New species

of Medetera from Vietnam. Vest. Zool., 5: 19-25 (in Russian).

Parent, O. 1929a. Contribution a la faune dipterologique

d'Egypte. Dolichopodides de la region de Halaib. Bull. Soc. Roy.

Entomol. d'Egypte, 13(1): 42-58.

Parent, O. 1929b. Les Dolichopodides de la Region Ethiopienne.

Etude Systematique. Bull. Soc. Roy. Entomol. d'Egypte, 13(4): 151-190.

Parent, O. 1931. Quelques Dolichopodides nouveaux conserves au

British Museum. Ann. Soc. Sci. Bruxelles, B, Mem., 51: 39-47.

Parent, O. 1936. Dipteres Dolichopodides du Congo Belge,

conserves au Musee royal d'Histoir naturelle de Belgique. Bull. Mus.

roy. Hist. nat. Belg., 12(15): 1-19.

Robinson, H. 1975. Bredin-Archbold-Smithsonian Biological Survey

of Dominica: The family Dolichopodidae with some related Antillean and

Panamanian species (Diptera). Smithson. Contr. Zool., 185: 1-141.

Remark under figures

Figs. 1-3, 6-8, 10-12. Apex of hypopygium, lateral view. 1, M.

otiosa Parent; 2, M. edwardsi sp.n.; 3, M. norlingi sp. n.; 6, M.

normalis Curran; 7, M. rikhterae sp.n.; 8, M. pospelovi sp.n.; 10, M.

chumakovi sp.n.; 11, M. cederholmi sp.n.; 12, M. simplicis Curran.

Figs. 4, 5, 9. Hypopygium, lateral view. 4, M. subchevi sp.n.; 5,

M. polleti sp.n.; 9, M. luteoscutata luteoscutata Parent.