Type species: Delia floricola Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 by designation of Coquillett (1910).

There are no generic synonyms of Delia applicable to the Afrotropical fauna; for a full list of synonyms and references, see Griffiths (1991a: 953).

Hylemyia bracata Rondani, 1866: 183; Stein 1907: 689.

Hylemyia dispar Bezzi, 1908: 116; Stein 1919: 151. Syn. n.

Pegomyia albigena Villeneuve, 1911: 23. Synonymy after Hennig 1974a: 747.

Hylemyia flavitibia Karl, 1939: 16. Synonymy after Hennig 1974a: 747.

Chortophila linearis Adams, 1905: 206; Malloch 1924b: 263 (in part). Syn. n.

“Chortophila flavibasis Stein”: Schnabl & Dziedzicki 1911: 101, figs 199, 200, 751.

“Hylemyia flavibasis Stein”: ?Emden 1941a: 213; 1941b: 265; 1948: 166 (in part); 1956: 530 (in part).

“Delia flavibasis (Stein)”: Ackland 1967: 119; 1968: 71.

Delia bracata (Rondani): Hennig 1974a: 747; Ackland 1977: 202; Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Gena below eyes 0.20–0.30× eye height; arista pubescent, longest hairs not more than twice as long as basal diameter; prealar seta absent; scutum with major setae arising from brown spots; mid tibia with 1–2 short av in distal half; sternites III and IV more or less quadrilateral and without long curling setae; surstyli in caudal view (Fig. 1) narrower in apical half, sinuate, in lateral view (Fig. 2) straight.

♀ Arista as in male; parafacials medially without a shifting darker sheen-stripe; scutum with major setae arising from brown spots; mid tibia with a small av in distal half; abdomen with only very indistinct median vitta; hind femur (Fig. 26) with av in distal half shorter or at most equal to depth of femur.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face varying from blackish to orange in ground colour, with greyish to whitish dusting; parafacial at level of aristal base with shifting blackish to orange sheen-stripe, which viewed from above is whitish grey dusted; occiput dark grey. Antennae dark brownish black, basal segments sometimes obscurely lightened orange. Palpi brown, sometimes paler basally; prementum of proboscis brownish with grey dust. Thorax dark in ground colour, with fairly dense brownish grey dusting, traces of vittae only visible presuturally when viewed from behind; scutum with major setae arising from brown spots; scutellum entirely grey dusted. Abdomen densely greenish grey dusted when viewed from behind, with distinct wide brown median vitta (about as wide as depth of hind femur), which does not extend across anterior margins of tergites. Prehypopygial tergites grey dusted. Wing membrane pale orange brownish tinged in basal half; veins orange; squamae concolorous with wing base, fringe pale yellow. Legs brown to orange-brown, knees sometimes paler orange.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by 1.25× diameter of anterior ocellus). Frontal stripe distinct throughout (at narrowest part by less than diameter of anterior ocellus); parafacials medially equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin not projecting, face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae equal to distance between them and nearest eye margin. Gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.28–0.30× eye height; genal setae uniserial anteriorly; 4 pairs of frontal setae; 1 pair of fine interfrontal setulae at middle of frons; postpedicel not reaching peristomal margin (by almost its width); arista (Fig. 30) pubescent, longest hairs slightly longer to twice basal aristal diameter. Proboscis short and slender, with short prementum (not as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia). Upper occipital setulae short and fine, without setulae below row.

Thorax: Presutural acr fine and hair-like (not differentiated from accessory setulae), irregularly biserial, acr:dc ratio 10:3:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar seta completely absent; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; 2 unequal proepisternals, 1 long proepimeral with ventral hair; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior nearly as long as upper (anterior seta often with 1–2 fine hairs below).

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short but not weak, as long as diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break nearly as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein almost straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.6–1.7× length of preceding section. Lower squama about as long as upper. Wing length 4.25–5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 3 unequal v or pv in proximal half; hind femur (Fig. 25) with 5– 6 av in distal half (longer than depth of femur, without curling tips), about 8–12 short fine pv on whole length; fore tibia with a short fine pointed pv apical, 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia with 1–2 short av in distal half, 0–1 ad, 1 pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 1–2 short pv. Pulvilli of fore legs slightly longer than tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About 1.8–1.9 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of sternite III), dorsoventrally compressed; sternite III nearly as wide as sternite IV (Fig. 3) (each about 1.4 times longer than wide); sternite V processes (Fig. 5) not longer than base, with a few short fine setulose hairs on inner margins, lateral setae not longer than processes. Surstyli (Fig. 1) 1.5× length of cercal plate, in caudal view apical half narrower and slightly elbowed, inner margins sinuate, clothed with fine hairs, in lateral view (Fig. 2) straight or slightly curved upwards. cercal plate 2.3 times longer than wide, narrowly heart-shaped, apex rounded, bearing a few short setae; in lateral view apex is hidden by surstyli, not projecting between them. Pregonite with 2 setae; postgonite triangular without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Fig. 4) 1.4 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided in slightly less than half (0.42×) into pair of free paraphallic processes. Acrophallus (Fig. 5) sclerotized, forming plate between bases of paraphallic processes. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view 3 times as long as wide anteriorly, excavated dorsally. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.27× length of aedeagal apodeme, expanded at one end.

Female.

Colour: Head dark in ground colour, but often with traces of translucent orange on genae and parafacials; frontal stripe varying from entirely orange to dark brown in posterior half; head densely dusted light olive-grey, more bronzy on parafrontals; parafacials, at level of antennal base, without shifting darker sheen-stripe. Thorax rather densely olive-grey dusted, sometimes with trace of brownish median vitta along acr, dc arising from brown spots; prementum dusted, palpi orange to brown. Abdomen dusted grey, without or with only a trace of median vitta. Wing membrane tinged pale orange-brown, veins orange. Legs brown, knees, coxae and tibiae paler orange, femora darker, dusted, not shining.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.4–1.6× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals as wide as each parafrontal, which is widened anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.3× eye height; 1 short supravibrissal, 2 subvibrissals, 2–3 upcurved uniserial genal setae, and 2 stronger ventral postgenals. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (all more or less lateroclinate), and 2 pairs of inclinate frontals; crossed interfrontal setae strong, placed at apex of frontal triangle. Proboscis relatively small and thin (as in male) prementum as long as palpi.

Thorax: acr very short and fine (not differentiated from accessory setulae and hairs); acr:dc ratio 10:3:10; 1+1 posthumerals; katepisternals 1+1. Prealar seta completely absent.

Wing: Vein C with marginal spinules short but not fine (equal in length to diameter of C), pair before distal break equal to length of small crossvein; large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ is 1.6× length of preceding section. Wing length 4.5–5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 1–2 short v medially; hind femur with 3–4 av in distal 2/3, 1–2 apical pv; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia with 1 small av in distal half, 1 long ad and 1 shorter pd, 1–2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 3 ad, 3 pd (distal one longest), 0 pv.

Abdomen: Postabdomen when fully extended as long as length of preabdomen. Tergites VI and VII sclerotized along posterior margins which bear single row of setulae, which are of different lengths, longest about half length of tergite; discs of tergites weakly sclerotized medially; tergite VIII with posterior margin as tergite VII, but sclerotisation forming two long narrow spurs; 6th and 7th spiracles both situated on segment VI (6th more or less medially at edge of tergite VI, 7th within posteroventral corners of tergite VI); sternites VI and VII long and narrow, bearing 4–5 short setulae on each posterior margin; sternite VIII (Fig. 44) represented by pair of short sclerites which are sclerotized mainly on posterior margin, each bearing two setulae, anteriorly becoming membranous; tergite X with transverse posterior margin, bearing numerous setulae posteriorly (one pair rather long); sternite X entirely pilose (as well as setulose); cerci rather short (slightly shorter than sternite X), projecting beyond sternite X by about half their length; 3 spermathecae of about equal size (about 0.04×0.03 mm), each with sclerotized stalk (0.01 mm long), leading to spermathecal duct; surface of spermathecae weakly ridged and with a few black dots, visible under high magnification.

Material examined: ETHIOPIA: 1♂ Lake Shola, 67°20′W:39°0′E, 12.viii.1973, R. Baker (BMNH); 2♀ Nazareth, alt. 1600 m, 19.x.1968, R. Kano & T. Ohse (DMA); 1♀ Awash R., Koka, alt. 1300 m, 12.x.1968, R. Kano & T. Ohse (DMA). KENYA: 1♂ Nairobi, 14.i.1957, on Cynodon sp. (BMNH); 1♀ Nairobi, 5500 ft, 9–13.xii.1970, A.E. Stubbs (BMNH); 3♀ Meru, vii. 1945, van Someren (BMNH); 2♂ 5–7000 ft, 24– 29.xii.1970, A.E. Stubbs (BMNH); 3♂ 3♀ Ngong Hills, vi. 1946, van Someren (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ same data, vii.1943 (BMNH); 1♂ Lake Naiwasha, 6181 ft, 14.xii.1970, A.E. Stubbs (BMNH). LESOTHO: 1♂ 1♀ Roma Mission, Maseru Dist., valley floor, Old Lands, alt. 5500 ft, 4–13.i.1963, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA). NAMIBIA: 1♀ Rundi Dist., Katara Okavango R., 17°48′56″S:18°53′38″E, 20–23.i.1998, Kirk-Spriggs & Marais, Malaise traps (NMWN). SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 1♀ Arniston Coastal Dunes, Bredasdorp Dist., 22–23.x.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ 2♀ Brak R. mouth, Mossel Bay Dist., 23.x.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Coldstream, Tsitsikama Area, 25–28.x.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♀ S.W. Cape, Brandkop Area, Calvinia Dist., 14.x.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Du Toits Kloof, Paarl Dist., alt. 2000–3500 ft, 27–28.ix.1959, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ Montagu Pass, 3322Cd, Camfer-George Road, SAR bridge, 12.i.1983, P. Stabbins & R. Miller (NMSA); 1♂ Knysna, R.S.A. dist., Harkville Forest Res., 3423AA, 9–11.xi.1972, van Reenen & Mathebathe (NMSA); 1♂ 5 mls SE Oudshoorn, Klipriver Farm, R.S.A., 3322CA, 11–13.xi.1972, van Reenen & Mathebathe (NMSA); 1♂ Pakhuis Pass, east side, 3219Aa, alt. 600 m, 17.viii.1973, meadow with flowers, M.E. Irwin (NMSA); 1♀ Cogman's Kloof, Ashton-Montagu Road, 3320Cc, 11.i.1983, along river, P. Stabbins & R. Miller (NMSA). Eastern Cape: 2♂ Van Staadens Pass, Port Elizabeth District, 30.x.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♀ Port Elizabeth district, Sardinia Bay, coastal dunes nr Skoenmakerskop, 3425Ba, 14.iii.1974, Stuckenburg & Irwin (NMSA); 1♂ Doornkloof Forest Res., Alexandria Dist., 11.xii.1967, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ Resolution, Albany Dist., 19.ii.1928, A. Walton (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ same data but 11.i.1929 (NMSA); 1♀ same data but 23.iii.1928 (NMSA); 3♀ Heuningklip R., 25 km W Queenstown, 3126DC, 27.x.1978, river bank, Miller & Londt (NMSA); 1♀ Kommandodrifdam, 45 km E Cradock, 3226AA, 28.x.1978, river below dam wall, Miller & Londt (NMSA); 1♀ Hogsback, North of Alice, 2–3.xi.1964, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Hogsback area, 3226DB, 18–19.i.1984, forest margins, D. & C. Barraclough (NMSA). Free State: 1♂ 5 mls W of Soutpan, 2825DB, borehole seepage, 3.ix.1972, M.E. Irwin (NMSA); 2♀ Golden Gate, GGHNP Survey, 23–29.i.1964, Vári & Martin (NMSA); 1♀ Van Stadens Pass, 20.iii.1954, L. Vári (NMSA); 4♀ Machaleen, 2.xii.1969, S. de Kock (NMSA). Limpopo: 2♂ Nylsvley Res., Naboomspruit, 24.xi.1976, P. Ferrar (NMSA). Gauteng: 1♀ Frankenwald, Johannesburg, 4.x.1976, P. Ferrar (NMSA); 1♂ Johannesburg, 4.v.1962, F. Zumpt (BMNH); 1♂ same locality, 5.ii.1960, F. Zumpt (BMNH). KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀ Giant's Castle Game Res., Injasuti area, SE2929AB, 5–11.vii.1983, J.G.H. Londt (NMSA); 1♂ Pietermaritzburg, Town Bush, 27.xii.1961; 1♂ 1♀ Pietermaritzburg, 23–24.x.1956, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Pietermaritzburg, Chase Valley, 20.xi.1963, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ Muden, 1.x.1956, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ nr Lilana, Ahrens Dist., iv. 1962, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 4♂ Rietspruit farm, 13 km NE Pietermaritzburg, 29°32′27″S:30°29′04″E, 13.iii.1990, wetland & dam, A. Whittington (NMSA); 1♀ Midlands, Howick, 29°29′S:30°13′E, alt. 1060 m, 14.vii.1990, garden, vegetation, A.E. Whittington (NMSA); 1♀ Royal Natal Nat. Park, Tendele camp lights, 28°40′46″S:28°55′13″E, 16– 18.ii.1990, A.E. Whittington (NMSA). YEMEN: 4♂ 19♀ San'a, 7900 ft, 10–15.x.1937, from lucerne, Dr Carl Rathjens (BMNH). ZIMBABWE: 2♂ 2♀ N. Vumba, 13.iii.1964, D. Cookson (NMSA); 1♀ Bulawayo, Hillside Dam, 31.viii.1956, C.N.S (NMSA); 9♂ 10 km SE of Harare, 19.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 10♂ Harare, Nat. Botanic Gdns, 14.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 2♂ Harare, road to Nat. Botanic Gdns, 17.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 2♂ Harare, Plant Res. Inst., 21.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 1♂ Mazowe, 27.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 2♂ 4♀ Harare 12–13.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 57♂ 54 ♀ Salisbury, mainly 1901, F.L. Snow (lectotype and paralectotypes of Chortophila linearis, Adams, in KUNHM).

Notes: Types of Hylemyia dispar Bezzi: Dr Fabrizio Rigatoni (MSNM) kindly sent me three syntypes of Hylemyia dispar (2♂ 1♀). I have dissected one of the males, and designate it here as lectotype. It carries the following labels:

‘LECTOTYPE ♂ / Hylemyia / dispar Bezzi / desig. D. M. / Ackland 2007’ [white hand-written label with blue perimeter]. ‘291’ [diamond-shaped hand-written label with double blue lined perimeter]'; ‘Eritrea / Andreini’ [hand-written rectangular white label]' (MSNM).

The lectotype is in acceptable condition, with all legs present, setae on thorax badly rubbed, mid tibia on each side with a small av, right arista broken off near base, left arista with the longest hairs less than twice as long as basal aristal diameter. Abdomen dissected, and mounted in glycerol in a plastic tube.

Bezzi described dispar from an unknown number of specimens from three stations, 200, 291 and 299. There is no doubt that this is one of the original syntypes. The lectotype is a specimen of D. bracata; surstyli identical to those figured by Hennig (1974a: 748, text-fig. 628, holotype of bracata). Of the two remaining syntypes, the male is badly abraded. The only remaining right arista shows only very short aristal hairs, but may be damaged; only the right tibia is present and is folded against the femur, and the presence of an av seta cannot be established. This male carries identical labels to the lectotype, and is almost certainly also D. bracata. The female syntype (?) is in poor condition, antennae and all legs other than right mid and hind legs are missing. The mid tibia has an av seta, and is presumably the same species as the lectotype. It carries only a diamond-shaped label, with the number ‘289’. This station number is not given in Bezzi's original description, creating doubt whether it really is a syntype, and I have not labelled it a ‘paralectotype’.

Emden (1941b: 265) was the first to use the name ‘dispar‘ for a species of Delia with long aristal hairs (as a subspecies of flavibasis). As Hennig indicated (1974b: 792) should Emden not have used the name dispar correctly, the next available name, arambourgi Séguy, 1938, should be used.

Types of Chortophila linearis Adams: these are in the KUNHM. Malloch (1924b: 265) examined some “paratypes” of linearis, and synonymized linearis with flavibasis Stein. Delia bracata (Rondani) was unknown to Malloch. Through the support of the staff at KUNHM (Zack Falin, Collection Manager & Jennifer Thomas, Assistant Collection Manager) I was able to examine the syntypes of linearis. There were in total 167 syntypes, the majority of them belonging to Delia bracata. They all carry a red label, with either ‘Type’ or ‘Cotype’ printed thereon. I regard all these as syntypes of equal status, especially as most of the specimens with a ‘type’ label are in poor condition. I designate a male as lectotype of Chortophila linearis which bears the following labels:

‘LECTOTYPE ♂ / Chortophila / linearis Adams / designated 2007 / D. M. Ackland’ [white rectangular label with blue perimeter]; ‘Salisbury / S. Africa / F.L. Snow’ [white rectangular label]; ‘May 1901 / 5050 ft.’ [white rectangular label]; ‘COTYPE C. / linearis / C. F. Adams’ [red rectangular label]; ‘Delia bracata Rond. / male det D. M. / Ackland 2007’ [white rectangular label] (KUNHM). In good condition, all legs present, both wings slightly torn on costa. Abdomen with genitalia dissected and mounted in glycerol in a plastic tube on staging pin. The genitalia of this lectotype agree with the figures of bracata given in this paper.

The remaining syntypes of linearis are as follows: 56♂ 54♀ D. bracata [labelled as paralectotypes]; 3♂ 2♀ D. flavibasis; 2♂ 1♀ D. platura; 5♂ 41♀ Delia spp. indet. [in bad condition]; 2♂ Muscidae sp. These are in KUNHM, except for 2♂ 2♀ paralectotypes which will be placed in the OUMNH.

Discussion: The combination Delia linearis (Stein 1898, described in Hylemyia) is in use for a widespread Holarctic species. Consequently the ICZN rules against secondary homonymy imply that Adams' (1905) name linearis (described in Chortophila) cannot be used in Delia. My present designation of a lectotype makes Adams' name a junior synonym of D. bracata (Rondani), so proposal of a replacement name is unnecessary.

Schnabl and Dziedzicki (1911: 101, figs 199, 200, 751) were the first to misidentify D. bracata, their drawings of the male hypopygium of “Chortophila flavibasis” clearly belonging to bracata, as pointed out by Hennig (1974a: 746). In his key to Afrotropical species of Hylemyia (Emden 1941b: 265) the species keyed out as “flavibasis” refers to bracata (1–2 minute av present on mid tibia). Emden (1948: 166) lists flavibasis from the Yemen, but these records are partly flavibasis and partly bracata. It should be noted that both species often occur together, for example J. Ismay collected both species at the same time in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1997.

Hennig (1974a: 747, text-figs 628–630) figured the genitalia of the holotype of bracata, which is in the MZUF, so there is no doubt about its identity. According to Hennig (loc. cit.) he examined a male of flavitibia (Karl) in 1953, which was described from one male and two females; material in the Entomological Institute, Bologna. This specimen was later destroyed in a post office van fire. Hennig was uncertain if the male was the specimen described by Karl, as there were many other examples of this species in the museum. The location of the types of albigena (Villeneuve) described from one male and two females from Syria (Anti Lebanon, Mezzé) is unknown, and Hennig has considered the types as destroyed (Hennig 1974a: 681).

In 1967 and 1968 I incorrectly used the name “flavibasis” for bracata, and “arambourgi” for flavibasis.

Life history: There appear to be no definite breeding records for D. bracata (Hennig 1974a: 750). Adults have been caught on lucerne and Cynodon sp.

Distribution: D. bracata has been recorded in the Afrotropical Region from Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. In the Palaearctic Region it is widespread from the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia, Israel, Syria, Iran to as far east as Nepal and India (Hennig 1974a: 750).

Hylemyia arambourgi Séguy, 1938: 365.

“Hylemyia flavibasis dispar Bezzi”: Emden 1941a: 214; 1941b: 265.

“Delia dispar (Bezzi)”: Hennig 1974b: 791; Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Arista (Fig. 29) short plumose, total width of aristal hairing nearly as wide as postpedicel (longest hairs up to 5× width of aristal base); prealar seta absent; mid tibia with a very small av; cercal plate (Fig. 7) in lateral view not projecting between surstyli; surstyli in caudal view (Fig. 6) of almost equal width throughout.

♀ Aristal hairing as in ♀; prealar seta absent; mid tibia with a small av; parafacial adjacent to lunule without darker sheen-stripe; abdomen with distinct median vitta.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe orange anteriorly, black posteriorly, parafrontalia blackish above, becoming orange in ground colour at level of lunule, genae range to dark brown, with greyish to whitish dusting; parafacial orange with darker reflections medially; occiput greyish brown, darker above. Antennae brownish black, basal segments sometimes obscurely lightened orange. Palpi brown, sometimes paler basally; prementum of proboscis dark brown with thin grey dust. Thorax mainly dark in ground colour, with fairly dense brownish grey dusting, pleura with slightly translucent orange-brown patches, slightly shining, with traces of darker brown vittae, median one continued onto scutellum. Abdomen viewed from above orange-brown, slightly shining, densely greenish grey dusted when viewed from behind, with distinct brown median vitta consisting of blackish triangular marks which are wider anteriorly, not quite reaching posterior margins. Hypopygium and sternite V orange-brown. Prehypopygial tergites grey dusted. Wing membrane faintly greyish tinged; veins pale brown; squamae pale but with an orange border, fringe pale. Legs pale brown to orange-brown, knees and tibia sometimes paler orange; femora slightly shining.

Head: Eyes very narrowly separated posteriorly (by diameter of anterior ocellus), frontal stripe almost linear but distinct throughout; parafacials medially widening to almost width of postpedicel; peristomal margin not projecting, face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae slightly more than distance between them and nearest eye margin; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.25× eye height; 4 pairs of parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; 1 pair of very short and fine interfrontal setulae on upper half of frons; genal setae uniserial anteriorly. Postpedicel not reaching peristomal margin (by almost its width); arista (Fig. 29) short plumose, maximum total width of hairing as wide as postpedicel. Proboscis short and slender, with short prementum (not as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia). Upper occipital setulae short and fine, without setulae below row.

Thorax: Presutural acr fine and hair-like (not differentiated from accessory setulae), irregularly biserial, acr:dc ratio 10:4:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar seta completely absent; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior nearly as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short, not longer than diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break nearly as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein almost straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 2.1–2.2× length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller in area than upper. Wing length 5.0–5.5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 3–4 long pv in proximal half, median ones shorter; hind femur (Fig. 24) with about 6 av in distal 3/4 (longer than depth of femur, without curling tips), some shorter fine ventral hairs, and an almost complete row of long fine pv on whole length, longest almost twice as long as depth of femur; fore tibia with a short fine pointed apical pv, 1 short ad, 1 pv; mid tibia generally with a minute av in distal half (occasionally missing or broken off), 1 pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 2 ad, 3 pd, no pv. Pulvilli of forelegs as long as tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About twice as long as wide (at basal margin of sternite III), dorsoventrally compressed; sternite III (Fig. 8) about 1.7 times longer than greatest width, sternite IV is 1.4 times longer than greatest width, both these sternites tapering slightly towards anterior margins, and with rather long erect setae which project ventrally (Fig. 9); sternite V processes (Fig. 8) about as long as base, a few fine hairs on inner margins, lateral setae as long as processes. Surstyli (Fig. 6) twice as long as cercal plate, in caudal view more or less parallel sided, and of equal width except for slightly tapering apical fifth; clothed with fine hairs, in lateral view (Fig. 7) more or less straight. cercal plate about 1.3 times longer than wide, heart-shaped, with narrowly rounded apex, in lateral view apex is hidden by surstyli. Pregonite with 2 setae; postgonite triangular without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Fig. 10) 1.78 times longer than aedeagal apodeme, divided in distal half (0.45×) into pair of free paraphallic processes. Acrophallus (Fig. 11) sclerotized, forming plate between bases of paraphallic processes. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view about 2.14 times as wide anteriorly, excavated on dorsal surface. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.36 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, expanded at one end.

Female.

Colour: Head mainly dark in ground colour, dusted greyish white, occasionally patches of orange ground colour on posterior part of gena, anterior half of frontal stripe; frontal triangle and inner margins of parafrontals brassy brown dusted; parafacials adjacent to lunule without shifting sheen-stripe; anterior part of gena suffused with blackish brown dust, from low angle in front whole of head matt dark brown, contrasting with paler dusted lower occiput. Prementum brown, thinly dusted with slight shine. Thorax dark in ground colour, with grey and brown dusting; scutum, viewed from behind with traces of three broad darker vittae, especially presuturally. Wing pale brownish tinged, base not darker. Legs dark brown, tibiae and knees sometimes lightened orange. Abdomen olive-grey dusted, with distinct median vitta which widens on anterior margins of tergites.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.5–1.6× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal; parafrontalia widening anteriorly to width of postpedicel; parafrontal setae differentiated into 2–3 pairs inclinate frontals and 3 pairs of orbital setae, anterior one proclinate; crossed interfrontal setae strong, placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.38–0.40× eye height; genal setae uniserial. Arista (Fig. 29) with total width of hairing almost equal to width of postpedicel. Proboscis relatively short, prementum shorter than palpi.

Thorax: acr short and fine (hardly differentiated from accessory setulae), biserial; acr:dc ratio 10:4:10; 1+1 posthumerals; katepisternals 1+1. Prealar seta absent.

Wing: Vein C with marginal spinules about 1.5× vein width, pair before distal costal break about 1.8× length of small cross vein; large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ is 1.4–1.5× length of preceding section. Wing length 5 mm.

Legs: All setae longer and stronger than in male. Mid femur without ventral setae (or sometimes 1–2 fine av present in proximal half); hind femur with 4–5 short av in distal 2/3; fore tibia with strong ad just below middle, and an equally strong pv at almost same level; mid tibia with a small av in distal half (generally more distinct than in male, but occasionally missing or broken off), 1 very long ad, a shorter pd at same level, and 2–3 short pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 0 pv.

Abdomen: Tergites with short hind marginal setae, which are only slightly differentiated from discal setulae and hairs. Postabdomen (Fig. 45) similar to D. bracata, differing as follows: when fully extended 1.3× length of preabdomen; sternite 8 bearing 3 setae on each posterior margin; cerci rather longer, each bearing 1–2 longer setae.

Types: Hennig (1974b: 792) examined the types of D. arambourgi (29 examples in NMHNP) and figured the surstyli in his fig. 1170. At that time Hennig assumed that dispar (Bezzi, 1908) was an earlier name, and synonymized arambourgi with it. Emden (1941b: 265) was the first to use the name “dispar” for a species of Delia with long aristal hairs (as a subspecies of flavibasis (Stein)). I have examined the types of Hylemyia dispar Bezzi, and dispar is evidently a synonym of D. bracata. See under that species for details of Hylemyia dispar.

Other material examined: ETHIOPIA: 1♂ R. Alamala, on road to Koram [?], 7.ii.1936, Dr J.W.S. Macfie, det. Delia dispar by D.M. Ackland 1994 (BMNH); 1♂ Alamala ford, 1.iii.1936 (BMNH); 2♂ Addis Ababa, over 8000 ft, 8.ix.1926, swept in field of Imperial Hotel, H. Scott (BMNH); 1♂ Wagira, Gara Mulata, [no date, pres. BMNH 1948], G. Kristensen, ex Wainwright coll. (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ Djem-Djem Forest, 8000 ft, 23.ix.1926, J. Omer-Cooper (BMNH); 1♂ Assendabo, alt. 1600 m, 25.x.1968, R. Kano & T. Ohse (DMA); 1 ♀ Mulu, above Muger Valley, 8000 ft, 18–22.xii.1926, from marshy ground, H. Scott (BMNH). KENYA: 3♂ [on same mount] Muguga, x.1957, I.W.B. Nye, bred ex Cynodon dactylon, det. Delia flavibasis Stein subsp. dispar Bezzi by A.C. Pont, 1970, det. Delia dispar Bezzi by D.M. Ackland, 1994 (BMNH); 1♀ Muguga, 25.iv.1957, bred ex Cynodon dactylon, I.W.B. Nye (DMA); 1♂ Muguga, iv.1969, at light, C.F. Dewhurst (BMNH); 4♂ same locality, ix.1969 (BMNH); 4♀ 8♀ Mt Elgon, alt. 7000–8000 ft, 28.xii.1980, P.S. Cranston (BMNH); 1♂ Nairobi, vii.1969, C.F. Dewhurst (BMNH); 1♂ Chyulu Hills, Tsavo West Nat. Park, 24–25.iv.1971, C.F. Dewhurst (BMNH). TANZANIA: 2♂ Mt Meru, Momela, 3°15′S:36°51′E, alt. 5500 ft, 12–13.i.1972, C.F. Huggins (BMNH).

Discussion: Bezzi (1908: 116) described Hylemyia dispar from Ethiopia based on “many specimens, all badly preserved, which appears very common in the area.” He mentioned that the arista was short pilose (“brevissime pilosa”) which suggests that it was not the species Emden (1941a: 214) recorded as D. dispar from Ethiopia (pilose arista), as a subspecies of flavibasis; most of these specimens are in the BMNH, and I have examined them. Emden (1941b: 265) in his key (couplet 3) characterized flavibasis dispar as “arista is wide, including plumosity, as the third antennal joint.” In the same key it should be noted that “flavibasis Stein” refers to bracata Rondani, and “arambourgi Séguy” refers to flavibasis Stein. Hennig (1974b: 791) synonymized D. arambourgi with dispar after examining the type series in MNHN. The species named as “arambourgi Séguy” in Bullock (1965) almost certainly refers to D. flavibasis, as he presumably used Emden's key (1941b) to identify his material.

Life history: The only reliable record of the food plant of D. arambourgi is a note on the labels of 3♂ and 1♀ from Kenya, Muguga, “bred from Cynodon dactylon, I. W. B. Nye”.

Distribution: D. arambourgi is known only from Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Chortophila flavibasis Stein, 1903: 121; 1913: 560.

Hylemyia bouhelieri Séguy, 1934: 75. Synonymy after Hennig 1974b: 806.

Hylemyia hordacea Séguy, 1936: 3; 1953: 87. Synonymy after Hennig 1974b: 806.

Hylemyia sedaga Séguy, 1950: 277. Synonymy after Hennig 1974b: 806.

Hylemyia flavibasis (Stein): Curran 1929: 247; ?Emden 1956: 530; ?Paterson 1956: 164.

“Hylemyia arambourgi Séguy”: Emden 1941a: 265; 1948: 166 (in part); 1951: 357 (in part); ?Bullock 1965: 645–661.

“Delia arambourgi Séguy”: Ackland 1967: 119; 1968: 71; Deeming 1971: 134.

Delia flavibasis (Stein): Hennig 1974b: 806; Ackland 1977: 203; Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Arista with hairs not, or only slightly longer than aristal diameter at base; parafrontals adjacent to lunule with darker shifting sheen-stripe; prealar seta absent; fore tibia with 1 ad and 1 pd; mid tibia without av; cercal plate in lateral view (Fig. 13) rounded and keel-like, produced between surstyli.

♀ Prealar seta absent; fore tibia with 2 pv; mid tibia without av; parafacials adjacent to lunule with darker shifting sheen-stripe.

Male.

Colour: Head dark in ground colour, frontal stripe matt black (orange in teneral specimens) when viewed from above, whitish grey from in front, parafrontals and parafacials from whitish to grey dusted depending on angle of view, parafrontals adjacent to lunule with shifting darker patch when viewed from side, parafacials below are lighter dusted; palpi and antennae dark brown, mentum dusted. Thorax dark in ground colour with dense grey dust, scutum almost bluish grey dusted just behind head, posteriorly from 2nd presutural dc to scutellum with darker and lighter grey and brown dust, indistinctly and irregularly striped, pleura and postnotum lighter grey. Wing membrane light brownish tinged in basal half; squamae slightly paler than wing base. Legs brown dusted, knees and tibiae obscurely orange-brown. Scutellum as scutum, with faint brown dust on disc. Abdomen brown with shifting green-grey dust, darker brown median vitta which is as wide as width of femur; cercal plate and surstyli brown.

Head: Frontal stripe almost touching above, separated by less than diameter of anterior ocellus, parafrontals linear here, widening adjacent to lunule to about 0.8× width of postpedicel; gena below lowest point of eye margin as wide as postpedicel; genal setae uniserial; lower margin of head in profile slightly curved; peristomal margin in lateral view not projecting; 4 pairs of frontal setae which are fine and short; cruciate interfrontal setulae very fine and hair-like. Antennae short, 2 times as long as wide, not quite reaching peristomal margin; arista pubescent, hairs generally not longer than diameter at base. Mentum short, about 0.8× length of palpi.

Thorax: Presutural acr very short, hardly longer or stronger than scutal hairs, which are few in number, biserial, the rows separated from each other by 2× distance between acr and dc rows; notopleural depression bare apart from 2 strong setae; prealar seta absent; 1–2 unequal proepisternals and 1 long proepimeral with 2 associated hairs; scutellum bare on disc. Katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior seta about 0.8× length of upper, long hair present below anterior seta.

Wing: Stronger spines before distal break hardly as long as small crossvein, anterior spinules shorter than width of vein C, which is bare ventrally; lower squama shorter than upper. Wing length 4.5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 1–2 longer v at base; hind femur (Fig. 23) with 3–4 av in distal half, median ones shorter, only 1–2 pv at apex; fore tibia with a very short pointed preapical pv, 1 longer preapical d, 0–1 ad, 1 pd; mid tibia av absent, 1 ad, 1 pd, 2 pv, all short; hind tibia with 2 av, 5 ad, 3 pd, lowest one longest, no pv. Pulvilli about as long as claws.

Abdomen: Slightly longer than thorax, in dorsal view with side margins slightly convex, tergite III is 2.4 times as wide as long, dorsoventrally compressed. Sternites III and IV from slightly narrower to as wide as sternite V, sternite IV (Fig. 14) not quite twice as long as wide, discal and lateral setae not very long. Surstyli (Fig. 12) narrowed basally when viewed caudally and becoming wider towards middle, in profile (Fig. 13) always curving slightly, i.e. convex on dorsal (posterior) surface. cercal plate 1.5–2 times as long as wide, in profile always produced between surstyli, keel-like. Aedeagus (Fig. 15) with distal section 1.75 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided in about distal half into pair of free paraphallic processes. Acrophallus (Fig. 16) sclerotized, forming plate between bases of paraphallic processes. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view widely expanded anteriorly, twice as long as greatest width. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.44× length of aedeagal apodeme.

Female.

Differs from female of D. bracata as follows:

Colour: Parafacials at level of antennal base with distinct orange to black shifting sheen-stripe, which when viewed from above disappears. Abdomen with distinct median vitta (as opposed to male).

Head: Interfrontalia at level of anterior orbitals slightly wider than each parafrontal (0.3×); 2 pairs of inclinate frontal setae are shorter than those of bracata.

Thorax: Legs: Mid tibia without av.

Abdomen: Postabdomen apparently identical to D. bracata.

Types: Hennig (1974b: 807) designated a male lectotype of flavibasis (in DEI), type locality Egypt, Luxor. The types of bouhelieri Séguy, hordacea Séguy, and sedaga Séguy (in MNHN) were also examined by Hennig (loc. cit.) and synonymized with flavibasis. I also examined the type of sedago in 1974 and agree with Hennig's identification. I made the following notes:

Holotype ♂ “Hylemyia sedago ♂ Type / E. Séguy vid 48” [white label]; “TYPE” [red label]; “Agadez / Aïr SUD / 525 m. / 5.8.57” [white label]; “IPAN-1947 / L. Chopard / A. Villiers” [white label] (MNHN). Specimen dissected; right mid and hind legs missing; right wing missing; left postpedicel and arista missing.

Other material examined: ANGOLA: 1♂ 3 mls N Santa Comba, 7–8.iii.1971 (BMNH). BOTSWANA: 2♂ Lake Ngami, NE Sehithwa, 16–17.iv.1972 (BMNH). ETHIOPIA: 4♂ 5 ♀ Sinana, 47°E:7°N, alt. 2400 m, 5–18.x.2002, ex barley, J. Tafa (1♂ 1 ♀ in DMA). KENYA: 1♂ Muguga, 6–12.i.1969, M.C. Birch (DMA); 1♂ Kasanari, 10.viii.1989, swept savannah, J.W. Ismay (DMA); Solai, vi.1953, ex larva in stems of young barley, P.T. Walker (BMNH). MADAGASCAR: 2♂ 5 ♀ Madagascar Centre, Andringitra-Ambalavao, Plateau Saoindrana, alt. 2060 m, 14–17.i.1958, B. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♂ Anjavidilava, 2020 m, 17–21.i.1958, B. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 3 ♀ Pic Boby, alt. 2400 m, 11– 14.i.1958, B. Stuckenberg (NMSA). MOZAMBIQUE: 3♂ Luabo, Lower Zambezi R., vii, viii.1957, P.J. Usher (NMSA). NAMIBIA: 1♂ 8 ♀ Rundu Dist., Katara Okavango R., 17°48′56″S:18°53′38″E, 20–23.i.1998, Kirk-Spriggs & Marais, Malaise traps (NMWN); 1 ♀ West Caprivi Pk., Kwando R., Susuwe, 17°45′37″S:23°20′25″E, 28.ix-2.x.1998, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap, dry woodland (NMWN); 3 ♀ Tsumkwe Dist., Sikereti, 19°06′24″S:20°42′20″E, 28.xii.1998, Kirk-Spriggs, Marais & Mann, at light (NMWN). NIGERIA: 1 ♀ Gadam, 26.vii.1929, A.W. Taylor (BMNH); 3♂ [on same mount], Zaria, Guga Forest reserve, 11.ix.1971, J.C. Deeming (NMWC); 1 ♀ Zaria, Samuru, 2.vii.1967, larvae ex millet, J.C. Deeming (BMNH); 1 ♀ same locality, 6.vii.1966, ex guinea corn, G.T. York (BMNH); 1♂ Zaria, Dembi Wood, 29.viii.1971, J.C. Deeming (NMWC); 1♂ Makurdi, R. Benui bank, 30.iv.1972, J.L. Musa (NMWC); 1 ♀ Obudu Plat., cattle ranch, 19.xii.1970, M. Politzar (NMWC); 1 ♀ Obudu Plat., cattle ranch, 21.xii.1970, J. M. Phillips (NMWC); 1 ♀ Ile-Ife, 6.ix.1969, J.T. Medler (NMWC); SÃO TOMÉ: 1♂ 16.xi.1932, W.H. Tams (BMNH). SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 1♂ 1 ♀ 10 km SE Vanrhynsdorp, along river, 3118DA, 14.x.1997, R.M. Miller (NMSA). Eastern Cape: 1♂ km NW Somerset East, 3225DA, 28–29.x.1978, picnic area stream, J. Londt & R. Miller (NMSA); 1♂ 1 ♀ Boesmansriviermond, 3326AD, 27–31.vii.1985, mill above caravan park, J. Londt (NMSA); 1 ♀ 5 km NE Queenstown, Bongolo Dam, 3126DD, 26.x.1978, dry river below wall, R. Miller & J. Londt (NMSA); 3 ♀ 16 mls E of Cradock Farm, “Who can tell”, alt. 1000 m, 11.iii.1972, leg. M.E. & B.J. Irwin (NMSA); 1 ♀ Coldstream, Tsitsikama area, 25–28.x.1964 (NMSA); 1♂ 1 ♀ Port St Johns, 20–25.xi.1961 NMSA); 2 ♀ 10–22.xi.1995, A.J.T. Janse (NMSA). Gauteng: 1♂ Pretoria, Broederstroom, 12.viii.1963, Haeselbarth (NMSA); 1♀ Witwatersrand Univ., Johannesburg, 1.vi.1977, P. Ferrar (NMSA); 1♀ Johannesburg, 2628Aa, Highlands North, 12.viii.1981, R. Elferink (NMSA); 1♂ Johannesburg, 4.xi.1951, F. Zumpt (BMNH); 1♂ same data but 27.iv.1952 (BMNH). Free State: 1♂ 10 km N of Aberfeldy, Somerby Farm, 2828Bb, empoundment, 27.xii.1982, R. Miller & P. Stabbins (NMSA). KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀ Wartburg, 10.x.1989, open lot in town, grass, A.E Whittington (NMSA); 2♀ Darvill maturation Ponds, Pietermaritzburg, 29°33′00″S:30°20′11″E, 27.vi.1990, D. Barraclough, S. Chinn & A. Whittington (NMSA); 1♀ Pietermaritzburg, Blackridge area, 20.iv.1982, grass on road margin, D.A. Barraclough (NMSA); 1♀ Dargle, 19.v.1964, margin of pasture, R. Miller (NMSA); 1♂ 6♀ Drakensberg, Giants Castle Res., alt. 5800 ft, 18–23.ix.1961, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ Royal National Park, from montane forest, alt. 1530 m, 16.ix.1965, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA);1♀ same locality, 12.ix.1963, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ same locality, 13.ix.1963, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ Royal National Park, riverbank, alt. 1500 m, 12.ix.1963, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 3♀ Royal Natal National Park, Tendele camp, 28°40′46″S:28°55′13″E, 16– 18.iii.1990, A.E. Whittington (NMSA); 3♂ Cathedral Peak Forestry Res., Little ‘Berg Summits, Thermeda grassland, alt. 3500–6000 ft, iii.1959, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Organ Pipes Pass, at summit, Erica Consocies, 9600 ft, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Town Bush, Pietermaritzburg, 27.xii.1961, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♂ Pietermaritzburg, ix.1953, at light, F. Zumpt (BMNH); 1♂ Balgowan, 21.vii.1956, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 1♀ Muden, 1.x.1956, B. & P. Stuckenberg (NMSA); 2♂ Giant's Castle Game Res., Injamuti area, SE2929AB, 5–11.xii.1983, J.G.H. Londt (NMSA); 2♂ 3♀ Weenen, vi–ix, 1934, H.P. Thomasset (BMNH); 1♂ 3♀ Weenen, 2840 ft, vii–ix.1923, in thorn country, H.P. Thomasset (BMNH); 3♂ 2♀ Weenen Nat. Res., 28°51′S:29°69′E, 1–4.x.1990, Thornveld, dam & camp, sweep net, A.E. Whittington (NMSA); 2♂ same locality and date, Malaise trap (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ Midlands, Howick, 29°29′S:30°13′E, 1060 m, garden vegetation, 14.vii.1990, A.E. Whittington (NMSA); 5♂ 6♀ Howick, 29°28′40″S:30°13′20″E, 8.vii.1990, mercury blended light, A.E. Whittington (NMSA); 2♂ 3♀ same data but 25.viii.1990 (NMSA); 1♂ same data but 17.vii.1990 (NMSA). Limpopo: 3♂ 2♀ Nylsvley Res., Naboomspruit, 24.xi.1976, P. Ferrar (BMNH). Northern Cape: 1♂ Lombard Nat. Res., 27°37′S:25°29′E, 1250 m, 12.iii.1991, sand, Acacia, thornveld, Londt & Whittington (NMSA); 1♀ Kuruman, nr Die Ong, 27°29′S:23°26E, 1300 m, 13.iii.1991, mercury vapour lamp, Londt & Whittington (NMSA). NAMIBIA: 1 ♀ Windhoek Dist., Windhoek, 2218Cc, alt. 1600 m, 3.xi.1974, sandy river bottom, M.E. Irwin (NMSA). SUDAN: West Darfur: 1♂ 3♀ Jebel Marra, Killing, 7000 ft, 7.iv.1932, Miss M. Steele (BMNH). UGANDA: 4♂ 7♀ Mt Elgon, between Butandiga & Bulambuli, 8000 ft, 7.viii.1934, J. Ford (BMNH); 1 ♀ Kigezi dist., Mt Muhavura, 7000 ft, 29.ix.1934, F.W. Edwards (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ Mt Elgon, Bulambuli, 9500 ft, viii.1934, J. Ford (BMNH); 1♀ Butandiga, 7000 ft, viii.1934, J. Ford (BMNH); 1♀ Ruwenzori Range, Kilembe, 4500 ft, xii.1934–i.1935, F.W. Edwards (BMNH); 1♂ Kigezi, Mafuga Forests, vi.1951, van Someren (BMNH); 1♂ Kawanda, 16.i.1958, light-trap, J. Bowden (BMNH). YEMEN: 3♀ Jebal Jihaf, 7000 ft, x.1937, H. Scott, E.B. Britton (BMNH); 1♂ 1♀ same data but 20.ii.1938 (BMNH); 4♀ San'a, 7900 ft, 10–15.x.1937, from lucerne, Carl Rathjens (BMNH); 2♂ 2♀ Ghaiman, 9 mls SE San'a, 8700 ft, 18.ii.1938, near irrigation stream, H. Scott, E.B. Britton (BMNH); 1♂ Ertil, 8–10 mls S San'a, 8000 ft, 24.ii.1938, on lucerne, H. Scott, E.B. Britton (BMNH). ZIMBABWE: 3♂ 10 km SE of Harare, 19.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 1♂ Harare, road to Nat. Botanic Gdns, 14.ii.1997, J.W. Ismay (DMA); 1♀ N. Vumba, 5.vii.1965, leg. D. Cookson (NMSA); Salisbury, 5.ii.1963, wheat stem (BMNH); 1♀ Domboshava, iii.1932, larvae in stems of rapoko Eleuscine aracorna) with larvae of Hylemyia andersoni Mall., det. Hylemyia arambourgi Ség. by Emden, 1940 (BMNH); 1 ♀ Salisbury, vi.1901, F.L. Snow, 5050 ft. (KUNHM); 1 ♀ same locality, v.1901, x.1901 (KUNHM); 2 ♂ same locality, v. & vi.1901, syntypes of Chortophila linearis Adams (KUNHM).

Discussion: In Emden's key (1941b: 265) the species keyed out as “flavibasis Stein” is bracata. No records are given in this paper. In Emden's paper on S.W. Arabia (1948: 166) some of the records for flavibasis are correctly named; the records for “arambourgi” are partly bracata and partly flavibasis. In Emden's paper on the Ruwenzori Expedition (1951: 357) the records for “arambourgi” refer to flavibasis. Not all of the material listed by Emden in these papers could be found in the BMNH. Those that I could find are listed under material examined for each species.

Life history: Hennig (1974b: 807–808) states that the larvae of flavibasis live in various species of corn crops, Secale cercale L. (rye) in Morocco (Séguy 1934); Hordeum vulgare L. (barley) in Morocco (Séguy 1936); Setaria italica (L.) (millet) in Israel (Ackland 1968). The paper by Bullock (1965) on the control and life history of “arambourgi” almost certainly refers to D. flavibasis, as he used Emden's (1941b) key to identify his material. He mentions H. vulgare as a foodplant in Kenya, and also mentions Penisetum clandestinum Chiov. (kikuyu grass) and Chloris gayana Kunth. (Rhodes grass) in other parts of Africa. Deeming (1971: 174) recorded “arambourgi” on Sorghum bicolor L. (sorghum) and Pennisetum typhoides S. & H. (pearl millet) in Nigeria.

Other definite host plant records based on labels of specimens examined during this revision are: barley (Ethiopia and Kenya), millet (Nigeria), guinea corn (Nigeria), and stems of rapoko, Eleuscine coracana L. in Zimbabwe.

Distribution: D. flavibasis is widely distributed in the Afrotropical Region, from Nigeria in the west to Yemen in the east to South Africa; also Madagascar. It has been recorded in the southern areas of the Palaearctic region from Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Canary Isles, Spain (Hennig 1974b: 808). The records of “flavibasis” from Nepal and India (Ackland 1967: 119) refer to bracata.

Hylemyia urbana Malloch, 1924a: 139; Harrison 1953: 10.

Hylemyia capensis Malloch, 1924b: 263, 265; Emden 1941b: 265. Syn. n.

Delia urbana (Malloch): Hennig 1953: 669, figs 1–4; 1974b: 792; Colless 1982: 90.

Delia capensis (Malloch): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Mid tibia with a small av in distal quarter; hind femur (Fig. 27) with long av, longest (about middle) being fully twice as long as depth of femur and have curled fine tips directed apically.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face pale reddish orange to blackish, with thin greyish dust; occiput darker above. Antennae brownish, basal segments paler orange-brown. Palpi brown; prementum brownish with thin dust. Thorax and scutellum light brownish olive to greyish dusted, pleura slightly translucent, scutum with very faint or more distinct median and lateral vittae. Wing membrane pale orange tinged, veins orange-brown; squamae whitish with pale fringe. Legs pale brownish orange, hardly shining. Abdomen dusted light brownish grey, only faintly shining when viewed from above, viewed from behind faint median vitta visible. Prehypopygial tergites dusted, sternites orange-brown.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by width of anterior ocellus); parafrontalia linear at this point, separated by very narrow frontal stripe which is hardly half width of anterior ocellus, widening anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel; parafacial medially equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin not projecting, face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae slightly more than distance between them and nearest eye margin; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.25–0.30× eye height; 4 pairs of parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; 1 pair of fine interfrontal setulae, slightly closer to upper frontal setae than to anterior ocellus; genal setae uniserial; postpedicel 1.6 times as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin; arista slightly thickened at base, with very short pubescence. Proboscis rather short and slender, with short prementum (slightly shorter than palpi), about as wide as fore tibia. Upper occipital setulae fine and short, without setulae below row.

Thorax: Presutural acr absent (or represented by very fine hairs which are not longer or stronger than scutal accessory hairs), rows close together, acr:dc ratio 10:2:10; dc generally arising from small dark spots; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from 2 strong setae; prealar seta absent; scutellum with dorsal surface largely bare, dorsal preapicals short and fine, lower surface with a few fine pale hairs; 2 proepisternals without associated hairs, only 1 rather weak proepimeral without associated hairs; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2 (lower p only slightly shorter than upper).

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short (not longer than diameter of C), stronger seta before distal break as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 2.0–2.3× length of preceding section. Lower squama narrow, smaller in area than upper. Wing length about 4 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 3–4 long pv in proximal half; hind femur (Fig. 27) with 9–10 long erect av in distal half to 3/4, longest of them (medial) at least 2.5× height of femur, with their tips curled (bent or curved towards apex of femur), and numerous fine long pv; a and ad on hind femur are also long and numerous; fore tibia with 1 short fine ad and 2 pv, and a short pointed apical pv; mid tibia with 1 very short av, and 1 equally short ad, and 1 slightly longer pd; hind tibia with 2–3 av, 3–4 ad, 3 pd, without pv. Pulvilli somewhat enlarged (those of fore legs almost as long as tarsomere 5).

Abdomen: About 1.75 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of tergite III), dorsoventrally compressed; sternite III (Fig. 19) nearly as wide as sternite IV (South Africa) to narrower than this (Australia), with long marginal and discal setae (Fig. 20). Sternite V processes (Fig. 19) without setae on inner margins, lateral setae not quite as long as processes. Surstyli in caudal view (Fig. 17) expanded medially, about twice as long as cercal plate; dorsal surface covered in fine erect hairs; in lateral view (Fig. 18) more or less straight (slightly sinuate). cercal plate 1.6 times as long as wide, with narrowly rounded apex. Pregonite with 2 distal setae; postgonite with minute setula. Distal section of aedeagus (Fig. 21) rather short, 1.5× length of aedeagal apodeme, divided in distal half into pair of free paraphallic processes, and small weakly sclerotized plate-like acrophallus (Fig. 22), level with base of paraphalli. Aedeagal apodeme 2.25 times as long as wide in dorsal view, excavated on dorsal surface. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.42× length of aedeagal apodeme.

Female.

Colour: Dark in ground colour with shifting brown and grey dusting; frontal stripe dark brown posteriorly, orange-brown on anterior half. Viewed from front at a low angle frontal triangle is light brownish grey dusted with dark brown velvety round patch between anterior ocellus and cruciate interfrontals, and similar patch surrounding ocellar tubercle; parafrontals brassy brown dusted when viewed from above, which becomes darker brown from in front; parafacials brassy dusted; genae with darker shifting brown patch behind vibrissal area; occiput grey to brownish dusted; prementum dark brown, thinly dusted, semi-shining in parts; palpi dark brown. Thorax dark in ground colour, with shifting brownish olive to grey dusting; scutum with traces of shifting vittae and semi-shining areas, viewed from behind darker medially, two wide lateral vittae which are very indistinct, lateral declivities lighter grey dusted; pleura with weakly shining brown patches, especially on anepisternite and katepisternum. Wing membrane weakly brownish tinged, hardly darker basally; squamae white with whitish fringe. Legs dark brown, weakly dusted and semi-shining. Abdomen dark in ground colour, viewed from above tergites with many shining patches, especially medially and laterally. Viewed from behind distinct shining black median vitta becomes visible, anterior margin of tergite III and posterior half of tergite IV darker, otherwise greenish grey dusted.

Head: Eyes separated by 1.45–1.50× their transverse width; frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal which widen anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel; parafacial at narrowest part slightly less than width of postpedicel. Frontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of lateroclinate orbitals, and 2 pairs of inclinate frontals (all in line); crossed interfrontals strong, placed just above middle of interfrontalia; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.33× eye height; 4–5 anterior genal setae immediately posterior to subvibrissal setae biserial and upwardly directed; upper occipital setae with scattered row of setulae below. Prementum and proboscis as in male.

Thorax: 2–3 presutural acr, one pair longer than rest (half length of 1st presutural dc); notopleural depression bare, apart from two strong setae. Prealar seta short and fine, but distinct (0.3–0.5× length of posterior npl); scutellum with only 2–4- short hairs on disc; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; 2 proepisternal setae, one long, one short; one strong proepimeral seta with 2–3 associated hairs; katepisternals 1+1 (posterior seta with short hair below it).

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules strong and rather long, those on section between costal breaks about 2.5× costal diameter, pair of stronger spines before distal break nearly 1.5× length of small crossvein; large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.7–1.8× preceding section; lower squama smaller in area then upper. Wing length 4.75 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with a short av in proximal half, 2–3 short pv in proximal half; hind femur (Fig. 28) with 4–5 av in proximal half, which are slightly longer than greatest height of femur, only 2–3 short preapical pv; fore tibia with a strong ad (just below middle), a strong pv, more or less at same level; mid tibia with a small av, 1 long and strong ad, 1 pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2–3 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, without pv.

Abdomen: About 1.6 times as long as wide (at anterior margin of tergite III); tergites with rather short hindmarginal setae, most of them only half as long as tergites, including those on tergite V.

Types of urbana: Malloch described urbana from Sydney, Australia: 1 ♂ holotype, 8 ♂ paratypes, 2 ♀ paratypes. His statement that the ‘types would be returned to Dr E.W. Ferguson.’ Dr A.C. Pont (pers. comm.) advises that these types were originally in the Sydney School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, but were transferred recently to the ANIC.

Holotype of capensis: ♂: SOUTH AFRICA: ‘Holotype’ [white printed circular label with red perimeter]; ‘Capetown / Aug 1905 / G. A. K. Marshall / 1908–212’ [rectangular printed white label]; ‘Hylemyia / capensis / Det. / J. R. Malloch Type’ [white rectangular printed and handwritten label with black border]. In good condition, examined during present study (BMNH).

Paratype of capensis: 1♂ same data as holotype. In fair condition, right fore and mid leg missing (BMNH).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 6♂ 8♀ Cape Peninsula, Witsands Dunes, 25– 26.ix.1959 (NMSA); 2♂ Brak R. mouth, Mossel Bay Dist., 23.x.1964 (NMSA); 1♂ Groot R. Pass, nr Plettenburg Bay, indigenous forest, 11.ix.1959 (NMSA).

Discussion: Hennig (1953: 669–670) was the first author to provide drawings of the genitalia of urbana, based on two males from Australia in the DEI. Harrison (1953: 10) reported that a female of urbana was identified in Auckland, New Zealand, in an aeroplane coming from Sydney in April, 1952.

Colless (1982: 90) suggested that urbana (along with four other species of Australian Anthomyiidae) might be an introduced species, and compared urbana with dispar Bezzi (= arambourgi Séguy). D. urbana is in fact easily distinguished from dispar (the latter having longer aristal hairing and the male hind femur with shorter av on hind tibia which do not have fine and curling tips). I have examined many specimens of urbana from Australia and can find no difference (including the genitalia) from specimens (including the types) of capensis from Africa. I therefore synonymize the two names. Malloch's paper describing urbana was published on 2 July 1924, and his paper describing capensis in September of the same year. The distribution of urbana is similar to that of Anthomyia punctipennis Wiedemann which is found both in Africa and the Australian region, and both species are probably introductions to the latter area.

Life history: Colless (1982: 90) mentions a single record of urbana from cocoon masses of a pergid sawfly; otherwise there are a few known rearings from grass including Cynodon dactylon (L.). There are no breeding records from Africa.

Distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland), New Zealand, and South Africa.

Etymology: The specific name refers to Madagascar where the holotype was collected.

Diagnosis:

♂ Prealar absent, leg setae short and fine, the av, ad and pd on mid tibia hardly longer than diameter of tibia; hind tibia with 2 ad and 2 pd; acr short and fine, hardly differentiated from accessory setulae; large crossvein straight; sternites II and III (Fig. 33) very long and narrow.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face varying from blackish to orange in ground colour, with pale gold dusting; frontal stripe black when viewed from above or in front but when viewed from in front at a low angle silvery grey dusted; parafacial at level of aristal base with shifting blackish to orange sheen-stripe, which viewed from above is pale gold dusted; occiput dark grey, darker above. Antennae brown, basal segments sometimes obscurely lightened orange. Palpi brown, sometimes paler basally; prementum of proboscis brownish with thin grey dust. Thorax translucent brown in ground colour, with fairly dense olive-grey dusting, scutum viewed from behind with three faint diffused presutural wide brown vittae, scutum with major setae not arising from brown spots; scutellum olive-grey dusted, base tinged brownish. Wing membrane pale greyish tinged; veins pale brown; squamae concolorous with wing base, fringe pale yellow-white. Halteres yellow. Legs pale brown to orange-brown, coxae sometimes paler. Abdomen brown in ground colour, thinly dusted with shifting semishining patches and pale grey dusted areas, with wide diffused brown median vitta (about as wide as depth of hind femur), which becomes wider on tergite V. Prehypopygial tergites dusted.

Head: Eyes touching on frons, frontal stripe obsolete at this point, parafrontals linear, widening anteriorly but only about half width of postpedicel; parafacials medially only about half width of postpedicel, in profile almost disappearing; peristomal margin not projecting, face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae nearly twice distance between them and nearest eye margin; gena below lowest point of eye margin narrow, 0.17–0.20× eye height; 3–4 pairs of frontal setae on anterior third of frons; 1 pair of fine interfrontal setulae at middle of frons; genal setae uniserial anteriorly; postpedicel not reaching peristomal margin (by almost its width); arista pubescent, longest hairs twice width of basal aristal diameter. Proboscis short and slender, with short prementum (not as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia). Upper occipital setulae short and fine, without setulae below row.

Thorax: Presutural acr fine and hair-like (not differentiated from accessory setulae), biserial, acr:dc ratio 10:3:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae, anterior seta short and only half length of posterior seta; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar completely absent; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2, anterior seta short, half length of upper posterior, lower posterior nearly as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short but not weak, as long as diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break nearly as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.6–1.9× length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller in area than upper. Wing length 4.5–5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 3 unequal v or pv in proximal half; hind femur with full row of long av and shorter pv, av without curling tips; fore tibia and mid tibia with all setae short and fine, fore tibia with 1 very short ad and a slightly longer pv, mid tibia with 1 av towards apex, 1 ad, 1 pd and 2 pv, all very short and fine, not longer than diameter of tibia; hind tibia with 1–2 av, 2 ad, 2 pd, no pv setulae.

Abdomen: Dorsoventrally compressed, viewed from above parallel-sided, 3 times as long as wide; sternite III (Fig. 33) long and narrow (3.75 times as long as greatest width), sternite IV nearly as long (2.2 times as long as wide); sternite V processes about as long as base, with a few short hairs on inner margins, lateral setae short, longest not longer than processes. Surstyli (Fig. 31) twice as long as cercal plate, in caudal view with inner margins sinuate, widening medially then tapering apically to about half this width, clothed in fine hairs; in lateral view (Fig. 32) with apical quarter downturned. Pregonite with 1–2 short setulae; postgonite triangular without setulae. Distal section of aedeagus (Fig. 35) with short paraphalli which are not quite half length of section, and are converging in ventral view (Fig. 36); small sclerotized acrophallus present between bases of paraphalli.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: ♂ MADAGASCAR: ‘Madagascar Centre / Vakaona 1520 m. / Andringitra Ambalavoa / 21– 24.i.1958 B. Stuckenberg’; ‘HOLOTYPE ♂ / Delia madagascariensis / Ackland’ [Rectangular red card]; ‘Holotype’ [Circular card with red perimeter]. Genitalia mounted in balsam on plastic slip on the pin (NMSA).

Paratypes: 3♂ same label as holotype (NMSA).

Discussion: D. flavibasis (which occurs in Madagascar) has no av on mid tibia, more distinct vittae on scutum with stronger acr, and discal scutellar setulae, a fine lower anterior katepisternal seta, abdominal tergites wider (tergite III 2.5–3.0 times as wide as long), margins of abdomen not parallel-sided, hind tibia with 3 pd. In addition the apex of the cercal plate in profile is broadened and projects between the base of the surstyli (Fig. 13). D. madagascariensis is probably more closely related to D. bracata, which has not so far been recorded from Madagascar. D. bracata agrees with madagascariensis in having a small av on the mid tibia; most of the characters mentioned above for flavibasis also apply to bracata, including shorter and wider tergites and sternites. The surstyli however curve slightly backwards in profile, and the apical halves are distinctly narrowed. Some of the characters of madagascariensis (prealar absent, hind tibia with 2 ad and 2 pd) are the same as those described for modesta (Stein), a species known only from Kenya and only from the original description. See under modesta for further details.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Only known at present from Madagascar.

Etymology: I name this species after Dr J.W. Ismay, who collected this species in Kenya, and provided all of the Anthomyiidae he found in Africa and on many other expeditions he made to other parts of the world.

Diagnosis:

♂ Major scutal setae arising from small brown spots; eye margins practically touching on frons; scutal accessory setulae very sparse, short and fine; prealar absent; mid tibia without av; tergites III and IV shortened on posterior margin; sternite III (Fig. 40) with long erect setae laterally on posterior margin; distiphallus (Fig. 43) with long narrow paraphalli.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face brownish orange to blackish, thinly dusted whitish grey; occiput dark grey to blackish, thinly dusted and semi-shining. Antennae dark brown. Palpi dark brown; prementum brownish, thinly dusted. Thorax and scutellum brownish grey in ground colour with thin dusting, pleurae orange-brown translucent in places, scutum with very obscure wider or narrower darker vittae, major setae arising from small brown spots; viewed from behind with narrow paler vittae along dorsoventral rows. Abdomen with ground colour as thorax, viewed from behind grey dusted with wide brown median vitta which is narrowly extended across base of tergites, and also widened posteriorly on each tergite. Prehypopygial tergites and epandrium dusted as rest of abdomen. Wing membrane light greyish tinged; squamae whitish grey (slightly lighter than wing base), veins light brownish. Legs brown to blackish, tibiae often paler orange-brown.

Head: Eye margins on frons practically touching, separated by less than diameter of anterior ocellus. Frontal stripe linear at this point; parafacial at narrowest part 0.75× width of postpedicel; peristomal margin not projecting, behind level of profrons; gena about 0.23× eye height; 4–5 pairs of parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; 1 pair of very small interfrontal setulae; genal setae uniserial. Postpedicel not quite twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin, arista pubescent, longest hairs not as long as basal diameter, base not abruptly swollen but tapering gradually to apex. Proboscis small and narrow, prementum hardly as long as palpi and only as wide as fore tibia. Upper occipital setulae short and fine, without setulae below row.

Thorax: Accessory setulae very sparse, short and fine. Presutural acr short and fine, biserial, rows separated by 0.5× distance between acr and dc rows, no hairs between rows; posthumeral setae 1+1; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar absent or represented by fine hair which is hardly distinguishable from accessory setulae; scutellum practically bare on disc apart from two fine lateral setulae; anepisternite without an upper developed setula; 2 proepisternals, 1 proepimeral with 1–2 associated hairs, katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior three quarters length of upper posterior seta.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short and weak (not longer than diameter of C), normally stronger setae before distal break only slightly longer than vein diameter; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein straight, joining M₁₊₂ almost at right angles, last section of M₁₊₂ twice length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller in area than upper, not projecting. Wing length about 4 mm.

Legs: Slender, all setae short and weak. Mid femur with 3–4 longer pv in basal half; hind femur with 4–5 av in distal half, median setae short, becoming longer apically, no pv except for 1–2 apicals; fore tibia with a short fine pointed preapical pv, with 1 short ad and 1 slightly longer pv at about same level; mid tibia without av, 1 ad and 1 pd, both very short and fine, not longer than diameter of tibia; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 0–1 pv. Pulvilli on fore legs as long as fore tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About as long as thorax, in dorsal view about 3 times as long as greatest width, dorsoventrally compressed; tergites III and IV short and posteriorly excavated, separated from each other and from tergites II and V by wide areas of flexible intersegmental cuticle; sternite III (Fig. 39) slightly longer than width at posterior margin, narrower on basal margin, with long setae on posterior corners, curling tips of which reach posterior margin of sternite IV; these setae are more or less divided by much shorter finer hairs medially on posterior margin; in lateral view (Fig. 40) they project more or less at right angles to abdomen. Sternite IV (Fig. 39) wide, quadrilateral with rounded lateral margins, and only with rather sparse lateral fine setulae, medially bare; sternite V (Fig. 39) with tapering processes, without setae on inner margins, lateral setae not longer than processes. Surstyli in caudal view (Fig. 37) twice as long as cercal plate, widened medially, gradually tapering to apex, dorsal surface laterally with fine hairs, in lateral view strongly bent in basal half (Fig. 38), then more or less straight and parallel-sided to apex. cercal plate (Fig. 37) 1.25 times as long as wide, tapering sides with narrowly rounded apex, which bears two longer setae (as long as length of cercal plate). Pregonite with 2 distal setae; postgonite without distinct seta. Aedeagus (Figs 42, 43) with distal section 1.7 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided on more than distal half (1.6) into pair of long and straight slender paraphallic processes. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme more or less flat, 3 times as long as wide in dorsal view, and very narrow at point of attachment to phallophore. Ejaculatory apodeme very small, widened at one end.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype ♂: KENYA: ‘Holotype’ [circular white label with red perimeter]; ‘KENYA: Karasani / 10.viii.89, swept / savannah, J.W. Ismay’ [rectangular white printed label]; ‘HOLOTYPE / Delia / ismayi ♂ / D. M. Ackland’ [rectangular white printed and written label with red border] (OUMNH). In good condition.

Paratypes: KENYA: 4♂ same data as holotype (OUMNH); 1♂ Ngong Hills, vi.1946, van Someren (V.G.L. van Someren collection, British Museum, 1959–468; Imp. Inst. Ent. Coll. No 10720), det. Hylemyia ventralis Stein, van Emden, 1947 (BMNH). SOUTH AFRICA: North West: 2♂ Rustenburg, 3.xii.1961, F. Zumpt (NMSA); 1♂ Potchefstroom, 27.1.1951, F. Zumpt (BMNH). KwaZulu-Natal: 1♂ Weenen Nat. Res., 28°51′S:29°59′E, thornveld, mercury vapour light, 3.x.1990, Whittington (NMSA).

Discussion: D. ismayi has been misidentified as D. ventralis by Emden (as listed above). I have not been able to find the specimen he recorded as ‘Hylemyia ventralis’ from Natal, Weenen, vi–vii.23, H.P. Thomasset (Emden 1951: 362) which he stated was in the BMNH. This also probably belongs to D. ismayi, as D. ventralis appears to be restricted to the mountains of central Africa. See under the phylogeny of the D. ventralis subsection for notes on the ventral setae on sternite III.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Known only from Kenya and South Africa.

Chortophila ventralis Stein, 1914: 135; 1919: 154.

Hylemyia ventralis (Stein): Malloch 1924b: 262, 264; Emden 1941b: 266; 1951: 362; 1956: 530; Paterson 1956: 164.

Delia ventralis (Stein): Pont & Ackland 1980: 717.

Diagnosis:

♂ Abdomen with tergites III and IV posteriorly excavated, separated from each other and from tergites II and V by areas of membrane; sternite III (Fig. 52) bearing long setae on posterior margin, which are either erect or depressed against sternite IV; sternite V processes (Fig. 52) with long apical setae (longer than length of processes).

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials and genae varying from orange-brown to blackish (with whitish brown dusting), parafacials viewed from in front sometimes slightly bronzy, without sheen stripe on parafrontal angle; face and occiput black (with greyish to brownish dust). Antennae entirely dark brown to black. Palpi black; prementum thinly dusted brownish, slightly shining. Thorax mainly black in ground colour, varying from thinly greyish brown dusting on pleura (a few sclerites slightly shining) to scutum rather densely brownish dusted with faint brownish vittae when viewed from in front; scutum viewed from behind with wide brownish median vitta bordered by two paler narrow dusted vittae between acr and dc rows; lateral declivities pale dusted. Abdomen varying from black to brownish with shifting darker median vitta which becomes diffused on tergites III and IV on whole width of tergites; pregenital sclerite brownish, thinly dusted; hypopygium thinly dusted. Wing membrane weakly greyish brown tinged, more strongly so basally; wing bases with brownish veins, not contrasting with membrane; squamae paler than wing base with rather distinct yellow border; halteres orange-yellow. Legs blackish brown, thinly dusted.

Head: Eyes without evident pubescence, separated by width of anterior ocellus; frontal stripe linear at narrowest point, widening anteriorly to about 1.5× width of parafacial at this level; parafrontals narrow posteriorly; parafacials about as wide as postpedicel; peristomal margin in lateral view not projecting beyond level of parafrontal angle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.2–0.25× eye height; 7–8 pairs of parafrontal setae on slightly more than anterior half of distance between antennal base and anterior ocellus; interfrontal setae well developed, at least half length of frontal setae; genal setae biserial with 2–3 upcurved setulae above lower row. Postpedicel 1.8–2.0 times as long as wide, apex not quite reaching peristomal margin; arista with short pubescence, longest hairs (on dorsal surface) 1.3–1.5× diameter of aristal base. Prementum short (not longer than depth of gena) and not swollen. Palpi slender. Occiput with an extra row of setulae below upper postocular setae.

Thorax: 2+3 dc; 3(-4) pairs of presutural acr (anterior pairs longest), rows close together, acr:dc ratio 10:4:10; 1+1 posthumerals; notopleural depression bare apart from two long setae; prealar 0.5–0.7× length of posterior npl and slightly finer (specimens from Kenya with prealar short and fine, 0.2× length of posterior npl); scutellum with its dorsal surface largely bare (only about 2–6 setulae on disc laterally within area bound by basal and subapical scutellars; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setulae; proepisternal depression bare; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior seta nearly as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with rather strong marginal spinules (those between costal breaks about 1.5–2 times as long as C width, with pair before distal break more than twice as long; lower crossvein straight, joining M₁₊₂ rectangularly to slightly oblique; last section of M₁₊₂ 1.8–1.9× length of preceding section. Lower squama not projecting beyond upper. Wing length 4.5–5.0 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with row of 4–6 pv on basal half (basal av short and weak); hind femur with complete row of av, only 1–2 pv apically; fore tibia with a small ad and a slightly longer pv, no blunt pv apical; mid tibia with 1 ad, 1 pd, 2 p/pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 0–1 pv; mid tarsomere 1 without outstanding dorsal setulae. Pulvilli on fore legs nearly as long as tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About 2.2–2.3 times as long as greatest width at hind margin of tergite III, dorsoventrally compressed, tergites III and IV short and posteriorly excavated, separated from each other and from tergites II and V by wide areas of flexible intersegmental cuticle; ssternite III (Fig. 52) longer than wide (about 2.5–3.0 times as long as wide), with hind margin expanded slightly and bearing long setae (longer than length of sternite); these setae are slender with fine curved tips, and are longer laterally, being much shorter medially and tending to form two groups. (Note: these setae may be either flattened against sternite, when they are sometimes difficult to see, or else erect and projecting vertically at right angles from sternite, probably associated with pheromone dispersal during courtship; see Figs 70, 71.) Sternite IV (Fig. 52) wide with only short setulae, in lateral view tips reaching past hind margin of tergite IV; sternite V processes (Fig. 52) with lateral setae becoming longer distally where they are much longer than length of processes; inner margins of processes with only fine hairs. Surstyli in caudal view (Fig. 50) expanded medially, becoming slender in apical third; in lateral view (Fig. 51) slightly sinuate. cercal plate short and wide (1.2 times as long as wide), with rounded apical margin bearing 6–8 setae which are not as long as cercal plate. Pregonite bearing 2 short setae on distal margin; postgonite triangular without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Fig. 55) about 1.5× length of aedeagal apodeme, divided on more than distal third (0.43×) by pair of free paraphallic processes and dorsal prolongation mainly membranous. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view expanded anteriorly, excavated on dorsal surface, 2.25 times as long as greatest width. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.33× length of aedeagal apodeme.

Female.

Colour: Head dark as in male, parafacial without sheen stripe on orbits/parafacial area; frontal stripe entirely orange-brown or infuscated posteriorly. Thorax, abdomen and wing membrane as in male.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.6–1.7× their transverse width). Frontal stripe at level of middle orbital setae 1.7–1.8 times as wide as parafrontal; which widens anteriorly to about 1.3× width of postpedicel. Three pairs of orbital setae outwardly directed; 3 pairs of frontal setae, placed in a line with orbitals; crossed interfrontal setae well developed, placed at apex of frontal triangle. Prementum as in male but slightly more robust.

Thorax: Katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior seta nearly as long as upper. Wing length up to 6 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with only 1–2 pv, no av; hind femur with 3–5 av (rather short), 1–2 pv, no av; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia with 1 ad, 1 pd, 2 p/pv; hind tibia with 1–2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 1 pv.

Abdomen: Postabdomen when fully extended as long as preabdomen. Tergites VI and VII largely reduced to pairs of dorsocentral plates, continuous across dorsal surface only along posterior margins of segments where they bear rows of rather long setulae; 6th and 7th spiracles both posteriorly situated on segment VI (6th more or less at edge of tergite VI, 7th within posteroventral corners of tergite VI); sternite VIII (Fig. 46) represented by pair of short sclerites which are widely separated and converge anteriorly, bearing several setulae; sternite X rather small; cerci long and slender, extending well beyond posterior margin of sternite X by length of sternite X; 3 spermathecae of more or less equal size (about 0.03–0.04 mm).

Types of D. ventralis unknown, presumed lost.

Material examined: KENYA: Aberdare Range, 1♂ Mt Kinangop, 8000 ft, x.1934, J. Ford (BMNH); 4♂ Nyeri Track, 10500 ft, ii. 1934, F.W. Edwards (BMNH); 2♂ Mt Elgon, heath zone, 10500–11500 ft, ii. 1935, F.W. Edwards (BME Afr. Exped.) (BMNH); 1♂ Mt Elgon, Kathita R., 9900 ft, 9.vii. 1949, J.A. Riley (OUEC Exped., 1949) (BMNH). UGANDA: Ruwenzori Range: 1♂ Mt Karangora, 9900 ft, xi.1934-i.1935, F.W. Edwards; 15♂ 16♀ Namwamba Valley, 11000 ft, xii.1924–i.1935, E.G. Gibbons; 1♂ 11000–12000 ft, xii. 1934–i.1935, F.W. Edwards (BME Afr. Exped., 1935); 1♂ Bigo, 11400 ft, 20–22.vii.1952, D. S. Fletcher (Ruwenzori Exped., 1952); Mt Elgon, 1♂ Balirungi, 11200 ft, 1.viii.1952; 2♂ Bulambuli, 9500 ft, viii.1934, J. Ford; 1♀ same locality, 8.viii.1934, on Lobelia aberdarica, J. Ford; 2♀ between Butandiga & Bulambuli, 8000 ft, 7.viii.1934, J. Ford (all BMNH).

Discussion: D. ventralis was described from ‘7♂ and several ♀’, from the bamboo forest at 2870 m on Mount Kenya. Stein states in the original description that sternite II [= sternite III] is elongated and armed on the posterior margin, with a row of long erect hairs pointing downwards. Emden (1951: 362) drew attention to these ventral setae, and figured the abdomen of a male of the species he recognised as ventralis. The type material of ventralis was collected on an expedition to East Africa by Ch. Alluaud and R. Jeannel (from 1911–12) (Stein 1914). No mention is made in the publication of the deposition of any of the material collected; presumably it is in Paris. I have been unable to locate it, and Dr A.C. Pont, who has visited the MNHN, informs me it is not there; nor are there any syntypes amongst material from Stein's collection in ZMHU.

The material of D. ventralis in the BMNH (identified mainly by Emden) consists of two closely related species, both having long setae on sternite III. They are separated in the male sex mainly by the nature and length of these setae, and also those on sternite V. Following the figure of the abdomen in Emden (1951) I have applied the name ventralis to this species (longer setae), and have named the other (shorter setae) as pseudoventralis sp. n. It should be noted that the species renamed as steiniella by Emden also has long setae on sternite III in the male; this species has differently shaped surstyli, and more distinct vittae on the scutum. Emden (1951: 362) lists a record of “ventralis” from Natal, Weenen, H.P. Thomasset (in BMNH). I have been unable to find this specimen, but it is probably the species described in this paper as D. ismayi sp. n. Other specimens of ismayi from S. Africa have also been named “ventralis” by Emden, and I have seen no specimens of ventralis further south than Kenya and Uganda, though it may well occur in Tanzania.

Drew (1963: 249) listed “Hylemya ventralis (Stein)” as a North American species first described as Chortophila ventralis by Stein (1914). This is incorrect. The North American species was first described as Hylemyia ventralis by Stein in 1920. Currently the North American (and Japanese) species is known by the subsequent name Delia pectinor Suwa (1984) to avoid secondary homonymy. It has no relevance to the present Afrotropical species (see Griffiths 1993: 1447).

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: D. ventralis appears to be confined to Equatorial Africa; all of the material I have seen is from Uganda and Kenya, generally at high altitudes, ranging from 2438 to 3658 m. D. ventralis occurs in Kenya on Mt Elgon, Mt Kenya (type locality), and the Aberdares. D. pseudoventralis sp. n. also occurs on all these ranges. However, D. ventralis is the only one of these two species recorded from the far west of Uganda in the Ruwenzori Range.

Etymology: The specific name pseudoventralis is derived from the Greek pseudo- (false), and indicating its close relationship with D. ventralis.

Diagnosis:

♂ Compared with D. ventralis: Sternite III (Fig. 58) with setae on posterior margin shorter (tips not reaching past posterior margin of sternite), these setae not shorter medially; sternite V processes (Fig. 58) with shorter apical setae.

Description:

Male.

Apart from the chaetotaxy of the male abdominal sternites, this species is very similar to D. ventralis. Only a few small differences have been noted. Most of the material I have examined is now 70 years old, and in poor condition. More recent material from the Teleki Valley in Kenya (4.ii.1979) is distinguishable from both ventralis and pseudoventralis in colour and other small characters, but as the male abdominal sternal chaetotaxy is the same as the other specimens I identify them as pseudoventralis, but exclude these specimens from the type series of pseudoventralis.

D. pseudoventralis males differ from ventralis as follows:

Head: Eyes slightly more separated at narrowest point on frons (by about 1.5× diameter of anterior ocellus), so that frontal stripe very narrow, but not linear.

Thorax: Prealar seta shorter, only 0.2× length of posterior npl.

Wing: Last section Of M₁₊₂ 1.6–1.7× length of preceding section (ventralis 1.8–1.9×).

Legs: Mid tarsomere 1 with some longer dorsal setulae, especially in basal half where they are fully as long as depth of metatarsus and semi-erect.

Abdomen: Tergites III and IV short and posteriorly excavated, separated from each other and from tergites II and V by wide areas of flexible intersegmental cuticle; sternite III (Fig. 58) without posterior margin as expanded as in ventralis, bearing rather more robust setae without fine curling tips of ventralis, these setae not tending to be divided into two lateral groups and median setae longest, though not reaching past posterior margin of sternite IV. (As mentioned under ventralis, these setae are erectile and may be adpressed against the sternites, or erected at right angles to the plane of the sternites; both conditions can be found in dried specimens; see Figs 70, 71.) Sternite V (Fig. 58) has distal lateral setae shorter than ventralis, not longer than length of processes. Cercal plate and surstyli (Figs 56, 57) not significantly different from D. ventralis.

Holotype: ♂ KENYA: ‘Holotype’ [circular white label with red perimeter]; ‘KENYA / Aberdare Range / x. 1934 / B.M.E. Afr. Exp. / B.M. 1935–203’ [rectangular white printed label]; ‘NYERI TRACK / 10,500–11000 ft, / J. Ford’ [rectangular white printed label]; ‘HOLOTYPE ♂ / Delia pseudoventralis /D. M. Ackland’ [white rectangular printed label with red perimeter] (BMNH). In reasonable condition.

Paratypes (all BMNH): KENYA: Mt Elgon: 9♂ heath zone, 10500–11500 ft, ii.1935, F.W. Edwards (B.M.E. Afr. Exped. B.M. 1935–203); 1♂ alpine zone, 12000–13000 ft, F.W. Edwards. Aberdare Range: 4♂ Nyeri Track, 10500–11000 ft, 28.x. 1934, J. Ford (BME Afr. Exped., 1935–203); 3♂ same data, F.W. Edwards. Mt Kenya: 2♂ Kathita R., 9900 ft, 9.Vii.1949, J.A. Riley.

Other material examined: KENYA: 3♂ 2 ♀ Teleki Valley, 4.ii. 1979, on Senecio brassica, A. Smith; Aberdare Range: 7 ♀ Nyeri Track, 10000–11000 ft, x.1934, J. Ford (all BMNH).

Discussion: The males from the Teleki Valley in Kenya are much darker than from other material from Kenya; head and thorax dark brown to black, scutal vittae indistinct, frontal stripe and parafacials velvety black, wing base membrane more infuscated, prealar longer, dorsal surface of mid metatarsus with longer setulae, legs with longer setulae and hairs. As the sternal chaetotaxy is identical to the other material of pseudoventralis, these differences may not be significant. The two females caught at the same time as the males are not distinguishable from ventralis.

Life History: Unknown.

Distribution: Appears to be restricted to the mountains of Kenya; the specimens from the Teleki Valley in northern Kenya (Turkana) may represent a distinct species.

Hylemyia trivittata Stein, 1914: 132. Secondary junior homonym of Pegomya trivittata Stein 1898: 246, teste Huckett 1924: 35.

“Hylemyia ventralis Stein”: Malloch 1924b: 264.

“Hylemyia virgithorax Stein”: Emden 1941a: 212, 214; 1941b: 266.

Hylemyia steiniella Emden, 1951: 363. Replacement name for Hylemyia trivittata Stein, 1914, not Stein 1898.

Delia steiniella (Emden): Pont & Ackland 1980: 717.

Diagnosis:

♂ Mid tibia without an av; prealar seta distinct, about half length of posterior npl; sternite III (Fig. 65) with erectile fan of long setae on posterior margin; surstylus (Fig. 63) not abruptly narrowed in distal third. Scutum with 3 distinct brown vittae.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials and genae black with silvery grey dusting; face and occiput black with silvery grey dusting. Antennae entirely black. Palpi black. Prementum black, thinly greyish dusted. Thorax greyish dusted; scutellum with 3 wide dark brownish vittae, median vitta from slightly to considerably wider than distance between presutural acr rows, continuing on to scutellum where it reaches tip; two wide lateral vittae commencing at 1st presutural dc and becoming wider postsuturally where it is wider than distance between intra-alar and 2nd postsutural dc; pleura grey dusted with shifting brownish patches. Abdomen viewed from behind light grey dusted with dark brown to blackish median vitta which widens out across posterior margins of tergites; sternites black with greyish dust; pregenital sclerite and hypopygium grey dusted. Wing membrane faintly greyish brown tinged; wing bases slightly brownish; squamae whitish with pale yellow border and fringe; halteres pale yellow. Legs entirely blackish with grey dust.

Head: Eyes with very sparse short hairs (only visible under high magnification), separated at narrowest point by about half diameter of anterior ocellus; frontal stripe narrow posteriorly; peristomal margin in lateral view not projecting beyond level of parafrontal angle; face not constricted ventrally (vibrissae separated by more than shortest distance from eye margin); 5–6 pairs of parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; interfrontal setae short and fine; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.2× eye height; genal setae partly biserial. Postpedicel about twice as long as wide, apex not quite reaching peristomal margin; arista pubescent, longest hairs on dorsal surface near base about twice as long as diameter of slightly swollen base. Palpi slender. Prementum short. Occiput with numerous setulose hairs below occipital row.

Thorax: 3 pairs of presutural acr (middle pair longest), without hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:6:10; 1+1 posthumerals; notopleural depression bare, apart from two long setae; prealar seta only about 0.5× length of posterior npl and finer; scutellum with its dorsal surface largely bare medially, only 6–8 fine setulae inside of line between basal and subapical setae; 2 unequal proepisternals, 1 long proepimeral with 2–4 associated hairs; anepisternite without seta on its anterodorsal corner; proepisternal depression bare; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior seta nearly as long as upper. Wing: Vein C with short anterior spinules (those between breaks not longer than vein width, with pair before distal break hardly twice as long, lower surface largely bare, at most a few setulae basally; lower crossvein almost straight, joining M₁₊₂ slightly obliquely; last section of M₁₊₂ 1.7× length of penultimate section; lower squama smaller than upper. Wing length <6 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 6pv in proximal half, 5 shorter distal pv, 2 p preapicals; hind femur with 7 av in distal half, no developed pv; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia with 1 ad, 1 pd, 2 p or pv; hind tibia with 3 strong av, 5 ad, 3 pd and 4–5 median pv; mid tarsomere 1 without developed dorsal setulae. Pulvilli of fore legs almost as long as tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About as long as thorax, more or less parallel-sided and dorsoventrally compressed, hind marginal setae long and strong, placed some distance from posterior margins of tergites; tergites III and IV short and posteriorly excavated, separated from each other and from tergites II and V by wide areas of flexible intersegmental cuticle; sternite III (Fig. 65) longer than wide, (23–24x), with group of long multiserial setae on posterior margins, these setae when adpressed against sternite IV reach just past posterior margin of that sternite, and have fine tips; sternite IV (Fig. 65) more or less quadrilateral and bearing only short fine setae; sternite V processes (Fig. 65) about as long as basal part with lateral setae short and not becoming longer apically. Surstyli (Fig. 63) similar to D. ventralis, but inner margins less sinuate and distal third wider and not abruptly narrower but tapering, in lateral view (Fig. 64) also less sinuate. Cercal plate (Fig. 63) 1.5 times as long as wide, heart-shaped with narrowly rounded apical margin, bearing a few longer setae which are not however as long as cercal plate. Pregonite (Fig. 67) not much longer than wide, with two short setulae on distal margin; postgonite triangular without seta. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 68, 69) almost twice (1.9×) as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided on distal half into pair of free paraphallic processes, dorsal prolongation membranous. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view slightly expanded and excavated, 2.8 times as long as wide. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.45× length of aedeagal apodeme, expanded at one end.

Female.

Colour: Dark as in male, with dense greyish dust; frontal stripe mainly black, but orange-brown in front, parafrontals grey dusted with inner margins infuscated, setae arising from brownish spots; parafrontals without sheen stripe. Thorax black in ground colour with grey dust; scutum with three wide brown vittae, median one extending beyond presutural acr and reaching tip of scutellum, lateral vitta reaching laterally to level of prealar seta. Wing membrane greyish with pale brownish base.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.5× their transverse width). Frontal stripe at level of middle orbital setae twice as wide as each orbit. Parafrontals widening anteriorly to about width of postpedicel. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (anterior exclinate, posterior two setae reclinate) and 2–3 pairs of (inclinate) frontal setae, anterior pair much shorter; crossed interfrontal setae well developed. Prementum 0.36 times as long as head height.

Thorax: 3 pairs of presutural acr, middle pair longer and stronger than others, without hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:9:10; prealar seta rather fine, but 0.5× length of posterior npl; katepisternals 1+1.

Wing: Vein C with marginal spinules between breaks as long as vein width, or slightly longer, with longest of pair before distal break 1.5 times as long as small crossvein, with ventral surface between breaks with a few setulae; lower crossvein more or less straight, last section of M₁₊₂ is 1.6× length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller than upper. Wing length 5.5–6.0 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 4 av and 1–2 very short pv; hind femur with 6 av in distal 2/3, no pv; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia with 1 very long and strong ad, 1 shorter pd, 2 p or pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4–5 ad, 3 pd, no pv.

Abdomen: The postabdomen differs from D. ventralis Stein as follows: sclerites of sternite VIII (Fig. 47) largely separated by membrane, only joined on posterior margin, each bearing about 5 setulae in more than one row; sternite X with two longer setulae on lateral margins; cerci shorter than ventralis, with longer setulae.

Syntypes of Hylemyia trivittata Stein, 1914: KENYA: 49 Kijabé, in the Kikuyu escarpment, 2100 m, sta. 27, xii.1911. TANZANIA: 2♂ Kilimandjaro, upper margin of forest, near Bismarckhügel, 2700 m, iv. 1911. All specimens apparently destroyed.

Other material examined: ETHIOPIA: 1♂ Mt Zuquala [Zukwala], c.9000 ft, 22.x. 1926, J. Omer Cooper (BMNH); 1♀ Djem-Djem Forest, nearly 9000 ft, 24.ix.1926, H. Scott (BMNH); 1♂ [no locality] 38°31′E:9°03′N, alt. 2390 m, 15.viii. 1938, Adugna, H. Coll., ex wheat (BMNH); 1 ♀ same data, 10.viii.1983, ex Setaria (BMNH); 2♂ 6♀ Sinana, 40°E:7°N, 2400 m, 5.xi.2002, ex wheat, J. Tafa; 1♀ same locality, 18.xi.2002, ex barley (1♂ 1♀ in DMA, rest returned to Nairobi). KENYA: 3♂ north of Mt Kenya, 6500–7250 ft, 19–20.ii. 1911, T.J. Anderson, det. Hylemyia ventralis Stein by J.R. Malloch, det. Hylemyia virgithorax Stein by Emden, 1940 (BMNH); 1♂ Aberdare Range, Mt Kinangop, 9000 ft, 1.xi.1934, F.W. Edwards (BMNH); 1♂ Muguga, nr Nairobi, 6–12.i.1969, M.C. Birch (DMA); 3♂ Ruiru, 12.i.1969, at light, M.C. Birch (DMA). UGANDA: 1♀ Mt Elgon, Bulambuli, 9500 ft, viii.1934, J. Ford (BMNH).

Discussion: H. trivittata Stein was described from 4 ♀ and 2♂ from Kenya and Tanzania. The type material of this species appears to be lost (see under D. ventralis). Emden (1941a: 214) listed this species under the name “Hylemyia virgithorax Stein, 1913.” In 1951 (Emden 1951: 363) he was able to examine a female type of H. virgithorax and concluded that it was a species he had not previously seen (prealar seta absent and acr absent except towards scutellum). He accordingly supplied the replacement name ‘steiniella’ for trivittata Stein, 1914. The female of steiniella has a distinct prealar seta, and several presutural acr; occiput with numerous setulose hairs below upper postocular row.

According to the ICZN (1999), Article 59.3 states: “A junior secondary homonym replaced before 1961 is permanently invalid unless the substitute name is not in use and the relevant taxa are no longer considered congeneric”. As the name steiniella Emden was used in the Afrotropical Catalogue (Pont & Ackland 1980:717), I interpret therefrom that trivittata Stein, 1914 is to be permanently rejected.

Syntypes of Pegomyia trivittata Stein (1898) have been examined by G. Griffiths (in litt.), who confirms that this species belongs to Botanophila in the current wide sense (or Pegohylemyia if this is broken down) and has been correctly interpreted in the North American literature.

Life history: D. steiniella has been bred from wheat and barley in Ethiopia, according to labels on specimens sent to me by Dr Maxwell Billah, Nairobi.

Distribution: Appears to be restricted to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda; also Tanzania (original description), material not seen.

Hylemyia kigeziana Emden, 1941b: 266; 1951: 360.

Delia kigeziana (Emden): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Genal setae biserial; upper occipital setulae long and fine, with numerous setulae below row; abdomen long and narrow; sternite V processes (Fig. 74) longer than base with very long lateral setae which have curling tips (longest nearly twice as long as processes).

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face black in ground colour, with greyish dusting which varies from light grey to dark grey depending on point of view; parafacial at level of aristal base, when viewed from directly in front, dark grey, contrasting with light grey dusted interfrontalia, genae and face; occiput dark grey. Antennae black, arista black. Palpi brownish black; prementum of proboscis black, thinly dusted. Thorax black in ground colour, with fairly dense shifting brownish grey dusting, pleura slightly shining in places; with 3–5 darker brown vittae which when viewed from in front with wide median vitta (wider than acr rows), two narrow vittae along dc rows (setae arising from dark spots), and two wide diffused lateral vittae; viewed from behind these vittae are more distinct as grey dusting between vittae is more paler and distinct; scutellum with trace of median brown vitta. Wing membrane very faintly brownish, base more brownish; veins brown; squamae whitish, fringe pale. Legs brown, thinly grey dusted, slightly shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, grey dusted when viewed from behind, with distinct wide black vitta (more than half width of abdomen) extending across anterior margins of tergites; tergites are partly shining from certain viewpoints. Prehypopygial tergites grey dusted.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by diameter of anterior ocellus), frontal stripe at narrowest part half diameter of anterior ocellus); parafacial at level of arista slightly less than width of postpedicel, but becoming half this width below; peristomal margin hardly projecting, gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.25× eye height; face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae more than distance between them and nearest eye margin; 4–5 pairs of parafrontal setae; 1 pair of fine interfrontal setulae of upper half of frons; genal setae biserial (1–3 upturned setae anteriorly above proclinate lower row). Postpedicel twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin (by 1/3 its width); arista pubescent, longest hairs slightly longer than basal aristal diameter. Proboscis short and slender, with short prementum (not as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia). Upper occipital setulae long and fine, with numerous setulae below row.

Thorax: 6 pairs of presutural acr, longest pair about half length of 1st presutural dc; acr:dc ratio 10:3:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar varying from half length of posterior npl, to absent in some specimens; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2(3), lower posterior nearly as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules as long as diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break at least twice this length, longer than small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein almost straight, last section of M₁₊₂1.6–1.7× length of preceding section. Lower squama shorter than upper and smaller in area. Wing length 5.5–5.7 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 4 long pv in proximal half; hind femur with 5–6 long av on whole length (slightly longer than depth of femur, without curling tips), about 2–3 pv towards apex; fore tibia without pv apical, 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia without av, 0–1 ad, 1 pd at same level, 2 pv; mid tarsomere 1 with some slightly lengthened setae on dorsal surface (all same length, not fringe of long curved setae as in metatarsata); anterior and posterior setae on each mid tarsomere short and of equal length; hind tibia with 2–3 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 3 pv in basal half. Pulvilli of fore legs slightly shorter than tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: Long and narrow, 3.5 times as long as greatest width, parallel-sided from tergites II to V, dorsoventrally compressed; sternite V somewhat projecting in lateral view; sternite III is 1.7 times as long as wide; sternite IV is 1.4 times as long as wide; both sternites III and IV (Fig. 74) with short discal and lateral setae; sternite V processes (Fig. 74) longer than base, with a few fine setulae on inner margins, lateral setae very long, with curling tips (longest nearly twice as long as processes, and very visible in dried specimens). Surstyli twice length of cercal plate (Fig. 72), in caudal view (Fig. 72) apical half narrower, inner margins sinuate, clothed with short setulae and hairs medially, in lateral view (Fig. 73) more or less straight, slightly sinuate apically. Cercal plate 1.2 times longer than wide, heart-shaped, apex rounded, bearing a few short setae apically. Pregonite (Fig. 75) becomes narrower apically, with 2 setae; postgonite without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 76, 77) 1.4× length of aedeagal apodeme, divided into pair of short free paraphallic processes, dorsal prolongation slightly shorter. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view 2.5 times as long as greatest width, excavated on dorsal surface. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.3× length of aedeagal apodeme, expanded at one end.

Female.

Colour: More densely grey dusted than male. Head dark in ground colour, with dense brownish grey dust, less shifting than in male; frontal stripe varying from entirely dark brown to orange-brown in anterior half; parafacials at level of antennal base without shifting darker sheen-stripe or darker dusting; parafrontals darker on inner margins (along orbital setae); genae with brownish patch anteriorly close to vibrissa; occiput grey dusted; prementum thinly dusted, palpi dark brown. Thorax rather densely olivegrey dusted, with 3–5 vittae (as in male), those along dc more or less restricted to darker spots at bases of setae. Scutellum with brown median vitta (continuation of scutal median vitta as in male). Wing membrane tinged brownish grey, veins brown. Legs brownish black. Abdomen dark in ground colour, with wide median vitta (not as wide as in male).

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.6–1.7× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal; parafrontals widening anteriorly to width of postpedicel. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (all more or less exclinate), and 3 pairs of inclinate frontals, all in line; crossed interfrontal setae strong, placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.5× eye height; genal setae uniserial. Proboscis relatively small and thin (as in male), prementum as long as palpi.

Thorax: acr shorter and finer than in male (hardly differentiated from accessory setulae and hairs); acr:dc ratio 10:2:10; 1+1 posthumerals; katepisternals 1+1 (sometimes short hair present below posterior seta). Prealar seta shorter than in male, sometimes completely absent.

Wing: Vein C with moderately long marginal spinules (twice as long as diameter of C), stronger pair before distal break equal to or longer than length of small crossvein; large crossvein straight, last section Of M₁₊₂ nearly twice (1.85×) length of preceding section. Wing length 4.5 mm.

Legs: Hind femur with 6 av (4 in distal half), and 1–2 apical pv; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia without av, 1 long ad and 1 slightly shorter pd at same level, 1–2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd (distal one longest), 2 erect pv in basal half.

Abdomen: Postabdomen when fully extended about as long as preabdomen. Very similar to D. bracata Rond., differing only as follows: sclerites of sternite VIII (Fig. 48) each with 3–4 setulae on posterior margin; sternite X more robust and posterior margin more rounded.

Lectotype (examined): ♂ ‘LECTOTYPE’ [white circular printed label with purple border]; ‘S. W. UGANDA / Kigezi Province / xi. 1934 / B.M.E. Afr. Exp. / B. M. 1935–203’ [rectangular printed white label]; ‘Summit of / Mt Sabinio / 11–11500 ft / J. Ford’ [rectangular printed white label] (BMNH). Lectotype fixed by Emden (1951: 361). In reasonable condition, with left hind tarsus missing.

Paralectotypes (all BMNH): UGANDA: 14♂ 5 ♀ Kigezi Prov., Mt Sabinio, alt. 11000–11500 ft, xi.1934, J. Ford; 15♂4♀ Kigezi Dist., Mt Mgahinga, alt. 10000–11000 ft, xi.1934, F.W. Edwards;1♂ 1♀ same locality, alt. 8000 ft, 20.xi.1934, F.W. Edwards; 7♂ 5 ♀ same locality, alt. 11000 ft, 22.xi.1934. F.W. Edwards; 1♀ Mt Muhavura, 13500 ft, xi.1934, J. Ford; 1♂ 1♀ Kigezi Dist., Mt Muhavura, alt. 10000–12000 ft, 20.xi.1934, F.W. Edwards; 1♂ Kigezi Dist., Kanaba, alt. 7800 ft, xi.1934, F.W. Edwards.

Discussion: Emden (1951: 36) listed 1♂ type, 43♂ and 22♀ paratypes of D. kigeziana making a total of 66 specimens; I have only found 1♂ lectotype, 39♂ and 18 ♀ paralectotypes, making a total of 58 specimens. The whereabouts of the other types is unknown. D. kigeziana are apparently known only from the original material.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: S.W. Uganda, at altitudes 2377–4115 m.

Etymology: The specific name tibila refers to the type locality ‘Tibila’ and is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis:

♂ Genal setae biserial; arista long pubescent, total width of hairing half width of postpedicel; 3 pairs of presutural acr; scutellum with 8–12 hairs on disc; vein C with robust anterior spicules, 1.5 times as long as diameter of vein; mid tibia without av or ad setae; hind tibia with 3–4 av; sternite V with long posterior lateral setae. Genitalia: paraphalli long and undulating in lateral view.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face black in ground colour, with light to dark grey dusting, viewed from in front parafrontals, parafacials and interfrontalia matt sooty black, from a lower angle frontal stripe and face become light greyish white dusted, contrasting with rest of head; from above parafrontals and parafacials are light grey; parafacial at level of aristal base without shifting sheenstripe; occiput black with grey dust. Antennae entirely matt black. Palpi dark brown; prementum of proboscis dark brown, thinly dusted. Thorax black or dark brown in ground colour, with varying amounts of grey-brown dusting, pleura with shifting semishining patches; scutum with very indistinct brown vittae and grey shifting patches; viewed from behind median and lateral vittae are more distinct, lateral declivities grey dusted; scutellum as scutum, basal corners brown. Wing membrane brownish tinged, base of wing not significantly darker; veins brown; squamae creamy white, fringe white. Halteres pale yellow. Legs black, thinly dusted and slightly shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, viewed from above with shining black and dusted grey areas, from behind densely grey dusted with black median vitta (on tergite II slightly wider than hind tibia, on tergites III and IV becoming wider, on tergite V covering most of tergite except for grey dusted anterior lateral areas. Prehypopygial tergites black, thinly dusted, semi-shining; sternite V processes brown with reddish tinge.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by diameter of anterior ocellus or slightly less), frontal stripe linear at narrowest part; parafacial at level of arista equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin not projecting, face slightly concave, distance between vibrissal setae more than distance between them and nearest eye margin. Gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.30–0.35× eye height; 6–7 pairs of frontal setae; 1 pair of fine interfrontal setulae on upper half of frons, closer to uppermost pair of frontal setae than to anterior ocellus; anterior genal setae biserial (4–5 upturned setae immediately posterior to subvibrissal setae); postpedicel twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin (by 0.25× its width); arista long pubescent, longest hairs (on dorsal surface) twice length of basal aristal diameter, total width of hairing about half width of postpedicel. Proboscis with prementum slightly longer than palpi and as wide as postpedicel. Upper occipital setulae moderately long, with short row of setulae below row.

Thorax: 3 pairs of presutural acr, middle pair longer than others (2/3 length of 1st presutural dc), biserial, without hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:6:10; 3 posthumeral setae, outer seta short and fine (about 1/3 length of posterior posthumeral and much thinner, with 4–5 associated hairs; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar very small or absent (represented by fine setula which is only slightly differentiated from scutal accessory hairs; scutellum with about 12 hairs on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; 2 proepisternal setae, one is half length of other, without hairs; 1 proepimeral seta, with 5–6 associated hairs; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior nearly as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules robust, 1.5 times as long as diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break as long as small crossvein, or slightly longer; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.8–1.9× length of preceding section. Lower squama not quite as large as upper. Wing length 5.5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 4 erect robust pv in proximal half (longest 1.5× depth of femur); hind femur with about 5 av in distal half, only 2–3 preapical, short blunt (? sometimes pointed) seta is present ventrally at extreme base of femur and only half as long as depth of femur; fore tibia with short pointed apical pv, 2pv; mid tibia without av or ad, 1 pd, 1(2) pv, all very short, anterior surface of tibia with numerous semi-erect setulae and hairs which are as long as diameter of tibia; mid tarsomere 1 without lengthened dorsal setae or fringe; hind tibia with 3 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 5–6 short pv on proximal 3/4. Pulvilli of fore legs as long as tarsomere 5.

Abdomen: About 2.7 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of sternite III), dorsoventrally compressed. Tergites III–V with long hindmarginal setae (about as long as tergites), those on tergites II–IV separated from actual margin by width of hind tibia. Sternite VI (Fig. 80) narrower than IV (1.5 times longer than wide); sternite IV (Fig. 80) wider than long (0.7 times longer than wide) with group of 7–8 long setae on each posterior corner, which reach to tip of processes of sternite V; sternite V processes (Fig. 80) shorter than base, with numerous lateral setae not longer than processes. Surstyli (Fig. 78) twice as long as length of cercal plate, in caudal view (Fig. 78) wider basally, then abruptly narrowing in distal third, in lateral view (Fig. 79) sinuate. Cercal plate (Fig. 78) 1.7–1.8 times longer than wide, rounded apically, bearing a few short setae which are not longer than cercal plate. Pregonite (Fig. 81) longer than wide, with 2 short distal setae; postgonite (Fig. 81) triangular with or without minute setula on ventro-apical corner. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 82, 83) slightly more than twice as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided on distal half into pair of free paraphallic processes which are very slender and sinuate in lateral view, diverging in dorsal view. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme 2.25 times as long as anterior width in dorsal view, in lateral view anterior margin downturned. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.3 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, widely expanded at one end.

Female.

Colour: Dark in ground colour with shifting brown and grey dusting; frontal stripe dark brown posteriorly, orange-brown on anterior half, viewed from in front at a low angle frontal triangle is light brownish grey dusted with dark brown velvety round patch between anterior ocellus and cruciate interfrontals, and similar patch surrounding ocellar tubercle; parafrontals brassy brown dusted when viewed from above, which becomes darker brown from in front; parafacials brassy dusted; gena with darker shifting brown patch behind vibrissal area; occiput grey to brownish dusted; prementum dark brown, thinly dusted, semi-shining in parts; palpi dark brown. Thorax dark in ground colour, with shifting brownish olive to grey dusting; scutum with traces of shifting vittae and semi-shining areas, viewed from behind darker medially, two wide lateral vittae which are very indistinct, lateral declivities lighter grey dusted; pleura with weakly shining brown patches, especially on anepisternum and katepisternum. Wing membrane weakly brownish tinged, hardly darker basally; squamae white with whitish fringe. Legs dark brown, weakly dusted and semi-shining. Abdomen dark in ground colour, viewed from above tergites with many shining patches especially medially and laterally, viewed from behind distinct shining black median vitta becomes visible, anterior margin of tergite II and posterior half of tergite IV darker, otherwise greenish grey dusted.

Head: Eyes separated by 1.4–1.5× their transverse width; frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal which widen anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel; parafacial at narrowest part slightly less than width of postpedicel; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.33× eye height; frontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of exclinate orbitals, and 2 pairs of inclinate frontals (all in line); crossed interfrontals strong, placed just above middle of frontalia; 4–5 anterior genal setae immediately posterior to subvibrissal setae biserial and upwardly directed. Prementum and proboscis as in male. Upper occipital setae with scattered row of setulae below.

Thorax: 2–3 presutural setae, one pair longer than rest (half length of 1st presutural dc); notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae. Prealar seta short and fine, but distinct (1/3 to 1/2 length of posterior npl); scutellum with only 2–4 short hairs on disc; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; 2 proepisternal setae, one long, one short; one strong proepimeral seta with 2–3 associated hairs; katepisternals 1+1 (posterior seta with short hair below it).

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules strong and rather long, those on section between costal breaks about 2.5× costal diameter, pair of stronger spines before distal break nearly 1.5× length of small crossvein; large crossvein straight, last section Of M₁₊₂1.7–1.8× length of preceding section; lower squama smaller in area then upper. Wing length 4.7 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with a short av in proximal half, 2–3 short pv in proximal half; hind femur with 4–5 av in proximal half, which are not longer than greatest height of femur, only 2–3 short preapical pv; tibia with a strong ad (just below middle), a strong pv, more or less at same level (in one paratype on left leg only there is an extra pv towards apex); mid tibia without av, 1 long and strong ad, 1 pd, 2 pv; mid tibia with 2–3 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, without pv.

Abdomen: About 1.6 times as long as wide (at anterior margin of tergite III); tergites with rather short hindmarginal setae, most of them only half as long as tergites, including those on tergite V; postabdomen (Fig. 49) almost identical to D. bracata, perhaps cerci a little more slender.

Holotype: ♂ ETHIOPIA: ‘Holotype’ [circular white label with red perimeter]; ‘ETHIOPIA/Tibila/7.xi.1968/Coll. R. Kano and T. Ohse’ [rectangular white printed label]; ‘HOLOTYPE ♂ / Delia tibila /D.M. Ackland’ [rectangular red printed label]. In good condition, abdomen dissected and mounted in glycerol in a plastic tube (BMNH).

Paratypes: 2♂ 1♀ same data as holotype (BMNH).

Discussion: The absence of a sclerotized acrophallus combined with the shape of the surstyli (abruptly tapering in distal third in caudal view, with a tuft of hairs in inner margins) and longer setae on sternite IV, suggests that this species is correctly placed in the D. ventralis subsection.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Only known at present from the type locality in Ethiopia.

Hylemyia andersoni Malloch, 1924b: 262, 264; Curran 1929: 247; ?Cuthbertson 1932: 32; Emden 1941b: 266; 1951:333, 359.

Delia andersoni (Malloch): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Arista practically bare, longest hairs shorter than basal diameter; eye margins on frons almost touching; occiput below upper occipital row bare; prealar seta absent; presutural acr fine and hair-like, rows close together without hairs between rows; large crossvein almost straight; fore tibia with a short pointed pv apical seta; ad on mid tibia short or absent, only one pd seta.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face varying from blackish to orange in ground colour, with thin greyish dusting; parafacial at level of aristal base orange to blackish, viewed from above silvery white dusted, occiput dark grey. Antennae brownish black. Palpi brown; prementum of proboscis dark brown with thin grey dust, hence somewhat shining. Thorax dark in ground colour, with grey dusting, scutum viewed from behind with wide median vitta (wider than acr rows), traces of narrow dark vittae along dc rows (sometimes absent), and wider lateral vittae, all more distinct presuturally, very faint postsuturally. Scutellum with trace of brown median vitta. Abdomen dark brown in ground colour, with shining patches when viewed from above, densely greenish grey dusted when viewed from behind, with distinct wide brown median vitta (about as wide as depth of hind femur). Prehypopygial tergites grey dusted. Wing membrane pale brownish tinged in basal half; veins pale brown; squamae paler than wing base. Legs brown to orange-brown, slightly shining.

Head: Eyes separated by less than diameter of anterior ocellus, frontal stripe and parafrontals linear at narrowest point between eyes; parafacials medially 0.6–0.8× width of postpedicel; peristomal margin hardly projecting; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.20–0.22× eye height; face almost flat, distance between vibrissal setae more than distance between them and nearest eye margin; 4 pairs of parafrontal setae; 1 fine pair of interfrontal setae; genal setae uniserial anteriorly (with 1 seta placed above row). Postpedicel twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin by half its length; arista almost bare, longest hairs less than basal diameter. Prementum short (not as long as palpi) and as wide as fore tibia. Palpi slender. Occiput with upper occipital setulae moderately long and fine without setulae below row.

Thorax: Presutural acr fine and hair-like (not differentiated from accessory setulae), biserial, acr:dc ratio 10:2:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar completely absent, or sometimes fine hair is present; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2 (sometimes short hair below anterior seta), lower posterior 0.7 times as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules 1.25–1.5 times as long as diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein almost straight, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.6–1.7× length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller in area than upper. Wing length 4.25–4.5 mm.

Legs: Hind femur (Fig. 90) with 4–7 av in distal half, 1 apical pv; fore tibia with short fine pointed apical pv, and 1 ad, 1 pd, 1 pv, all short; mid tibia with very small ad (sometimes absent), only 1 pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, 1–2 short pv.

Abdomen: About 2.5 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of sternite III), parallel sided, dorsoventrally compressed; sternite IV (Fig. 86) as wide as base of sternite V, quadrilateral, with only short setulae; sternite V (Fig. 86) rather large, and projecting downwards in lateral view, processes 1.5× length of base, widened medially, with a few short fine hairs on inner margins, lateral setae (Fig. 87) not longer than processes. Surstyli (Fig. 84) 1.8–1.9× length of cercal plate, in caudal view expanded medially, then tapering and converging towards apices, inner margins sinuate, clothed with fine hairs, in lateral view (Fig. 85) slender, angled basally, apical half with expanded flange on posterior margin. Cercal plate (Fig. 84) heart-shaped, 1.2× longer than wide, narrowly heart-shaped, apex pointed, bearing a few short setae. Pregonite with 2 setae; postgonite triangular without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 88, 89) 2.5 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, without free paraphallic processes; in lateral view extremely slender, apically membranous and bearing 8–12 spicules. Aedeagal apodeme slender in lateral view, in dorsal view 2.6 times as long as greatest width, constricted medially, distal end joining phallophore rather wide. Ejaculatory apodeme half as long as aedeagal apodeme, long and slender.

Female. Similar to male, except for the following:

Colour: Parafrontals grey dusted but darkened brown between orbital setae row and eye margin; gena with shifting darker patch on anterior half which in certain lights reaches from eye margin to vibrissal seta; anepisternite with suffused brownish patch anteriorly; scutum more distinctly 5-vittate than male, dc lying on distinct narrow vitta and arising from dark spots; abdomen with distinct brown median vitta, wider basally on tergites forming triangles, bordered by shifting grey dust, especially when viewed from behind; vitta on tergite V not reaching posterior margin. Head: eyes widely separated by 1.5–1.6× their transverse width; frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal; parafacial widening anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel; parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (all more or less exclinate), and 2 pairs of frontal setae; crossed interfrontals strong, and placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.35× eye height.

Thorax: acr very fine and short (as in male); katepisternals 1+1; prealar seta absent, or in some specimens represented by short setula. Wing length 4.5 mm.

Legs: All setae stronger and longer than in male. Hind femur with 3–4 av in distal half, 1 preapical pv; fore tibia with 1 av and 1 pv; mid tibia with 1 long and strong ad, a slightly shorter pd at same level, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, no pv hairs or setulae.

Abdomen: Slightly longer than thorax (1.15×), dorsoventrally compressed, viewed from above widest at anterior margin of tergite II where it is half as wide as long; hind marginal setae on tergites short and weak (not longer than half length of each tergite), and not erect. Postabdomen (Fig. 99) practically identical to D. bracata.

Holotype: ♂ ‘Holotype’ [circular label with red perimeter]; ‘N. of Mt Kenia / 8,300 ft / 18.2.11 / Brit. E. Africa’ [rectangular white label]; ‘T. J. Anderson’ [rectangular white label]; ‘Pres, by Inst. Bur. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1924–242’ [rectangular white label]; ‘Hylemyia andersoni / det. J. R. Malloch, Type’ [rectangular white label with black perimeter] (BMNH). Holotype in good condition, but antennae missing (as noted by Malloch), also right mid and hind legs missing.

Other material examined: ETHIOPIA: 1♂ Addis Ababa, Entotto, alt. 3000 m, 17.x. 1968, R. Kano & T. Ohse (DMA). KENYA: 2♂ 1♀ Aberdare Range, Nyeri Track, alt. 10500 ft, 28.x. 1934, J. Ford (BMNH); 1♂ Aberdare Range, Mt Kinangop (1°05′N:34°40′E), alt. 10000 ft, 26.x. 1934, F.W. Edwards (BMNH); 1♂ 13♀ Mt Elgon, alt. 10250 ft, 24–25.U972, C.F. Huggins (BMNH); 1♀ Chyulu Hills, Tsavo West Nat. Park, 24–26.ix.1971, C.F. Dewhurst (BMNH); 1♂ Muguga, nr Nairobi, 6–12.i. 1969, M.C. Birch (DMA); UGANDA: 1♂ Imatong Mts, alt. 10000 ft, ii. 1936, D.R. Buxton (BMNH); 1♂ Mt Elgon, between Butandiga & Bulambuli, alt. 8000 ft, 7.viii.1934, J. Ford (BMNH).

Life history: Cuthbertson (1932: 32) reported the occurrence of D. andersoni in Zimbabwe “collected in cattle kraals, vleis etc., at Salisbury, Gatooma and Balla Balla during the wet season. Larvae were found in some stems of rapoko (a cercal), Eleusine coracana, sent from Domboshava Mission in March, 1932”. There is a female of D.flavibasis in the BMNH with the following labels “1♀ Domboshava, iii.1932, larvae in stems of rapoko (Eleuscine coracana) with larvae of Hylemyia andersoni Mall., det. Hylemyia arambourgi Ség. by Emden, 1940.” I have not been able to trace any other material from this locality, and more evidence is required before this record can be accepted.

Distribution: D. andersoni is only known from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda. Curran (1929: 247) recorded this species from Kivu, Belgian Congo, now Democratic Republic of the Congo, but this record needs confirmation.

Etymology: The specific name endorsina is an anagram of andersoni and indicates its close relationship with D. andersoni.

Diagnosis:

♂ Similar to D. andersoni and only reliably separated by examination of the genitalia.

Description:

Male.

Differs from D. andersoni as follows: mid tibia with distinct ad, pd, and 2pv; these are not very long, but in the material available they are stronger than the setae (when present) on the mid tibia in D. andersoni. Surstyli (Figs 91, 92) longer in proportion to length of cercal plate, length from the apex of the cercal plate to apex of surstyli is 2.2–2.4× length of cercal plate (in andersoni 1.76–1.86x); distal section of aedeagus (Figs 96, 97) bearing long paraphalli (absent in andersoni) which reach slightly beyond apex of distal section, and which are (in ventral view) strongly diverging, spines of the distal section beginning medially and ending well before the apex. Wing length 4.5 mm.

Female.

Head: As in the female of andersoni the setae on mid tibia are much stronger than in the male; 2 of the 3 ♀ paratypes of endorsina differ from the ♀ of andersoni in having a small but distinct prealar seta, darker and more distinct scutal stripes, the median one wider, especially its continuation onto the scutellum; frontal stripe darker, including the frontal triangle (which is not so clearly delineated), and the inner half of the parafrontals, the dusting being brassy brown. Wing length 5 mm.

Holotype: ♂ MALAWI: ‘Nyika National Park / 2.iii.1987, 2607 m / J. & A. Londt, Nganda / summitgrassveld’ (NMSA).

Paratypes: 1♂ 3 ♀ same data as holotype (NMSA).

Discussion: D. endorsina differs from andersoni mainly in the structure of the distiphallus, which has two long narrow paraphalli (absent in andersoni); the denticles on the distiphallus end below the dorsal prolongation, ending well before the tips of the paraphalli.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality in Malawi.

Hylemyia bisciliata Emden 1941b: 266; 1951: 358.

Delia bisciliata (Emden): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ Peristomal margin projecting beyond level of insertion of vibrissal setae; genal setae uniserial; prealar seta about 0.5 times as long as posterior npl; fore tibia with short blunt pv apical spur; hind tibia with full row of 10–12 av, 6 ad, 3–4 pd and about 12 pv which are partly biserial.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontalia, genae and face black in ground colour, with dark grey dusting which shifts according to angle of vision; head viewed from above with matt velvety black frontal stripe contrasting with golden brassy to whitish parafacials, from in front frontal stripe is light grey dusted with parafacials adjacent antennae darker than genae; genae with shifting areas of lighter and darker patches of dusting; occiput dark grey, blackish above. Antennae black with lighter grey dusting; arista black. Palpi black; prementum of proboscis black with thin grey dust. Thorax black in ground colour, with shifting areas of dark brownish grey dust and shining patches; scutum viewed from above with lighter grey vittae mainly visible presuturally; humeri lighter grey dusted; scutellum concolorous with thorax. Wing membrane brownish tinged; veins brown; squamae slightly paler than wing base, with light brown margin and paler fringe. Halteres pale brown. Legs black. Abdomen black in ground colour, laterally dusted when viewed from behind, with wide black median vitta which covers median third of width of abdomen and consists of triangular marks on each tergite with base along anterior margins of tergites. Prehypopygial tergites thinly grey dusted.

Head: Eyes separated posteriorly (by at least twice diameter of anterior ocellus), frontal stripe distinct throughout; parafrontals linear; parafacials medially equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin slightly projecting in lateral view, slightly in front of profrons, and projecting beyond level of vibrissae; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.33–0.35× eye height; face concave, distance between vibrissal setae slightly more than (1.3×) distance between them and nearest eye margin. Four pairs of parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; 1 pair of rather strong interfrontal setulae, half way between upper frontal setae and anterior ocellus; genal setae uniserial anteriorly. Postpedicel twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin (by almost its width); arista very short pubescent, longest hairs hardly as long as basal aristal diameter. Proboscis short, with prementum as long as palpi and slightly wider than fore tibia. Upper occipital setulae with a few setulae below row.

Thorax: 1 pair of presutural acr longer, differentiated from accessory setulae, acr:dc ratio 10:5:10, no hairs between rows; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar about half length of posterior npl, but finer, placed midway between suture and supra-alar seta; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior 2/3 as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short but not weak, as long as or slightly longer than diameter of C, stronger spines before distal break nearly as long as small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein very slightly sinuate, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.30–1.35× length of preceding section; lower squama smaller in area than upper. Wing length 3.5–4 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 3–4 av in proximal half, rest of av very short and not erect, 3–4 pv; hind femur with 3–5 av in distal half (not longer than depth of femur), about 3–4 preapical pv; fore tibia with a short fine blunt apical pv, 1 median pv; mid tibia normally without an av, but lectotype has a small rather distal av on left tibia only, 2 ad, 2 pd, 2 pv; mid tarsomere 1 without lengthened dorsal setulae, hind tibia with full row of 10–12 av, 6–8 ad, 3–5 pd (distal one longest), and about 12 pv on most of length, these being partly biserial; some extra setae also between av and ad setae.

Abdomen: About 2.3 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of sternite III dorsoventrally compressed; sternite III (Fig. 105) nearly as wide as sternite IV; sternite IV (Fig. 105) more or less quadrilateral, with curving lateral margins. Sternite V processes (Fig. 105) 1.75× length of base, with a few short fine setulose hairs on inner margins, lateral setae numerous (about 26–30), of more or less equal length (as long as processes). Surstyli 1.1–1.2× length of cercal plate, in caudal view (Fig. 103) becoming narrower with pointed apices, outer margins clothed with fine hairs, in lateral view (Fig. 104) straight or slightly downcurved. Cercal plate twice as wide as long, apex narrowly rounded, apical setae short. Pregonite (Fig. 108) with 1 seta; postgonite triangular without setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 106, 107) rather short, 1.2 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, divided in distal 2/3 into pair of free paraphallic processes, dorsal prolongation as long as paraphalli. Aedeagal apodeme rod-like, in dorsal view about 8–9 times as long as width. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.16–0.17 times as long as aedeagal apodeme.

Female.

Colour: Head dark in ground colour with shifting dark grey to bronzy dust; frontal stripe black, sometimes dark brown anteriorly, viewed from above matt black, from in front becoming increasingly light brown and then contrasting with deep matt black parafrontals; parafacials deep golden dusted when viewed from in front; frontal triangle bronzy dusted with black spot in front of anterior ocellus; genae greyish dusted with darker shifting patch (when viewed laterally), leaving narrow lighter strip level with lower margin of eye; occiput with darker and lighter shifting brown dust; prementum brown, semi-shining; palpi brown. Thorax black in ground colour with shifting lighter brown dust and darker semi-shining patches; scutum when viewed from above with wide lateral chocolate brown vittae and indistinct median and paramedian vittae, humeri and notopleural area light grey dusted. Wing membrane tinged brownish, veins brown. Legs blackish brown, semi-shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, viewed from above somewhat shining, viewed from a lower angle from behind with wide brown median vitta and darker lateral and anterior patches on each tergite, median vitta bordered with grey dust.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.3–1.4× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal; parafrontalia widening anteriorly to about 1.5× width of postpedicel. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (all more or less lateroclinate), and 2 pairs of inclinate frontals; postpedicel not quite twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin; crossed interfrontal setae placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.4× eye height; 1 pair of strong vibrissal setae, with short supravibrissal setula, 2 subvibrissals, 2 upcurved uniserial genals, 3–4 postgenal setae. Prementum as long as palpi.

Thorax: acr very short and fine (not differentiated from accessory setulae and hairs), 1 pair of longer presutural acr (about half length of 1 st presutural dorsoventrals), biserial, no hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:7:10; 1+1 posthumerals. Notopleural depression bare, apart from 2 strong setae. Prealar seta about half length of posterior npl but finer; scutellum almost bare on disk; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; 2 proepisternal setae (one short), 1 proepimeral seta, katepisternals 1+1.

Wing: Vein C with marginal spinules only slightly longer than vein diameter, stronger pair before distal break equal to length of small crossvein; large crossvein straight, last section Of M₁₊₂ is 1.3× length of preceding section. Vein C bare ventrally. Lower squama not projecting, smaller in area than upper. Wing length 4.0 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 1 av in proximal half, a few short pv; hind femur with 4–5 av in distal half; fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv at same level; mid tibia without av, 2 ad, 2pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 4–5 av, 3–4 ad, 3–4 pd, no pv.

Abdomen: About as long as thorax, tergites with only short hindmarginal setae (including tergite V without long discals). Postabdomen when fully extended as long as preabdomen; very similar to D. bracata, only differing as follows: sclerites of sternite X (Fig. 100) each bearing 3 or 4 setulae on posterior margin; sternite X wider; cerci slightly shorter and more widely set apart.

Lectotype ♂: ‘LECTOTYPE’ [circular printed white label with purple border]; ‘KENYA: / Aberdare Range. / x. 1935 / B. M. E. Afr. / B. M. 1935–203’ [white printed rectangular label]; ‘Nyeri Track. / 10500 ft / F.W. Edwards’ [white printed rectangular label]; ‘Hylemyia / bisciliata sp. n. / van Emden det. 1940’ [white printed and written rectangular label]; ‘type’ [red handwritten rectangular label] (BMNH). Lectotype in good condition with all legs and wings intact. There is a label in the drawer next to the lectotype ‘Lectotype fixed by Emden, 1951:361’.

Paralectotypes (all BMNH): KENYA: 34♂ 15 ♀ Aberdare Range, 28.x. 1934, B.M.E. Afr. Exp. B.M. 1935–203, Nyeri Track, alt. 10500 ft, J. Ford; 4♂ 2♀ Mt Kinangop, alt. 10000 ft, 26.x. 1934, F.W. Edwards. UGANDA: 1♂ Imatong Mts, alt. 10800 ft, ii.1936, D. R. Buxton; 1♂ Kigezi Dist., Mt Muhavura, alt. 7000 ft, 29.ix.1934, F.W. Edwards.

Other material examined (all BMNH): KENYA: 1♂ Mt Kenya, Kathita R., alt. 9900 ft, 9.viii.1949, J.A. Riley; 1♂ 3♀ Mt Kenya, N side, heather, stream, alt. 11000–12000 ft, 20–22.xii.1980, P.S. Cranston; 1♂ Embu, 20.ii.1914.

Discussion: There is an additional male (not described here) in the BMNH which may be this species, caught together on Mt Kenya with 1♂ and 3 ♀ by P. Cranston (data listed above), which has slightly different genitalia. These differ from D. bisciliata as follows: cercal plate slightly shorter and wider, with a more rounded apex; surstylus in caudal view slightly wider, in lateral view with the apex not upturned; processes of sternite V slightly longer; distal section of aedeagus with paraphalli slightly longer. Further material may show that these small differences are constant.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: The original material on which Emden based this species in 1941 was from Kenya and Uganda. Very few further specimens have been found since then, all of them on Mt Kenya, the most recent being collected in 1980.

Aricia florilega Zetterstedt, 1845: 1555. For a full list of synonymies see Hennig (1974b: 823) and Griffiths (1993: 1568).

Chortophila trichodactyla Rondani, 1866: 164. Synonymy after Ringdahl 1933: 24.

Diagnosis:

♂ Hind femur with row of 10–15 pv on distal half to 2/3 which are abruptly cut off, not much shorter basally than distally; mid tarsomere 1 with fringe of long setulae on dorsal surface; hind tibia with continuous row of 18–20 pv setulose hairs of equal length. Sternite V processes with only one blunt apical seta.

Description: see Hennig (loc. cit.) and Griffiths (loc. cit.).

Lectotype ♂ of florilega in MZLU, designated by Hennig (1974b: 824).

Syntypes of trichodactyla in MZUF, reviewed by Hennig (loc. cit.).

Other material examined: ZIMBABWE: 1♂ N. Vumba, 5.vii.1965, D. Cookson (NMSA).

Discussion: This is the first and only record so far of the occurrence of this species in the Afrotropical Region. The single male from Zimbabwe may be an accidental introduction; no details of its capture were recorded on the label.

Life history: D.florilega is a widespread agricultural pest, feeding in the larval stage on a wide range of cultivated plants, as well as sprouting seedlings of legumes. For a detailed survey of the biological literature, see Griffiths (1993: 1572).

Distribution: D.florilega is widespread in the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions, reaching east as far as China.

Anthomyia platura Meigen, 1826: 171.

Chortophila cilicrura Rondani, 1866: 165; Stein 1913: 560.

Hylemyia cilicrura (Rondani): Malloch 1924b: 263; Emden 1941b: 266; 1948: 166; 1951: 358; 1956: 530; Patterson 1956: 164.

Phorbia cilicrura (Rondani): Cuthbertson 1936: 57.

Delia platura (Meigen): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

For a full list of synonyms see Hennig (1974c: 881) and Griffiths (1993: 1578).

Diagnosis:

♂ Hind femur without extended row of pv, only a few preapical setae; hind tibia with row of numerous (23–30) pv setulose hairs of equal length (similar to D.florilega); mid tarsomere 1 without fringe of long setulae on dorsal surface. Sternite V processes with two blunt apical setae.

Description: see Griffiths (1993).

Lectotype ♂ of platura in MNHN, designated by Hennig (1974c: 884).

Syntypes of cilicrura in MZLS.

Other material examined: Too numerous to list in full. I have seen specimens from Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Ruanda, South Africa, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe. Probably found throughout the Afrotropical Region where suitable crops are grown.

Life history: D. platura is a cosmopolitan pest of agricultural crops, feeding on cruciferous roots, also cercals and a wide range of other crops. For a detailed survey of the biological literature, see Griffiths (1993: 1588).

Distribution: Cosmopolitan.

Chortophila metatarsata Stein, 1914: 136; 1919: 154.

Hylemyia metatarsata (Stein): Emden 1941b: 267; 1951: 367.

Delia metatarsata (Stein): Pont & Ackland 1980: 716.

Diagnosis:

♂ 3–4 pairs of long presutural acr, one pair longer than the others; 3 posthumeral setae; base of wing brownish and large crossvein sinuate; hind femur without pv; fore tibia with a long straight blunt preapical pv; mid tarsomere 1 with long dorsal fringe; tergites IV and V (Fig. 122) with hindmarginal setae not longer than tergites; surstyli (Fig. 119) in lateral view straight.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face black in ground colour, with shifting thin brownish grey dust; parafacials from above whitish grey dusted (tinged with pink), at level of aristal base with pale bluish grey dust depending on point of view. Antennae dark brownish black, with brown dust, arista dark brown. Palpi black; prementum of proboscis black dusted. Thorax and pleura dark in ground colour, with brownish grey dusting, traces of 5 dark vittae when viewed from behind: wide median vitta, 2 narrow vittae which in line with presutural dc, stopping short of suture, and postsuturally pale dusted; and 2 wide lateral setae; scutum semi-shining from some angles; scutellum concolorous with scutum. Wing membrane brownish tinged in basal half, but not on posterior half of wing; veins brown; squamae whitish, upper squama with brown border, lower squama pale bordered. Legs black, slightly shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, densely dusted dark grey, when viewed from behind, dust becomes paler; wide black median vitta present, covering central third of each tergite and widening on basal and posterior margins of each tergite so that latter (and lateral margins) are black. Sternites, prehypopygial tergites and genitalia brownish black.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by 1.2–1.0× diameter of anterior ocellus), frontal stripe distinct throughout (at narrowest part by slightly less than diameter of anterior ocellus); parafacial medially equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin slightly projecting, face concave, distance between vibrissal setae more than distance between them and nearest eye margin. Gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.30–0.37× eye height; genal setae biserial posteriorly, with 5–6 strong upcurved uniserial setae level with anterior eye margin. 6–7 pairs of strong parafrontal setae, which mainly inclinate and cross each other (interspersed with a few finer setulae); 1 pair of interfrontal setulae on upper half of frons (closer to anterior ocellus than to lunule). Postpedicel not quite twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin (by half its width); arista with very short pubescence, longest hairs not as long as aristal diameter. Proboscis short and slender, with short prementum (about as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia). Upper occipital setulae long and fine, with numerous setulae below row, lower part of occiput with rather long dense coarse setulae.

Thorax: 3–4 pairs of long presutural acr, one pair longer than rest (0.6× length of posterior presutural dc); acr:dc ratio 10:10:10, with a few fine hairs between rows; 3 posthumeral setae, outer seta about half length of others, with some long hairs around base; notopleural depression bare apart from two strong setae; prealar short and fine, but distinct (0.5–0.6 length of posterior npl); scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior nearly as long as upper, with numerous rather long hairs on disc.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short and weak, hardly as long as diameter of C, spines before distal break hardly differentiated from anterior spinules; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein strongly sinuate, last section of M₁₊₂ equal to length of preceding section. Lower squama smaller in area than upper. Wing length 5.5–6.0 mm.

Legs: With rather lengthened and semi-erect hairs on tibiae. Mid femur with full row of short av which longer basally, and full row of longer pv; hind femur with about 6–7 long av in distal half, merging into shorter and more numerous av in basal half, no pv; fore tibia with long straight blunt preapical pv and 1 long median pv; mid tibia without av, 0–1 ad, 1 pd, 2 pv; mid tarsomere 1 with long dorsal fringe of curved setae and with posterior apical setulae on each tarsomere longer than anterior setulae; hind tibia with 2 av, 7–8 ad, 2pd, 12–15 erect pv on almost whole length.

Abdomen: About 1.8–2.0 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of tergite III), dorsoventrally compressed; stronger hindmarginal setae on tergites IV and V (Fig. 122) not longer than length of tergites. Sternite V (Fig. 121) short (1.3 times as wide as long); sternite IV (Fig. 121) is 1.4 times as wide as long (wider posteriorly) with numerous long lateral setae; sternite V (Fig. 121) with processes longer than base, with about 5 long fine setulose hairs on inner margins, lateral setae long and numerous; apex of processes with 1 short and rather blunt setae amongst 2–3 finer pointed seta. Surstyli (Fig. 119) about as long as cercal plate, narrow in caudal view, with some long setulae on inner margins in basal half, in lateral view (Fig. 120) more or less straight. Cercal plate twice as long as wide, with 8–10 very long bent setae apically, and pair of longer median lateral setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 123, 124) 1.35× length of aedeagal apodeme, divided on slightly less than distal third (0.30) into pair of free paraphallic processes and dorsal prolongation of about same length. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme in dorsal view weakly expanded anteriorly, 4.2 times as long as greatest width. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.24 times as long as aedeagal apodeme, expanded at one end.

Female. As in male except for the following:

Colour: Frontal triangle dusted light brownish; parafrontals dark brownish dusted, darker than parafacials; gena with shifting brownish patch anteriorly adjacent to vibrissa; wing membrane as in male, but wing base not so infuscated.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.20× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals 1.6× width of parafrontal; parafrontalia widening anteriorly to slightly more than width of postpedicel. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 5 pairs of orbital setae (more or less exclinate) and 5 pairs of frontal setae (more or less inclinate), all strong; uppermost 4 pairs of frontal setae overlap anterior 3(4) pairs of orbital setae, so that setae biserial in middle of parafrontal; crossed interfrontal setae strong, placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.4× eye height.

Thorax: 3 posthumerals; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior setae short and fine. Prealar seta as in male. Wing length 6.1 mm.

Legs: Fore tibia with 1 ad, 1 pv; mid tibia without av, 3 strong ad, 3 strong pd, and 2 long pv; hind tibia with 3 av, 6 ad, 4 pd.

Abdomen: Postabdomen when fully extended about as long as preabdomen. Tergites VI and VII weakened centrally but with continuous row of setulae along posterior margin. Spiracles 6 and 7 both situated on tergite VI, spiracle 6 medially on lateral margin, spiracle 7 laterally on posterior margin (in row of setulae); sternites VI and VII oblong, 4 times as long as wide with a few posterior setulae. Tergite VIII divided into 2 elongate plates which become wider anteriorly, but continuous along posterior margin which bears about 12 longer setae; sternite VIII (Fig. 101) represented by pair of elongate sclerites which pointed on inner posterior corner and each bear 7–8 laterally directed setulae medially; sternite X setulose and pilose; cerci not projecting significantly beyond tip of sternite X, bearing pair of long setulae. Three spermathecae of equal size, almost spherical, 0.040×0.035 mm.

Holotype: Stein described this species from a single male collected on Mt Kenya, alpine prairies with Senecio arborescens, 4000–4100 m, ii. 1912. The location of this holotype is unknown, and is presumed lost.

Material examined: KENYA: 8♂ 2 ♀ Aberdare Range, Mt Kinangop, alt. 12000 ft, 30.x. 1934, F.W. Edwards (BMNH).

Discussion: There is little doubt about the identity of D. metatarsata. Stein's figures (1914: 137) of the dorsal fringe on mid tarsomere 1 and the darker base to wing can only refer to this species.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Only recorded from Kenya (Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Range).

Etymology: Named after the type locality, Mt Cameroon.

Diagnosis:

♂ Differs from D. metatarsata mainly in the genitalia and sternite V. Only two posthumeral setae present; hind femur with pv in distal half; tergites IV and V (Fig. 128) with long hindmarginal setae, longer than tergites; surstyli in lateral view sinuate.

Description:

Male.

Colour: Frontal stripe, parafrontals, parafacials, genae and face black in ground colour, with dark grey dusting which shifts according to angle of vision; head viewed from above with matt velvety black frontal stripe contrasting with whitish grey parafacials, from in front the frontal stripe is light grey dusted with the parafacials adjacent to antennae light brassy grey dusted; gena with grey dusting (varying from dark to light according to angle of vision); occiput dark grey, lighter above. Antennae black with brownish dusting; arista black. Palpi black; prementum of proboscis black with thin grey dust, semi-shining. Thorax black in ground colour, with shifting areas of dark brownish grey dust and shining patches; scutum viewed from above with obscure darker vittae and brown patches, viewed from in front anterior half of presutural area light grey dusted; humeri lighter grey dusted; scutellum concolorous with thorax, sides greyish dusted. Wing membrane brownish tinged at base, becoming hyaline in apical third; veins brown; squamae pale brownish tinged, fringe pale brown. Halteres pale orange. Legs black, weakly shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, laterally dusted grey when viewed from behind, with a wide black median vitta which covers median third of width of abdomen and consists of triangular marks on each tergite with the base along the anterior margins of tergites, lateral margins of tergites darker. Prehypopygial tergites grey dusted.

Head: Eyes narrowly separated posteriorly (by nearly 2× diameter of anterior ocellus), frontal stripe distinct throughout, and about equal to width of anterior ocellus at narrowest point; parafrontals linear above, becoming only slightly wider at level of anterior frontal setae; parafacial medially equal to width of postpedicel; peristomal margin slightly projecting in lateral view, level with profrons, and slightly projecting medially beyond level of vibrissae; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.3× eye height; face concave, distance between vibrissal setae slightly more (1.3×) than distance between them and nearest eye margin. 6–7 pairs of unequal parafrontal setae on anterior half of frons; 1 pair of weak interfrontal setulae just above uppermost pair of frontal setae, half way between them and anterior ocellus; genal setae uniserial anteriorly. Postpedicel not quite twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin (by half its width); arista pubescent, the longest hairs (dorsally at base) hardly as long as basal aristal diameter. Proboscis short, with prementum as long as palpi and as wide as fore tibia. Upper occipital setulae long and fine without setulae below row.

Thorax: 2–3 pairs of biserial presutural acr, the 2nd pair (3/4 length of presutural dc) with 1–2 isolated hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:6:10; 2 posthumeral setae; notopleural depression bare apart from the two strong setae; prealar seta about 2/3 length of posterior npl, equally strong, placed midway between suture and supra-alar seta; scutellum bare on disc centrally and basally; anepisternite without a developed upper anterior setula; katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior 2/3 as long as upper.

Wing: Vein C with anterior spinules short and rather weak, as long as diameter of C, the stronger spines before distal break hardly half length of small crossvein; lower surface of C bare. Large crossvein slightly sinuate, last section of M₁₊₂ 1.5–1.6× length of preceding section; lower squama nearly as large in area as upper. Wing length 5.5 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with an almost full row of fine av and pv; hind femur with av and pv in distal half; fore tibia with a robust long blunt pv apical, 1 long median pv; mid tibia without av, 2 longer ad, 2 pd, 2 pv; mid tarsomere 1 with a long dorsal fringe of curving setulae; hind tibia with a full row of 8–10 av, 5–6 ad, 4–5 pd (distal one longest), and about 20–25 pv on whole length, and almost as many ventral pv hairs.

Abdomen: About 2.8 times as long as greatest width (at basal margin of sternite III), dorsoventrally compressed; tergites IV and V (Fig. 128) with long hindmarginal setae; sternite III (Fig. 127) parallel-sided, 1.6 times as long as wide, with 1 longer lateral posterior seta; sternite IV (Fig. 127) widening towards posterior margin, 1.2 times as long as wide; sternite V (Fig. 127) processes 1.5× length of base, with a few short fine setulose hairs on inner margins, and 2–3 short blunt setulae on inner margins towards tip, lateral setae numerous (about 20), slightly longer than processes. Surstyli (Fig. 125) shorter than cercal plate (0.8×), in caudal view becoming narrower in apical third and inwardly directed, outer margins clothed with fine hairs, in lateral view (Fig. 126) sinuate and tapering rather abruptly in apical third. Cercal plate (Fig. 125) much longer than wide (2.7–2.8×), apex rounded, with long lateral and apical setae. Aedeagus with distal section (Figs 129, 130) 1.27× length of aedeagal apodeme, divided on about distal quarter (0.28) into a pair of free paraphallic processes and dorsal prolongation about the same length. Acrophallus absent. Aedeagal apodeme rod-like, in dorsal view 5.5 times as long as wide. Ejaculatory apodeme 0.27× length of aedeagal apodeme.

Female.

Colour: Head dark in ground colour with shifting greenish grey to bronzy brown dust; frontal stripe black in dorsal half, orange anteriorly; viewed from a low angle in front becoming light grey dusted and then contrasting with the darker brown parafrontals; parafacials brownish grey dusted when viewed from in front; frontal triangle obscurely brownish dusted, with a black spot in front of anterior ocellus; gena greyish dusted with a darker triangular shifting patch (when viewed laterally), leaving a narrow lighter strip level with lower margin of eye; occiput with darker and lighter shifting brown dust; antennae and arista black; prementum brown, semi-shining; palpi brown. Thorax black in ground colour with shifting lighter brown dust and darker semi-shining patches; scutum when viewed from above with obscure brown vittae and indistinct presutural median and paramedian vittae, humeri and notopleural area obscurely light grey dusted. Wing membrane tinged brownish, darker basally, veins brown. Upper squama pale brown, with brown border and pale fringe. Legs blackish brown, semi-shining. Abdomen black in ground colour, viewed from above somewhat shining, viewed from a lower angle from behind with a wide brown median vitta and darker lateral and anterior patches on each tergite, median vitta bordered with grey dust.

Head: Eyes widely separated (by 1.20–1.25× their transverse width); frontal stripe at level of middle orbitals twice as wide as each parafrontal; parafrontalia widening anteriorly to about 1.2× width of postpedicel. Parafrontal setae differentiated into 3 pairs of orbitals (all more or less exclinate), and 2–3 pairs of inclinate frontals; the uppermost frontal seta set closer to margin of frontal stripe than is the anterior orbital seta (setae not in a line); postpedicel not quite twice as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin; crossed interfrontal setae strong, placed at apex of frontal triangle; gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.38× eye height; genal setae uniserial anteriorly. Prementum as long as palpi.

Thorax: 3 pairs of well developed presutural acr (middle pair longest and nearly as long as 1st presutural dc), biserial, no hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:6:10; 1+1 posthumerals. Notopleural depression bare apart from the 2 strong setae. Prealar seta as long as posterior npl; scutellum almost bare on disk; anepisternite without a developed upper anterior setula; 2 proepisternal setae (ventral one short), 1–2 proepimeral seta (with 2 short associated hairs); katepisternals 1+1 (damaged, possibly 2 + 2, the ventral setae short and fine, according to the remaining scars).

Wing: Vein C with marginal spinules only slightly longer than vein diameter, the stronger pair before the distal break not very distinct and shorter than small crossvein; large crossvein sinuate, last section of M₁₊₂ is 1.3–1.4× length of preceding section. Vein C bare ventrally. Lower squama not projecting, equal in area to upper. Wing length 5.4 mm.

Legs: Mid femur with 1–2 av in proximal half, a few short pv; hind femur with about 7 av in distal half; fore tibia with 1 median ad, 1 pv at same level; mid tibia without av, 2 ad, 2 pd, 2 pv; hind tibia with 2–3 av, 6 ad, 3 pd, no pv.

Abdomen: About as long as thorax, tergite III with hindmarginal setae slightly shorter than tergite; tergite V without long discal and lateral hindmarginal setae. Postabdomen (Fig. 102) very similar to D. metatarsata Stein, except that the cerci shorter and converging beyond apex of sternite X.

Holotype: ♂ REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON: ‘Holo- / type’ [circular white printed label with red border]; ‘MT. CAMEROON: / 1st Plateau / 12.i.1932 / M. Steele / B. M. 1934–240’ [rectangular white printed label]; ‘HOLOTYPE ♂ / Delia / cameroonica / Ackland’ [rectangular written white label with red border]. Left hind leg missing, thorax damaged; abdomen dissected and genitalia placed in glycerol in a plastic tube on staging pin (BMNH).

Paratypes: 5♂ 1♀ same data as holotype, except for 3♂ and 1 ♀ from 2nd Plateau. 1♂ paratype carries a label ‘Hylemyia bisciliata Emd., det van Emden, 1942’ (BMNH).

Other material examined: 3♂ same data as holotype except from 2nd Plateau; these specimens are in very poor condition (BMNH).

Discussion: Closely related to metatarsata, and no doubt it evolved in isolation on Mt Cameroon. Although the type material is in poor condition, the distinct genitalia make this species easy to recognise.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Only known from Mt Cameroon.

Hylemyia virgithorax Stein, 1913: 556; 1919: 152; Emden 1951: 363.

Delia virgithorax (Stein): Pont & Ackland 1980: 717.

Stein described H. virgithorax from 2♀. I was able to examine a specimen labelled ‘holotype’ in February 1995, loaned from the ZMHU. This is a syntype that was retained by Stein in his personal collection. The female syntype examined in 1951 by Emden (1951: 363) was sent to him by Dr A. Soós from the MNM and was destroyed in 1956, along with many other Anthomyiidae. I made a description of the female syntype in Berlin as follows:

Labels: ♀ syntype: “Abyssinia/Kovács”. [white printed rectangular label]; “Dire-Daua / 1911.11.19” [white written /printed rectangular label]; “Zool. Mus. / Berlin” [pale yellow printed label]; “Hylemyia / virgithorax St.” [white written rectangular label] (ZMHU). In good condition, all appendages present except left hind leg missing.

Colour: Head rather densely pale grey dusted, including occiput. Gena anteriorly with shifting patch, pale orange-brown from some angles. Interfrontalia orange-brown. Antennae brown, basal segments lightened reddish. Palpi dark brown, obscurely reddish brown basally. Mentum brown with greyish dust, hardly shining. Thorax pale greyish dusted, scutum viewed from in front with very distinct dark brownish median vitta, half width of distance between dc, reaching from 1st presutural dc to scutellum, becoming slightly wider posteriorly. Also pair of similar lateral vittae, their inner margins along the intra-alar setae, reaching from posthumeral setae to posthumeral callus; humeri and notopleuron grey dusted. Scutellum grey dusted. These vittae do not alter when scutum is viewed from behind. Pleura and postnotum grey dusted. Wings membrane, veins and squamae yellow to pale orange-yellow tinged, especially anteriorly. Squamae and halteres yellowish. Abdomen grey dusted, with brown median vitta, narrow posteriorly, but widening anteriorly on each tergite.

Head: Eyes separated at level of ocellar triangle by nearly 0.5× head width. Interfrontalia at middle with slightly concave margins, width at narrowest part equal to twice width of adjacent parafrontal. A pair of cruciate interfrontal setae, about as long and strong as the upper orbital setae; 3 orbitals, 3 frontal setae. Occipital setulae very short and fine, in one row. Postpedicel 2.4 times as long as wide, not reaching peristomal margin. Arista pubescent, hairs slightly longer than diameter of aristal base. Gena in lateral view nearly 0.3× head height, genal setae uniserial. Palpi as long as prementum, latter not swollen but rather wide, in lateral view three times as long as wide, length 2/3 of eye height.

Thorax: acr practically absent, only represented by a very few irregular fine biserial hairs, rows slightly closer to each other than to dc rows, only a pair of prescutellar acr visible. Whole of scutum with very few accessory setulae or hairs. Prealar seta absent. No dorsal anterior anepisternal setulae present. Katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior 3/4 length of upper. Scutellum practically bare on disc.

Wing: Vein C bare on ventral surface, anterior spinules as long as diameter of vein, stronger setae before distal break as long as small crossvein. Large crossvein rather upright, hence ratio of penultimate section of M ₁₊₂ to last section is 4:6. Wing length 5 mm.

Legs: Fore tibia with 1 av, 1 ad, and 1 pv. Mid tibia with 1 long ad, which is 2.5 times as long as diameter of tibia, 2 shorter pd, and 2 small p setae. Mid femur with only 1 short basal av. Hind femur with 7–8 short av, no pv except 1 apical seta. Hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 4 pd, 4–5 very short pv. All pulvilli very short, hardly as long as claws.

Abdomen: Setae on posterior margins of tergites rather weak and short, especially tergites IV and V, where they are hardly half length of tergites.

Discussion: Emden (1941a: 214) mentions 1♂ of virgithorax (collected on the Entomological expedition to Abyssinia, 1926–7) from Abyssinia, Mount Zukwala, ca. 900 ft, 22.x. by sweeping rushes in lake (Omer-Cooper); 1♀ Jem-Jem Forest, nearly 9000 ft, 24.iX. (Scott). He also stated that it was known from Kilimanjaro, Mt Elgon, Mt Kenya, Aberdares, Kikuyu Esc. (R.E.). All these records refer to D. steiniella Emden, and are listed under that species.

Emden (1941b: 266 in key) incorrectly synonymized Hylemyia trivittata Stein, 1914 with H. virgithorax Stein, 1913, in the belief that there was only one species with a trivittate scutum, and that the absence of a prealar seta in virgithorax was abnormal. He corrected this synonymy in 1951 (Emden 1951: 361). In the same paper he gave the new name steiniella for H. trivittata Stein, 1914, not Pegomyia trivittata Stein, 1897 (see under D. steiniella for full details).

No other specimens of D. virgithorax (apart from the types) have therefore been recorded, and the species is known only from the female syntype. I have not seen any males which could be referred to virgithorax.

Differentiation of the females of D. steiniella from D. virgithorax, the latter in parentheses:

Colour: Interfrontalia dark brown posteriorly (orange-brown); scutum with median vitta continuing onto scutellum (to scutellum); wing membrane and veins greyish brown (yellow to orange-yellow tinged).

Head: Interfrontalia with straight margins (slightly concave margins); occiput with short setulae below upper postocular row (bare); 3–4 rows of distinct presutural acr (practically absent, only a few irregularly fine hairs); prealar short but distinct (absent); katepisternals 1+2, lower posterior seta 0.75× length of upper seta.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Only known from the type locality in Ethiopia.

Hylemyia modesta Stein, 1914: 133; 1919: 151; Malloch 1924b: 263, 265; Emden 1941b: 268; 1956: 530; Pont & Ackland 1980: 718.

Stein described modesta from 4♂ and 4 ♀ from 4 localities in Kenya. The important characters in his description of the male were:

Gena 0.1–0.13 of eye height; thorax clear chocolate, matt, with 3 wide vittae which are a little darker but scarcely visible; prealar absent; acr very fine and very short, biserial; katepisternals 1+2; abdomen linear, very narrow and elongated, dorsoventrally compressed, dusted greyish chocolate; mid tibia with 1 ad, 2 pd, 2 p setae; hind femur with complete rows of long fine setae; squamae whitish yellow.

Malloch (1924b: 265) had not seen this species, but this did not deter him from including it in a key, using some of the characters mentioned in Stein's description. Emden (1941b: 268) also failed to recognise this species. He mentioned the lack of a prealar seta, and the narrow genae.

Emden (1956: 530) mentioned a pair from Gatsibu (Ruanda) which (in his opinion) fitted Stein's description very well; he continued by listing several characters by which the male specimen from Gatsibu differed from Stein's description:

Abdomen only depressed at base.

Sternites II–IV with rather long erect setulose hairs in 2–3 irregular rows, more numerous and less strong than in echinata (Séguy).

Fore tibia in addition to a pv near middle, with a smaller one near apical one-fifth and a small ad beyond middle.

Mid tibia with 1 pd and 2 p setae.

Hind tibia with 3–4 ad, 3 pd, 2(–3) av, the proximal ad and pd being smaller “and have apparently been overlooked by Stein” [They would not have been overlooked if Stein's species was different to Emden's specimen].

Of the female of this pair Emden said: “The ♀ has a shifting spot on upper part of parafacial like arambourgi (= flavibasis)”. It is unlikely that the male from Gatsibu is modesta in view of the differences from Stein's description, in which the hind tibia have 2 ad and 2 pd. Unfortunately, of this pair from Gatsibu, which were deposited in the MRAC in Tervuren (Brussels), only the female can now be found (communication from Dr M. De Meyer). It carries the following label:

“COLL. MUS. CONGO / Ruanda:Gatsibu / 1800m. terr. Biumba/ P. Basilewsky 6–11-53” [white printed rectangular label]; “Hylemyia / modesta Stein / van Emden det. 1955” [white printed/handwritten rectangular label].

This female is in poor condition, right antennae, right mid leg missing; left wing damaged along costa; right fore leg glued to polyporus mounting strip. This is a female of Delia flavibasis (Stein). The specimen has the following characters which are contrary to Stein's description of modesta but agree with flavibasis:

Colour: Parafacials opposite base of antennae with a darker brownish orange shifting patch (sheen-stripe); scutum with distinct brown spots around bases of setae. Wing membrane faintly tinged light brownish.

Head: Gena below lowest point of eye margin 0.2× eye height.

Thorax: 3 pairs of short and fine presutural acr, biserial, no hairs between rows; acr:dc ratio 10:6:10. Wing: large crossvein slightly sinuate. Legs: fore tibia with 1 ad, 2 pv; mid tibia apparently without av, 1 strong ad (pd not visible); hind femur with about 4–5 av in distal half, no pv except 1 apical; hind tibia with 2 av, 4 ad, 3 pd, no pv.

Discussion: In common with both Malloch and Emden, I have not seen any male specimens from Kenya that agree sufficiently with Stein's description. The only Afrotropical Delia species which could be modesta is D. madagascariensis described in this paper. The male of this species has rather narrow genae (0.17–0.20× eye height), hind tibia with 2 ad and 2 pd, prealar absent. Until further material (especially males) is available from the African mainland, I prefer not to synonymize these species; in the meantime modesta remains an unrecognized species.