Two species of Clinopogon Bezzi (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae) from Sabah, Malaysia

2006·5.2 MB·

by  Aubrey G Scarbrough

PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
108(1), 2006, pp. 92-100
TWO SPECIES OF CLINOPOGON BEZZI (DIPTERA: ASILIDAE:
STENOPOGONINAE) FROM SABAH, MALAYSIA
AUBREY G. SCARBROUGH
Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Baltimore,
MD 21252, U.S.A. (e-mail: ascarbrough @towson.edu)
Abstract.4The robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) Clinopogon nicobarensis (Schiner) and
C. velatus, n. sp., are reported from Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This is
the first record of the genus from Borneo. The species are described and compared with
congeners. This is the first publication of detailed illustrations of the terminalia of both
sexes in Clinopogon. The importance of the terminalia for identification purposes is em-
phasized. An annotated species list of the genus is included.
Key Words: Diptera, Asilidae, Clinopogon, new species, terminalia, Sabah, Malaysia
Clinopogon Bezzi consists of small, gray While searching through unsorted mate-
tomentose, densely pilose flies that inhabit rial collected by USNM colleagues in Sa-
vegetated zones of beaches (Hull 1962). bah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, I
The genus is poorly studied largely because found C. nicobarensis and an undescribed
of the dependency upon external anatomy species. The species are described and the
and the failure to examine the terminalia. terminalia illustrated. The latter species in-
Hence, only eight species are known, scat- creases the number to nine for the genus.
tered from Madagascar eastward to Fiji This paper provides the first detailed illus-
(Bezzi 1910, Hull 1962, Oldroyd 1975, Jo- tration of the terminalia of both sexes, dem-
seph and Parui 1984, Daniels 1989, Geller- onstrates the usefulness of the terminalia to
Grimm Web Database 2004). Six of these determine species, and documents Clino-
were placed in other genera (Bigot 1878, pogon in Borneo.
1879; Fabricius 1775; Schiner 1868; Walk-
er 1849, 1861), but later transferred to Cli- METHODS
nopogon. The remaining two species (Sé-
Terminology mostly follows McAlpine
guy 1955, Joseph and Parui 1984) were de-
(1981). Terms for terminalia and measure-
scribed more recently. Most species have
limited distributions although five occur in ments follow Cannings (2002). 1) Body
length is the linear distance from the ante-
Indonesia. Clinopogon nicobarensis (Shin-
er) 1s widely distributed, ranging from is- rior margin of the face to the extreme pos-
lands near Madagascar eastward to Taiwan. terior of the abdomen, including the termin-
Recently, Geller-Grimm (2002) synony- alia. Width measurements include head
mized C. sauteri Bezzi with C. nicobaren- width, face width, vertex width, and oral
sis (Schiner) and illustrated the intact male margin width. 2) Head width is the greatest
terminalia. Of the remaining four, C. barrus distance between the lateral margins of the
(Walker 1849) is unconfirmed because the eyes in anterior view. 3) Face width is the
type is lost and the type locality of the spe- narrowest distance between the eyes below
cies is unknown. the antenna. Face-Oral margin Width Ratio
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 98
(FOMWR) and Face-Vertex Width Ratio bristles, bands on the abdomen, and fused
(FVWR) are comparisons of divergence of cercl.
the oral margin and vertex with the face; This is the first time that the terminalia
Face Head Width.Ratio (FHWR) is a com- of both sexes of Clinopogon have been il-
parison of the width of the face and head. lustrated in detail. These illustrations sup-
4) Vertex width is the distance between the port the use of the terminalia for identifi-
eyes along a line touching the posterior cation purposes. To date, species descrip-
ocelli in dorsal view. Vertex-Head Width tions have relied on external characters (to-
Ratio (VHWR) is a measurement of vertex mentum, ground color, and _ vestiture
divergence and head. 5) Oral margin width patterns), which are mostly inadequate for
is the greatest distance of the face between accurate identification. Clinopogon species
the tentorial grooves. Oral Margin-Head are so similar externally that identification
Width Ratio (QMHWR) and Oral Margin- is unreliable without dissection and detailed
Vertex Width Ratio (OMVWR) are com- examination of the terminalia.
parisons of divergence of the oral margin
Clinopogon nicobarensis (Schiner)
with the head and vertex. Key to abbrevi-
(Figs. 1-9)
ations of structures in illustrations are given
in the captions of Figs. 149. Specimens be- Redescription.4Male: Black body, gray
long to the National Museum of Natural tomentose and white setose, setae thin, of-
History, Smithsonian Institution, Washing- ten wavy or proclinate apically. Body
ton, D.C. (USNM). length 13.4421.2 mm; FHWR 1/4.44-1/4.7;
FVWR 1/2.2-1/2.3; FOMWR 1/1.7-1/1.8;
Clinopogon Bezzi VEIWR, V2 172.33 OM Wi S/S:
OMHWR 1/2.641/2.7. Head: Face in pro-
Clinopogon Bezzi 1910: 153. Type species
file slightly and gradually produced ven-
Clinopogon sauteri Bezzi, by original
trally with dense, flat, shieldlike mat of fa-
designation. Hull 1962 (1): 110; Oldroyd
cial vestiture extending from just below an-
1975: 128; Daniels 1989: 342; Geller-
tennae to just before or to apex of probos-
Grimm 2004.
cis; oral margin with a row of thin bristles.
Diagnosis.4Distinguished from all other Palpus with basal segment tomentose and
stichipogonine genera by a combination of setose; apical segment cylindrical, mostly
the following characters: Medium to large bare, with gray tomentum and white setae
flies, 10O422 mm long. Face with a promi- on basal half ventrally, apex angular with
nent, dense, shieldlike mat of setae that ex- sparse setae. Proboscis blackish, mostly
tends dorsally to just below base of anten- bare, scattered setae ventrally, basal third
na. Palpus with second segment cylindrical, tomentose. Antenna with scape about as
largely bare, apex oblique. Abdomen broad long as pedicel, combined length scape and
basally, somewhat flattened, and strongly pedicel one-third as long as flagellum; fla-
tapered apically (Hull 1962). Hull (1962) gellum strongly compressed laterally, wid-
gave a detailed description of the genus. est medially, tapered toward each end, 2.7
Remarks.4Clinopogon 1s closely related longer than wide; apex narrower than base,
to Stichopogon Loew. They both have 1) with minute segment and apical spine, com-
the frons and face diverging widely above; bined length of latter one-sixth as long as
2) a long, dilated flagellum; and 3) tufts of flagellum. Frons strongly divergent dorsal-
white vestiture on the thorax (Hull 1962). ly. Ocellar setae thin, only as thick as fron-
The genus differs from known Oriental Sti- tal setae. Occiput with two to three pairs of
chopogon in the much larger body; the lon- stout, erect, white bristles; setae mostly
ger, more abundant pile of the body; and long, those on ventral half of head dense.
the absence of differentiated dorsocentral Thorax: Black with gray tomentum and
94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
4
Figs. 1-5. Male terminalia of Clinopogon nicobarensis. 1, Tergite 9 [ = epandrium] and cercus, dorsal view.
244, Lateral, dorsal, ventral views. 5, Aedeagus, lateral view. Abbrevations: AA = aedeagal apodeme; Ae =
aedeagus; Ap = epandrial apodeme; Ge = gonocoxite; Ce = cercus; EA = ejaculatory apodeme; GcA =
gonocoxal apodeme; Hp = hypandrium; Gs = gonostylus; Hyp = hypoproct; LHP = lateral hypandrial process;
ML = median lobe of gonocoxite.
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 95
white setae. Mesonotum 3.5X as long as cave ventrally. Tibiae with white bristles
high; narrow corner of postpronotum bare, only; apex of fore- and middle tibiae slight-
ground color yellow to brownish yellow: ly bent inward and abruptly swollen along
postalar callus gray tomentose, yellowish inner margin; hind tibiae with straight sides
brown to reddish; tomentum thin dorsally apically, not swollen or bent. Tarsi with
with faint wide longitudinal stripe medially, black claws, latter mostly white tomentose,
tomentum dense elsewhere; mesonotum apex bare; pulvillus whitish to cream-col-
with short, erect setae dorsally, longer and ored, with sparse brownish streaks basally;
bristly laterally; dorsocentral bristles thin, empodium flat, bladelike on basal two-
undifferentiated, about as long as adjacent thirds, abruptly narrowed apically, setalike.
setae; 3 lateral bristles, only one supraalar Abdomen: Segments as wide as thorax
bristle present. Scutellum flat dorsally, wid- basally and somewhat flattened; tergite 1
er than long, somewhat rectangular with without a swollen callus; ground color
rounded corners; abundant long setae dor- black, generally densely gray tomentose,
sally, as long as prescutellar setae; seven to somewhat thinner dorsally; vestiture white
eight pairs of marginal bristles laterally, and slender, setae short dorsally, longer lat-
only slightly thicker than setae. Pleuron erally, especially on basal three to four ter-
with mats of long white setae on katepis- gites and sternites 345 medially; tergite |
ternum anteriorly and posteriorly, on dorsal with several long thin bristles present in
and posterior margins of anepisternum, and apical corner; segment 8 about half as long
on anterior margin of anepimeron; posterior as 7, sternite 7 strongly reduced, straplike
margin of anepisternum and _ katatergite basally. Terminalia (Figs. 145): Tergite 9
with a row of bristles. Halter dull yellow, [epandrium] longer than tergite 8, hoodlike,
stalk and/or knob dull brown or blackish. with turned-down sides and abundant long,
Wing: Wide basally, apex pointed, about white setae concealing terminalia laterally;
as long as abdomen; veins brown, cell sur- apical margin with V-shaped notch medi-
face with abundant fine microtrichia, most- ally; short basal apodeme present. Cercus
ly brownish, costal and basal cells narrowly narrow, two-thirds as long as middorsal
gray. Marginal cell open. Cell r4 trumpet- length of tergite 9, fused medially, strongly
shaped, wide apically, base narrow, beyond sclerotized; apex with narrow notch; sur-
apex of cell d; base of vein R4 abruptly face gray tomentose with numerous long
arched anteriorly, ending at wing apex. Cell setae laterally, setae sparse dorsally. Ster-
m3 narrowly open, base with or without nite 8 gray tomentose basally; gonocoxite
short stalk. Alula narrow. and hypandrium fused, complex; median
Legs: Dark brown to black, white to- lobe of gonocoxite elongate; lateral gono-
mentose with fine, abundant, white setae coxal process long, digitate dorsally, flat
and sparse white to slightly yellowish bris- and pointed laterally; gonostylus elongate,
tles. Coxae with a mat of long setae; femora clavate dorsally and ventrally, wide basally,
ventrally and posteriorly and fore- and mid- narrow and pointed apically. Hypoproct
dle tibiae ventrolaterally with a fringe of moderately keeled, grooved medially, apex
abundant, long setae; hind tibia with sparse divergent; in lateral view its ventral edge is
long setae, not especially abundant or form- even with the ventral margin of the hypan-
ing a distinct fringe. Fore- and hind femora drium. Aedeagus convex and narrow api-
with an irregular row of stout dorsal bristles cally, gradually wider posteriorly; stout
curving posteriorly; fore femur with row on ventral process present.
apical third, that on hind femur extending Female: Body length 16.8421.8 mm;
from near base to apical fifth; stout anterior FHWR_ 1/4.641/4.8; FYWR_ 1/2.2-1/2.4;
and preapical, posterodorsal bristle present FOMWR 1/1.741/2.0; VHWR 1/1.9-1/2.2;
on middle femur. Hind femur slightly con- OMHWR_ 1/2.2-1/2.7; OMVWRI/1.1-1/
96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Tg9
4<44
S/
-
Tg 10_/(5 49
GQ 05mm
Figs. 6-9. Female terminalia of Clinopogon nicobarensis. 6, Sternite 9 [genital fork]. 749, Lateral [tergite
8 removed], ventral, and dorsal views. Abbrevations: AcSp = Acanthophorite spines; HpV = hypogynial valve;
Me = membrane; St8, 9, 10, = sternites 8, 9, 10; Tg9, Tg10 = tergites 9 and 10.
1.4. Body essentially identical to male ex- with spines. Sternite 9 (genital fork, furca)
cept setae generally shorter. Abdomen: with shallow notch apically, entirely strong-
Segments 142 and 8 with long setae. Hy- ly sclerotized, base narrow with a raised ca-
pogynal valve oval, sometimes reddish, me- rina. Sternite 10 asymmetrically capitate.
dian fissure present. Terminalia (Figs. 649): Spermathecae thin, convoluted in a loosely
Tergite 9 uniting acanthophorties dorsally. organized <ball? within segment 8, surface
Acanthophorites with 849 pairs of long, simple and without noticeable microstruc-
black or yellowish spines. Cercus often tures; each spermatheca separated basally,
VOLUME 108, NUMBER | 97
not joining and forming a common duct, with five pairs of long, slender, black
diameter at base wide, tubes narrow grad- spines. Cercus with abundant, long, thin se-
ually to simple valve, diameter beyond tae; spines absent. Sternite 9 (genital fork,
valve about one-eighth that at base, apex furca) with large oval area apically, only
only slightly wider. Accessory glands sim- slightly sclerotized. Sternite 10 slender, dig-
ple, flaccidlike sacs, gradually widened api- itate.
cally, and without distinctive characters. Type specimens.4Holotype 3d, MA-
Material examined.4MALAYSIA: 4 6, LAYSIA: Sabah: 17 km S. Kota Kinabalu/
4 2, Sabah;/Tanjung Aru _ Beach/ 9 vin. ([983/GS FE Hevel c/w. EE. Steiner
29.vili.1983/G. FE Hevel & W. E. Strainer (USNM); allotype 2, MALAYSIA: Sabah;
(USNM). /Tanjung Aru Beach/29.viii.1983/G. FE Hev-
Remarks.4Clinopogon nicobarensis 1s el & W. E. Strainer (USNM). Paratypes, 2
readily distinguished from congeners by the 2, MALAYSIA: Sabah;/Tanjung Aru
large body and combined characters of the Beach/20, 21-viti.1983/G. E Hevel & W. E.
terminalia (Figs. 149). Strainer (USNM); 1 6, MALAYSIA: same
data as allotype (USNM).
Clinopogon velatus Scarbrough, new
Etymology.4Latin velatus for 8hidden9,
species
referring to the fact that I initially did not
(Figs. 10-18)
recognize it as a species separate from C.
Description.4Male: As C. nicobarensis nicobarensis.
except as follows. Body length 15.6417.0 Remarks.4Clinopogon velatus differs
mm; FHWR 1/4.8-1/5.2; FVWR 1/2.2-1/ from C. nicobarensis by its wide, concave,
2.3; FOMWR 1/1.841/1.9; VHWR 1/1.8-1/ apical notch on tergite 9 and cercus, and the
2.1; OMHWR 1/2.1-1/2.5; OMVWR_ 1/ combined characters of the terminalia (Figs.
1.1-1/1.2. Terminalia (Figs. 10-14): Ter- 10418), especially the strongly keeled, ven-
gite 9 with wide, concave apical notch. Cer- trally projecting hypoproct, the apically
cus about as long as middorsal length of clubbed gonostylus bearing abundant dorsal
tergite 9; wide, deep apical notch present. setae, and the apically stout aedeagus.
Gonostylus with wide, flat, asymmetrical
club apically; abundant bristly setae present WORLD SPECIES LIST OF CLINOPOGON
dorsally. Paired median lobes of gonocoxite C. barrus (Walker) 1849: 353. Distribution:
forming stout, arched bar in dorsal view, Malaysia. Type ° (Dasypogon), type lo-
each fused in membrane below aedeagus cality?
and with stout podiform flange anteriorly; C. cinctellus (Bigot) 1879: 440. Distribu-
lateral gonocoxal process short with round tion: Indonesia, Maluku. Type 6 (Sticho-
apex in dorsal view, constricted preapically, pogon), type locality Tidore, Moluccas
wider and pointed in lateral view; obvious (Maluku).
line of fusion of gonocoxite and hypan- C. congressus (Walker) 1861: 147. Distri-
drium absent in lateral view. Hypoproct bution: Indonesia (Irian Jaya, Sulawasi,
strongly keeled, projecting well below hy- Maluku, Java). Type 6d (Dasypogon),
pandrium ventrally, apex parallel, not type locality Sulawasi (Tidon).
strongly divergent. Aedeagus stout, wide Stichopogon albicapillus Wulp 1872:
apically; stout ventral process absent. 147 Type &, type locality Indonesia
Female: As C. nicobarensis except as (Java).
follows. Body length 13.0416.0 mm; C. nicobarensis Schiner 1868: 161. Distri-
FHWR 1/4.6-1/4.8; FVYWR_ 1/2.2-1/2.4; bution: India, Madagascar, Egypt, Mas-
BOMW RE 1/15 =1/1.73 »-WHWR. 1/2.0; carene Islands, Philippines, Nicobar Is-
OMHWR 1/2.9; OMVWR 1/1.2-1/14. Ter- land, Malaysia (Sabah), Taiwan, Yemen
minalia (Figs. 15-18): Acanthophorites (Socotra Archipeligo). Type 2 (Sticho-
98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 10-14. Male terminalia of Clinopogon velatus. 10, Tergite 9 [|= epandrium] and cercus, dorsal view.
11413, Lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. 14, Aedeagus, lateral view.
VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 99
1 8 0.5 mm
Figs. 15-18. Female terminalia of Clinopogon velatus, 15, Sternite 9 [genital fork]. 16-18, Lateral [tergite
8 removed], ventral, and dorsal views.
pogon), type locality Nicobar Islands cality Sri Lanka (Kandy District, Pera-
(Kondul). deniya).
Clinopogon sauteri Bezzi 1910: 153. C. plumbeus (Fabricius) 1775: 793. Distri-
Type 6d, type locality Taiwan (Takao), bution: Australia. Type? (Asi/us), type lo-
C. odontoferus Joseph and Parui 1984: 55. cality Nova Hollandia (Australia,
Distribution: Sri Lanka. Type 6, type lo- Queensland).
100 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
C. reginaldi (Séguy) 1955: 10. Distribution: Fabricius, J. C. 1775. Systema entomologiae sistens
Tromelin Island, Madagascar. Type? (Sti- insectorum classes, ordines, genera species adiec-
tis synonymis locis descriptioibus obsevationibus.
chopogon), type locality Madagascar
Flensburgi et Lipsiae (Flensburg & Leipzig), 832
(Tromelin Island).
Pp-
C. scalaris (Bigot) 1879: 440. Distribution: Geller-Grimm, FE 2002. Robber flies (Diptera: Asili-
Fiji. Type? (Stichopogon), type locality dae) of the Socotra Archipeligo, Yemen. Fauna of
Fiji. Arabia 19: 467-489.
. 2004. http://www.geller-grimm.de/catalog/
C. velatus Scarbrough, new species. Distri-
literatu.htm.
bution: Malaysia (Sabah). Type ¢, type
Hull, EFM . 1962. Robber flies of the world. The genera
locality Malaysia (Sabah). of the family Asilidae. United States National Mu-
seum Bulletin 224 (142): 1-907.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Joseph, A. N. T. and P. Parui. 1984. On some Asilidae
I am grateful to EK Christian Thompson, (Diptera) from India and adjoining countries pre-
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, sent in the British Museum (Natural History). Ori-
ental Insects 18: 53-71.
USDA, Smithsonian Institution, National
McAlpine, J. EF 1981. Morphology and terminology4
Museum of Natural History, Washington,
Adults, pp. 9-63. In McAlpine, J. F, B. V. Peter-
D. C., for work space during my visits and son, G. E. Shewell, H. J. Teskey, J. R. Vockeroth,
for facilitating a loan of the material used and D. M. Wood. Manual of Nearctic Diptera,
in this study. Robert A. Cannings, Royal Vol. 1. Agriculture Canada. Monograph 27. Ot-
tawa.
British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British
Oldroyd, H. 1975. Family Asilidae, pp. 99-156. In M.
Columbia, Canada, reviewed and provided
D. Delfindo and D. E. Hardy, eds. A catalog of
useful comments on the manuscript. Diptera of the Oriental Region. Vol. 2. University
of Hawaii Press. Honolulu.
LITERATURE CITED
Schiner, J. R. 1868. Reise der Osterreichischen Fre-
Bezzi, M., 1910. Revisio systematica generis diptero- gatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 18574
rum Stichopogon (in Latein). Annales historico- 1859. Zoologischer Theil 2(1) B; Wien. Kaiser-
naturales Musei nationalis hungarici 8: 129-159. lich-k6nigliche Hof- und Staatsdruckeri, 388 pp.
Bigot, J.M.F 1878. Dipteres nouveaux ou peu connus. Séguy, E. 1955. Dipteres de 19 He Tromelin. Le Natur-
10.partie. XV.Tribu des Asilidae. Annales de la aliste malgache 7: 9-12.
Société entomologique de France (5)7: 73-74. Walker, E 1849. List of the specimens of dipterous
. 1879. [Note: Relative to the genera Laphyctis insects in the collection of the British Museum.
and Laphystia (Loew)]. Annales de la Société en- London. Part 2: 2314484 (299-484).
tomologique de France (5)9:2354236. . 1861.Catalogue of dipterous insects collected
Cannings, R. A. 2002. The systematics of Lasiopogon at Menado in Celebes and in Tond by A. R. Wal-
(Diptera: Asilidae). Royal British Columbia Mu- lace with descriptions of new species. Journal of
seum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 354 pp. the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London
Daniels, G. 1989. Family Asilidae, pp. 326-349. In 5: 258-270.
Evenhuis, N. L., ed. Catalog of the Diptera of the Wulp, E M. van der. 1872. Bijdrag tot de Kennis der
Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Bishop Mu- Asiliden van den Oost-Indischen Archipel.
seum Press and E. J. Brill. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie (2)7(15): 129-279.