Diptera.info

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 26-12-2015 21:13

This small Asilid with spoted wings in males is very common all over Tanzania in places where I look for Lispe: banks with fresh, brackish or salt water.
Is it several resembled species or one commen species? If one species, name please!

Posted by Eric Fisher on 26-12-2015 22:50

This is Stichopgon punctum Loew, one of 8 species known from Africa in 1979 (Londt). S. punctum is only African sp. with conspicuous black spot near wing tip.

Cheers, Eric

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 27-12-2015 06:42

Thank you, Eric, I have a large series, now it has name. I forgot to write that not only water from fresh to salt, but also altitudes from 0 to 1500 m asl. One more species of Stichopogon is on sea shore: very large for Stichopogon and very difficult to catch, I have so far only 1 specimen.

Posted by Eric Fisher on 27-12-2015 17:17

Sounds like your large Stichopogonini may be a Clinopogon (in fact, C. nicobarensis (Schiner)). PM sent.

Cheers, Eric

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 27-12-2015 19:09

Dear Eric, according to the key you sent me, it seems to be C. nicobarensis.
But glance a look, please.

Posted by Eric Fisher on 27-12-2015 21:34

Yes, definitely a Clinopogon sp. I believe the 'stalked-4th post. cell' character used by Londt works only for certain Stichopogon s.l. (e.g. African ones; many exceptions for other areas of world). Stichopogon is abundant world-wide, whereas Clinopogon is found only on sea beaches in the Old World tropics. Better character may be antenna: Clinopogon flagellum has small (inconspicuous) style at apex, Stichopogon with larger, more evident style (often angulate). [Can be seen in your photos]

Edited by Eric Fisher on 27-12-2015 21:35

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 28-12-2015 15:27

Thank you, Eric.
There are two possibilities: to send image in Gallery under C. nicobarensis (Schiner) or do not. What should I do in your opinion?

Posted by Eric Fisher on 28-12-2015 18:04

I'd suggest submitting the image as Clinopgon cf nicobarensis (Schiner), which should cover the identification well. This has been judged as the only valid Clinopogon sp. along the east coast of Africa by both Oldroyd (1974) and Londt (1979).

According to Londt (Catalog of Afrotropical Afrotropical, 2005) there is also a Clinopogon reginaldi Seguy now known from minute 'Tromelin Island' (450 km east of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean). The status of this mysterious oceanic sp. is not known to me. Another named Clinopogon (C. grossus Bromley) is considered to be a synonym of C. nicobarensis.