Astochia virgatipes (Coquillett, 1898)

(Figs 3, 15, 30, 31 & 60)

Asilus virgatipes Coquillet 1898 Coquillet (1898: 313) . Astochia virgatipes: Hermann, 1917: 33 .

Large sized black and yellow flies, 24 to 27mm. Abdomen contrasting yellow hair and black integument. Male with spatulate (spoon­like) hair on fore basitarsus. Except mystax and suctal bristles, most hairs are spiraled (cork­screw­like) at apices. Aedeagus long and slender, apex trifid (Figs. 30, 31). Epandrial lobes elongated with prominent paired dorsal and apical paralobi: proximal one with anterior tooth; apical one rounded (Fig. 3). Gonostylus triangular with tapered apex (Fig. 15). Ovipositor elongated, laterally compressed, consisting of apical 5 segments (Fig. 60).

Head: Mystax with abundant long, gold hair; face bright gold tomentose. Antennal style elongated, almost as long as proceeding 3 segments. Thorax: Chaetotaxy with 2 notopleural; 2 supraalar; 3 postalar; and an irregular row of weak dorsocenteral bristles. Scutellum gray tomentose with sparse black hair; 6 marginal bristles. Pleurae gold/gray tomentose with black and yellow hair. Anepisternum with a distinct broad black lateral stripe, absent in females. Legs: Orange and black. Fore and mid femora black dorsally, orange ventrally and laterally. Hind femur black, apex orange ventrally. Tibia orange with black apices. Hind tibia with a short anterior row of 4 proximal bristles, absent in females. Fore basitarsus thickened with numerous strong stout ventral bristles and spatulate (spoon shaped) bristles; females without spatulate hair. Wings: Tinged yellow along veins, males less so. Abdomen: Black with bright gold lateral and marginal hair. Tergite 8 entirely black in males. Male genitalia pendulous, with a sagging, hanging appearance. Ovipositor slender and elongated as in Neoitamus .

Female specimens from Sŏnyudo Is. show greater wing pigmentation and darker abdominal hair than specimens from the mainland.

South Korean distribution. Ch ǒ llabuk ­Do Province. Kunsan. Wolmyong Park. 35°57’93”N, 126°41’78”E. Sŏnyudo Is. Okto­Myon. 35°49’18”N, 126°24’47”E. Ch ǒ llanam­Do Province. Pogildo Is. Wando Gun. Tadohaehaesang N.P. (no coordinates available). Kang­won­Do Province. Tonghae: East coast. Samcheok. 37°23’33”N, 129°13’34”E.

Material examined. 1ɗ: 22/VI/1998, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Kunsan Wolmyong Park; 3Ψ: 1/VIII/2003, Chŏllabuk­Do Province, Sŏnyudo Is. Okto­Myon; 1ɗ: 18/VIII/ 1998, P.Tripotin coll., Chŏllanam­Do Province, Pogildo Is. Wando­Gun, Tadohaehaesang N.P.; 1ɗ, 6Ψ: 8/VI/2003, Kang won Do Province, Tonghae, East coast Samcheok.

Field notes. Astochia . virgatipes inhabits costal areas with sandy soil. The asilid occupies sympatric and allopatric habitats with Eutolmus brevistylus .