Physocephala larvata, (Speiser, 1911)

Stuke, Jens-Hermann & Clements, David K., 2019, New conopid records from the Afrotropical Region (Diptera) - Part 3: Physocephalini, Bonn zoological Bulletin 68 (2), pp. 209-273 : 228-229

P. larvata (Speiser, 1911)

( Figs 25–29 )

Conops (Physocephala) larvatus Speiser 1911

= Physocephala similis Kröber 1915 (syn. nov.)

Material. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1♂, 30.xii.1952, Nord-Kivu, Kinshasa, Vitshumbi, s Lake Edward , leg. J. Verbeke, coll. ISNB ; TANZANIA: 1♂, 1911, Marienhof [=Murutunguru], Ukerewe, leg. Con- rads, coll. SMTD ; UGANDA: 1♂, 12.viii.1958, Uganda, det. as P. similis by Camras 2000, leg. J. Bowden, coll. NHML [ NHMUK010922104 ] .

Physocephala similis was distinguished from P. larvata by Camras (2001) within his similis species-group, but the character which Camras used to identify similis (“Face yellow”) contradicts the original description of Kröber (1915). Kröber compared P. similis with P. larvata and stated that P. similis “Ist P. larvata zum verwechseln ähnlich, hat aber ganz andere Flügelzeich- nung” [Is confused with the similar P. larvata , but has quite a different wing pattern] although this difference is not obvious when comparing the original descriptions of P. similis and P. larvata . Both descriptions fit to the wing shown in Fig. 27 and there remains no other differ- ence between these two species. The depository of the holotype is unknown ( Stuke 2017a) and therefore Physocephala similis Kröber, 1915 is placed as a junior syn- onym of Physocephala [ Conops ] larvatus Speiser, 1911 (syn. nov.).

Figures

Figs 25–29. Physocephala larvata (Speiser, 1911). 25. Habitus, lateral view (♂, Vitshumbi); 26. Frons, dorsal view (♂, Marienhof); 27. Wing, dorsal view (♂, Vitshumbi); 28. Head, ventrolateral view (♂, Marienhof); 29. Epandrium, dorsal view (♂, Marienhof).