Conops (Asiconops) ater Macquart, 1844

Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2019, New conopid records from the Afrotropical Region (Diptera: Conopidae). Part 2: Conopinae excluding Physocephalini, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (2), pp. 277-349 : 287-289

Conops (Asiconops) ater Macquart, 1844

( Figs 10, 11)

Material examined: Benin: 1♀, Contonore , 1.vi.1989, G.G.M. Schulten ( PJHS) ; 1♀, Malanville , town border [11°50'36.35"N 03°23'32.03"E], xi.1996, G. Goergen ( IITA) ; 1♂, same, light trap, ii.1997 ( IITA) ; 1♂, Penjari [11°24'37.36"N 01°34'58.14"E], light attracted, 26.ii.2000, G. Goergen ( IITA) . Burundi: 1♂, Bubanza, 7 km S Gihanga , 9.iii.1952, F.J. François ( ISNB) . Democratic Republic of Congo: 1♀, Leopoldville [= Kinshasa], 15.ix.1950, M. Leclercq ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Ubangi, Yakoma , 7.ii.1932, H.J. Brédo, det. as C. ater by Kröber 1935 ( MRAC) . Eritrea: 1♂, [signs illegible], “ Eritrea ”, 31.i.1958, D.J. Greathead, det. as C. ater by Camras 1999 ( NHML NHMUK010922068 ) . Ethiopia: 1♀, 20 km SE Konsa [5°15'N 37°32'E], 850 m, 11–13.v.2015, J. Halada ( CULSP) ; 1♂, Shewa Province, Lake Lango , 29–30.iv.2007, J. Halada ( CULSP) ; 2♂, Sidamo Province , 40 km W Sodo, 1130 m, 12.iv.2007, J. Halada ( CULSP) . The Gambia: 1♀, 3 km NW Central Banjul, in vegetation along mangrove swamp [UTM 28PCK255890], 21–22.ii.1977, Cederholm, Daniellson, Hammarstedt, Hedqvist, Samuelsson ( PJHS) ; 1♂, Bakau at tropic Bungalow [UTM 28PCK1790], in meadow rhich in flowers at the beach, swept, 16–18.xi.1977, Cederholm, Daniellson, Hammarstedt, Hedqvist, Samuelsson ( PJHS) ; 1♂, Banjul, Senegambia Hotel , 20.i.1986, G.G.M. Schulten ( PJHS) ; 1♀, outside Abuko Nature Reserve at waterworks, in and at Lamin stream [UTM 28PCK215812], 25–26.ii.1977, Cederholm, Daniellson, Hammarstedt, Hedqvist, Samuelsson ( PJHS) . Kenya: 1♀, Tsavo East National Park, near Athi River [2°37'S 38°22'E], sweep net, 10.vi.1998, R. Copeland ( NMKE) . Malawi: 1♂, Nyasaland, Cholo. [= Thyolo District], no date, R.C. Wood, det. as C. ater by Brunetti 1924 ( NHML NHMUK010922067 ) ; 1♀, Nyasaland, Ruo Valley , 1000–2000 ft, 3.v.1916, R.C. Wood, det. as C. ater by Brunetti 1924 ( NHML NHMUK010922072 ) ; 1♀, Nyasaland, Ruo Valley , 1000–2000 ft, 3.v.1916, R.C. Wood, det. as C. ater by Brunetti 1924 ( NHML NHMUK010922074 ) . Namibia: 1♂, Rundu , 19.i.1993, M. Schwarz ( PMHA) ; 1♂, same, 22.i.1993; 1♀, Simanya Okavango River [17°33'17"S 18°32'33"E], 23–24.i.1998, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, E. Marais ( SMWN) . Nigeria: 1♀, Say , 250 m, 10.x.1976, K. Guichard, det. as C. ater by Camras 1962 ( NHML NHMUK010922071 ) ; 1♂, Say , 250 m, 10.x.1976, K. Guichard, det. as C. ater by Camras 1999 ( NHML NHMUK010922069 ) . Senegal: 1♂, 3 km N Tanaff , in and at pools and paddyfields [“UTM 28P”], swept, 7.iii.1977, Cederholm, Daniellson, Hammarstedt, Hedqvist, Samuelsson ( PJHS) . South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal: 2♂ 1♀, Maputaland , SW of Emanguzi [27°00'S 32°45'E], 29.i.2003, M. Snížek ( PJHS) . Uganda: 1♀, Lake Nabugabo [0°20'S 31°56'E], 17.iv.1973 ,

D.J. Greathead, det. as C. ater by Camras 2000 ( NHML NHMUK010922073 ). Zambia: 1♂, Zambesi Valley [16°18'S 30°16'E], 20.v–29.vii.1988, J. Weyrich ( ZFMK). Unknown country: 1♂,“Kanzik” [possibly refers to Kanziku in Kenya, where Mac Athur collected in 1930s], v.1937 , Mac Arthur, det. as C. ater by Camras 1962 ( NHML NHMUK010922070 ); 1♂, “T493” ( ZFMK) .

Remarks: This is a very variable species typically comprising small black specimens, occasionally with large reddish individuals. The dusting stripe from midcoxa to notopleuron is usually indistinct dorsally but can be well developed. A few specimens that I have left unidentified and which might belong to this species do not have the typical wing pattern but have the radial cell r 2+3 almost completely brown. I cannot exclude that C. ater may eventually need to be split into several taxa when more material becomes available or new characters are found.