Caenoconops bicolor (Kröber, 1931)

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 : 285-286

Caenoconops bicolor (Kröber, 1931)

( Figs 5–9)

Conops bicolor Kröber, 1931: 90 .

Caenoconops subapicalis Kröber, 1939: 376 .

Caenoconops claripennis ( Camras, 1962) : Camras 1962: 220 (as Physoconops claripennis ), n. syn. Syntype of Caenoconops subapicalis KrÖber, 1939 (examined): ♂ bearing following labels: (1) “ Syn- / type”; (2) “Type”; (3) “E. Cape Prov. / Katberg. / 1–10.ii.1933.”; (4) “S.Africa. / R.E. Turner / Brit. Mus. / 1933-139.”; (5) “ Conops / subapicalis, Krb. / examined & det. O. Kröber, 1938.”; (6) “ Caenoconops / subapicalis Krb / det. Kröber, 1938”; (7) “ Caenoconops / bicolor / Kröber / det. Camras. 1999”; (8) “BMNH(E)# / 248958” (NHML).

Material examined: Burundi: 1♀, Busoni, 1400 m, hand net, 5.vi.1955, F.J. François ( ISNB). Ethiopia: 1♂, Sidamo Province, about 50 km NE Mega, 1420 m, 24.iv.2007, J. Halada ( CULSP). Kenya: 1♂, Kathado, 27.iv.1967, D.J. Greathead, det. as C. bicolor by Camras 1999 ( NHML NHMUK 013644271); 1♂, Coast Province, N edge of Arabuko Sokoke forest [UTM 37 M 607257 9644873], 83 m, hand net, 28.v.2006, P. Cerretti, D. Avesani, G. Carpaneto, G. Nardi ( PMME). Lesotho: 1♂, Mamathes, on Acacia karroo foliage, 3.ii.1952, C. Jacot-Guillarmod ( AMGS). Mozambique: 1♀, 100 km NE Tete [15°26'S 34°20'E], hand net, 7.xii.2005, Kadlecová ( CULSP). South Africa: Eastern Cape: 1♂, Grahamstown, on Acacia karroo foliage, 19.xi.1975, F.W. Gess ( AMGS); 1♀, Queenstown [=Komani], 16.i–10.ii.1923, R.E. Turner, det. as C. ater by Kröber 1938, det. as C. bicolor by Camras 1999 ( NHML NHMUK 013644272); 1♂, Katberg, 1–10.xi.1933, R.E. Turner, det. as C. ater by Kröber 1938, det. as C. bicolor by Camras 1999 ( NHML NHMUK 013644270); 1♀, Lady Grey, 6.i.1926, R.I. Nel, det. as C. rhodesiensis by Kröber 1931, det. as C. rhodesiensis by Gibbson 2011 ( NHML NHMUK 013644269); 1♂, Lady Grey, 2.ii.1926, R.I. Nel, det. as C. rhodesiensis by Kröber 1931, det. as C. rhodesiensis by Gibbson 2011 ( NHML NHMUK 013644268); KwaZulu-Natal: 1♂, Royal Natal National Park, day visitor camp [28°41'25.4"S 28°56'53.9"E], 1410 m, 3.xii.2012, J. Oehlke ( PASS).

Remarks: The material of Caenoconops I have at hand shows wide variation in the colouration of the wings, femur and head. Camras (2001: 207) remarked about Caenoconops bicolor : “A series of eight specimens from the Natal Museum shows a wide range of size and appearance. Light coloured specimens look much different from dark specimens, especially in the appearance of the wing”. I cannot find any consistent characters to distinguish between C. rhodesiensis , C. claripennis and C. bicolor , and therefore Conops bicolor Kröber, 1931 and Physoconops claripennis Camras, 1962 (n. syn.) are synonymised.

I also doubt that C. freidbergi is a valid species, but I have not seen any specimens that fit the original description and therefore I repeat the characters given in the original description in Key 3.