Conops (Asiconops) elegans Meigen, 1804

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 : 289-293

Conops (Asiconops) elegans Meigen, 1804

( Figs 16–20)

Conops elegans Meigen, 1804: 275 .

Conops capensis Wiedemann, 1819: 14 , n. syn.

Conops natalensis Macquart, 1846: 269 , n. syn.

Conops fumipennis Adams, 1903: 43 .

Conops bellus Adams, 1903: 44 .

Conops semifumosus Adams, 1903: 44 .

Conops pliuchus Speiser, 1909: 26 .

Conops miuchus Speiser, 1909: 27 .

Conops stylatus Kröber, 1915 b: 56 .

Conops nigrocoxalis Kröber, 1915 b: 57 .

Conops bequaerti Kröber, 1915 b: 58 .

Conops decipiens Kröber, 1933: 258 , n. syn.

Conops aureocingulatus Séguy, 1939: 135 .

Holotype of Conops capensis Wiedemann, 1819 (examined): ♀ bearing following labels: (1) “[blank red lable]”; (2) “Cap. b. sp./ Coll. Winthem ”; (3) “ capensis / det Wied”; (4) “ capensis Wid. / Cap b. sp.” ( NMW).

Syntype of Conops stylatus Kröber, 1915 (examined): ♂ bearing following labels: (1) “7354”; (2) “ Type ”; (3) “ Conops ♂ / stylatus Krb. / O. KrÖber det. 1914”; (4) “ Sansibar / 6°s. Hildebr.”; (5) “ Conops / elegans / Stuke det. 2003” ( ZMHB) .

Syntypes of Conops nigrocoxalis KrÖber, 1915 (all examined): 2♂ and 1 of unknown sex bearing following labels: (1) “Syn - / type”; (2) “Capland / Willowmore / 12 1911 / Dr. Brauns”; (3) “Brauns Coll. / 1912-44”; (4) “ Syntype ♂ of / Conops nigrocoxalis / KrÖber, 1915 ” ( NHML).

Holotype of Conops decipiens KrÖber, 1933 (examined): ♂ bearing following labels: (1) “ Holotype ”; (2) “ Type ”; (3) “ Bulawayo / S. Rhodesia / 6.4.1926 / R. H. R. Stevenson ”; (3) “Press. by / Imp. Inst.

Ent. / Brit. Mus. /1932 – 143,”; (4) “ Conops ♂ / decipiens Krb / det. KrÖber 1931”; (5) “BMNH(E)# / 248978” ( NHML).

Material examined: Burundi: 1♀, Colline Muhinga, Butezana , 1700 m, 11.v.1952, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♀, Colline Rumonge, Imbo, Terr de Bururi, 780 m, 7.iii.1953, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♀, Rumonge , 780 m, 19.ii.1949, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♀, same, 20.ii.1949; 3♂, same, 26.ii.1949; 1♀, Rumonge , 780 m, 26.ii.1949, F.J. François, det. as C. elegans var. minutus by Janssen 1955 ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Rumonge , sable et broussailles prés river du Lac Tanganyika, 790 m, 19–20.vi.1948, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Rumonge , sable et broussailles prés river du Lac Tanganyika, 790 m, 19–20.vi.1948, F.J. François, det. as C. elegans var fuscipennis by Janssens 1955 ( ISNB) . Democratic Republic of Congo: 1♂ 1♀, Albertville [=Kalemi], 780 m, 21.ii.1951, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], ix.1915, Expedition Lang-Chapin ( MRAC) ; 5♂, same, viii.1915; 1♂ 1♀, same, ix.1915; 1♂, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], viii.1915, Expedition Lang-Chapin, det. as C. fuscipennis by Curran ( MRAC) ; 1♀, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], 9.vii.1915, Expedition Lang-Chapin ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], 6.viii.1915, Expedition Lang-Chapin, det. as C. bequaerti by Curran ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], 14.viii.1915, Expedition Lang-Chapin ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Banana [6°00'S 12°20'E], 6.viii.1920, H. Schouteden, det. as. C. stylatus by KrÖber 1935 ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Eala , 8.xi.1932, A. Corbisier, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Kasenyi [1°24'N 30°26'E], 15.v.1935, H.J. Brédo, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) ; 2♂ 1♀, Kivu, Uvira , 16–23.iii.1953, P. Basilewsky, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Lomami, Luputa , iii.1935, Bouvier, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Lulua, Kapanga , v.1933, G.F. Overlaet, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) ; 1♂, Ubangi, Bosobolo , 8–11.i.1932, H.J. Brédo, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1962 ( MRAC) . Ethiopia: 1♀, 20 km SE Konsa [05°15'N 37°32'E], 850 m, 11–13.v.2005, J. Halada ( CULSP) ; 1♂, Oromia, Senkeke National Park [7°09'N 38°17'E], 2103 m, 17.ix.2012, A. Pauly ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Oromia, Senkeke National Park , 2011 m [7°11'52"N 38°16'20"E], Ocimum urticifolium , 17.ix.2012, A. Pauly ( ISNB) . Kenya: 1♂ 2♀, Shirati , iii.1909, K. Katona, det. as C. elegans by Camras 1999 ( ZMHB) ; 1♂, Tsavo East National Park, near Athi River [2°37'S 38°22'E], sweep net, 10.vi.1998, R. Copeland ( NMKE) ; 1♂, Coast Province, Congoni Forest [4°24.23'S 39°28.21'E], sweep net, 20.vii.1999, R. Copeland ( NMKE) ; 1♀, Rift Valley Province, Nguruman , gallery forest [1°50.07'S 36°04.97'E], Malaise trap, 6–8.x.1998, R. Copeland ( NMKE) ; 1♂, Rift Valley Province, Nguruman, Oloibortoto River , irrigation scheme [1°48'S 36°04'E], Malaise trap, 19–22.iv.1999, R. Copeland ( NMKE) ; 1♀, Rift Valley Province, Nguruman, Oloibortoto , irrigation scheme S Pukare Farm, Malaise trap, 25.iii.1999, R. Copeland ( NMKE) . Lesotho: 1♂, Mamathes , 25.xii.1947, C. Jacot-Guillarmod ( AMGS) ; 2♀, same, 27.xii.1947; 1♂, same, 10.xii.1950; 1♂, same, 24.xii.1950; 1♂ 1♀, same, 25.ii.1951; 1♂, same, 3.iii.1951; 1♂, same, 3.ii.1952; 1♂, same, 10.iii.1952; 1♂, same, 12.iii.1952; 1♀, same, 22.xii.1954; 1♂, same, 28.xii.1959; 1♀, Leribe District, Khabos , i.1932, C. Jacot-Guillarmod ( AMGS) . Mozambique: 1♂, Manica Province, 65 km W Chimoio , 10.xi.2003, J. Halada ( CULSP) . Namibia: 2♂, 18 km W 1237/C26 junction [23.09°S 16.42°E], visiting deep pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia , 11.iii.1999, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, 22 km N Kalkrand [23.55°S 17.28°E], visiting yellow flowers Geigeria pectidae (DC.) Harv. , 3.iv.2004, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, 30 km S of Omaruru , visiting deep pink flowers of Hermbstaetia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke , 1.iv.1998, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, between Omaruru and Wilhelmstal [21.31°S 16.03°E], visiting deep pink flowers Hermbstaedtia odorata (Burch.) T. Cooke , 3.iv.1998, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, “D.SW. Afrika ”, 1901, S.V. Lübbert ( ZMHB) ; 1♂ 1♀, Karasburg , on D201 from M26 [27.09°S 19.01°E], visiting white flowers of Nyctaginaceae , 5.iii.2000, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, Karasburg [28.00°S 18.45°E], on cream flowers of Asclepias buchenaviana Schinz , 13.iii.1997, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, Kaudom Game Reserve, Kaudom Camp [13°30'S 20°44'E], 22–25.ii.1992, E. Marais, M. Pusch ( SMWN) ; 1♂, N Kalkveld on road to Otjiwarongo [20.50°S 16.30°E], visiting deep pink flowers of Hermbstaedtia , 25.iii.1997, F.W.Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, near Aus on road to Helmeringhausen [26.37°S 19.20°E], visiting white flowers of Psilocaulon glareosum (Berger) Dinter & Schwantes , 15.iii.1997, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, Otjikoko-Sud 61, Omaruru, SE 2116 Ad , 10–13.ii.1972, collector unknown ( SMWN) ; 1♂, Rundu , 29.i.1993, M. Schwarz ( PMHA) ; 1♂, West Caprivi Park, Kwando River [17°43'S 23°21'E], 8.iv.1990, E. Marais ( SMWN) ; 1♀, Harda Province , 15 km S Rehobot [23°28'S 17°07'E], 1400 m, 20.iii.2014, J. Halada ( CULSP) ; 3♂, Namibia central, S Okasewa [22°34'53"S 18°11'15"E], 1550 m, 12–17.ii.2010, J. Oehlke ( PASS) ; 1♀, same, 19.iii.1950. South Africa: Limpopo: 1♂, 20 km N Thabazimbi [24°25'S 27°24'E], 23.ii–17.iii.1999, J. Oehlke, R. Oehlke ( SDEI) ; Gauteng: 1♂, Pretoria, Capital Park , 3.i.1965, H.N. Empey ( PMHA) ; Free State: 1♂, Sandveld Nature Reserve, Hoopstad, SE 2725 Da , 8–12.ii.1982, Entomology Department ( BMSA) ; Western Cape: 1♂, 43 km ENE of Ceres on road to Sutherland , on flowers of Athanasia sp. , 2–3.xii.1982, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, same, on flowers of Wiborgia sp. ( AMGS) ; 1♀, Ouberg Pass by road 27 km NE Montagu [33°40'00"S 20°16'25"E], 3.xii.1986, R.W. Gess ( AMGS) ; Northern Cape: 1♀, Vanwyksfontein [30°39'S 25°22'E], 8 km W Norvalspont, 1–9.xii.1988, R.W. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, same but on flowering Acacia karroo , 16.i.1985, R.W. Gess ( AMGS) ; Eastern Cape: 1♀, Grahamstown [33°18'S 26°31'E], 14.ii.1953, W.H. Potts, det.as C. capensis by Smith 1957 ( NHML NHMUK010922061 ) ; 1♀, Grahamstown, Hilton [20 km on R350 N Grahamstown], Malaise trap, 12–16.xi.1975, F.W. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♂, Grahamstown, Hilton , on flowers of Phyllopodium cuneifolium , 9.iii.1978, F.W. Gess ( AMGS) ; 1♀, Grahamstown , 15.x.2007, M.C. Parkinson ( AMGS) ; 2♀, Willowmore , no date, H. Brauns, det. as. C. nigrocoxalis (MRAC) ; 1♀, Morgan Bay , coastal bush, hind dune, 30.iii–4.iv.1989, F.W. Gess, S.K. Gess ( AMGS) ; KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀, Ladysmith [28°33'S 29°47'E], i.1947, Finn. ( AMGS) ; 1♂, Ndumo Game Reserve , main camp area [26°54.652'S 32°19.719'E], MV & black light trap, broad leafed deciduous woodland, 26.xi–11.xii.2009, Kirk-Spriggs, Haddad, Swart ( BMSA) ; 1♀, Fanies Island [28°06'S 32°27'E], parkland, heath, 12–18. iii.1985, A. Weaving ( AMGS) ;. Tanzania: 1♀, Kigoma, 800 m, det. as C. capensis by Janssens 1954, 19.iii.1950, F.J. François ( ISNB) ; 1♂, Nyasasee [Lake Nyasa], Langenburg [=Tukuyu], 3.ix–3.x.1898, S. Fülleborn ( ZMHB) ; 1♂, same, 3.x–4.xi.1898; 1♂, same, 26.vii–8.viii.1898; 1♂, same, end of iii. to beginning of iv. 1898; 1♀, same, 20.viii–1.ix.1898; 1♀, same, 1–26.vii.1898; 1♀, Nyasasee [Lake Nyasa], Wiedhafen [=Manda], 26.i–3.ii.1899, S. Fülleborn ( ZMHB) .

Remarks: As pointed out by several previous authors, and as should be obvious from the long list of synonyms, C. elegans is a very variable species. Variation is found in size, in the colouration of the antennae (from quite orange-brown to almost completely dark brown), colouration of thorax and abdomen (from almost completely orange to almost completely black), and in the wing markings (from completely black wings to mainly hyaline wings). Conops elegans is, however, easily recognised by the completely dusted face and the lack of frontofacial spots.

The holotype of C. capensis fits completely C. elegans . Conops capensis Wiedemann, 1819 —the first conopid ever described from the Afrotropical Region—is therefore a junior synonym of Conops elegans Meigen, 1804 (n. syn.). There is no conopid specimen collected in the Afrotropics that has had such a long and well documented history as the holotype of Conops capensis . Concerning the original description, the specimen was collected by the merchant Bernt Wilhelm Westermann (1781–1868) who lived from December 1816 to February 1818 in the Cape. In 1818, he reached Copenhagen together with first Conopidae collected in the Afrotropical Region ( Pont 1996). Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann (1770–1840) was a professor in Kiel at that time and received the type from Westermann, with whom he had intensive contact. He described the new species immediately in his own journal in 1819. After Wiedemann died in 1840 his Diptera collection was sold to the merchant Wilhelm von Winthem (1799–1847) and at least since that time the holotype of C. capensis was stored in Hamburg. Wilhelm von Winthem died in 1847 and his impoverished widow had to sell his collection. Professor Kollar took the opportunity, travelled to Hamburg and bought the Diptera Collection for the Natural History Museum in Vienna. Here the type has been hosted since about 1850. The Hamburg dipterist Otto KrÖber reviewed the Afrotropical Conopidae and redescribed the holotype of C. capensis (Kröber 1915 b) . Because Kröber never made long journeys it is very probably that the specimen was in fact sent to him, and therefore reached Hamburg for a second time. In about the year 2000 the American dipterist Sidney Camras visited the Museum in Vienna and examined the type again.

Conops natalensis was described from a single male from “D’Arfique, Port- Natal”; this is the only Conops species Macquart described from the Afrotropical Region. The type of the species is lost and the species itself has afterwards only ever been listed in the catalogues of Kröber (1917, 1931) and Smith (1980). The short original description comprises all that is known about C. natalensis . and it fits completely with Conops elegans , one of the most common Conopinae in South Africa. Conops natalensis Macquart, 1846 should therefore be treated as a junior synonym of Conops elegans Meigen, 1804 (n. syn.).

The holotype of C. decipiens Kröber, 1933 also fits completely the concept of C. elegans and therefore also has to be placed as a junior synonym of Conops elegans Meigen, 1804 (n. syn.).