Enica syrticola ( Hesse, 1956 ), 2025

Rollinson, Lisa & Cabrero, Allan, 2025, Species discovery in Southern African bee flies (Diptera, Bombyliidae): A new species in the revised genus Enica Macquart, 1834, African Invertebrates 66 (1), pp. 73-115 : 73-115

Enica syrticola ( Hesse, 1956) comb. nov.

Fig. 11

Taxon depository.

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ 5BF9C251-F8F2-45D7-9665-DFF5AD9387D2.

Diagnosis.

The species is distinguished from other species in the genus by the dark brown to black postcranium, which covers the dorsal and posterior surface of the head.

Description.

Head: wider than high, creamy white; males holoptic, females dichoptic, vertex and compound eyes at same level; frons (at level of antennal insertion) more or less parallel-sided, female: light brown to reddish-orange, darker than head, with dark brown to black triangular spot extending to eyes, males: reddish-orange, much darker than head; frons black setose, with white scales, males no setation near eyes, females setose near eyes only dorsally; ocellar tubercle slightly raised, dark reddish-brown to black, black macrosetose, white or light brown scales posteriorly; occiput light and dark brown setose, white scales antero-dorsally, entire back of occiput dark brown to black; gena significantly darkened to reddish brown or black, extremely sparsely setose.

Proboscis and maxillary palpus: proboscis straight, black; labella only forming distal tip of proboscis, apically rounded, minute black setose; maxillary palpus not extending beyond oral cavity, brown, brown setose.

Antenna: black; scape creamy white or reddish brown, approximately as long as pedicel, black setose dorsally and ventrally, setae extending to tip of pedicel; pedicel black, short black setose dorsally; postpedicel black, cylindrical (same diameter throughout), longer than scape and pedicel combined, black scales dorsally; stylus reduced, only apical ‘ seta-like’ sensory element present, situated sub – apically in cavity on postpedicel.

Thorax: reddish brown and light orangish brown; scutum predominantly black, reddish on margins, dark scales centrally and white scales peripherally; setation: acr setae present, black, dc setae present, black; prosternum silvery grey pubescence; proepisternum silvery grey pubescence, long yellowish-white setose, white scales; antepronotum silvery grey pubescence, dull white scales anteriorly; postpronotum silvery grey pubescence, asetose, with medial dark brown to black stripe; postpronotal lobe silvery grey pubescence, long white flattened setose, black macrosetose; pleuron silvery grey pubescence; proepimeron silvery grey pubescence, asetose; anepisternum silvery grey pubescence, white scales ventrally, black macrosetose dorsally; anepimeron silvery grey pubescence, asetose; katepisternum silvery grey pubescence, white scales dorsally; laterotergite silvery grey pubescence, asetose; meron + metepisternum silvery grey pubescence, white scales dorsally; metepimeron silvery grey pubescence, white setose dorsally; apubescent, ds sctl setae black macrosetose, ap sctl setae comprised of light brown and white scales, black setose.

Leg: light orangish brown to dark brown, covered in scales, some regular setae present; pro coxa dark reddish brown, silvery grey pubescence, dull whitish – yellow scales, thick black setose; pro femur dorsally dark brown, ventrally orangish brown, dark brown scales, black setose; pro tibia light brown, raised short and fine dark brown setose ventrally, large black setose dorsally; mes coxa dark reddish brown, white pubescence, dull whitish – yellow scales, thick black setose; mes femur dorsally dark brown, ventrally orangish brown, dark brown scales, black setose; mes tibia light brown, dark brown scales, long black setose, distal tip with long black setae; met coxa dark reddish brown, white pubescent, dull whitish – yellow scales, thick black setose, anteriorly without any protuberance; met trochanter short black setose ventrally, white scales dorsally, without protuberance; met femur dorsally dark brown, ventrally orangish brown, dark brown scales, brown scales dorsally basally, long and thick black setose; met tibia light brown, dark brown scales, large black setose, distal tip with long black macrosetae of varying sizes; proximal pro, mes, and met tarsomeres longer than following 2 tarsomeres combined, proximal met tarsomere as wide as following tarsomeres; pro tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; mes tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; met tarsomere with dark brown scales dorsally, black setose ventrally; claw smoothly arched distally.

Wing: 9.9–11.4 mm, microtrichia absent; membrane color pattern males: predominantly brown colored except for white tinted base of wing, areas around crossveins r-r, r-m, m-cu, base of cells r 2 + 3, center of br, proximal part of r 1, base of veins M 2, split between M 1 + 2 and M 3, females: darkly infuscated except for white tinted base of wing, r-r, r-m, base of r 2 + 3, base of m 2, m-cu, split between M 1 + 2 and M 3; costal vein dark brown short setose, whitish clear setose proximally; R 2 + 3 distally distinctly arching anteriorly, r 1 open; R 4 terminating anterior to wing apex, distinctly arching anteriorly; cell r 4 open, proximally R 4 and R 5 parallel, R 4 strongly diverging anteriorly in distal 2 / 3; R 5 terminating posterior to wing apex; r 5 open; M 1 terminating posterior to wing apex; cell d closed by base of M 2 and m-m, r-m situated in distal ¼; m 3 open; cua open; alula greatly reduced, nearly straight wing margin; haltere stem dark brown setose.

Abdomen: shape ovate, predominantly black with at most a thin reddish brown area on posterior edge of each tergite; tergites smooth, setae with small sockets only; T 1 predominantly reddish-orange, some black, light yellowish-brown to light whitish-brown setose, scales; T 2 – T 7 predominantly black, thin black setose, brown to light yellowish-brown and white scales, white scales on spots on posterior margins of T 2–5; S 1–8 predominantly light reddish-orange, yellow to white scales, thin black setose and long white setose; lateral margin black setae remaining close to abdomen, male T 8 white scales, black setose.

Terminalia: Male terminalia drawings in Hesse (1956, p 43): https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844178.

Material examined.

Holotype. South Africa – Western Cape • 1 ♂ Lamberts Bay ; 32°05'24"S, 018°18'47"E; 20 Nov. 1917; Roberts, A. leg.; NMSA -DIP-048211 , NMSA.

Paratype. South Africa – Northern Cape • 1 ♂ Augusfontein (= Augustfontein), Calvinia ; 31°37'00"S, 019°22'00"E; Sep. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002179 , SAMC .

South Africa – Western Cape • 1 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♀ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♀ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC .

Other material.

South Africa – Northern Cape • 1 ♂ Augusfontein (= Augustfontein), Calvinia ; 31°37'00"S, 019°22'00"E; Sep. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002179 , SAMC • 1 ♀ Port Nolloth , 23 km E; 29°18'40"S, 017°06'32"E; 185 m a. s. l.; 16 Sep. 2012; Londt, Jason leg.; sandy road verge; NMSA -DIP-206183 , NMSA • 1 ♀ Alexander Bay, 30 km SE, Richtersveld ; 28°48'30"S, 016°38'00"E; 50 m a. s. l.; 31 Aug. 1989; Londt, Jason, Stuckenberg, Brian leg.; costal strandveld, flowers; NMSA -DIP-042858 , NMSA • 1 ♀ Richtersveld, Grootderm 50 km NE; 28°19'00"S, 16°55'00"E; 350 m a. s. l.; 03 Sep. 1989; Londt, Jason, Stuckenberg, Brian leg.; Sandy valley below a rocky hillside; NMSA -DIP-042859 , NMSA • 3 ♀ 3 ♂ Wallekraal ; 30°23'18"S, 017°30'32"E; Oct. 1950; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002180 , SAMC .

South Africa – Western Cape • 1 ♀ 5 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Eland’s Bay, Leipoldtville ; 32°18'44"S, 018°20'29"E; Oct. 1947; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002177 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Jakkals R (= Jakkalsrivier) Strandveld ; 32°05'08"S, 018°18'60"E; 05 Oct. 1967; Gess, F. leg.; SAM-DIP-A 016204 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Laaiplek ; 32°47'10"S, 018°09'40"E; 09 Oct. 1977; Miller, R. M. leg.; NMSA -DIP-89516 , NMSA • 1 ♀ Lamberts Bay ; 32°05'24"S, 018°18'47"E; 20 Nov. 1917; Roberts, A. leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002176 , SAMC • 1 ♂ Rocherpan Nature Reserve Trail; 32°35'23"S, 018°20'12"E; 2 m a. s. l.; 03 Oct. 2019; Cabrero, A., Deschodt, C. leg.; Flowering mesembs on dunes along coast;, Coll. Cabrero • 1 ♂ Vanrhynsdorp , 7 mi. N; 31°30'52"S, 018°43'09"E; 122 m a. s. l.; 10 Sep. 1972; Irwin, M. E. leg.; red dunes; NMSA -DIP-050202 , NMSA .

Distribution, biodiversity hotspots, phenology, and biology.

Known from localities in the Northern Cape and Western Cape of South Africa (Fig. 7 ). This species is known from 30 specimens, collected in 11 collecting events spread between 1917–2019. The species is known to occur in the Succulent Karoo and Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspots. Adult flies are active from August - November (Table 2 ). Adult flies are presumed pollinators, as other species in the genus have been observed visiting flowers (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64518819). Larvae are unknown but presumed parasitoids as other Bombyliidae , hosts are unknown ( Yeates and Greathead 1997).

Figures

Figure 7. Map of southern Africa with elevational relief and biodiversity hotspots (sensu Conservation International in grey) and distribution of E. eremophila, E. syrticola and E. clavicornis specimens studied.

Figure 11. Enica sporanthera ♂ SAM-DIP-A 002174 (A – C) A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C habitus, frontal view; Enica syrticola ♂ NMSA - DIP- 89516 (D – F) D habitus, frontal view E habitus, dorsal view F habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.