Conops platycephalus Loew 1853

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 : 256

Conops platycephalus Loew 1853

( Figs 102–105 )

Material. SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂, 3.–7.x.1988, Cape Province, Clanwilliam Dam [32°11′30″S 18°53′42″E], on flowers of Aspalathus desertorum Bol. , leg. F. W. Gees, S. K. Gees, coll. AMGS; 1♀, ix.1928, Cape Prov- ince, Worcester, det. as Physocephala spec. by Kröber 1938, det. as P. platycephala by Camras 2000, leg. R. E. Turner, coll. NHML [NHMUK010922130].

While the female of P. platycephala is easily recognised by the obvious shape of the postabdomen and theca ( Figs 102, 104 ), males are more problematic. We doubt that males can be reliably identified using the colour pattern of the scutum as proposed by Camras (2001) and as de- scribed in Key 6. Figs 103 & 105 show that the black spots on the scutum are less distinctly separated in males ( Fig. 105 ) compared to females ( Fig. 103 ), and may per- haps sometimes become fused. Perhaps males of this rare species – only two female specimens are known – have therefore previously been misidentified as other species.

Figures

Figs 102–105. Physocephala platycephala (Loew, 1853). 102: tip of ♀ abdomen, lateral view (♀, Worcester); 103. ♀ scutum, dor- sal view (♀, Worcester); 104. Tip of ♀ abdomen, dorsal view (♀, Worcester); 105. ♂ scutum, dorsal view (♂, Clanwilliam dam).