Edenophorus nigricans Sinclair 2002, sp. n.

Edenophorus nigricans sp. n.

Etymology: Named in reference to its blackish or dark body colouration.

Holotype female labelled: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE PROV. / 2mi. NNE. Pakhuis Farm,/ Pakhuis Mts, Sept. 14, 1972 / ME&BJ. Irwin, 1800ft,3219Aa’ (NMSA).

Recognition: This species is distinguished by the absence of cell dm, dark grey thorax, dark legs, and wing with a very faint V-shaped medial fork and short stem.

Description:

Female:

Head: Eyes widely separated above antennae; facets not enlarged; long setulae on face; 4–5 pairs of long subequal setulae on frons. Antenna dark brown; scape subequal in length with pedicel; postpedicel conical, clothed in fine pubescence, ca 3 times length of pedicel, gradually tapered to style, which is shorter than length of pedicel. Stout occipital setae in single arching outer row. Proboscis brown with slightly paler labellum; slightly shorter than height of head; palpus one-third length of proboscis, slender bearing long, pale setae.

Thorax: Lightly dusted entirely with grey pruinescence. Thoracic setae generally short, slender, pale, reduced to numerous rows: Acr biserial; more than 10 dc, uniserial, gradually increasing in length posteriorly with prescutellar dc stout similar to pprn; inter-alar setulae scattered; 2 pprn (lower directed anteriorly, upper directed dorsomedially) and several short setulae; 1 ph; 3 npl; 1 pal; 4 sctl, inner pair stouter, twice length of outer. Antepronotum with 1 pair of short, stout setae; upper half of anepisternum obscured by pin; precoxal bridge with 1 stout seta above fore coxa.

Legs: Dark, reddish brown. Fore coxa with several long lateral setae; segments clothed in pale setulae, lacking modified setae.

Wings (length 2.0 mm): Stigma faint. Venation similar to other species, except crossvein dm-cu absent; M vein very faint, medial fork V-shaped, petiole or stem ca one-third as long as fork; M 1 not strongly arched towards wing margin, slightly divergent from R 4+5. Halter yellow.

Abdomen: Dusted greyish brown, paler than thorax. Sclerites well sclerotised.

Terminalia (undissected): cercus ca half length of T7, slender, finger-like.

Male: Unknown.

Remarks: Although it is often not recommended to base new species of empidids upon female specimens alone, the dark coloured legs and form of the medial fork of this species set it apart from all other known members of the genus.