Figs. 151–160, 196

Male. Dark brown. Body 9.3–12.2 mm; wing 6.7–8.0 mm. Head: Face yellow tomentose setae and bristles yellowish; FHWR 1.0:4.2. Antenna brown; scape length subequal to flagellum; FWLR 1.0:2.0–1.0:2.5. Frons yellow to brownish­yellow tomentose; setae as long as scape. Occiput gray tomentose, mostly white setose, sparse black setae dorsally; postocular bristles thick, weakly proclinate, tips at or just beyond eye posteriorly; brown bristles extend to or beyond dorsal 1/4 of eye.

Thorax: Pronotum brown tomentose with four white or black bristles. Mesonotum with two large spots laterally and two narrow median stripes dorsally, brown tomentose; tomentum slightly lighter between brown, yellowish­gray to gray laterally and posteriorly; setae largely black, long and abundant laterally and between rows of dorsocentral bristles; anterior setae as long as to twice as long as scape; numerous long dorsocentral bristles extend forward well beyond transverse suture; lateral bristles black. Scutellum gray tomentose with sparse white setae, a prominent preapical groove, and two black marginal bristles. Pleuron gray tomentose with pale setae and bristles; anepisternite sometimes yellow with scattered black setae dorsally; anepimeral bristle pale yellow or black. Halter yellow.

Wing: As Fig. 3a except as follows. Cell m 1 WR 1.0:2.6:2.7–1.0:3.3:3.1.

Leg: Coxae dark brown with yellowish­gray tomentum and mostly white setae; bristles and setae of middle coxa yellow. Femora yellow, narrow apex brownish­yellow; bristles black. Fore femur with long setae ventrally. Middle femur with black posteroventral setae. Hind femur with posteroventral row arched medially; HFWLR 1.0:4.0–1.0:4.5. Tibiae yellow with apices brown and mostly black bristles; fore tibia with one long black bristle basally and black setae ventrally; hind tibia with apical 1/3 black and small apical tubercle. Tarsi with each tarsomere yellow at least basally; basal 1/2 to 2/ 3 of first two tarsomeres yellow, tarsomeres otherwise reddish­brown; each tasus with sparse yellow bristles.

Abdomen: Dark brown, sometimes red dorsally; with slightly yellowish­gray to gray tomentum; setae mostly pale yellow to gray, black dorsally on terga 5 to 8, sometimes along apical margin of tergum 4.

Terminalia (Figs. 151–156): Reddish, basally brownish­red. Epandrium with dorsoapical notch. Gonostylus distinctive. Distiphallus horizontal; epiphallus narrow apically. Gonocoxite strongly produced apically, apex raise in lateral view. Hypandrium broadly rounded apically.

Female. Differs as follows. Body 8.1–15.0 mm; wing 6.7–9.3 mm; FHWR 1.0:4.0– 1.0:4.1; FWLR 1.0:1.9–1.0:2.7; m 1 WR 1.0:2.5:2.6–1.0:3.7:3.8; 1.0:4.9–1.0:5.0. Legs: Fore and middle femora ventrally with only pale yellow setae. Middle femur with three anteroventral bristles. Hind femur with posteroventral row of bristles not arched posteriorly. Fore tibia with black bristles laterally; sparse yellow bristles present on posterior two tibiae. Hind tibia without apical tubercle. Hind tarsus with only black bristles. Abdomen: Bristles mostly black, those on apical segments especially stout. Terminalia (Figs. 157–160): Tergum 9 sclerotized, 1/4 to 1/2 as long as cercus medially. Sternum 8 with a stout bristle anterolaterally. Spermatheca smooth, somewhat flattened and widest apically. Genital fork distinctive.

Type material. Holotype M, NIGERIA: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 26.vi– 6.vii.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH). Paratypes, ANGOLA: 2 M, 2 F, Angola (A2), Rocadas [16°43’S 15°01’E], R. Cunene, 19–22.ii.1972 (BMNH); 1 F, Angola (A38), 8 mis. NE. Cacula [14°33’S 14°04’E], 25–26.iii.1972 (BMNH); 1 M, Angola (A20), 10 mis. NE. Cacula [14°33’S 14°04’E] (BMNH). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 2 M, Congo Belge, P.N.G [= Parc National de la Garamba], Miss. H. De Saeger, PFSK.5,3, 20.vi.52, H. De Saeger. 3656 (BMNH). 2 M, Congo belge: P.N. U [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Mabwe (r. E. lac Upemba), (585 m), 6–9.xii.1948, Mis G.F. de Witte 2020a (MRAC); 1 M, Congo belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Mabwe (585 m), 27–30.xi.1948, Mis G.F. de Witte 1986a (MRAC); 1 M, Congo belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Mabwe (585M), 31.xi.1948, Mis G.F. de Witte 2153a (MRAC); 2 M, 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 14–20.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1006a (MRAC); 10 M, 12 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 16–24.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1035a (MRAC); 9 M, 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 22–24.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1035a (MRAC); 4 M, 11 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 22–28.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1032a (MRAC); 4 M, 14 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 14–28.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1036a (MRAC); 1 M, 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 14– 20.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1006a (MRAC); 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda (1300 m), 14–28.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1018a (MRAC); 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 20.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1018a (MRAC); 1 F, Albertville [=Kalemie, 5°56’S 29°12’E], 21.i.1933, L. Burgeon (MRAC); 1 F, Uelé: Gangalna Bodio, 14.iv.36, L. Lippens (MRAC); 2 M, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda (1300 m) 16–19.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1007a (MRAC); 1 M, 1 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 13–27.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 963a (MRAC). 1 M, 1 F, NAMIBIA: S. W. Protect, Otjituo [19°40’S 18°36’E] (BMNH). NIGERIA: 1 F, same data as holotype (BMNH); 1 M, Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 7–14.vii.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 2 F, Nigeria: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 15–22.vi.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 3 F, Nigeria: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 13– 20.vii.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 1 F, Nigeria: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 21–29.vii.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 2 M, 3 F, same data as holotype (BMNH); 3 F, Nigeria: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 1–8.ix.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 1 F, Nigeria: Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 30–31.vii.1970, P. H. Ward, B.M. 1970­604 ~ Mercury vapor, light trap (BMNH); 1 F, N. Nigeria: Zaria, Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 14.vi.1968 ~ J. C. Deeming, m. v. trap (BMNH); 1 F, N. Nigeria: Zaria, Samaru [11°13’52”N 07°38’08”E], 26.viii.1986, J. C. Deeming ~ 67­1­ 175 (BMNH).

Additional material. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 12 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 16–24.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1035a (MRAC); 8 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda affl. g. Lupiala, (1300 m) 22– 28.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1032a (MRAC); 1 F, Congo belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Mabwe (585M), 17.xi.1948, Mis G.F. de Witte 1951a (MRAC); 5 F, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda (1300 m) 14–28.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1036a (MRAC); 1 M, Conge belge: P.N.U. [=Parc National de L’Upemba 9°10’S 26°15’E], Kankunda (1300 m) 16– 19.xi.1947, Mis. G.F. de Witte 1007a (MRAC).

Etymology. Latin velatus for hidden referring to the fact that the species was in a box of A. variablis specimens and initially was not recognized as another species.

Distribution (Tables 1, 2; Fig. 196). Known from localities in west central Africa eastward in the DR Congo (Parc National de LUpemba); captured between 585 to 1300 meters from November through March and June through August.

Remarks. Afroestricus velatus is distinguished from other yellow congeners, especially A. verutus and A. variabilis, by the characters in the key and terminalia (Figs. 151–160). It is readily distinguished from A. variabilis by its more slender body, triangular­shaped gonostylus, and the wider base of the aedeagal sheath.