Bengalia akamanga Lehrer 2005, comb. nov.

1. Bengalia akamanga (Lehrer, 2005), comb. nov.

Figs. 1–10.

Maraviola akamanga Lehrer, 2005: 155, 156 fig. 69. Holotype male (MSNM, examined), by original designation. Type locality: Malawi, Kamanga [as “N. Nyasa, Akamanga ”].

Diagnosis. Male. Length: 12mm (mean 12mm, n=1). Frons at vertex / head width ratio: 0.308 (n=1). ST5 flap roughly as broad as long, with a very shallow distal emargination. Surstylus with finger-like projection at upper distal corner. Bacilliform sclerite process moderate in size. Distiphallus with semicircular sclerotisation dorsally with two small cones directed ventrolaterally, apex broad and weakly sclerotised with distal margin slightly concave. Right and left parts of veil large, weakly sclerotised and mostly horizontal. Distal margin with 8–10 serrations on each side. Base of each veil part joining the more strongly sclerotised dorsal wall of the distiphallus along a line that proceeds laterally and slightly backwards from the apex of the semicircular sclerotisation. Veil process originating laterally on this basal line and on its ventral side. Veil process, proceeding basad and ventrad, dentate distally, cylindrical (not flattened) all the way to the tip. Hypophallic lobe broad, without narrower “handle” posteriorly. Dentate process broad in ventral view.

Female. Unknown.

Discussion. Bengalia akamanga is known only from the holotype. Lehrer (2005: 157) claimed that Akamanga is in Tanzania. However, Bezzi (1912: 616, 618, 620, 623, 624) in a report on a collection of Bombyliidae from central Africa, refers to material from “… North Nyasa, (…) Akamanga, South Rukuru River, October 10 (or 8), 1909 …” which was collected by “Dr. J. B. Davey”. Thus the type locality is near South Rukuru River, which is in Malawi. Lehrer also misspelt the collector’s name as “… Daney”. I cannot find Akamanga on any map, only Kamanga, which is near the said river, at 11°17'S, 34°01'E.

Distribution. Malawi.

Material examined. Type material. Maraviola akamanga Lehrer, 2005. Holotype male, in MSNM, labelled (1) N. NYASA / AKAMANGA / Dr. J.B.Davey / 10.10.0 9 / J.B.D. [handwritten, but third line in a different hand than the others]; (2) Bengalia / spinifemorata / Villen. / Cotyp. 3 [handwritten by Villeneuve]; (3) spinifemorata / COTYPUS [printed museum label]; (4) HOLOTYPUS [black print on white label, latter glued on top of bigger red label]; (5) Bengalia 3 / akamanga Lehrer sp.n. / Det. Dr. A.Z. LEHRER / XII.2004 [printed; pinhole at middle]; (6) Bengalia 3 / akamanga Lehrer sp.n. / Det. Dr. A.Z. LEHRER / XII.2004 [printed; pinhole near right end of label] (Fig. 10). Both front legs intact; left mid leg intact, right mid leg lost tibia and tarsus; left hind leg lost, right hind leg lacking distal four tarsomeres glued to carton below specimen. Genitalia dissected by Lehrer. Genitalia in glycerol transferred from big opaque plastic vial to glass microvial by KR. In distiphallus left veil process lost.