Enica henicoides ( Hesse, 1956 ), 2025

Enica henicoides ( Hesse, 1956) comb. nov.

Fig. 8 View Figure 8

Taxon depository.

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ 3BE08163-D9C1-4B57-B5E6-9B0B0ECC9313.

Diagnosis.

The species is distinguished from other species in the genus by the dorsal occiput with whitish yellow setae and small ovoid black spots in females. In males it is distinguished by the combination of a dorsal occiput without markings and a dark brown setose haltere stem.

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, without dark spot, males: similar to head, slightly darker than head; frons black setose, with white scales, males no setation near eyes, females setose near eyes only dorsally, past half – way point setose only medially; ocellar tubercle slightly raised, dark reddish brown to black, black macrosetose, white or light brown scales posteriorly; occiput whitish – yellow setose, brown setose on occiput spots, white scales antero-dorsally, females: antero-dorsally with dark brown to black spots, usually oval males: antero-dorsally without markings; gena creamy white, 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, black, light yellowish-brown setose.

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

Thorax: light orangish brown; scutum predominantly black, reddish on margins, light to dark brown scales, two submedial longitudinal stripes with lighter scales; 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; white scales, white and black setose; 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, asetose; scutellum red, anterior black spot, apubescent, ds sctl setae black macrosetose, ap sctl setae comprised of yellowish-white scales.

Leg: light orangish brown, covered in scales, some regular setae present; pro coxa light orangish brown, silvery grey pubescence, white scales, thin white setose, thick black setose; pro femur light orangish brown, white scales ventrally, brown scales dorsally, few short black setae; pro tibia light brown, raised short and fine dark brown setose ventrally, large black setose dorsally; mes coxa light orangish brown, white pubescence, white scales, thick black setose; mes femur light orangish brown, white scales ventrally, brown scales dorsally, few short black setae; mes tibia light brown, dark brown scales, long black setose, distal tip with long black setae; met coxa light orangish brown, white pubescent, white scales, thin white setose, thick black setose, anteriorly without any protuberance; met trochanter short black setose ventrally, white scales dorsally, without protuberance; met femur light orangish brown, white scales ventrally, brown scales dorsally, few short black setae; 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: 8.9–9.0 mm, microtrichia absent; membrane color pattern males: as females but less darkly infuscated, 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 anteriorly and red posteriorly; tergites smooth, setae with small sockets only; T 1 predominantly reddish-orange, some black or reddish yellow to light brown, light yellowish-brown to light whitish-brown setose, with scales; T 2 – T 7 predominantly reddish-orange, thin black setose, brown to light yellowish-brown scales, lighter scales on posterior margins of some tergites; 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 41): https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844180.

Material examined.

Holotype. South Africa – Western Cape • 1 ♂ Ceres ; 33°22'11.6"S, 19°18'42.7"E; Nov. 1920; Turner, R. E. leg.; NHMUK 015136073 About NHMUK , NHMUK. GoogleMaps

Paratypes. South Africa – Northern Cape • 1 ♀ Nieuwoudtville ; 31°23'00"S, 019°06'00"E; Nov. 1931; Cockerell, D. A. leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002171 , SAMC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀ Nieuwoudtville ; 31°23'00"S, 019°06'00"E; 18-22 Nov. 1931; Mackie, A. leg.; NHMUK 015136071 About NHMUK , NHMUK GoogleMaps .

South Africa – Western Cape • 1 ♀ Bulhoek (= Bulshoek), Klaver - Clanw . (= Klawer - Clanwilliam); 32°02'52"S, 018°49'28"E; Oct. 1950; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002170 , SAMC GoogleMaps • 1 ♀ Bulhoek (= Bulshoek), Klaver - Clanw. (= Klawer - Clanwilliam); 32°02'52"S, 018°49'28"E; Oct. 1950; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A 002170 , SAMC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂ Franschhoek (= French Hoek), 40 mi from Cape Town ; 33°54'24.4"S, 19°07'19.0"E; 11 Dec. 1930; Simmons, H. W. leg.; NHMUK 015136072 About NHMUK , NHMUK GoogleMaps .

Distribution, biodiversity hotspots, phenology, and biology.

Known from localities in the Northern Cape and Western Cape of South Africa (Fig. 9 View Figure 9 ). This species is only known from 6 specimens, collected in 4 collecting events spread between 1920–1950. The species is known to occur in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspots. Adult flies are active from October – December (Table 2 View 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).