(based primarily on key characters used by Londt and Dikow (2017)):

Head: Antennal stylus without long setulae. Head distinctly wider than high in anterior view. Facial protuberance only slightly projecting ventrally. Frons only slightly divergent. Eye more or less oval in lateral view. Mystax separated from antennal sockets by a distinct gap. Tentorial pits small, slit-like, inconspicuous ventrally. Proboscis straight. Palpus 2-segmented.

Thorax: Prosternum separated from proepisternum by membranous area. Anepisternum lacking strong macroseta at superoposterior angle. Anepimeron with macroseta anteriorly. Anatergite asetose. Wings: Alula well-developed. Costal vein circumambient. Vein R₂₊₃ ending in Costal vein, cell r₁ thus open at wing margin. Legs: Fore tibia without spine-like tibial processes. Tarsi with pulvilli. Hind tarsus of males with laterally compressed and blade-like empodium.

Abdomen: T2 wider than long. Female terminalia with divided T10, bearing acanthophorite macrotrichia.

SOUTH AFRICA: 2♂ Grahamstown [= Grahamstown], Rockhurst [farm 33°10'59"S, 26°19'01"E c. 650m], 13.x.1981, F.W. & S.K. Gess, 81/82/2, AMGS 101476, AMGS 101477 (AMGS); 1♀ Grahamstown, Hilton [farm 33°15'00"S, 26°21'12"E c. 490m], 22.x.1967, C. Jacot-Guillarmod AMGS 101478 (AMGS); ♂ Holotype ‘South Africa / C.P. [Cape Province] Alicedale [33°19'S, 26°05'E c. 285m] / 16.xii.71 / D. & A. Greathead’ NHMUK010628725 (BMNH); 1♂ ‘So. Africa: Cape Prov / 9 km SW Willowmore [c. 33°20'S, 23°27'E 935m] / 30–31.x.1978 3323AD / J Londt & R Miller / open Karoo scrub’, NMSA-DIP 81676 (NMSA). Note: Holotype not personally handled, but excellent photographs supplied confirm identification.

Entire holotype as in Fig. 1. Known from 5 specimens collected at 4 localities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 16). They were collected in October and November (Table 1) in an area located between summer and winter rainfall regions. The only useful label data relating to habitat are the words ‘open Karoo scrub’ which describes much of the area. No other biological data are available.

Figure 1. 

Empodiodes greatheadi Oldroyd, 1972 holotype. Scale bars: in mm. (Photo BMNH).

SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: N Cape / 1 km S Carnarvon 1260m / Appie van Heerden Nat. / Reserve 14.xi.2008 / 30°58.83'S, 22°07.39'E / J & A Londt Karoo scrub’ NMSA-DIP 81677(NMSA); 1♀ Paratype ‘S Africa: Cape #33 / 23 km SE of Middelpos / 32°01'S, 20°25'E 1200m / Date: 28.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Banks of Visrivier’ NMSA-DIP 74275 (NMSA); ♂ Holotype ‘S Africa: Cape #26 / 18km N of Sutherland / 32°16'S, 20°41'E 1350m / Date: 26.xi.1990 / Londt & Whittington / Renosterrivier area’ NMSA-DIP 74274 (NMSA).

Known from three localities in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 16) and collected only in November (Table 1). The rather arid areas concerned experience very cold winters and very hot summers so the species may only be active for a brief period between these two possibly unfavourable seasons. Fig. 2, although not taken at one of the known localities, provides an impression of the environment probably inhabited by this species. Little is known of the biology apart from the fact that those individuals collected were perched on the ground and have been collected sympatrically with E. whittingtoni.

Figure 2. 

A typical landscape in the vicinity of Besemgoedkop (photographed 18 November 2011), showing the general habitat occupied by both Empodiodes melanoscopaeus and E. whittingtoni.

NAMIBIA: ♂ Holotype ‘Namibia: Opuwa Dist. / 35km E Epupa: Kunene River / 17°03'31"S, 13°29'32"E / 09–11.x.1999 / Kirk-Spriggs Pape Hauwanga / Malaise trap shaded woodland’ NMSA-DIP 74281 (NMSA); 3♂ 2♀ paratypes same date as holotype NMSA-DIP 74276-80, (NMSA); 19♂ 6♀ paratypes same data as holotype (NMWN); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Namibia: Opuwa District / Ekuja village: Kunene River / 17°19'30"S, 13°48'56"E / 11–12.x.1999 / Kirk-Spriggs Pape Hauwanga / ‘Malaise traps, riverine forest’ (NMWN); 3♂ 1♀ ‘Ondorusu Falls / SE 1713Bb [17°23'01"S, 13°54'55"E] / Kaokoland / 23–26 Aug 1973’, ‘H13834’ (NMWN); 3♂ ‘Namibia: Khorixas Dist. / SE Sorris Sorris: Ugab River / 20°59'09"S, 14°47'32"E / 05–06.x.1999 / Kirk-Spriggs, Pape & / Hauwanga / Malaise trap sample’ (NMWN).

Collected at four localities in northern Namibia (Fig. 16), mostly in the vicinity of the Kunene River, during the months of August and October (Table 1). The habitats have been described as ‘shaded woodland’ and ‘riverine forest’. Much of the material was collected in malaise traps, which is surprising as small, ground-dwelling asilids are not usually collected in significant numbers with such traps. The fact that over 30 specimens were collected in 3 days suggests that population numbers were high and, as only eight were female, it appears that males are more active fliers than females.

L. pusillus (small) + pes (foot). Refers to the relatively poorly developed male metathoracic empodia. Noun in apposition.

Based on all material studied. Entire holotype as illustrated (Fig. 3).

Head: Dark red-brown to black, colour masked by strong gold-silver pruinescence, black and white setose. Antenna dark red-brown to black, scape and pedicel white setose, postpedicel laterally compressed and markedly curved outwards. Relative lengths of segments (scape as 1) Scape 1, pedicel 0.3, postpedicel 3.1, style 0.5 (including terminal seta-like sensory element). Face black, slightly protuberant, strongly silver pruinose. Mystax white, covering ventral ¾ of face. Frons and vertex smoothly rounded (not indented between eye margins) gold-silver pruinose, black setose. Ocellar tubercle only weakly protuberant, weakly setose and lacking strong ocellar macrosetae. Occiput gold-silver pruinose, black (dorsally and along eye margins) and white (ventrally) setose. Palps small, 2-segmented, orange, white setose. Proboscis dark red-brown, straight, white setose.

Figure 3. 

Empodiodes pusillipes sp. nov. entire holotype ♂ (Photo Pillay).

Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, entirely silver and silver-gold pruinose, black and white setose. Cervical sclerite white setose. Anterior antepronotum with a row of black marcosetae. Mesonotum patterned with silver and gold pruinescence, predominantly black setose, but some white setae present. Lateral macrosetae black (2 notopleurals, 2 supra-alars, 2 postalars). Scutellum dark red-brown to black, with c. 12 white (♀ has a few black ones) apical macrosetae, disc fine silver pruinose, asetose. Pleura silver and gold pruinose, fine white setose. Anepimeron with 1 white anterodorsal macroseta. Katatergal setae well developed, mixed black and white macrosetose. Anatergites silver pruinose, asetose. Postmetacoxal area membranous. Legs: Mainly dark red-brown to black but femora and tibiae brown-orange dorsally. Coxae silver pruinose, mostly white setose (a few black setae may be present). Trochanters white setose, femora, tibiae and tarsi fine white setose with black macrosetae. Claws and pulvilli well developed. Empodia yellow, bristle-like except for metathoracic legs where empodia are moderately well developed, dark red-brown and laterally compressed. Wings (Fig. 4): Length (humeral crossvein to tip) x breadth (maximum): Holotype ♂ 3.8 × 1.4 mm, paratype ♀ 4.2 × 1.6 mm, paratype ♂ 3.0 × 1.1 mm. Veins dark red-brown to black, membrane transparent, entirely microtrichose, cells m₃ and cua closed and stalked.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, entirely fine silver and silver-gold pruinose, black and white setose. Terga > twice as wide as long. Terga and sterna black (medially) and white (laterally) setose, T1 with c. 4 black discal macrosetae.

Figures 4, 5. 

Empodiodes wings: 4 E. pusillipes sp. nov. 5 E. torridus sp. nov.

Male terminalia (Figs 6–8): Rotated through c. 90° anticlockwise. Epandrium c. 3× wider than long in dorsal view; posterior margin clearly indented medially. Proctiger slightly longer than epandrium in lateral view. Hypandrium subtriangular, twice as broad as long, distinctly pointed posteromedially. Gonocoxites relatively large, higher than long in lateral view, with broad dorsal and finger-like median lobes best seen in ventral view. Gonostyli well developed, jutting out laterally between proctiger and gonocoxite. Distal region of aedeagus conical with terminal opening.

Female terminalia (not dissected): Ovipositor tubular (i.e. not laterally or dorsally compressed), subgenital plate with shallow longitudinal midventral keel. T10 bilobed (= acanthophorites), each lobe appearing to bear only 4 stout macrotrichia.

Holotype. South Africa (Western Cape Province): 1♂ holotype ‘Sth Africa: W Cape / Vrolijkheid Nature Res / 33°55'01"S, 19°52'43"E / J&A Londt 9–10.x.2013 / 185m Acacia rocky / vynbos with succulents’ NMSA-DIP 81678 (NMSA).

Paratypes: 1♀ paratype – data identical to holotype NMSA-DIP 81679 (NMSA); 1♂ paratype ‘Sth Africa: W Cape / 2 km S of Papendorp / 31°43'01"S, 18°12'22"E / J&A Londt 10.ix.2012 / 15m Vegetated dunes’ NMSA-DIP 81680 (NMSA).

Known from two localities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 16) and collected in September and October (Table 1). Localities clearly fall within a winter rainfall region. Apart from being collected in sandy localities dominated by vynbos, nothing is known of the biology. Figs 12, 13 give an impression of the environments where the species has been collected.

Figures 6–11. 

Empodiodes ♂ terminalia: 6–8 E. pusillipes sp. nov. 6 lateral 7 dorsal 8 ventral, 9–11 E. torridus sp. nov. 9 lateral 10 dorsal 11 ventral. Scale bar: 1 mm.

L. torridus – dry, parched, hot, scorched – a name referring to the fairly dry and semi-arid environment supporting the species.

Based on holotype. Entire holotype (Fig. 14) photographed before the removal of its right wing and terminalia. The specimen is attached to a card preventing examination of parts of its left side.

Head: Dark red-brown to black, colour masked by strong gold-silver pruinescence, yellow and white setose. Antenna dark red-brown to black, scape and pedicel white setose, postpedicel laterally compressed and markedly curved outwards. Relative lengths of segments (scape as 1) Scape 1, pedicel 0.5, postpedicel 3.2, style 0.4 (including terminal seta-like sensory element). Face black, slightly protuberant, strongly gold-silver pruinose. Mystax white, covering almost entire face. Frons and vertex smoothly rounded (not indented between eye margins) silver-gold pruinose, pale yellow and white setose. Ocellar tubercle only weakly protuberant, weakly setose and lacking strong ocellar macrosetae. Occiput silver and gold pruinose, yellow (dorsally) and white (ventrally and along eye margins) setose. Palps small, 2-segmented, orange, pale yellow setose. Proboscis brown, straight, weakly white setose.

Thorax: Dark red-brown and orange, entirely silver and silver-gold pruinose, yellow and white setose. Cervical sclerite white setose. Anterior antepronotum with a row of pale yellow marcosetae. Mesonotum patterned with silver and gold longitudinal pruinose stripes, predominantly yellow setose, but some white setae present. Lateral macrosetae yellow (2 notopleurals, 1–2 supra-alars, 2 postalars). Scutellum dark red-brown, with c. 12 white apical macrosetae, disc fine silver pruinose, asetose. Pleura silver and gold pruinose, fine white setose. Anepimeron with 2 weak white anterodorsal macrosetae. Katatergal setae moderately well developed, pale yellow macrosetose. Anatergites silver pruinose, asetose. Postmetacoxal area probably membranous (hidden from view). Legs: Mainly light brown to yellow, but dorsal parts of femora and entire tarsi dark red-brown. Coxae silver pruinose, white setose. Trochanters white setose, femora, tibiae and tarsi white setose. Claws and pulvilli well developed. Empodia yellow, bristle-like except for metathoracic legs where empodia are moderately well developed, brown and laterally compressed. Wings (Fig. 5): Length (humeral crossvein to tip) x breadth (maximum): Holotype ♂ 3.3 × 1.4 mm. Veins dark red-brown to black, membrane transparent, entirely microtrichose, cells m₃ and cua closed and stalked.

Abdomen: Dark red-brown and orange, entirely fine silver and silver-gold pruinose, pale yellow and white setose. Terga > twice as wide as long. Terga and sterna dark red-brown with broad orange distal margins, fine white setose, T1 with c. 5 white discal macrosetae.

Male terminalia (Figs 9–11): Unrotated. Epandrium subrectangular in dorsal view, twice as broad as long, with posterior margin slightly indented medially. Proctiger of similar length to epandrium in lateral view. Hypandrium subrectangular, twice as broad as long with an almost straight posterior margin. Gonocoxites relatively large, with complex structure involving twisted ventro-distal projections. Gonostyli well developed, jutting out beyond level attained by gonocoxal projections. Distal region of aedeagus conical with terminal opening.

Figure 12. 

Empodiodes pusillipes sp. nov. habitats at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve (photographed 11 October 2013).

Female: Unknown.

Holotype. South Africa (Northern Cape Province): 1♂ holotype ‘S. Africa, C.P. / Van Wyk’s Fontein / Colesberg / 3038S, 2523E’, ‘22 Sept. 1983 / Entomology Dept’, BMSA(D) 01390.

Known only from the single specimen listed above, collected in September (Table 1) in a far eastern corner of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 16). The locality is situated in the fairly arid Nama-Karoo biome (Van Wyk and Smith 2001) which lies in a summer rainfall region. While the type locality has not been photographed, Fig. 15 illustrates the kind of environment in which this species was probably collected. Nothing is known of the biology.

Figure 13. 

Empodiodes pusillipes sp. nov. habitats at 2 km S of Papendorp (photographed 10 September 2012), where the species was collected.

SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ holotype ‘S Africa: Cape #33 / 23 km SE of Middelpos / 32°01'S, 20°25'E 1200m / Date: 28.xi.1990 / Whittington & Londt / Banks of Visrivier’ NMSA-DIP 74273 (NMSA).

Recorded only from the type locality in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa (Fig. 16) and collected sympatrically with E. melanoscopaeus in November (Table 1), resting on a rock. While the type locality was not photographed, Fig. 2 provides an impression of the habitat in the vicinity of the type locality.

Figure 14. 

Empodiodes torridus sp. nov. entire holotype ♂ (Photo Muller).

Figure 15. 

A typical Karoo landscape at Doornfontein Nature Reserve (photographed 21 March 2006), representative of the environment in which Empodiodes torridus sp. nov. has been collected.

Figure 16. 

The distribution of Empodiodes species: E. greatheadi Oldroyd, 1972 (●), E. melanoscopaeus Londt, 1992 (○), E. namibiensis Londt, 2012 (■), E. pusillipes sp. nov. (□), E. torridus sp. nov. (▲), E. whittingtoni Londt, 1992 (♦) (Map Zamisa).