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Synonymy
= Suphalasca africana McLachlan, 1871
= ? var. Encyoposis amicus McLachlan, 1871
= Suphalasca rutila Gerstaecker, 1893
= Encyoposis bilineata Kolbe, 1897
= Encyoposis flavostigma Kolbe, 1897
(The synonymies are those of Weele, 1908)
Diagnosis
This is a rather non-descript species of ascalaphid with divided eyes (Ascalaphinae). The wings are completely transparent with a pale yellow pterostigma. There is a narrow yellow stripe down the middle of the thorax and a broader one the length of the abdomen. Males have a tuft of long hairs at the base of the leading edge of the forewing and no elongate ventral process of the ectoproct.
Type Depository
of Helicomitus festivus is MNHN, Paris.
Type Locality
of Helicomitus festivus is Senegal.
Geographical Distribution
Weele (1910) indicated that this species is found throughout much of subSaharan Africa from Senegal to South Africa, including Madagascar.
Temporal Distribution
November to June.
Elevation
40 - 100 m.
Remarks
As might be expected from such a widespread species, it is also widespread in Madagascar. The hair tuft at the base of the forewing is not found in females.
References
Gerstaecker, [C. E.] A. 1893 [1894.??.??]. Ueber neue und weniger gekannte Neuropteren aus der familie Megaloptera Burm. Mitt[h]eilungen aus dem Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein für Neu-Vorpommern und Rugen 25:93-173. No figures.
Kolbe, H. J. 1897. Neuropteren. Die Netzflügler. in Möbius, K. A. (ed.). Die Thierwelt [Deutsch-]Ost-Afrikas und der Nachbargebiete. Band IV (Wirbellose Thiere). Dietrich Reimer, Berlin. [i] + 42 pp. 1 unpaginated plate with 9 figures.
McLachlan, R. 1873 [1871.??.??]. An attempt towards a systematic classification of the family Ascalaphidae. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 11:219-276. No figures.
Rambur, [J.] P. 1842. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes, Névroptères. Librairie encyclopédique de Roret. Fain et Thunot, Paris. [xviii]+534 pp. 12 unpaginated plates [#1-12] with 77 figures [#1-19, 1-5, 1-5, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-6, 1-6, 1-7, 1-4, 1-3].
van der Weele, H. W. 1908 [1909.01.05]. Ascalaphiden. Collections Zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps. Catalogue Systématique et Descriptif 8:1-326. 254 text figures and 2 plates with 30 figures.