Philodicus fraterculus (Walker, 1855)

Londt, J. G. H., 1978, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 2. * The genus Philodicus Loew, 1848, in southern Africa, ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 23 (2), pp. 419-428 : 424-425

Philodicus fraterculus (Walker, 1855) Figs 7,8, 13, 14

Trupanea fraterculus Walker, 1855 : 597.

Pramachus fratereulus Kertész, 1909 : 220.

Philodicus fraterculus Blasdale, 1957 : 145. PI. II, fig. 17 (~).

Philodicus nigripes Ricardo, 1925 : 237; Blasdale, 1957: 145. PI. I, fig. 7 (♂), PI. II, fig. 8 (♀). syn. n. Philodieus multicellula Hull, 1967 : 225 -6, fig. 7 (wing). syn. n.

3'

Although I have not seen any type material, I have studied a number of specimens from various localities in South Africa, Rhodesia, South West Africa, Angola and Lesotho.

Specimens from Natal (near type locality) possess bicolourous black legs (supposedly characteristic of Jraterculus) while all other specimens possess entirely black legs (characteristic of nigripes ). Terminalia are, however, identical and so I regard P. nigripes as a junior subjective synonym of P. Jraterculus.

Hull (1967) described P. multicellula from a single female collected at Hensley's Dam, south of Leribe, Lesotho. His detailed description suggests that this specimen is almost identical to specimens of P. Jraterculus. I have seen a pair of P. Jraterculus from Lesotho, one collected at Leribe, and so there is little doubt of the synonymy. Hull (1967) emphasised the fact that P. multicellula possesses four extra crossveins in the subcostal cell. P.fraterculus often possesses such crossveins although the number is variable. I do not believe that the number of subcostal-crossveins is a reliable diagnostic character.

The male clasper ( Figs 7, 8 ) shows a degree of individual variation. The aedeagal tip ( Figs 13, 14 ) is unlike any other southern African species in that it possesses two slightly swollen subapical bulbs and three shortish terminal prongs. Theodor (1976) illustrated the aedeagus of an undetermined South African species of Philodicus and there is little doubt that he studied P. Jraterculus.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Natal , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Empangeni , 11.1906, H. v. P. B. (N.M.); 1 ♀, St Lucia , 28.XII.1930, Marley (N.M.). Transvaal, 1 ♂, Lake Funduzi , 28.I.1931, G. v. Son (N.M.); 1 ~, Entabeni Forest, 6.x 1l.1964, Vari & Potgieter (N.M.); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Entabeni Forest, 12- 17.1.1971 & 19.1. 1971, R. Jones (N.M.); 1 ♀, Johannesburg, St. George's Home , 26.111.1938, A. L. Capener (N.M.); 2 ♀, Pretoria, Wonderboom , 29.I.1916, H. K. Munro (N.M.); 1 ♂, 3 ♀, Heidelberg , 21.1. 1921, H. K. Munro (N.M.); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Pretoria, 25.x1 l.1912, H. K. Munro (N.M.); 2♂, Pretoria, 21.1.1919, 11.1.1914, H. K. Munro (N.M. & C.M.); 1 ♀, Wonderboom (Pretoria), 8.11.1907, C. Swierstra (N.M.); 1 ♀, Platrivier, Waterberg Dist . 1.I 1.1903, R. V. Jutrencha (N.M.). LESOTHO: 1 ♀, Leribe, 12.III.1956, L. Bevis (D. M.); 1 ♂, Mamathes , I 1. III. 1956, L. Bevis (D.M.). RHODESIA: 1 ♂, Matesi , IV. 1934, R. H. R. Stevenson (S.A.M.). SOUTH WEST AFRICA: 1 ♂, Kaoko Otavi , 111.1926, S.A.M. Exped., (S.A.M.). ANGOLA: 1 ♂, Chitapua, SE 1415 Ad, 3-5.XII.1973, M. J. Penrith & E. Mokgoabone (S.M.).

Type material (not studied): SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, I ♀ holotype, Port Natal (Durban), (British Museum of Natural History). Types of P. nigripes are from MALA WI: I ♀ holotype, Mt. Mlanje, IS. XII.1912, S. A. Neave ( B. M.( N.H.)). RHODESIA: 1 ♂! paratype, Bulawayo; I ♀ paratype, Hope Fountain (National Museum Rhodesia). The type of P. multicellula is from LESOTHO: I 縠 holotype, Hensley's Dam, 13 km. S. W. Leribe, 30.III. l951 loc. no. 254 Brinck & Rudebeck ( E. M. L.).

Distribution: The distribution of P. Jraterculus appears to be limited to southern Africa. The two female paratypes of P. nigripes from Uganda are anomalous and may represent incorrect identifications or a very much wider distribution.

Prey: Three specimens have been mounted together with their prey. In two instances the prey are grasshoppers ( Orthoptera : Acrididae ) while the third prey is a flesh fly ( Diptera : Sarcophagidae ).

Figures

Figs 3-8. Ventral aspect of left clasper and paramere ofPhilodicus species. 3. P. dubills (Metsimaklaba d'). 4. P. tenuipes (Hillside ♂). 5. P. cinerascens (Namalala ♂). 6. P. swynnertoni (Nelspruit d'). 7-8. P. Jraterculus. 7. Pretoria ♂ 8. Empangeni ♂.

Figs 9-14. Aedeagal tips of Phi/adieus species. 9. P. dubius (Metsimaklaba J). 10. P. tenuipes (Hillside J). II. P. cineraseens (Namalala J). 12. P. swynnertani (Nelspruit 0). 13-14. P. /ratercu/us. 13. Pretoria 0. 14. Empangeni 0.