Systropus Wiedemann, 1820

Greathead, D. J. & Evenhuis, N. L., 2001, Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera: Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae), African Invertebrates 42 (1820), pp. 105-224 : 143-144

Systropus Wiedemann

Systropus Wiedemann, 1820: 18 . Type species: Systropus macilentus Wiedemann, 1820 , by original designation (on plate).

Céphène Latreille, 1825: 496 (unjustified new replacement name for Systropus Wiedemann, 1820 ) [Unavailable; vernacular name without nomenclatural status.]

Cephenus Berthold, 1827: 506 (unnecessary new replacement name for Systropus Wiedemann, 1820 (as ‘ Systrophus ’)). Type species: Systropus macilentus Wiedemann, 1820 , automatic.

Cephenes Latreille, 1829: 505. Type species: Systropus macilentus Wiedemann, 1820 , by subsequent designation (Evenhuis, 1991: 25). [Unavailable; name proposed in synonymy with Systropus Wiedemann and not made available before 1961.]

Systropus Jensen, 1832: 235 . Type species: Systropus macilentus Jensen, 1832 [= Systropus macilentus Wiedemann ], by monotypy. [Preoccupied by Wiedemann, 1820.]

Xystrophus Agassiz, 1846: 393 (unnecessary emendation of Systropus Wiedemann, 1820 ). Type species: Systropus macilentus Wiedemann, 1820 , automatic.

Cephenius Enderlein, 1926: 70 . Type species: Systropus studyi Enderlein, 1926 , by original designation.

Coptopelma Enderlein, 1926: 70 . Type species: Coptopelma schineri Enderlein, 1926 [misidentification, = Systropus sanguineus Bezzi, 1921 ], by original designation.

Symballa Enderlein, 1926: 70 , 92. Type species: Systropus leptogaster Loew, 1860 [misidentification, = Systropus holaspis Speiser, 1914 ], by original designation.

Comments: All Systropus spp. have an elongate body and petiolate abdomen, and appear to mimic Hymenoptera . Unlike most genera of Bombyliidae , they are most abundant in dense vegetation, including forest. They are relatively slow in flight, and tend to hang from the front legs when at rest as do species of Tipulidae and Bittacidae .

Keys: Afrotropical, Bowden (1967); southern Africa, Hesse (1963).

Hosts: Endoparasitoids of Limacodidae ( du Merle 1975; Yeates & Greathead 1997).

Subgenus Diaerops Enderlein

Diaerops Enderlein, 1926: 70 (as genus). Type species: Systropus marshalli Bezzi, 1924 , by original designation.

Coptodicrus Enderlein, 1926: 70 , 91 (as genus). Type species: Coptodicrus vespiformis Enderlein, 1926 , by original designation.

Distribution: Afrotropical: 1 species, Systropus (D.) marshalli .

Subgenus Dimelopelma Enderlein

Dimelopelma Enderlein, 1926: 70 , 90 (as genus). Type species: Dimelopelma tessmanni Enderlein, 1926 ,

by original designation.

Distribution: Afrotropical: 6 species.

Subgenus Systropus Wiedemann

Distribution: Cosmopolitan, chiefly in forested regions butabsent from the West Palaearctic. Africa South of the Sahara: 29 species. Madagascar: 2 species; Systropus limacodidarum Enderlein , S. quadrinotatus Séguy.

Subgenus Teinopelmus Bowden

Teinopelmus Bowden, 1967: 137. Type species: Systropus rugosus Bezzi, 1924 , by original designation. Distribution: Afrotropical: 6 species.