Trichomachimus Engel, 1933

Tomasovic, Guy, Constant, Jérôme & Rasmont, 1802, Notes on Oriental Asilidae with six new species from Vietnam (Diptera: Brachycera), Belgian Journal of Entomology 47, pp. 1-23 : 1-23

Genus Trichomachimus Engel, 1933

Type species: Heligmonevra neavei Ricardo , l9l9

The genus Trichomachimus Engel, 1933 contains 36 species which live in the mountainous regions of Asia, covering a wide area extending on 10.000 km, from Monts Zaros in Iran, through the Himalayas and then to Far East Siberia (Tcherski Mounts). Several species were collected above 4000 m. The adults hunt in open spaces, in grassy areas ( LEHR, 1967).

The genus can be distinguished from the allied Machimus Loew, 1849 by the densely matted piles of second to fifth abdominal tergites, more dense and larger piles on pleurae and more prominent gibbosity of the face.

Identification keys to the species of Trichomachimus were proposed by MOUCHA & HRADSKY (1964) ( Afghanistan), OLDROYD (1964) (Himalayas), and LEHR (1967; 1989) and SHI (1992) (Central Asia). The species are very similar and the study of the internal parts of the male genitalia is necessary to identify them.

Both new species here described are externally similar to T. nigrus Shi, 1992 , described from specimens from Sichuan taken at 3470 m asl., but they have very different male genitalia .