Ritchiephora Disney, 1997

Mostovski, Mike B., 2004, New records of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from South Africa, with description of a new species and hitherto unknown males, African Invertebrates 45, pp. 125-125 : 135-136

Ritchiephora Disney, 1997

Ritchiephora diplopodae Disney, 1997

Ritchiephora diplopodae Disney & Ritchie, 1997: 153 , figs 1–5. (Type locality: Kenya)

Material examined: TANZANIA: 1^, Mkomazi Game Reserve , forest above Ibaya, (3º58'S: 37º47'E), 7.v.1996, ex Winkler bag, leaf litter from montane forest, H.G. Robertson ( SAMC); SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: 8 _ 5^, Himeville, 3– 5.iii.2004, Malaise trap, V . Kolyada & M. Mostovski; 21^, Impendle, Nhlosane Farm (29º35'S: 29º58'E) , 1700–1900 m, 22.xii.1993 – 5.i.1994, pitfalls, J. Kotze; 10^, same data except 2–15.ii.1994; 1^, same data except 16.ii–1.iii.1994; 3 _, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton (29º32'30.7"S: 30º18'18.4"E) , 1131 m, 27.ix–13.x.2003, Malaise trap, M. Mostovski; 4 _ 1^, same data except 28.x–12.xi.2003; 1 _, same data except 24.xii.2003 – 14.i.2004; 1^, same data except 15–26.i.2004; 1 _, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton, Winterskloof (29º35.27'S: 30º17.91'E) , 20–25.xii.2003, Malaise trap, C. Conway; 2^, Queen Elizabeth Park Res. (29º34.157'S: 30º19.299'E) , 1–5.xii.2003, Malaise trap, forest patch, J.G.H. Londt & M. Mostovski; 1 _, Cumberland Nature Reserve (29º30.8'S: 30º30.3'E) , 11.iv–8.v.2004, Malaise trap in gorge near stream, M. Mostovski & C. Conway; 2 _ 1^, Durban Metro, Kloof, 6–15.xii.2003, Malaise trap, long grass under tree near stream, D. Barraclough; 15 _, Ramsgate, Butterfly Sanctuary (30º53.3'S: 30º20.4'E) , 26–28.iii.2004, yellow pan traps, V . Kolyada & M. Mostovski; 25 _ 5^, same data except 6.vi–9.vii.2004, Malaise trap near stream, M. Mostovski; 48 _ 5^, same data except 10.vii–8.viii.2004; 38 _ 10^, same data except 9.viii– 2.ix.2004 ( NMSA) .

Distribution: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa. This is the first record of this species in Tanzania and South Africa.

Remarks: This species was described in a genus of its own from a series of males and females reared from an odontopygid millipede in Kenya ( Disney & Ritchie 1997). Odontopygid millipedes are diverse and wide­spread in South Africa as well (M. Hamer pers. comm.). This species is quite variable in size.