Neolophonotus wroughtoni (Ricardo, 1920)

Londt, Jason G. H., 2020, A survey of grassland Asilidae (Diptera) at Jacana Eco Estate, Hilton, South Africa, African Invertebrates 61 (1), pp. 29-48 : 29

10. Neolophonotus wroughtoni (Ricardo, 1920)

Remarks.

This species, a member of the large comatus species group, was reviewed by Londt (1988). The species, described on material from Willowgrange (ca. 29°06'S, 29°57'E) near Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal, is fairly widely distributed throughout the eastern parts of southern Africa and has been collected in every month of the year except February. The species is common in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding area.

Only two specimens were collected during the winter at Jacana, one each on weeks 21 and 22, respectively. Adults were found resting on the ground and clearly belong to Londt’s (1994) ecological category 1c (open ground). The fact that there is very little open ground at Jacana may explain the apparent rarity at this site.

Table 4 provides a comparison of flight periods with those recorded from Queen Elizabeth Park ( Londt 2002b). While the species was only encountered on weeks 21-22 at Jacana, it was encountered between weeks 20 and 36 at Queen Elizabeth Park. The difference may be due to the fact that there was more open ground at Queen Elizabeth Park, mainly in the form of pathways.