Paragus (Paragus) compeditus Wiedemann, 1830

El-Hawagry, Magdi S. & Gilbert, Francis, 2019, Catalogue of the Syrphidae of Egypt (Diptera), Zootaxa 4577 (2), pp. 201-248 : 215

Paragus (Paragus) compeditus Wiedemann, 1830

Paragus compeditus Wiedemann, 1830: 89 . Type locality: Egypt.

Paragus aegyptius Macquart, 1850: 464 . Type locality: Egypt.

Paragus nitidissimus Costa, 1878: 15 . Type locality: Egypt (Rodha [as “Rhoda”]).

Material examined: 1 male, Siwa Oasis , 2.VIII.1927, leg. Tewfik ; 1 male, Ghoubbet El Bous , 26.VI.1929 , leg. H.C.E. & M.T. (both specimens published in Shaumar & Kamal (1978)); 1 male, 1 female, Helwan , 3.IV.1934, leg. Farag ; 1 female, Wadi Hoff , 4.IV.1930, leg. Farag ; 1 female, Wadi Morrah , 23.V.1927, leg. Farag [EFC].

World distribution: AF: Ethiopia, Madagascar, Namibia, Oman, South Africa, UAE. PA: Afghanistan, Armenia, Asiatic Russia, Azerbaijan, China, Crimea, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Egyptian localities: Coastal Strip: Alexandria, Cleopatra, Mariout. Eastern Desert: Abu El-Nesour, Ghoubbet El-Bous, Wadi Dar El-Maskhara, Wadi Hoff, Wadi Morrah, Wadi Rishrash. Fayoum: El-Fayoum City, Kom Osheem. Lower Nile Valley & Delta: Abu-Rawash, Borgash, El-Beharia, El-Gabel El-Asfar, El-Marg, Giza, Faraskour, Helwan, Kirdassa, Kombira, Kubba, Maadi, Pyramids, Rhoda (as nitidissimus Costa). Upper Nile Valley: Aswan, Isna. Western Desert: Siwa Oasis. [Sources: as P. aegyptius in both of Efflatoun (1922) and Shaumar & Kamal (1978), in addition to the examined museum material].

Activity period in Egypt: Throughout the year.

Remarks: Adults of P. compeditus fly among vegetation in humid situations ( Speight 2017). This species is common and equally abundant throughout the whole length of the Nile Valley, from Aswan down to the Mediterranean Coast as well as in the desert. Its larvae are recorded feeding on aphids in Egypt ( Efflatoun 1922).