Ischiodon aegyptius ( Wiedemann, 1830 )

Dawah, Hassan A., Abdullah, Mohammed A., Ahmad, Syed Kamran, Al-Dhafer, Hathal & Turner, James, 2020, An overview of the Syrphidae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia, Zootaxa 4855 (1), pp. 1-69 : 37-38

Ischiodon aegyptius ( Wiedemann, 1830)

( Fig. 42 )

Syrphus aegyptius Wiedemann, 1830: 133 .

Examined specimens. 1♂, Najran, Al-Shurfa , 13.iii.2013, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( CRES) ; 1♂, Jazan, Abu Aresh, Al-Mahdage village , 1.ii–3.vi.2011, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( CERS) ; 1♂, Asir, Maraba, Al-Hudaithy Fruit Farm , 22.iv.2013, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( NMWC) ; 2♂, 1♀, Al-Riyadh, Al Aziziyah , 10.x.1977, A. Talhouk & S.Tilkian ( KSMA) ; 2♂, same locality but 25.iii.1978 ( KSMA) ; 2♂, 2♀, same locality but 30.i.1982 ( KSMA) ; 2♂, 16.iv.1978 ( KSMA) ; 1♂, 1♀, same locality but 25.vii.1978 ( KSMA) ; 1♂, Fifa, Jebel Fifa, 1.ii.1983, A. Talhouk & S. Tilkian ( KSMA) ; 1♂, Riyadh, Al-Uyaynah, 45 Km. W. Ar Riyadh, 9.iv.2008, Attorck, alfalfa ( KSMA) ; 1♀, same locality but 27.ii.2008, Ashahrany ( KSMA) ; 1♂, 1♀, Al-Riyadh, Ad Dir’iyah , 20 km. W. Al-Riyadh, 1.xi.1989, alfalfa, Soliman ( KSMA) ; 1♀, Al-Riyadh, Ad Diriyah , 5km NW Al-Riyadh (on alfalfa), 16.v.1996, A. Soliman ( KSMA) ; 1♀, same locality but 15.xi.1989, M.M. Salem ( KSMA) ; 1♂, Al-Riyadh, Al Aziziyah (on alfalfa) 15–viii-1980 ( KSMA) ; 3♂, 3♀, Al-Riyadh, Rhodet Khorim, National Park , 14.iv.2012, sweeping, Al-Dhafer H., ( KSMA) ; 1♂, 1♀, same locality but 17.ii.2012, sweeping ( KSMA) , H. Al-Dhafer , ( KSMA) , 1♂, 1♀, same locality but 28.iv.2012, Al-Dhafer H., ( KSMA) .

Distribution. The species was previously recorded from Saudi Arabia by Martin (1972) and recently by El-Hawagry et al. (2019). It was described from “ Egypt and Nubia” (currently divided into Egypt and Sudan). Mengual (2018) cites Eritrea and Ethiopia (as Abyssinia) as being type localities and it is further recorded from the Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Cape Verde Islands, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, St Helena, São South Africa, The Gambia, Tomé, UAE, Yemen and Zimbabwe; Palaearctic Region: Canary Islands, Cyprus, Iran, Israel, Italy, Morocco, southern Spain ( Smith & Vockeroth 1980; Birtele et al. 2010; Khosravian et al. 2015; Smit et al. 2017; Mengual 2018; Speight 2020).

Remarks. Speight (2020) gave an account of the biology, ecology and determination of this species. Laska et al. (2006) provide a key for separation of the last instar larvae and puparia of I. aegyptius and I. scutellaris . Larvae of I. aegyptius are most usually feeding on aphids but also on thrips (Thysanoptera), whiteflies ( Hemiptera : Aleyrodidae ) and caterpillars ( Lepidoptera ) ( Rojo et al. 2003).

Genus Melanostoma Schiner

The genus Melanostoma is represented in most biogeographical regions of the Old World, with 59 species having the preponderance inhabiting tropical areas. Little is known with respect to their biology, but they are suspected to be general predators of small insects in leaf litter ( van Veen 2004; Ball & Morris 2000).

Figures

FIGURE 42. Habitus of Ischiodon aegyptius (Wiedemann, 1830). Female, lateral view.