Philodieus tenuipes Loew, 1857

Londt, J. G. H., 1978, Afrotropical Asilidae (Diptera) 2. * The genus Philodicus Loew, 1848, in southern Africa, ANNALS OF THE NATAL MUSEUM 23 (2), pp. 419-428 : 422-423

Philodieus tenuipes Loew, 1857 Figs I, 2 , 4 , 10

Philodicus tenuipes Loew, 1857: 361 ; Loew, 1860: 140; Blasdale, 1957: 139. PI. I, fig. 6 (♂ '), PI. II, fig. 3 (♀).

Blasdale (1957) stated that he was not confident that this species is distinct from P. cineraseens (Ricardo, \ 900). At the same time he stated that he was able to separate them on the constancy of terminalial characters of both sexes. Minor differences in male claspers are present (compare Figs 4 and 5 ) but differences in the tip of the aedeagus are pronounced (compare Figs 10 and II). In P. tenuipes the aedeagus appears distinctly swollen and membranous subapically; the tip has a single central prong. P. cineraseens , on the other hand, is not markedly swollen subapically and possesses a trifurcate tip as in the other southern African species of Philodieus. Females can be separated by using the shape of the eighth sternum, as shown by Blasdale. There is no doubt in my mind that these two species are distinct and belong to Blasdale's (1957) alcimoides group.

Material studied: SOUTH AFRICA: Transvaal, I ♂, 2 ♀, Kruger Park , Timbetene Tswini waterholes, savanna woodland near Skukuza, 9. Xll.l972, B. & P. Stuckenberg (N.M.); I ♂, I ♀, Kruger Park, Lower Sabie Camp area, open savanna and riverbanks, 9.XII. I972, B. & P. Stuckenberg (N.M.); I ♂, I ♀, Noordkaap River at Barberton-Nelspruit road , Riverbank Bushveld , 7.IX. 1970, Stuckenberg (N.M.). Natal, 2 ♀, Dukuduku between St Lucia & Matubatuba , 7-8.IV.1960, B. & P. Stuckenberg (N.M.); I ♂, St Lucia , sea-level, coastal dunes, 31.X. l972, M. E. Irwin (N.M.); I ♀, Pietermaritzburg, Town Bush , 31.V.1957, T. Schofield (N.M.); 1 ♂, 5 ♀, 2 damaged specimens, St Lucia, Coastal dune association, 8 m elevation, 24.x1. l971, M. E. & B. J. Irwin (N.M.); 1 ♂, 1♀, Cape Vidal, 20 mi. N. of St Lucia, coastal forest, 24.XI. l 971, 0-20 m, M. E. & B. J. Irwin (N.M.); 2 ♀ Blythdale Beach ( Stanger Beach ), 16.111.1963, T. W. Schofield (N.M.); 1 ♂ -, Mtunzini , XII. 1961, W. J. Lawson (D.M.); 1 ♀, Twinstreams, Mtunzini , 15.XIl.1963, Lawson & Bouguin (D.M.); 1 ♂, M'Fongosi , Zululand , X 1 I.1914, W. E. Jones (S. A. M.). MOZAMBIQUE: 1 ♀, Chinde, Zambezi River Delta , P. J. Usher (N.M.); 1 6♂, 3 ♀, Benguerua I 1 ha, 6.II I.1971 (C.M.); 3 ♂ -, 1 ~, Banque I1 ha., 6.111.1971 (C. M.); 1 ~, Magaruque I 1 ha, 5.111.1971 (C. M.); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Bazaruto Ilha do, 8.111.1971 (C. M.). RHODESIA: 1 ♂, Hillside, 17. XI.1922, Swinburne & Stevenson (N. M.). SOUTH WEST AFRICA: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Omaruru Dist., 50 km N. W. Omaruru, 1 200 m, floodplain with large Acacia trees, 5.11.1974, M. E. Irwin (N.M.); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Otjimbumbe , Kunene River , III.1923, S. A. M. Exped. (S. A.M.); I ♂ -, Hoarusib Orshu , IlI.1926, S. A. M. Exped. (S. A.M.); 1 ♀, Cayimaeis, III. 1923, S. A. M. Exped. (S. A. M.). ANGOLA: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Cuanza River mouth 64 km. S. Luanda, J. 1972, B. Stuckenberg (N. M.). ZAMBIA: 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Chirundu , 18.V.1965, K. Borthwick (N. M.).

6-

Type material: (not studied): 'CAFFRARIA': 1 ♀, ( Rijksmuseum ) .

Material not studied: SOUTH WEST AFRICA: Hoarusib Otshu, 111.1926, S. A. M. Exped. (S.A.M.); Rehoboth, XI-XII. 1935, Bell-Marley (S. A. M.).

Distribution: Widespread. Blasdale (1957) gave the distribution as Rhodesia, Transvaal, Cape Province and South West Africa. My records extend this to Natal, Zambia, Angola and southern Mozambique. The distribution of P. cineraseens was given by Blasdale (1957) as Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and northern Mozambique. I have only seen specimens from Malawi (2 ♀, Lauwandi Drift, Shire River, between Zomba & Ft. Johnstone, J. D. Casey (D. M.)) and northern Mozambique (2 6-, Namalala Stream, 22.XI.J 956 (C. M. & N.M.)), and therefore Blasdale's (1957) distribution records are supported. There is a strong possibility that P. cineraseens will be collected in southern Africa.

Prey: Nothing is known concerning the prey of P. tenuipes .

Figures

Figs 1 -2. Phi/odieus tenuipes. I. Lateral aspect of a male specimen. 2. Right wing showing characteristic position of crossvein between R. and Rs possessed by all species of Phi/odieus.

Figs 3-8. Ventral aspect of left clasper and paramere ofPhilodicus species. 3. P. dubills (Metsimaklaba d'). 4. P. tenuipes (Hillside ♂). 5. P. cinerascens (Namalala ♂). 6. P. swynnertoni (Nelspruit d'). 7-8. P. Jraterculus. 7. Pretoria ♂ 8. Empangeni ♂.

Figs 9-14. Aedeagal tips of Phi/adieus species. 9. P. dubius (Metsimaklaba J). 10. P. tenuipes (Hillside J). II. P. cineraseens (Namalala J). 12. P. swynnertani (Nelspruit 0). 13-14. P. /ratercu/us. 13. Pretoria 0. 14. Empangeni 0.