Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933, 1855

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 : 423-424

Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933 Figs 6 , 12

Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933: 109 ; Blasdale 1957: 144. PI. 1, fig. 13 (♂), PI. II, fig. 6 (♀ j».

This large species belongs to Blasdale's (J 957) fraternus group of species and is easily recognised and keyed out in Blasdale's key. The left clasper and paramere of the only male studied ( Fig. 6 ) are clearly similar to the specimen illustrated by Blasdale (1957) but show the internal face of the clasper to project inwards in a manner unlike any other species from southern Africa. The aedeagal tip ( Fig. 12 ) possesses three very long filamentous prongs resembling those of the genus Alcimus as shown by Theodor (1976).

Material studied: SOUTH AFRICA: Transvaal, 1 ♂, Nelspruit , II.1915, A. Roberts (N.M.).

Type material (not studied): RHODESIA: I ♂ holotype, 1 ♀ allotype, near Mt. Chirinda, 31.1.1912, C. F. M. Swynnerton (Oxford University Museum).

Distribution: Blasdale (1957) gives the distribution of P. swynnertoni as Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Rhodesia and South Africa (Transvaal). The species therefore has a very wide distribution.

Prey: No information is available for this species.

Figures

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.