Thoracites Brauer and Bergenstamm, 1891: 363

Kurahashi, Hiromu & Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2006, The Calliphoridae of Namibia (Diptera: Oestroidea), Zootaxa 1322 (1), pp. 1-131 : 87-90

Genus: Thoracites Brauer and Bergenstamm, 1891: 363 .

TYPE SPECIES: Musca abdominalis Fabricius, 1805 , by monotypy. NOTES: Thoracites occurs in southern Africa and the Oriental Region ( India and Sri Lanka) (Kura­

hashi 2001). The biology, life history and immature stages of the genus are entirely unknown

(ibid: 143), and the genus is not mentioned by Ferrar (1987).

Thoracites kirkspriggsi Kurahashi, 2001: 146 .

Fig. 94 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Namibia.

DISTRIBUTION: Namibia.

PREVIOUS RECORDS: (holotype and paratypes) Rundu, 20 km E, 17–18.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs(1), Pape and Hauwanga ( MT); (paratypes) same except: ( YP) dry woodland; (paratypes) Katara, 1 km S, 22–23.i.1998, Kirk­Spriggs(1) & Marais ( MT) primary forest; (paratype) Matende River, 20–21.i.1998, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) primary forest; (paratypes) Fort Doppies, 20–21.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs(1), Pape & Hauwanga; (paratype) Kwando River: Susuwe , 28.ix–2.x.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) dry woodland; Kwando River at: 4–10.iv.1990, Marais ( PT); Kongola , 26 km W, 30.x–5.xi.1987, Marais ( PT); Kuru , 3 km W, 9–28.i.1991, Marais ( PT); Mudumu Game Reserve at: 25.x–4.xii.1991, Marais ( MT); Singalamwe , 25.xi–23.xii.1991, Marais ( PT); Rundu , 10 km S, 12.i.1993, Marais ; Enuyu , 22.i.1993, Marais ; Etudilondjaba , 14–27.i.1993, Marais ( PT); Acacia , 3–14.xi.1989, Marais ( PT); Beisebvlakte , 3–14.xi.1989, Marais ( PT); Tsumkwe , 17–25.vii.1984, Griffin (1); Büllsport 172, 28.i–1.iv.1995, Marais ( PT) (summarised from Kurahashi 2001: 146) .

MATERIAL: 1♂, Rundu , 10 km S, 12.i.1993, Marais ( LT) ; 1♀, Enyana , 14–27.i.1993, Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, Aha Hills at(2): 9.i.1991, Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, 9♀, CDM Camp Tsumkwe , v.1993, Green ( PT) ; 5♀, Kaudom River at: 12–30.i.1991, Marais ( PT) ; 3♀, Thinderevu Omuramba at: 28.ii–13.iii.1992, Marais & Pusch ( PT) ; 1♀, Dussi , 10 km W of, 29–30.xii.1998, Kirk­ Spriggs (1), Marais & Mann ( YP) ; 1♂, 1♀, Leeupan , 12–14.i.1991, Marais ; 4♂, Mudumu Game Reserve at(1): 25.xi–4.xii.1991, Marais ( PT) ; 1♀, Hereroland­West at(1): 27.ix–26.x.1991, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♂, 1♀, Popa Falls (1), 26.ii.1992, Marais & Pusch ( MT) ; 5♂, Katima Mulilo , 11–14.iv.1997, Marais ( BP) floodplain savanna; 1♂, 2♀, same except: ( YP) ; 2♀, Kwando River: Susuwe , 26–29.ix.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( YP) experiment; 1♂, same except: ( BP) experiment; 2♀, same except: ( WP) experiment; 1♂, same except: 26–30.ix.1998 ( BP) dry woodland; 7♂, 8♀, same except: ( YP) dry woodland; 5♂, 2♀, Mutompo area (1), 21–25.iv.2001, Marais, Kasch & Vohland ( MT) deciduous woodland, BIOTA #02.101.01.7.04; 1♂, Hamoye Nat. Forest , 5–8.iii.1999, Marais ( YP) ; 1♀, same except: ( MT) ; 2♂, Okongo , 29 km E, 14–15.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Pape & Hauwanga ( YP) dry woodland; 1♀, Viljoenskroon 507, 12–18.xi.1998, Olivier (1) ( MT) ; 4♂, 2♀, Okavarumendu 262, 10.xi.1994 – 26.i.1995, Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, Northern vet. fence, 2 km S, 20.xi–16.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ; 1♂, same except: ( PT) ; 5♂, 4♀, Eiseb River at: 18.xi–15.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, 5♀, Eiseb and Otjinoko Rivers, confluence of, 18.xi–15.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, Sovo , 21–24.iv.2001, Marais, Kasch & Vohland ( MT) deciduous woodland: BIOTA #02.101.01.7.04; 2♀, Sovo area , 21–24.iv.2001, Marais & Kasch ( MT) deciduous woodland; 1♂, 3♀, same except: by hand; 1♀, Sovo / Mile 46 Camp (1), 21–24.iv.2001, Marais, Kasch & Vohland, handcollected: BIOTA #02.100.01.7.11 ; 2♀, Mile 46 Agric. Research Sta. , 21–24.iv.2001, Marais, Kasch & Vohland, Acacia dominated interdune ( MT) : BIOTA #01.101.01.7.04; 3♀, same except: Marais & Kasch ( MT) Acacia thicket; 1♀, 5 km N, 16–18.xii.1999, Marais, Mann & Newman, MMN8 ( MT) ; 1♀, Amkarub 269(1), river on at: 24–26.v.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 2♂, 1♀, Simataa: Salambala B6, 24–27.ii.2001, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) ; 11♂, 10♀, same except: ( YP) ; 4♀, same except: ( MT) ; 1♂, 6♀, Salambala , 4 km NE of, 25.ii–1.iii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 4♀, Salambala campsite, 22–24.ii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 20♂, 20♀, Somerkoms 521, 6–8.ii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Marais & Wheeler ( MT) ; 2♂, 4♀, De Hoek 878, 3–6.ii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 4♂, 27♀, Mile 46, 25–27.iii.2003, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) ; 11♂, 10♀, Masiye: Salamabala [sic – Salambala] B2, 28.ii–3.iii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) ; 3♀, same except: ( MT) ; 3♂, 4♀, same except: ( YP) ; 3♀, Xawasha pan, 27.xii.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) ; 1♀, Salambala campsite, 1–4.iii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) baited millipede; 1♂, 1♀, Dussi , 10 km W of, 29–30.xii.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Marais & Mann ( MT) ; 1♂, Simanya : Okavango River, 23–24.i.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) primary woodland; 1♀, Popa Falls restcamp, 13–16.ii.2004, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) , riverine forest; 1♀, Hakusembe Lodge road, 17.ii.2004, Kirk­Spriggs (1) (S) grassy floodplain ; 1♂, Bum Hill campsite ( Kwando River), 10–13.ii.2004, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( LT) ; 2♂, 9♀, same except: ( MT) ; 1♂, Andara , 20–25.viii.1971, [SMStaff], H3357 ; 1♂, Mudumu Mulapo , 29.xi.1991, Marais ; 1♂, 1♀, Omatako , 2 km W, 7.i.1991, Marais ; 2♀, Bushmanland at(2): 8.i–1.ii.1990, Marais ( PT) ; 1♀, Hereroland­West at(1): 18.i–25.ii.1992, Pusch ( PT) .

NOTES: Biology, life history and immature stages unknown. In Namibia the species has been swept, collected by hand, at UV­light, in yellow, blue and white pans, in pitfall and Malaise traps, and in a pitfall trap baited with a dead millipede. Principally in north­eastern Namibia; apparently restricted to the ‘arid’ and ‘mesic’ savanna biome ( Fig. 94 ). Recorded throughout the year, except June; most abundantly from December to March (vide Table 2).

Thoracites nigrifacies Kurahashi, 2001: 152 .

Fig. 95 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Namibia.

DISTRIBUTION: Namibia.

PREVIOUS RECORDS: (holotype and paratype) Windhoek , 10 km out on Gamsberg Rd., 4.iii.1973 ;

(paratype) Kaross, 9–10.v.1987, Irish & Marais; (paratypes) Noitgedag 49, 3–4.vii.1993, Marais; (paratypes) Omaruru Townlands, 21–27.ii.1995, Marais ( PT); (paratypes) Epembe NW at: 8.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs(1), Pape & Hauwanga ( YP) mopane velt; (paratype) Ekango, 25–26.ii.1995, Marais (summarised from Kurahashi 2001: 152) .

MATERIAL: 2♂, Engelbrecht 272: Khoadi // Hôas M 2, 26–29.x.2001, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( YP) ; 1♀, same except: 24–27.v.2001 ( PT) ; 2♂, 2♀, same except: 24–27.v.2001 ( YP) ; 3♀, Garies Oos 489, 9.ii–23.iii.1996, Marais ( PT) ; 3♀, Grootberg 191: Khoadi // Hôas M 24, 24–27.v.2001, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( YP) ; 1♀, Ruspoort 669: Khoadi // Hôas M 14, 26–29.x.2001, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) ; 3♀, same except: ( YP) ; 6♂, 5♀, same except: 25–28.v.2001 ( YP) ; 1♀, Leeukop 664, 26–30.x.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) riverbed.

NOTES: Biology, life history and immature stages unknown. In Namibia the species has been collected by hand, in yellow pans, pitfall and Malaise traps. Records indicate a close association with the Namibian Escarpment, an area of high Namibian endemicity. In the ‘arid’ savanna and nama­karoo biomes ( Fig. 95 ). Recorded in February, March, May, July and October; most abundantly in May (vide Table 2).

Thoracites sarcophagoides Kurahashi, 2001: 155 .

Fig. 96 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Namibia.

DISTRIBUTION: Namibia.

PREVIOUS RECORDS: (holotype and paratypes) Kwando River: Susuwe , 28.ix–2.x.1998, Kirk­ Spriggs (1) ( MT) dry woodland; (paratype) same except: 26–29.ix.1998 ( BRP) experiment; (paratypes) Fort Doppies, 20–21.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Pape & Hauwanga; (paratypes) Dussi , 10 km W of, 29–30.xii.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Marais & Mann ( MT) ; Viljoenskroon 507, 7–9.ii.1998, 19–25.xi.1998, 9–16.xii.1998, Olivier (1), Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; Thinderevu Omuramba at: 28.ii–13.iii.1992, Marais & Pusch ( PT) ; Mahango Game Park , Okavango River at: 18–19.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Pape & Hauwanga ( MT) ; Mangetti Quarantine Camp, 11.i.1993, Marais; Okongo , 29 km E, 14–15.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Pape & Hauwanga ( MT) dry woodland; Hereroland­West at(1): 3.iv–25.vi.1992, Marais & Pusch ( PT) ; Hereroland­West at(2): 18.i–25.ii.1992, Marais & Pusch ( PT) ; Hereroland­West at(3): 19.vi–25.vii.1991, Marais & Pusch ( PT) ; Edimba , 14–26.i.1993, Marais ( PT) ; Enuyu, 22.i.1993, Marais; Dorsland, 14.v–16.vi.1986, Griffin (1); Dorsland , 8.x–14.xi.1986, Griffin (1) ( PT) ; Olifantsrus, 6–7.viii.1987, Griffin (1); Kuru , 3 km W, 9–28.i.1991, Marais ( PT) ; Rundu , 20 km E, 17–18.x.1999, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Pape & Hauwanga ( MT) ; Matende River, 20–21.i.1998, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) primary forest; Quqali River at: 18°01'S, 22°18'E, 6.iv.1990, Marais; Omega , 13 km W of, 3–10.iv.1990, Marais ( PT) ; Kongola , 26 km W, 30.x–5.xi.1987, Marais ( PT) ; Waterberg Plateau Park (4), x–xii.1991, Pusch ( PT) ; Bushmanland (2), 8.i–1.ii.1990, Marais ( PT) ; Tsumkwe , 40 km NW, 12–14.i.1984, Griffin (1) (summarised from Kurahashi 2001: 155–157) .

MATERIAL: 1♀, Waterberg Plateau Park (1), 30.iv–1.vi.1992, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♀, Waterberg Plateau Park (2), 2.ii–1.iii.1993, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♂, 4♀, Waterberg Plateau Park (2), 7.x–30.x.1992, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♂, 1♀, Waterberg Plateau Park (2), 31.iii–30.iv.1993, Pusch ( PT) ; 2♀, Waterberg Plateau Park (4), x–xii.1991, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♂, Odila River at: 23.i.1992, Marais ; 1♂, 1♀, Onduri , 14–26.i.1993, Marais ( PT) ; 1♀, Oudam 354, 8.ii–23.iii.1996, Marais ( PT) ; 2♂, Chwaha River, 3 km NE, at: 4–10.iv.1990, Marais (PT & BT) ; 1♀, Katima Mulilo , 11–14.iv.1997, Marais ( BP) floodplain savanna; 1♂, Buffalo Base , 3–5.iv.1990, Marais ; 1♀, Qugali River, 7.iv.1990, Marais ; 3♀, Eiseb and Otjinoko Rivers, confluence of, 18.xi–15.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, 1♀, Eiseb River at: 18.xi–15.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 3♂, 4♀, Northern vet. fence, 2 km S, 20.xi–16.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 12♂, 12♀, Northern vet. fence on Gam Road , 19.xi–15.xii.1988, Paxton & Marais ( PT) ; 1♂, Viljoenskroon 507, 10–17.v.1998, Olivier (1) ( MT) ; 7♂, 4♀, same except: 6–13.ii.1998; 1♂, same except: 24–31.i.1999; 4♂, same except: 25.iv–2.v.1999; 24♂, 5♀, same except: 31.xii.1998 – 6.i.1999; 21♂, 7♀, same except: 7–13.i.1999; 24♂, 6♀, same except: 13–21.i.1999; 12♂, 7♀, same except: 30.i–5.ii.1999; 1♂, same except: 8–29.iii.1998; 1♂, same except: 16–23.xii.1998; 2♂, same except: 2–15.ii.1998; 2♀, same except: 29.iii–5.iv.1998; 2♀, same except: 2–15.ii.1998; 1♂, 2♀, same except: 15–22.ii.1998; 6♂, 5♀, same except: 3–9.xii.1998; 10♂, 1♀, same except: 12–18.xi.1998; 15♂, 1♀, same except: 23–30.xii.1998; 1♂, Mutompo area (1), 21–25.iv.2001, Marais, Kasch & Vohland ( MT) deciduous woods, BIOTA #02.101.01.7.04; 1♂, B8 rest­stop at: 13–15.xii.1999, Marais, Mann & Newman, MMN3, elephant dung; 13♂, Somerkoms 521, 6–8.ii.2001, Kirk­ Spriggs (1), Marais & Wheeler ( MT) ; 17♂, 9♀, same except: ( YP) ; 16♂, 15♀, Dussi , 10 km W of, 29–30.xii.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1), Marais & Mann ( YP) ; 3♂, 2♀, Simataa: Salambala B6, 24–27.ii.2001, Marais & Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) ; 4♂, 3♀, same except: ( YP) ; 1♂, 3♀, Salambala forest , 23–29.xii.2002, Kirk­Spriggs (2) ( MT) ; 1♂, 1♀, Salambala campsite, 22–24.ii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 2♀, same except: 23.xii.2002, Kirk­Spriggs (2) ( MT) ; 2♀, Salambala , 4 km NE of, 25.ii–1.iii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) & Marais ( MT) ; 1♀, Salambala pan, 23–27.xii.2002, Kirk­Spriggs (2) ( MT) ; 1♂, Mile 46, 25–27.iii.2003, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) ; 1♀, Rundu , 10 km S, 12.i.1993, Marais ; 2♂, 13♀, Kwando River: Susuwe , 26–29.ix.1998, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MCP) riverine edge; 22♂, 56♀, same except: ( WP) experiment; 10♂, 42♀, same except: ( YP) experiment; 13♂, 35♀, same except: ( BP) experiment; 1♀, same except: ( OP) experiment; 13♂, 66♀, same except: 26–30.ix.1998 ( BP) dry woodland; 27♂, 83♀, same except: ( YP) dry woodland; 5♂, 11♀, same except: 28.ix–2.x.1998 ( MT) dry woodland; 11♂, 2♀, Masiye: Salamabala [sic – Salambala] B2, 28.ii–3.iii.2001, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( PT) ; 2♂, 8♀, same except: ( YP) ; 1♀, Hamakari Süd 373(2), 20.ii–25.iv.1992, Pusch ( PT) ; 2♂, 1♀, Bum Hill campsite ( Kwando River), 10–13.ii.2004, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) ; 9♀, Salambala campsite, 8–10.ii.2004, Kirk­Spriggs (1) ( MT) ; 1♀, Hereroland­West at(1): 3.iv–25.vi.1992, Pusch ( PT) ; 1♂, Hereroland­West at(2): 25.xi–25.xii.1991, Pusch ( PT) ; 3♀, Hereroland­West at(3): 19.vi–25.vii.1991, Pusch ( PT) ; 2♂, 2♀, Bushmanland at(2): 8.i–1.ii.1990, Marais ( PT) ; 1♀, Omega , 13 km W of, 3–10.iv.1990, Marais (PT & BT) ; 1♂, 1♀, Omega , 8 km E, 30.x–5.xi.1987, Marais ( PT) .

NOTES: Biology, life history and immature stages unknown. In Namibia the species has been collected by hand, in yellow, white, blue, brown and orange pans, in pitfall and Malaise traps, and at fresh African elephant dung. North­eastern, central and north­western Namibia; in the ‘arid’ and ‘mesic’ savanna and nama­karoo biomes ( Fig. 96 ). Recorded in all months of the year; most abundantly in December to February and September (vide Table 2).

Figures

FIGURES 93–98. Distributions of Namibian Calliphoridae species. 93. Stegosoma vinculatum Loew. 94. Thoracites kirkspriggsi Kurahashi. 95. T. nigrifacies Kurahashi. 96. T. sarcophagoides Kurahashi. 97. Isomyia darwini (Curran). 98. I. deserti (Karsch).