Anypodetus arachnoides Oldroyd, 1974

Dikow, Torsten & Dubus, Meliah, 2023, A review of the assassin-fly genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 with the description of a new species (Insecta, Diptera, Asilidae), African Invertebrates 64 (2), pp. 165-206 : 165

Anypodetus arachnoides Oldroyd, 1974

Figs 12-17 , 51

Taxon depository.

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/E98A1482-DA4A-40B9-8A1D-CFD12C02885A;

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/species/1664899

Plazi TreatmentBank ( Londt 2000): https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B39D2F-F045-9D41-FF58-FBE3D93A44FD.

Diagnosis.

The species is distinguished from congeners by the entirely orange postpedicel, the short white, tightly packed, dorso-ventrally flattened macrosetae in the male mystax, and the entirely black mystax in females restricted to the lower facial half.

Type locality.

Zimbabwe: Matabeleland North: Sawmills (19°35'00"S, 028°02'23"E, -19.58333, 28.03972).

Material examined.

Botswana - Central • 1♀ Farmer's Brigade , 5 km SE Serowe; 22°25'00"S, 026°44'00"E; 21 Dec. 1982 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-024272, NMSA • 1♀ same locality; 22 Dec. 1982 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008925, NMSA • 1♀ same locality; 15 Feb. 1983 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008921, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; 25 Nov. 1983 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008923, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; 30 Mar. 1985 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008933, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; 21 Nov. 1985 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008919, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; Dec. 1985 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008916, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; Mar. 1986 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008920, NMSA • 1♂ Farmer's Brigade , Serowe; 22°25'00"S, 026°44'00"E; Mar. 1986 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; Malaise trap; USNMENT01819604, USNM • 1♂ same locality; Dec. 1987 ; Forchhammer, P. leg.; Malaise trap; USNMENT01819599, USNM.

Botswana - Ngamiland • 1♂ Maxwee; 19°28'00"S, 023°40'00"E; Nov. 1975; Russel-Smith, A. leg.; grassland; NAMS-DIP-082947, NMSA • 1♀ same locality; 19 Dec. 1975; Russel-Smith, A. leg.; flood plain; NMSA-DIP-008944, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082947, NMSA .

Namibia - Zambezi • 1♀ Katima Mulilo ; 17°30'00"S, 024°16'00"E; 20-28 Oct. 1970; Strydom, A. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008918, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082945, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082946, NMSA .

Namibia - Kunene • 1♂ Kaross ; 19°30'00"S, 014°20'00"E; Feb. 1925; SAM Museum Staff leg.; SAM-DIP-A008768, SAMC • 1♀ same data; SAM-DIP-A008768, SAMC • 1? same data; SAM-DIP-A008768, SAMC .

Namibia - Otjozondjupa • 1♂ Grootfontein ; 19°33'48"S, 018°06'26"E; Dec. 1963; von Teichm. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008946, NMSA .

South Africa - Limpopo • 1♀ Burgersfort , 1 km E; 24°40'53"S, 030°20'06"E; 01 Feb. 1974; Gurney, A. leg.; USNMENT01140570, USNM • 1♂ Messina Nature Reserve ; 22°22'00"S, 030°02'00"E; 554 m a.s.l.; 11-12 Feb. 1985; Mansell, M. leg.; SANC • 1♀ Messina Nature Reserve, Mopane dry woodland, Sand River ; 22°24'54"S, 030°05'12"E; 487 m a.s.l.; 14 Feb. 2005; Londt, Jason, Dikow, Torsten leg.; USNMENT00870119, USNM • 1♀ same data; USNMENT00870120, USNM • 1♂ Nylsvley Nature Reserve, Naboomspruit ; 24°39'00"S, 028°42'00"E; 13 Oct. 1976; Ferrar, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008947, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082924, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; 28 Nov. 1978; Ferrar, P. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008950, NMSA • 1♀ Priska , 45 km NE; 29°33'00"S, 023°07'00"E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 19 Mar. 1991; Londt, Jason, Whittington, A. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008936, NMSA • 1♀ Soutpan (= Zoutpan), Soutpansberge ; 22°58'00"S, 029°20'00"E; 23-24 Feb. 1980; Londt, Jason, Schoeman, L. leg.; NMSA-DIP-082925, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082926, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082927, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082928, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082929, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082930, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082931, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082932, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082933, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082934, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-008940, NMSA • 1♀ Vivo , 6 km N; 22°59'29"S, 029°15'27"E; 23-24 Feb. 1980; Londt, Jason, Schoeman, L. leg.; bushveld vegetation and old lands; NMSA-DIP-008939, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082935, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082936, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082937, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082938, NMSA • 1♀ same data; NMSA-DIP-082940, NMSA • 1♀ same data; SANC • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082941 NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082942, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082943, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082944, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082939, NMSA • 1♀ Zoutpan, Zoutpansberg Mountains ; 23°10'00"S, 028°25'00"E; 15-30 Nov. 1932; van Son, G. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008941, NMSA .

South Africa - Northern Cape • 1♀ Hotazel, Ga-Mogara River bed; 27°19'00"S, 022°54'00"E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 14 Mar. 1991; Londt, Jason, Whittington, A. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008945, NMSA • 1♂ same data; NMSA-DIP-082923, NMSA • 1♂ Olifantshoek , 5 km W; 27°57'00"S, 022°42'00"E; 1350 m a.s.l.; 15 Mar. 1991; Londt, Jason, Whittington, A. leg.; Acacia Ziziphus veld; NMSA-DIP-008937, NMSA • 1♀ Olifantshoek , 8 km W; 27°56'00"S, 022°40'00"E; 1550 m a.s.l.; 15 Mar. 1991; Londt, Jason, Whittington, A. leg.; flat grassy plain; NMSA-DIP-008938, NMSA • 1♀ Vaalbos National Park, Riverside Picnic site; 28°27'28"S, 024°19'59"E; 1055 m a.s.l.; 28-29 Jan. 2004; Londt, Jason, Dikow, Torsten leg.; Acacia savannah; USNMENT00870117, USNM • 1♀ same data; USNMENT00870118, USNM .

Zambia - Lusaka • 1♂ Chilanga ; 15°34'13"S, 028°16'23"E; 16 Aug. 1913; Wood, R. leg.; on path, NHMUK013445830, Paratype, NHMUK .

Zimbabwe - Bulawayo • 1♀ Bulawayo; 20°09'00"S, 028°35'00"E; Dec. 1922; Arnold leg.; NMSA-DIP-008931, NMSA • 1♂ same locality; 04 Nov. 1923; Stevenson, R. leg.; SAM-DIP-A008772, SAMC • 1♀ same locality; 11 Dec. 1923; Stevenson, R. leg.; SAM-DIP-A008770, SAMC • 1♀ same locality; 03 Jan. 1924; Stevenson, R. leg.; SAM-DIP-A008771, SAMC .

Zimbabwe - Harare • 1♂ Hillside ; 17°50'00"S, 031°05'00"E; 24 Nov. 1922; Swinburne, Stevenson, R. leg.; NMSA-DIP-008924, NMSA .

Zimbabwe - Masvingo • 1♂ Sabi Valley ; 20°25'00"S, 032°05'00"E; 18 Nov. 1971; NMSA-DIP-008935, Paratype, NMSA .

Zimbabwe - Matabeleland North • 1♂ Sawmills ; 19°35'00"S, 028°02'23"E; 11 Nov. 1920; Rhodesia Museum leg.; NHMUK013445829, Holotype, NHMUK • 1♀ same locality; 26 Dec. 1923; Stevenson, R. leg.; SAM-DIP-A008769, SAMC.

Distribution, biodiversity hotspots, seasonal imago flight activity, and biology.

Known from throughout southern Africa with a single locality in southern Zambia but not recorded from Mozambique to date (Fig. 51 ). A commonly observed and collected species known from 67 specimens from 23 collecting events between 1913-2005 and three observations at iNaturalist (Table 2 ). The species is not known to occur in any currently recognized biodiversity hotspot. Adult flies are active from spring to late summer (September-March) with a single record for August (Table 3 ). Londt (2000) reports two prey records: Diptera : Platystomatidae and an alate Formicidae .

Figures

Figure 51. Map of southern Africa with elevational relief and biodiversity hotspots (sensu Conservation International in gray) and distribution of A. arachnoides, A. leucothrix, A. londti sp. nov., and A. unicolor (SimpleMappr https: // www. simplemappr. net / map / 20266). Distribution and occurrence data available in Google Earth KML file https: // www. simplemappr. net / map / 20266. kml.

Figures 12 - 17. A. arachnoides 12 ♀ (USNMENT 00870120), lateral 13 same, dorsal 14 same, head anterior 15 ♂ (USNMENT 00870117), head anterior 16 same, lateral 17 same, dorsal. Scale bars: 5 mm, red arrow = vein M 2 and M 3 alignment.