= Rhyncomya soyauxi
= Rhyncomya pictifacies
= Rhynchomyia isaea
= Rhynchomyia proterva
South African nose flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae, Rhiniinae): taxonomy, diversity, distribution and biology
Thomas-Cabianca, Arianna
Villet, Martin H.
Martinez-Sanchez, Anabel
Rojo, Santos
Biodiversity Data Journal
2023
2023-01-13
11
72764
72764
797TL
1240424
6595D870-8E1D-5C45-8278-078381CBE5E9
Karsch, 1886
Karsch
1886
Insecta
Rhiniidae
Rhyncomya
CoL
Animalia
Rhyncomya soyauxi
Diptera
0
72764
Arthropoda
species
soyauxi
= Rhyncomya soyauxiKarsch, 1886: 262. Type locality: Pongo-Andongo [Angola]. Remarks: HT in ZMHB. = Rhyncomya pictifaciesBigot, 1888: 595. Type locality: Cape [South Africa]. = Rhynchomyia isaea Seguy, 1933: 69. Type locality: Cameroon. = Rhynchomyia proterva Seguy, 1938: 378. Type locality: Kenya, Mt. Elgon.
Distribution Afrotropical: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda*, South Africa (Fig. 107), Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Notes Preferred environment: wild environments such as Acaciaveld (dry mixed bush, savannah and woodland), forests (indigenous Afromontane, broad-leafed deciduous woodland, Ficusforest, sand and red sand), grasslands (grassy floodplain, mixed, grass and Kathu), savannah, Kalahari thornveld and rural and urban environments, such as the Albany Museum grounds, camp site areas and sewage-seepage areas. In Kenya, Kenyan dry forest; in Malawi, forest edge, margins and grasslands; in Namibia, the Kwando River floodplain, Miombo and mopane woodlands and open savannah floodplain. Almost all Namibian biomes, except the Hyper-Arid Desert and Succulent Karoo Biomes ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Recorded elevations: 17-1628 m a.s.l. Seasonality: abundant species recorded year-round, with highest abundance in warmer months and lower in colder. Abundant in Namibia, peaking in February and September ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Behaviour and ecology: flower-frequenting, both sexes feed on flowers, especially Asteraceae(as Compositae) in the savannah forest of Zimbabwe (as R. pictifacies) ( Cuthbertson 1933). Peris (1952b)also recorded the species on flowers of wild Compositaeand Cape Gooseberry in Zambia. In South Africa, some specimens were recorded to be associated with Acaciasp., Bosciasp., Acacia- RhigozumBurch. scrub and Searsiasp. F.A.Barkley (as Rhus). Females were observed ovipositing in rich soil at the edge of fresh cow-dung, Eastern Victoria, Zimbabwe. Additionally, R. soyauxiwas caught together with Bembix albofasciataand Bembix melanopaas their prey. Life cycle and developmental stages: unknown, but Cuthbertson (1933)indicated that their eggs are similar to R. pruinosa, cream-coloured, sausage-shaped and about 1.75 mm long. Collection methods: Malaise and light traps, MV and black light trap and sweeping. In Botswana, Malaise traps; in Kenya, general sweeping, Malaise and migration traps. In Namibia, with yellow, blue and white pans, pitfall and Malaise traps, hand net, sweeping, UV-light and McPhail traps baited with Nu-Lure ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Illustrations and photographs: female habitus as in Fig. 108. Male terminalia as in fig. 53 in Zumpt (1958). Type material examined: R. soyauxi: 1? // Typus // Pungo-Andongo / Leg. V. Homeyer // 11013 // Rhynch. /? Soyeauxi/ K.* // Rhyncomyia? / Rhyncomya soyauxiKarsch / C = Rhyncomya pictifaciesBigot) // [ZMHB]. Material examined: Suppl. materials 1, 2.