South African nose flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae, Rhiniinae): taxonomy, diversity, distribution and biology Author Thomas-Cabianca, Arianna https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2126-6222 Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, E- 03080, Alicante, Spain athomasbio@gmail.com Author Villet, Martin H. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4335-5667 Rhodes University, Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Grahamstown, South Africa Author Martinez-Sanchez, Anabel Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, E- 03080, Alicante, Spain Author Rojo, Santos https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2160-9643 Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, E- 03080, Alicante, Spain text Biodiversity Data Journal 2023 2023-01-13 11 72764 72764 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e72764 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e72764 1314-2828-11-e72764 483CCF09D3A05B029A3B4B4A30E4CB79 Rhyncomya soyauxi Karsch, 1886 = Rhyncomya soyauxi Karsch, 1886: 262. Type locality : Pongo-Andongo [Angola]. Remarks : HT in ZMHB. = Rhyncomya pictifacies Bigot, 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 Acacia veld (dry mixed bush, savannah and woodland), forests (indigenous Afromontane, broad-leafed deciduous woodland, Ficus forest, 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 Compositae and Cape Gooseberry in Zambia. In South Africa, some specimens were recorded to be associated with Acacia sp., Boscia sp., Acacia - Rhigozum Burch. scrub and Searsia sp. F.A.Barkley (as Rhus ). Females were observed ovipositing in rich soil at the edge of fresh cow-dung, Eastern Victoria, Zimbabwe. Additionally, R. soyauxi was caught together with Bembix albofasciata and Bembix melanopa as 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 soyauxi Karsch / C = Rhyncomya pictifacies Bigot) // [ZMHB]. Material examined : Suppl. materials 1, 2.