The history of taxonomic work undertaken on Afrotropical Philodicus Loew, 1848 is summarised. Details relating to the southern African fauna are provided. Five species occur in the sub-region: P. cinerascens (Ricardo, 1900), P. dubius Ricardo, 1921, P. fraterculus (Walker, 1855), P. swynnertoni Hobby, 1933 and P. tenuipes Loew, 1858. A lectotype and paralectotype are designated for P. dubius. A key to the species is provided along with new illustrations of male terminalia in order to facilitate identification. All known records are provided for these species along with distribution maps and notes on their biology. All species are found near places where free water may be found. All known prey records are provided and discussed, and a strong preference for grasshoppers (Acrididae) is noted.
INTRODUCTION
Philodicus Loew, 1848 is an attractive genus (Fig. 1) of fairly large robber flies with some 20 recognised Afrotropical species (Oldroyd 1980). The genus is also well represented in the Oriental Region with 19 recognised species being listed by Oldroyd (1975). Two species are catalogued for the Palaearctic Region (Lehr 1988), while a single species is listed as occurring in the Australasian and Oceanian Regions (Daniels 1989).
The taxonomic history of Afrotropical Philodicus can be briefly summarised as follows:
Wiedemann (1819) — Described Asilus javanus from the Oriental Region as well as fraternus from ‘Guinea'.
Wiedemann (1828) — Described Asilus ludens from ‘Aus Nubien' (Sudan).
Macquart (1838) — Described Trupanea limbata from Senegal.
Loew (1848) — Described Philodicus with Oriental type species Asilus javanus Wiedemann, 1819, by monotypy.
Walker (1849) — Described Asilus turinus from Sierra Leone.
Walker (1851) — Described Trupanea temerarius from Senegal.
Walker (1855) — Described Trupanea fraterculus from ‘Port Natal' (= Durban, South Africa).
Loew (1858) — Described P. obscuripes from ‘Guinea', and P. tenuipes from ‘Caffraria' (eastern South Africa).
Wulp (1889) — Described Apoclea infuscata from ‘du Congo' (DR Congo).
Bigot (1891) — Described Alcimus aethiopicus and Rhadiurgus notatus from ‘Assinie' (Ivory Coast).
Bezzi (1892) — Described P. pavesii from ‘Obbia' (= Hobyo) ‘Somali' (Somalia).
Wulp (1899) — Described P. gracilis from ‘Lehej' and ‘Haithalhim' in Yemen.
Ricardo (1900) — Described Alcimus cinerascens from ‘Fort Johnston, Nyasaland' (Malawi).
Kertész (1909) — Catalogued four Afrotropical Philodicus species (gracilis, obscuripes, pavesii, tenuipes), four Alcimus Loew, 1848 (aethiopicus, fraternus, limbata, ludens), one Rhadiurgus Loew, 1849 (notatus), three Promachus Loew, 1848 (fraterculus, temerarius, turinus) and one species of Apoclea Macquart, 1838 (infuscata).
Ricardo (1921) — Reviewed the genus, describing P. dubius from ‘M'Fongosi, Zululand' (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), walkeri from ‘Sierra Leone' and ‘Bugama, Nigeria', nigrescens from ‘Lualaba River, Congo' (DR Congo) and umbripennis from ‘S.W. Nyasa' and ‘Nyasaland' (Malawi). Alcimus fraternus was transferred to Philodicus, and new records of some species were provided (gracilus — ‘Arabia', temerarius — Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Nyasaland (Malawi), Gold Coast (Ghana), fraterculus — ‘Junction Blaauw Krantz and Tugela River, Natal' (South Africa), turinus — Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria, British East Africa (Kenya), Nyasaland (Malawi), fraternus — Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gambia, Gold Coast (Ghana), Dahomey (Benin), Mozambique. A key to nine species was provided (dubius, fraterculus, fraternus, gracilis, nigrescens, temerarius, turinus, umbripennis, walkeri) and obscuripes listed as a synonym of temerarius.
Becker (1922) — Described P. ocellatus from ‘aus Sennar' ‘Anglo-Ägyptischen Sudan' (Sudan).
Ricardo (1922) — Included cinerascens in a key to nine Afrotropical species of Alcimus and records the species from ‘M'fongosi, Zululand' (a region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).
Ricardo (1925) — Transferred cinerascens from Alcimus to Philodicus with umbripennis as a synonym. She also described P. nigripes from ‘Eastern Mbale Dist., S. of Mt. Elgon, Uganda', ‘Bulawayo' (Zimbabwe), ‘Mt. Mlanje, Nyasaland' (Malawi) and ‘Hope Fountain, S. Rhodesia' (Zimbabwe) without designating a holotype.
Curran (1927) — Described Alcimus doris and A. biseriatus from ‘Belgian Congo' (DR Congo), illustrating A. fraternus for comparison.
Hobby (1933) — Described P. swynnertoni from ‘Mt. Chirinda, S.E. Rhodesia' (Zimbabwe).
Blasdale (1957) — Revised the ‘Ethiopian' (Afrotropical) Philodicus fauna, recognising 20 species. He described seven new species — alcimoides from Sudan, Gold Coast (Ghana) and Sierra Leone, flavipes from ‘Gold Coast' (Ghana), furunculus from Sudan, pallidus from ‘Somaliland' (Somalia), as well as palustris, robustus and yirolensis from Sudan. A number of new synonyms were listed — limbatus and turinus for fraternus and aethiopicus, notatus, walkeri and biseriatus for temerarius, He also synonymised Alcimus brachypteratus, an unavailable name (MS name of Bigot published as synonym), with temerarius. Two species groups were recognised — alcimoides group (alcimoides, cinerascens, dubius, gracilis, pallidus, pavesii, tenuipes), and fraternus group (doris, flavipes, fraterculus, fraternus, furunculus, ludens, nigrescens, nigripes, palustris, robustus, swynnertoni, temerarius, yirolensis) and a key to all recognised species was also provided.
Hull (1962) — Included Philodicus in his account of world asilid genera, listing 12 ‘Ethiopian' (Afrotropical) species — cinerascens, cothurnata, dubius, gracilis, nigrescens, nigripes, obscuripes, ocellatus, pavesii, swynnertoni, tenuipes, walkeri. [Note: Teretromyia was included as a synonym of Philodicus and T. cothurnata Bigot, 1859 listed as a Philodicus. In addition, obscuripes Loew, 1858 had been synonymised with temerarius].
Hull (1967) — Described P. compactus from South Africa and multicellula from ‘Basutoland' (Lesotho).
Londt (1978) — Reviewed the southern African fauna, providing a key to five species (cinerascens, dubius, fraterculus, swynnertoni, tenuipes). P. compactus was synonymised with dubius while nigripes and multicellula were synonymised with fraterculus.
Oldroyd (1980) — Catalogued the Afrotropical fauna listing 20 valid species and 12 synonyms (alcimoides, cinerascens (syn. umbripennis), doris, dubius (syn. - compactus), flavipes, fraterculus (syn. nigripes, multicellula), fraternus (syn. limbata, turinus), furunculus, gracilis, ludens, nigrescens, ocellatus, pallidus, palustris, pavesii, robustus, swynnertoni, temerarius (syn. obscuripes, infuscata, aethiopicus, notatus, walkeri, biseriatus), tenuipes, yirolensis). Trupanea limbata Macquart, 1838 is listed both as a valid species of Alcimus (as limbatus) and a synonym of P. fraternus. P. nigripes was erroneously omitted while cothurnata is assigned to Promachus).
Tomasovic (2012) — Studied the aedeagal structure of eight Afrotropical species (alcimoides, cinerascens, doris, fraternus, furunculus, nigrescens, swynnertoni, temerarius) confirming the synonymy of biseriatus, infuscata and obscuripes with temerarius.
There were, therefore, 20 valid species of Afrotropical Philodicus at the commencement of this study — those catalogued by Oldroyd (1980) (i.e. alcimoides, cinerascens, doris, dubius, flavipes, fraterculus, fraternus, furunculus, gracilis, ludens, nigrescens, ocellatus, pallidus, palustris, pavesii, robustus, swynnertoni, temerarius, tenuipes, yirolensis) and 12 species names considered synonyms (aethiopicus, biseriatus, brachypteratus, infuscate, limbata, multicellular, nigripes, notatus, obscuripes, turinus, umbripennis, walkeri).
The taxonomy of the genus was competently handled by Blasdale (1957). Unfortunately he had very little southern African material and this persuaded Londt (1978) to study the genus in a southern African context using material largely deposited in southern African collections. Southern Africa is here defined as all territory south of the Kunene and Zambezi rivers. In the more than 35 years since Londt's 1978 paper, many more specimens have accumulated and so a reappraisal is considered useful. Although no new taxa have emerged, a far better understanding of the distributions of those species inhabiting the region is now possible and more information is available relating to habitat preferences and prey choices. With the work of Blasdale (1957) and Londt (1978) being available it is not considered necessary to redescribe the southern African Philodicus species. However, in order to make identifications easier some new illustrations of terminalia are presented along with an updated key.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Much of the material previously recorded by Londt (1978) has been re-examined and included in the lists of material supplied for each species and marked with an asterisk (*). While it was not considered necessary to recall previously cited specimens from collections outside of South Africa, information concerning these is briefly provided and the locality data plotted on maps. Genital illustrations are designed to complement those of Londt (1978) and Blasdale (1957) and to feature characteristics helpful in identification of the species. The key provided is a modification of that published by Londt (1978). With the focus being primarily on the distributions and biology of species, available material is listed and analysed as fully as possible. Square brackets are used for comments, notes or updated information. While more recently collected specimens usually provide detailed information relating to the localities and habitats from which material was obtained, it has been necessary to attempt to establish precise geographic coordinates for many localities. Although Google Earth and other online gazetteer sources have been used extensively to accomplish this, there remain a few specimens whose origin is doubtful or unknown. Material studied is listed under the countries of origin and ordered according to latitude. Abbreviations for institutions housing material cited are as follows (older citations being supplied in brackets), the names of people who have assisted me in recent times are acknowledged in brackets. In some instances material cited earlier (Londt 1978) was not reworked and so no acknowledgement is necessary.
Glossary
BMSA
National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa (A. Kirk- Spriggs)
MZLU (= E.M.L.)
Zoological Museum, Dept. Zoology, Lund, Sweden
NMNW (= S.M.)
State Museum, Windhoek, Namibia
NMSA (= N.M.)
KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (B. Muller)
SAMC (= S.A.M.)
South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa (D. Larsen)
SANC
National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa (R. Urban)
USNM
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. (T. Dikow).
Abbreviations used by Londt (1978) and repeated here under material that has not been restudied include:
Glossary
A.M.
Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa
B.M.(N.H.)
The British Museum (Natural History)[Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK)], London, UK
C.M.
Museu Dr Alvaro de Castro, Maputo, Mozambique [material now incorporated in the NMSA collection]
D.M.
Durban Museum [Durban Natural Science Museum], Durban, South Africa
N.M.R.
National Museum of Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
P.P.R.I.
Plant Protection Research Institute, Salisbury (Harare), Zimbabwe.
TAXONOMY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN SPECIES
Philodicus Loew, 1848
Philodicus Loew, 1848: 391. Type species: Asilus javanus Wiedemann, 1819, by monotypy.
Diagnosis (compiled using key characters as published by Londt (2005)): Head: Antennal stylus composed of only 2 elements (an attenuated segment-like element tipped with a seta-like sensory element); face with a slight gibbosity ventrally; postocular setae dorsally short, straight or only slightly proclinate. Thorax: Dorsocentral macrosetae confined to mesonotal region posterior of transverse suture; scutellum with fewer than 8 apical macrosetae, disc with setae only (no macrosetae); wing with complete supernumerary crossvein present between R2+3 and R4; supernumerary crossvein shortish and at most running parallel to R4+5 for a short distance; cell r4 long and diverging gradually towards wing margin; hind margin of wing with a double row of microtrichia diverging from the plane of wing membrane.
Key to the southern African species of Philodicus (adapted from Londt 1978)
1 Anterior and posterior surfaces of femur 1 lacking macrosetae; antennal stylus at least as long as twice the length of postpedicel; ♀ ovipositor (S8) distally broad and spade-like (alcimoides group) 2
— Femur 1 with at least one short stout black bristle on posterior surface; antennal stylus shorter than twice the length of postpedicel; ♀ with macrosetae laterally on T3; ♀ ovipositor (S8) distally narrow and spike-like (fraternus group) 4
2 Wing longer than 1.5 cm; terminalia as in Figs 7–10 dubius Ricardo, 1921 — Wing shorter than 1.5 cm-----3
3 Male aedeagus swollen subapically, lacking three well defined terminal projections; terminalia as in Figs 21–24; widely distributed in both eastern and western southern Africa (Fig. 25) tenuipes Loew, 1857
— Male aedeagus not swollen subapically, with three well defined terminal projections; terminalia as in Figs 2–5; southern African distribution limited to north-eastern region (Zimbabwe, Mozambique) (Fig. 6) cinerascens (Ricardo, 1900)
4 1–3 short black macrosetae on anterior surface of prothoracic femur; ♀ with macrosetae laterally on T4–6; terminalia as in Figs 17–20 swynnertoni Hobby, 1933
— Anterior face of prothoracic femur lacking macrosetae; ♀ lacking macrosetae on T4–6; terminalia as in Figs 12–15 fraterculus (Walker, 1855)
Philodicus cinerascens (Ricardo, 1900)
Figs 2–6
Alcimus cinerascens Ricardo, 1900: 176; 1922: 42.
Philodicus umbripennis Ricardo, 1921: 184; 1925: 236.
Philodicus cinerascens: Ricardo 1925: 236; Blasdale 1957: 139 (pl. I, fig. 5 ♂ gen., Pl. II, fig. 4 ♀ S8); Hull 1962: 456; Londt 1978: 422 (figs 5 ♂ gen, 6 aed.); Oldroyd 1980: 342 (catalogue); Tomasovic 2012: 25 (fig. 2 aed.).
Ricardo (1900) described Alcimus cinerascens on 3♂ 4♀ from ‘Fort Johnston, Nyasaland [Malawi] (P. Rendall)'. She calls both males and females ‘types' and so all should be considered ‘cotypes' or ‘syntypes'. With the close similarity to tenuipes there is a need for the designation of a lectotype. Ricardo (1921) again handled Philodicus, but not cinerascens which she had placed in Alcimus. However she described umbripennis, which she later synonymised with cinerascens. P. umbripennis was based on ‘Type (male), type (female), from S.W. Nyasa (R. Webb), 96, 261; another male from Nyasaland, Nov. 1892 (H.H. Johnston), 94, 12; another female from Nyasaland (Dr. H.G. Eldred).' The species is evidently fairly common at some locations in Malawi as I have collected and studied the following material from a hill behind the hotel at Senga Bay: 5♂ ‘Malawi Senga Hills [c. 13°43′S 34°37′E 490 m] / 1-2.xii.1980 1334DA / Ca. 500m, Stuckenberg / & Londt Brachystegia / woodland near lake' (NMSA); 5♂ 3♀ ‘Malawi SE1334DC / Senga Bay 20km NE of / Salima 7–8.iii.1987 / J & A Londt Woodland / on hill behind hotel' (NMSA).
Material examined: MOZAMBIQUE: 2♂ ‘Namalala [Namelala c. 14°28′S 40°37′E 20 m] / 22/11/56 / Col. Trav[illegible] Dias' (NMSA)*; 2♂ ‘Mombane [? Mambone c. 20°59′S 33°39′E 160 m] Mozam. / No. / 22-25-III-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100102-USNMENT01100105 [respectively]' (USNM); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Massangena [c. 21°46′39″S 32°37′40″E 215 m] Mozam. / No. / 1-II-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100087 [♂ + ♀] & USNMENT01100088 [♂ + ♀] [respectively]' (USNM); 6♂ 7♀ ‘Massangena Mozam. / No. / 1-8-II-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100087-USNMENT01100098 [respectively - 3 pairs with same numbers]' (USNM); 1♀ ‘Mapulanguene [c. 24°29′31″S 32°04′54″E 155 m] Mozam. / No. / 3-6-III-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100099' (USNM). ZIMBABWE: 2♂ 1? ‘Country Rhodesia / Loc Lusulu [c. 18°04′S 27°50′E 990 m] / Date 28/xi/63 / Coll R.J. Phelps' (NMSA)*.
Note: Ricardo's (1922) record of the species from ‘M'fongosi, Zululand (W. E. Jones)' (SAMC) is erroneous, the material actually belonging to the closely similar tenuipes.
Material not re-examined: Additional southern African material from Zimbabwe was listed in Londt's (1978) addendum as follows: ‘Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]: 4♂ 4♀ Matopos [Matobo National Park - c. 20°36′S 28°30′E c. 1385 m], 7.ii.1920 11.ii.1924 20.ii.1938 (N.M.R.); 1♂ 6♀, Turk Mine [c. 19°43′S 28°48′E 1305 m], 10.xi.1957 (N.M.R.); 1♂ 2♀, Sawmills [c. 19°35′S 28°02′E 1130 m], 12.vi.1920 10.ii.1920 23.ii.1922 (N.M.R.); 1♀, Runde [c. 19°56′S 29°58′E 1045 m] Tribal Trustland, 23.iv.1971, Payne (N.M.R.); 1♀, Mwanzatanicia, Kanyemba [c. 15°38′S 30°25′E 350 m], 27.ix.1976, Mpala (N.M.R.).'
Distribution, phenology and biology: Southern African distribution is limited to a few localities in Zimbabwe (Fig. 6) where the species has been collected in September, November, February, March, April and June (Table 1) — seemingly throughout the year. The species has been collected sympatrically with dubius at Massangena. Little is known of its biology. Malawian specimens were collected in Brachystegia woodland near the shores of Lake Malawi. The female ovipositor is distally broad and spade-like so may be adapted for digging in loose sand. No prey records are available.
Figs 2–5.
Philodicus cinerascens (Ricardo, 1900). (2–4) male terminalia: (2) lateral, (3) dorsal and (4) ventral views; (5) female distal end of S8.
Fig. 6.
Southern African distribution of Philodicus cinerascens (Ricardo, 1900) (
) and P. swynnertoni Hobby 1933 (
).
Philodicus dubius Ricardo, 1921
Figs 7–11
Philodicus dubius Ricardo, 1921: 179; Blasdale 1957: 139 (pl. I, fig. 1 ♂ gen., pl. II, fig. 1 ♀ S8); Hull 1962: 456; Londt 1978: 420 (figs 3 ♂ gen., 9 aed.).
Philodicus compactus Hull, 1967: 256 (fig. 6 ♂ gen.).
Ricardo (1921) described the species on ‘Type (male) and another, type (female), all from M'fongosi, Zululand (W. E. Jones), March 1911, in Cape Museum Coll' and so did not designate a holotype, but merely listed a male and a female as ‘types'. These two specimens, which must be considered syntypes, have been studied, along with others from the same locality, and the male is here designated Lectotype. The female is considered a Paralectotype, while other material has no type status as there is no evidence that Ricardo actually studied them.
Type material: Lectotype: 1♂ ‘Holo- / type' (orange), ‘Mfongosi [c. 28°43′S 30°50′E 575 m] / Zulu L. [Zululand] / W E Jones / Dec. 1911', ‘Philodicus dubius / n.sp. Ricardo ♀ [error]', ‘Ricardo / determ.' (pale blue), ‘SAM-DIP / A007818' (SAMC)*. Paralectotype: 1♀ ‘Type / HT' (circular, red edge — scribbled on illegibly), ‘Mfongosi / Zulu L. / W E Jones / Dec. 1911', ‘Philodicus dubius / Ricardo', ‘Allotype / ♀ of Philodicus / dubius Ric. / A.J.H' (attached by Dr A.J. Hesse, ‘SAM-DIP / A007818' (SAMC)*
Material examined: BOTSWANA: 2♂ ‘V.-L. Kal. Exp. / Metsimaklaba [c. 24°32′S 25°29′E 1115 m] / 7-12/3/1930' (NMSA)*; 2♂ ‘V.-L. Kal. Exp. [Kalahari Expedition] / Metsimaklaba / 7-12/3/1930', ‘USNMENT01100079 & USNMENT01100080 [respectively]' (USNM). MOZAMBIQUE: 1♂ 8♀ ‘Mombane [? Mambone c. 20°59′S 33°39′E 160 m] Mozam. / No. / 22-25-III-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100103-USNMENT01100104, USNMENT01100106-USNMENT01100111 [respectively]' [2♀ with Acrididae] (USNM); 2♂ ‘Masseangena [c. 21°46′39″S 32°37′40″E 215 m] Mozam. / No. / 1-II-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100085 & USNMENT0110086 [respectively]' (USNM); 1♀ ‘Moçambique / Lago Chuali [c. 25°00′S 32°56′E 20 m] / 5-4-1980 / Coll. H.R. Feijen' (NMSA); 1♂ 1? ‘Moamba [c. 25°36′14″S 32°14′46″E 110 m] Mozam. / No. / 9-12-III-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100100 [?] & USNMENT01100101 [♂] [respectively]' (USNM); 1♂ ‘Moçambique / Goba [c. 26°12′S 32°08′E 85 m] / 19/3/1980 / Coll. H.R. Feijen' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘P. E. Africa [Portuguese East Africa = Mozambique] / Guendri [? Quendri] / B. Lebied' ‘SAM-DIP / A007822' (SAMC)*. SOUTH AFRICA: 3♂ 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Messina Nature Reserve / 22°24′54″S 30°05′12″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 487m 14.ii.2005 Mopane / dry woodland Sand Riv' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Kruger National Park / Limpopo Junction [c. 22°26′S 31°18′E 200 m] / 29.xi.1959 / H.K. Munro & / A.C. v. Bruggen' (SANC); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Ben Lavin Nature Res. / 23°08′38″S 29°57′03″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 865m 13.ii.2005 Acacia / Zizyphus dry woodland' [1♀ feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa 2327BD / Transvaal Ellisras [= Lephalale c. 23°40′S 27°45′E 825 m] / 30.i.1978 JGH Londt / Grass near trees on / Mokolo River banks' (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘South Africa N.W. Tvl / Mogol Nature Reserve / Ellisras Dist. 23.58S / 27.45E 19-23.xi.1979 / G.L. Prinsloo' (SANC); 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: Transvaal / Kruger National Park / Vicinity of Skukuza [c. 25°00′S 31°36′E 285 m] / 9-12.iv.1985 J. Londt / SE2431DC Bushveld' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa Transvaal / Kruger Park 9.xii.1972 / Lower Sabie Camp [c. 25°07′S 31°55′E 175 m] area open savannah & river banks / B & P Stuckenberg 2531Bb' [feeding on ♂ P. tenuipes] (NMSA)*; 1♀ 1? ‘Mfongosi [c. 28°43′S 30°50′E 575 m] / Zululand' ‘SAM-DIP / A007820' (SAMC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Mfongosi / Zulu L. / W E Jones / Mch 1911', ‘Preying on / Dragonflies / W E Jones', ‘SAM-DIP / A007821' (SAMC); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Mfongosi / Zulu L. / W E Jones', ‘SAM-DIP / A007819' (SAMC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umlalazi Nature Res. [c. 28°57′S 31°46′E 5 m] / 26-27.i.1987 / JGH Londt SE2831DD / Dune forest & margin' (NMSA); [♀ feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA). SWAZILAND: 1♀ ‘Swaziland #48 / Mbuluzi Nature Reserve / 26°08′S 32°00′E 200m / Date: 25.iv.1991 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Mixed woodland area' (NMSA); 5♂ ‘Swaziland #45 / 13km N of Ngogolo / 26°19′S 31°38′E 300m / Date: 22-24.iv.1991 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Panata Ranch/Bushveld' (NMSA). ZIMBABWE: 1♀ ‘Africa Rhodesia / Loc Rekomitjie [Farm c. 16°28′S 29°31′E 1140 m] / Date 25/xi/76 / Habit Thicket / Collector R.J. Phelps' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Country Rhodesia / Loc Kariba [c. 16°47′S 28°52′E 815 m] / Date 14/v/64 / Coll R.J. Phelps' (NMSA); 1♀ same data but 17/v/64 (NMSA); 1♂ 1? ‘Balla-Balla [= Mbalabala c. 20°27′00″S 29°02′09″E 1105 m] / S. Rhodesia / iii.1931 / A. Cuthbertson', ‘USNMENT01100075' (USNM).
Material not re-examined: Londt (1978) records the types of P. compactus, housed by MZLU, as follows: ‘South Africa: Natal, 1♂ holotype, Tugela River, 12 mi., N.W. Bergville [c. 28°44′S 29°21′E 1140 m], 31.iii.1951, loc. No. 255, Brink & Rudebeck (E.M.L.); Transvaal, 1♀ paratype, Kruger National Park, Skukuza [c. 24°59′S 31°35′E 285 m], 29.iv.1951 loc. No. 283, Brink & Rudeback (E.M.L.)'. In addition Londt (1978) lists the following material, mostly from Zimbabwe: ‘Mozambique: 1♀, Base Camp, Massangera Dist., Save River [c. 21°06′S 34°42′E 15 m], 11.xii.1972, de Moor (N.M.R.). Lesotho: 1♀, Mamathes [c. 29°08′S 27°51′E 1685 m], 20.ii.1954, Jacot-Guillarmod (A.M.). Rhodesia: 2♂ 2♀, 153 km S.E. Nuanetse [Nuanetsi - c. 22°10′S 31°24′E 225 m], v & iv.1961 (N.M.R.); 1♂ 3♀, 27 km S. Chituropadzi [?], Limpopo River, ♀-29.iv.1968 ♀-28.iv.1968 ♀–1.v.1968 ♂-3.iv.1968, Pinhey (N.M.R.); 2♂ 1♀, Chikwarawara Dip, Chipese [Chipesa - c. 18°24′S 31°41′E 1400 m] T.T.L., 3, 4, 5.xii.1974, de Moor (N.M.R.); 1♀, Bazely Bridge [Bazeley Bridge - c. 19°15′S 32°29′E 800 m], Odzi River, i.1966 (N.M.R.); 1♂, Sawmills [c. 19°35′S 28°02′E 1130 m], 13.iv.1920 (N.M.R.); 1♀, Hippo Valley [c. 21°10′S 31°33′E 370 m] Citrus Estate, Lundi River, Chiredzi, 6.v.1978, Wheeler (N.M.R.); 3♀, Lomagundi [c. 17°22′S 30°12′E 1160 m], 18.iv.1940, Collins (P.P.R.1); 1♂ 1♀, Hippo Pools [c. 17°04′S 31°52′E 750 m], Hartley, ♀ with Pseudugrion sp-Odonata, 1.iii.1935, Williams (P.P.R.1); 1♂ 1♀, Kariba [c. 16°47′S 28°52′E 815 m], 18.iv.1964, Simmonds & Phelps (N.M. [no longer in the collection]).
Distribution, phenology and biology: Distributed fairly widely throughout the eastern parts of southern Africa (Fig. 11). Adults are active throughout the warmer, and wetter, months of the year, having been recorded from November through to May (Table 1). The species has been collected sympatrically with cinerascens as well as tenuipes on which it has also been caught feeding. Label data suggest that the species inhabits a variety of open woodland habitats, often in the vicinity of or along the banks of rivers and streams. Prey records limited to 5, with only females involved - Orthoptera: Acrididae (4), Diptera: Asilidae (1) P. tenuipes. In addition Londt (1987) records a female with a damselfly (Pseudagrion sp. ) while label data provided by W.E. Jones records specimens as feeding on ‘dragonflies'. The female ovipositor is distally broad and spade-like so may be adapted for digging in loose sand.
Figs 7–10.
Philodicus dubius Ricardo, 1921. (7–10) male terminalia: (7) lateral, (8) dorsal and (9) ventral views. (10) female distal end of S8.
Philodicus fraterculus Walker, 1855
Figs 12–16
Trupanea fraterculus Walker, 1855: 597.
Promachus fraterculus: Kertész 1909: 220 (catalogue).
Philodicus nigripes Ricardo, 1925: 237; Blasdale 1957: 145 (pl. I, fig. 7 ♂ gen., pl. II, fig. 8 ♀ S8); Hull 1962: 456.
Philodicus fraterculus: Ricardo 1921: 180; Blasdale 1957: 145 (pl. II. fig. 17 ♀ S8); Londt 1978: 424 (figs 7–8, 13–14 ♂ gen.); Oldroyd 1980: 342 (catalogue).
Philodicus multicellula Hull, 1967: 255 (fig. 7 wing); Oldroyd 1980: 342 (catalogue).
Material examined: BOTSWANA: 1♀ ‘Botswana / Okavango Delta / Drotzky's Cabins / 25km S Shakawe / riverine forest / 16.02.2002 / 18°34′50.1″S / 21°53′07.7″E / leg. J. Kipping', ‘USNMENT00876187' (USNM). NAMIBIA: 1♀ ‘Kavango River bank / at: 18°13′S 21°45′E / Mahango Game Reserve / 28.II.1992 / M. Pusch & E. Marais' (NMNW); 7♂ ‘Kaoko Otavi [c. 18°18′05″S 13°39′11″E 1430 m] / S.W.A.' ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Mar. 1926', ‘SAM-DIP / A007825' (SAMC)*; 1♀ ‘Namibia: Tsumkwe Dist. / Cwiba River / 18°26′18″S 20°42′49″E / 30.xii.1998 / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs / Sweeping floodplane' (NMNW); 2♀ ‘Kaudom- Cwiba Junction / Kaudom Game Reserve / 18°28′S 20°49′E / 14-16.i.1991 / E. Marais' (NMNW). SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘Lake Funduzi [= Fundudzi c. 22°51′S 30°19′E 880 m] / 28.i.1931 / G. v. Son' (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘South Africa Tvl / Wylliespoort, Ingwe / Motel 22.58S / 29.57E 20-22.i.1982 / C.D. Eardley' (SANC); 1♂ ‘Entabeni Forest [c. 22°59′S 30°16′E 1320 m] / 6.xii.1964 / Vári & Potgieter' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Entabeni Forest / 12-17.i.1971 / R. Jones' (NMSA)*; 1♀ same data but 19.i.1971 (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘SE2329Ab [no locality given - nearest centre is Vivo c. 23°03′S 29°17′E 875 m] / iii.1976 / E.A. Boomker' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘P.burg [Pietersburg = Polokwane c. 23°54′S 29°27′E c. 1255 m] N. Prov. RSA / 23°25′S 30°30′E / 9.iv.1996 / C. Weerepas' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa E Tvl / Mogol Nat. Res. / Ellisras Dist. / 23.58S / 27.45E / 28.i.1988 / V.N. Uys' (SANC); 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Mogul Nature Reserve / Ellisras Dist. 23.58S / 27.45E 25-26.i.1982 / M.W. Mansell' (SANC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Mogol Nature Reserve / Ellisras Dist. 23.58S / 27.45E 20.i.1983 / G.L. Prinsloo' (SANC); 1♂ ‘South Africa / Limpopo / Wolkberg Wild. area / 24°02′S 30°05′E / 15.xii.2005 / M. Potgieter' (SANC); 2♂ 3♀ ‘South Africa 2428BB / Transvaal Hangklip [c. 24°03′S 28°47′E 1085 m] / JGH Londt 31.i.1978 / Open grassland' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Makapansgat [near Mokopane c. 24°11′S 29°01′E 1140 m] / 2429AA RSA / 18.iv.86 / M.H. Villet' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa / Pietersburg [= Polokwane] / 24°14′40″S/29°15′30″E [c. 1335 m] / 22.v.1989 / R.F. Lutchman / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 2♂ 4♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Doorndraai Dam Nature / Res. 16.ii.2005 / 24°17′41″S:28°46′41″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1182m Woodland at dam' [2♀ with Acrididae, Tridactylidae] (NMSA); 8♂ 5♀ ‘South Africa 2428AD / Transvaal Waterberg / Mts. Tarentaal Pass [c. 24°18′S 28°23′E 1610 m] / 30.i.1978 JGH Londt / Short open grassveld' [1♂ feeding on Tabanidae] (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘South Africa, Tvl / Doorndraai Dam / Nature Res. 24.18S / 28.44E 4-7.ii. / 1980 C.G. Moolman' (SANC); 1♂ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Doorndraai Dam Nature / Res. 16.ii.2005 1210m / 24°19′56″S 28°42′57″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / Terminalia woodland' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Naboomspruit Dist. / Die Oog 24.27S / 28.37E 4-7.ii. / 1980 C.G. Moolman' (SANC); 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Groenfontein 35km E / Thabazimbi 24.34S 27.45E 27.xi.1980 / C. Kok' (SANC); 1♂ ‘RSA Gauteng / Matla Mamba / Thabazimbi [c. 24°36′S 27°24′E 1075 m] / 21-23 Feb '13 / M. McLoughlin' (SANC); 3♂ 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Nylsvley Nature Reserve / 24°37′45″S 28°40′58″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1097m 12.ii.2005 Mixed / Rhus Acacia savanna' (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / 10 km NE Nylstroom [Modimolle] / 24.38S 28.29E 4.ii. / 1980 C.G. Moolman' (SANC); 2♂ 4♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Nylsvley Nature Reserve / 24°38′35″S 28°41′48″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1080m 12.ii.2005 Acacia / woodland near bird hide' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Nylsvley Nature Reserve / 24°39′00″S 28°40′24″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1094m 11.ii.2005 Acacia / woodland at camp site' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Nylstroom [= Modimolle c. 24°42′00″S 28°24′22″E 1180 m] / 16-31/12/21 / G.P.F. v. Dam', ‘USNMENT01100075' (USNM); 1♀ ‘South Africa / Trsvl., 5mi. W. / Warmbad [= Bela-Bela c. 24°53′S 25°17′E 1150 m] / 24-25 Feb. 1968 / Krombein & Spangler', ‘USNMENT01100127' (USNM); 1♀ ‘Platriver [= Utsane c. 24°54′S 28°16′E 1130 m] / Wtb. [= Waterberg] Distr. / 1.II 1903 / R.V. Jutrencha' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Het Bad Nature Res. / 24°54′16″S:28°17′34″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 1122m 17.ii.2005 Acacia / woodland nr. small dam' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘S Africa: Mpumalanga #7 2000 / Ohrigstad Dam / 24°57′S 30°38′E [c. 1390 m] / Date: 22.iii.2000 / Coll: D.A. Barraclough' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa / Gauteng / Kempton Park / 25°9′S 28°14′E / 18.04.2004 / M.L. Fourie' (SANC); 1♀ ‘Witrivier [= White River c. 25°19′S 31°01′E 900 m] / I.F.W. / Mei [May] 67' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa Tvl / Loskopdam Nat. Res. / 25.25S 29.20E / 12-13.xii.1985 / C.D. Eardley' (SANC); 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Loskop Nature / Res. 25.25S 29.20E / 9-13.ii.1981 S,J. / van Tonder, C. Kok' (SANC); 1♀ ‘Loskopdam [c. 25°26′S 29°18′E 1005 m] / SE2529Ad / 15.iii.1980 / C.B. Meyer / Dept of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘S. Africa: Mpumalanga / Kwandebele, Moloto / 25°28′S 28°37′E [c. 1255 m]/ 2-10.iv.1998 / leg. S. Ratlou', ‘Univ. of Pretoria / Dept. Zoology & / Entomology / 2nd Year Collection' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / Rooipoort stream / Verena [c. 25°29′S 29°02′E 1405 m] District / 22.ii.1987 / R.H. Watmough' (SANC); 1♀ ‘RSA NW Rustenburg / 25°37′S 27°15′E [c. 2230 m] / 22.ii.97 / R. Veldtman' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Waterv., OND [? Waterval- Onder c. 25°38′52″S 30°22′48″E 1220 m] / Dec 1908 / T. Jenkins', ‘USNMENT01100077' (USNM); 1♂ ‘RSA Tvl Rustenburg / 25°40′S 27°16′E [c. 1150 m] / 22.ii.1997 / D. Marle' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘SA NW Rustenburg / 25°41′S 27°14′E [c. 1150 m] / L. van der Walt / 22.ii.1997' (NMSA); 2♀ ‘Pretoria / W. boom [Wonderboom c. 25°41′S 28°12′E 1400 m] 29.i.16 / H.K. Munro', [1♀ with] ‘caught / ♂ Tabanid' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Wonderboom / 8.2.07 / C. Swierstra' [feeding on Acrididae nymph] (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘South Africa: Pretoria [c. 25°45′S 28°11′E c. 1345 m] / S25° O28° [Oos = East] ca / 1.ii.1987 / leg. W. Myburgh / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♀ 1? ‘Pretoria [c. 25°45′S 28°11′E 1315 m] Tvl / 28. xii.1921' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Pretoria / Feb 71 / T.M. de M.' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Pretoria / 11.i.14 / H.K. Munro' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Pretoria / 25.12.12 / H.K. Munro' (NMSA)*; 1♂ same data but 12.1.19 (NMSA)*; 8♂ 11♀ ‘Sth Africa Transvaal / Cycad Trail / Dist Middelburg [c. 25°46′S 29°28′E 1525 m] / R. Elferink 3.i.1983' (NMSA) [1 pair pinned together]; 3♂ 3♀ same data but 4.i.1983 (NMSA); 1♂ same data but 5.i.1983 (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: / Bronkhorstspruit [25°48′S 28°45′E c. 1485 m] / 25°40′S 28°55′E 12.iii.89 / J.H. Venter / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: Tvl / Bronkhorstspruit [25°48′S 28°45′E c. 1485 m] / 14.4.87 / SE2528Dc / Leg. K. Viviers / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 8♂ 7♀ ‘S Africa: NW Province / Mafikeng Game Reserve / Kolobe Drinking Pond / 25°50′59″S 25°43′10″E / 1320m 16.iii.2003 J. Londt / Rhus lancea savanna' (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ ‘S Africa: NW Province / Mafikeng Game Reserve / Noka Picnic Site 1350m / 25°51′04″S 25°44′06″E / 17.iii.2003 J. Londt Rhus / and mixed grass savanna' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘W.T. / Koster [c. 25°52′S 26°54′E 1610 m] Tvl / 5/1/1927' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa Rooihuiskraal / 025°53.5890′S 028°09.2920′E / 11 Feb 08 C.J. van Niekerk' (SANC); 1♂ ‘S Africa Gauteng / Johannesburg, Fourways [c. 26°02′S 28°00′E 1475 m] / Magalisieg, Lesley Lane [= Leslie Avenue] / Found dead on street / Date: 15.ii.2003 / Coll: G. Redman' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Carolina [c. 26°04′S 30°07′E 1700 m] / SE2630Aa / ii.1979 L. Serfontein / Dept of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Carolina [26°04′S 30°07′E c. 1700 m] / H. Meyer / Feb 73', ‘Dept. of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Randburg / 26°7′S 27°55′E [c. 1580 m] / 20.iii.1994 / M.M. v.d. Merwe / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Benoni [c. 26°11′S 28°19′E 1645 m] / L.A. Botha / 3/66' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘St. Geo. Home (St George's Home, Bedfordview c. 26°12′S 28°08′E 1700 m] Dist / 26.3.38 / A.L. Capener / with prey' [feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA)*; 1? ‘South Africa / North-West province / Helpmekaar farm / 26°20′0″S 26°10′0″E / 26.i.2008 / G. Lüssmann' (SANC); 1♀ same data but 22.iii.2008 (SANC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘RSA Gauteng / Coligny / 26°20′S 26°18′E [c. 1480 m]', ‘15.iv.1995 / E. vd Westhuizen / 08h00-11h00' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: Kinross / 26°26′S 28°7'O [Oos = East c. 1655 m] / 16.iv.87 / H.L. Grobbelaar / Department of Entomology / University of Pretoria' (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ ‘Heidelburg [= Heidelberg c. 26°29′S 26°23′E 1545 m] / 21.1.21 T.P. [Transvaal Province] / H.K. Munro' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Heidelburg / 21.1.21 T.P. / H.K. Munro', ‘USNMENT01100078' (USNM); 1♀ ‘S.Afr. Transvaal / Barberspan [Nature Reserve c. 26°35′S 25°35′E 1355 m] / 25°07′S 26°05′E [incorrect data] / 14-21.xii.1993 / T. Joffe' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa / Mpumalanga / Greylingstad / 26°40′S 28°35′E / 13.iii.2004 / L.P. van Jaarsveld' (SANC); 1♀ ‘Delarey [Delareyville c. 26°41′00″S 25°28′00″E 1360 m] / W. Transvaal / Dr Brauns / i:1917 [sideways]', ‘USNMENT01100076' (USNM); 1? ‘P'stroom [Potchefstroom c. 26°43′S 27°06′E 1355 m] / 24.i.1911' (SANC); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa / Potchefstroom [c. 26°43′S 27°06′E 1355 m] / Jan 1957 J. Steytler' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa / Ndumu [c. 26°56′03″S 32°16′57″E 125 m] Ntl. / i.1978 / G.L. Prinsloo / L.A.v.Luik' (SANC); 9♂ 1♀ ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Kosi Bay Nature Res. / 26°57′01″S 32°49′25″E / 13.xii.2010 JGH Londt / 38m Dry sandy pan in / Woodland savannah area' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Kosi Bay Nature Res. / 26°57′52″S 32°48′51″E / 15-16.xii.2010 6m / JGH Londt Lake Shore / Dune Forest & Woodland' (NMSA); 3♂ 4♀ ‘S Africa: N Cape #14 / 20km N of Hotazel / 27 07S 22 59[E] 1050m / Date: 14.iii.1991 / Whittington & Londt / Kuruman River banks' [1♀ feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Heilbron [c. 27°17′01″S 27°58′15″E 1550 m], OVS / (Vechtkop) / 4.2.1964 / HAD van Schalkwyk' (SANC); 1♂ 2♀ ‘South Africa: N Cape / Kuruman Country Club / 27°28′17″S 023°27′30″E / J&A Londt 15-16.iii.2015 / 1325m Acacia savannah'. (NMSA); 1♂ 2♀ ‘South Africa: KZ-Natal / Ozabeni-Manzimbomvu [Ozabeni school 27°31′S 32°35′E c. 45 m] / northern end of St. Lucia, nr . Labe Bangazi North / Subtropical coastal grassland / 29.i.2005 GBP Davies' (NMSA); 1♂ 7♀ ‘South Africa: KZ-Natal / Ozabeni/KwaMbila [Ozabeni school c. 27°31′S 32°35′E 45 m] section / northern St Lucia (2732DA) / coastal grassland, Sweepnet / 04-05.iii.2006, GBP Davies' (NMSA); 4♂ 3♀ ‘S Africa: NW Province / Bloemhof Dam (reserve) / 27°38′05″S 25°40′13″E / 1230m 12.iii.2003 J. Londt / Acacia, Ziziphus savanna' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa OFS / Sandveld Nature Res. / 27.40S 25.45E / 25.ii.1993 R. Adam' (SANC); 4♀ ‘South Africa OFS / Sandveld Nature Res. / 27.40S 25.45E / 24-25.ii.1993/ C.D. Eardley' (SANC); 1♀ ‘Subtropical grassland / and open lala-palm / woodland', ‘South Africa KZ-Natal / St Lucia, Charter's Creek / Makhakhathana flats / 28°14′S:32°24′E, 35m a.s.l. / 15.xii.2007, G.B.P. Davies' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘RSA: KZ-Natal #18 / St. Lucia East Shores / 32°25′E 28°20′S [coordinates reversed] 45m / Date: 26.ii.1995 / Coll: P.E. Reavell / Open grassland' (NMSA); 2♂ 3♀ ‘Sth Africa. Cape Prov / Grootpan E Lime Acres [c. 28°22′S 23°34′E 1445 m] / 2823BC 25.iii.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman / Grass in pan centre' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘St Lucia [c. 28°22′S 32°25′E 25 m] Z [Zululand] / 28.12.3 / Marley' (NMSA)*; 4♂ 6♀ ‘Sth Africa. Cape Prov / Roaring Sands Resort [= Witsand Nature Reserve c. 28°34′S 22°29′E 1205 m] / nr. Witsand. Acacia / woodland/sandy area / 2822CB 17-18.3.1982 / J. Londt & L. Schoeman' [1♀ feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA); 1♀ ‘nr Melmoth [c. 28°35′S 31°24′E 720 m] / Langkloof / Hypothelia / grassveld' ~ ‘15.3.87' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: KZ-Natal / Enseleni Nature Reserve / 28°41′S 32°03′E m a.s.l. / Date: 26/07/1980 / Coll: R. Miller' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Empangeni [c. 28°45′S 31°54′E 120 m] / Feb 06 / AVPB' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Richard's Bay / Msingazi Canal [c. 28°46′S 32°07′E 5 m] / herbs in clearing / degraded swamp / forest 7.i.94' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘S Africa: Natal / Richard's Bay / 28°48′S 32°06′E 30m / Date: 14.i.93 / Coll: P.E. Reavell / Lala Palm +', ‘Digitaria / veld' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Lake Cubhu [c. 28°51′S 31°58′E 10 m] 18.ii.86 / 2851S 3157E / P. Atkinson 17m' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Ngoye Forest [Reserve c. 28°54′S 31°27′E 515 m] / 3140E 2850S [cords reversed] 30.11.85 / P. Reavell 400m / grassveld' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Ngoye Forest [c. 28°54′S 31°27′E 515 m] area / 3140E 2850S 16.ii.84 / PE Reavell 400m / Ngongoni veld' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Amatikulu / Reserve [c. 29°07′S 31°36′E 55 m] / Natal 17.11.85 [P. Reavell]' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘S. Africa: OFS #4 / 15km NE Ladybrand [c. 29°12′S 27°27′E 1605 m] / 2927Ab 28.xii.1982 / Modderpoortspruit / P. Stabbins & R. Miller' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘S Africa: N Cape #15 / 14km S of Hotazel / 29 19S 22 54[E] 1050m / Date: 14.iii.1991 / Londt & Whittington / Ga-Mogara River bed' [feeding on Acrididae] (NMSA); 4♂ ‘South Africa: Natal / Dargle [c. 29°28′S 30°06′E 1160 m]. Grassveld / 4400ft / Date: 20.ii.1987 / Coll: P.E. Reavell' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: KZ-Natal / Cumberland Nature Res. / 29°30.199′S 30°30.207′E / 13.i.2004 J. Londt T. Dikow / 560m Open rocky area & / Acacia woodland near river' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: KZ-Natal / Mdloti River mouth of / c. 29°39′S:31°09′E [c. 1 m] / open beach/shore-line / 04.iv.2006, B Stuckenberg / & G Davies' (NMSA); 5♂ ‘S Africa. KZ-Natal #1 / Krantzkloof Nature Res. / 29°45′13″S 30°51′07″E J. Londt 1.ii.2000 300m / Grassland/Stream edge' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘S Africa: KZ-Natal #2 2000 / Krantzkloof Nature Reserve / 29°45′13″S 30°51′07″E 300m / Date: 01.ii.2000 / Coll: S. James / Indigenous forest near stream' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘RSA Cape Prov / 8km N Port Alfred [c. 33°36′S 26°53′E 28 m] / 15.iii.1984 / P.R. Meakin' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Kenton on Sea [c. 33°41′S 26°40′E 50 m] / S33°40' O26°41' / 04.xii.1988 / LG Le Roux' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Kaapstad [= Cape Town c. 33°55′S 18°25′E 4 m] / I.F.W. / April 69' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘RSA: Western Cape / de Vaselot Nat. Res. At: / 33°58.194′S, 23°32.193′E / 24-27.i.2009 / A. Kirk-Spriggs, S. Otto' (BMSA). ZIMBABWE: 1♂ 1♀ ‘Rhodesia / Salisbury [= Harare c. 17°52′S 31°02′E 1465 m] / A. Watsham' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Mametsi [Matetsi c. 18°21′37″S 25°54′27″E 1000 m] / S Rhodesia / Apl 1934 / R.H.R. Stevenson', ‘SAM-DIP / A007824' (SAMC)*.
Material not re-examined: Londt (1978) records additional southern African material ‘Lesotho: 1♀, Leribe [c. 28°57′S 28°15′E 1940 m], 12.iii.1956, L. Bevis (D.M.); 1♂, Mamathes [c. 29°08′S 27°51′E 1685 m], 11.iii.1956, L. Bevis (D.M.). Rhodesia: 1♂, Matesi [Matetsi - c. 18°21′S 25°54′E 1000 m], iv.1934, R.H.R. Stevenson (S.A.M.). South West Africa: 1♂, Kaoko Otavi [c. 18°18′S 13°39′E 1430 m], iii.1926, S.A.M. Exped., (S.A.M.).' Londt (1978) also includes some additional material in an addendum as follows: ‘1♀, Zoutpansberg [c. 23°00′S 29°46′E 1515 m], 8.iv.1973, Pinhey (N.M.R.). Rhodesia: 1♂, Selukwe [c. 19°40′S 30°00′E 1465 m], 19.i.1922 (N.M.R.); 1♀, Inyangombe River, Inyanga [Nyanga - c. 18°13′S 32°44′E 1620 m], XII.1920 (N.M.R.); 1♂ 3♀, Salisbury [= Harare c. 17°52′S 31°02′E 1465 m], 19.ii.1927, 19.i & 30.xi.1935, Cuthbertson (P.P.R.I.); 1♂, Kimbate Farm, Salisbury South, 20.i.1935, Williams (P.P.R.I.); 5♂ 1♀, Meadowlands, Salisbury, 30.xi.1935, Cuthbertson (P.P.R.I.); 2♂ 1♀, Cleveland Reservoir, Salisbury, 8 & 9.i.1939, Cuthbertson (P.P.R.I.); 1♀, Salisbury, 29.i.1959, Cumming (A.M.); 2♂ 4♀, ‘Georgia', Gatooma [= Kadoma c. 18°20′S 29°54′E 1160 m], 3.iii.1931 (1♂-20.i.1935), Williams (P.P.R.I.); 1♀, Chimanimani Mts., Melsetter [c. 19°49′S 32°52′E 1510 m], xi.1967 (N.M.R.); 1♀, Umtali [= Mutare c. 18°58′S 32°38′E 1175 m], ii.1928 (N.M.R.). South West Africa: 1♂, Bellarode Farm, Windhoek [c. 22°34′S 17°05′E 1680 m], 9.iii.1975, de Moor (N.M.R.). Botswana: 3♂, Maun [c. 19°59′S 23°25′E 945 m], 21.iii.1974 (N.M.R.); 1♂ l♀, 4-River Camp, Okavango [c. 18°16′S 18°26′E 1165 m], 6 & 7.xii.1973 (N.M.R.); 2♂ 1♀, Sepopa [= Sepupa c. 18°45′S 22°11′E 990 m], W. Okavango, 25 & 27.iii.1974 (N.M.R.). Type material (not studied) is also listed as ‘South Africa: Natal, 1♀ holotype, Port Natal (Durban [c. 29°51′S 31°01′E 28 m]), (British Museum of Natural History). Types of P. nigripes are from Malawi: 1♀ holotype, Mt. Mlanje, 18.xii.1912, S. A. Neave (B.M.(N.H.)). Rhodesia: 1♂ paratype, Bulawayo [c. 20°08′S 28°37′E 1335 m]; 1♀ paratype, Hope Fountain [c. 20°16′S 28°39′E 1450 m] (National Museum Rhodesia). The type of P. multicellula is from Lesotho: 1♀ holotype, Hensley's Dam, 13 km. S. W. Leribe [c. 28°57′S 28°15′E 1940 m], 30.iii.1951 loc. no. 254 Brinck & Rudebeck (E. M. L.)'.
Distribution, phenology and biology: Found over much of southern Africa (Fig. 16), records being more concentrated in the north-eastern parts which normally receive summer rainfall. Adults are summer active (Table 1), typically flying from November through to May (a single record for July). May be locally abundant. Typically inhabit grassy places in association with water (rivers, streams, dams, pans etc.). The female ovipositor is distally narrow and spike-like so may be adapted for thrusting eggs into soil. Some 24 prey records are available (7♂ (29 %) 17♀ (71 %)) - Orthoptera: Acrididae (10), Tridactylidae (1). Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae (2). Diptera: Asilidae (1 - P. fraterculus ♂), Tabanidae (1), Bombyliidae (2), Sarcophagidae (2). Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae (1), unidentified moths (2). Hymenoptera: ? Vespidae (1), ? Halictidae (1). Cannibalism is recorded.
Of considerable interest is an analysis of the data provided for P. nigripes (a synonym of fraterculus) by Hobby (1935). He lists 33 prey records which can be repeated in the following format (orders and families in alphabetical order) - Coleoptera (2): Buprestidae (1), Cerambycidae (1). Diptera (7): Asilidae (5), Syrphidae (2). Hemiptera (5): Cicadidae (3), Lygaeidae (1), Pentatomidae (1). Hymenoptera (10): Andrenidae (2), Anthophoridae (3), Apidae (2 Apis mellifera), Eumenidae (1), Megachilidae (2). Lepidoptera (1): Noctuidae (1). Orthoptera (8): Acrididae (8). Although the species appears to feed on a variety of prey 24 % were grasshoppers (Acrididae). The male versus female ratio is also of interest as only 12 (36 %) of the predators were male while 21 (64 %) were female - a clear indication that more females were found with prey than males.
Figs 12–15.
Philodicus fraterculus (Walker, 1855). (12–14) male terminalia: (12) lateral, (13) dorsal and (14) ventral views. (15) female distal end of S8.
Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933
Figs 6, 17–20
Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933: 109 (pl. II, fig. 2 ♂ gen., 3 ♀ ovipositor); Blasdale 1957: 144 (pl. I. fig. 13 ♂ gen., pl. II. fig. 6 ♀ S8); Hull 1962: 456; Londt 1978: 423 (figs 6 ♂ gen., 12 aed.); Oldroyd 1980: 343 (catalogue); Tomasovic 2012: 26.
A fairly large and distinctive species described by Hobby (1933) ‘from material preserved in the Hope Department, University Museum, Oxford. All were obtained during 1911 and 1912 by Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton, at about 3 800ft., on Mt. Chirinda [c. 20°24′S 32°40′E 950 m], S.E. Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]'. There were no fewer than 117 specimens in the type series (♂ holotype, ♀ allotype, 60♂ 55♀ paratypes) collected from December 1911 through to March 1912.
Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘Nelspruit [c. 25°29′S 30°58′E 735 m] / 2.1915 / A. Roberts' (NMSA)*; 4♂ 1♀ ‘Sth Africa Transvaal / Cycad Trail / Dist Middelburg [c. 25°46′S 29°28′E 1525 m] / R. Elferink 5.i.1983' (NMSA); 1♀ same data but 3.i.1983 (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Irene [c. 25°53′S 28°14′E 1450 m] / M.G.A. Fourie / April 1969' (NMSA); 2♂ ‘JJO / JHB [= Johannesburg c. 26°10′S 27°58′E 1760 m] Tvl / 16.ii.1953' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘JHB [= Johannesburg c. 26°10′S 27°58′E 1760 m] No2 / Glenwilliam [?] / 13/i/62 Muti' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Transvaal / Johannesburg [c. 26°10′S 27°58′E 1760 m] / Ross' ‘SAM-DIP / A007826' (SAMC).
Material not studied: Londt (1978) lists unstudied type material ‘Rhodesia: 1♂ holotype, 1♀ allotype, near Mt. Chirinda [c. 20°24′S 32°40′E 1010 m], 31.i.1912, C.F.M. Swynnerton (Oxford University Museum)'.
Distribution, phenology and biology: While the type series was from Zimbabwe, Blasdale (1957) records the species from ‘Sierra Leone, N. Gold Coast [Ghana], S. Nigeria, S. Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, SE. Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] (type locality), and Pretoria [in South Africa].' Tomasovic (2012) added DR Congo to this list. The species therefore has a wide distribution which penetrates the north-eastern parts of southern Africa (Fig. 6). Although habitat information is lacking the type series was almost certainly collected in montane grassland. Swynnerton collected the type specimens from December through to March. There is also a southern African record of the species collected in April (Table 1). Tomasovic's (2012) DR Congo records are for October and November so the species may have slightly different flight periods north of the sub-region covered by this study. While there are no prey records available for South Africa, Hobby (1935) analysed no fewer than 117 records for Zimbabwe, where the species was apparently common. Hobby's published data can be summarised as follows (orders and families in alphabetical order) - Coleoptera (5): Cerambycidae (4), Curculionidae (1). Diptera (20): Asilidae (10), Bombyliidae (7), Syrphidae (2), Tabanidae (1). Hemiptera (13): Cicadidae (7), Lygaeidae (4), Pentatomidae (1), Reduviidae (1). Hymenoptera (32): Andrenidae (1), Anthophoridae (9), Apidae (4 Apis mellifera), Bembecidae (1), Braconidae (1), Ichneumonidae (2), Megachilidae (7), Mutilidae (1), Scoliidae (5), Sphecidae (1). Lepidoptera (1): Sesiidae (1). Mecoptera (1): Bittacidae (1). Orthoptera (45): Acrididae (45). Although the species appears to feed on a wide range of prey some 38 % were grasshoppers (Acrididae). The male versus female ratio is of interest as only 21 (26.5 %) of the asilid predators were male while 86 (73.5 %) were female - a clear indication that far more females were found feeding. The female ovipositor is distally narrow and spike-like so may be adapted for thrusting eggs into soil.
Figs 17–20.
Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby 1933. (17–19. male terminalia: (17) lateral, (18) dorsal and (19) ventral views. (20) female distal end of S8.
Philodicus tenuipes Loew, 1858
Figs 1, 21–25
Philodicus tenuipes Loew, 1858: 361 [1860: 212]; Blasdale 1957: 139 (pl. I. fig. 6 ♂ gen., pl. II. fig. 3 ♀ S*); Londt 1978: 422 (figs 4 ♂ gen, 10 aed); Hull 1962: 456; Oldroyd 1980: 343 (catalogue).
Loew (1858) described the species on Wahlberg collected material from ‘Caffraria' [Eastern parts of South Africa]. Blasdale (1957) discusses the close similarity between this species and cinerascens, giving the distribution of tenuipes as ‘Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], Pretoria [in South Africa], Cape Colony [formerly a large part of South Africa] and South West Africa [Namibia]'.
Material examined: ANGOLA: 2♂ 1♀ ‘Cuanza [Kuanza] Riv. Mouth [? Longa River mouth c. 10°14′S 13°30′E 1 m] / 40mi. S. Luanda / Angola. Jan 1972', ‘Collectors / B. Stuckenberg' (NMSA)*. MOZAMBIQUE: 1♀ ‘Chinde [c. 18°35′S 36°28′E 5 m] / Mozamb. / K.H. Barnard / Nov. 1912', ‘Philodicus ♀ / fraternus Wied', ‘Ricardo / determ.' (pale blue), ‘SAM-DIP / A007808' (SAMC); 1♀ ‘Chinde [c. 18°35′S 36°28′E 5 m] Zambezi / River Delta / Port East Africa / P.J. Usher', ‘5.xi.57' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Bazaruto [Island c. 21°40′S 35°27′E 0 m] / 8/3/71' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 3♀ ‘Benguérua [Benguerra c. 21°52′S 35°25′E 10 m] / 6/3/71' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Magaruque [Island c. 21°58′S 35°26′E 35 m] / 5/3/71' (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Bangué [Island c. 22°02′S 35°27′E 0 m] / 6/3/71' (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ ‘Bangué / 7/3/71' (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Moçambique / Namaacha [c. 25°59′S 32°02′E 535 m] / 28/7/1980 / Coll. H.R. Feijen' (NMSA); 7♂ 8♀ ‘Inhaca Is. [c. 26°01′25″S 32°57′18″E 50 m] Mozam. / No. 942-950, 956-960 [respectively] / 17-I-1964 / Coll. A.L. Moore', ‘USNMENT01100114- USNMENT01100126 [respectively]' (USNM). NAMIBIA: 2♂ 2♀ ‘Otjimbumbe [c. 17°30′S 14°15′E 1064 m] / Kunene R. / Mar. 1932' ~ ‘S.W. Africa / Mus. Exped.', ‘SAM-DIP / A007828 & 29' (SAMC)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘Hoarusib [c. 18°31′58″S 12°50′31″E 435 m] Otshu / S.W.A.' ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Mar. 1926', ‘SAM-DIP / A007832' (SAMC)*; 2♀ ‘Namibia 20.iii.1984 / 60km E Otjiwarongo / Rd 101 20 39′S 17 05′E [c. 1490 m] / Londt & Stuckenberg / Acacia thornveld and dry river course' (NMSA); 1♂ 2♀ ‘South West Africa 2115Ba / Omaruru Dist. 50km N.W. Omaruru [c. 21°26′S 15°56′E 1215 m], 1200m. 5-ii-1974 / M.E. Irwin, flood plain / with large Acacia trees' (NMSA)*; 4♂ 1♀ ‘Namibia 29.iii.1984 / 26km N Windhoek. Road / 1/6. 22 20′S 17 04′E [c. 1470 m] / Londt & Stuckenberg / Dry stream bed Acacia / riparian woodland' (NMSA); 3♂ ‘Namibia 16.iii.1984 / 18km E Windhoek Road / 6/1. 22 32′S 17 14′E [c. 1880 m] / Londt & Stuckenberg / Damp riverbed with / Acacias Stony ground' (NMSA); 1♂ 3♀ ‘Namibia 18.iv.1983 / Aris [c. 22°45′S 17°08′E 1805 m] 30km S Windhoek / 2217CA Stuckenberg / & Londt Thornveld' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Rehoboth [c. 23°19′S 17°05′E 1405 m] / S.W.A.' ~ ‘Bell-Marley / Nov-Jan 1938', ‘SAM-DIP / A007830' (SAMC)*; 1♀ ‘Cayimaeis [?] / S.W.A.' ~ ‘Mus. Exped. / Mar. 1925', ‘SAMDIP / A007831' (SAMC)*. SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Messina Nature Reserve / 22°24′54″S 30°05′12″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 487m 14.ii.2005 Mopane / dry woodland Sand Riv' (NMSA); 2♂ 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: Limpopo / Ben Lavin Nature Res. / 23°08′38″S 29°57′03″E / J.G.H. Londt & T. Dikow / 865m 13.ii.2005 Acacia / Zizyphus dry woodland' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa Tvl / D′Nyala Nat Res Ellis- / ras 23.45S 27.49E / 850m 5-6.x.1989 / M.W. Mansell' (SANC); 2♂ ‘South Africa N.W. Tvl / Mogol Nature Reserve / Ellisras Dist. 23.58S / 27.45E 19-23.xi.1979 / G.L. Prinsloo, M.W. Mansell / S.J. van Tonder, C. Kok' (SANC); 2♂ 1♀ 1? ‘South Africa N.W. Tvl / Mogol Nature Reserve / Ellisras Dist. 23.58S / 27.45E 19-23.xi.1979 / M.W. Mansell' (SANC); 1♀ ‘South Africa / Trsvl., 5mi. W. / Warmbad [= Bela-Bela c. 24°53′S 25°17′E 1150 m] / 24-25 Feb. 1968 / Krombein & Spangler', ‘USNMENT01100128' (USNM); 1♂ 2♀ ‘South Africa Transvaal / Kruger Park 9.xii.1972 / Timbetene Tswiri waterholes / savannah woodl and nr Skukuza [c. 25°00′S 31°36′E 285 m] / B & P Stuckenberg 2431Dc' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ [♂ as prey for ♀] ‘South Africa: Transvaal / Kruger Park 9.xii.1972 / Lower Sabie Camp area [c. 25°07′S 31°55′E 175 m] / open savannah & riverbanks / B & P Stuckenberg 2531Bb' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘S Africa: N-W Province / Pilanesberg National Park / Manyane Trail 15.xi.1999 / 25°15′12″S 27°13′25″E / J.G.H. Londt 1200m' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Boekenhoutskloof [c. 25°30′S 28°27′E 1180 m], S.A. / (30km NE Pretoria) / 7.xii.77 / G. Bernon' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘Noordkaap River [c. 25°44′S 30°59′E 650 m] at / Barberton Nelspruit Road / 2530DB Transvaal / 7 Nov 70 Stuckenberg / Riverbank bushveld' (NMSA)*; 1♂ ‘Pretoria [c. 25°45′S 28°11′E 1345 m] / L. Schunke / 2-85 [ii.1885]', ‘SAM-DIP / A007833' (SAMC); 1♂ ‘JHB [= Johannesburg c. 26°10′S 27°58′E 1760 m] / P. Leniare / Feb 1963 / Natal A.R.I.' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa. Natal / Kosi Bay - Estuary [c. 26°54′S 32°53′E 10 m] / 2632DD 16-19.iii.1982 / Coll: D.A. Barraclough' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: Natal / 5km S Ndumu [= Ndumo] Game Res [c. 26°57′S 32°15′E 50 m] / 2632CD 6.x.1982 / coll. J. & B. Londt / Woodland near stream' (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa / Natal, Zululand / Sodwana Bay [c. 27°32′49″S 32°40′10″E 40 m] / 2732DA / 8.v.1981 C. Car', ‘SAM-DIP / A007834' (SAMC); 1♂ ‘South Africa / Natal, Zululand / Sodwana Bay / 2732DA 15.v.1981 / C. A. Car dunes / on beach', ‘SAMDIP / A007836' (SAMC); 1♀ ‘Bonamanzi / Reserve [c. 28°03′S 32°18′E 20 m] / Sand path / through sand / Forest 21.xi.95' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa, Natal Prov / Cape Vidal [c. 28°07′S 32°33′E 30 m], 20mi N St. Lucia; ME & BJ Irwin 0 to / 20m; coastal dune forest / Nov. 24. 1971 (2832Ba)' (NMSA)*; 9♂ 8♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / St. Lucia Nature Res. [c. 28°16′S 32°29′E 40 m] / 2832AD 18-20.xii.1981 / Londt & Stuckenberg / Coastal bush & forest' [1♀ with prey Apidae (Apis mellifera)] (NMSA); 1♂ 4♀ 2? ‘South Africa, Natal Prov / Zululand, St. Lucia [c. 28°22′S 32°25′E 25 m], Nov. 24 / 1971; ME & BJ Irwin (2832Ad) / coastal dune assoc. 8m el.' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / St. Lucia Park Reserve / ca. 28°22′S 32°25′E / J.G.H. Londt 20m / 2.ii.1988 Dune forest' (NMSA); 2♀ ‘Dukuduku [Forest c. 28°23′S 32°19′E 175 m] between / St Lucia & Matubatuba / Zululand S. Africa / B & P Stuckenberg / 7-8 April 1960' (NMSA)*; 4♂ 2♀ ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Greater St. Lucia Wetland / Park Sugarloaf Camp area / 28°23′01.9″S 32°25′07.4″E / J.G.H. Londt 9.iii.2004 / -6m sand at estuary edge' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / St. Lucia Estuary [c. 28°23′S 32°25′E 0 m] / Coastal bush grassland / Date: 7.x.1983 / Coll: B.R. Stuckenberg' (NMSA); 1♂ 5♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / St. Lucia Estuary [c. 28°23′S 32°25′E 0 m] / 22.ii.1979 2832AD / JGH Londt Beach' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa Natal / St Lucia sea level / Oct 31, 1972, M.E. / Irwin, coastal dunes' (NMSA)*; 1♂ 3♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umfolozi bridge / 7km SW Mtubatuba [c. 28°27′S 32°09′E 20 m] / 3.xii.75 WL Overal / DJ Brothers' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: Natal / Richard's Bay [c. 28°40′S 32°05′E 5 m] area / 3205E 2850S 12.iii.83 / PE Reavell 25m / In sand dunes' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Enseleni Reserve [c. 28°41′S 32°00′E 30 m] / Grassveld / Date: 4.iv.81 / Coll: P. Reavell' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Mfongosi [c. 28°43′S 30°50′E 575 m] / Zulu L. [Zululand] / W E Jones' ~ ‘Dec. 1914', ‘SAM-DIP / A007825' (SAMC)*; 1♂ 2♀ ‘R.S.A.: KZ-Natal #81 / Umlalazi Nature Reserve / 28°57′S 31°46′E 50m / Date: 8.xi.1997 / Coll: JGH & A Londt / Dune forest & margins' [1♀ with prey Caenagrionidae] (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umlalazi Nature Res [c. 28°57′S 31°46′E 5 m] / 2831DD 2-10.x.1982 / coll. J.G.H. Londt / Dune-forest & edges' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umlalazi Nature Res. / 26-27.i.1987 / JGH Londt SE2831DD / Dune forest & margin' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Sth Africa: KZN Prov / Umlalazi Nature Res. / 28°57′02″S 31°47′13E / J & A Londt 12.xi.2014 / 8m Estuary sandy edge' (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umlalazi Nature Res. [c. 28°57′S 31°46′E 5 m] / 26-27.i.1987 / JGH Londt SE2831DD / Dune forest & margin' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: Natal / Umlalazi Nature Res. / ca. 28°57′S 31°40′E / 20m 28-29.i.1988 / Dune Forest J. Londt' (NMSA); 5♂ 3♀ ‘S Africa: KwaZulu-Natal / Umlalazi Nature Reserve / 28°57′19″S 31°46′31″E / 5m 21.ii.2011 J.G.H. Londt / Estuary banks & forest' (NMSA); 3♂ 2♀ ‘So. Africa: Nata; / 1,5 km / E. Mtunzini 2831Dd / Umlalazi Nature Res. [c. 28°57′S 31°46′E 5 m] / 24-25.iii 1979 R. Miller / Coastal dune veget.' (NMSA); 2♂ 1♀ same data but 28.i.1979 (NMSA); 1♂ 1♀ same data but 4 Nov 1979 (NMSA); 1♀ same data but 15 Feb 1981 (NMSA); 3♂ same data but 19-27 Jan 1980 (NMSA); 1♀ ‘Mtunzini [c. 28°58′S 31°46′E 10 m] / Natal RSA / 14.2.85 / M.H. Villet / (coastal dunes)' (NMSA); 4♂ 2♀ ‘Sth Africa: KZN Prov / Mtunzini Forest Lodge / Area 10-14.xi.2014 / 28°58′02″S 31°47′18E / J & A Londt 10m / Coastal dune vegetation' (NMSA); 1♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Mhlopeni Nature Res. [c. 29°01′S 30°25′E 915 m] / 15km SE Muden 2930AB / Coll: J.G.H. Londt / Date: 4.ii.1984' (NMSA); 5♂ 2♀ same data but 22.xii.1983 (NMSA); 1♂ ‘South Africa: N Cape / Kenhardt Hartebeest Riv. / 29°20′47″S 21°08′42″E / 14.xi.2011 780m / J & A Londt Dry river bed / Sandy Acacia savanna' (NMSA); 2♀ ‘Blythedale [c. 29°22′S 31°21′E 5 m] / Beach / Natal / 16.3.1963 / T.W. Schofield' (NMSA)*; 1♀ ‘Town Bush [Reserve c. 29°33′S 30°20′E 1000 m] / Pietermaritzburg / South Africa / T. Schofield / 31.v.57' (NMSA)*; 3♂ 4♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Tongaat Riv. mouth [Mdloti River c. 29°39′S 31°08′E 5 m] / 2931CA 22.xi.1978 / open sandy area / J.G.H. Londt' (NMSA). ZIMBABWE: 2♂ 2♀ ‘Country Rhodesia / Loc Chirundu [c. 16°02′S 28°51′E 400 m] / Date 18-5-1965 / Coll R. Borthwick' (NMSA); 1♂ ‘Hillside [Harare c. 17°50′S 31°05′E 1485 m], S. Rhod / 17.xi.1922 / Swinburne & / Stevenson' (NMSA)*.
Material not studied: Londt (1978) records: ‘1♂, Mtunzini [c. 28°58′S 31°46′E 10 m], xii.1961, W.E. Lawson (D.M.); 1♀, Twinstreams [c. 28°59′S 31°44′E 15 m], Mtunzini, 15.xii.1963, Lawson & Bouguin (D.M.); 1♂, M'Fongosi [Mfongosi c. 28°43′S 30°50′E 575 m], Zululand, xii.1914, W.E, Jones (S.A.M.).' also ‘2♂ 2♀, Otjimbumbe [?], Kunene River, iii.1923, S.A.M. Exped. (S.A.M.); 1♂, Hoarusib Otshu, iii.1926, S.A.M. Exped. (S.A.M.); 1♀, Cayimaeis, iii.1923, S.A.M. Exped. (S.A.M.).' In additional material listed as unstudied includes: Holotype “Caffraria': 1♀, (Rijksmuseum)' and ‘South West Africa: Hoarusib [c. 18°21′S 13°00′E 590 m], Otshu, iii.1926, S.A.M. Exped. (S.A.M.); Rehoboth [c. 23°19′S 17°05′E 1405 m], xi-xii.1935, Mell-Marley (S.A.M.).'
Distribution, phenology and biology: A fairly widespread species in southern Africa (Fig. 25). The species has been collected sympatrically with fraterculus at Bela Bela and dubius at Umlalazi Nature Reserve. Data presented in this paper confirm the presence of the species in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and records, for the first time, material from Mozambique and Angola (which is not strictly speaking a southern African country). The species flies from October through to May - there being a single record for July (Table 1). Although a fairly commonly collected species, only 5 prey records are known (all associated with females): Odonata: Caenagrionidae (1). Diptera: Calliphoridae (1), Sarcophagidae (1). Hymenoptera: Apidae (2 - Apis mellifera). The female ovipositor is distally broad and spade-like so may be adapted for digging in loose sand.
Figs 21–24.
Philodicus tenuipes Loew, 1857. (21–23) male terminalia: (21) lateral, (22) dorsal and (23) ventral views. (24) female distal end of S8.
TABLE 1
The phenology of southern African Philodicus species. Months of the year abbreviated.
DISCUSSION
Distribution
Philodicus is represented by five species in southern Africa. Two of these, fraterculus and tenuipes are well represented and widely distributed, found in both the drier western parts of the subcontinent as well as in the more temperate eastern parts, although records are more numerous from the east, probably because more sampling has been done in these more developed parts of the subcontinent. A third species, dubius, is also reasonably well represented, but confined to the eastern parts of the subcontinent in higher rainfall regions. The remaining two species, swynnertoni and cinerascens, are apparently fairly widely distributed species which have their southern limits in the north-eastern parts of the sub-region.
Biology
Philodicus is of particular interest as species appear to require the presence of surface water for their survival. All southern African species are invariably collected near fresh water sources such as rivers, streams, dams and natural pans. In some instances specimens are found in drier and even arid places where surface water is only available after rain. Dry river beds and pans are also good places to collect these flies and so I conclude that developing larvae, probably living in sand or soil, are able to survive in relatively dry places as long as rain falls from time to time. The actual habitat in which adults are found varies greatly from forest margins, woodland, savannah and semi desert. Of interest is the fact that species in Blasdale's (1957) alcimoides species group (e.g. cinerascens, dubius, tenuipes) have relatively broad spade-like ovipositors as opposed to those of his fraternus group (e.g. fraterculus, swynnertoni) with their narrow spike-like ovipositors. It is highly likely that these differently shaped organs reflect the nature of the substrates in which eggs are deposited. It is probable that broad, spade-like ovipositors would be better adapted for digging in loose sand while spike-like ovipositors might be better organs in more compact substrates. A study of actual oviposition sites would no doubt be instructive.
As far as prey is concerned, Londt (2006: 321), who analysed some 2000 Afrotropical asilid prey records (including records previously published by Hobby (1935)), had this to say about the then known prey of Philodicus, for which he had 183 records - ‘Orthoptera (62), Hymenoptera (47), Diptera (41), Hemiptera (18), Coleoptera (7), Lepidoptera (5), Neuroptera (2), Mecoptera (1). The first three listed orders constitute 82 % of prey. Significant prey families are Acrididae (62), Apidae (20), Asilidae (18) and Cicadidae (10). Acrididae represent 34 % of the diet of Philodicus.' Although there are a number of new prey records in this paper they merely support earlier findings. Clearly, grasshoppers are a significant food source which suggests that Philodicus is capable of catching flying prey as well as prey that commonly rest on the ground or on vegetation. Of interest is the fact that far more females have been collected with prey than males. Although females tend to be larger than males, and may be more readily collected, I believe the difference is more likely to relate to the need for protein for egg maturation. It is also possible that females live longer and could be more abundant than males at any one time.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Curators of the museums that have kindly hosted me or sent specimens for study are gratefully acknowledged for their participation in, and assistance with, this project. The University of KwaZulu-Natal has allocated funding in support of my research, while the KwaZulu-Natal Museum provided various essential services. Mr Burgert Muller, in particular, is thanked for his contribution in generating the distribution maps. The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa also provided financial support for my research for which I am grateful. I also wish to acknowledge the assistance of the many conservation authorities that have issued collecting permits to me over many years. Without their assistance sampling would have been difficult. Finally, my wife Ann is thanked for her sustained assistance and support both at home and in the field.
