Bombyliidae (Bee Flies) - Southern Africa's Journal

Journal archives for September 2023

September 19, 2023

Bombyliidae Identification Resources (Southern Africa) - LINKS (work in progress)

Greathead, D.J. & Evenhuis, N.L. 2001. Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera:
Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae). African Invertebrates 42: 105–224.
https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/EJC84477


Bezzi, M. 1921. On the bombyliid fauna of South Africa (Diptera) as represented in the South African
Museum. Annals of the South African Museum 18: 1–180.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/17/mode/1up


Hesse, A.J. 1938. A revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of southern Africa. Annals of the South African
Museum 34: 1–1053.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/15/mode/1up


Hesse, A. J. 1956. A revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of southern Africa. Parts II and III. Annals of the
South African Museum 35: 1–972
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844208#page/19/mode/1up


Bowden, John, 1967, Studies in African Bombyliidae. VI. A provisional classification of the Ethiopian Systropinae with descriptions of new and little known species, Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 30, No. 2

https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00128789_2611


Greathead, D. J. (1996). The genus Bombylisoma Rondani (Diptera: Bombyliidae): phylogenetics and review of species from the Afrotropical Region. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 27(1), 11–24. doi:10.1163/187631296x00188
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631296X00188


Greathead, D.J. (1981). The Villa group of genera in Africa and Eurasia with a review of the genera comprising Thyridanthrax sensu Bezzi 1924 (Diptera: Bombyliidae). Journal of Natural History 15.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938100770231
https://sci-hub.ee/10.1080/00222938100770231

Posted on September 19, 2023 12:30 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Bombyliidae INDEX (work in progress)

Posted on September 19, 2023 12:46 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Nomalonia eremophila (Hesse, 1975)

Wings with the subopaquely whitish windows obliquely across middle equally broad, confluent, continuous in a straight line, forming a conspicuous broadish oblique fascia.
White scales on abdomen above, apart from large, spot-like patches centrally on tergites 2 and 6 (or 7) arranged more transversely in conspicuous bands, the discal parts of which are broken up into small spots, especially across tergites 2-4.

Description in Hesse 1956 (Nomalonia afra):
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844208#page/54/mode/1up

Illustration of head in:
Hull, Frank Montgomery, Bee flies of the world: the genera of the family Bombyliidae Washington, Smithsonian Institution Press 1973
Fig 612: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32878064#page/539/mode/1up

Records from: Little Karoo, southern boundary of Great Karoo, Nieuveld Karoo and Namaqualand

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19617003

Posted on September 19, 2023 12:49 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 20, 2023

Australoechus hypoleucus (Wiedemann, 1821)

Characterized by black basal comb of wings which separates this species from look-alikes of the micans-group. A bulky species, ranging from 10-15 mm in length and with a wing length of about 10-16 mm.
Pale yellow-hairy, almost whitish, thoracic stripes a little darker and obsolete, wings half brown, basal comb black. Pubescence on body above more gleaming and resplendent than in A. micans, sericeous whitish to yellowish, with the 3 stripes of golden brownish hair on thorax, in female especially, more conspicuous and more enhanced by the silvery stripes separating them.
Wings with the anterior infuscation scarcely extending beyond end of costal cell or only very slightly, with the greater part of the apical part of marginal cell entirely hyaline, without any distinct infuscations along veins in posterior hyaline part, especially at bases of second submarginal and third posterior cells, and with the elongated whitish opaque spot at bases of first and second basal cells and even in female the costal cell more conspicuously evident and visible.

Description by Loew:
Loew, H. 1860. Die Dipteren-Fauna Südafrika’s. Erste Abtheilung. Berlin: Mittler & Sohn
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/203/mode/1up

Description by Hesse 1956:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/248/mode/1up

Distribution: South Africa (Northern & Western Cape), also into Namibia
https://www.gbif.org/species/1670138

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183878071

Posted on September 20, 2023 10:10 AM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Australoechus peringueyi (Bezzi, 1921)

A distinct species due to the chocolate brown hairs of the thorax contrasting strikingly with the white pubescens of the middle of the abdomen; the wings are not spotted, but distinctly infuscated towards the base and along the costal cell.

Illustrated in Bezzi 1921:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/197/mode/1up

Description by Bezzi:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/49/mode/1up

Description by Hesse:
key: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/123/mode/1up
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/291/mode/1up

Dirstribution: South Africa (Northern Cape), Namibia

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134092941

Posted on September 20, 2023 12:48 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 21, 2023

Triplasius spp.

4 species occur in South Africa: Triplasius bivittatus Loew, T. lateralis (Fabricius), T. namaquensis (Hesse), T. tinctus (Walker).

Diagnosis Genus Triplaius:
Crossvein r-m as long or longer than m-m; venation in radial sector unstable, often with appendices and sometimes with interradial vein complete (3 submarginal cells); vestiture shaggy but with long hair at sides of abdomen only, bristles fine not numerous, hair brown to blackish with contrasting short white scale-like hairs forming notopleural stripes on the thorax and spots or bands on the abdomen.


(1) Triplasius namaquensis (Hesse, 1938)
Species description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/62/mode/1up
Wings (text-fig. 5) with appendices or stumps in marginal and submarginal cells, which are often irregular, sometimes joined on to margin of wing and thus producing a reticulate appearance, with the anterior darker part less marked off from the posterior part, which itself is also mottled to a certain extent; pubescence with the paler elements on frons, on sides of face, on pleurae, and on sides of venter distinctly paler and even more straw-coloured whitish, with the transverse band of whitish scaling on abdomen above more diffuse and the scaling towards apical part of abdomen above more greyish, the white band on each side of thorax distinctly broader and with a broad central band of greyish white scaling on disc of thorax and also on frons.

Illustration in Hesse 1928:
Hesse, A.J. 1938. A revision of the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of southern Africa. [Part I]. Annals of the South African Museum 34
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/131/mode/1up


(2) Triplasius lateralis (Fabricius, 1805)
Species description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/62/mode/1up
Wings with only 2 submarginal cells, with 4 dark spots in the more hyaline posterior part: one at base of second submarginal cell, one at apex of first posterior cell, one on cross vein between discoidal and second posterior cells,and a smaller or minute one onvein at base of third posterior cell, and also with 2 larger spots on apical cross veins of basal cells; pubescence with the paler elements on sides of face, pleurae, and on sides of venter more rufous, purplish, or mauvish reddish.

Description by Loew:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/200/mode/1up

Illustration by Wiedemann:
Fig. 5: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/50649#page/665/mode/1up


(3) Triplasius bivittatus (Loew, 1855)
Description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/62/mode/1up
Wings with 2 or usually 3 submarginal cells, usually without rounded spots, but with infuscations along basal parts of veins and cross veins of second and third submarginal cells, along basal veins of second and third posterior cells, often broken up into spots and often with a more distinct spot near apex of vein between anal and axillary cells; pubescence with the paler elements on sides of face, on pleurae and sides of venter usually paler or more straw-coloured in certain lights.

Description by Loew:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/199/mode/1up

Illustration of wing in Hull 1973:
Hull, F.M. 1973. Bee flies of the world. The genera of the family Bombyliidae.Washington (Smithsonian Institution Press)
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/102774#page/500/mode/1up


(4) Triplasius tinctus (Walker, 1849)
This species is only described by Walker, apparently not known in the other publications.

Description in:
Walker, F. 1849. List of the specimens of dipterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part II. British Museum (Natural History), London.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/119308#page/57/mode/1up
Head black, and clothed with long black hairs above and in front, and with short red hairs about the base of the feelers, hoary and clothed with white hairs behind and beneath; hypostoma tawny : eyes red, with a bronze tinge: mouth black, a little shorter than the chest: feelers black, as long as the head; first joint thickly beset with hairs ; second joint short; third joint slightly tapering from the base to the tip, longer than the first and the second; fourth joint very small:
chest rich brown, clothed with short reddish brown hairs, and having a stripe of white hairs on each side; scutcheon adorned with red hairs: breast and under-side of abdomen hoary, and clothed with white hairs, the former having a tuft of red hairs on each side by the base of the wing:
abdomen black, clothed with tawny hairs and with black bristles, which are most frequent towards the tip:
legs ferruginous, clothed with white hairs and black bristles, the latter chiefly on the shanks; feet pubescent, piceous towards the tips:
wings slightly gray, blackish brown at the base and along the fore borders; the dark colour occupies less than half the surface, its border is not clearly defined, and it blends imperceptibly with the gray; wing-ribs and veins piceous, the latter black towards the tips; poisers tawny.

Posted on September 21, 2023 11:08 AM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Bombylisoma senegalense (Macquart) & Bombylisoma pectorale (Loew)

This is either one variable species or a species complex.
A medium-sized species of an entirely deep black colour, but clothed with a yellowish furriness.
Form senegalense (from West Africa): with black hair on the face and pleura.
Form pectorale (from South Africa): with pale yellowish hair on the face and pleura.

Description by Bezzi:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/83/mode/1up

Description by Loew:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/98239#page/22/mode/1up

Description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40845178#page/610/mode/1up

Photos of B. pectorale (Pindip):
https://www.pindip.org/bombylisoma-pectorale

Taxonomy after:
Greathead, D. J. (1996). The genus Bombylisoma Rondani (Diptera: Bombyliidae): phylogenetics and review of species from the Afrotropical Region. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 27(1), 11–24. doi:10.1163/187631296x00188
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631296X00188

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/153418569

Posted on September 21, 2023 10:05 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 22, 2023

Thyridanthrax laetus (Loew, 1860)

Genus Thyridanthrax:
The genus Thyridanthrax is currently restricted to those species with hyaline areas within the infuscated part of the wing (fenestrate pattern); Hesse’s (1956) Group 2.
Wing normally developed; r-m crossvein at middle of discal cell, its terminal vein more or less parallel with wing margin; wing infuscation paler at base and with hyaline spots on crossveins (window panes).
Vestiture composed of black, brown, yellow and white elements; face with pale scaling; a distinct pale notopleural stripe; abdomen banded and with dense hair at sides of basal segments only.

Key to Afrotropical species available in:
Greathead, D. J. (1991). The genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken (Diptera: Bombyliidae) in tropical Africa. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 22(1), 45–54. doi:10.1163/187631291x00309
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631291X00309


Thyridanthrax laetus (Loew, 1860)
Diagnosis: Wing with three submarginal cells; extensive dark wing pattern extending almost to m-m and three clear angular spots centred on r-m, m-cu and cua,-cua2; discal cell usually completely infuscated. (Wing pattern is variable!) Most of the hair is bright golden-orange-reddish and there is a median stripe of black hair and scales on the abdominal tergites. Legs entirely orange.

Photo of wing in Greathead 1991: Figure 23
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631291X00309

Description by Loew:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/242/mode/1up
Illustration of wing, fig. 23: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/349/mode/1up

Description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844208#page/638/mode/1up

Distribution: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya.

iNat observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192815508

Posted on September 22, 2023 07:06 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 23, 2023

Thyridanthrax elegans calochromatus (Bezzi, 1921)

Genus Thyridanthrax:
The genus Thyridanthrax is currently restricted to those species with hyaline areas within the infuscated part of the wing (fenestrate pattern); Hesse’s (1956) Group 2.
Wing normally developed; r-m crossvein at middle of discal cell, its terminal vein more or less parallel with wing margin; wing infuscation paler at base and with hyaline spots on crossveins (window panes).
Vestiture composed of black, brown, yellow and white elements; face with pale scaling; a distinct pale notopleural stripe; abdomen banded and with dense hair at sides of basal segments only.

Key to Afrotropical species available in:
Greathead, D. J. (1991). The genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken (Diptera: Bombyliidae) in tropical Africa. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 22(1), 45–54. doi:10.1163/187631291x00309
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631291X00309


Thyridanthrax elegans calochromatus (Bezzi, 1921)
Diagnosis: Wing with two submarginal cells; wings broadly yellow at base, only distal ends of cells br and bm (basal) and distal half of cup (anal) brown, m2 and m3 (third and fourth posterior) narrowly infuscated at base, r-m before middle of discal.
This subspecies has the dark wing band reduced to spots separated by pale areas bordering the cross-veins and the isolated spot at the base of cell br (first basal) very small. The black band on tergite III is very broad, occupying most of its width, and the bands on V and VI are indistinct, barely more than one row of scales. The pale hair is almost white, except on the fore margin of the thorax (collar) where it is brownish.

Photo of wing in Greathead 1991: Figure 24
https://sci-hub.st/https://doi.org/10.1163/187631291X00309

Description by Bezzi:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/151/mode/1up
Illustration of wing, fig. 23: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1540304#page/199/mode/1up

Distribution: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia.

iNat observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36127821
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36012558

Posted on September 23, 2023 02:21 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 27, 2023

Heteralonia (Homolonia) leucothyrida (Hesse, 1956)

This species is easily identified by the wing pattern/venation:
Cell m2 not divided into two. Cross-vein m-m long, sinuous and parallel to hind margin of wing so that discal cell is long and tapered at apex.
Wings infuscated yellowish brownish to very dark chocolate-brownish basally and anteriorly, the infuscation extending as broad dark borders along apical and posterior veins to a variable extent and of variable width, with clearer areas in middle of cells.
Scaling on thorax above yellowish or greyish in three streaks separated by dark ones.
Entire scutellum or hinder part reddish; abdomen fairly broadly reddish on sides.
The scaling on the upper side of the abdomen is partly black, partly pale brownish-yellow or whitish in colour; there are two transverse black patches on the second segment, and two black crescent-shaped patches on the segments 3-6. Pale broadish band on tergite 2.

Descrption by Loew (Exoprosopa venosa):
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/255/mode/1up

Illustration of wing, fig. 41:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/35325#page/349/mode/1up

Description by Hesse:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40844208#page/798/mode/1up

Distribution: Namibia, South Africa (Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape)

iNat observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10169606
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39580848

Posted on September 27, 2023 12:58 PM by traianbertau traianbertau | 0 comments | Leave a comment