Wohlfahrtia erythrocera

(Fig. 26)

Wohlfahrtia erythrocera Villeneuve, 1910: 147 . Type locality: Yemen, Socotra Archipelago, Socotra: Ras Shoab & Abd al-Kűrî.

Specimens examined. SAUDI ARABIA: 1♂, Asir, Abha, Madenate Al-Ameer Sultan, Hay Al-Sad, Malaise trap, 25.ii.–25.v.2002 (MNWC) ; 1♂, same locality but 6–27.viii.2013 (CERS); 1♂, Abha, Hay Al-Nusub ( Abha Farm Centre), 18.vi–9.vii.2013, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah (CERS) . KENYA: 1♂, Coast Province, Tsavo East Nat Park, Ndara Plaias, Anuba lodge 444m, UTM 37 M 478485, 20.v.2006, sweep net, D. Avesani, G. Cerpaneto, G. Nardi & P. Cerretti (NMWC) . NIGER: 2♂, Aïr Massif, Wadi Iberkam, 18º55’N 80º40’E, 23.vii.1983, P.C. Matteson (NMWC) . OMAN: 10♂, 1♀, Jebe Al-Ta’iyeen, 28º26’N 58º16’E, 6.i.1989, M.J. Ebejer (NMWC) ; 1♂, Wadi Al ligg, 23º10’N 58º06’E, 25.x.1990, M.D. Gallagher & J.C. Deeming (NMWC) ; 1♂, Muscat, Ruwi, 4.x.1988, M.J. Ebejer, larvae from dung beetle Heliocopris gigas 3 wks from ova to adults (NMWC) ; 1♂, E. Coast Djbab dunes with Limonium axillare, 13.ix.1992, M.D. Gallagher & J.C. Deeming (NMWC) ; 3♂, Ruwi Wadi, Ada Aldai, 18.xii.1987, M.J. Ebejer (NMWC) ; 7♂, 2♀, near Quriyat Fins, 10.xi.1989, thousands emerging from sand, M.J. Ebejer (NMWC) ; 2♂, 1♀, Wadi Adai, 18.xii.1987, M.J. Ebejer (NMWC) .

Distribution. Algeria, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Niger *, Nigeria, Oman *, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Somalia, Tanzania.

Remarks. First record from Saudi Arabia found in this study is by Dawah & Abdullah (2005). This species was reared from dead beetles and has been found breeding by the thousands in sand containing sardines in Oman (M. Ebejer, pers. comm.).