Isomyia tristis (Bigot, 1888)

Thomas-Cabianca, Arianna, Villet, Martin H., Martinez-Sanchez, Anabel & Rojo, Santos, 2023, South African nose flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae, Rhiniinae): taxonomy, diversity, distribution and biology, Biodiversity Data Journal 11, pp. 72764-72764 : 72764

Isomyia tristis (Bigot, 1888)

= Curtonevra tristis Bigot, 1888: 613. Type locality: South Africa, Port-Natal [Durban]. Remarks: HT in NHMUK and LT in SAMC.

= Apollenia psophis Séguy, 1933: 74. Type locality: Mozambique, Macequece.

Distribution

Afrotropical: Angola*, Botswana, Cameroon*, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia,?Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa (Fig. 63 ), Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Notes

Preferred environment: montane environments (grassland and bush, meadow, Podocarpus L'Hér ex Pers sp. forest margins and slopes), savannahs ( Acacia and dry open), forests (Mbhome, pine and swamp), areas associated with forests (creeks, gorges, margins, stream, slopes, trail, roads and burnt-out forests), bush (bushveld, coastal, dry bushveld, in front beach, riverine; mixed Acacia woodland and mixed woodland), grasslands, amongst others. Additionally, caravan park, grotto near farm, thornveld camp ground. In Mozambique, it was associated with gallery forest. In Namibia, associated with the Mesic Savannah and the Succulent Karoo Biomes ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Recorded elevations: 30-1981-?3500 m a.s.l. Seasonality: present year-round, peaking in March and April; lower abundance in coldest months. Uncommon species in Namibia, present only in April and September (one specimen each) ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Behaviour and ecology: collected on flowers of Cussonia sp., Protea caffra and general flowers and forests of Dassiekrantz (Makhanda, Eastern Cape), grassveld flowering daisies Leucosidea dominated scrub and euphorbias out of the forest in South Africa. In the Eastern Cape, one male was dropped at nest entrance by Bembix albofasciata F. Smith and ex-nest of Dasyproctus braunsii (Kohl) (as D. ruficaudis (Arnold)). Females were observed on fresh cattle dung in Zimbabwe by Cuthbertson (1934) (as Strongyloneura tristis ). Life cycle and developmental stages: unknown. Collection methods: sweeping, at bait, M/V light trap, yellow and white pans and Malaise traps. In Namibia, using yellow pan and pitfall traps ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Illustrations and photographs: male habitus as in Fig. 64 . Male terminalia as in fig. 4-right in Zumpt (1958).

Type material examined: C. tristis : 1? // Holo / type // Curtoneura / Curtoneura tristis Bigot / Port-Natal / ex. Bigot Coll: / B.M.1960-539. // Genus / Apollenia / Bezzi / det. Villen. // BMNH(E) # 231136 // [NHMUK 010832105]. 1? Durban / Natal // Pres. by / Com. Imp. Bur. Ent. // 1917-94 // Thelychaeta / Dr Villeneuve det. / Thelychaeta tristis / sec type. Bigot // 861 // [NHMUK 010832122]. 1? // Marley / Jan. 1915 / P. Port Shepstone // Apollenia / Apollenia tristis Bigot. / Lec Type // S.A. Museum. // [SAMC DIP A011159]. 1? / K/Kloof / Marley / 1-15 // S.A. Museum // Apollenia / Apollenia tristis /sec.type Bigot / det. Villeneuve // [SAMC DIP A015196].

Material examined: Suppl. materials 1, 2.

Figures

Figure 63. Isomyia tristis occurrence map in South Africa, including eSwatini (eSw) and Lesotho (Le); horizontal axis longitude east and vertical axis latitude south.

Figure 64. Habitus, left lateral view of Isomyia tristis male BMSA DIP 20287 from South Africa; scale bar = 2 mm.