Philodicus fraterculus Walker, 1855

Londt, Jason G. H., 2015, A review of the genus Philodicus Loew, 1848 in southern Africa (Diptera: Asilidae), African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 747-747 : 757-761

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♀ ‘SE2329 Ab [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] / SE2529 Ad / 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 / 2 nd 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] / S 25° O 28° [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 / SE2528 Dc / 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] / SE2630 Aa / 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] / 2927 Ab 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] / S 33°40’ O 26°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.

Figures

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.

Fig. 16. Southern African distribution of Philodicus fraterculus (Walker, 1855).