Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve, 1920)

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

Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi (Villeneuve, 1920)

= Rhyncomyia braunsi Villeneuve, 1920: 158. Type locality: South Africa, Cape Province [Western Cape], Willowmore. Remarks: LT in NMSA, designated by Zumpt (1958: 124).

Distribution

Afrotropical: Namibia, South Africa (Fig. 65 ) and Tanzania.

Notes

Preferred environment: no data. Recorded elevations: no data. Seasonality: present in low numbers, more abundant in May and absent most of the year. In Namibia, low numbers in February ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Behaviour and ecology: recorded by Villeneuve (1920) and compiled by Ferrar (1987), P. braunsi larvae were found in South Africa in the rubbish heaps of harvester termites of the genus Hodotermes Hagen, which accumulate on the soil surface near the opening of subterranean nests. Larvae were noted to attack live termites that approach the heaps and were successfully reared on live termites. Pupation occurs under the heaps. The species was also recorded in wood with termites. Life cycle and developmental stages: unknown. Collection methods: in Namibia with UV-light ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Collected on dung beetle soil heap in Tanzania (as Tanganyika). Illustrations and photographs: female habitus as in figs. 14-16, 18, 20, 22, 24 in Rognes (2013). Male habitus as in Fig. 66 and figs. 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26 in Rognes (2013). Male terminalia as in fig. 40 in Zumpt (1958).

Type material examined: P. braunsi : 1? // Cape Province / Willowmore / 5.V.1920 / Brauns // Lectotype // [NMSA-DIP 19835].

Material examined: Suppl. materials 1, 2.

Figures

Figure 65. Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi occurrence map in South Africa, including eSwatini (eSw) and Lesotho (Le); horizontal axis longitude east and vertical axis latitude south.

Figure 66. Habitus, left lateral view of Pseudorhyncomyia braunsi male SAMC DIP A 013585 from South Africa; scale bar = 2 mm.