Rhyncomya cassotis (Walker, 1849)

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

Rhyncomya cassotis (Walker, 1849)

= Tachina cassotis Walker, 1849: 761. Type locality: Sierra Leone. Remarks: HT in NHMUK.

Distribution

Afrotropical: Angola*, Benin*, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa (Fig. 72 ), eSwatini (Swaziland)*, Tanzania, Togo*, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Palaearctic: Saudi Arabia.

Notes

Preferred environment: Acacia savannah and Acacia veld, sand forest and broad-leafed deciduous forest, mixed woodland, broad-leafed deciduous woodland and woodland near stream and camp. In Benin, to lowland gallery forest and stream-bed, remnant forest and agricultural plots; Cameroon to degraded savannah forest; Democratic Republic of Congo to bush paths and village environs; Kenya to rocks and river margins; in Namibia, to degraded sand forest, cultivated plots and Kwando River floodplain; eSwatini to Panata Ranch and Bushveld; Togo to vegetated stream-bed; and Zambia to Central Zambezian Miombo Woodlands. In Namibia, also associated with the Arid and Mesic Savannah Biome ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Recorded elevations: 120-1480 m a.s.l. Seasonality: common species present year-round, most abundant in March and December and less in January and August. In Namibia, it was collected in low numbers ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Behaviour and ecology: Cuthbertson (1934) observed females and males visiting Umbelliferae flowers in Balla Balla (now Mbalabala), Gatooma and Salisbury (now Harare) in Zimbabwe. Life cycle and developmental stages: unknown. Collection methods: Malaise traps and MV light. In Benin, Cameroon, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Malaise trap; Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique by sweeping net. In Namibia, by hand net, yellow pans, pitfalls and Malaise traps ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Illustrations and photographs: male habitus as in Fig. 73 . Male terminalia as in fig. 60 in Zumpt (1958) and figs. 107, 109 in Rognes (2002).

Type material examined: T. cassotis : 1? // Holo-type // Sierra Leone. / W. Africa. / Reud D.T. Morgan. // HOLOTYPE? / Tachina / Tachina cassotis Walker / 1849, List Dipt. / Brit. Mus., 4:761 // Tachinia / Type / Tachina cassotis / Walk //? Nomia sp / det. G.R. Else. 1974 ( Hymenoptera ) // [NHMUK 010832158].

Material examined: Suppl. materials 1, 2.

Figures

Figure 72. Rhyncomya cassotis occurrence map in South Africa, including eSwatini (eSw) and Lesotho (Le); horizontal axis longitude east and vertical axis latitude south.

Figure 73. Habitus, left lateral view of Rhyncomya cassotis male BMSA DIP 17182 from South Africa; scale bar = 2 mm.