Rhyncomya forcipata Villeneuve, 1927

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 forcipata Villeneuve, 1927

= Rhyncomya forcipata Villeneuve, 1927: 17. Type locality: Northern Rhodesia [Zambia]; South Africa, Transvaal [Gauteng], Pretoria; and Zaire [Democratic Republic of Congo]. Remarks: ST in NHMUK.

Distribution

Afrotropical: Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia*, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria*, South Africa (Fig. 84 ), Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Notes

Preferred environment: on red sand and directly associated with Acacia sp., Boscia Lam. ex J.St.-Hil. sp. and Rhus lancea L.fil savannah. Additionally, in broad-leafed deciduous woodland and forest, dry scrub ( Ficus ) riverine and sand forest, mixed Bushveld-grass and Kathu Bushveld to the Olifants River near Balule riparian woodland and Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld., Gordonia Plains Schrubland and Savanah Biome to Mesinda. In Kenya, the dry Acacia savannah, rocks and river margins. In Namibia, the indigenous and degraded sand forest, Miombo and Mopane Woodlands, Kwando River and open savannah floodplain and cultivated plots. Additionally, reported as restricted to Arid and Mesic Savannah Biome in Namibia ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Recorded elevations: 53-1320 m a.s.l. Seasonality: Abundant species, absent in January, July and August, highest abundance from October to December. Abundant in Namibia, peaking from December to March ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Behaviour and ecology: collected in Senegalia mellifera . Cuthbertson (1934) observed males at the blossom of trees and shrubs ( Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook.fil. ( Celastraceae ) and in the foliage of citrus trees infested with soft scales ( Hemiptera , Coccidae ) in Balla Balla (now Mbalabala), Zimbabwe. Females were observed depositing eggs around cattle-dung infested by termites in late afternoon ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Life cycle and developmental stages: unknown. Collection methods: sweep-net, Malaise and light traps. In Botswana and Kenya, with Malaise traps. In Zambia, ex-Malaise trap. In Namibia, using UV-light, by hand net, Malaise, yellow pans and pitfall traps ( Kurahashi and Kirk-Spriggs 2006). Illustrations and photographs: male habitus as in Fig. 85 . Male terminalia as in fig. 61 in Zumpt (1958).

Type material examined: R. forcipata : 1? // SYN-TYPE // Mid' / Luangara Koller / N.E. Rhodesia / Aug. 28.1910 / S.A. Neave // Pres. by / Com. Inst. Ent. / B.M. 1955-504 // Rhyncomyia / Rhyncomya forcipata / Typ. Villen. // [NHMUK 010832190].

Material examined: Suppl. materials 1, 2.

Figures

Figure 84. Rhyncomya forcipata occurrence map in South Africa, including eSwatini (eSw) and Lesotho (Le); horizontal axis longitude east and vertical axis latitude south.

Figure 85. Habitus, left lateral view of Rhyncomya forcipata male SAMC DIP A 011194 from South Africa; scale bar = 2 mm.