Empidideicus Becker

Greathead, D. J. & Evenhuis, N. L., 2001, Annotated keys to the genera of African Bombylioidea (Diptera: Bombyliidae; Mythicomyiidae), African Invertebrates 42 (1820), pp. 105-224 : 126

Empidideicus Becker

Empidideicus Becker, 1907 a: 97 . Type species: Empidideicus carthaginiensis Becker, 1907 , by monotypy.

Cyrtoides Engel, 1933: 102 (as subgenus of Empidideicus Becker ). Type species: Empidideicus efflatouni Engel, 1933 , by monotypy. Syn. n.

Ecliptica Engel, 1933: 103 . Unavailable name; name proposed in synonymy with Cyrtoides and not made available before 1961.

Anomaloptilus Hesse, 1938: 983 (as subgenus of Empidideicus Becker ). Type species: Empidideicus celluliferus Hesse, 1938 , by monotypy.

Aetheoptilus Hesse, 1967: 112 (as subgenus of Empidideicus Becker ). Type species: Empidideicus zuluensis Hesse, 1967 , by original designation. Syn. n.

Comments: This genus is predominantly Old World, with high diversity in southern Africa and Arabia. Many undescribed forms are known from these areas, as well as Madagascar, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Flores Island ( Indonesia), and the Kimberley Range of northern Australia. After revisionary work on this genus is completed, it is estimated that the number of species could easily triple or possibly quadruple. Currently 20 species of this genus are known worldwide.

Cyrtoides was originally proposed by Engel (1933) as a subgenus of Empidideicus , then later elevated to generic rank by Brues et al. (1954). Examination of numerous individuals of the type species, Empidideicus efflatouni , shows that all three ocelli being in a straight line (transversely on the vertex) varies among individuals in different populations and is not of generic value, thus Cyrtoides is here placed as a junior synonym of Empidideicus . The subgenus Aetheoptilus was created by Hesse for an anomalous species that he interpreted as possessing a small triangular cell r 1 as in Mythicomyia . Close examination shows that there is only a darker infuscation in this area (see Figs 22 , 34 ) and is not a true vein R 2+3. The spermathecae and other salient characters are typical of Empidideicus , hence Aetheoptilus is here treated as a junior synonym of Empidideicus . Anomaloptilus was previously synonymised with Empidideicus by Bowden (1980). The presence (typical of Anomaloptilus ) or absence (typical of Empidideicus ) of the vein closing the discal cell apically is merely a specific and not a generic character and is subject to variability, even among series of specimens of the same species.

Key: Efflatoun (1945) for Egypt; Hesse (1967) for southern Africa.

Distribution: Cape Verde Islands, Canary Islands, Northern Africa: 7 species. Southern Africa: 6 species.

Figures

Figs 22–23. Mythicomyiidae habitus drawings. 22. Empidideicus zuluensis (Hesse). 23. Pseudoglabellula meridionalis Hesse.

Figs 31–34. Mythicomyiidae wings. 31. Reissa roni Evenhuis and Báez sp. n. 32. Doliopteryx welwitschia Evenhuis. 33. Pseudoglabellula meridionalis Hesse. 34. Empidideicus zuluensis (Hesse).