Platypygus Loew, 1844

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 : 134-135

Platypygus Loew

Platypygus Loew, 1844: 127 . Type species: Platypygus chrysanthemi Loew, 1844 , by monotypy.

Popsia Costa, 1863: 52 . Type species: Popsia ridibundus Costa, 1863 , by monotypy.

Comments: Platypygus is primarily an Asian genus with most species occurring in western and central Asia (the single North American species has been transferred to Cyrtisiopsis – see above).The ranges of some of these species extend into Egypt, which allows us to include them here. Only one species is known from southern Africa.

Key: Engel’s (1933) key to palaearctic species can be used to identify the species found in Egypt.

Distribution: Egypt: 6 species. South Africa: 1 species; Platypygus natalensis Hesse.

Unplaced to subfamily

Hesychastes Evenhuis

Hesychastes Evenhuis, 2001 : in press. Type species: Hesychastes solitus Evenhuis, 2001 , by original designation.

Comments: This genus, possessing an extremely small species (most specimens less than 1 mm in length), is currently unplaced to subfamily.It appears close to both Mythicomyiinae and Psiloderoidinae .Further analysis and comparison with all the genera of these subfamilies will have to be conducted to properly ascertain its proper subfamilial placement.

Distribution: Monotypic. Namibia: Hesychastes solitus Evenhuis.

BOMBYLIIDAE

The Bombyliidae sensu stricto range from very small, inconspicuous flies to very large and conspicuous flies (1–25 mm). Many of them, particularly Bombyliinae , are hairy and have a general resemblance to bees and wasps, hence the common name bee flies. Most are capable of rapid flight, and many Bombyliinae , particularly males, hover over a marker. Bombyliidae also bask on the ground, and females of those subfamilies with an abdominal sand-chamber can be commonly observed filling it with sand grains by dipping the tip of the abdomen in fine sand. The adults, except those with vestigial mouthparts, feed on nectar and pollen.