Phthiria Meigen

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 : 139-140

Phthiria Meigen

Phthiria Meigen, 1803: 268 . Type species: Bombylius pulicarius Mikan, 1796 , by monotypy.

Ptimia Rafinesque, 1815: 221 (unjustified emendation of Phthiria Meigen, 1803 ). Type species: Bombylius pulicarius Mikan, 1796 , automatic.

Comments: The majority of known species have been recorded in North Africa or southern Africa. However, Phthiria fumata (Greathead) was described from Kenya (as Oligodranes ) and females of P.? crocogramma Hesse have been collected in Kenya, as have single specimens of two further species. Thus, it is likely that further collecting in tropical Africa, especially Malaise and yellow-pan trapping, will indicate a more continuous distribution of species on the African continent.

Keys: Palaearctic, Engel (1932 –7); Egypt, Efflatoun (1945) ; southern Africa, Hesse (1975).

Hosts: Reared from Gelechiidae and Tortricidae ( du Merle 1975) . No African records.

Distribution: Old World and Chile. North Africa, Canary Islands: 13 species. Africa South of the Sahara: South and East Africa: 19 species.