A revision of the Afrotropical genus Prytanomyia Özdikmen, 2006 (Asilidae, Laphriinae)

By

Londt, Jason G.H.
Dikow, Torsten, 1975-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017-6-1

Original Publication

African invertebrates : a journal of biodiversity research

Volume

58

Series / Issue

Issue: 2

Pages

39--52

Subjects

Assassin fly , Namib Desert , robber fly , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Council of the Natal Museum 2001-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.58.13294

 

Abstract

The monotypic Afrotropical genus Prytanomyia Özdikmen, 2006 is revised. Laphystia kochi Lindner, 1973 is found to belong to Prytanomyia and is identical to Prytanomyia albida (Oldroyd, 1974), type of the genus. As a consequence L. kochi is newly combined with Prytanomyia, and P. albida is placed in the synonymy of P. kochi. The species inhabits arid environments, is restricted to the Namib desert from southern Angola to southern Namibia, and is found on vegetated sand mounds and dunes and in dry riverbeds. The highly reduced pulvilli, characteristic of this species, are believed to be an adaptation to living and perching on sandy surfaces.