The Muscidae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia, descriptions of two new species, new records and updated list of species
Author
Dawah, Hassan A.
Centre for Environmental Research and Studies, Jazan University, P. O. Box 2095, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Author
Abdullah, Mohammed A.
0000-0002-3323-3623
Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, PO Box 9004, Abha- 61413, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. mohd _ robiya @ hotmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 3323 - 3623
mohd_robiya@hotmail.com
Author
Deeming, John C.
0000-0002-6703-8180
National Museum of Wales, Department of Natural Sciences, Entomology Section, Cardiff, CF 10 3 NP, UK. john. deeming @ museumwales. ac. uk; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 6703 - 8180
john.deeming@museumwales.ac.uk
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-10-30
4869
1
1
54
journal article
8861
10.11646/zootaxa.4869.1.1
c285848a-ccaf-4f48-8e05-7f9cf6acf225
1175-5326
4418246
C34E9D0C-336A-4F4B-A670-2F342470839D
Lispe bengalensis
(Robinean-Desvoidy, 1930)
(
Fig. 56
)
Limnophora bengalensis
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1930: 518
.
Specimens examined.
1m
,
Jazan
,
Water Treatment Works
,
7.ix.2014
, sweeping on mangrove by coast,
H.A. Dawah
(
CERS
)
.
Distribution.
This species was previously recorded from
Saudi Arabia
by
Abu-Zoherah
et al
. (1993)
. It was described from
India
. In terms of Middle Eastern material, there is a specimen labelled “Middle East, 1941-2, J.W. Macfie” and identified by F.I. van Emden. The scanty data is not surprising, since there was a war going on and the collector may have forgotten in the turmoil where he collected it. Prior to this J.W. Macfie was a medical doctor in
Nigeria
who collected insects of medical importance, mainly mosquitoes. There is also a specimen from Port Said, 15.vi.23, R. Loveridge and a further three specimens labelled “Qater Al Khor, Purple Island,
25.iv.2014
, D. Whitmore.
Taxonomic remarks.
This specimen lacks a posterior bristle on the fore tibia. The adults of species in the genus
Lispe
display morphological variation in populations. It is a fly with a grey abdomen bearing black spots and a silvery grey face.
Biological remarks.
The predaceous larvae live in moist sand and mud alongside water.Adults prey upon other insects and arthropods, both adult and immature (
Gregor
et al.
2002
,
Deeming 2008
). Adults are more likely to be found running on mud.