A review of the genus Philodicus Loew, 1848 in southern Africa (Diptera: Asilidae) Author Londt, Jason G. H. text African Invertebrates 2015 2015-12-29 56 3 747 747 http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.5733/afin.056.0317 journal article 10.5733/afin.056.0317 2305-2562 7914871 Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933 Figs 6 , 17–20 Philodicus swynnertoni Hobby, 1933: 109 (pl. II, fig. 2 ♂ gen., 3 ♀ ovipositor); Blasdale 1957: 144 (pl. I. fig. 13 ♂ gen., pl. II. fig. 6 ♀ S8); Hull 1962: 456 ; Londt 1978: 423 (figs 6 ♂ gen., 12 aed.); Oldroyd 1980: 343 (catalogue); Tomasovic 2012: 26 . A fairly large and distinctive species described by Hobby (1933) ‘from material preserved in the Hope Department , University Museum , Oxford. All were obtained during 1911 and 1912 by Mr. C. F. M. Swynnerton , at about 3 800ft. , on Mt. Chirinda [ c. 20°24'S 32°40'E 950 m ], S.E. Rhodesia [ Zimbabwe ]’. There were no fewer than 117 specimens in the type series ( ♂ holotype , ♀ allotype , 60♂ 55♀ paratypes ) collected from December 1911 through to March 1912 . Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA : 1♂ ‘ Nelspruit [ c . 25°29'S 30°58'E 735 m ] / 2.1915 / A. Roberts’ ( NMSA )*; 4♂ 1♀ ‘ Sth Africa Transvaal / Cycad Trail / Dist Middelburg [ c . 25°46'S 29°28'E 1525 m ] / R. Elferink 5.i.1983 ’ ( NMSA ); 1♀ same data but 3.i.1983 ( NMSA ); 1♀ ‘ Irene [ c . 25°53'S 28°14'E 1450 m ] / M.G.A. Fourie / April 1969 ’ ( NMSA ); 2♂ ‘JJO / JHB [= Johannesburg c . 26°10'S 27°58'E 1760 m ] Tvl / 16.ii.1953 ’ ( NMSA ); 1♀ ‘JHB [= Johannesburg c . 26°10'S 27°58'E 1760 m ] No 2 / Glenwilliam [?] / 13/i/62 Muti’ ( NMSA ); 1♂ ‘ Transvaal / Johannesburg [ c . 26°10'S 27°58'E 1760 m ] / Ross’ ‘SAM-DIP / A007826’ ( SAMC ). Material not studied: Londt (1978) lists unstudied type material ‘ Rhodesia : 1♂ holotype , 1♀ allotype , near Mt. Chirinda [ c . 20°24'S 32°40'E 1010 m ], 31.i.1912 , C.F.M. Swynnerton (Oxford University Museum)’. Distribution, phenology and biology: While the type series was from Zimbabwe , Blasdale (1957) records the species from ‘ Sierra Leone , N. Gold Coast [ Ghana ], S. Nigeria , S. Sudan , Uganda , Kenya , SE. Rhodesia [ Zimbabwe ] (type locality), and Pretoria [in South Africa ].’ Tomasovic (2012) added DR Congo to this list. The species therefore has a wide distribution which penetrates the north-eastern parts of southern Africa ( Fig. 6 ). Although habitat information is lacking the type series was almost certainly collected in montane grassland. Swynnerton collected the type specimens from December through to March. There is also a southern African record of the species collected in April ( Table 1 ). Tomasovic’s (2012) DR Congo records are for October and November so the species may have slightly different flight periods north of the sub-region covered by this study. While there are no prey records available for South Africa , Hobby (1935) analysed no fewer than 117 records for Zimbabwe , where the species was apparently common. Hobby’s published data can be summarised as follows (orders and families in alphabetical order) – Coleoptera (5): Cerambycidae (4), Curculionidae (1). Diptera (20): Asilidae (10), Bombyliidae (7), Syrphidae (2), Tabanidae (1). Hemiptera (13): Cicadidae (7), Lygaeidae (4), Pentatomidae (1), Reduviidae (1). Hymenoptera (32): Andrenidae (1), Anthophoridae (9), Apidae (4 Apis mellifera ), Bembecidae (1), Braconidae (1), Ichneumonidae (2), Megachilidae (7), Mutilidae (1), Scoliidae (5), Sphecidae (1). Lepidoptera (1): Sesiidae (1). Mecoptera (1): Bittacidae (1). Orthoptera (45): Acrididae (45). Although the species appears to feed on a wide range of prey some 38 % were grasshoppers ( Acrididae ). The male versus female ratio is of interest as only 21 (26.5 %) of the asilid predators were male while 86 (73.5%) were female – a clear indication that far more females were found feeding. The female ovipositor is distally narrow and spike-like so may be adapted for thrusting eggs into soil.