Pegesimallus

Pegesimallus is a genus of robber flies.

Pegesimallus
Pegesimallus sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Megapodini
Genus:
Pegesimallus
Species

see text

Distribution

Africa and Eurasia.[1]

Biology

These species spend much of their time perched in the shade on shrubs or grass, where they lie in wait for flying insects. Their prey includes a wide variety of arthropods; Hymenoptera and Diptera predominate. Females oviposit in the surface layer of the soil.[2][3]

Taxonomy

The classification of the species in this genus is difficult for two main reasons: Firstly, many are sexually dimorphic to the extent that females and males of the same species were, for some time, placed in different genera; and secondly, some of the species are so similar that they can only be separated by considering details of the male genitalia.[2]

The genus has been placed in the tribe Megapodini of the subfamily Dasypogoninae.[4] It contains about 54 species, including the following:[2][1]

  • Pegesimallus apicalis Bromley, 1947
  • Pegesimallus brunneus Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus bulbifrons Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus calvifrons Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus claelius Walker, 1849
  • Pegesimallus fusticulus Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus hermanni Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus irwini Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus isanicus Tomasovic, 2005
  • Pegesimallus kenyensis Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus mesasiatica Lehr, 1958
  • Pegesimallus namibiensis Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus oldroydi Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus saegeri Oldroyd, 1970
  • Pegesimallus srilankensis Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus vansoni Londt, 1980
  • Pegesimallus volcata Walker, 1849
  • Pegesimallus yerburyi Londt, 1980

References


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