Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5519 No. 1: 7 Oct. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-10-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5519.1.1
Page range: 1-37
Abstract views: 152
PDF downloaded: 11

Revision of the endemic South African genus Moegistorhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Nemestrinidae), with a species key, description of three new species and comments on pollination biology and biogeography

School of Life Sciences; University of KwaZulu-Natal; P. Bag X54001; Durban 4000; South Africa; Department of Natural Science; KwaZulu-Natal Museum; 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street; Pietermaritzburg 3201; South Africa; and Entomology Department; Iziko South African Museum; P.O. Box 61; Cape Town 8000; South Africa
Statistics in Ecology; Environment and Conservation; Department of Statistical Sciences; University of Cape Town; Rondebosch 7701; South Africa
Diptera Greater Cape Floristic Region long-proboscid fly Nemestrininae taxonomic revision

Abstract

The genus Moegistorhynchus Macquart is revised and its relationships are discussed. The genus is distributed across lowland and montane areas of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, extending from Cape Town (Western Cape province) in the south to Port Nolloth (Northern Cape province) in the north. Three new species are described from Western Cape specimens: Moegistorhynchus manningi sp. nov. (Stettynsberg and Hottentots Holland mountains); M. strillii sp. nov. (Groot Winterhoek mountains); and M. turneri sp. nov. (Groot Winterhoek mountains and Waboomsberg). The four known species of the genus are redescribed: M. braunsi Bequaert, 1935; M. brevirostris (Wiedemann, 1821); M. longirostris (Wiedemann, 1819); and M. perplexus Bequaert, 1935. Moegistorhynchus longirostris and M. brevirostris are the only two species which extend their distribution northwards into the Northern Cape. There is marked intraspecific variation in M. perplexus and it may represent a species complex. Moegistorhynchus braunsi and M. strillii sp. nov. are possibly extinct. All species are fully illustrated, inclusive of the male postabdomen, where possible. A comprehensive identification key to the species is presented as is a distribution map, with some commentary on pollination biology and biogeography.

 

References

  1. Barraclough, D.A. (2005) A review of the type material of the southern African genus Stenobasipteron Lichtwardt, 1910 (Diptera: Nemestrinidae), with transfer of two species to Prosoeca Schiner, 1867. Zootaxa, 1094 (1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1094.1.3
  2. Barraclough, D.A. (2006a) An overview of the South African tangle-veined flies (Diptera: Nemestrinidae), with an annotated key to the genera and a checklist of species. Zootaxa, 1277 (1), 39–63. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1277.1.4
  3. Barraclough, D.A. (2006b) Moegistorhynchus Macquart, a remarkable endemic genus of Nemestrinidae and important pollinator of long-tubed flower species along the west coast of South Africa. Fourth International Congress of Dipterology, Fukuoka, Japan, 23–28 September, pp. 16–17.
  4. Barraclough, D.A. (2017) 43. Nemestrinidae (tangle-veined flies). In: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. (Eds), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Volume 2. Nematocerous Diptera and lower Brachycera. Suricata 5. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 995–1003.
  5. Barraclough, D.A., Colville, J.F., Karolyi, F. & Krenn, H.W. (2018) A striking new species of Prosoeca Schiner, 1867 (Diptera: Nemestrinidae): An important pollinator from the Bokkeveld Plateau, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Zootaxa, 4497 (3), 411–421. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4497.3.5
  6. Barraclough, D. & Slotow, R. (2010) The South African keystone pollinator Moegistorhynchus longirostris (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Nemestrinidae): Notes on biology, biogeography and proboscis length variation. African Invertebrates, 51 (2), 397–403. https://doi.org/10.5733/afin.051.0208
  7. Bellstedt, D.U., Coetzee, A., Hitchcock, A., Kandziora, M., Musker, S., Van Der Niet, T., Nürk, N.M. & Pirie, M.D. (2020). Small differences, big secrets. Veld & Flora, March, 26–31.
  8. Bequaert, J. (1935) Notes on the genus Moegistorhynchus and description of a new African species of Nycterimyia (Nemestrinidae). Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 15, 491–502.
  9. Bernardi, N. (1973) The genera of the family Nemestrinidae (Diptera; Brachycera). Papéis avulsos de zoologia, 24, 211–318. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7793.v24i4p211-318
  10. Bezzi, M. (1924) The South African Nemestrinidae as represented in the South African Museum. Annals of the South African Museum, 19, 164–190.
  11. Bowden, J. (1980) 29. Family Nemestrinidae. In: Crosskey, R.W. (Ed.), Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region. British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 374–376.
  12. Colville, J.F., Potts, A.J., Bradshaw, P.L., Measey, G.J., Snijman, D.A., Picker, M.D., Procheş, Ş., Bowie, R.C.K. & Manning, J.C. (2014) Floristic and faunal Cape biochoria: Do they exist? In: Allsopp, N., Colville, J.F. & Verboom, G.A. (Eds.), Fynbos: Ecology, evolution, and conservation of a megadiverse region. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199679584.003.0004
  13. Cumming, J.M. & Wood, D.M. (2017) [Chapter] 3. Adult morphology and terminology. In: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. (Eds.), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Vol. 1. Introductory chapters and keys to Diptera families. Suricata 4. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 89–133.
  14. El-Hashash, A.E., Badrawy, H.B.M. & Ibrahim, A.M-E. (2021) A review of tangle-veined flies (Nemestrinidae, Diptera) in Egypt. Zookeys, 1071, 11–42. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1071.70743
  15. Evenhuis, N.L. (2009) The insect and spider collections of the world website. Available from: http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/codens/ (accessed 24 September 2023)
  16. Grimaldi, D. (1999) The co-radiations of pollinating insects and angiosperms in the Cretaceous. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 86, 373–406. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666181
  17. Grimaldi, D. & Engel, M.S. (2005) Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, New York, New York, xv + 755 pp.
  18. Johnson, S.D. & Steiner, K.E. (1997) Long-tongued fly pollination and evolution of floral spur length in the Disa draconis complex (Orchidaceae). Evolution, 51 (1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.2307/2410959
  19. Lichtwardt, B. (1910) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Nemestriniden (Dipt.). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1910, 589–624.
  20. Macquart, J. (1840) Diptères exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus, Paris, 2 (1), 5–135.
  21. Macquart, J. (1841) Diptères exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus. [2 (1)]. Mémoires de la Société (Royale) des Sciences, de l’Agriculture et des Arts á Lille, 1840, 283–413.
  22. Manning, J. (2004) Needles and pins. Veld & Flora, March, 10–12.
  23. Manning, J. & Goldblatt, P. (1997) The Moegistorhynchus longirostris (Diptera: Nemestrinidae) pollination guild: Long-tubed flowers and a specialized long-proboscid fly pollination system in southern Africa. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 206, 51–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987941
  24. Manning, J.C. & Goldblatt, P. (2012) Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The core Cape flora. Strelitzia, 29, 353–356.
  25. Manning, J.C., Goldblatt, P. & Winter, P.J.D. (1999) Two new species of Gladiolus (Iridaceae: Ixioideae) from South Africa and notes on long-proboscid fly pollination in the genus. Bothalia, 29 (2), 217–223. https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v29i2.591
  26. Manning, J.C., Helme, N. & Turner, R. (2024) Ericas of the fynbos. Struik Nature, Cape Town, 184 pp.
  27. Mucina, L. & Rutherford, M.C. (Eds.) (2006) The vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelizia, 19, 1–807.
  28. Museum of Comparative Zoology (n.d.) MCZbase: The database of the Zoological Collections. MCZ Entomology 35327 Moegistorhynchus braunsi Bequaert 1935. Holotype of Moegistorhynchus braunsi. Available from: https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Ent:35327 (accessed 10 December 2022)
  29. Newman, E. (2017) Mountain top specialists: Part 1. A natural history note on pollination at the extremes. A guild of long tubed plants adapted to pollination by long proboscid flies inhabiting the high mountain peaks of the Skurweberg, South Africa. Available from: https://www.behance.net/gallery/88254041/Mountain-top-specialists-Part-1 (accessed 30 November 2022)
  30. Newman, E. & Johnson, S.D. (2021) A shift in long proboscid fly pollinators and floral tube length among populations of Erica junonia (Ericaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 142, 451–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2021.07.014
  31. Papavero, N. & Bernardi, N. (2009) Manual of Neotropical Diptera. Nemestrinidae. Neotropical Diptera, 8, 1–11.
  32. Pauw, A., Stofberg, J. & Waterman, R.J. (2009) Flowers and flies in Darwin’s race. Evolution, 63 (1), 268–279. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2008.00547.x
  33. Richter, V.A. (1997) 2.31. Family Nemestrinidae. In: Papp, L. & Darvas, B. (Eds.), Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera (with special reference to flies of economic importance). Vol. 2. Nematocera and Lower Brachycera. Science Herald, Budapest, pp. 459–468.
  34. Sessions, L.A. & Johnson, S.D. (2005) The flower and the fly. Natural History, March. Available from: https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/0305/0305_feature.html (accessed 9 September 2023)
  35. Snijman, D.A. (2013) Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 2: The extra Cape flora. Strelitzia, 30, 1–543.
  36. Stellenbosch University (2019) Quantum dots capture speciation in sandplain fynbos on the West Coast of South Africa. Science Daily. Available from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190805134046.htm (accessed 21 September 2023)
  37. Theron, G.L., Anderson, B., Cozien, R.J., Ellis, A.G., Grenier, F. Johnson, S.D., Newman, E., Pauw, A. & Van der Niet, T. (2023) We don’t know the half of it: Morphological and molecular evidence reveal dramatic underestimation of diversity in a key pollinator group (Nemestrinidae). Invertebrate Systematics, 37 (1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS22023
  38. Wiedemann, C.R.W. (1819) Beschreibung neuer Zweiflügler aus Ostindien und Afrika. Zoologisches Magazin. Kiel, 1 (3), 1–39.
  39. Wiedemann, C.R.W. (1821) Diptera exotica. 2nd Edition. s.n., Kiliae, xix + 244 pp.
  40. Zhang, F., Hui, C. & Pauw, A. (2013) Adaptive divergence in Darwin’s race: How coevolution can generate trait diversity in a pollination system. Evolution, 67 (2), 548–560. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01796.x