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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: 194
PDF downloaded: 13

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.

 

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