Recent Papers

Dikow T, Dubus M (2023) A review of the assassin-fly genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 with the description of a new species (Insecta, Diptera, Asilidae). In: Dikow T, Williams K, Midgley J (Eds) Festschrift for Jason Gilbert Hayden Londt. African Invertebrates 64(2): 165-206. https://doi.org/10.3897/afrinvertebr.64.104283

Abstract
The genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1907 (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae) is reviewed. Currently, eight species are recognized from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and southern-most Zambia, i.e., Anypodetus arachnoides Oldroyd, 1974 widespread, Anypodetus fasciatus Hermann, 1907 widespread, Anypodetus fascipennis Engel, 1924 widespread, Anypodetus leucothrix Londt, 2000 restricted to southern Namibia and south-western South Africa, Anypodetus macroceros Londt, 2000 restricted to west-central Namibia, Anypodetus nigrifacies Ricardo, 1925 restricted to eastern-most South Africa and southern Mozambique, Anypodetus phalaros Londt, 2000 Namibia and South Africa, and Anypodetus unicolor Oldroyd, 1974 Namibia, eastern South Africa, adjacent Mozambique, and southern Zimbabwe. One new species, Anypodetus londti sp. nov. from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is described for a total of nine species in the genus. Study of the secondary type specimens of A. unicolor from Namibia revealed that these specimens do not represent this species, reducing the number of species recorded from Namibia to six. Anypodetus leucothrix is recorded with several additional collecting events in central and northern Namibia extending its range significantly. Distribution, biology, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International, and seasonal imago flight activity are discussed. Diagnoses, photographs, specimen occurrence data, and an identification key to species are provided with the new species described in detail. The sexual dimorphism in the development of the mystax and wing vein variation in regard to the alignment of M2 and M3 are discussed and illustrated.

NIcely uses iNaturalist data.
"Species of Anypodetus occur throughout southern Africa but so far the genus has not been recorded from Eswatini or Lesotho A notable exception in terms of its distribution is its absence in much of the coastal habitats along the Atlantic and Indian oceans with the exception of eastern-most South Africa and southern-most Mozambique. Furthermore, Anypodetus has not been collected or observed in the otherwise species-rich Succulent Karoo and Cape Floristic Region biodiversity hotspots < otherwise diverse for Asilidae species > . It is likely that the genus also occurs in at least southern Angola and is more widespread in southern Zambia and Mozambique."

Synopsis:
The fly that can’t fly: entomologists make fascinating discovery in Lesotho
South African scientists find a mystery female specimen with stunted wings identified as a flightless fly.
The two scientists, part of the Diversity of Pollinating Diptera in South African Biodiversity Hotspots project, had taken a microscope into the field, so they were able to pinpoint the mystery fly’s genus – Atherimorpha – that evening. Interestingly, they had caught 51 male specimens of Atherimorpha latipennis (a species discovered in 1956 but whose female had never been described) on the same day and the evidence pointed to their female find belonging to the same species.