A review of the Afrotropical species of Nusa Walker, 1851 (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae)

Abstract

and subsequent publications indicates that some 31 species names are currently available within the genus Nusa Walker, 1851. A list (Table 1) of these names in order of their description, and including names believed to be synonymous, shows that the majority of species are oriental (21), while others are afrotropical (7) or palaearctic (3). Two species (Laphria (Dasythrix) inornata Loew, 1851 and Dasythrix leucophaea Lynch Arribalzaga, 1880), which had been tentatively listed as species of Nusa in the neotropical catalogue of Martin & Papavero (1970), were subsequently assigned to Dasythrix Loew, 1851 by Artigas, Papavero & Pimentel (1988), and are excluded from the list. However, as the placement of these species may still be in doubt, they are discussed again later in this paper.The afrotropical Nusa fauna, although small, has a long history, complicated by the assignment of some species to Dasythrix Loew, 1951, but it can be briefly summarised as follows:Walker 1851 (June) -Described Nusa to accommodate two new Indian species (aequalis and formio), but neglected to designate a type species.Loew 1851 (September) -Described Dasythrix as a subgenus of Laphria, dividing it into two poorly diagnosed 'groups'. Group one accommodated a South American species (inornata) and was characterised by having the postpedicel 'gestreckt und ziemlich schmal, etwas länger als die beiden ersten Glieder zusammen'. Group two accommodated two new African species, infumata and brachyptera, from 'Cap' (Cape of Good Hope) described as having the postpedicel 'viel kürzer und breiter'. He clearly stated that 'dieser Fühlerbau unterscheidet die Arten der 1sten Gruppe von denen der 2ten'.Loew 1858 -Described Dasythrix stenura from 'Caffraria', observing that it was a variety of infumata.Loew 1860 -Repeated his description of Dasythrix stenura, from 'Caffrerei und Nolagi'. He listed infumata and brachyptera, providing comparative notes.

Insect biodiversity of the Socotra Archipelago – underlined and counted

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