Research Article |
Corresponding author: Torsten Dikow ( dikowt@si.edu ) Academic editor: Kirstin Williams
© 2019 Jason G. H. Londt, Torsten Dikow.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Londt JGH, Dikow T (2019) A review of Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 with the description of a new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae). African Invertebrates 60(1): 31-65. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.60.30943
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Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 are reviewed. Six species are recognised (C. analogos sp. n. described from South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, C. bella (Loew, 1858), C. flavipes (Wiedemann, 1821), C. multipunctata (Oldroyd, 1974), C. nigrapex (Bigot, 1878), C. nigrescens (Ricardo, 1925)) and a key for their separation is provided. Distributional information demonstrates that species are found primarily in moderate to higher rainfall regions. The little that is known of their biology is discussed. Species are usually associated with indigenous forest habitats where larval development takes place in decomposing wood.
Afrotropical, Diptera , Asilidae , Taxonomy, Southern Africa, Choerades
Choerades Walker, 1851 is a fairly well represented genus in the afrotropics with some 25 recorded species (
At the commencement of this project there were, therefore, seven recognised species of Choerades recorded from Southern Africa (aureopilosa, bella, flavipes, fortipes, metalli, multipunctata, nigrescens Fig.
Terminology follows mainly that proposed by
Material listed for each species is arranged according to geographical coordinates within countries (alphabetically). Material previously listed by
Some of the photographs have been deposited in Morphbank: Biological Imaging. These images will be automatically harvested by the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) and are available under the respective species page. The dichotomous, interactive key has been built with Lucid Phoenix and can be accessed on Lucidcentral and the junior author’s research web-site. The occurrence of all species is illustrated in distribution maps plotted with SimpleMappr with all of those localities for which co-ordinates are available. Type localities are plotted with a square symbol while all other specimens are plotted with a circular symbol. The distribution map includes Biodiversity Hotspotssensu Conservation International (
Morphbank : image collection ID – 861932.
Lucid Phoenix: illustrated, dichotomous identification key – http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/phoenix/choerades/
SimpleMappr: distribution maps – 10187 as in Fig. 1 (Google Earth KML format 10187), 10189 as in Fig. 27 (KML format 10189), 10190 as in Fig. 28 (KML format 10190)
Choerades Walker, 1851: 109. Type species: Choerades aurigena Walker, 1851 [= Laphria vulcanus Wiedemann, 1828 (Oriental)], by monotypy.
The following diagnosis is compiled from key characters used by Londt & Dikow (2017) and other characters common to all Afrotropical species. Usually shiny black flies, ranging from 1–2 cm in length and slightly dorsoventrally flattened, with the following combination of characters.
Head: Antennal postpedicel at most twice as long as scape and pedicel combined; postpedicel with terminal pit enclosing a seta-like sensory element; facial protuberance well-developed in dorsal and ventral regions (depressed centrally); face with shiny scale-like setae laterally, adjacent to eye margin (Figs
Thorax: Prosternum fused to proepisternum; postmetacoxal area membranous; anepisternum with at least one macroseta at supero-posterior angle, in front of wing insertion. Mesonotum and scutellum commonly covered with fine, shiny yellow setae (Figs
Legs: Usually predominantly black, but femora and tibiae may be partly or extensively yellow (Figs
Wings (Figs
Abdomen: Tergite 2 wider than long; sternite 1 confined beneath tergite 1; ovipositor short and not markedly tubular.
Laphria
serpentina
:
Choerades
serpentina
:
Since the reallocation of Laphria serpentina Bezzi, 1908 to Andrenosoma by
Gr. analogos – resembling. Refers to the superficial resemblance of this species to Andrenosoma serpentina.
Based on all material studied. Entire holotype as illustrated (Fig.
Head: Black, silver pubescent, black and white setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose (a few white setae may be present). Face black, silver pubescent. Mystax predominantly black (a few white setae may be present) with macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with groups of glistening silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex silver pubescent, largely asetose except for black setae adjacent to eye margins. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for a pair of strong ocellar macrosetae. Occiput silver pubescent, strongly setose (black dorsally, white ventrally). Palps black and white setose.
Thorax: Black, silver pubescent, black and white setose. Cervical sclerite black and white (♀) or entirely white (♂) setose. Mesonotum weakly silver pubescent, predominantly black setose. Lateral macrosetae black (2 notopleurals, 3 supra-alars, 4 postalars). Scutellum black, disc fine silver pubescent, fine white setose, apical parts shiny apubescent, c. 12 apical scutellar macrosetae (may be black and white or entirely white). Pleura silver pubescent, fine black and white setose. 1–3 black anepisternal macrosetae. Katatergal setae well-developed, mostly black (dorsally) and white (ventrally). Anatergites weakly silver pubescent, asetose.
Legs: Entirely black, coxae silver pubescent, other segments apubescent. Trochanters white setose, femora and tibiae black and white setose, tarsi black setose.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Black, T1–2 weakly silver pubescent, black and white setose. T1 with 2–4 black and/or white discal macrosetae. T1–2 long white setose (setae somewhat recumbent).
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Fig.
Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘KwaZulu Natal, RSA / Fanies Island [c.28°06'S, 32°27'E 5m] St / Lucia 10–15/2/1997 / Coll. A Weaving’, ‘Dip 7’, ‘Prey identification / Order: Hemiptera / Family: Flatidae / Other: / Det: JGH Londt’, ‘Choerades / serpentina / Bezzi, 1908 / Det. JGH Londt’,
Paratypes: NAMIBIA: 1♀ ‘Katima Mulilo [c.17°30'22"S, 24°16'50"E 950m] / SE 2417Ad 6/I/1981, C.L. v/d Hoven / Dept. of Entomology / University of Pretoria’, ‘Choerades / serpentina / Bezzi, 1908 / Det. JGH Londt’,
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1♀ ‘Paratypus’ [of Laphria serpentina Bezzi, 1908], ‘Musee / Du Congo-Belge / Leo-Stanleyville [c. 00°30'59"N, 025°12'00"E] / Weyns’, ‘R. Det. / 243’ (
Note:
MALAWI: 1♀ ‘Laphria / serpentina Bezzi / det. H. Oldroyd, 1963’, ‘Mlanje [c.15°56'55"S, 35°35'26"E 2940m] / Nyasaland [= Malawi] / 12.11.1914 / S.A. Neave’, ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. . Brit. Mus. / 1923-340’, ‘serpentina / [illegible]’, ‘NHMUK012810848’ (
A poorly-collected species with an apparently wide Southern African distribution (Fig.
Phenology of Southern African Choerades species (Abbreviations of months start at July, numbers relate to records for each month). All available data included.
Species | J | A | S | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
analogos sp. n. | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
bella | – | – | 2 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
flavipes | 1 | – | 3 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | – |
multipunctata | – | – | – | 8 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
nigrapex | – | – | 1 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 2 | – | – |
nigrescens | – | – | – | – | 13 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | – | – | – |
Totals | 1 | 0 | 6 | 30 | 51 | 67 | 43 | 25 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Laphria
bella
Loew, 1858: 356 [1860c: 190];
Choerades
bella
:
Based on all material studied. Entire male and female specimens are shown in Figs
Choerades bella ♂ (USNMENT00870303) 14 dorsal (Morphbank #861929) 15 same, lateral (#861931) 16 same, head anterior (#861927), ♀ (USNMENT00870304) 17 head anterior (#861925) 18 same, dorsal (#861921) 19 same, lateral (#861923). Scale bar: 5 mm.
Head: Black, silver pubescent, black and pale yellow setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose. Face black, fine silver pubescent. Mystax predominantly black (a few yellow setae may be present in dorsal region) with macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with groups of glistening gold and silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex fine dull silver pubescent, asetose. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for a pair of strong black ocellar macrosetae. Occiput silver pubescent, strongly setose (black dorsally, yellow ventrally). Palps black and pale yellow setose.
Thorax: Black, silver pubescent, black, pale yellow and white setose. Cervical sclerite entirely black setose. Mesonotum apubescent except for silver pubescent postpronotal lobes, fine black and longish prostrate yellow-white setae posteriorly (distribution of yellow setae variable). Lateral macrosetae black (2 notopleurals, 4 supra-alars, 2 postalars). Scutellum black, apubescent, disc almost entirely covered with longish, prostrate, white-yellow setae, c. 10 apical scutellar macrosetae (mostly yellow, some black). Pleura silver pubescent, mostly fine black setose (few pale yellow setae). 1–3 black anepisternal macrosetae. Katatergal setae well-developed, black. Anatergites weakly gold pubescent, asetose.
Legs: Black and orange (somewhat variable), coxae silver pubescent, other segments apubescent. Trochanters pale yellow setose, femora and tibiae black and yellow setose, tarsi black setose.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Black, mostly dark red-brown to black setose (T1 with lateral tufts of pale yellow setae), tergites apubescent, sternites fine gold pubescent.
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Fig.
SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘South Africa, Tvl / Entabeni For. Res. [c.22°59'09"S, 30°16'08"E 1370m] / 33.00S 30.16E [?] / 7–11.i.1987 / V.M. Uys’,
The senior author has seen photographs of the following additional specimens. SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘Pienaars Riv [c.25°07'26"S, 27°38'37"E 1040m] / [illegible]’, ‘S. Africa / Distant Coll. / 1911-383’, ‘NHMUK012810865’ (
A relatively well-collected South African endemic with an extensive distribution extending from the northern parts of Limpopo Province, through much of KwaZulu-Natal and terminating in the Eastern Cape Province (Fig.
Laphria
flavipes
Wiedemann, 1821: 238;
Laphria
varipes
Macquart, 1834: 286;
Choerades
flavipes
:
Based on all material studied. An entire male specimen is shown in Fig.
Head: Black, silver and gold pubescent, black and white setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose. Face black, fine silver pubescent, depressed centrally. Mystax predominantly black (a few white setae may be present ventrally) with macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with groups of glistening silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex dull gold pubescent, largely asetose except for black setae adjacent to eye margins. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for two pairs of strong ocellar macrosetae. Occiput silver pubescent, strongly setose (black dorsally, white ventrally). Palps black and white setose.
Thorax: Black, silver pubescent, black, white and yellow setose. Cervical sclerite black setose. Mesonotum largely apubescent except for silver pubescent postpronotal lobes and surrounding area, entirely black setose. Lateral macrosetae black (2–3 notopleurals, 5–6 supra-alars, 4–5 postalars). Scutellum black, disc shiny apubescent, sparsely short black setose, c. 16 black apical scutellar macrosetae. Pleura silver pubescent, fine black and white setose. 1–3 black anepisternal macrosetae. Katatergal setae well-developed, mostly pale yellow with a few black ones. Anatergites weakly silver pubescent, asetose.
Legs: Femora and tibiae black and orange (proximally), coxae silver pubescent, other segments apubescent. Trochanters pale yellow setose, femora and tibiae black and yellow setose, tarsi black setose.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Black, apubescent, black (tergites) and white (sternites and lateral margins of tergites) setose. T1 with clusters of yellow setae laterally.
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Fig.
SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘South Africa / Nieuwoudtv[ille] [c.31°22'29"S, 19°06'39"E 720m] / Dec 1956 / J. Giliomee’,
Photographs of the holotype are available at the
The senior author has seen photographs of the following specimens which are believed to represent flavipes: SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘Ceres [c.33°22'09"S, 19°18'48"E455m] / Cape Province / 1500 ft. / Dec. 1920’, ‘S. Africa / R.E. Turner / Brit. Mus. / 1921-38’, ‘NHMUK012810853’ (
A relatively well-collected South African endemic with a distribution centered in the Western Cape Province (Fig.
Laphria multipunctata Oldroyd, 1974: 102.
Choerades
multipunctata
:
Based on material examined and photos of
Head: Black, weakly silver pubescent, black and white (few) setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose. Face black, weakly silver pubescent laterally, depressed centrally. Mystax black (a few fine white setae may be present along epistomal margin), macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with small groups of glistening silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex shiny apubescent, largely asetose except for black setae adjacent to eye margins. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for a pair of strong black ocellar macrosetae. Occiput largely apubescent except for narrow strips along eye margins, black setose (few small white setae ventrally). Palps black and white setose.
Thorax: Dark red-brown to black, punctate, weakly silver pubescent, black setose. Cervical sclerite black setose. Mesonotum punctate, almost entirely apubescent (small silver pubescent spots adjacent to postpronotal lobes), black setose. Lateral macrosetae black (1 notopleural, 2 supra-alars, 1–2 weak postalars). Scutellum black, punctate, apubescent, fine black setose, c. 2 small black apical scutellar macrosetae. Pleura mostly apubescent (weak silver pruinescence may be evident in places), black setose. 1 black anepisternal macroseta. Katatergal setae well-developed, black. Anatergites weakly silver pubescent, asetose.
Legs: Almost entirely black except for proximal three quarters of tibiae which are yellow, black setose except for yellow setae associated with yellow parts of tibiae, all segments apubescent.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Dark red-brown to black, punctate, apubescent, black setose. T1 with 2–4 black discal macrosetae.
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Figs
SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀ ‘Paleisheuwel [Road c.32°31'08"S, 18°51'42"E 460m] / C.P.’ ~ ‘Mus. Exp. / Nov. 1948’, SAM-DIP-A007985 (
Photos supplied by the
Note: Although Oldroyd clearly recognised this distinctive species as early as 1958, it remained undescribed until 1974.
A relatively poorly-collected South African endemic known from only five localities in the Western Cape Province (Fig.
Dasythrix ? nigrapex Bigot, 1878: 229–230.
Laphria
aureopilosa
Ricardo, 1900:171; 1925: 279;
Choerades
aureopilosa
:
Laphria variabilis Bromley, 1947: 112. Syn. n.
With the discovery that
Based on all material studied.
Head: Black, silver and gold pubescent, black and white setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose. Face black, gold pubescent. Mystax predominantly black (a few pale yellow setae may be present ventrally) with macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with groups of glistening silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex fine gold pubescent, largely asetose except for black setae adjacent to eye margins. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for a pair of strong black ocellar macrosetae. Occiput silver pubescent, strongly setose (black dorsally, white ventrally). Palps black and white setose.
Thorax: Black, silver pubescent, black, white and pale yellow setose. Cervical sclerite entirely black setose. Mesonotum apubescent, predominantly pale yellow (some ♂) or black (♀ and some ♂) setose. Lateral macrosetae predominantly black (a few yellow may occur) (1–2 notopleurals, 3 supra-alars, 3 postalars). Scutellum black, apubescent, fine pale yellow (♂) or black (♀) setose, c. 8–10 apical scutellar macrosetae, pale yellow (♂) or black (♀). Pleura silver pubescent, fine black and white setose. 1–2 black anepisternal macrosetae. Katatergal setae well-developed, mostly black (dorsally) and pale yellow (ventrally). Anatergites weakly silver pubescent, weakly yellow setose laterally.
Legs: Predominantly black with proximal parts of femora and tibiae orange (to varying degrees). Coxae silver pubescent, white setose. Trochanters weakly white setose. Femora and tibiae black and pale yellow setose, tarsi black setose.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Black, moderately long, pale yellow (♂) or short black (♀) setose. T1 with a group of pale yellow (♂) or white (♀) white discal macrosetae.
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Fig.
SOUTH AFRICA: 2♀ ‘South Africa: Natal / Kosi Bay - Estuary [c.26°53'32"S, 32°52'41"E 15m] / 2632DD 16–19.iii.1982 / Coll: D.A. Barraclough / Indigenous Bush area’,
Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: Labels attached to specimen - ‘Holo- / type [circular with red edge]’, ‘Dasythrix / nigrapex. / 222 in / Coll. / Bigot’, ‘Coll. Bigot. / abt. 1845-93. / Pres 1913 by / J.E. Collin’, ‘ex. Hope-Westwood / Ox. Uni. Mus. of / Nat. Host. (
In addition the senior author has seen photographs of the following specimens, identified as aureopilosa, which should now be allocated to nigrapex. SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂ ‘Type [circular, red edge]’, ‘Durban [c.29°51'S, 31°01'E 5m] / [illegible]’, ‘Laphria / aureopilosa / n.sp. Type ♂ / GR31.5.00’, ‘S. Africa / Distant Coll. / 1911-383’, ‘Holotype [circular, stuck to label] / Holotype / Laphria / aureopilosa Ricardo / det. J.E, Chainey, 1984’, ‘NHMUK012810868’ (
A relatively well-collected species with a fairly extensive distribution ranging from the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe through much of coastal South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the southern coastal region of the Western Cape (Fig.
Laphria
nigrescens
Ricardo, 1925: 279;
Choerades
nigrescens
:
Based on
Head: Black, silver pubescent, black and white setose. Antenna black, scape and pedicel black setose. Face black, dull silver pubescent, depressed centrally. Mystax mainly black, but white dorsally and ventrally, with macrosetae confined to elevated parts of facial protuberance. Lateral parts of face with groups of glistening silvery scale-like setae. Frons and vertex dull silver pubescent, weakly setose except for moderately developed black setae adjacent to eye margins. Ocellar tubercle prominent, weakly setose except for a pair of strong black ocellar macrosetae. Occiput weakly silver pubescent, black (dorsally) and white (ventrally) setose. Palps black and white setose.
Thorax: Black, silver pubescent, black and white setose. Cervical sclerite black and white (♀) or entirely white (♂) setose. Mesonotum apubescent except for weakly silver pubescent laterally margins and postpronotal lobes, predominantly black setose. Lateral macrosetae black (1 notopleurals, 2 supra-alars, 3 postalars). Scutellum black, shiny apubescent, fine white setose, c. 8 slender apical scutellar macrosetae (mostly white but some may be black). Pleura silver pubescent, mostly fine white setose (a few stouter black macrosetae present). 1 black anepisternal macroseta. Katatergal setae well-developed, mostly white (ventrally) but a few black (dorsally). Anatergites weakly silver pubescent, weakly setose laterally.
Legs: Almost entirely black except for proximal half of metathoracic tibiae which are dull orange, coxae silver pubescent, other segments apubescent. Trochanters white setose, femora and tibiae mostly white setose, but with some black setae.
Wings (Fig.
Abdomen: Black, sternites and lateral margins of tergites weakly silver pubescent, mostly white setose (tergites medially with minute black setae). T1 laterally with fine white discal setae and 2–4 black macrosetae (♀).
Terminalia: ♂ terminalia as in Fig.
MOZAMBIQUE: 1♀ ‘Marromeu [c.18°16'06"S, 35°53'18"E 10m] Lower / Zambezi River / Port East Africa’, ‘Salone Forest / Dec. 1959 / Stuckenberg’,
Note: We have also seen the following specimen from Zambia which suggests that the species is fairly widely distributed in East Africa and possibly Central Africa and has its southern limits in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The following specimen, identified as nigrescens, extends the distribution into Central Africa: ZAMBIA: 1♂ ‘Malaise traps / Central Zambezian / Miombo Woodlands’, ‘Zambia: Mumbwa Dist. / Kafue National Park / Muyukuyuku camp area at: / 14°54.898'S, 26°03.820'E / 3–5.xii.2012. 1081m / A.H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs’,
The senior author has seen photographs of the following specimens which are included such that distributional information is more complete.
Lectotype: MALAWI: 1♂ ‘Type / H.T.’ [circular, red border], ‘Pres. by / Imp. Bur. Ent. / Brit. Mus. / 1923-58’, ‘Nyasaland / Mt. Mlanje [c.15°56'55"S, 35°35'26"E2940m] / 31.xii.1912 / S.A. Neave’, ‘Syntype [circular, blue edge] / Syntype / Laphria / nigrescens Ricardo / det. J.E. Chainey, 1984’, ‘NHMUK012810461’ (
Paralectotypes: MALAWI: 1♀ similarly labelled as lectotype ‘NHMUK012810462’ (
BOTSWANA: 1♂ ‘nr. Nata [c.20°12'38"S, 26°10'38"E 915m] / Bechuanaland [= Botswana] / xii.1954’, ‘Laphria / nigrescens Ricardo / det. J.E. Chainey, 1943’, ‘NHMUK012810861’ (
A relatively poorly-collected species with a Southern African distribution extending from central Mozambique to the north-eastern parts of the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa (Fig.
Map of Southern Africa with elevational relief, Biodiversity Hotspots (sensu Conservation International), and distribution of Choerades analogos sp. n., C. bella, C. flavipes, and C. nigrescens (SimpleMappr 10189, map data also available in Google Earth KML format 10189). Note additional records for C. analogos sp. n. in DR Congo and Kenya (Fig.
1 | Anatergites laterally at least weakly setose | 2 |
– | Anatergites asetose | 3 |
2 | Katatergal setae predominantly or entirely black; dorsal facial protuberance black setose; cervical sclerite black setose | C. nigrapex |
– | Katatergal setae predominantly or entirely white; dorsal facial protuberance predominantly white setose; cervical sclerite predominantly or entirely white setose | C. nigrescens |
3 | Apical scutellar macrosetae entirely or extensively yellow; lateral scale-like facial setae glistening gold | C. bella |
– | Apical scutellar macrosetae black, white or mixed black and white; lateral scale-like facial setae glistening silver | 4 |
4 | Femora at least partly yellowish | C. flavipes |
– | Femora entirely black | 5 |
5 | Small species (wing length < 10 mm); restricted to south-western South Africa (Western Cape) Fig. |
C. multipunctata |
– | Large species (wing length > 10 mm); restricted to eastern South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) and north-eastern Namibia Fig. |
C. analogos sp. n. |
An online, illustrated version of this key is available at http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/phoenix/choerades/.
Although Choerades is a fairly large and widely distributed Afrotropical genus in need of modern taxonomic revision, the Southern African species are reasonably well represented in collections. There are only six species presently recognized from the sub-region, and available material allows for the generation of reasonably good distribution maps. Only two species (analogos sp. n. and nigrescens) have so far been recorded beyond the sub-region, but far more information about this species is required. Three of the six species (bella, flavipes, multipunctata) are currently endemic to South Africa, while the others have also been recorded from neighbouring countries. Very little biological data exist. While most Afrotropical species are usually associated with indigenous forests, where adults are usually found perching on leaves in sunny patches, it appears that two of the South African species (multipunctata, nigrapex) inhabit somewhat drier environments. Interestingly, these two species are, like the other Southern African species, summer active even though they inhabit areas that experience winter rainfall. An adult of C. flavipes, pinned with its pupal exuvium together with a note reporting that it was removed from the wood of a Silver Tree (Proteaceae, Leucodendron argenteum) is evidence that the genus, like many other genera within the Laphriinae, utilizes rotting wood as a larval environment. All six species occur within biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International and two are endemic to these hotspots, i.e., C. flavipes to Cape Floristic Region, Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany, and Succulent Karoo (Fig.
The senior author acknowledges and is grateful for the support and assistance provided by staff of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. Drs John Midgley and Kirstin Williams provided unlimited access to collections and associated services while Mrs Tricia Pillay provided valuable technical assistance. The invaluable assistance of curators of collections other than