Abstract

WILLIAMS, Kirstin A.  and  SNYMAN, Louwtjie P.. The state of the genus Hybomitra Enderlein (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the Afrotropics including phylogenetic analysis and the description of a new species from South Africa. AE [online]. 2024, vol.32, pp.1-10. ISSN 2224-8854.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a18615.

The taxonomy of horse flies in the Afrotropics has been neglected in recent times. The genus Hybomitra Enderlein is considered to be Holarctic though 15 species are recorded from the Afrotropics. A collecting trip in South Africa led to the discovery of a new species of Hybomitra, H. phalaros sp. n., described here. Phylogenetic analysis using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA yields a paraphyletic Hybomitra, comprising biogeographically distinct clades. Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical Hybomitra is complex due to unavailable type specimens and lack of available material. The whereabouts of these type specimens are discussed, and morphological diagnoses derived from the original descriptions of all the Afrotropical species are provided. The type localities are mapped and discussed in relation to DNA barcoded voucher specimens from the region. Tabanus saxicolus is morphologically evaluated and transferred to Hybomitra as Hybomitra saxicolus n. comb.

Keywords : Africa; horse fly; Tabanomorpha; Tabanus; taxonomy.

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