Pegesimallus is a genus of robber flies.
Distribution Africa and Eurasia.
Biology These species spend much of their time perched in the shade on shrubs or grass, where they lie in wait for flying insects. Their prey includes a wide variety of arthropods; Hymenoptera and Diptera predominate. Females oviposit in the surface layer of the soil.
Taxonomy The classification of the species in this genus is difficult for two main reasons: Firstly, many are sexually dimorphic to the extent that females and males of the same species were, for some time, placed in different genera; and secondly, some of the species are so similar that they can only be separated by considering details of the male genitalia.
The genus has been placed in the tribe Megapodini of the subfamily Dasypogoninae. It contains about 54 species, including the following:
Pegesimallus apicalis Bromley, 1947 Pegesimallus brunneus Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus bulbifrons Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus calvifrons Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus claelius Walker, 1849 Pegesimallus fusticulus Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus hermanni Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus irwini Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus isanicus Tomasovic, 2005 Pegesimallus kenyensis Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus mesasiatica Lehr, 1958 Pegesimallus namibiensis Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus oldroydi Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus saegeri Oldroyd, 1970 Pegesimallus srilankensis Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus vansoni Londt, 1980 Pegesimallus volcata Walker, 1849 Pegesimallus yerburyi Londt, 1980
References
External links