Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Promachus sp., Zambia
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 19-01-2012 02:48
#1
(Ref to original title) I doubt that Lazarus fly is in any way a common name of this species - I just felt it interesting to mention that, of the dozen or so found limp in a swimming pool in the run-up to the rains, almost all revived within an hour or so of being removed from the water. (Ref to original title)
Place: Chongwe district, Lusaka Province, Zambia.
Habitat: generally seen in shade, often close to water. Most frequently on the ground. If handled, tended to fly up into trees when released.
Date: this one 04.10.2011, first seen approx 1 week earlier, was present in far greater numbers following arrival of rains.
Size - 2.3-2.7cm.
Edited by Will van Niekerk on 22-01-2012 00:58
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 21-01-2012 21:02
#2
On the offchance that it helps to garner a response, there
are two specimens for this one... as I said,
most recovered within an hour or so. Some of them just twitched for a bit and then went back to being dead.
Edited by Will van Niekerk on 21-01-2012 21:03
Posted by Ktyr on 21-01-2012 21:03
#3
Ovipositor reminds me of
Astochia, but wait for someone to confirm who knows Afrotropical taxa better. Thanks for the cool biology note!
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 21-01-2012 21:06
#4
Thanks for the reply! Updating title to reflect possible lead...
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 21-01-2012 21:40
#5
Wing... in case it helps.
Posted by Ktyr on 21-01-2012 21:59
#6
Whoops, looks like a
Promachus sp.
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 22-01-2012 00:57
#7
I did wonder about that wine-glass shaped cell that none of the
Astochia I could find online seemed to have... An American
Promachus swatted for going after a hummingbird does, and, in its favour, it seems that it eats
Glossina - suddenly I'm glad that most of the ones I scooped out of the pool revived!
Thanks,
Will.