The long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) in Egypt

Abstract

BackgroundThe Dolichopodidae, commonly known as long-legged flies, are a cosmopolitan dipteran family in the superfamily Empidoidea. The adults and majority of larvae in this family are predaceous, feeding on small and soft-bodied invertebrates, and can be used as biological control agents. Nevertheless, only few old taxonomic studies on the Egyptian dolichopodids have been carried out.ResultsAll dolichopodid taxa known to be represented in Egypt are cataloged in the present study. The classification of all species is updated, with synonyms, type localities, distributions and data of collection from Egypt being provided. Colored photographs of some species are also provided. Syntypes of eight species are preserved in the collection of Efflatoun Bey, Cairo University, Egypt (EFC), namely Asyndetus albifacies Parent, 1929; A. albifrons Parent, 1929; Argyrochlamys cavicola (Parent, 1929); Aphrosylus parcearmatus Parent, 1925; Thinophilus atritarsis Parent, 1929; T. maculatus Parent, 1929; T. spinulosus Parent, 1929 and T. tinctus Parent, 1929. Lectotypes are designated from these syntypes in the present work.ConclusionSixty-six species in 21 genera and 8 subfamilies are known to be represented from Egypt and cataloged in the present study. One of these species, Tachytrechus notatus (Stannius, 1831), is recorded herein for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for eight species in the collection of Efflatoun Bey, Cairo University.