Taxonomy of the genus Anthrax Scopoli (Diptera: Bombyliidae) in Egypt

ABSTRACT

An updated key to Egyptian species of the genus Anthrax Scopoli (Diptera: Bombyliidae), diagnoses, some taxonomic remarks, drawings of genitalia and colour photographs are provided in the present study. A neotype for A. pharaonis Paramonov, 1935 is designated, and Anthrax greatheadi El-Hawagry, 1999 is recorded for the first time from Israel. The present study is based mainly on material collected by the author from Egypt (1991–2019) in addition to museum material in several Egyptian insect collections.

KEYWORDS:

• bee flies
• key to species
• diagnoses
• neotype designation
• genitalia
• colour photographs

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to the following scientists for providing critical assistance throughout this study and/or for supplying me with some relevant papers: Dr Neal Evenhuis, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Dr Valery Korneyev, General and Applied Entomology Department, I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; and Dr Babak Gharali, Plant Protection Research Department, Qazvin Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Qazvin, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.