Biological observations of Meromacroides meromacriformis (Bezzi, 1915) (Diptera: Syrphidae) in South Africa
John Midgley  1, 2@  , Terence Bellingan  3, 4@  , Kurt Jordaens  5@  , Georg Goergen  6@  
1 : KwaZulu-Natal Museum
2 : Rhodes University, Grahamstown
3 : Department of Zoology & Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6139
4 : Department of Entomology & Arachnology, Albany Museum, Makhanda, 6139
5 : Royal Museum for Central Africa, 4Joint Experimental Molecular Unit, Leuvensesteenweg 13, Tervuren
6 : International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Biodiversity Centre, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou

Meromacroides meromacriformis (Bezzi 1915) is an enigmatic hover fly, first collected in South Africa in the 1850s, but not again until 2020. A further collection in 2022 was also made in the country. While widespread in Africa, the species is rarely encountered and information about its biology is scarce. The recent collections in South Africa were associated with colonies of Schedorhinotermes lamanianus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) found in rot-holes within the trunk of a standing living trees and in 2022 larvae were collected from a frass midden. The link between termites and Meromacroides meromacriformis requires further investigation, but this habitat specialization may explain why the species is encountered infrequently. Efforts are underway to enhance conservation of both sites through education panels in collaboration with local wildlife authorities.



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