Pegesimallus

Pegesimallus is a genus of robber flies.

Distribution

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, 1947Pegesimallus brunneus Londt, 1980Pegesimallus bulbifrons Londt, 1980Pegesimallus calvifrons Londt, 1980Pegesimallus claelius Walker, 1849Pegesimallus fusticulus Londt, 1980Pegesimallus hermanni Londt, 1980Pegesimallus irwini Londt, 1980Pegesimallus isanicus Tomasovic, 2005Pegesimallus kenyensis Londt, 1980Pegesimallus mesasiatica Lehr, 1958Pegesimallus namibiensis Londt, 1980Pegesimallus oldroydi Londt, 1980Pegesimallus saegeri Oldroyd, 1970Pegesimallus srilankensis Londt, 1980Pegesimallus vansoni Londt, 1980Pegesimallus volcata Walker, 1849Pegesimallus yerburyi Londt, 1980