Review of the assassin-fly genus Anypodetus (Diptera: Asilidae) in Namibia

The assassin-fly genus Anypodetus Hermann, 1908 (Diptera: Asilidae) is restricted to Southern Africa with one species also occurring further north in Zambia. The genus was last revised by Londt in 2000 and eight species were recognized of which seven occur in Namibia. It is, therefore, the country with the highest diversity of Anypodetus species followed by South Africa with five species. Recent field-work on the eastern-most extent of the Namib Desert Sand Sea in west-central Namibia resulted in the collection of specimens that cannot be readily identified in the key published by Londt in 2000. This species is active in the adult life stage in September (early spring), which is earlier than any other known Anypodetus species. This potentially new, undescribed species is studied in detail during a 10-week REU internship and compared to the known species occurring in Namibia.