Meromacroides meromacriformis (Bezzi, 1915) is an enigmatic hoverfly, 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. E orts are underway to enhance conservation of both sites through education panels in collaboration with local wildlife authorities.

Georg Goergenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4496-0495

Plant Production and Health

Disease Control; Pests of Plants; Plant Breeding; Plant Health

Biological Control; Pest Management; Pests of Plants

Africa; West Africa

Benin (Dahomey)

Headquarters and Western Africa Hub