A review of the genus Hoplistomerus Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae)

The genus Hoplistomerus Macquart, 1838, which is confined to the Afrotropical Region, is reviewed. The taxonomic position of the Subfamilies Laphriinae and Laphystiinae is briefly discussed. Lectotypes are designated for H. caliginosis. H. nobilis, and H. serripes, two new species are described (H. oldroydi from Kenya and H. pegos from Somalia) and a key is provided for the identification of all eleven recognised species. The distributions of all species are discussed, but especially those of H. nobilis (a mainly southern African species) and H. serripes (distributed widely between West and East Africa) for which good data sets are available. Biological information suggests that species of Hoplistomerus are primarily grassland and savannah flies. Prey records demonstrate that adults feed almost exclusively 011 small (lung beetles (Scarabaeidae).