A contribution to the knowledge of robber flies of the genus Machimus (Diptera: Asilidae) in the Czech Republic

Abstrakt: This paper provides an overview of the distribution of seven species of the genus Machimus Loew, 1849 found in the territory of the Czech Republic. Based on new field collections and the revision of material stored in selected entomological collections, the following species have been confirmed as part of the Czech fauna: Machimus annulipes (Brullé, 1832), Machimus arthriticus (Zeller, 1840), Machimus chrysitis (Hoffmannsegg in Meigen, 1820), Machimus cyanopus (Loew, 1849), Machimus gonatistes (Zeller, 1840), and Machimus rusticus (Meigen, 1820). Additionally, Machimus intermedius (Holmgren in Zetterstedt, 1852) is here reported from the Czech Republic for the first time. In contrast, Machimus setibarbus (Loew, 1849), previously cited in local literature, is excluded from the Czech fauna, along with the historically mentioned Machimus lacinulatus Loew, 1854. For each of the accepted species, we provide a concise morphological description, a summary of recorded localities, notes on ecology and biology, and taxonomic remarks reflecting current interpretations of species status.

Klíčová slova: Diptera, Asilidae, faunistics, Czech Republic