1(a)~Wing costal vein usually ending at CuA+CuP (rarely circumambient); vein R1 with setulae on dorsal surface; female terminalia with acanthophorite spines greatly reduced~Phycus Walker, 1850 (>1 sp.; Malaysia; wide extralimital distribution).

1(b)~Wing costal vein circumambient; vein R1 without setulae on dorsal surface (present in some species of Anabarhynchus); female terminalia with two distinct sets of well developed acanthophorite spines~2.

2(a)~Femora with adpressed, scale-like setae admixed with regular filiform setae~3.

2(b)~Femora with filiform setae only, usually short dark setae admixed with longer pale setae, never adpressed or scale-like~5.

3(a)~Body relatively broad; male frons relatively wide, eyes separated at narrowest point by distance greater than width of anterior ocellus; numerous macrosetae on postocular ridge and occiput in both sexes, often in rows; forefemur frequently with posterodorsal, anteroventral and/or posteroventral macrosetae; wing cell m3 open~Anabarhynchus Macquart, 1848 (part) (>175 spp.; Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea).

3(b)~Body relatively narrow; male frons relatively narrow, eyes separated at narrowest point by distance less than width of anterior ocellus; no more than two rows of macrosetae on postocular ridge and occiput in either sex; forefemur typically with a single anteroventral macroseta; wing cell m3 open or closed~4.

4(a)~Antennae longer than head, scape narrow and elongate; wing cell m3 closed; pleuron lacking small patch of setae on metanepisternum posterior of spiracle; male gonocoxites fused medially~Bugulaverpa Gaimari & Irwin, 2000 (>1 sp.; New Guinea, Philippines, Wake Island).

4(b)~Antennae shorter than or subequal to head length, scape short and cylindrical; wing cell m3 closed or open; pleuron with small patch of setae on metanepisternum immediately posterior of spiracle; male gonocoxites separate medially~Irwiniella Lyneborg, 1976 (>8 spp.; Australia, Guadalcanal, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu; wide extralimital distribution).

5(a)~Forefemur with one or more macrosetae (rarely absent); pleuron with small patch of setae on metanepisternum immediately posterior of spiracle; female with two spermathecae; phallus of male genitalia with dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath broad, not attached to gonocoxites laterally, ventral apodeme narrow~6.

5(b)~Forefemur with macrosetae absent (present in some Zelothrix and Taenogerella), and pleuron lacking small patch of setae on metanepisternum posterior of spiracle, if setal patch is present, then lacking macrosetae on forefemur (i.e., Eupsilocephala and some Taenogera species); three spermathecae in female (rarely one or two); phallus of male genitalia with dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath variable, but typically narrow and T-shaped, attached to gonocoxites laterally, ventral apodeme forked~7.

6(a)~Large, robust flies; black with distinctive white dorsocentral stripes~Megathereva Lyneborg, 1992 (3 spp.; New Zealand).

6(b)~Size variable; colour and marking variable but never uniformly black with white stripes~Anabarhynchus Macquart, 1848 (part) (>175 spp.; Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea).

7(a)~Wing cell m3 closed, veins M3 and M4 fused before, or at wing margin~8.

7(b)~Wing cell m3 open to wing margin~16.

8(a)~Antennae typically longer than head (rarely subequal), positioned on middle or upper region of head, rarely on lower half; flagellum elongate, narrow cylindrical, tapered only slightly in distal half; scape elongate, narrow, usually more than 4x length of pedicel~9.

8(b)~Antennae typically shorter than head, positioned on lower half of head; flagellum conical, turbinate or oval shaped, often abruptly tapered apically; scape length variable but never narrow and elongate, usually equal to, or less than, 4x pedicel length, sometimes bulbous~11.

9(a)~Flagellum shorter than or equal to scape length; scape usually longer than head~Agapophytus Guérin, 1831 (>41 spp.; Australia, New Guinea).

9(b)~Flagellum longer than scape length; scape never longer than head~10.

10(a)~Palpus broadly spatulate apically; face not protruding~Pipinnipons Winterton in Winterton et al., 2001 (5 spp.; Australia).

10(b)~Palpus narrow or acuminate apically; face broadly rounded and often protruding anteriorly~Acupalpa Kröber, 1912a (19 spp.; Australia).

11(a)~Black individuals with matte-grey pubescent stripe along lower half of thorax and onto abdomen; male genitalia with inner gonocoxal process absent or greatly reduced; ventral lobe greatly enlarged into blade-like structure~Vomerina Winterton, 2007 (2 spp.; Australia).

11(b)~Body colour and markings otherwise (silver-velutum pubescent stripe may be present on lower pleuron but absent on abdomen); male genitalia with well-developed inner gonocoxal process; ventral lobe not large and blade-like~12.

12(a)~Wing hyaline or variably infuscate, but not banded; abdomen broad basally (diameter similar to thorax), tapered posteriorly along length; all femora approximately equal length; male genitalia with medial atrium present~13.

12(b)~Wing typically strongly banded; abdomen narrow basally and slender along length (diameter of thorax distinctly greater than base of abdomen); hind femur noticeably longer than fore and mid femora; male genitalia with medial atrium present or absent~14.

13(a)~Male abdomen sometimes with silver velutum pubescence as uniform covering dorsally, but never as plaque-like transverse bands; gonocoxal apodemes and distiphallus short; ejaculatory apodemes strongly sclerotized but not enlarged; female with three spermathecae~Parapsilocephala Kröber, 1912a (=Patanothrix Winterton syn. n.) (>12 spp.; Australia).

13(b)~Male abdomen often with silver-velutum pubescence as plaque-like, transverse bands posteriorly on anterior tergites; gonocoxal apodemes and distiphallus often greatly elongate; ejaculatory apodemes greatly enlarged; female with one spermatheca~Bonjeania Irwin & Lyneborg, 1989 (18 spp.; Australia).

14(a)~Small species (usually <6.0 mm body length); legs not distinctly elongate; scutellum often dorsally acuminate; frequently excellent ant mimics; male with single row of postocular setae, macrosetae absent medially on occiput~Acraspisa Kröber, 1912c (>7 spp.; Australia, Indonesia).

14(b)~Larger species (>8.0 mm body length); legs elongate and frequently with a thickened hind femur; scutellum rounded, never dorsally acuminate; male often with additional macrosetae medially on occiput, sometimes numerous~15.

15(a)~Velutum pubescence patch on posteroventral surface of hind femur elongate, over ½ length of femur; medial atrium present between gonocoxites; hypandrium with patch of strong posteriorly directly setae~Acatopygia Kröber, 1912a (3 spp.; Australia).

15(b)~Velutum pubescence patch on posteroventral surface of hind femur relatively very small; gonocoxites meeting medially such that medial atrium is absent; hypandrium without patch of strong setae~Acraspisoides Hill & Winterton, 2004 (2 spp.; Australia).

16(a)~Discrete patch of velutum (i.e., dense, velvet-like pubescence with margins well delineated) present at least on posteroventral surface of hind femur, usually also on ventral surface of forefemur~17.

16(b)~Femora without a discrete velutum patch (pubescence may be present, particularly along posterior surface of hind femur but margins not well delineated)~19.

17(a)~Hind femur with one or more anteroventral or posteroventral macrosetae (sometimes both); head and thorax typically yellow or glossy black with patches of bright silver pubescence; bright silver and matte black pubescence on occiput; abdomen usually bright yellow-orange (female) or black (male); scutellum either yellow or overlain with matte black pubescence; antennae longer than head, scape subequal to, or longer than flagellum length; fore femur without discrete velutum patch (Fig. 12)~Evansomyia Mann, 1928 (>4 spp.; Australia).

17(b)~Hind femur lacking macrosetae; head and body variously coloured but never glossy black and/or yellow-orange, pubescence dull grey to brown, sometimes matte black and grey on scutum; scutellum concolourous with scutum; antennae shorter than head, scape shorter than flagellum; fore femur with discrete velutum patch on ventral surface~18.

18(a)~Slender species; eyes relatively small; parafacial always without setae; occiput with postocular ridges angled and not in same plane leaving occiput relatively concave when viewed dorsally; relatively few postocular setae arranged in a single row in both sexes; male gonocoxites with relatively short and rounded ventral lobe; female acanthophorite spines spatulate~Belonalys Kröber, 1912a (2 spp.; Australia).

18(b)~Relatively robust species; eyes occupying larger proportion of head; parafacial with setae present or absent; occiput with postocular ridges straight or almost in same plane, oriented vertically; male with a single row of postocular macrosetae dorsally, sometimes additional setae medially on occiput, female always with macrosetae scattered over occiput; male gonocoxites with broad and elongate ventral lobe; female acanthophorite spines narrow apically~Laxotela Winterton & Irwin, 1999 (13 spp.; Australia).

19(a)~Body glossy black, usually with metallic blue, purple or green iridescence; abdomen relatively short, broad and abruptly tapered, tending towards globose; two pairs of supra alar macrosetae~20.

19(b)~Body colour variable but lacking metallic iridescence; abdomen relatively narrow and elongate, not strongly tapered; number of supra alar macrosetae variable, frequently one pair~21.

20(a)~Scape short, barely twice as long as pedicel; two pairs of scutellar macrosetae; small patch of dark setae on metanepisternum posterior of spiracle; wing uniform orange infuscate~Eupsilocephala Kröber, 1912a (4 spp.; Australia).

20(b)~Scape elongate, much longer than pedicel; single pair of scutellar macrosetae; no setae on metanepisternum posterior of spiracle; wing predominantly black infuscate or hyaline basally, dark band medially~Johnmannia Irwin & Lyneborg, 1989 (3 spp.; Australia).

21(a)~Scape distinctly bulbous; flagellum abruptly conical to turbinate, very short, less than 1/3 of length of scape~22.

21(b)~Scape at most only slightly thicker than flagellum width, not distinctly bulbous; flagellum conical, elliptical or cylindrical, length greater than ½ of scape length (if flagellum shorter than ½ scape length, then scape not thickened)~23.

22(a)~Hind leg distinctly longer than fore- and midlegs; antennal scape longer than head; male frons wider than ocellar tubercle at narrowest point; male with macrosetae scattered on occiput (Figs 15, 17)~Notoxestomyza gen. n. (2 spp.; Australia).

22(b)~Hind leg only slightly longer than fore- and midlegs; antennal scape subequal to head length; male eyes contiguous below ocellar tubercle; male with macrosetae as a single row along postocular ridge~Neodialineura Mann, 1928 (part) (1 sp., N. striatithorax, Mann, 1928; Australia).

23(a)~Macrosetae absent on femora~24.

23(b)~Macrosetae present on at least one femur (sometimes short)~28.

24(a)~Medium sized species (7.5–10 mm); body predominantly black with silver or gold metallic pubescence; numerous macrosetae on occiput in both sexes~25.

24(b)~Relatively small species (rarely longer than 8 mm), body typically covered with glaucous-grey to light-brown pubescence; relatively few macrosetae on occiput in both sexes~26.

25(a)~Male eyes separated by distance greater than width of ocellar tubercle; frons with uniform silver pubescence with bronze suffusion; scutum dorsocentral stripes bright silver and matte black pubescence with bronze margins; dorsocentral macrosetae absent or greatly reduced in size; abdominal sternite 1 without medial tuft of erect, fine setae (Figs 21, 22A–D)~Sidarena Irwin & Winterton, 2016 (part) (2 spp.; S. cupreus (Hutton, 1901) comb. n. and S. micans (Hutton, 1901) comb. n.; New Zealand).

25(b)~Male eyes separated by distance shorter than to width of ocellar tubercle but wider than anterior ocellus; frons dull grey-silver pubescent, glabrous patch above antennae; scutum dorsocentral stripes dull silver pubescence; 4–6 dorsocentral macrosetae present; abdominal sternite 1 with medial tuft of erect setae (Fig. 35)~Taenogerella Winterton & Irwin in Winterton et al., 1999b (part) (1 sp., T. kelseyi Winterton sp. n.; Australia).

26(a)~Wings and legs greatly elongate relative to body length; abundant elongate (longer in male) recurved macrosetae on scutum, coxae, and head; eyes widely separated in both sexes and not strongly sexually dimorphic; macrosetae on occiput few in number and irregularly arranged in both sexes~Hort Winterton, 2023 (1 sp.; Australia).

26(b)~Wings and legs relative short compared to body length; macrosetae variable, but rarely notably elongate and strongly recurved on scutum, coxae, and/or head; male eyes closely approximated anteriorly, widely separated in female, width strongly sexually dimorphic; macrosetae on occiput in one or two rows in both sexes~27.

27(a)~Thorax often glaucous grey pubescent; scutum frequently grey-brown with dark brown markings; male genitalia with hypandrium present, fused laterally to gonocoxites, outer gonocoxal process well developed~Manestella Metz in Metz et al., 2003 (15 spp.; Australia).

27(b)~Thorax usually tan-silver pubescent, scutum often yellow or greyish-tan ground colour with dark brown tessellate or spotted pattern; male genitalia with hypandrium reduced or absent, outer gonocoxal process absent~Neodialineura Mann, 1928 (part) (11 spp.; Australia).

28(a)~Hind femur lacking anteroventral macrosetae (Fig. 4A–D)~Calophytus Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020 (6 spp.; New Caledonia).

28(b)~Hind femur with at least one subapical anteroventral macroseta~29.

29(a)~Head distinctly taller than long with buccal area extended ventrally; parafacial setae present (sometimes only a few setae)~Medomega Winterton & Lambkin, 2012 (19 spp.; Australia).

29(b)~Head not distinctly tall, buccal area not extended ventrally; parafacial setae absent~30.

30(a)~Occiput broadly convex with bright silver pubescence admixed with numerous rows of predominantly yellow macrosetae in both sexes (Figs 29–31)~Taenogera Kröber, 1912a (>7 spp.; Australia).

30(b)~Occiput shape, pubescence and macrosetae never in this combination and usually sexually dimorphic in number and arrangement, frequently occiput is flat to concave and macrosetae black~31.

31(a)~Hind femur with 1–3 (sometimes more) regular-sized posteroventral macrosetae present midway~32.

31(b)~Hind femur with posteroventral macrosetae absent or with small to minute macrosetae scattered along distal half, frequently barely distinguishable from regular pile~34.

32(a)~Antennae shorter than head, scape shorter than flagellum; wing hyaline~Nanexila Winterton & Irwin in Winterton et al., 1999a (part) (1 sp., N. gracilis (Mann, 1928); Australia).

32(b)~Antennae longer than head, scape longer than flagellum; wing strongly banded~33.

33(a)~Inner margin of eyes subparallel in both sexes, frons only slightly wider than ocellar tubercle; female abdominal tergites 7–8 with anteromedial processes, tergite 8 ‘T’-shaped (e.g., Figs 4E, 20M–N))~Jeanchazeauia Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020 (part) (2 spp., J. amoa Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020, J. rufinatus Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020; New Caledonia).

33(b)~Inner margin of eyes diverging ventrally in both sexes, more so in female, frons noticeably wider than ocellar tubercle near base of antennae; female abdominal tergite 7 without anteromedial processes, tergite 8 elongate with broad medial process, not ‘T’-shaped (Figs 23–25)~Squamopygia Kröber, 1928 (>2 spp.; Australia, New Guinea).

34(a)~Scape length no more than two times width; flagellum longer than scape; antennae usually shorter than head~35.

34(b)~Scape length at least three times width; flagellum shorter than or subequal to scape; antennae usually longer than head~39.

35(a)~Scutum with extensive silver-grey and matte-black pubescence, often with bronze coloured margins; two pairs of scutellar macrosetae~Sidarena Irwin & Winterton, 2016 (part) (2 spp., S. castaneus (Hutton, 1901) comb. n., S. furcatus (Lyneborg, 1992) comb. n.; New Zealand).

35(b)~Scutum pubescence variable, but not with silver-grey and matte-black pubescence; one pair of scutellar macrosetae (rarely two)~36.

36(a)~Eyes separated dorsally by distance equal to width of ocellar tubercle in both sexes, inner margins of eyes relatively straight and only narrowly divergent to subparallel; occiput with dense covering of metallic silver and matte black pubescence; flagellum broadly elliptical; wing with infuscation often sexually dimorphic with yellow apically; male genitalia with gonocoxites with large medial atrium (Figs 7–8)~Collessiama Lambkin in Lambkin & Turco, 2013 (>3 spp.; Australia).

36(b)~Frons of male narrower than ocellar tubercle dorsally, female frons broader and distinctly sexually dimorphic; occiput with uniform grey or silver pubescence, often sparse; flagellum conical, tapered in distal half; wing mostly hyaline, sometimes faint smoky infuscate; male genitalia with gonocoxites with large medial atrium present or absent~37.

37(a)~Antennae subequal to head length; frons slightly protruding anteriorly; male gonocoxites with medial atrium present (Figs 32–34, 37–44)~Taenogerella Winterton & Irwin in Winterton et al., 1999b (part) (7 spp.; Australia).

37(b)~Antennae shorter than head; frons flat; male gonocoxites proximal ventromedially, without medial atrium~38.

38(a)~Occiput with numerous macrosetae in both sexes arranged in two or more rows (rarely one); scape with mostly enlarged macrosetae; several robust black macrosetae on coxae, especially fore- and midcoxae (usually 4–8 on each); male genitalia with inner gonocoxal process often greatly reduced or absent; female spermathecal sac tri-lobed with spermathecal ducts joining basally to each lobe~Actenomeros Winterton & Irwin in Winterton et al., 1999b (8 spp.; Australia).

38(b)~Occiput always with single row of postocular setae dorsally in male, female with macrosetae distributed over occiput; macrosetae on scape not distinctly enlarged; relatively few macrosetae on coxae (usually 2–4), often pale and barely distinguishable from regular white setae; male genitalia with well-developed inner gonocoxal process; female spermathecal sac simple (sometimes with additional lobes) with all spermathecal ducts joining to common spermathecal sac duct~Nanexila Winterton & Irwin in Winterton et al., 1999a (part) (>21 spp.; Australia).

39(a)~Two pairs of scutellar macrosetae; wing mottled, membrane uniformly covered in dense microtrichia, dark infuscate with pale fenestrate markings in each cell; female with two spermathecae~Zelothrix Irwin & Winterton, 2016 (2 spp.; Australia).

39(b)~One pair of scutellar macrosetae; wing predominantly hyaline to variously banded, rarely mottled fenestrate; wing membrane sometimes with glabrous areas with microtrichia absent, frequently in basal half of wing; female with three spermathecae~40.

40(a)~Occiput typically broadly rounded to convex with glaucous pubescence; both sexes with numerous, elongate macrosetae on scape, frons and occiput, often recurved anteriorly along postocular ridge; frons relatively broad with eyes widely separated in both sexes~Sidarena Irwin & Winterton, 2016 (part) (6 spp.; Australia).

40(b)~Occiput relatively flat to concave with one row of postocular macrosetae dorsally, similar in both sexes; typically bright silver and matte black pubescent; macrosetae on scape, frons and postocular ridge relatively sparse and not elongate; frons width variable, but rarely much wider than width of ocellar tubercle~41.

41(a)~Scape and flagellum relatively thick, scape usually slightly bulbous, flagellum tapered or leaf-shaped; male genitalia highly modified: epandrium narrowed posteriorly; gonocoxites widely separated posteromedially forming an atrium; hypandrium partly or fully fused to gonocoxites and indistinct (Fig. 10)~Ectinorhynchus Macquart, 1850 (>5 spp.; Australia).

41(b)~Scape and flagellum elongate, narrow and cylindrical; male genitalia relatively unmodified; epandrium flat, quadrangular; gonocoxites separate from hypandrium, hypandrium only slightly fused laterally to gonocoxite at most; gonocoxites with medial margins proximal, no atrium medially (Fig. 4F)~Jeanchazeauia Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020 (part) (1 sp., J. nubilosus Irwin, Winterton & Metz, 2020; New Caledonia).

Open-access, online, rapid taxonomy ISSN: 2653-4649 (Online)

Australian Journal of

Taxonomy

Open-access, online, rapid taxonomy
ISSN: 2653-4649 (Online)