Madagopsinagen. n. andGracilopsinagen. n. are described as endemic Diopsidae taxa for Madagascar. Three Madagascan Diopsidae, earlier alternately placed inDiopsis,EurydiopsisorCyrtodiopsis(also asTeleopsis), are now referred toMadagopsinagen. n., while two of these three species proved to be conspecific. This gives rise toMadagopsina apollo(Brunetti) comb. n. andMadagopsina apographica(Séguy) comb. n. =anjahanaribei(Vanschuytbroeck) syn. n. The two species are redescribed.Madagopsina apographicaproved to have a mixed type series. Three new species are allocated to the genus asMadagopsina freidbergisp. n.,Madagopsina parvapollinasp. n. andMadagopsina tschirnhausisp. n. ForEurydiopsis vadoniVanschuytbroeck (later also placed inCyrtodiopsisandTeleopsis) the genusGracilopsinagen. n. is erected, leading toGracilopsina vadoni(Vanschuytbroeck) comb. n.Gracilopsina vadoniis redescribed and is shown to have a mixed type series. One new species is allocated to the genus asGracilopsina sinespinasp. n. A key is presented to the two genera and seven species. Madagascar now counts five Diopsidae genera and 12 species, of which two genera and 11 species are endemic. The genusCladodiopsisis no longer an endemic Madagascar genus as it also occurs in the Comoros. The phylogenetic position ofMadagopsinagen. n. is discussed based on molecular data. The intra- and intergeneric phylogeny of both new genera is discussed based on morphology and geometric morphometrics analyses of wing shape. Data are presented on sexual dimorphism with respect to eye span in the genera. The resulting allometric lines (eye span/body length) are also included in the phylogenetic analysis. The allometric lines for the closely relatedM. parvapollinasp. n., and the much largerM. apolloare compared and discussed. Allometric slopes and intercepts are identical for females of both species, while in males allometric slopes are identical, but intercepts differ considerably. An identical phenomenon was found in two closely related East AfricanDiopsisspecies with a small and a large species. Various morphological characters, including eggs, are discussed. The importance of intersternite 1–2 and synsternum 7+8 as differential characters is indicated.
Catalogue and distribution data are presented for the six Diopsidae species known to occur in the Arabian Peninsula: Sphyracephala beccarii, Chaetodiopsis meigenii, Diasemopsis aethiopica, Diopsis arabica, Diopsis mayae and Diopsis sp. (ichneumonea species group). The biogeographical aspects of their distribution are discussed. Records of Diopsis apicalis and Diopsis collaris are removed from the list for Arabia as these were based on misidentifications. Synonymies involving Diasemopsis aethiopica and Diasemopsis varians are discussed. Only one out of four specimens in the D. elegantula type series proved conspecific with D. aethiopica. The synonymy of D. aethiopica and D. varians is rejected. A lectotype for Diasemopsis elegantula is now designated. D. elegantula is proposed as junior synonym of D. varians. A fly cluster of more than 80,000 Sphyracephala beccarii, observed in Oman, is described. The occurrence of cluster formations in the Diopsidae is reviewed, while a possible explanation is indicated.
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For the recently established genus Madagopsina (Diopsidae, stalk-eyed flies), Madagopsina makayensis Feijen, Feijen & Feijen, sp. nov. is described from Madagascar. A concise catalogue is given for the genus and an identification key is presented for its six species. The differential character states are listed for the two species groups of the genus: the Madagopsina apollo species group and the Madagopsina apographica species group. The intrageneric relations are discussed based on morphology, geometric morphometrics analysis of wing shape, and allometric data for eye span against body length. Each of these three procedures places the new species in the M. apollo species group with Madagopsina parvapollina as its closest relative. New records are presented for M. apographica and M. parvapollina.
An updated diagnosis is given for the genus Diopsina and a key to the seven species presently recognised. From Guinea-Bissau, Diopsina fluegeli sp. n. is described. Based on new material and on earlier described specimens, updated diagnoses are given for all Diopsina species. Additional descriptive information is presented, especially for abdominal structures and on sexual dimorphism in relation to eye span. Photographs illustrate some earlier described species. Biometrical data are presented which support the earlier division of the genus into the Diopsina nitida-group and the Diopsina africana-group. Several morphological characters and the phylogenetic position of Diopsina are discussed. Only limited information on the ecology of Diopsina is available, but for species of the Diopsina africana-group a close relation with clumps of Cyperaceae appears confirmed.
A diagnosis is presented for the Centrioncinae, the Afromontane Forest Flies or stalkless Diopsidae, while its taxonomic position within the Diopsidae is discussed. Arguments are presented for an eventual raising of the Centrioncinae to family level. The differential characters for its two genera, Centrioncus Speiser and Teloglabrus Feijen, are tabulated. The diagnosis for Centrioncus is updated and a key to the ten species now recognised (including three new species) is provided. Centrioncus crassifemursp. nov. is described from a single female from Angola. This greatly extends the distribution range for the genus. Centrioncus bururiensissp. nov. is described from Burundi, while Centrioncus copelandisp. nov. originates from the Kasigau Massif of Kenya. Diagnoses, descriptive updates, illustrations and notes are presented for all other Centrioncus. Centrioncus aberrans Feijen, described from Uganda, is now also recorded for western Kenya, Rwanda, and possibly eastern DR Congo. This wide range of C. aberrans is unusual for the Centrioncinae species which have allopatric and usually very restricted distribution ranges. Defining characters of C. aberrans from the various regions were examined in detail, but only minor differences were found. Centrioncus decoronotus Feijen, described from Kenya, is now recorded for several other places in Kenya. A distribution map is given for the Eastern African Centrioncus species. The eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley appears to form a barrier between C. aberrans and C. decoronotus. The type species of the genus, C. prodiopsis Speiser from the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, was only known from the 1905–1906 type series. After more than 100 years it has now been found again on the Kenya side of Kilimanjaro. Various differential characters of Centrioncus and Diopsidae are discussed, while brief discussions on sex ratio and fungal parasites are given. Centrioncus are known to occur on low shrubs and herbaceous plants in rain forests. Now, the possibility is indicated that they also might occur higher up in the tree canopies.
Diopsis mayae sp. n. is the sister species of the well-known West-African D. apicalis. It occurs from Egypt and Saudi Arabia down through eastern Africa to Namibia and South Africa. Both species belong to the D. apicalis species group, a relatively young branch of the Diopsidae, and separated at least 280,000 years ago. Although around 40 species still need to be described in the D. apicalis species group, D. mayae sp. n. and D. apicalis are by far the most dominant species in the group, while both species belong to the very small group of Afrotropical Diopsidae with a wide distribution. Data are presented on sexual dimorphism with respect to eye span for the new species and compared with those for D. apicalis. Both species are secondary stem-borers in rice and other Poaceae. Ecological information is presented for D. mayae sp. n. and compared with the information available for D. apicalis.
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