Studies of Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), I: Revisions of Parascatella Cresson and the Triseta group of Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy

Abstract

Mathis, Wayne N., and Guy E. Shewell. Studies of Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), I: Revisions of Parascatella Cresson and the triseta Group of Scatella Robineau-Desvoidy. Smithsonian Contribution to Zoology, number 285, 44 pages, 62 figures, 1 table, 1978.-The New World genus Parascatella and the triseta group of the genus Scatella are revised. Parascatella is redefined to include species now known only from the temperate regions of South America. Of the 11 species included in Parascatella, 10 are newly described. These 11 are arrayed into two species-groups, the pilifera and brunnea groups. Most specimens of the pilifera group were collected at between 3000 and 4500 m elevation in northwestern Argentina and adjacent areas of Chile and Peru. The brunnea group is represented by a single species from southern Chile (between 46° and 53° south latitude) at elevations of approximately 400 m. The three species presently comprising the triseta group of the genus Scatella. are also treated. These three species were formerly included in Parascatella when the latter was recognized either as a genus or as a subgenus of Scatella. All three species of the triseta group occur primarily in western North America. Our revised classification is founded on a phylogeny that is proposed using cladistic methods of analysis. The criteria used tor recognition of species and of infra-and suprageneric groupings are discussed. Keys to the genera, species-groups, and species based on adult characteristics are provided. Pertinent character states are illustrated using line drawings or scanning electron micrographs. All included taxa are described or redescribed, and appropriate synonymies are listed. Distribution maps are provided for most species. Evolutionary considerations, natural history, and zoogeography are discussed. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus).

Studies of Ephydrinae (Diptera: Ephydridae), III: Revisions of Some Neotropical Genera and Species

“…The sister group of Limnellia is Scatophila as demonstrated in my earlier revision (Mathis, 1978) and again in the "Phylogeny" section (p. 40). Limnellia huachuca Mathis, 1978:270. DIAGNOSIS.-Specimensof L. huachuca are similar to those of L. sejuncta (Loew) and L. turneri Mathis but may be distinguished from them and other congeners by the following combination of character states: Setose portion of face mostly unicolorous; antennal fovea shallowly impressed; wing with 2 brown spots in cell R 5 , both closely appressed against vein R4+5, neither spot much darker than brown coloration in remainder of cell; second basal white spot with large brown spot in center, sometimes brown spot with unicolorous pedicle reaching vein M x+ 2; halter mostly brown; tarsi mostly pale, yellowish; surstylus truncate ventrally, shape unevenly pentagonal, median surface shortest, lateral and mediodorsal surfaces longest.…”

“…Male terminalia as follows: symmetrical; surstylus well developed as unfused process at ventral margin of epandrium, shape of epandrium and surstylus diagnostic at species level; aedeagal apodeme generally reduced, broadly Y-shaped, with each arm attached to posterodorsal corners of aedeagus; gonite with larger process oriented ventrally and the second, smaller and thinner process more or less fused apically with similar process from opposite side, forming an irregularly shaped loop through which the aedeagus projects; aedeagus with sclerotized and membranous areas, usually longer than high, frequently with Vshaped notch dorsally. worldwide with the exception of the Arctic and Antarctic regions (Mathis, 1978). Eleven of the seventeen described species are from the New World.…”

“…DISCUSSION.-In my revision of Nearctic species of Limnellia (Mathis, 1978), I included a world checklist of species, which then numbered 16, although I did not examine types of non-Nearctic species. With the description of L. itatiaia, the genus now numbers 17 species.…”

“…With revision of the genera treated herein and an earlier revision of Parascatella (Mathis and Shewell, 1978) all genera of Scatellini from the Neotropics except for Scatella and Scatophila will have been revised. Revisions of Scatella and Scatophila are being planned.…”

“…The holotype, allotype, and Figure 39). -Since discovering this species (Mathis, 1978), I have examined specimens from four countries in Middle or South America, and I suspect that additional localities beyond the presently known distribution will be discovered in South America. This is the only species known from the West Indies.…”