The dipteran family Celyphidae in the New World, with discussion of and key to world genera (Insecta, Diptera)

Abstract

The family Celyphidae (Diptera, Lauxanioidea) is verified as part of the New World fauna, with a second specimen discovered of a species described from French Guiana in 1844 by P.J.M. Macquart. As this species possesses characteristics that clearly suggest a separate lineage from the Old World celyphids, a new genus is proposed, Atopocelyphus gen. n., with the type species, Celyphus ruficollis Macquart, in the new combination Atopocelyphus ruficollis (Macquart), comb. n. A key to world genera of Celyphidae is presented, along with discussion of generic concepts. Chamaecelyphus Frey is synonymized under Spaniocelyphus Hendel, syn. n., resulting in the following 10 new combinations: Spaniocelyphus africanus (Walker), comb. n.; S. dichrous (Bezzi), comb. n.; S. gutta (Speiser), comb. n.; S. halticinus (Frey), comb. n.; S. kalongensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n.; S. ruwenzoriensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n.; S. straeleni (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n.; S. upembaensis (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n.; S. violaceus (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n.; S. vrydaghi (Vanschuytbroek), comb. n. The subgenera of Celyphus Dalman are elevated to genus rank, as Paracelyphus Bigot, stat. rev., and Hemiglobus Frey, stat. rev., resulting in the following 17 new and revised combinations: Hemiglobus cheni (Shi), comb. n.; H. eos (Frey), comb. n.; H. lacunosus Frey, comb. rev.; H. pellucidus Frey, comb. rev.; H. planitarsalis (Shi), comb. n.; H. porosus (Tenorio), comb. n.; H. pulchmaculatus (Liu & Yang), comb. n.; H. quadrimaculatus (Tenorio), comb. n.; H. resplendens Frey, comb. rev.; H. rugosus (Tenorio), comb. n.; H. testaceus (Malloch), comb. n.; H. trichoporis (Shi), comb. n.; H. unicolor Frey, comb. rev.; H. violaceus Chen, comb. rev.; Paracelyphus hyacinthus Bigot, comb. rev.; P. medogis (Shi), comb. n.; P. vittalis (Shi), comb. n.

The families of the suborder Brachycera Schiner, 1862 (Insecta: Diptera): Part 1

“…Also, like many beetles, Celyphidae are often shiny or metallic in color. The wings, when at rest, are folded beneath the scutellar "shell" [25][26].…”

“…Coelopidae are small to medium-sized, robust flies, predominantly with a flat body and darkly colored. The Coelopidae belong to the superfamily Sciomyzoidea and Acalyptratae which also includes families: Dryomyzidae, Helcomyzidae, Helosciomyzidae, Heterocheilidae, Huttoninidae, Phaeomyiidae, Ropalomeridae, Sepsidae, Sciomyzidae and Tetanoceridae (Figures 6A-6B) [31][32][33][34][35]. Females lay their eggs in small batches on fresh algae beds.…”

“…In winter, bacteria increase temperatures so that even the pile is superficially frozen. The larvae are decomposers of organic matter on beaches, being better represented in temperate zones and with greater richness in Australia and New Zealand [31][32][33][34][35].…”

First record of beetle flies (Diptera: Celyphidae) from Brazil

“…Celyphidae is a small family of Acalyptratae flies, comprising 115 valid species currently distributed in eight genera (Gaimari 2017). Celyphids are easily recognized by their shiny body and very enlarged scutellum almost covering the abdomen, which is suggestive of certain metallic chrysomelid beetles (Gaimari 2017). They can be found in wet grassy habitats and on leaves and stems of broad-leafed plants like banana trees (Gaimari & Miller 2021).…”

“…These flies are often caught by sweeping in grassy areas and along river banks and ponds (Tenorio 1972). They are most diverse in tropical Asia and southeast Asia, with fewer species known from the Afrotropical region (Gaimari 2017). The only known genus in the Neotropical region is the monotypic Atopocelyphus Gaimari, 2017 by the species Atopocelyphus ruficollis (Macquart, 1844), known until now only from French Guiana.…”