Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2008-05-30
Page range: 38–44
Abstract views: 56
PDF downloaded: 1

Kaurimyia gen. nov.: discovery of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera: Therevoid clade) in New Zealand

Entomology, Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia 4068
Center for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois USA 61820
Diptera Apsilocephalidae New Zealand Kauri

Abstract

A new genus (Kaurimyia thorpei gen. et sp. nov.) of the enigmatic fly family Apsilocephalidae (Asiloidea) is described from New Zealand. Kaurimyia thorpei gen. et sp. nov. is described and figured from male and female specimens, one of which was collected in Kauri forest near Auckland (North Island). While superficially similar to Apsilocephala Kröber, this new genus shows closer affinities to Clesthentia White (=Clesthentiella Nagatomi, Saigusa, Nagatomi et Lyneborg syn. nov.) from Tasmania based on genitalic characters such as aedeagus shape and non-articulated surstyli. Apsilocephalidae is presently known from just a few extant species in North America and Tasmania (Australia), although extinct species are recorded from the Holarctic and Oriental regions. This is the first description of the family from New Zealand.

References

  1. Gaimari, S.D. & Mostovski M.B. (2000) Burmapsilocephala cockerelli, a new genus and species of Asiloidea (Diptera) from Burmese amber. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum of London (Geology), 56, 43–45.

    Hardy, G.H. (1921) A preliminary revision of some genera belonging to the Diptera Brachycera of Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 46, 285–300.

    Hauser, M. & Irwin, M.E. (2003) The Nearctic genus Ammonaios Irwin and Lyneborg 1981 (Diptera: Therevidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 96, 738–765.

    Hauser, M. & Irwin, M.E. (2005) Fossil Therevidae (Insecta: Diptera) from Florissant, Colorado (Upper Eocene). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 3, 393–401.

    Irwin, M.E. (1976) Morphology of the terminalia and known ovipositing behavior of female Therevidae (Diptera: Asiloidea), with an account of correlated adaptations and comments on phylogenetic relationships. Annals of the Natal Museum, 22, 913–935.

    Irwin, M.E. & Lyneborg, L. (1981) Therevidae. Chapter 37, pp. 513–523. In McAlpine, J.F., Peterson, B.V., Shewell, G.E., Teskey, H.J., Vockeroth, J.R. and Wood, D.M., (coordinators) 'Manual of Nearctic Diptera'. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada Monograph 1, 1–674.

    Irwin, M.E. & Lyneborg, L. (1989) 39. Family Therevidae, pp 353–358. In Evenhuis N.L. (ed.), ‘Catalog of Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions’. Bishop Museum Special Publication. Bishop Museum Press 86, 1–1154.

    Kampmeier, G.E., Irwin, M.E. & Algmin, K. (2004) Mandala 5.3: a database system for systematics & biodiversity studies. Diptera Data Dissemination Disk II. (CD-ROM). North American Dipterist’s Society.

    McAlpine, J.F. (1981) Morphology and terminology-Adults, pp. 9-63. In McAlpine, J.F., Peterson, B.V., Shewell, G.E., Teskey, H.J., Vockeroth, J.R. & Wood, D.M., (coordinators) 'Manual of Nearctic Diptera'. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada Monograph 1, 1–674.

    Nagatomi, A., Saigusa, T., Nagatomi, H. & Lyneborg, L. (1991a). Apsilocephalidae, a new family of the orthorrhaphous Brachycera (Insecta, Diptera). Zoological Science, 8, 579–591.

    Nagatomi, A., Saigusa, T., Nagatomi, H. & Lyneborg, L. (1991b) The systematic position of the Apsilocephalidae, Rhagionempididae, Protempididae, Hilariomorphidae, Vermileonidae and some genera of the Bombyliidae (Insecta, Diptera). Zoological Science, 8, 593–607.

    Nagatomi, A. & Yang, D. (1998) A review of extinct Mesozoic genera and families of Brachycera (Insecta, Diptera, Orthorrhapha). Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, 134, 85–192.

    Nichols, S.W. (ed.) (1989) The Torre-Bueno glossary of entomology: revised edition. New York Entomological Society. 840 pp.

    Sinclair, B.J., Cumming, J.M. & Wood, D.M. (1994) Homology and phylogenetic implications of male genitalia in Diptera - Lower Brachycera. Entomologica Scandinavica, 24, 407–432.

    White, A. (1915) The Diptera-Brachycera of Tasmania. Part I. Families Leptidae, Stratiomyiidae, Nemestrinidae, and Cyrtidae. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 1914, 35–74.

    Winterton, S.L., Irwin, M.E. & Yeates, D.K. (1999a) Systematics of Nanexila gen. nov. (Diptera: Therevidae) from Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 13, 237–308.

    Winterton, S.L., Merritt, D., O’Toole, A., Irwin, M.E. & Yeates, D.K. (1999b) Morphology and histology of the spermathecal sac, a novel structure in the female reproductive system of Therevidae (Diptera: Asiloidea). International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology, 28, 273–279.

    Winterton, S.L. (2006) New species of Eupsilocephala Kröber from Australia (Diptera: Therevidae). Zootaxa, 1372, 17–25.

    Yeates, D.K. (2002) Relationships of the lower Brachycera: A quantitative synthesis of morphological characters. Zoologica Scripta, 31, 105–121.

    Yeates, D.K., Irwin, M.E. & Wiegmann, B.M. (2003) Ocoidae, a new family of asiloid flies (Diptera: Brachycera: Asiloidea), based on Ocoa chilensis gen. and sp.n. from Chile, South America. Systematic Entomology, 28, 417–431.