Hypocerides Schmitz 1915
- Dataset
- Taxonomy and the unusual morphological similarity among Hypocerides Schmitz species (Diptera: Phoridae)
- Rank
- GENUS
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Insecta
- order
- Diptera
- family
- Phoridae
- genus
- Hypocerides
description
Description. (males) Body brown, body length, 1.25 – 2.2 mm. Frons pubescent, generally with median area bare, with sparse thin setulae, without median furrow, setation 4 - 2 - 4 (dorsal fronto-orbitals absent), with two dorsally directed supra-antennal setae (Fig. 3). Palpus bearing strong setae near apex, with dorsal excavation bearing short and long sensilla (Fig. 2 A – D). Flagellomere 1 pubescent, globose, with subcutaneous pit sensilla (SPS). Arista pre-apical, pubescent; aristomeres 1 - 2 short; no lower genal and one upper genal tiny setula. Anepisternum bare, without furrow (proepimeron not enlarged dorsally and posteriorly); lateral parapsidal suture of medium extension (not ending far from the anterior spiracle); meron concave. Scutellum with two pairs of setae on posterior margin. Foretibia with anterodorsal row of slightly stronger setulae. Foremetatarsus width / length ratio, 0.18 – 0.22. Midtibia basal half with one anterodorsal and one posterodorsal setae. Hind femur not expanded dorso-ventrally (height / length ratio 0.25), with group of elongated microtrichia near base of posterior face and ventral band of differentiated setulae (Fig. 2 E – H). Hind tibia without large setae except the apical ones, with a dorsal setal palisade. Wing venation relatively uniform within the genus (Fig. 4), costa swollen between the apices of R 1 and R 4 + 5, 0.35 – 0.42 of the wing length; R 2 + 3 absent; M 1 and M 2 slightly sinuous; CuA 1 sinuous. No seta at Rs base. Tergites dark brown, with lighter posterior band. Epandrium short, with surstyli forming a U-shaped subcercal process (Fig. 5 A – G). Epandrial right posterior margin with subepandrial group of setulae. Hypandrial lobes large; left lobe wider, with posteroventral margin projected posteriorly. Insertion of phallapodeme and of the hypandrium lobes shifted to left lateral. Hypoproct with two setae. Basiphallus with two posterodorsal horns (Fig. 6 A – E). Right plate extending ventrally and reaching the left lateral. Epiphallus connected to the right plate at the left lateral, bearing pointed scales and with a slender curved projection. Curved posterior process bearing multi-pointed scales. (females) Similar to males, but with tergites 3 – 6 reduced (Fig. 7 A – E). Oviscape short. Tergites and sternites 7 and 8 apparently absent (Fig. 7 F – K). Ventral margin of segment 8 with an anterior reentrance. Cerci cylindrical.
diagnosis
Diagnosis. Palps with dorsal sensory pits (Fig. 2 A – D), costa swollen between R 1 and R 4 + 5, veins posterior to the radial system weak (Fig. 4), hind tibia with one dorsal setal palisade, frons with dorsal fronto-orbitals absent (Fig. 3).
discussion
Comments. Borgmeier (1966) described the genus as having 2 - 4 scutellar setae. Disney (1991), however, interpreted all species as having four scutellar setae. Borgmeier (1966) also considered the frontal setation 4 - 2 - 4 or 4 - 4 - 4 for the genus. As illustrated herein, H. anheuseri, which would have 4 - 4 - 4 according to Borgmeier, has the setation 4 - 2 - 4 (Fig. 3). I referred to the frontal setation of all examined specimens as 4 - 2 - 4 (dorsal frontal-orbitals absent) and not 2 - 4 - 4 (ventral interfrontals absent). However, I found no clear evidence that the fronto-orbitals present are the ventral ones. The fronto-orbitals in Hypocerides are sometimes in a position more similar to the dorsal frontoorbitals (Fig. 3, H. anheuseri) and sometimes to the ventral fronto-orbitals (Fig. 3, H. nearcticus).
distribution
Geographical distribution. The genus is known from few scattered records through all biogeographic regions except the Antarctic (Fig. 8).
type_taxon
Type-species: Hypocera difformis Brues (by original designation)