Austroconops (Borkent & Craig, 2004)

Borkent, Art, 2024, The Phylogeny of the Genera of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the World, Zootaxa 5438 (1), pp. 1-274 : 220-221

Austroconops :

- Female with cardo fused to postgena and appearing as a small lobe arising from the postgena to the stipes ( Fig. 31A ), a feature unique in the Culicomorpha.

- The posterior tentorial pit attached by short extension to the postoccipital foramen ( Fig. 31A ) (also in Macropeza ) (posterior tentorial pit on postoccipital foramen or more ventral from postoccipital foramen).

- Male antenna with an erect plume when not sexually active (swarming). This feature was discussed by Borkent & Craig (2004: 59) and Borkent (2019 a, 2019b). It is unique in those Ceratopogonidae with a developed plume (some are missing or have a very reduced plume). However, it is also present in some Cretaceous fossil genera.

- Parameres of male fused medially and are markedly expanded, rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 4B ). This configuration of the parameres is unique in the Culicomorpha. These fused parameres are known only in the two extant species (not visible in eight fossil species).

- Female with a single seta on the dorsal margin of the scape.

- Among extant Ceratopogonidae taxa, a r-m more or less parallel to R 1 and R 3 is unique and clearly derived. Among fossil taxa, it is a synapomorphy of Austroconops + * Jordanoconops (the latter possibly derived within Austroconops ). The synapomorphy was discussed by Borkent (2000a: character 11) and Borkent & Craig (2004: 47, character 1).

- Borkent & Craig (2004) described three autapomorphies of the larva as characters 26–28, with these being, respectively, a long antenna with an elongate blade (convergent in Forcipomyiini ), head capsule without seta q and larval head capsule with posterior seta of setae p subapically expanded (secondarily present in some Forcipomyia , certainly convergent).

- The eggs of most (all?) Culicomorpha are pale when laid but darken soon after oviposition. Although the eggs of few genera of Ceratopogonidae have been described, those of Austroconops are unique in remaining pale during development.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia. A–E. Austroconops mcmillani Wirth & Lee (from Borkent et al. 1986: Fig. 4). A. Entire genitalia, in ventral view. B. Parameres, in ventral view. C. Ventral plate, in ventral view. D. Genitalia with parameres and ventral plate removed, in ventral view. E. Entire genitalia, in lateral view. F–H. Leptoconops gallicus Clastrier, in ventral view (from Clastrier 1973: Fig. 4). F. Entire genitalia with gonostyli removed, in ventral view. G. Parameres and macula, in ventral view. H. Entire genitalia with gonostyli removed, in lateral view. I–K. Ceratopogon boomerangus Borkent & Grogan (from Borkent & Grogan 1995: Fig. 2D–F). I. Entire genitalia, in ventral view. J. Parameres, in ventral view. K. Ventral plate, in ventral view.

FIGURE 31. Base of mouthparts of female Ceratopogonidae, in posterior view. A. Austroconops mcmillani (slightly oblique angle). B. Leptoconops albiventralis de Meijere. C. Atrichopogon fusculus. D. Culicoides saundersi Wirth & Blanton. E. Culicoides sonorensis. F. Stilobezzia rabelloi.