Schedophysoconops, Gibson & Skevington, 2013

Gibson, Joel F. & Skevington, Jeffrey H., 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of all genera of Conopidae (Diptera) based on morphological data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 167 (1), pp. 43-81 : 59-61

SCHEDOPHYSOCONOPS GIBSON GEN. NOV. ( FIG. 3 )

Type species: Physoconops notatifrons Camras, 1962b: 219 , present designation.

Diagnosis: Similar to Physoconops (s.l.), but with a fronto-facial spot, two ocelli, and a shorter prementum.

Description: Head. Occipital setae sparse, short, dark. Vertex round, not distinct. Frons slightly wider than long; no setae or bristles; smooth with small rugose area at anterior margin. Fronto-facial spot present. Ocellar tubercle round, non-distinct; two ocelli present. Ocellar and postocellar bristles absent. Compound eye oval with triangular notch in posterior margin. Facial foveae deep, blends into gena; medial carina very small. Gena present, small, less than one-quarter of head height; anterior margin of subcranial cavity pointed anteriorly at junction with medial carina. Lunule well developed, united with facial ridge. Scape elongate, length four times width; pedicel 1.5 times as long as scape; pedicel elongate,

A

length four times width; first flagellomere short, less than half length of the scape and pedicel combined; first flagellomere bare; arista short, wide; second aristomere greatly expanded ventrally, nearly reaching apex of third aristomere. Maxillary palpi absent; prementum elongate, 1.33 times as long as width of head; labella short, length one-tenth length of prementum; labella ovate, pointed, without setae.

Thorax. Basisternum square, posterolateral extensions pointed; proepimeron, anepimeron, and anepisternum bare; one proepisternal seta; small patch of bristles in posterodorsal portion of katepisternum; dorsum of thorax without prominent bristles; scutellum reduced, without bristles. Shiny patches at apex of all tibia; prominent row of setae on posterior surface of mesofemur.

Wing. Dark pattern anterior to vein CuA 2, hyaline posterior; petiole of R 4+5 + M half as long as crossvein dm-cu; vein Sc ends at point halfway along costa; vein R 1 ends at point 0.7 of the way along costa; vein R 2+3 ends only slightly beyond end of R 1; crossvein sc-r present; petiole of CuA 2++ A 1 half as long as crossvein dm-cu; vein CuA 2 curved along its length; vena spuria present; alula half as wide as wing.

Female abdomen. Sternites 1–4 present, but narrow; tergite 5 and sternite 5 partially fused; ventral genital plate two-thirds as long as height of tergite 6; rounded, broader than tall, covered with irregular rows of spicules; tergite 6 and sternite 6 fused anteriorly; sternite 6 with rows of spicules; margin between tergite 6 and tergite 7 straight; tergite 7 and sternite 7 fused; row of long setae on sternite 7; cerci broad, cupped, square, with long setae, attached narrowly; sternite 8 bilobed, square posteriorly, with long setae; syntergite 8 + 9 with long, broad, posterior sclerotized hooks.

Male abdomen. Males are not known for this genus.

Measurements. Total length (excluding antennae) = 9–11 mm; wing length = 5–7 mm.

Geographical distribution: Afrotropical: Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia.

Etymology: The name is constructed from the Greek term schedo-, meaning near or almost, and Physoconops . The name is masculine.

Figures

Figure 3. Conopinae – Tropidomyiini – Schedophysoconops notatifrons ♀ (Camras, 1962b). A, lateral habitus; B, head; C, wing.