GIBSON, 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 : 64-65

NEOCONOPINI GIBSON TRIB. NOV.

Type genus Neoconops Kröber, 1915e: 75 . Included genera: Atrichoparia Schneider, 2010: 33 , Callosiconops Kröber, 1940a: 75 , Camrasiconops Schneider, 2010: 78 , Delkeskampomyia Kröber, 1940a: 71 , Heteroconops Kröber, 1915e: 80 , Neoconops Kröber, 1915e: 75 , Pleurocerina , Setosiconops Schneider, 2010: 157 , Smartiomyia Kröber, 1940a: 72 , Stenoconops Kröber, 1939b: 606 , Tanyconops Schneider, 2010: 170 . Uncontroverted morphological apomorphies: none. The frons has extensive lateral grooves (10) in all members of Neoconopini ; there has been a parallel development of this character state in Asiconops (sensu stricto, s.s.) + Ceratoconops + Diconops.

Setae on the maxillary palpi are absent (39) in all members of Neoconopini , except Camrasiconops ; this character state is also observed in Asiconopini and Physocephalini + Tropidomyiini . The wings are completely hyaline (67) in all members of Neoconopini except Pleurocerina ; this character state has arisen independently in Phoridae , Syrphidae , Strongylophthalmyiidae , and Microconops . Although not available for examination, the original, or subsequent, descriptions of Delkeskampomyia and Stenoconops both include mention of these apomorphic character states.

Their inclusion in Neoconopini is thus warranted.

Gibson et al. (2012) also recover a monophyletic Neoconopini using molecular and morphological analysis and including representatives of Atrichoparia , Camrasiconops , Pleurocerina , Heteroconops , and Smartiomyia . Members of Neoconopini have not been placed within any tribe in previous classifications.

The facial ridge meeting the subcranial cavity at a 90° angle (25) is an apomorphy of Atrichoparia + Heteroconops + Neoconops + Setosiconops + Smartiomyia + Tanyconops . This character cannot be assessed in Delkeskampomyia . The same character state has arisen independently in Microconops .

An extremely elongate first flagellomere (32) is an apomorphy of Stylogaster inca + S. neglecta , and is observed in Lauxaniidae and Phoridae . This character state is also an apomorphy of Heteroconops + Neoconops + Setosiconops + Smartiomyia + Tanyconops . This latter clade also shares a stylate arista that is reduced and retracted into the first flagellomere (35) and a reduction of the spicules on the ventral genital plate to a few apical rows (92). The status of these characters is unknown in Stenoconops and Delkeskampomyia .

While both species of Setosiconops and the one species of Tanyconops are recovered in a monophyletic clade with members of Heteroconops , the possible synonymy is considered here as unconfirmed. Some characters of Heteroconops , especially regarding number of ocelli, are highly variable. Revision of all species of Heteroconops will be necessary to confirm a possible taxonomic revision for Setosiconops and Tanyconops .

Species examined – Atrichoparia curticornis ; Atrichoparia sp. A ; Atrichoparia sp. B ; Camrasiconops ater ; Callosiconops hirsutus comb. rev. ( Chrysidiomyia ); Callosiconops rufus comb. nov. ( Chrysidiomyia rufa ); Callosiconops rugifrons comb. nov. ( Chrysidiomyia ); Delkeskampomyia fasciata ; Heteroconops antennatus ; Heteroconops gracilis ; Heteroconops sp. ; Neoconops brevistylus ; Neoconops longicornis ; Pleurocerina brevis ; Pleurocerina longicornis ; Pleurocerina luteiceps ; Pleurocerina turneri ; Pleurocerina vespiformis ; Setosiconops robustus ; Smartiomyia arena ; Smartiomyia obscura ; Stenoconops niger ; Tanyconops longicaudus .