Milichiidae

McAlpine, David, 2011, Observations on Antennal Morphology in Diptera, with Particular Reference to the Articular Surfaces between Segments 2 and 3 in the Cyclorrhapha, Records of the Australian Museum 63 (2), pp. 113-166 : 135-136

The Milichiidae

Examples used for this study include Stomosis sp. , Milichiella sp. , and, in less detail, Desmometopa sp. In some species separation of segments 2 and 3 without damage to the conus is difficult.

In Stomosis ( Figs 58–60 ) antennal structure retains many of the basal schizophoran features seen in various taxa of Sciomyzoidea and Canacidae s.l. The rim of segment 2 is prominently developed, without differentiated lobes, but is rather broadly interrupted dorsally. The distal articular surface is concave all around the conus, but has no differentiated cup or cavity. The conus is 136 Records of the Australian Museum (2011) Vol. 63 located near the centre of the distal articular surface and is large and prominent, with oval, dorsolateral annular ridge and foramen, and ventral chin; the button is situated dorsolaterally to the annular ridge. Segment 3 is short and compact with moderately deep basal hollow into which the conus is inserted and no basal stem; the basal foramen is contained within the hollow; the pore of the sacculus is situated on the lateral surface a little before mid-length of the segment.

Milichiella ( Figs 61, 62 ) and Desmometopa differ mainly in having the rim uninterrupted dorsally and the conus more elongate and apically thickened, as in the Phoridae and Heteromyzidae-Sphaerocerinae; the annular ridge and associated foramen are subcircular, laterodistally located, and there is no chin.

The Milichiidae are often considered to be the possible sister group to the Chloropidae (e.g., Griffiths, 1972; Brake, 2000), but the few examples examined of the former show the distal articular surface of segment 2 to have no trace of cavity or cup and the conus to be rigidly sclerotized basally.

Figures

Figures 58–60. Stomosis sp. (fam. Milichiidae). (58) Left seg. 2, distodorsal view. (59) Left seg. 2 distolateral view. (60) Left seg. 3, medial view. bf, basal foramen; bh, basal hollow; bu, pedicellar button; sc, sacculus.

Figures 61, 62. Milichiella sp. (fam. Milichiidae). (61) Right seg. 2, distal view. (62) right conus, lateral view. bu, pedicellar button.