Hoplocheiloma Cresson, 1926

Marshall, S. A., 2011, A review of the genus Hoplocheiloma Cresson (Diptera: Micropezidae), Zootaxa 2806 (1), pp. 1-23 : 3

Hoplocheiloma Cresson

Hoplocheiloma Cresson 1926: 272 . Type species Musca fasciata Fabricius by original designation (preoccupied, replaced by Musca totliana Gmelin 1790 ).

Generic diagnosis. Hoplocheiloma species are the only Taeniapterinae with setae (usually 2–4 stout setae) on the clypeus. Cell CuP (anal cell) is bare, broadly triangular and extends half way from crossvein bm-cu to the wing margin. Veins R 4+5 and M converge strongly and sometimes meet before the wing tip.

Generic description. Body length 5–12mm, usually close to 9mm. Colour varying from blue-black to bright orange, wing pigmentation highly variable. Head chaetotaxy variable, always at least with an inner vertical seta but usually with 1–2 minute frontal setae, a larger (upper) orbital seta, and well-developed outer vertical seta. Frontal vitta depressed, flat, weakly differentiated from orbital plates. Pronotum forming a distinct neck between head and mesothorax; mesonotum with serial rows of small dorsocentral and acrostichal setulae, anterior dorsocentral setae sometimes enlarged, large prescutellar dorsocentral setae always present. Two notopleural setae, anterior usually weak (strong in H. jamaica ), posterior strong. Supraalar and postalar setae strong, scutellum with a single pair of large apical marginal setae and one or more pairs of minute discal setae. Katepisternum with 2–3 stout ventral setae. Katatergite usually swollen into a broadly rounded bulge. Mid and hind tibiae cylindrical, with sparse row of short stout dorsal setae. Wing pigmentation highly variable, with three or four bands or dark with pale spots; cell CuP bare and of intermediate length, CuA2 subequal to A1+CuA2. Cells c, bm and basal half of cell br also mostly bare, along with a small area of membrane distal to CuP.

Abdominal pleuron with extensive dark pigmentation at least on dorsal half and usually with a species-specific pattern (pigmentation of abdominal membrane often obscured in pinned specimens); pleuron of male sometimes with a bulging thin-walled dome (pleural sac) just below lateral margin of tergite 3.

Oviscape elongate, almost as long as abdomen, with base partially pruinose (pruinosity encircling abdomen in some species). Paired spermathecae with variously elongated, twisted or convoluted bases and a relatively small spherical to cylindrical body; single spermatheca elongate, usually with bumps or other ornaments; single spermathecal duct usually as long as paired spermathecal duct (except in H. Hispaniola ). Male with a long, setose genital fork; epandrium usually pale, at least basally; hypandrium with an incomplete posterior bridge and long anterior arms that fuse to form an anterior bridge in some species but remain free in others. Distiphallus with a relatively broad basal part, a small bulb-like structure between basal and distal parts, distal part usually very narrow and tapered.

Etymology. Neuter, from the Greek hoplo (armed) and cheloma (notch), presumably referring to the stout clypeal setae.