Sacculiphora, Liu, 2021

Liu, Guangchun, 2021, A new genus of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae), with description of a new species from China, Zoological Systematics 46 (1), pp. 85-88 : 85-87

Sacculiphora gen. nov.

Type species: Sacculiphora cultrata sp. nov.

Diagnosis. In Disney's (1994) key to genera, the new genus runs to couplet 197, to the genus Maculiphora Disney (Disney & Kistner, 1991). However, it is distinguished from Maculiphora by the frontal bristle formula of 2-4-4 as opposed to 2-2-4, a strongly developed wing vein Sc, clearly fine veins and a cystiform structure on the inner surface of the male fore femur. The male of new genus is also similar to the genus Metopina Macquart, 1835 , in terms of the bristle formula of frons, however, the wing section between the vein M 2 and CuA 1 is not hourglass-shaped as that in Metopina species.

Description. Small sized flies. Frons lacking ventral fronto-orbital setae; two pairs of supra-antennal setae present. Frontal furrow absent. Flagellomere 1 globular with pointed apex; arista subapical. Anepisternum bare, divided. Wing vein Sc present; vein R 2+3 absent; all thin veins clearly present. Halter fully developed. Tibia without dorsal longitudinal setal palisades and isolated pre-apical setae. Fore femur dark, expanded ventrally; inner surface concave, covered with tubercles; a cystiform structure present at middle part of ventral edge; a row of inward inclinate setae present along apical half of ventral edge. Fore tibia cylindrical and thickening towards end. Male terminalia asymmatric and hypandrium anticlockwise rotated.

Etymology. The genus name is from the Latin words “ sacculus ” meaning cystiform and “ phora ” meaning scuttle fly, referring to the structure at middle part of ventral edge of fore femur.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Discussion. The new genus is classified in the subfamily Metopininae , based on the divided anepisternum and lack of tibial setae. Furthermore, it seems belonging to the tribe Metopiniini , according to the characters of lacking vein R 2+3; lack of small basal setae of hypandrium, and hypandrium rotated (sensu Brown, 1992). However, this classification requires further data support and more evidence. The discovery of female of this genus would be particularly helpful on the problem’s clarification.