Pygophora caledonica (Bigot)

Couri, Marcia S., Pont, Adrian C. & Daugeron, Christophe, 2010, The Muscidae (Diptera) of Vanuatu, Zootaxa 2556 (1), pp. 1-39 : 30

32. Pygophora caledonica (Bigot)

Coenosia ? caledonica Bigot, 1885: 269 . Holotype female, New Caledonia ( New Caledonia), in BMNH ( Crosskey 1962: 445).

Pygophora caledonica ; Crosskey, 1962: 445; Pont, 1989: 698.

Diagnosis. Antenna yellow, postpedicel about 2.8 times as long as pedicel; palpus yellowish-white; scutum with two fine brown vittae; legs yellow; wing clear in female, but with a brown spot at apex of vein R 2+ 3 in male. Abdomen in male: syntergite 1+2 and tergite 3 yellow, tergites 4 and 5 grey with three brown spots. Abdomen in female with syntergite 1+2 and tergites 3–4 yellow, tergites 3 and 4 each with three brown spots, those on tergite 4 with grey areas between the spots, tergite 5 grey with 2 brown spots. Abdomen strongly modified in male, compressed laterally, and tergite 5 with a median keel, a tuft of long setae and ventrally with strong black setae on each side (Fig. 35); sternite 5 as in Fig. 36; aedeagus in lateral view as in Fig. 37 (all Figs in Couri et al. 2010).

Material examined. BMNH: Vanuatu: Malekula: Ounua , iii–iv.1929, 1 ♀; ii.1930, 1 ♀, L.E. Cheesman (both specimens identified by R.W. Crosskey with a question mark) .

Comments. The species was not represented in the material we have examined, except for the two females listed above, and its occurrence on Vanuatu remains doubtful .

Distribution. New Caledonia ( New Caledonia, Isle of Pines, Loyalty Islands),? Vanuatu.