Eudmeta Wiedemann

Winterton, Shaun L., 2023, Wasp-mimicking soldier flies of the Australian Region: revision of Ampsalis Walker, Elissoma White and Lagenosoma Brauer (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae), Zootaxa 5246 (1), pp. 1-63 : 29

Eudmeta Wiedemann

( Figs 3 ; 19D ; 20 ; 31A ; 34C )

Eudmeta Wiedemann, 1830: 43 — Brauer, 1882: 68 [key]; Bigot, 1891: 281 [catalogue]; Brunetti, 1920: 41 [revision], 1923: 87 [key, revision]; James, 1975b: 30 [catalogue]; Woodley, 1989: 314 [catalogue], 2001: 166 [catalogue]; Yang et al., 2010: 330. Type species: Hermetia marginata Fabricius, 1805: 63 , by monotypy.

Toxocera Macquart, 1850: 348 . Type species: Hermetia limbiventris Fabricius, 1805: 63 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Scutellar and notopleural spines absent; wing vein M 3 present; M 4 arising on discal cell, cross-vein r–m present; wing straight, not bent over abdomen; face flat; male eyes contiguous medially; eye not pilose; postocular ridge carinate in female, male narrowly carinate; antenna greatly elongate, scape much shorter than flagellum; flagellum cylindrical, circular sensory pits on flagellomeres I–III, flagellomeres IV–V very short and of similar length, flagellomeres VI–VII longer and of similar length; flagellomere VIII longer than all other flagellomeres, usually covered with deeply plumose microtrichia; abdomen ovoid in both sexes.

Comments. Eudmeta contains three species ( Woodley 2001; Yang et al. 2010) and is differentiated from other clitellariine genera in these regions by the following characters: absence of a nose-like process on the face, absence of scutellar spines (shared with Lagenosoma and Ruba ) and notopleural spines, wings straight (bent over abdomen in Octarthria ).

Examination of specimens of the relatively recently described Eudmeta coerulemaculata Yang Wei et Yang, 2010 , indicate that it is a synonym of the widely distributed E. marginata and that differences between the two species outlined by Yang et al. (2010) are colour differences attributable to variation in preservation condition and age of specimens; live specimens of both species appear identical. Comparisons of morphology of the male genitalia of both species also supports that they are the same species. In E. marginata and E. coerulemaculata (see Yang et al. 2014: fig. 181) the gonostylus is similarly forked with one arm shorter than the other, while in, for example E. diadematipennis , the gonostylus is not forked (see Yang et al. 2014: fig. 182). Two Eudmeta species are endemic to India, while E. marginata is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia, including southern China, India and extending as far east as central Indonesia.

Included species. Eudmeta brunnea de Meijere, 1904 ; E. diadematipennis Brunetti, 1923 ; E. marginata ( Fabricius, 1805) (= E. coerulemaculata Yang, Wei & Yang, 2010 syn. n.).

Key to species of Eudmeta

1. Body black with pale markings on thorax and abdomen (green to blue in life) ( Fig. 3 ) (widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia).......................................................................... E. marginata (Fabricius) .

- Body mostly orange with brown or black markings......................................................... 2.

2. Wing orange in basal half, dark brown infuscate in distal half; thorax uniform orange; abdomen orange, tergites 5–6 black ( India)...................................................................... E. diadematipennis Brunetti.

- Wing largely hyaline, brown band across wing at pterostigma and brown apically; scutum with brown suffusion medially, orange marginally; abdominal tergites dark brown, with orange margin ( India).................... E. brunnea de Meijere.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Eudmeta marginata (Fabricius), male, Singapore (image copyright: Shaun L. Winterton).

FIGURE 19. Antennae. A. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; B. Elissoma scapula sp. n.; C. Lagenosoma pictum Brauer; D. Eudmeta marginata Wiedemann.

FIGURE 20. Stylised illustrations of the antenna of Eudmeta, Ampsalis, Elissoma and Lagenosoma.

FIGURE 31. A. Eudmeta marginata (Fabricius), male, scutellum; B. Campeprosopa longispina (Brunetti, 1913), female, scutellum.

FIGURE 34. Abdomens. A. Lagenosoma eklemmum sp. n., female; B. Lagenosoma propius sp. n., male; C. Eudmeta marginata (Fabricius), male; D. Campeprosopa longispina (Brunetti, 1913), female.