Nocticanace Malloch

Mathis, Wayne N. & Marinoni, Luciane, 2012, A conspectus on the Canacidae (Diptera) of Brazil, ZooKeys 162, pp. 59-92 : 64-65

Genus Nocticanace Malloch (35 species worldwide; 2 from Brazil)

Nocticanace Malloch 1933: 4. Type species: Nocticanace peculiaris Malloch, by original designation. Wirth 1951: 269-274 [revision]; 1975: 2-3 [Neotropical catalog]. Munari and Mathis 2010: 20-24 [world catalog].

Diagnosis.

Small to medium-sized beach flies, body length 1.80-3.70 mm; general coloration grayish black to black. Head: Interfrontal setae 1 pair; postocellar setae either absent or much reduced, less than 1/4 length of ocellar setae; ocelli arranged to form an isosceles triangle, distance between posterior ocelli greater than that between either posterior ocellus and the anterior ocellus. Two-3 long dorsoclinate genal setae; anteroclinate genal setae moderately well developed, at least 1/2 length of larger dorsoclinate genal setae. Epistomal margin sinuous; clypeus low, width subequal to length of antenna. Palpus grayish black, bearing 1 to several long setae, each seta 2-3 times greatest width of palpus. Thorax: Anepisternum with scattered setulae; proepisternal seta absent; katepisternal seta present, well developed. Legs entirely dark colored, grayish black; forefemur bearing 4-6 long and evenly spaced setae along posteroventral margin, length of setae at least equal to and usually greater than width of femur.

Discussion.

This is the most species-rich genus of surf flies ( Canacinae ; 35 species) and has greatest species diversity in the Old World ( Mathis 1992). The New World fauna now comprises 14 species. The species known from Brazil belong to the pacifica, and galapagensis groups.

Annotated Key to Species Groups of the Genus Nocticanace

The pacifica Group

Diagnosis. Coloration generally dark, grayish brown to grayish black but with exceptions ( Nocticanace flavipalpis and Nocticanace litorea : lighter, with some tan coloration on the body and legs extensively yellowish). Head: 2 large, dorsoclinate, genal setae. Thorax: Acrostichal setulae absent; apical scutellar setae distinctly dorsoclinate; anterior notopleural seta absent; proepisternal seta(e) present; anepisternum with scattered setulae; katepisternal seta present. Legs usually entirely dark, grayish brown to black ( Nocticanace flavilpalpis and Nocticanace littorea are exceptions with yellowish legs); forefemur with 4-6 long and evenly spaced setae along posteroventral margin, length greater than width of femur; midfemur of male lacking a comblike row of setae; hindtibia lacking spinelike setae apically. Wing with length of apical section of vein CuA1 long, about twice length of crossvein dm-cu; vein M index 0.44.