Afrokeroplatus, Ševčík & Mantič & Blagoderov, 2015

Ševčík, Jan, Mantič, Michal & Blagoderov, Vladimir, 2015, Two new genera of Keroplatidae (Diptera), with an updated key to the World genera of Keroplatini, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 387-399 : 388

Afrokeroplatus gen. nov.

Type species. Afrokeroplatus ashleyi sp. nov., here designated.

Diagnosis. A medium-sized keroplatid fungus gnat with unmarked wings and remarkably pectinate antennae ( Figs 1, 2 ). Mouthparts reduced, including the labellum, palpus with two short palpomeres. Thorax without distinct subscutellar membranous area. Wing ( Fig. 3 ) covered with microtrichia, without macrotrichia. Vein R 4 relatively long, oblique. Stem of M-fork shorter than r-m. Vein M 1 distally bent posteriorly. Both Cu 1 (= CuA of some authors) and A 1 (= CuP of some authors) strong, reaching wing margin. Tibia with setae forming distinct longitudinal rows and with several sparsely distributed short setae. Gonostylus with two strong apical teeth.

Differential diagnosis. The new genus is characterised by its pectinate antennae in combination with unmarked wings, reduced mouthparts, bare laterotergites, tibial trichia in regular rows, and by its wing venation. Within the group of genera of Keroplatini with pectinate antennae, bare laterotergites and tibial trichia in rows (see couplets 6 to 9 in the key below), it may be distinguished by the absence of the subscutellar membranous area, and by unmarked wings with the stem of M-fork shorter than r-m fusion, the long and oblique R 4, and M 1 bent posteriorly. Interestingly, most of the wing characters correspond to those of Macrocera Meigen, 1803 or Hesperodes Coquillett, 1900 (e.g. short stem of M-fork, long and oblique R 4, strong A 1 reaching wing margin, parallel and bent M 1 and M 2), but in Afrokeroplatus gen. nov. the veins M 4 and Cu 1 are not so close to each other basally and Sc is shorter, not reaching the level of r-m fusion. Also the structure of the antennae and head is different from those in Macrocerinae . Concerning the male terminalia, the gonostylus with two strong apical teeth is similar to the Afrotropical Orfeliini genera Asynaphleba Matile, 1974 and Schizocyttara Matile, 1974 , as well as in many taxa of Macrocerini .

Etymology. The generic name is derived from Africa, referring to its distribution, and Keroplatus Bosc, 1792 , a related genus. Gender is masculine.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Afrokeroplatus ashleyi gen. & sp. nov. 1 – male habitus (scale bar 1 mm); 2 – male head, frontal view.

Fig. 3. Afrokeroplatus ashleyi gen. & sp. nov., wing.