PERISCELIDIDAE

Grimaldi, David A., 2009, The Asteioinea of Fiji (Insecta: Diptera: Periscelididae, Asteiidae, Xenasteiidae), American Museum Novitates 3671, pp. 1-60 : 3-4

FAMILY PERISCELIDIDAE

This is a global family of only approximately 80 described species, currently including 10 extant genera and one extinct genus ( Procyamops , known from Baltic amber). Three of the extant genera are cosmopolitan ( Cyamops [ca. 24 spp.], Periscelis [ca. 15 spp], Stenomicra [27 described species]), and the remaining genera are monotypic or contain just a few species and are mostly restricted to the neotropics ( Diopsosoma Malloch , Marbenia Malloch , Neoscutops Malloch, Parafscutops Mathis and Papp , Planinasus Cresson , and Scutops Coquillett ). Stenocyamops Papp was the most recently described genus, known until now from a species from Thailand. The genus Stenomicra contains more than 100 new species from the neotropics alone (C.W. Sabrosky, unpubl.).

All of the Fiji periscelidids belong to three closely related genera: Stenomicra , Cyamops , and the apparently intermediate Stenocyamops . A close relationship of the three genera is based on the following synapomorphic features: lower portion of face protrudent, with projecting pair of ‘‘pseudovibrissae,’’ loss of ocellar setae, loss of postocellar/postvertical setae, loss to great reduction of postpronotal setae, vein CuA 1 with an abrupt (vs. evanescent) distal end, tVII + sVIII fused in males, and females with syntergosternite VII. Cyamops is clearly a monophyletic group, but it is possible that Stenocyamops may be just a basal grade to Stenomicra . A detailed phylogenetic analysis of these genera is needed at the species level, but in lieu of a monographic treatment of the world species of Stenomicra —of which there are hundreds— such an analysis would be premature at present.