Revision of Afrotropical Pachycerina Macquart (Diptera: Lauxaniidae)

Abstract

The flies of the genus Pachycerina Macquart (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) in the Afrotropical region are taxo-nomically revised. Eleven species of Pachycerina are found in the Afrotropics (including Madagascar) with seven new species: P. atrimela sp. n., P. gabela sp. n., P. micropunctata sp. n., P. nigrivittata sp. n., P. pellocera sp. n., P. potentilla sp. n., and P. stuckenbergi sp. n. The Afrotropical fauna is relatively conservative in coloration and morphological variation; variation most affecting prefrontal (facial) spot size, abdomen colour, wing infuscation and male terminalia. All male Afrotropical Pachycerina have the protandrium partially fused to tergite 6 and possess simplified genitalia lacking an aedeagus and hypandrium. The absence of the aedeagus is an apparently unusual condition for lauxaniids, only otherwise recorded in Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy (Lauxaniinae) and beetle fly genera (Celyphinae). The male sternite 5 shows notable variability across species and is a useful aid to identification. A generic diagnosis and species identification key to Pachycerina males are provided. Two rearing records of larval Pachycerina from bird nests in South Africa are reported.