Review of the Australian genera of signal flies (Diptera: Platystomatidae)
Abstract
The distribution patterns of platystomatid genera in the 12 recognized provinces of the Australasian Region are recorded. Notes are provided on biology and behaviour, including parasitism by fungi and strepsipterans, and mimicry of other insects and spiders. Means of separation from other acalyptrate families are provided. A key to Australasian genera is given. The subfamily Angitulinae is placed in synonymy of Platystomatinae. The subfamily classification is briefly discussed. The following new genera are described: Aetha, Bama, Eumeka, Hysma, Par, Phlyax, Signa, Tarfa, Terzia, Tomeus. Gonga and Polimen are new subgenera of Naupoda and Bama respectively. The genus Lasioxiria Hendel is a new synonym of Atopognathus Bigot. Chaetostichia Enderlein is a new synonym of Scholastes Loew. Eopiara Frey, described as a subgenus of Piara Loew, is raised to generic status. The genera Angituloides Hendel and Giraffomyia Sharp are reduced to subgenera of Angitula Walker. The following new species are described: Aetha cowanae, Bama (Polimen) shinonagai, Eumeka hendeli, Hysma lacteum, Paryphodes hospes, Signa mouldsi, Tarfa bowleyae, Terzia saigusai, Tomeus wyliei, Zealandortalis gregi. Lule speiseri de Meijere, 1914 is a new synonym of Phasiamya metallica Walker, 1849. New generic combinations are made as follows: Angitula austeni (Hendel, 1913) (Angituloides); Angitula irregularis (Malloch, 1940) (Giraffomyia); Angitula regularis (Malloch, 1940) (Giraffomyia); Angitula solomonensis (Malloch, 1940) (Giraffomyia); Angitula willeyi (Sharp, 1899) (Giraffomyia); Atopognathus hirsutus (Hendel, 1914a) (Lasioxiria); Bama bipunctatum (Hendel, 1914a) (Euxestomoea); Bama papuanum (Hennig, 1940b) (Xiria); Bama strigatum (Hennig, 1940b) (Xiria); Chaetorivellia tarsalis (Walker, 1861c) (Ortalis); Cleitamoides trigonalis (de Meijere, 1913) (Cleitamia); Eopiara chrysoptera (Frey, 1964) (Piara); Eopiara elegans (Frey, 1964) (Lamprogaster); Lamprophthalma egregia (de Meijere, 1924) (Plagiostenopterina); Lamprophthalma medionotata (de Meijere, 1924) (Plagiostenopterina); ?Microepicausta sangiensis (de Meijere, 1916) (Elassogaster); Neohemigaster fascifrons (de Meijere, 1916) (Pterogenia); Neohemigaster guttata (Walker, 1856) (Lamprogaster, later in Pterogenia); Par evitta (Malloch, 1939a) (Elassogaster); Phlyax simmondsi (Bezzi, 1928) (Naupoda); Scholastes aduncivena (Enderlein, 1924) (Chaetostichia); Xiriella lunaris (de Meijere, 1916) (Lule).
