Review of the Families Tanypezidae and Strongylophthalmyiidae, with a Revision of Neotanypeza Hendel (Diptera: Schizophora)

Owen Lonsdale

doi:10.5479/si.19436696.641.1

Abstract

Review of the Families Tanypezidae and Strongylophthalmyiidae, with a Revision of Neotanypeza Hendel (Diptera: Schizophora)

Highlights

The Tanypezidae, or stretched-foot flies of von Tschirnhaus (2008), is a readily recognizable family of acalyptrate Diptera (Schizophora)
Twelve lectotypes are designated for the following species: Tanypeza abdominalis Wiedemann, Tanypeza apicalis Wiedemann, Tritanypeza cubitofusca Enderlein, Tanypeza claripennis Schiner, Tanypeza dallasi Shannon, Tanypeza elegans Wiedemann, Tritanypeza flavibasis Enderlein, Tritanypeza rufiventris Enderlein, Polphopeza montana Enderlein, Tritanypeza ochrifemur Enderlein, Taeniaptera pallidipennis Bigot, and Tanypeza rutila Wulp
There has arguably been an unnecessary proliferation of family group names for several small clusters of genera in an already family-rich Schizophora, the separation of these two families is maintained here, mostly for the practical purpose of diagnostics, as discussed below

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Tanypezidae, or stretched-foot flies of von Tschirnhaus (2008), is a readily recognizable family of acalyptrate Diptera (Schizophora). 2 smithsonian contributions to zoology neroid families Neriidae and Micropezidae have been frequent in the literature since long legs and convergent R4+5 and M1 veins occur in all three families An alternative to these classifications was proposed by Griffiths (1972), which was discussed by McAlpine (1985) and is not considered further here. The bulk of the family’s diversity is in the neotropical Neotanypeza, which has 25 species This genus is here keyed, illustrated, and analyzed phylogenetically, including all Tanypeza, Nartshukia Shatalkin, several Strongylophthalmyia Heller, and a number of neroid and diopsoid exemplars as out-g roups. Very little is known about the life history of adult Tanypezidae and Strongylophthalmyiidae, thorough records of the biology of the two Nearctic Strongylophthalmyia species were provided by Barber (2006), who detailed ecology, biology, and behavior. Eggs in the Tanypezidae are more roughly tuberculate, without a pattern of cells and with several longitudinal furrows converging apically

MATERIALS AND METHODS

91. Spermathecal ducts

Results and Discussion

85 Female cerci curved in cross section and largely to completely fused

82 Female segments 7 and 8 widely separated by

16 Fore tarsal claws larger than those on mid or hind legs