Axysta punctulata (Stenhammar, 1844)

Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2022, A Second European Axysta Species (Diptera: Ephydridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 68 (2), pp. 159-168 : 166

Axysta punctulata (Stenhammar, 1844)

Notiphila (Philygria) punctulata Stenhammar, 1844: 241–242 ; type-locality: „in Uplandia ad Holmiam, Ostrohothia passim etiam in litore marino, Scania “ [ Sweden]; Syntypes 2 m, 1 f, 1 specimen with sex unidentified, deposited in Museum of Evolution , Uppsala University, Sweden.

Primary type material examined. 4 syntypes, all with only a modern museum label: 1 m syntype: “UPS7TY 185096 / Notiphila punctulata / Type collection, U.U.” ; 1 m syntype: “UPS7TY 185097 / Notiphila punctulata / Type collection, U.U.”; 1 f syntype: “UPS7TY 185100 / Notiphila punctulata / Type collection, U.U.”; 1 syntype without abdomen: “UP- S7TY 185101 / Notiphila punctulata / Type collection, U.U.” .

The examination of the four available syntypes of A. punctulata confirms the synonymy of this taxon with A. cesta . Since HALIDAY (1856) all subsequent authors have placed A. punctulata as a junior synonym to A. cesta . Because the identity of all of the available male specimens is unquestionable, and there is no hint of any additional type material, there is not considered to be any need to designate a lectotype.