Tapantia, Brown, Brian V. & Kung, Giar-Ann, 2004

Brown, Brian V. & Kung, Giar-Ann, 2004, Two new genera of Phoridae (Insecta: Diptera) from the Neotropical Region, Zootaxa 554, pp. 1-7 : 2-3

Tapantia new genus

Type species: Tapantia bicasa new species.

Diagnosis. Frons lacking one pair of usual setae, either ventral fronto­orbital setae or supra­antennal setae. Frontal furrow absent. Anepisternum bare, lacking furrows (= undivided). Midtibia with basal pair of large, isolated setae; anterior subapical seta about as long as tibial width at point of its insertion. Hind tibia lacking dorsal, longitudinal setal palisade. Wing vein R2+3 absent, although there is some dark pigment in its usual position. Male epandrium with short ring basal to cerci, without long posterior epandrial projections.

Derivation of name. The name is based on the National Park at the type locality. Its gender is here considered to be feminine.

Phylogenetic Relationships. Tapantia is a non­metopinine genus, classified in what traditionally is considered the subfamily Phorinae . Although this genus is superficially similar to (and keys out near) Triphleba Rondani (in Disney 1994), the structure of the terminalia is much more similar to those of Dohrniphora Dahl ( Figs. 3–4 ). Besides striking overall similarity, we propose that the presence of an epandrial ring links Tapantia with Dohrniphora , Diplonevra Lioy , Psyllomyia Loew , and some other genera (as outlined by Brown, 1992). These genera were placed in a tribe Diplonevrini by Brown (1992) within his revised subfamily Aenigmatiinae , but this classification, like others within the family, requires extensive further data and evaluation. Discovery of the female of this genus would be particularly welcome and informative.

Recognition. This species keys to couplet 76 in the latest key to phorid genera ( Disney 1994), where we are asked to choose between wing vein R2+3 complete (genus Triphleba Rondani , in part) versus wing vein R2+3 basally obliterated. In either case, at least a vestigial R2+3 is expected, whereas in Tapantia there is only some dark pigment. If we take lead 2, we are lead to couplet 77. The two leads of couplet 77 are “Restricted to New Zealand ” versus “Restricted to Holarctic Region,” neither of which apply. The first lead is for the genus Kierania Schmitz , which differs from Tapantia by having elongate posterior processes on the epandrium. The second lead is for Triphleba , in part, which also has such elongate processes. Interestingly, undescribed Neotropical Region species of Triphleba Rondani that completely lack wing vein R2+3 also key to this problematic couplet. To amend these problems, we propose the following modification to Disney’s key:

76. Fork of vein 3 complete [=R2+3 fully developed] ................................ Triphleba (part) ­ Inner branch of fork (R2+3) partly to completely absent .......................................... 77 77. Male terminalia with posterodorsal area of epandrium narrow, continuous below

cerci, not produced posteriorly; cerci relatively elongate, base of cerci with short

epandrial ring ................................................................................................ Tapantia ­ Male terminalia with posterodorsal area of epandrium produced posteriorly, ending

freely, often in elongate processes; cerci short, base of cerci without epandrial ring..

............................................................................................................................... 77A 77A. Restricted to New Zealand............................................................................. Kierania ­ Restricted to Holarctic and Neotropical Regions............................... Triphleba (part)

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Tapantia bicasa new species. 1. Head. 2. Wing. 3. Male terminalia, left side. 4. Male terminalia, right side.