Chamaethrix, Gaimari, 2020

Gaimari, Stephen D., 2020, Two new genera of Nearctic Chamaemyiidae (Diptera: Lauxanioidea) associated with Cinara aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Pinus, Zootaxa 4852 (1), pp. 61-82 : 62

Chamaethrix gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0EB03507-C38A-48A1-9740-63D958CFBB9A

“Undescribed genus D”— Gaimari 2010: 1006.

Type species. Chamaethrix necopina sp. nov., by present designation.

Etymology. The prefix Chamae-, in reference to the family Chamaemyiidae , appended with the feminine Greek terminal root -thrix, meaning “hair.” The name refers to the odd conformation of head setae for this genus.

Diagnosis. As a monotypic genus, the diagnosis for the genus is identical to that of the single known species.

Remarks. The genus is a member of the Leucopini (in the subfamily Chamaemyiinae ), as evidenced by such characteristics as the stout and compact body, the absence of postocellar setae, the high setulose lunule, the lack of a presutural dorsocentral seta with dorsocentral setae generally located posteriorly, the presence in males of microtrichiae on the lateral edges of syntergite 1+2 and tergite 3, and the relatively compact form and pattern of furrows of the egg. But at the same time, there are characteristics present that are typical of Chamaemyiini , such as the proclinate ocellar setae (although they are tiny in this new genus), the flat frons descending at an angle from the vertex, and the multiple fronto-orbital setae along the length of the eye margin. This odd mix of chamaemyiine and leucopine characteristics made placement to tribe not straightforward, but the preponderance of evidence points to its inclusion in the Leucopini .