Physocephala variegata, Meigen, 1824

Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2016, Taxonomic notes on Western Palaearctic Conopidae (Diptera), Zootaxa 4178 (4), pp. 521-534 : 531

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4178.4.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0FC215B7-B640-42E5-9709-64CC15581D97
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6070356
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CE87E7-B321-9276-30DA-FB92F115F8CD
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Physocephala variegata
status

Treatment

P. variegata ( Meigen, 1824) View in CoL

Conops variegata Meigen, 1824: 132 View in CoL ; type-locality: “ Oesterreich ”, “südlichen Frankreich ”; holotypus ♂ [MNHN]

Diagnosis. Physocephala variegata is a unique species belonging to a group which has a broad stripe of pleural

dusting reaching from the mid coxa all the way up to the notopleuron and not becoming narrower dorsally. It is

easily distinguished from other European species of this group, and indeed from all other European species, by the

characteristic broad dusting on the parafacia. The reduced dark wing pattern and the distinct areas without

microtrichia on the wing also distinguish this from similar species.

= P. aurulenta ( Bigot, 1887) syn. nov.

Conops aurulentus Bigot 1887: 31 View in CoL –32; type-locality: “Europe mérid.”; holotypus ♂ [UMO] The holotype of Physocephala aurulenta was examined and it belongs to Physocephala variegata View in CoL . Therefore,

P. aurulenta is placed as junior synonym to P. variegata View in CoL .

= P. laeta Becker, 1913 syn. nov.

Physocephala laeta Becker, 1913b: 613 View in CoL –614; type-locality: “ Pers. - Beludshistan, Kirman, zwischen Chasyk und der Bergspitze Kuch-i-tuftan” [ Iran]; syntypus 1♂ 1♀ [ ZMHB]

Some specimens of Physocephala variegata View in CoL can have a completely orange-brown abdomen, completely orange pleura and a scutum that is barely darkened in the centre only. These specimens agree completely with the description of P. laeta View in CoL . P. l ae t a is therefore interpreted as a pale colour colour morph of P. variegata View in CoL , and is accordingly treated as a junior synonym of P. variegata View in CoL .