Zaleinae, D. McAlpine, 1985

McAlpine, D. K., 2007, The Surge Flies (Diptera: Canacidae: Zaleinae) of Australasia and Notes on Tethinid-Canacid Morphology and Relationships, Records of the Australian Museum 59 (1), pp. 27-64 : 44

Subfamily Zaleinae

Diagnostic description

Head. Pseudopostocellar bristles absent; postvertical bristles proclinate, usually more or less divergent, at bases at most slightly closer to nearest inner vertical than to each other; fronto-orbital bristles three, all reclinate or posterior one variably curved outwards; vibrissa located either at anterior extremity of cheek (as seen in profile) or distinctly behind this point; facial ridge not prominent, without tubercle; face not prominent, usually nearly vertical, lightly sclerotized except on lower median part; eye with many well-developed ommatrichia, c. as numerous as ommatidial facets.Antennae subparallel, decumbent; segment 2 with any setulae on medial surface inconspicuous or absent; segment 5 usually stout, microtrichose; segment 6 with moderately dense short to moderate hairs. Subcranial area not enlarged; prelabrum well developed but not broad, not set back from anterior surface of head; proboscis of moderate dimensions; prementum longer than wide, not cleft distomedially; labella not posteriorly prolonged.

Thorax. Dorsocentral bristles four pairs; one humeral bristle differentiated; scutellum with two pairs of major bristles, sometimes also with one or two pairs of smaller bristles, but without dorsal setulae; prosternum with presternum at least moderately developed, basisternum with or without precoxal bridge. Costa on marginal cell with a series of anterior spinules interspersed at short intervals among more numerous hairs or short bristles; discal cell separate from second basal cell; anal cell open distally; distal section of vein 6 represented only by indistinct crease in membrane.

Abdomen. Tergites 1 and 2 separated in mid-dorsal region by narrow membranous strip, their combined length much less than that of rest of abdomen. Male: dorsal protandrial sclerite symmetrical (i.e. without visible vestige of sternite 7), remarkably large because of large tergite 6 component; epandrium with at least one pair of basally fully articulated surstyli; hypandrium (so far as known) with at least one comb of three bristles on each side. Female: postabdominal segments very extensile; cercus simple, straight, blunt, basally articulated, without spines.