Hebetula

Borkent, Art, 2024, The Phylogeny of the Genera of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the World, Zootaxa 5438 (1), pp. 1-274 : 234

Hebetula :

- Female labrum broad but tapered apically ( Figs. 28G–H ). An apically tapered labrum is present in Forcipomyiinae and Echinohelea , although details differ (see character 40).

- Female with narrow scutal apodemes, arising from a common base (this feature is unique in the family).

- Female fifth tarsomeres with batonnets, at least some of which are apically truncate. This is unique in the Culicomorpha (see character 101 regarding batonnets). The batonnets are also apically hooked but the hooked condition also occurs in some Sphaeromiini and Johannsenomyiini . This genus is also unique in having the fifth tarsomere narrow where the batonnets are placed (the basal portion of the tarsomere). Other genera with batonnets have the tarsomere of more or less equal diameter for most of their lengths.

- Female with each leg with a single claw and a basal tooth directed posteriorly ( Fig. 77H ). The condition is unique in the Culicomorpha. In all other Ceratopogonidae with a single claw and a basal or subbasal tooth, the tooth is directed anteriorly.

Figures

FIGURE 28. Apical portion of labrum of female Ceratopogonidae, in anterior view. A. Stilobezzia (Debenhamia) n. sp. B. Serromyia barberi. C. Monohelea ornata. D. Atyphohelea macroneura. E. Parabezzia huberti Grogan & Wirth. F. Echinohelea lanei. G. Hebetula tonnoiri (Lee). H. Hebetula bequaerti (Goetghebuer). I. Phaenobezzia fulvithorax.

FIGURE 77. Stylized portrayal of female claw shape variation in Ceratopogonidae. Arrows show possible, logical directions of change, drawing into question homologous character states and making interpretation of synapomorphies difficult for most taxa.An exemplar taxon is noted for each form of claw shape and all extant Ceratopogonidae genera are listed in Table 5 under the corresponding figure letter. The variation is discussed under “Uncertain Character States” as “Presence of one or two claws on each of female fore-, mid- and hind legs, each claw with or without basal or subbasal teeth”.