Genus Phthiria Meigen

Phthiria Meigen, 1803: 268 . Type species: Bombylius pulicarius Mikan, 1796, by monotypy.

Ptimia Rafinesque, 1815: 221 (unjustified emendation of Phthiria Meigen, 1820). Type species: Bombylius pulicarius Mikan, 1796, automatic.

Diagnosis. The family Bombyliidae is divided in two artificial groups, Homoeophthalmae and Tomophthalmae, based on postcranial features. Phthiria belongs to the Homoeophthalmae and the subfamily Phthiriinae, in this subfamily the genus Phthiria is easily recognized from all other genera by the following characters: Metapleuron with micropubescence, first flagellomere with short and sparse hairs, costal vein ending at anal vein, male terminalia rotated 180°, basistylus without mesal lobe bearing spines, apicomesal lobe well developed, and female spermathecal reservoir curved apically (Evenhuis, 1990; Greathead & Evenhuis, 2001).