Subfamily * Platycoryphinae subfam. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B8BF6738-548A-4042-A942-7A21085A3973

Fig. 8

Type genus

Platycorypha Tuthill, 1945 .

Diagnosis

Adult

Head with oval frons, which is almost completely covered by median ocellus. Clypeus pear-shaped, in profile hidden by genae and not visible. Propleurites with episternum subequal to or smaller than epimeron. Metacoxa with large, pointed, horn-shaped meracanthus; metatibia with large genual spine, bearing 4–5 irregularly spaced, sclerotised, apical spurs; metabasitarsus with 2 spurs. Forewing rhomboidal; costal break and pterostigma developed; cell cu 1 large; anal break close to apex of vein Cu 1b. Male proctiger one-segmented.

Fifth instar immature

Body broadly oval, lacking capitate setae. Antenna with 4 rhinaria. Meso and metathoracic sclerites small. Forewing pad lacking humeral lobes. Margin of hindwing pad usually with one sectaseta. Legs lacking capitate setae; tarsal arolium fan-shaped with unguitractor and pedicel. Caudal plate developed, semi-circular; margin with up to 3+3 sectasetae.

Description

Adult

Head, in profile, weakly to strongly inclined at 30–90° from longitudinal body axis (Fig. 8A, C, E, G). Vertex subrectangular to transversely subtrapezoidal (Fig. 8B, D, F, H); separated from genae sometimes by transverse or oblique suture, sometimes passing smoothly into genae; genae smoothly rounded (Fig. 8D, H) or forming short (Fig. 7F) or long conical processes (Fig. 8B); coronal suture fully developed or completely reduced; frons oval, almost completely covered by median ocellus; anteorbital tubercle sometimes developed (Fig. 8D: arrow). Antenna 10-segmented, filiform, ranging from slightly longer than head width to distinctly longer than forewing, segment 3 shorter or longer than segments 7 or 8. Clypeus pear-shaped, in profile hidden by genae and not visible. Rostrum usually short, only tip exceeding procoxae, sometimes longer (in some Platycorypha spp.). Thorax weakly (Fig. 7G) to strongly (Fig. 8A) arched dorsally, about as wide as head; pronotum weakly or very strongly inclined from longitudinal body axis; propleurites narrow to broad, with episternum subequal to or smaller than epimeron. Legs moderately long, tibiae often shorter than femora, sometimes subequal or longer; basitarsi not much longer than broad; metacoxa with large, pointed, horn-shaped meracanthus; metatibia with large genual spine, bearing 4–5 irregularly spaced, sclerotised, apical spurs; metabasitarsus with 2 spurs. Forewing rhomboidal, broadest in apical third or in the middle, narrowly rounded or angular apically; membrane semitransparent, covered in surface spinules; costal break and pterostigma developed; vein C+Sc weakly or strongly widened; vein R longer than M+Cu; cell cu 1 large; caudal break close to apex of vein Cu

1b

. Hindwing slightly shorter than forewing, membranous; costal setae ungrouped or grouped; vein R+M+Cu indistinctly trifurcating or splitting into R and M+Cu. Male proctiger one-segmented; in profile, tubular or with posterior lobe. Male subgenital plate subglobular or elongate. Paramere lamellar or complex. Female terminalia short or moderaly long; proctiger often with dorsal hump.

Fifth instar immature

Body broadly oval, lacking capitate setae. Antenna 7, 9 or 10-segmented, with 4 rhinaria. Meso and metathoracic sclerites small. Forewing pad lacking humeral lobes. Margin of hindwing pad usually with one sectaseta. Legs lacking capitate setae; tarsal arolium shorter or longer than claws, fan-shaped with unguitractor and pedicel. Caudal plate developed, semi-circular; margin with up to 3+3 sectasetae. Anus in ventral or terminal position; circumanal ring small heart-shaped to large undulate, restricted to ventral side or extended to dorsal side; consisting of a single row or multiple rows of pores, without additional pore fields.

Comments

Brown & Hodkinson (1988) created Limbopsylla as a polyphyletic holding place for ten “species of the subfamilies Acizziinae and Ciriacreminae which cannot be placed in existing genera”. Three species have been removed previously and three species are transferred here (Table 1). Based on adult and immature material of an undescribed species from Brazil associated with Tachigali rugosa (Fabaceae) (NHMB) which is congeneric with L. nata, the type species of Limbopsylla, we conclude that Limbopsylla is a valid genus closely related to Platycorypha, and that the other species included in Limbopsylla (Table 1) are not congeneric with the type species.

Included genera

Allophorina Hodkinson, 1991; Limbopsylla Brown & Hodkinson, 1988; Padaukia Hollis & Martin, 1993 (syn. Peltapaurocephala Heslop-Harrison nomen nudum, no description); * Platycorypha Tuthill, 1945 (syn. Neopsyllia).