Physocephala pusilla, Meigen, 1804

Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2016, Taxonomic notes on Western Palaearctic Conopidae (Diptera), Zootaxa 4178 (4), pp. 521-534 : 528

P. pusilla ( Meigen, 1804)

Conops pusilla Meigen 1804: 280 ; type-locality: “bei Beaucaire im südlichen Frankreich ”; holotypus ♂ [MNHN]

Diagnosis. Physocephala pusilla is another variable species with several colour morphs that have been described as distinct species, and misidentified in many cases. P. pu s i l l a belongs with Physocephala antiqua , P. chrysorrhoe and P. variegata , to the group of species that have an obvious broad dusted stripe reaching from the mid coxa to the notopleuron, without becoming narrower above. Typical P. pusilla can readily be recognised by the wing pattern: the wing is completely covered with michrotrichia, the subcostal cell sc is dark, and all the veins, including the subcostal Sc, are dark brown to black. Dark winged specimens of P. antiqua with some microtrichia on cell dm can be confused with lighter, larger specimens of P. pusilla colour morph lacera which has a light brown subcostal vein Sc and a slightly paler subcostal cell.