Cephalops varipes ( Meigen, 1824 ) Meigen, 1824

Kehlmaier, Christian, 2008, Finnish Pipunculidae (Diptera) studies Part I: Taxonomic notes on Cephalops Fallén, 1810, Pipunculus Latreille, 1802 and Tomosvaryella Aczél, 1939, Zootaxa 1672, pp. 1-42 : 4

Cephalops varipes ( Meigen, 1824) comb. nov.

Pipunculus varipes Meigen, 1824: 21 .

Pipunculus semifumosus Kowarz, 1887: 149 . syn. nov.

When studying the Meigen collection in Paris, one male and two females are placed under Pipunculus varipes . As Meigen (1824) originally only described the male sex, “ …nur das Männchen ” Meigen (1824: 22), and it is unclear on how many specimens he based his description, the male is considered the only type specimen left and is hereby designated as lectotype. The label data is as follows: round white label with “ 122640 ” hand written; a rectangular label with “ Pipunculus varipes ” hand written. The specimen is in poor state with only right wing, part of thorax, three legs and part of abdomen remaining. Fortunately, the genitalia only lack the inner surstylus and have the phallic guide and phallus intact. Pipunculus varipes was found to be conspecific with Cephalops (Semicephalops) semifumosus ( Kowarz, 1887) syn. nov. and should be addressed as Cephalops varipes ( Meigen, 1824) comb. nov. in the future. The ventroapical corner of the outer surstylus is slightly longer than figured in De Meyer (1989a). The two females present belong to the Pipunculus campestris species complex, whose females cannot be separated with certainty at present. Verrall (1901: 99) studied Meigen’s collection in 1899 and comments on these specimens, especially the females, which he all considers as types. In his view, the lectotype constitutes a fragment of an immature and small male. Later, Collin (1956: 163) points out the type status of this male but speaks of a “ …practically unrecognizable fragment… ”. The above taxonomic transfer leaves the taxon formerly addressed as Pipunculus varipes auct. nec Meigen, 1824, in the following abbreviated as “ varipes ”, without any available name. It is proposed to address it as Pipunculus violovitshi Kuznetzov, 1991 (see below on page 26f).