Australian Sympycninae II: Syntormon Loew and Nothorhaphium, gen. nov., with a treatment of the Western Pacific fauna, and notes on the subfamily Rhaphiinae and Dactylonotus Parent (Diptera : Dolichopodidae)

Abstract

The Australian species of two genera, Nothorhaphium, gen. nov. andSyntormon Loew (Diptera : Dolichopodidae), are described, illustrated and keyed, and discussed in context of the Western Pacific fauna. The two genera are phylogenetically close. The Australian Nothorhaphium comprises four species: N. aemulans Becker, comb. nov. (= Xiphandrium pudicum Parent, syn. nov.), N. nudicorne, sp. nov., N. callosum, sp. nov., and N. curalo, sp. nov. The montane New Guinean N. oro, sp. nov. is also described, and its close relationship with the predominantly southern temperate Australian fauna is discussed, suggesting it was part of a common Australian fauna which became isolated with the uplift of New Guinea in the mid–late Tertiary. The Australian Syntormon comprises six species: S. xiphandroides Parent, S. flexibile Becker, S. singularis, sp. nov., S. tasmanense, sp. nov., S. janelithae, sp. nov., and S. lucare, sp. nov. As well, S. aotearoa is described from New Zealand. Genera once thought to be close to Syntormon are discussed. The subfamily Rhaphiinae is briefly discussed, noting the problem of subfamily definition. The New Zealand Syntormon formosus Parent is placed in new combination [= Dactylonotus formosus (Parent)] in a genus previously known only from southern Africa.