The biting midge genus Forcipomyia (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) in the Australasian region (Exclusive of New Zealand). I. Introduction, key to subgenera, and the Thyridomyia and Trichohelea groups of subgenera

Abstract

Specimens of the genus Forcipomyia are among the most commonly encountered in biting midge collections in Australia, but until recently no systematic studies of the genus have been undertaken. The present author has published taxonomic studies of Australasian Region species of the subgenera Lasiohelea and Dacnoforcipomyia, and (with W. W. Wirth) of Euprojoannisia; the remaining subgenera are now examined. In this first part a key to the Australasian Region subgenera, and a study of those subgenera related to Thyridomyia and Trichohelea, are presented. These are: Thyridomyia Saunders (three previously described species); Synthyridomyia Saunders (six new species: caestuum, oryx, bucera, tympanista, operimenti, ansericolli); Collessohelea, subgen. nov. (one new species, yungurara); Blantonia Wirth & Dow (one new species, testudo); Schineromyia, subgen. nov. (one new species, gandangara); Trichohelea Goetghebuer (16 species, of which 10 - ferrea, cliens, imparidentes, alienus, sector, chirurgus, scorpio, lunata, arcis, tumulus - are new); Typhonomyia, subgen. nov. (one new species, anachoreta); Herakleohelea, subgen. nov. (one new species, grallator); Kattangomyia, subgen. nov. (two new species: taurus, orbis); Pterobosca Macfie (five previously described species); and Phytohelea Remm (five species, of which one - forfices - is new). For each subgenus the history of the taxon and its recorded biology are summarised, and the relationships of the Australasian species to other faunas are discussed. The interrelationships of the subgenera are also considered. The Japanese species Dasyhelea crinume Tokunaga, 1932 (subsequently (1934) transferred by its author to Apelma sensu Saunders = Phytohelea), which was described in all stages, is transferred to subgenus Pterobosca, where it provides important amplification of the subgeneric diagnosis.