Genus Acupalpa Kröber, 1912

Museums

Regional Maps

• Acupalpa Kröber, O. 1912. Die Thereviden der indoaustralischen Region. (Dipt). Entomologische Mitteilungen. Berlin-Dahlem 1: 116-125 [118] (key).

  Type species:

   Acupalpa rostrata Kröber, 1912b (in 1912a Kröber cites Acupalpa only in the key on p. 118 without included species, whereas the genus and type species are described in 1912b on p. 152) by subsequent monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Kröber, O. 1912. Die Thereviden der indoaustralischen Region. (Dipt). Entomologische Mitteilungen. Berlin-Dahlem 1: 148-159 [152] (description).

Introduction

Acupalpa is readily distinguished from other genera of Agapophytinae by the shape of the antennae and frons and by the distinctive spermathecal sac shape. There were five described and at least two undescribed species represented in collections. All described species are common throughout central-eastern Australia (Winterton et al. 2001). In their phylogenetic revision of Agapophytinae using both molecular and morphological data, Winterton et al. (2001) placed Laxotela with Belonalys as an intermediate clade sister to Agapophytus+(Pipinnipons+Acupalpa).

Twelve new species of Acupalpa were described by Winterton in 2011, many from Western Australia, indicating a rich diversity of this genus in the western region of the continent. Addition of these new species significantly broadened the concept of Acupalpa beyond the characters defining the genus in previous treatments (i.e. Mann 1929; Winterton 2000; Winterton et al. 2001), therefore the genus and constituent species were rediagnosed (as below). Acupalpa imitans (White, 1915), was transferred from Pipinnipons based on the discovery of new material matching the original description, while A. albimanis (Kröber, 1914), was transferred from Ectinorhynchus Macquart, 1850 as the latter was the senior subjective synonym of A. pollinosa.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ) ; NSW, Qld, Vic: Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Highlands (SEH) ; Qld: Brigalow Belt South (BBS) ; Qld, Tas: Tasmanian South East (TSE) ; Vic: Murray Darling Depression (MDD) ; WA: Carnarvon (CAR), Coolgardie (COO), Esperance Plains (ESP), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Mallee (MAL), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Yalgoo (YAL)

Diagnosis

Antennal scape shorter than or equal to flagellum; antenna elongate, cylindrical, total length slightly longer than or equal to head length; upper part of frons flat or slightly concave above antenna; face either protruding anteriorly below antennal base, or broadly rounded, expansive, short dark setae often present; parafacial setae absent; palpus apically narrow or acute, not spatulate; mouthparts length variable, frequently elongate and forward projecting; male postocular ridge with single row of macrosetae immediately laterad of ocellar tubercle, female with more than one row; wing infuscate, usually strongly banded; setae absent on wing vein R1; cell m3 closed; velutum patches on fore and hind femora; femora without macrosetae; single type of setal pile on femora, setae not appressed; prosternal furrow without setae; post spiracular pile absent; pleuron orange to black, overlain with sparse silver pubescence; mid coxa without setae on posterior surface; gonocoxites with velutum patch on ventral surface; articulated gonocoxal process present; hypandrium present; ventral apodeme of parameral sheath forked; dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath ‘T’-shaped; three spermathecae in female; spermathecal sac present, sac simple or with smaller additional lobes basally, often with outer elongate lobes; spermathecal ducts joining common duct before bursa, female with A1 and A2 acanthophorite spines well developed; female sternite 8 emarginate along posterior margin.

Diagnosis References

Winterton, S.L. 2011. Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kröber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera. ZooKeys 95: 29–78 [Date published 4 May 2011] [36-39] (rediagnosis)

General References

Winterton, S.L. 2011. Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kröber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera. ZooKeys 95: 29–78 [Date published 4 May 2011] [30]

Winterton, S.L. in Winterton, S.L., Yang, L., Wiegmann, B.M. & Yeates, D.K. 2001. Phylogenetic revision of Agapophytinae subf. n. (Diptera: Therevidae) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Systematic Entomology 26: 173-211

History of changes