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Type: Articles
Published: 2012-08-08
Page range: 19–28
Abstract views: 32
PDF downloaded: 2

Revision of the Apocephalus mucronatus group of ant decapitating flies (Diptera: Phoridae)

Entomology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
Diptera Phoridae Apocephalus biodiversity tropical

Abstract

The species of the New World genus Apocephalus are parasitoids, mostly of ants, and many undescribed species exist. Here, the Apocephalus mucronatus group species are revised, with five new to science described: A. longimanus, A. longimucrus, A. missouriensis, A. setissitergus, and A. weissi. Along with the previously known two species, Apocephalus mucronatus Borgmeier and Apocephalus mesacanthus Brown & Lebrun, these form a well-defined monophyletic group based on the presence of a spinelike protrusion on the oviscape, distinctly sclerotized posterolateral membrane on intersegment 7–8, and other female characters. Life history data are known for only one species, which is a parasitoid of Camponotus carpenter ants.

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