Laetodon

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

There are five myrmecophilous species in this genus. Vein R4+5 with posterior appendix. Postpronotum pilose. Abdomen oval. Anepisternum widely bare medially. Propleuron pilose. Postero-apical corner of cell r4+5 rectangular. Eye pilose.

The species included in this genus used to be placed in Microdon ( Thompson 1981b ). Morphology of the male genitalia, however, is quite distinct from that of Microdon as defined in the present paper: the phallus is short and unfurcate, the epandrium lacks the ventrolateral ridge. Based on these morphological differences and the phylogenetic results of Reemer and Ståhls, Laetodon is here erected as a new genus. See Chrysidimyia for discussion on possible relationships with that genus.

List of Laetodon and their Host Ants
Genus and species Author and Year Ant Host Distribution Notes
Laetodon geijskesi Doesburg, 1966 ants Brazil, Costa Rica
Laetodon laetoides Curran, 1935 ants Arizona
Laetodon laetus Loew, 1864 ants Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas
Laetodon solitarius Curran, 1930 ants Nearctic
Laetodon violens Townsend, 1895 ants Nearctic

REFERENCES

  • Curran, C.H. 1930. New Syrphidae from Central America and the West Indies. American Museum Novitates 416, 11 pp. [1930.03.26
  • Curran, C.H. 1935. New American Diptera. American Museum Novitates 812, 24 pp. [1935.07.30]
  • Doesburg, P.H. van 1966. Syrphidae from Suriname. Additional records and descriptions. Stud. Fauna Suriname (Natuurwet. Stud. Suriname) 9 (35): 61-107.
  • Loew, H. 1864. Diptera Americae septentrionalis indigena. Centuria quinta. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 8: 49-104.
  • Reemer, M. & G. Stahls 2013. Phylogenetic relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular and morphological characters. Systematic Entomology 38 (4): 661-688.