Laetodon

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.

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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

• X.-Y. Cheng and F. C. Thompson, “A generic conspectus of the Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of two new genera from Africa and China,” Zootaxa, vol. 1879, pp. 21– 48, 2008.

• Curran, C.H. 1930. New Syrphidae from Central America and the West Indies. American Museum Novitates 416, 11 pp. [1930.03.26

• Reemer, M. & G. Stahls 2013. Phylogenetic relationships of Microdontinae (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular and morphological characters. Systematic Entomology 38 (4): 661-688.

• Reemer, M, Stahs, G. 2013. Generic revision and species classification of the Microdontinae (Diptera, Syrphidae). ZooKeys 288:1-213.

• Thompson, F.C. 1981. Revisionary notes on Nearctic Microdon flies (Diptera:Syrphidae), Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 83(4): 725-758.