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.
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.