Revision of the species of Elaphropeza Macquart, 1827 (Diptera: Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) from Amazon Basin and some remarks about E. ciliatocosta (Bezzi, 1904)

Abstract

Five species of Elaphropeza Macquart, 1827 from the Amazon Basin region are recognized here and re-described in order to clarify and update previous descriptions, as well as illustrations: E. biseticauda (Smith, 1963), E. flavida (Williston, 1896), E. mazaruni (Smith, 1963) and E. similis (Smith, 1963). Re-description of Elaphropeza monochaeta (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov. is updated, presenting characters nowadays utilized in taxonomy of this group. The female of E. biseticauda is described and illustrated for the first time and E. bergonzoi Raffone, 2000 syn. nov. is proposed as junior synonym of E. flavida. A key to Elaphropeza species from Amazon Basin is provided. Lectotype designation for E. flavida was made and geographical records of this species and the Australian species E. ciliatocosta (Bezzi, 1904) in the Neotropics are discussed.

Hybotidae of the Galápagos Islands (Diptera: Empidoidea: Tachydromiinae)

“…However, this is probably just a small portion of the actual diversity of the region, because the genus is known to be exceedingly diverse throughout the tropics . Freitas-Silva & Ale-Rocha (2009 provide keys to the seven species from the Amazon Basin, but the taxonomy of Neotropical Elaphropeza as a whole is mostly obsolete making species identification difficult.…”