Review of the genus Styletta (Diptera: Phoridae), with description of a new genus

Abstract

AbstractSpecimens of a Nearctic phorid fly, tentatively placed in the genus Styletta Borgmeier, are found to be more closely related to the genus Menozziola Schmitz. A new genus, Trucidophora Brown, is proposed for the Nearctic Region species previously described as Styletta camponoti Brown. The correct name for this taxon is now T. camponoti (Brown) (new combination). Similarly, S. ewardurskae Disney (from Europe) is transferred to Trucidophora (new combination). Third instar larva, puparium and life history information are described for T. camponoti, which is a parasitoid of alate females of Camponotus herculeanus (L.), C. novaeboracensis (Fitch) and C. pennsylvanicus (De Geer) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We suggest that parasitism of alate female ants, which is also recorded for M. schmitzi (Menozzi) from Europe, is a further synapotypy of Menozziola and Trucidophora. Multiple parasitism may also be a synapotypy of these two genera, but too little data on other phorid life histories are available to polarize this character state correctly. The male of the Neotropical Region phorid Styletta crocea Borgmeier, the type species for that genus, is described for the first time, and the structure of the male and female terminalia are illustrated. New distribution records are given for T. camponoti, S. crocea, and North American Menozziola sp. Modifications are suggested for the Manual of Nearctic Diptera key to Phoridae to allow identification of the Nearctic Region taxa.