Morellia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Morellia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830: 405 . Type species: Morellia agilis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 [= Musca hortorum Fallén, 1817].

Diagnosis. Colouration metallic bluish-black to violaceous; wing with or without maculae. Female with proclinate fronto-orbital developed or not; interfrontal seta absent. Prosternum setulose or bare. Wing with Rs node setulose dorsally and ventrally; R4+5 usually setulose dorsally (bare in the subgenus Xenomorellia); vein M bent forward towards R4+5 (Fig. 11). Subcostal sclerite bare (setulose ventrally in subgenus Xenomorellia).

Lower calypter enlarged posteriorly (extending under base of scutellum) or glossiform. Calcar varying from weak to strong.

Comments. Morellia was redefined by Nihei and de Carvalho (2007a) and now includes the Neotropical Parapyrellia, Trichomorellia and Xenomorellia as subgenera, as well as Morellia s.s.; and three species were transferred to Ziminellia.

Distribution (65 species). Afrotropical, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic.

References. See under each subgenus.