Genus Palpomyia Meigen, 1818

Type species

Ceratopogon flavipes Meigen, 1804; by original designation.

Diagnosis

Wing with 2 radial cells, costa extending at least ⅔ wing length, but not to apex. Fore femur slender to swollen, usually with stout ventral spines; mid and hind femora slender, often with ventral spines; fifth tarsomeres with or without 2 ventro-lateral rows of stout bristle-like setae; female claws equal, small to enlarged, with or without small, basal inner tooth. Female abdomen with paired internal tergal apodemes and 2 seminal capsules. Male genitalia with prominent cerci; gonocoxite simple or with lobe; aedeagus

conical or triangular, with well developed basal arms; parameres fused or divided, usually with welldeveloped basal apodemes (de Meillon & Wirth 1991).

Remarks

There are no universally recognized subgenera of Palpomyia; however, four species groups have been proposed for this genus: distincta group, flavipes group, lineata group and tibialis group (Grogan & Wirth 1975, 1979; Spinelli et al. 2009).

Key to males of Middle East Palpomyia

1. Gonostylus short, triangular..............................................................................................................2

– Gonostylus long, more or less subcylindrical..................................................................................3

2. Ventral surface of gonostylus covered with numerous coarse ventral setae ..................................... .................................................................................................................... P. tibialis (Meigen, 1818)

– Ventral surface of gonostylus bare ....................................... P. ebejeri Boorman & van Harten, 2002

3. Parameres completely separated ........................................................ P. schmidti Goetghebuer, 1934

– Parameres fused.................................................................................................................................4

4. Parameres divided into 2 lobes on distal portion ................................. P. serripes (Meigen, 1818)

– Parameres completely fused on distal portion.................................................................................5

5. Femora with ventral spines...............................................................................................................6

– Only fore femur with ventral spines..................................................................................................7

6. Hind tibia with long dorsal bristles; fore and hind femora with 11–12 spines ................................. ........................................................................................ P. buettikeri Boorman & van Harten, 2002

– Hind tibia without long dorsal bristles; fore and hind femora with 3 spines ................................. ....................................................................................... P. mahyoubi Boorman & van Harten, 2002

7. Hind tibia yellow; fore femur with 3 spines ..................... P. nakali Boorman & van Harten, 2002

– Hind tibia dark brown; fore femur with 4–8 spines.......................................................................8

8. Body with flattened setae with thin whip-like ends. Femora as well as fore and mid tibiae with dark apices. Male gonocoxite short; gonostylus slender; parameres with blunt expanded apex ..... ................................................................................................................... P. flavipes (Meigen, 1804)

– Body with simple bristle - like setae. Only hind femur with dark apex. Male gonocoxite elongate; gonostylus swollen on basal portion; parameres with pointed apex .................................................. ........................................................................................ P. freidbergi Alwin & Szadziewski sp. nov .