Ceroptera, MACQUART, 1835

Papp, LÁsZLÓ, 2014, A Review Of The Old World Species Of Ceroptera Macquart, 1835 (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 60 (2), pp. 109-155 : 110-111

CEROPTERA MACQUART, 1835

Ceroptera Macquart, 1835: 564 .

Type species: Borborus rufitarsis Meigen, 1830 (mon.).

The genus was re-described by PAPP (1977, 2008). Here I give a diagnosis only.

Headcomparativelylargeandlongwithnumerousinterfrontalpairsof setae. Lunulesmall, withoutsetae (inoppositionto Ceropterella ). Orbitalsetulaecontinuedventrallyin 1 ormorerowsonparafacialia, aswellasmostlyalso subocularsetulaepresent (Fig. 98). Thenumberofdorsocentralsetaedefine speciesgroups: therearealsopresuturaldorsocentrals ( C. rufitarsis group), or there are 0 + 2 large pairs ( C. crispa group), or, there is only 1 prescutellar dorsocentralpair ( C. armata , C. globosa , etc.). Theprescutellarpairofacrostichals isusuallystrong. 1 or 2 pairsofkatepisternals. Thereisnogeneralfeaturein wing venation: veins R 2+3 and R 4+5 are long ( Fig. 97 ), or shorter and upcurving ( Fig. 99 ). Ahighvarietyisalsopresentinthearmatureoflegs, particularly so for the mid tibia. There are species with numerous setae on mid tibia ( C. crispa , Fig. 97 ), or there is only an anterodorsal seta at 3/4 and a strong dorsal setaatc. 4/5 (e.g. C. inermis ). Clawsusuallylargebuttherearespecies, where claws are reduced to thin setae ( Fig. 64 ) and the function of claws was taken overbythelateralapicalprojectionsoftheterminaltarsomere. Abdominal tergamostlyreducednotreachinglateralmarginofabdomen. Sternitesare comparativelylargeinmostofthespecies. Sternite 5 withoutappendages butwithnumerousfineandbluntorthickandpointedsetaecaudally. Epandrium more or less asymmetrical. There are less generalities in the form of the surstylus, than it was thought before (cf. PAPP 2008: 51). I am quite sure that the groundplan of the Ceroptera male genitalia is with two lobes, which are connected on their base only (see that of C. rufitarsis , the type species). The twolobesmaybefusedtovariousextent, andasamostapomorphousstate, thesurstylusisaslendersinglescleritewithacompletereductionoftheother lobe. Distiphallusisusuallyslender (Ithinkitofasynapomorphy), basiphal- lusiswithadistincttoverylargeepiphallus, or, withoutanyepiphallus. Femalepostabdomenusuallyshort, always 3 spermathecaebuttheirshapeis variablewithinthegenus. ActuallyIhavenotfoundmoregeneraldiagnostic featuresinfemaleabdomen.

Incontrasttothehighvariabilityinmorphology, thelife-habitsofthe Ceroptera speciesaresimilartoeachother: alltheyarecommensalistsofscara- baeid beetles; the female lays eggs into the dung balls of the beetles, so the larvaedevelopprotectedunderground.

Figures

Fig. 97. Habitus of Ceroptera crispa (Duda), lectotype male.

Fig. 99. Habitus of Ceroptera nigra sp. n. para- type male.

Figs 64–70. Ceroptera inermis sp. n., male: 64 = hind 5th tarsomere, ventral view, 65 = sternite 5, ventralview, 66 = cerciandsurstyliwithsubepandrialsclerite (covered), caudalview, 67 = hypandrium, ventral view, 68 = postgonite with medial part of hypandrium, lateral view, 69 = leftsurstylus, lateralview, 70 = phallusandphallapodeme, lateralview (e: empodium,