Scatophila Becker, 1869

Zatwarnicki, Tadeusz & Kejval, Zbyněk, 2025, A review of Palaearctic species of the contaminata group of Scatophila (Diptera: Ephydridae) with description of a new species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 65 (1), pp. 157-165 : 158

Genus Scatophila Becker, 1869

Scatophila Becker, 1896: 237 .

Type species: Ephydra caviceps Stenhammar, 1844 , by original designation.

Centromeromyia Frey, 1954: 40 . Type species: Centromeromyia eremita Frey, 1954 , by original designation (synonymized by ZATWARNICKI 1991: 329).

The contaminata species group

Diagnosis. Face moderately produced anteriorly, not sexually dimorphic; 2–3 large setae on the facial margin and 2 distinct setae on the midface of which the ventral one is nearly as strong as the marginal ( Figs 1–3, 5, 6 , 13, 16, 17 , 23–25 ); gena very narrow; anterior margin of epandrium almost straight ( Figs 7, 10 , 18 ); neohypandrium present, elongate, slightly deflected before the top ( Figs 9, 12 , 20 ); postgonite arcuately deflected, its proximal margin slightly convex, distal process of postgonite triangular, bifurcate on the top ( Figs 9, 12 , 20 ); phallus (= aedeagus) without ventral process, in dorsal view with broadly oval distal margin ( Figs 8, 11 , 19 ); anterior margin of the dorsal opening of phallus almost straight or broadly convex; phallapodeme in lateral view ( Figs 9, 12 , 20 ) refracted medially or arcuately deflected, in dorsal view generally with broad proximal extension and sharp subapical lateral process ( Figs 8, 11 , 19 ).

Species included. Scatophila contaminata ( Stenhammar, 1844) , S. exilis Cresson, 1935 , S. ordinaria Sturtevant & Wheeler, 1954 , and S. pumilio ( Loew, 1860) .

Remark. The placement of S. pumilio in the contaminata group was informally proposed by ZATWARNICKI & MATHIS (1994, illustration legend on page 364 and a remark on page 368) and is confirmed herein.

Key to European species of the contaminata group

1 Body black, unicolorous ( Figs 3, 5 ); face of male with white microtomentum ( Figs 2, 5, 6 ), face of female shiny ( Fig. 1 ); mesonotum uniform, without pattern ( Fig. 5 ); phallapodeme bar-like, gradually broadened posteriorly ( Figs 8, 9 ). ................................................. .......................... S. contaminata ( Stenhammar, 1844) .

– Body grey with pattern on mesonotum ( Figs 13, 15, 17 , 22, 24, 25 ); face not shiny, without whitish microtomentum ( Figs 13, 16, 17 ); phallapodeme Y-shaped or helmet-like posteriorly ( Figs 11, 12 , 19, 20 ). ....... 2

2 Acrostichal setulae similar in size ( Fig. 25 ); margin of wing at apex of vein R 4+5 rounded ( Fig. 21 ); knob of halter light brown; the male terminalia with epandrial anterior margin slightly rounded medially ( Fig. 10 ), and phallapodeme Y-shaped, split posteriorly ( Fig. 12 ). ...................................... S. pumilio ( Loew, 1860)

– Presutural acrostichal setulae larger than others ( Fig. 15 ); wing slightly pointed at apex of vein R 4+5 ( Fig. 14 ); knob of halter white; the male terminalia with epandrial anterior margin even ( Fig. 18 ), and phallapodeme helmet-like in dorsal view ( Fig. 20 ). ............................ ......................... S. hirsovae sp. nov.

Figures

Figs 1–6. Scatophila contaminata (Stenhammar, 1844). 1 – head, anterior view; 2 – head, lateral view; 3 – habitus, latero-oblique view; 4 – wing, dorsal view; 5 – head and thorax, dorsal view; 6 – head, latero-oblique view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figs 13–17. Scatophila hirsovae sp. nov. 13 – head, thorax and abdomen, lateral view; 14 – wing, dorsal view; 15 – head and thorax, dorsal view; 16 – head, anterior view; 17 – habitus, latero-oblique view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figs 21–25. Scatophila pumilio (Loew, 1860). 21 – wing, dorsal view; 22 – holotype, antero-oblique view; 23 – head and thorax, lateral view; 24 – head and thorax, latero-oblique view; 25 – head and thorax, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figs 7–12. Male terminalia. 7–9 – Scatophila contaminata (Stenhammar, 1844): 7 – epandrium and cerci, dorsal view; 8, 9 – internal male terminalia (8 – dorsal view, 9 – lateral view). 10–12 – S. pumilio (Loew, 1860): 10 – epandrium and cerci, dorsal view; 11, 12 – internal male terminalia (11 – dorsal view, 12 – lateral view). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figs 18–20. Scatophila hirsovae sp. nov., male terminalia. 18 – epandrium and cerci, dorsal view; 19–20 – internal male terminalia (19 – dorsal view, 20 – lateral view). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.