Mesembrinellidae, Shannon, 1926

Whitworth, Terry L. & Yusseff-Vanegas, Sohath, 2019, A revision of the genera and species of the Neotropical family Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea), Zootaxa 4659 (1), pp. 1-146 : 20

Key to separate Mesembrinellidae from Neotropical Calliphoridae

1 Posterior thoracic spiracle large, reniform, with opening on upper margin and a fringe of long setae ( Fig. 7 ); anterior spiracle small and usually ovate (droplet-shaped), with a more or less broad oval opening above ( Fig. 5 ) or, rarely, with a long, narrow opening gradually widening above ( Fig. 6 ); subscutellum usually from weakly to moderately or (rarely) prominently developed; body color often somewhat testaceous (yellowish or reddish brown), as in Fig. 455 ; gena usually 1/4–1/2 of eye height; bend of vein M obtuse ( Figs 1, 3 )........................................................... Mesembrinellidae

- Posterior thoracic spiracle smaller and more circular, closed anteriorly by a larger triangular felt-like lappet and posteriorly by a smaller circular lappet ( Rognes 1991: fig. 5); anterior spiracle similar, but opening usually narrower above; subscutellum usually undeveloped or weakly developed; body color usually shiny green, blue, purple or bronze; gena usually about 1/2 eye height; bend of vein M usually acute or right-angled ( Fig. 4 )........................................ Calliphoridae

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Diagnostic characters of Mesembrinellidae and Calliphoridae. 1. Wing of Mesembrinella flavicrura Aldrich, showing veins and cells. 2. Wing of M. currani Guimar„es, showing infuscated anterior margin. 3. Wing of Laneella fusconitida sp. nov., showing dark macula around crossvein r-m. 4. Wing of Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus), showing acute bend of vein M. 5. Anterior spiracle of Mesembrinella batesi Aldrich, showing broad oval opening above. 6. Anterior spiracle of M. bolivar (Bonatto), showing long, narrow opening gradually widening above. 7. Meral setae and posterior spiracle of M. bicolor (Fabricius). 8. Last abdominal tergites of M. vogelsangi (Mello), showing setae.

FIGURES 455–459. Lateral habitus and labels of holotypes. 455. Laneella fusconitida sp. nov. (LACM). 456. L. fuscosquamata sp. nov. (USNM). 457. L. purpurea sp. nov. (INBIO). 458. Mesembrinella mexicana sp. nov. (CNC). 459. M. spicata Aldrich (USNM).