Onchopelma Hesse

Evenhuis, Neal L., 2002, Review of the genus Onchopelma Hesse, with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae), Zootaxa 64, pp. 1-12 : 2

Genus Onchopelma Hesse

Onchopelma Hesse, 1938: 973 . Type species: Onchopelma pulchellum Hesse, 1938 , by original designation.

DIAGNOSIS. Onchopelma is most similar to Psiloderoides and Acridophagus , but can be easily distinguished from these and all other mythicomyiids by the anal cell being closed before the wing margin by a stalk. In addition, species typically have a polished appearance and rather long antennae with the first flagellomere about the same thickness as the second. Like Psiloderoides , males and females are dimorphic, but not as striking as the incredible size differences found in Psiloderoides (cf. Hull 1973). The two male specimens known of Onchopelma both are holoptic and generally black in body color, whereas females are dichoptic and typically have striking yellow to white and black thoracic and abdominal patterns.

DISTRIBUTION. Species of this genus are only known from western South Africa and Namibia. Further collecting might extend its distribution into more easterly parts of South Africa.