Xestomyzini Lyneborg, 1976

Hauser, Martin, 2012, A new species of Xestomyza Wiedemann, 1820 from South Africa, with a key to the genera of Xestomyzinae (Diptera: Therevidae), African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 175-175 : 176

Subfamily Xestomyzini Lyneborg, 1976

The subfamily Xestomyzinae is morphologically very well supported ( Lyneborg 1972). One of the most obvious external characters in females is the set of thick macrosetae on sternite 8, that are utilized for digging during oviposition, just as acanthophorite spines are utilized by Agapophytinae and Therevinae . Other characters include: spermathecal duct possessing a sclerotised ring basally; presence of lateral sclerites of the distiphallus ( Hauser & Irwin 2005 a); dorsal aedeagal apodeme reduced; spermathecal ducts entering the dorsal wall of the bursa copulatrix independently; and sternite 10 being rounded posteriorly with a long anterior extension.

There is a clear taxonomic distinction between the New World genus Henicomyia Coquillett and the Old World genera of Xestomyzinae . Henicomyia has setulae on vein R 1, while all other Xestomyzinae lack these setulae. Lyneborg (1972) stated that the genera Xestomyza Wiedemann, Braunsophila Kröber and Ceratosathe Lyneborg form a monophyletic group, these being characterised by: proboscis longer than head; broad gena; frons possessing numerous setae; and more than three pairs of dorsocentral macrosetae. The relationship between this informal group and the other genera of Xestomyzinae remains unclear.