Plagiozopelma Enderlein, 1912

Tang, Chufei, Zhu, Yajun & Yang, Ding, 2019, Sciapodinae from the Himalayan region with description of nine new species from Tibet (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), Zootaxa 4577 (1), pp. 1-28 : 22

Genus Plagiozopelma Enderlein, 1912

There were 14 species of Plagiozopelma reported in the Himalayan region before the present study, of which 13 are assigned to the P. flavipodex group and only one belongs to the P. alliciens group. The two groups can be easily distinguished by the postpedicel and arista-like stylus. The P. alliciens group is defined by the allantoid male postpedicel and the arista-like stylus is quite simple; the P. flavipodex group has a distinctly swollen and vase-like scape and the arista-like stylus usually has an ovate or cordate apical flag ( Bickel 1994). In the present study two new species are reported here, both belong to the P. flavipodex group. A key to species of Plagiozopelma is provided, exclusive of P. nonnitens , the record of which is based on female specimens only.

Plagiozopelma is distinguished from other genera by the following features: male scape often swollen and vase-like, male postpedicel sometimes elongate and allantoid, more than 3.0 times as long as wide, conical with apical arista-like stylus, arista-like stylus often modified, either with apical flag, or thickened and ornamented; female postpedicel subrectangular with arista-like stylus dorsoapical to dorsal. Thorax usually with 2–4 pairs of strong acr; male usually with 2 strong posterior dc, and 3–4 weak anterior hairs; female with 5–6 strong dc, decreasing in size anteriorly; lateral sc reduced to weak hairs or absent. Fore coxa usually with 3–7 strong pale lateral spine-like bristles which are more strongly developed in females than males, sometimes with 3 strong black distolateral bristles; fore femur and tibia usually without major bristles. Wing crossvein dm-cu slightly sinuate to straight. Abdomen with developed tergum and sternum VIII. Phallus with distinct dorsal angle. Cercus usually deeply bifurcated ( Bickel 1994; Yang et al. 2011).

Two new species and one new record of Plagiozopelma were found in Nyingchi of Tibet. Most Himalayan Plagiozopelma are from India. A key to species of this genus is provided below.