Actenomeros Winterton & Irwin

Actenomeros Winterton & Irwin, 1999b: 280. Type species: Actenomeros corniculaticaudus Winterton & Irwin, 1999b: 280.

Could be confused with: Nanexila, Taenogerella, Anabarhynchus.

Systematic grouping: Taenogera genus-group.

Diagnosis: Male frons narrow, wider in female, antenna short; two-three poorly defined rows of postocular setae in both sexes; male with extensive abdominal velutum; cell m3 open; hind femur with anteroventral apical seta; velutum patches absent on fore and hind femora and gonocoxites; outer gonocoxal process long, very narrow, upward directed apically into a large horn, medial atrium between gonocoxites; inner gonocoxal process greatly reduced or even absent; distiphallus narrow apically, straight; female with trilobate spermathecal sac, three spermathecae.

Distribution: South-eastern New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania.

Comments: Actenomeros is closely related to Nanexila, and females can easily be confused with species of Nanexila atricostalis species-group. Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include distinctive gonocoxite horns and reduced inner gonocoxal process of the male terminalia wing cell m3 open, trilobate spermathecal sac and multiple rows of postocular setae in boths sexes.

Included species: A. corniculaticaudus Winterton & Irwin, A. onyx Winterton & Irwin.

Relevant literature:
Winterton S.L., Irwin, M.E. & Yeates, D.K. (1999b) Phylogenetic revision of the Taenogera Kröber genus-group (Diptera: Therevidae), with descriptions of two new genera. Australian Journal of Entomology 38: 274-290.

Actenomeros sp. (undescribed) Image copyright: C.L. Lambkin, CSIRO