Acupalpa Kröber

Acupalpa Kröber, 1912b: 152. Type species: Acupalpa rostrata Kröber, 1912b: 152.

Could be confused with: Agapophytus, Pipinnipons.

Systematic grouping: Agapophytinae.

Diagnosis: Antenna position low to middle of frons; frons protruding, glossy black; male frons narrow but not contiguous, female frons wider; antenna elongate; palp acuminate; occiput concave with a single row of postocular setae in both sexes; cell m3 closed; anteroventral apical seta absent, fore and hind femora and gonocoxite with velutum patches; medial atrium absent; three spermathecae; spermathecal sac shape with outer elongate lobes.

Distribution: Eastern Australia from southeast Queensland to Victoria; one species in Western Australia.

Comments: Acupalpa is a distinctive genus of therevids closely related to Pipinnipons. At least four undescribed species are in collections. Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include the distinctive shape of the frons and face, acuminate palp, elongate antennae, banded wings and velutum on the fore and hind femora.

Included species: A. albitarsa Mann, A. divisa (Walker), A. irwini Winterton, A. pollinosa Mann, A. rostrata Kröber, A. semirufa Mann.

Relevant literature:
Kröber, O. (1912b) Die Thereviden der indoaustralischen Region. (Dipt). [part]. Entomologische Mitteilungen, 1, 148-159.

Mann, J.S. (1929) Revisional notes on Australian Therevidae. Part 2. Australian Zoologist, 6, 17-49.

Winterton, S.L. (2000) Phylogenetic revision of Acupalpa Kröber (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae). Insect Systematics and Evolution 31: 225-240.

Winterton, S.L., Yang, L., Wiegmann, B.M. & Yeates, D.K. (2001) Phylogenetic revision of Agapophytinae subf. n. (Diptera: Therevidae) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Systematic Entomology 26: 173- 211.

Acupalpa albitarsa Mann (female). Image copyright: J.H. Skevington.