Agapophytus Guérin

Agapophytus Guérin, 1831: plate 20, fig. 11A-G. Type species: Agapophytus australasiae Guérin, 1831: plate 20, fig. 11A-G.

Could be confused with: Acupalpa, Pipinnipons, Squamopygia, undescribed genera 'C' & 'J'.

Systematic grouping: Agapophytinae.

Diagnosis: Antenna position variable, usually close to ocellar tubercle; scape and flagellum greatly elongate, narrow, usually much longer to slightly shorter than head; male with either a single row or multiple, poorly defined rows of postocular setae; wing cell m3 closed; wing with variably patterned infuscation or hyaline; anteroventral apical seta absent, fore and hind femora with velutum patches; gonocoxites usually quadrangular in profile; medial atrium absent; gonocoxite with velutum patch usually globose; distiphallus narrow, usually straight; dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath often well sclerotised, T-shaped; lateral ejaculatory apodeme narrow, band-like, usually with thin anterior flange; female tergite 8 with narrow, anterior process; spermathecal sac simple, complex outer reticulated lobes usually present.

Agapophytus annamariae Winterton & Irwin (male habitus). Image: S.L. Winterton.

Distribution: Australia, Papua New Guinea.

Comments: Agapophytus is the type genus of the Agapophytinae. This large genus contains 40 described and many undescribed species. There are three distinct species-groups within the genus. One species group contains slender, elongate species with a short scape and spermathecal sac without outer reticulated lobes (e.g. A. bicolor, A. dioctriaeformis). The second species-group has the antennal base positioned on the middle of the frons, concave occiput and lack outer reticulated lobes on the spermathecal sac (e.g. A. queenslandi, A. quatiens and A. ruficaudus). The largest species-group, containing the type species has the antennal base positioned on the upper frons, convex occiput, and outer reticulated lobes on the spermathecal sac. Males of some species of Agapophytus form leks on the trunks of large, smooth-barked trees. This type of lek behaviour has been observed in A. australasiae, A. pallidicornis, and possibly in A. annamariae, A. quatiens and A. queenslandi (see biology & ecology). Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include velutum patches on the fore and hind femora, wing cell m3 closed, elongate antennae and antennae often positioned high (not always) on frons.

Included species: A. adonis Winterton & Irwin, A. albobasalis Mann, A. albopunctatus Röder, A. annamariae Winterton & Irwin, A. antheliogynaion Winterton & Irwin, A. asprolepidotos Winterton & Irwin, A. aterrimus Mann, A. atrilaticlavius Winterton & Irwin, A. australasiae Guérin, A. bicolor (Kröber), A. biluteus Winterton & Irwin, A. borealis Winterton & Irwin, A. caliginosus Winterton & Irwin, A. cerrusus Winterton & Irwin, A. chaetohypopion Winterton & Irwin, A. chrysosisyrus Winterton & Irwin, A. decorus Winterton & Irwin, A. dieides Winterton & Irwin, A. dioctriaeformis (Schiner), A. discolor Winterton & Irwin, A. eli Winterton & Irwin, A. fenestratum Winterton & Irwin, A. galbicaudus Winterton & Irwin, A. labifenestellus Winterton & Irwin, A. laparoceles Winterton & Irwin, A. lissohoplon Winterton & Irwin, A. lyneborgi Winterton & Irwin, A. notozophos Winterton & Irwin, A. novaeguineae Winterton & Irwin, A. pallidicrus Winterton & Irwin, A. pallidicornis (Kröber), A. palmulus Winterton & Irwin, A. paramonovi Winterton & Irwin, A. quatiens (White), A. queenslandi Kröber, A. ruficaudus Mann, A. septentrionalis Winterton & Irwin, A. squamosus Mann, A. yeatesi Winterton & Irwin, A. zebra Winterton & Irwin.

Relevant literature:
Guérin, F.E. (1831) Insectes, plates 20-21. In Duperrey, L.I., (ed.), Voyage autour du monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de sa Majesté, La Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1923, 1824 et 1825. sous les ministère de S.E.M. Le Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, et publié sous les auspices de son Excellence M. Le Cte De Chabrol, Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies. Histoire naturelle zoologie. Atlas. A. Bertrand, Paris. 21 pls.

Kröber, O. (1929) Neue Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Thereviden und Tabaniden. (Dipt.). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 5, 417-434.

Winterton, S.L. & Irwin, M.E. (2001) Phylogenetic revision of Agapophytus Guérin (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 467-526.

Agapophytus albobasalis Mann (male). Image copyright: A.O'Toole.

Agapophytus decorus Winterton & Irwin (male). Image copyright: A.O'Toole.

Agapophytus pallidicornis Kröber (male). Image copyright: A.O'Toole.

Agapophytus biluteus Winterton & Irwin (male). Image copyright: CSIRO, C.L. Lambkin.

Agapophytus antheliogynaion Winterton & Irwin (male). Image copyright: CSIRO, C.L. Lambkin.

Agapophytus albopunctatus W & I (head and terminalia). Image copyright: CSIRO publishing.

Agapophytus australasiae Guérin (terminalia). Image copyright: Blackwells publishing.

Agapophytus bicolor (Kröber) (male). Image copyright: S.L. Winterton.

Agapophytus dioctriaeformis (Schiner) (male). Image copyright: S.L. Winterton.

Agapophytus discolor Winterton & Irwin (male). Image copyright: S.L. Winterton.