Ectinorhynchus Macquart [sensu lato]

Ectinorhynchus Macquart, 1850: 407(103). Type species: Thereva variabilis Macquart, 1846: 230.
Dimassus Walker, 1850: 2. Type species: Xylophagus latistria Walker, 1848: 130.
Evansomyia Mann, 1928: 161. Type species: Ectinorhynchus phyciformis White, 1915: 32.

Could be confused with: Squamopygia, Taenogera, Taenogerella, undescribed genus 'S', undescribed genera 'C' & 'J'.

Systematic grouping: Taenogera genus-group.

Diagnosis: Antennae elongate; single row of postocular setae in male; cell m3 open; hind femur with anteroventral apical seta; velutum patches absent on fore and hind femora and gonocoxites; gonocoxites with medial atrium; dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath 'T'-shaped; distiphallus often with lateral flanges and spines; spermathecal sac trilobate, spermathecal duct on each spermathecal sac duct; three spermathecae.

Distribution: Australia, New Zealand.

Comments: Closely related to Squamopygia, this genus is currently being revised and will be subdivided into additional genera (undescribed genera 'E' and 'P') (CLL). There are at least 20 undescribed species in collections. Ectinorhynchus is referred to here in its broadest sense until it is divided up. Males of some species (e.g. E. latistria) form small swarms in open areas awaiting females (see Biology & Ecology). Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus (broadly speaking) include velutum patches on the fore and hind femora absent, wing cell m3 open, medial atrium present and elongate antennae.

Included species: E. albimanus Kröber, E. brunneus Kröber, E. castaneus (Hutton), E. cupreus (Hutton), E. furcatus Lyneborg, E. latistria (Walker), E. levis Mann, E. micans (Hutton), E. phyciformis White, E. pyrrhotelus (Walker), E. rufipes Kröber, E. scutellus Mann, E. terminalis (Walker), E. variabilis (Macquart), E. venusta (Erichson).

Relevant literature:
Lyneborg, L. (1992) Therevidae (Insecta: Diptera). Fauna of New Zealand/ Ko te Aitanga Pepeke o Aotearoa 24, DSIR Plant Protection/ Te Wahanga Manaaki Tupu, Auckland, 139 pp.

Lyneborg, L. (2001) The Australian Stiletto-flies of the Anabarhynchus Genus-group (Diptera: Therevidae). Entomonograph vol. 13, Apollo Books Stenstrup, Denmark. 256 pp.

Mann, J.S. (1933) Revisional notes on Australian Therevidae. Part 3. Australian Zoologist, 7, 325-344.

Walker, F. (1850) Diptera. Part I, p. 1-76. In, Insecta Saundersiana: or characters of undescribed insects in the collection of William Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. Vol. 1 Van Voorst, London. 474p.

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.

Ectinorhynchus latistria (Walker) (male). Image copyright: S.L. Winterton.

Ectinorhynchus variablis (Macquart) (male). Image copyright: C.L. Lambkin, CSIRO.