Manestella Metz

Manestella Metz, 2003: 236. Type species: Psilocephala tristriata Mann, 1933: 331.

Could be confused with: Neodialineura, undescribed genus 'M'.

Systematic grouping: Taenogera genus-group.

Diagnosis: Antennae positioned low on frons; setae on antennae enlarged; frons slightly protruding; male occiput concave, single row of postocular setae in male, 2-3 poorly defined rows in female; wing with dark mottling, cell m3 open; anteroventral apical seta absent; fore and hind femora and gonocoxites without velutum patches; medial atrium absent; dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath 'T' or 'Y'-shaped; gonocoxal apodeme broad, fused to gonocoxite as semicircular projection; ventral apodeme broad, single lobed; inner gonocoxal process with a dense patch of setae apically; anterior process of female tergite 8 broad; three spermathecae; spermathecal sac simple, spherical.

Distribution: Australia.

Comments: Manestella comprises one described species from Victoria, but at least twenty undescribed species are known to exist in collections from all over Australia. Members of this genus are small in size and resemble Neodialineura in body shape. Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include velutum patches on the fore and hind femora absent, wing cell m3 open, apical setae on hind femur absent, strong spines at apex of inner gonocoxal process and ventral apodeme not forked.

Included species: M. tristriata (Mann).

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

Metz, M.A., Webb D.A., & Irwin M.E. (2003) A review of the genus Psilocephala Zetterstedt (Diptera: Therevidae) with the description of four new genera. Studia Dipterologica 10: 227-266.