Parapsilocephala Kröber

Parapsilocephala Kröber, 1912e: 255. Type species: Parapsilocephala elegens Kröber, 1912e: 255.
Oldenbergia Kröber, 1912d: 220. Type species: Oldenbergia frontalis Kröber, 1912d: 220.

Could be confused with: Patanothrix, Acraspisa, Acraspisoides, Bonjeania, Acatopygia.

Systematic grouping: Agapophytinae.

Diagnosis: Antennae located on lower frons; frons rounded, glabrous tubercle often present above antennae; male frons very narrow, female frons wide; flagellum conical; male occiput concave, single row of postocular setae; female occiput convex with multiple poorly defined rows of postocular setae; cell m3 closed; anteroventral apical seta absent, fore and hind femora with velutum patches; gonocoxite velutum patch small, often present only on membrane between gonocoxites; medial atrium present; three spermathecae; spermathecal sac shape simple.

Distribution: Australia.

Comments: There are presently seven described and at least 80 undescribed species of Parapsilocephala represented in collections. Unassociated females are difficult to separate from Patanothrix. Parapsilocephala is a common genus throughout Australia, where males are often collected hilltopping on desert sand dunes (see Biology & Ecology). This genus is presently being revised by SLW. Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include velutum patches on the fore and hind femora, wing cell m3 closed, medial atrium present, three spermathecae, frons often with rounded, glossy tubercle above antennae.

Included species: P. aggera Mann, P. ambocerina Irwin, P. bifasciata White, P. duocoloris Mann, P. elegens Kröber, P. fascifrons Frey, P. frontalis Kröber.

Relevant literature:
Frey, R. (1934) Diptera Brachycera von den Sunda-Inseln und Nord-Australien. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 41, 299-339.

Irwin, M.E. & Yeates, D.K. (1995) An Australian stiletto fly (Diptera: Therevidae) parasitised by a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae). Journal of Natural History, 29, 1309-1327.

Kröber, O. (1912d) Die Thereviden der indoaustralischen Region. (Dipt). [part]. Entomologische Mitteilungen, 1, 215-222.

Kröber, O. (1912e) Die Thereviden der indoaustralischen Region. (Dipt). [part]. Entomologische Mitteilungen, 1, 242-256.

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

White, A. (1915) The Diptera-Brachycera of Tasmania. Part II. Families Tabanidae and Therevidae. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 1915, 2-60.

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