Taenogerella platina Winterton & Irwin (male habitus). Image copyright: Blackwell Science Publishers, S.L. Winterton.

Taenogerella Winterton & Irwin

Taenogerella Winterton & Irwin, 1999b: 283. Type species: Taenogera nigrapicalis Mann, 1928: 165.

Could be confused with: Actenomeros, Laxotela, Ectinorhynchus, undescribed genus 'S'.

Systematic grouping: Taenogera genus-group.

Diagnosis: Male frons narrow with bright silver velutum, numerous large setae on frons and scape; 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; apex of gonostylus directed dorsally; distiphallus broadly tapering, apex directed ventrally; three spermathecae.

Distribution: Southern and eastern Australia.

Comments: Closely related to Actenomeros and Nanexila, species of Taenogerella are easily separated by their relatively smaller size, single row of postocular setae in the male and/or differences in the male genitalia. Spot characters to look for when identifying this genus include velutum patches on the fore and hind femora absent, wing cell m3 open, distiphallus apically bent, numerous frontal setae, apical seta on hind femur.

Included species: T. elizabethae Winterton & Irwin., T. nigrapicalis (Mann), T. platina Winterton & Irwin, T. schlingeri Winterton & Irwin.

Relevant literature:
Mann, J.S. (1928) Revisional notes on Australian Therevidae. Part 1. Australian Zoologist, 5, 151-194.

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.