The Limoniinae (Diptera: Tipulidae) of Australia I. Introduction, Methods, Identification II. The genus Molophilus Curtis

154 Pages·1992·8.5 MB·English

by  Theischinger, Günther

Ma© Biologiezientrumr Linz/Auistria; jdownlaoad unter www.biologiezentrum.at
Nr. 27
Linz, 18. September 1992
Publikation der
Botanischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft am
OÖ. Landesmuseum Linz
GüntherTheischinger I HG Ll 111011II1136
(Diptera: Tipulidae)
of Australia
I. Introduction, Methods,
Identification
ll.The genus Molophilus
CURTIS
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The Limoniinae (Diptera
Tipulidae)
of Australia
Introduction, Methods, Identification
G.Theischinger, Engadine
Introduction
A review of the Tipulidae of Australia was 1896) and ALEXANDER (numerous papers
between 1921 and 1978), whereas only a few
initiated by ALEXANDER (1932) but did not
proceed very far. Another review of the species were contributed by other authors.
Australian Tipulidae was begun by Thirty-three taxa of the species group of the
DOBROTWORSKY who in a series of papers genus Molophilus CURTIS, recently described
(DOBROTWORSKY 1968—1974) revised the by THEISCHINGER (1988a, 1988b), were not
Australian Tipulinae and planned, but never included in the above catalogs.
came, to treat the Limoniinae and Therefore, at the present, the Australian
Cylindrotominae in a similar way. limoniine fauna includes about 630 named taxa
of the species group.
In recent catalogs for the Australian and
Oceanian regions OOSTERBROEK & JONAS (1986) In spite of the small number of workers,
and OOSTERBROEK (1989) agreed in listing 598 however, reliable specific identifications of
species group taxa of Limoniinae from Australian Limoniinae were, without
Australia. The majority of these were described consulting type material, hitherto impossible.
by only two workers, namely SKUSE (1890, This was mainly due to the lack of illustrations,
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insufficient detail in the few illustrations methods particularly adopted in the group are
available and the lack of any summarizing or specified, and synonymy, type species and genus
comprehensive treatments. Particularly the loss diagnosis, with illustration of the descriptive
of types and the loss of taxonomically important terminology, are given. Then, a key is presented
portions of the types, combined with the to subgenera and well defineable species groups.
availability of many undescribed species, made The subgenera, and within the subgenera, the
any work difficult. well defineable species groups are then treated
in alphabetical order. For each collective taxon,
Under the title „The Limoniinae (Diptera:
the species are listed in alphabetical order,
Tipulidae) of Australia", a series of papers in
followed by their actual treatment, the order of
„Stapfia", revising genus by genus, all species
which is based on similarity in the male
of Australian Limoniinae, is now intended to
hypopygium. The illustrations which are
present the best possible specific interpretations,
presented collectively in the same order at the
to provide the first means of identification
end of the single papers (generic revisions)
accessible to specialist and nonspecialist and to
make them more useful for comparisons and
supply important and useful information on
identifications. For each previously described
distributions, biology and affinities.
species, a brief synonymic list is given, and
collecting data, repository, consultation and
Methods condition of the primary types are recorded.
Following this, all published collecting localities
Generally, all genera are treated the same way.
and available illustrations are listed. Then
Following abstract and introduction, the
Map of Australia. Abbreviations of the regions, referred to under,.Distribution" of the single
taxa; CY = Cape York Peninsula; NEQ = north-eastern Queensland; N1Q = northern inland
Queensland; SEQ = south-eastern Queensland; SIQ = southern inland Queensland; NEN =
north-eastern New South Wales; SEN = south-eastern New South Wales; IN = inland New
South Wales; VIC = Vicoria; TAS = Tasmania; SES = south-eastern South Australia; SWA
= south-western Australia; NWA = north-west of Western Australia; KIM = Kimberley
region of Western Australia; NNT = northern parts of Northern Territory; LA = inland
Australia.
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characters considered useful for identifications synonyms and homonyms from this series of
and diagnostic features are presented. Instead papers, with reference to page of treatment and
of describing complex patterns or structures in figures.
detail (as in wings, male hypopygium etc.)
only references are made to figures. Remarks
Identification of species
are made on the position of the species within
For identification, male specimens (specific
the next higher collective group, on the closest
identifications of the females are in most groups
allies and on some previously published
at this stage impossible) have to be cleared in
information. Then a list of new records including
KOH and set up in glycerol in a position similar
the repositories of the material is given, and the
to that displayed in the illustrations of the
general distribution is lined out. An edited
particular genus. After keying out subgenus or
original or best available description of the
species group in larger genera or straight away
male hypopygium is given only for species for
in smaller genera, the specimens should be
which a satisfactory illustration of this portion
compared carefully to all members illustrated
is not available, whereas the complete original
for the particular taxon. After picking out the
description is given for species that cannot be
most similar species, the remarks presented
interpreted at all (nomina dubia) and for species
under this species should be read, and the
described from the female only. For each species
specimens should once again be checked
described as new, a brief description of
carefully against descriptions and illustrations
colouration and size, (a) diagnostic
of species said to be similar, before a decision
illustration(s), a verbal diagnosis, a list of the
is made.
material studied, the general distribution and a
derivatio nominis are presented. The
distributions have been related to regions as
recognized on broadly ecological grounds but References
given arbitrary boundaries for practical reasons, ALEXANDER, C. P., 1921: New species of crane-flies from
as outlined by WATSON (1974) (see Map of North Queensland (Tipulidae, Diptera). - Can. Ent., 53:
205—211.
Australia).
ALEXANDER, C. P. 1932: A review of the Tipulidae of
Australia (Diptera). I.-Proc. Linn. Soc.N. S.W., 57:1—
The illustrations of the male hypopygium are, if
23.
not stated otherwise, from specimens cleared in
ALEXANDER, C. P. 1978: New or insufficiently-known
KOH and displayed in glycerol. The names Australasian crane-flies. IV. (Tipulidae, Diptera). - Studia
proposed for species are, if not stated otherwise, ent., 20: 141—175.
Australian Aboriginal words referring to some DOBROTWORSKY, N. V., 1968: The Tipulidae (Diptera) of
characters of the species; they are to be regarded Australia. I. A review of the genera of the subfamily
Tipulinae. - Aust. J. Zool., 16: 459—494.
as undeclinable nouns in apposition to the
DOBROTWORSKY, N. V., 1974: The Tipulidae (Diptera) of
generic name.
Australia. XII. The genus Dolichopeza CURTIS.-Aust. J.
Taxonomic terms are abbreviated as follows: Zool., Suppl. Ser., 32: 1—27.
comb. nov. or c. n. new combination OOSTERBROEK, P., 1989: Suborder Nematocera, 2.
gen. nov. or g. n. new genus Superfamily Tipuloidea, Family Tipulidae. In: NEAL L.
EVENHUIS (Ed.), Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian
nom. nov. or n. n. new name
and Oceanian Regions. Bishop Museum Special
spec. nov. or sp. n. new species
Publication 86.1—1155 (Bishop Museum Press and E.
stat. nov. or st. n. new status J. Brill).
subgen. nov. or sg. n. new subgenus
OOSTERBROEK, P. & T. JONAS, 1986: Catalogue of the
subspec. nov. or ssp. n. new subspecies Australian-Oceanian Tipulidae (Insecta, Diptera).
Including geographical index and references to the
species. 1—242 (Amsterdam).
After all genera have been revised, the work
SKUSE, A. A.,1890: Diptera of Australia. Part VII. The
will be updated with a key to the genera and an
Tipulidae Brevipalpi. - Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 4:
alphabetical register, including all valid names, 757—892.
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SKUSE, A. A., 1896: Description of a Dapanoptera from
Australia. - Rec. AusL Mus., 2: 106—110.
THEISCHINGER, G., 1988a: The genus Molophilus CURTIS
in Queensland and Western Australia (Insecta: Diptera:
Tipulidae: Limoniinae: Eriopterini). - Stapfia, 17:163—
200.
THEISCHINGER, G., 1988b: Lyriomolophilus, a new
subgenus of Molophilus CURTIS, from Australia and its
species (Insecta: Diptera: Tipulidae: Limoniinae:
Eriopterini). - Stapfia, 17: 201—209.
Address of the author:
Günther Theischinger
20 Leawarra Street
Engadine, N. S. W. 2233
Australia
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The Limoniinae
(Diptera: Tipulidae)
of Australia
The genus Molophilus CURTIS
G. Theischinger, Engadine
Abstract
The species ofMolophilus CURTIS known from Australia are reviewed. Two new subgenera, Diplomolophilus and Onychomolophilus,
are established. 76 species are described as new and 15 names of the species group are placed in synonymy. A new name, M. lenuior,
is proposed for M. tenuissimus THEISCHINGER which is a junior homonym of M. tenuissimus ALEXANDER. Diagnostic characters and
distributional data are presented for all species. The Australian Molophilus fauna, at this stage, comprises 258 taxa of the species group.
Three of these are definitely regarded as nomina dubia. For 16 species diagnostic illustrations cannot be given as material is not
available.
Introduction lie in the male hypopygium, the lack of
Molophilus CURTIS is by far the largest tipulid illustrations of this structure, together with the
genus in Australia. 161 taxa of the species great number of different forms, made it
group, described by SKUSE (1890) and by ALEX- impossible for anyone to identify material from
ANDER (1921, 1922,1924,1927a, 1927b, 1927c, Australia even though Alexander's descriptions
1927d, 1928, 1929a, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1942, are excellent.
1944, 1978) were considered as valid by In order to improve this situation, taxonomic
OOSTERBROEK & JONAS (1986) and by studies on Australian Molophilus were started
OOSTERBROEK (1989). Whereas ALEXANDER by clarifying the identities of the species of two
(1929b) spent considerable effort depicting most geographic regions (THEISCHINGER 1988a) and
of Skuse's 15 species, he illustrated only one of one particular taxonomic unit (THEISCHINGER
out of about ten of his own species. As the only 1988b). After that, the consultation of all
reliable and useful characters for the separation available primary types and original descriptions
of most Australian Molophilus species seem to was completed, and most available paratypes
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and specimens identified by C. P. Alexander (San Luis Obispo, U.S.A.) and Mr G. F. Hevel,
were examined. This and the study of large Dr W. N. Mathis and Miss H. Williams (Was-
numbers of more recently collected specimens hington D. C, U.S.A.).
enabled me to illustrate most of the remaining
I also wish to acknowledge a Visitor's
species, to clarify their identities and to add
Fellowship awarded by the Smithsonian Insti-
considerable information on their distributions.
tution, Washington D. C, U.S.A., and enabling
As a result this comprehensive treatment is
me to study the world famous Alexander
presented. However, there cannot be any doubt
Collection, and last but not least I am extremely
that many more species of Molophilus will be
grateful to Dr O. S. and Mrs C. Flint for
discovered in Australia by more intensive and
accomodation so kindly provided in Washing-
extensive collecting.
ton D. C.
Descriptive terminology
Abbreviations
This is presented and explained by illustrations
Apart from the abbreviations for taxonomic
under each supraspecific taxon (see there).
terms and geographical regions of Australia,
both listed in the introductive paper to this
Methods series (THEISCHINGER 1992), the following
Much as pointed out in the introductive paper to abbreviations are used:
this series (THEISCHINGER 1992).
Addition. The male hypopygium of the species a) for authors
of Molophilus treated in this paper is naturally
ALEX. = ALEXANDER
rotated through 180°.The figures show the
THEI. = THEISCHINGER
hypopygium in dorsal view, if not indicated
otherwise. In the descriptions and figure
captions terms as dorsal or ventral relate to the b) for institutions and collections
hypopygium only, and not to the entire insect. AM = Australian Museum, Sydney
ANIC = Australian National Insect Collection,
Identifications Canberra
As pointed out in the introductive paper to this BPBM = Bishop Museum, Honolulu, U.S.A.
series (THEISCHINGER 1992). GT = Collection Günther Theischinger
MST = Naturhistoriske Riksmuseum,
Acknowledgements Stockholm, Sweden
A large number of people have supported this MV = Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
study in many different ways. Their help is NMNH=National Museum of Natural History,
greatly appreciated. They are: Washington D. C, U.S.A.
Mr G. Daniels, Dr G. B. Monteith and Miss M. QM = Queensland Museum, Brisbane
Schneider (Brisbane); Dr D. H. Colless, Dr P.
WAM = Western Australian Museum, Perth
S. Cranston and the late Miss Z. Liepa
(Canberra); Dr A. Neboiss and Dr K. Walker
(Melbourne); Dr T. Houston (Perth); Dr D. J.
Bickel, Mr B. Day, Mr M. Fuller, Mr G. c) others
Holloway, Dr D. K. McAlpine, Mr L. Müller, ca. = circa Mt = Mount
Miss D. T. and Mrs C. M. Theischinger Ck = Creek Mtn = Mountain
(Sydney); DrW. Seipel andDrF. Speta (Linz, ft = feet Mts = Mountains
Austria); Dr H. Mendl (Kempten, Germany); jn = junction Rd = Road
Dr N. Evenhuis (Honolulu, U.S.A.), Dr J. km = kilometer(s) trib. = tributary.
Gelhaus (Philadelphia, U.S.A.), Dr D. Hynes mi. = mile(s)