New species and new records of Mydidae from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions (Insecta, Diptera, Asiloidea)

Abstract New Mydidae species are described from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions including the first records of this family from several countries in eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and Mauritania in western Africa as well as Nepal and Thailand in Asia. The new species are, Leptomydinae: Leptomydas notos sp. n. (south-western India), Leptomydas rapti sp. n. (south-central Nepal), Leptomydas tigris sp. n. (north-central Thailand); Syllegomydinae: Mydaselpidini: Mydaselpis ngurumani sp. n. (south-eastern Kenya, north-eastern Tanzania), Vespiodes phaios sp. n. (south-eastern Kenya); Syllegomydinae: Syllegomydini: Syllegomydas (Notobates) astrictus sp. n. (Kenya), Syllegomydas (Notobates) heothinos sp. n. (Kenya and Uganda), Syllegomydas (Syllegomydas) elachys sp. n. (northern Zimbabwe). Syllegomydas (Syllegomydas) proximus Séguy, 1928 is recorded from western Mauritania and re-described. Syllegomydas (Notobates) dispar (Loew, 1852), which was previously listed as incertae sedis in the Afrotropical Diptera catalogue, is re-described and illustrated based on examination of the type specimens and several additional specimens from Mozambique. Cephalocera annulata Brunetti, 1912 and Syllegomydas bucciferus Séguy, 1928, described from north-eastern India and previously unplaced in the Oriental Diptera catalogue, are newly combined with Leptomydas Gerstaecker, 1868 and together with Leptomydas indianus Brunetti, 1912, also from north-eastern India, placed in Leptomydinae. Comments on the possible synonymy of the genera of Mydaselpidini are made. Illustrations and photographs are provided to support the descriptions and future identification. A provisional dichotomous key to Mydidae genera occurring in eastern Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda) and the Oriental Region is provided. Distribution, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots and high-biodiversity wilderness areas, and seasonal incidence are discussed for all species.


Introduction
Mydidae is with 463 species in 66 genera one of the less speciose families of Asiloidea (Diptera: Brachycera). Th e taxon is distributed in warmer climates throughout the world, but shows the highest species diversity in southern Africa. Although regional faunas are in several instances fairly well known, e.g., North America, Australia, or Chile, there are still many areas where new species will be found and need to be made scientifi cally known in the future. Th e aim of this publication is to fi ll some of the distributional gaps world-wide and report for the fi rst time Mydidae from eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) and Mauritania in the Afrotropical Region and Nepal and Th ailand in the Oriental Region. In addition, apparently undescribed species are described from India and Zimbabwe and the placement of several species from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions previously considered as incertae sedis is addressed.

Materials and methods
Morphological terminology and abbreviations for setae follow McAlpine (1981) and Dikow (2009) except for the term 'aedeagal epimere', which is used as described by Hesse (1969). Abdominal tergites are abbreviated in the descriptions with 'T,' and sternites are abbreviated with 'S.' Other generalised terms refer to the Torre-Bueno Glossary of Entomology (Nichols 1989). Th e adjective pruinose is used here for short, fi ne cuticular microtrichia that densely cover certain body parts and refl ect light in a diff erent way to that of bare cuticle. Th e species descriptions are based on composites of all specimens and not exclusively on the holotype and are compiled from a character matrix of 144 features assembled with Lucid Builder (version 3.5) and eventually exported as natural language descriptions. When available, species are fully described in the male sex while females are only described with those features that diff er (except for characters relating to the terminalia/genitalia). Th e descriptions and re-descriptions are very detailed on purpose in order to allow proper identifi cation in the future as it is likely that additional species will be found within the areas covered in this publication.
Th e female genitalia and male terminalia were fi rst excised and macerated in 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 55°C followed by rinsing in distilled H 2 O. Th ey were temporarily stored in 75% ethanol for examination and illustration and eventually sealed in polyethylene genitalia vials containing 100% glycerine and attached to the the Mydidae genera occurring in India, Kenya, Nepal, Tanzania, Th ailand, and Uganda, from which the new species are being described, a provisional generic key is provided below. Th is key excludes Nemomydas Curran, 1934 as it is only known from Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands of Japan in the far eastern Oriental Region, but comments on this genus are made in the Discussion. For further details about the delimitation of other genera see below and the Discussion. An updated, illustrated identifi cation key to all 11 currently recognized subfamily taxa, which is based on the key by Papavero and Wilcox (1974), can be accessed on this web-site: http://www.mydidae.tdvia.de/online_keys.

Leptomydinae
Th e Leptomydinae comprises 47 valid species in 6 genera primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere with Hessemydas Kondratieff , Carr and Irwin, 2005 from Madagascar and Plyomydas Wilcox and Papavero, 1971 from Peru being the only representatives in the Southern Hemisphere.

Leptomydas Gerstaecker, 1868
Leptomydas has currently 12 valid species distributed in the southern Palaearctic and north-western Oriental regions.
Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the short proboscis that does not project beyond the fronto-clypeal suture, the short setose brown to bluishblack abdominal tergites with light yellow posterior margins, features of the male terminalia, and its apparent distribution in south-western India.
Antenna: brown, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 6.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Wing: length = 8.9-9.9 mm; slightly brown stained throughout, veins light brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed; C terminates at junction with R 1 ; R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, short not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m indistinct, R 4+5 and M 1 fused; M 1 straight at r-m (not curving anteriorly), M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in R 1 ; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter brown.
Description Female: unknown.
Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the entirely light brown stained wings, the long brown setae on the posterior abdominal sternites, the fusion of abdominal sternite 8 with tergite 8, and its apparent distribution in south-central Nepal.
Antenna: brown, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 6.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Wing: length = 9.0-9.3 mm; slightly brown stained throughout, veins light brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed except r 5 open; C terminates at junction with M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ); R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, short not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein or indistinct, R 4+5 and M 1 fused; M 1 curves anteriorly at r-m, M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in C; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter brown.
Remarks: Th e particular shape of the tip of the aedeagus, which is not tapered distally (Fig. 4) as in other members of Leptomydas, is generally indicative of a species of Eremomidas Semenov, 1896 as suggested by Richter and Ovtshinnikova (1996) and Richter (1997). However, the proboscis of this species is projecting well-beyond the fronto-clypeal suture, a feature considered to be specifi c to Leptomydas. Th e correct generic placement of this species needs to be established with a phylogenetic analysis of Mydidae genera that is currently in preparation by the author.
Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the yellow and brown abdominal tergites, features of the male terminalia, and its apparent distribution in Th ailand.
Antenna: brown, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 7.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Leg: brown and yellow, setation black and white; all coxae grey pruinose, white setose; met trochanter setose medially; femora anteriorly brown, posteriorly yellow, met femur proximally yellow, met femora ± cylindrical only slightly wider than pro and mes femora, in distal ½ macrosetose, only a single antero-ventral macroseta distally; all tibiae laterally arched, met tibia cylindrical, ventral keel absent; pro and mes tarsomere 1 about as long as individual tarsomeres 2, 3, or 4, met tarsomere 1 as long as combined length of tarsomeres 2-3; pulvilli well-developed, as long as well-developed claws, and as wide as base of claws; empodium absent.
Wing: length = 11.9 mm; slightly brown stained throughout, veins brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed except r 5 open; C terminates at junction with M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ); R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, short not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein; M 1 curves anteriorly at r-m, M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in C; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter brown or light brown.

Syllegomydinae
Th e Syllegomydinae is the most speciose subfamily taxon of Mydidae with currently 204 valid species in 25 genera. Th e species are distributed throughout Africa (northern Africa in the Palaearctic Region as well as sub-Saharan Africa in the Afrotropical Region), Israel, Madagascar, and Spain (see placement of representatives of Cephalocera Latreille, 1829 and Syllegomydas Becker, 1906 from India in the Discussion). It is by far the dominant taxon in southern Africa -the most speciose region for Mydidae worldwide (Hesse 1969, 1972, Bowden 1980. Bezzi, 1924 General. Th e genus Mydaselpis comprises fi ve valid species distributed in southern Africa (South Africa and Zimbabwe; Bezzi 1924, Hesse 1969, Bowden 1980) and representatives have not been reported from eastern Africa. Th e latest key to species was published by Hesse (1969: 22

Diagnosis:
Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the parallel abdominal tergites 2-4 that do not form a vespiform waist, the reduced alula, the yellow and brown abdominal tergites in the male, the partly hyaline wings, features of the male terminalia, the presence of acanthophorite plates with spurs in the female ovipositor, and its apparent distribution in Kenya and Tanzania. Description Male: Head: brown, in general silver pruinose; width distinctly greater than thorax, interocular distance on vertex same as at ventral eye margin, vertex between compound eyes slightly depressed, parafacial area less than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; facial gibbosity distinct, well-developed and discernible in lateral view; mystax white, covering only lateral facial gibbosity (asetose medially); frons medially apruinose, laterally grey pruinose, vertex apruinose, postgenae lightly silver pruinose; setation: vertex white, frons white, ocp setae white, pocl setae white; ocellar triangle apruinose; proboscis brown, long, reaching fronto-clypeal suture; labella large, much wider than prementum, as long as prementum, unsclerotised laterally; maxillary palpi cylindrical, brown, minute.
Antenna: brown, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 8.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Wing: length = 9.6-12.0 mm; slightly brown stained, darker brown around veins, veins brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed; C terminates at junction with R 1 ; R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, short not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein or indistinct, R 4+5 and M 1 fused; M 1 straight at r-m (not curving anteriorly), M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in R 1 ; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula entirely reduced (nearly straight wing margin); halter brown.
Description Female: Head: in general densely white pruinose; vertex between compound eyes ± horizontally straight, medially only slightly below dorsal eye margin; postgenae apruinose; pocl setae yellow.
Antenna: scape and pedicel brown setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel ≥ 9.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel.

Vespiodes Hesse, 1969
General. To this day, nine species of Vespiodes are known from the Afrotropical Region occurring from Ghana in the north-west to north-eastern South Africa in the south (Sack 1935, Bequaert 1940, 1951, Hesse 1969, Bowden 1980), but representatives have not been reported from eastern Africa with the exception of central Malawi from where Vespiodes nyasae Hesse, 1969 was described. Th e latest key to species was published by Hesse (1969: 33). Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the predominantly apruinose and asetose scutum, the asetose abdominal tergites, features of the male terminalia, and its apparent distribution in south-eastern coastal Kenya. Description Male: Head: brown, in general silver pruinose; width distinctly greater than thorax, interocular distance on vertex larger than at ventral eye margin, vertex between compound eyes slightly depressed, parafacial area less than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; facial gibbosity distinct, well-developed and discernible in lateral view; mystax white, covering only lateral facial gibbosity (asetose medially); frons predominantly apruinose, vertex apruinose, postgenae lightly silver pruinose; setation: vertex white, frons white, ocp setae brown or white, pocl setae white; ocellar triangle apruinose; proboscis brown, long, projecting beyond fronto-clypeal suture; labella large, much wider than prementum, about ½ length of prementum, unsclerotised laterally; maxillary palpi laterally compressed (leafl ike), brown or light brown, shorter than length of pedicel.
Antenna: brown or orange, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 11.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Wing: length = 15.9 mm; slightly brown stained, darker brown stained anterior to and distal to M veins, veins brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed; C terminates at junction with R 1 ; R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, long but not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein; M 1 curves anteriorly at r-m, M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in R 1 ; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter brown.

Syllegomydas Becker, 1906
General. Th e genus Syllegomydas comprises 24 valid species distributed primarily in northern Africa, with a few species in sub-Saharan Africa (Chad, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Zimbabwe), as well as Afghanistan, Israel, and Spain (e.g., Arias 1914a,b, Bezzi 1924, Séguy 1941, Bequaert 1951, 1961, Hesse 1969, Bowden 1980 long white acrostichal setae in the male, the overall brown coloration in the female, the presence of lateral furcal apodemes in females, and its apparent distribution in Kenya. Description Male: Head: black, facial gibbosity light brown, in general densely white pruinose; width distinctly greater than thorax, interocular distance on vertex distinctly larger than at ventral eye margin, postgenae very narrow and eyes nearly touching ventrally, vertex between compound eyes slightly depressed, parafacial area about as wide as ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; facial gibbosity distinct, welldeveloped and discernible in lateral view; mystax white, covering entire facial gibbosity; frons medially apruinose, laterally grey pruinose, vertex medially apruinose, laterally grey pruinose, postgenae grey pruinose; setation: vertex white, frons white, ocp setae white, pocl setae white; ocellar triangle apruinose; proboscis light brown, short, about ½ length of oral cavity; labella small, as wide as prementum, only forming distal tip of proboscis, unsclerotised laterally; maxillary palpi cylindrical, light brown, minute.
Antenna: brown or orange, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 4.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Description Female: Head: brown, in general grey pruinose; interocular distance on vertex larger than at ventral eye margin, vertex between compound eyes ± horizontally straight, medially only slightly below dorsal eye margin; parafacial area more than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; mystax white, covering only lateral facial gibbosity (asetose medially); postgenae apruinose; pocl setae yellow.
Leg: met femora ± cylindrical only slightly wider than pro and mes femora; pro and mes tibiae laterally arched, met tibia straight; met tarsomere 1 longer than combined length of tarsomeres 2-4; pulvilli reduced, half length of well-developed claws.

Diagnosis:
Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the very small size, the entirely grey pruinose abdominal tergites, the overall light brown coloration in females, the relatively short antennae, the very short proboscis, the parallel longitudinal ridges on the bullae, the presence of lateral furcal apodemes in females, and its apparent distribution in northern Zimbabwe.
Description Male: Head: brown, in general densely grey pruinose; width distinctly greater than thorax, interocular distance on vertex larger than at ventral eye margin, vertex between compound eyes ± horizontally straight, medially only slightly below dorsal eye margin, parafacial area more than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; facial gibbosity distinct, well-developed and discernible in lateral view; mystax light brown, covering entire facial gibbosity or white, covering entire facial gibbosity; frons entirely grey pruinose, vertex entirely grey pruinose, postgenae apruinose or lightly silver pruinose; setation: vertex light brown or white, frons light brown or white, ocp setae white, pocl setae white; ocellar triangle apruinose; proboscis light brown, very short, vestigial, knoblike; labella small, as wide as prementum, only forming distal tip of proboscis, unsclerotised laterally; maxillary palpi cylindrical, light brown, slightly longer than proboscis.
Antenna: brown or orange, scape and pedicel brown setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ½, symmetrically bulbous in distal ½, ≥ 4.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Leg: light brown or yellow, setation predominantly white; all coxae grey pruinose, white setose; met trochanter setose medially; femora brown or light brown, met femora ± cylindrical only slightly wider than pro and mes femora, in distal ½ macrosetose, 1 antero-ventral and 1 postero-ventral row of macrosetae; all tibiae laterally arched, met tibia cylindrical, ventral keel absent; pro and mes tarsomere 1 as long as combined length of tarsomeres 2-3, met tarsomere 1 as long as combined length of tarsomeres 2-4; pulvilli well-developed, as long as well-developed claws, and as wide as base of claws; empodium absent.
Description Female: Head: brown, facial gibbosity light brown; parafacial area about as wide as ½ the width of central facial gibbosity.
Remarks: Th is species does not belong to the subgenus Notobates as defi ned by Hesse (1969: 274) and it might therefore present the southernmost distribution of the primarily Palaearctic subgenus Syllegomydas. Th e monophyly of Syllegomydas (Notobates) needs to be investigated and will be tested with a phylogenetic study of Mydidae currently in preparation by the author. Séguy, 1928 Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the overall dark coloration in the male, the narrow yellow bands on the posterior margin of the abdominal tergites, the dark patterning of the female abdominal tergites, and its apparent distribution on the southern and western edges of the Sahara.
Wing: length = 9.0-9.7 mm; hyaline throughout, veins light brown or light yellow, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed; C terminates at junction with R 1 ; R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 absent or only very short; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein; M 1 straight at r-m (not curving anteriorly), M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in R 1 ; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter light brown.
Re-description Female: Head: in general densely grey pruinose; vertex between compound eyes ± horizontally straight, medially only slightly below dorsal eye margin; parafacial area more than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; mystax white, covering entire facial gibbosity, sparse; pocl setae white.
Antenna: scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel ≥ 4.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel.
Remarks: Th e ♂ specimen (AAM-000116) of this small species from the western edges of the Sahara represents the fi rst Mydidae species recorded from Mauritania. Th e species is primarily known from specimens collected in southern Niger (see material examined above that was fi rst mentioned by Séguy 1928Séguy , 1941. It has also been recorded from Mali (Bowden 1980: 333) and North Africa (Sack 1934: 26). Th e specimen that Bowden based his assessment on has not been found in the BMNH so that I cannot verify the record from Mali. Th e northern African distribution is also questionable as this species has not been listed in the Palaearctic catalogue (Richter and Zaitzev 1988).

Syllegomydas (Notobates) Hesse, 1969
Hesse (1969: 274) described the subgenus Notobates to accommodate two species, Syllegomydas arnoldi Bequaert, 1938 and Syllegomydas rhodesiensis Bequaert, 1938, from Mozambique and Zimbabwe and provided a key to the species. He did not place Syllegomydas dispar (Loew, 1852), also from Mozambique, in this subgenus, because he had not studied specimens of this species. Having studied the type specimens of Syllegomydas dispar at the ZMHB as well as additional specimens from several collections, it becomes clear that this species should also be placed in Syllegomydas (Notobates) based, for example, on the undulating vein A 1 and the long antennae (longer than scutum). Both Hesse (1969: 295) and Bowden (1980: 333) listed Syllegomydas dispar as Syllegomydini incertae sedis. Th erefore, this species is here re-described and illustrated to allow identifi cation in the future. (Loew, 1852), comb. n.

Figs 27-29, 47
Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the brown and yellow abdominal tergites in males and females, the long antennae, the presence of long acrostichal setae, the yellow metepimeron, which is coloured diff erently than the adjacent abdominal tergite 1, the absence of lateral furcal apodemes in females, and its apparent distribution in south-eastern lowland and coastal Mozambique.
Antenna: brown, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ⅔, symmetrically bulbous in distal ⅓, ≥ 7.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Leg: brown or light brown, setation predominantly white; all coxae apruinose, long white setose; met trochanter setose medially; femora brown, met femora ± cylindrical only slightly wider than pro and mes femora, in distal ½ macrosetose, 1 antero-ventral and 1 postero-ventral row of macrosetae; pro and mes tibiae laterally arched, met tibia straight, met tibia cylindrical, ventral keel absent; pro and mes tarsomere 1 about as long as individual tarsomeres 2, 3, or 4, met tarsomere 1 as long as combined length of tarsomeres 2-3 or less than combined length of tarsomeres 2-3; pulvilli well-developed, as long as well-developed claws, and as wide as base of claws; empodium absent.
Wing: length = 9.5-11.8 mm; slightly brown stained throughout, veins brown, microtrichia absent; cells r 1 , r 4 , r 5 , m 3 , + cup closed; C terminates at junction with R 1 ; R 4 terminates in R 1 ; R 5 terminates in R 1 ; stump vein (R 3 ) at base of R 4 present, short not reaching R 2 ; R 4 and R 5 widest apart medially; r-m distinct, R 4+5 and M 1 apart, connected by crossvein; M 1 straight at r-m (not curving anteriorly), M 1 (or M 1 +M 2 ) terminates in R 1 ; CuA 1 and CuA 2 split proximally to m-cu (cell m 3 narrow proximally); M 3 +CuA 1 do not terminate together in C; A 1 undulating, cell a 1 wide, A 1 and wing margin further apart proximally than distally, alula well-developed; halter light brown.
Re-description Female: Head: parafacial area about as wide as ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; maxillary palpi brown.
Remarks: In order to preserve taxonomic stability and make more universal the use of this specifi c name, the ♂ specimen from the syntype series deposited in the ZMHB is here designated as the lectotype, making the two remaining ♀ specimens paralectotypes. Th e specimen from Beira deposited in the TMSA (AAM-000549) has been studied by Hesse (1969: 277) and was identifi ed as Syllegomydas arnoldi. I believe that it is a representative of the smaller species S. dispar as this species appears to inhabit the coastal and lowland parts of Mozambique while the larger species S. arnoldi appears to inhabit higher elevation areas within Zimbabwe (although 2 specimens from the Lowveld of South Africa from Kruger National Park are deposited in the SANC (South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, AAM-000088-AAM-000089)).
Diagnosis: Th e species is distinguished from congeners by the relatively large size, the brown and yellow abdominal tergites in males and even more pronounced in females, the absence of lateral furcal apodemes in females, and its apparent distribution in Kenya and Uganda. Description Male: Head: black, facial gibbosity light brown, in general grey pruinose; width distinctly greater than thorax, interocular distance on vertex larger than at ventral eye margin, vertex between compound eyes ± horizontally straight, medially only slightly below dorsal eye margin, parafacial area less than ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; facial gibbosity distinct, well-developed and discernible in lateral view; mystax white, covering entire facial gibbosity; frons medially apruinose, laterally grey pruinose, vertex predominantly apruinose, only lateral margins grey pruinose, postgenae apruinose; setation: vertex white, frons white, ocp setae white, pocl setae white; ocellar triangle apruinose; proboscis light brown, short, about ½ length of oral cavity; labella small, as wide as prementum, as long as prementum, unsclerotised laterally; maxillary palpi cylindrical, light brown, longer than ½ the length of proboscis.
Antenna: brown or orange, scape and pedicel white setose dorsally and ventrally; postpedicel cylindrical in proximal ⅔, symmetrically bulbous in distal ⅓, ≥ 7.0 times as long as combined length of scape and pedicel; apical ‚seta-like' sensory element situated apically in cavity on postpedicel.
Leg: brown or light brown, setation predominantly white; all coxae grey pruinose, white setose; met trochanter setose medially; femora brown or light brown, met femora ± cylindrical only slightly wider than pro and mes femora, in distal ½ macrosetose, 1 antero-ventral and 1 postero-ventral row of macrosetae; all tibiae laterally arched, met tibia cylindrical, ventral keel absent; pro and mes tarsomere 1 about as long as individual tarsomeres 2, 3, or 4, met tarsomere 1 as long as combined length of tarsomeres 2-3; pulvilli well-developed, as long as well-developed claws, and as wide as base of claws; empodium absent.
Description Female: Head: brown, facial gibbosity light brown; parafacial area about as wide as ½ the width of central facial gibbosity; vertex medially apruinose, laterally grey pruinose.
Female genitalia: densely arranged anteriorly directed setae present on T7-8 and S7-8; T8 with broad anterior rectangular apodeme; T9 formed by wide, rectangular sclerite with median protuberance; T9+10 entirely fused, T10 divided into 2 heavily sclerotised acanthophorite plates, 9-10 acanthophorite spurs per plate; 2 spermathecae, all equally large, formed by ± expanded heavily sclerotised ducts; individual sper-distribution of these interesting but rare fl ies world-wide. Eastern Africa, which was previously an empty spot on the map for Mydidae, actually harbours an interesting diversity of Mydidae species. Southern Africa has by far the greatest Mydidae diversity world-wide, but new collecting expeditions to western Africa will surely discover new species. Th e distribution of Leptomydinae within the Oriental Region ( Fig. 46 and see below) has been expanded and the occurrence gap between the south-eastern Palaearctic Region (Afghanistan and Iran) and the eastern Oriental Region (Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands of Japan) has been closed. For regularly updated distribution maps for all Mydidae species based on specimen occurrence data see http://www.mydidae.tdvia. de/mydidae_specimen_map.

Oriental species of Leptomydas
Th e generic placement of the three new species of Leptomydas from the Oriental Region is not without question. Nagatomi and Tawaki (1985) reported for the fi rst time Nemomydas Curran, 1934 from the north-eastern Oriental Region placing in it Nemomydas gruenbergi Hermann, 1914 known from Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands of Japan. Nemomydas is otherwise only known from the Nearctic and northern Neotropical regions from south-western Canada in the north to Panama in the south (Hardy 1950, Steyskal 1956, Kondratieff and Welch 1990, Welch and Kondratieff 1991, 1994. Leptomydas on the other hand is widely distributed in the southern Palaearctic Region and in north-eastern India in the Oriental Region (Bequaert 1961, Richter 1997). Curran's (1934) original description of Nemomydas and also the added generic characters by Wilcox and Papavero (1971) do also apply to Leptomydas species studied by me, i.e., the type species L. lusitanicus (Wiedemann, 1820) from Spain, L. sardous (Costa, 1884) from Italy, and L. turcicus Bowden, 1983 from Turkey. Th e only morphological diff erences I can fi nd among Old World and New World species, are male terminalia characters (particularly the development of median gonocoxal appendages). Th ese small morphological diff erences of the male terminalia should, in my view, not be used to delineate separate genera. I therefore place the three new species in Leptomydas, which is the older name and exhibits a more-or-less uninterrupted distribution from Portugal in the west to central Th ailand in the east.
Th ree species, Cephalocera annulata Brunetti, 1912, Leptomydas indianus Brunetti, 1912, and Syllegomydas bucciferus Séguy, 1928, from north-eastern India have been listed as unplaced species by Papavero and Knutson (1975). Based on the descriptions and wing venation, all of these species can be placed in Leptomydinae and do not belong to Cacatuopyginae (see key above), which is the other subfamily taxon distributed in the Oriental Region. Th e type specimens of Cephalocera annulata and Leptomydas indianus are supposed to be deposited in NZSI (Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, India), but were unavailable for study. Th e type specimens of Syllegomydas bucciferus are deposited in the MNHN and have been studied. Cephalocera annulata and Syllegomydas bucciferus can therefore also be newly combined with Leptomydas. (Brunetti, 1912), comb. n. Leptomydas bucciferus (Séguy, 1928), comb. n.

Leptomydas annulata
With the addition of these species, Leptomydas has now 17 valid species. Nemomydas gruenbergi might also need to be placed in Leptomydas, which will be tested with a phylogenetic study of Mydidae currently in preparation by the author.

Mydaselpidini genera
Th e Mydaselpidini is a tribal taxon limited to the Afrotropical Region with currently three assigned genera, i.e., Afromydas Bequaert, 1961 (1 species), Mydaselpis (6 species), and Vespiodes (10 species) (Hesse 1969, Bowden 1980. Species of Mydaselpis, which are now known from southern Africa and Kenya, are morphologically very similar to Vespiodes, which is much more widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa (see above). Afromydas guichardi Bequaert, 1961 is only known from the type locality in northwestern Somalia. Th e three genera can at present only be distinguished by means of the male terminalia and in particular by the presence and shape of the aedeagal epimere that is absent in Mydaselpis, present and distally simple and evenly rounded in Vespiodes, and present and distally bifurcate in Afromydas. Hesse (1969: 31) described Vespiodes and distinguished it from Mydaselpis based on a more wasp-like and conopid-like appearance and the mentioned aedeagal characters and also highlighted that Afromydas might be a senior synonym of this genus (Hesse 1969: 41).
Th e monotypic genus Neolaparopsis Hesse, 1969, originally based on two female type specimens from Ndumo Game Reserve in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, might need to be placed in Mydaselpidini as well. Th e morphological similarity of the females of Mydaselpis and Neolaparopsis was highlighted by Hesse (1969: 234), but he believed that Neolaparopsis is more similar to Arenomydas Hesse, 1969 andNomoneura Bezzi, 1924, genera not placed by him in Mydaselpidini. Although Neolaparopsis puncturatus Hesse, 1969 does not show the wasp-like constriction of the abdomen that is present in several known Mydaselpis species (but not, for example, in a female specimen of Mydaselpis peringueyi Bezzi, 1924 in the SAMC) and Vespiodes, this constriction is also absent in females of Mydaselpis ngurumani sp. n. In addition, the female ovipositor possesses acanthophorite spurs as do females of Mydaselpis ngurumani sp. n., but as far as we know these spurs are reduced in other species of Mydaselpidini. Until recently, only female specimens of Neolaparopsis were known, but I received unidentifi ed Mydidae specimens of both sexes for examination from J. Bosák (Olomouc, Czech Republic) that were collected in Tembe Elephant Park close to Ndumo Game Reserve and represent Neolaparopsis puncturatus (AAM-001143-AAM-001146). Th e male aedeagus possesses an aedeagal epimere that is laterally fl attened and therefore of diff erent shape than in nales of Afromydas and Vespiodes. Th erefore, Neolaparopsis shows an interesting mixture of character states in regards to other Mydaselpidini genera. Future taxonomic research including a revision of the genus Vespiodes and phylogenetic analyses of the Mydaselpidini genera including Neolaparopsis, currently in preparation by the author, will shed light on the possible synonymy and placement of the discussed genera.

Biodiversity hotspots and high-biodiversity wilderness areas
Th e biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International (Myers et al. 2000) are areas of high plant endemism in which the habitat has been destroyed to a considerable extant and which are under threat of more destruction. Th e high-biodiversity wilderness areas (Mittermeier et al. 2003) highlight those land masses that are largely undisturbed and have a very low population density. Evaluating the presence/absence of Diptera species in these priority areas earmarked for conservation can determine whether these species will also be preserved when funding is made available for their protection (e.g., Dikow et al. 2009). Of the 13 species dealt with in this contribution, of which 12 are mapped in Figs 46-48, 6 are endemic to one biodiversity hotspot. Vespiodes phaios sp. n. is endemic to the Coastal Forest of Eastern Africa hotspot and all species studied from the Oriental Region are endemic to a particular biodiversity hotspot, i.e., Leptomydas annulata comb. n., L. bucciferus comb. n., L. indianus, and L. rapti sp. n. are endemic to the Himalaya, Leptomydas tigris sp. n. to Indo-Burma, and Leptomydas notos sp. n. to the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Syllegomydas (Notobates) dispar occurs in the Coastal Forest of Eastern Africa hotspot, but also outside of it in lowland habitats of central Mozambique. Mydaselpis ngurumani sp. n. does occur in the Eastern Afromontane hotspot, but does primarily occur outside of this patchy biodiversity hotspot. While Syllegomydas elachys sp. n. is the only species that occurs in and is endemic to the high-biodiversity wilderness area Miombo-Mopane Woodland and Savannas, several known localities of Syllegomydas dispar do also occur within the boundaries of this vast high-biodiversity wilderness area. Syllegomydas astrictus sp. n., distributed throughout Kenya, and Syllegomydas proximus, distributed on the southern edge of the Sahara, do not occur in any biodiversity hotspot or high-biodiversity wilderness area sensu Conservation International.