Protragoneura, new genus

DIAGNOSIS: Small, dark gnats with antennae shorter than thorax, flagellomeres shorter than wide. Mesonotum densely covered with short trichia, with or without a few setae laterally. Sc short, free. Costa is not produced beyond the tip of R 5, which is long, curved, and almost reaching the tip of M 1. Fork of M 1 and M 2 shifted anteriorly, M 1 ends before wing apex. Base of M 3+4 and CuA fork at the level of base of M3, in basal one­sixth of wing. M3 length about equal to that of M 1 and M 2 fork.

TYPE SPECIES: Protragoneura platycera, n.sp.

ETYMOLOGY: The genus name is a combination of the prefix pro­ (Greek πρo­, beforehand) and Tetragoneura . The name is feminine.

COMMENTS: Closest to Tetragoneura Winnertz, 1846, about 100 extant species of which are known from the Holarctic (17 spp.), Neotropical (ca. 60 spp.), and Australasian (23 spp.) regions. The new genus differs in having C not extended beyond the tip of R 5, RS2 section (small radial cell) long, and base of M 3+4 and CuA fork very basal; M 1 and M 2 fork shifted anteriorly. Setation of mesonotum is also distinctive and separates the new genus from Tetragoneura .