Gaurax venustus Czerny, 1906

Nartshuk, Emilia P., Polevoi, Alexei V. & Przhiboro, Andrey A., 2020, A review of grass flies (Diptera, Chloropidae) of Karelia and Murmansk Province of Russia, Fauna norvegica 40, pp. 47-92 : 52

Gaurax venustus Czerny, 1906 , stat. rev.

Taxonomic notes: Kanmiya (1983) transferred this species to the genus Pseudogaurax Malloch , based on the elongated scutellum. Other important characters of Pseudogaurax are as follows: ocellar triangle reaching anterior margin of frons, outer vertical seta much longer than inner vertical seta, first flagellomere obliquely elongate, arista thickened and densely pubescent. With more available materials of P. venustus it has become clear that all characters, except the elongated scutellum, correspond well with the genus Gaurax (ocellar triangle reaching about the middle of frons, outer vertical seta subequal to inner vertical seta, first flagellomere rounded or reniform, arista pubescent but not thickened, wing membrane covered by rather long trichiae). We consider this as sufficient basis to reinstate the original combination.

Material examined: Karelia. Kon : 3 females, Kivach , 12.VI–20. VII.1989, Polevoi; 1 male, Kondopoga, 4.VIII.2012, A. Kainelainen ( ZISP) .

Published records: Karelia. Kon : Kivach ( Nartshuk 1999c, as Pseudogaurax venustus (Czerny, 1906)) .

Distribution: European species.

Biological notes: Forests.