Earomyia, Zetterstedt, 1842

Macgowan, Iain, 2023, World Catalogue of the family Lonchaeidae (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha, Acalyptratae), Zootaxa 5307 (1), pp. 1-96 : 70-71

Genus Earomyia

Note 15. The Lonchaeidae chapter of the Manual of Afrotropical Diptera noted that “The genus was not previously recorded from the Afrotropical Region, but research undertaken in preparation of this chapter has resulted in the identification of several undescribed species. The separation of these Afrotropical Earomyia species from Lamprolonchaea is, however, not clear-cut and a review of the relationship between both genera is required” ( MacGowan & Rotheray, 2021: 1594).

Note 16. Earomyia albifacies . Morge (1962: 420) re-described the type series stating “the two males themselves are so badly damaged that I can only incompletely describe individual features. For this reason, I have chosen the female as a lectotype, although this specimen is also poorly preserved.”

Note 17. Earomyia inquilina . Morge (1963a: 137) stated (in translation) “What is certain is that inquilina is an Earomyia species, as evidenced by the description given by Hendel ( Seitner, 1929) However, with the poor description provided further interpretation to species level is not possible. I searched in vain for “ Lonchaea ” inquilina in collections of the Institute for Forest Entomology of the University of Soil Culture in Vienna, where the Seitner collection is located. I also searched among Hendel’s material in the Natural History Museum, Vienna but so far, I have not been able to locate the type material”.

This species was not included in the Lonchaeidae chapter of the Catalogue of Palearctic Diptera ( Kovalev & Morge 1984) and is considered a doubtful species until further information becomes available.

Note 18. Earomyia nigrociliata . This species is apparently only known from the female holotype without any associated male and was originally placed in the genus Lonchaea by Malloch (1920a: 131). Malloch & McAtee (1924: 3) make the combination into Earomyia stating that “there is every reason to believe that the group Earomyia Zetterstedt is entitled to at least subgeneric rank. Three of the species ( aberrans , aterrima and nigrociliata ) included in this paper belong to Earomyia ”. They placed the three species in the key to Lonchaea to “facilitate identification and establish relationships” Earomyia nigrociliata is mentioned by McAlpine (1956a: 190) and it is surprising therefor that it is still listed as a Lonchaea species in McAlpine (1965: 717) and in McAlpine’s manuscript key of Nearctic Lonchaea (McAlpine 1981) .

Note 19. Earomyia tomskensis . This species was regarded as a junior synonym of E. bazini by Morge (1963b: 388) but Kovalev (1973 b: 91) restored the name to specific status. Kovalev & Morge (1984: 252) in the Lonchaeidae chapter of the Palearctic Diptera catalogue list it as a distinct species.