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| Paramonovius nightking
Li & Yeates, 2018
DOI: 10.1111/aen.12361
photo by 'Jean and Fred' flickr.com/Jean_Hort
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Abstract
A new genus of bee fly (Bombyliinae: Bombyliini) is described to place a unique species Paramonovius nightking gen. et sp. nov. The new species is only collected in winter and is only known from a restricted area in Western Australia. Our morphological phylogeny indicates the new genus is sister to Sisyromyia White, 1916 and is similar to the latter in some external characters such as the one‐segmented antennal flagellum with apical stylus, subapex with 3–5 long hairs, open cell r5 and cell br nearly as long as cell bm. However, Paramonovius gen. nov. has dichoptic male eyes, sparse scales on the median abdominal stripe, enlarged claw and pulvillus, as well as a series of autapomorphies in the genitalia. We present a modified key to the Australian genera of Bombyliini to accommodate this new genus. The unusual flight time of this genus may have contributed to its rarity in collections.
Keywords: morphological phylogeny, Paramonovius, taxonomy
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| Paramonovius nightking Wandoo National Park, Western Australia
photo by 'Jean and Fred'
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| female Paramonovius nightking
photo by 'Jean and Fred'
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Genus Paramonovius gen. nov.
Etymology: This generic name is in honour of Dr. Sergei Jacques Paramonov for his significant contribution to Australian dipterology.
Paramonovius nightking sp. nov.
Etymology: This species is named after the Night King in the American fantasy drama Game of Thrones, because all the specimens were collected in winter and the fly is mostly covered in thick pale pruinescence. The specific name is treated as a noun in apposition.
Xuankun Li and David K. Yeates. 2018. A New Genus and Species of An Unusual Australian Winter Bee Fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae) with Discussion on Its Phylogenetic position. Austral Entomology. DOI: 10.1111/aen.12361
Jean and Fred flickr.com/photos/jean_hort/7812524160/
