Phytoliriomyza Hendel, 1931

Genus Phytoliriomyza Hendel, 1931 View in CoL

Phytoliriomyza Hendel, 1931: 203 View in CoL (as subgenus of Liriomyza View in CoL ).

TYPE SPECIES OF SUBGENUS. — Agromyza perpusilla Meigen, 1830 .

REMARKS

This genus was originally erected for species having proclinate orbital setulae (in addition to other characters) which easily separate this genus from other similar agromyzid genera, especially Liriomyza . But the concept of the genus has evolved, now encompassing also species with upright or reclinate orbital setulae and some without orbital setulae. The colour is also variable with some species having the mesonotum and scutellum dark (typically greyish), while others feature a yellow scutellum and sometimes pre-scutellar area, like several Liriomyza species. However, unlike Liriomyza , male Phytoliriomyza do not possess a stridulatory organ. Most Phytoliriomyza have only three orbital bristles including two ors and one ori (some species, e.g., P.grandis ( Spencer, 1963) from Brazil have two ors and three ori). The halter is often slightly darkened apically or completely brown and the male genitalia is usually distinctive with conspicuous spines on the surstyli and on the inner margin of epandrium. Only two specimens were collected on the Mitaraka massif ( Boucher & Pollet 2021) which proved to belong to Phytoliriomyza jurgensi Spencer, 1983 originally described from Costa Rica ( Spencer 1983) and later found to occur in Guadeloupe and St-Christopher ( Étienne & Martinez 2003a, b).