Paraplatytropesa Crosskey 1965

Genus Paraplatytropesa Crosskey

The genus was previously known only from a single Australian species. The discovery of additional species (total now five) necessitates changes to Crosskey's (1965) diagnosis of the genus: only two species with carina as described by him (see below); facial ridges sometimes with setae only near the vibrissae; vibrissae set at least a little above the level of epistome margin in 3 species; frons relatively narrow in 1 species; male lacking orbital bristles in 1 species; fore tibia occasionally with a p seta (two species); mid femur with more than 1 strong a bristle in two species; hind coxa often setulose on posterodorsal surface; abdomen with lateral pale areas on T 5 in 1 species. In addition, hairs on anterior lappet of posterior spiracle (diagnostic of Ameniinae) often small, sparse, and inconspicuous, occasionally absent. Despite these deficiencies, the genus remains distinctive, and recognisable by the attributes given in the key. In all but argentea the bend of vein M is relatively remote from the wing margin, with index 1.5-3.0.

It is also noteworthy that, with one exception, the female antennal segment 3 is only some 60-75% the length of that of the male-as in Platytropesa. Paraplatytropesa grandicornis has them of equal length, as in Stilbomyella. Also, all but one species have strongly developed bristling on the abdominal sternites, reminiscent of the condition in Platytropesa and Stilbomyella. In the exception, Paraplatytropesa argentea, both male and female have spines on the sternites, as in Silbomyia.