Pseudoparaclius Grichanov

Genus Pseudoparaclius Grichanov

Pseudoparaclius Grichanov, 2006: 29. Type-species, Pelastoneurus brincki Vanschuytbroeck, 1960, by original designation.

Diagnosis. Pseudoparaclius is morphologically similar to Afroparaclius (Grichanov, 2006), both belonging to the Tachytrechus Haliday genus-group sensu Brooks (2005). Wing vein M1+2 is convex posteriad and is convergent towards R4+5 from middle of distal part. M1+2 join Costa well before the wing tip (Fig. 1 B). Stylus positioned almost mid-dorsally on postpedicel, with short pubescence. Metepimeron usually with cluster of setae on posterior margin. Male fore or mid legs often modified (apomorphy). Epandrium large, trapezoidal, characterized by possession of 1–2 finely branched setae on apicoventral epandrial lobe (rarely present in the subfamily). Postgonite narrow, usually as long as the longest lobe of surstylus. Cercus well developed. Proctiger brush absent.

Remarks. The genus Pseudoparaclius consists of 15 described and named species (including the current addition), which are all Afrotropical [see Grichanov (2006) for a catalogue of included species], but a number of Oriental species currently placed in Paraclius Loew appear to be sharing the relevant diagnostic characters (Brooks 2005; Yang et al. 2011) and may eventually prove to belong in Pseudoparaclius. Also, material from the eastern Palaearctic (Japan) as well as from Australia [in the Canadian National Insect Collection, Ottawa] appears to represent additional species of this genus (S. Brooks, pers. comm. 2015), indicating a much wider distribution. The species of this genus were separated from the genus Paracleius Bigot (a suppressed senior synonym of Pelastoneurus Loew) by Grichanov (2006), and we are here providing a key specifically for the Afrotropical species of Pseudoparaclius.