Mythicomyia Coquillett 1893
Creators: name: Ramos-Pastrana, Yardany
name: Córdoba-Suarez, Eric
name: Evenhuis, Neal L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Mythicomyiidae
Mythicomyia

description: Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893
Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893: 209 (in Empididae). Williston 1896: 73 (in Empididae); Melander, 1902: 337 (in Empididae); Aldrich, 1905: 218 (in Leptidae); Cresson, 1915: 449 (in Empididae); Greene, 1924: 60. Melander, 1961: 161; Painter & Painter, 1965: 416; Cole & Schlinger, 1969: 238; Hull, 1973: 266; Painter, Painter & Hall, 1978: 11; Hall & Evenhuis, 1986: 327; Hall & Evenhuis, 1987: 596; Evenhuis, 2002: 36; Evenhuis, 2022: 1; Evenhuis, 2024: 46; Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024: 539; Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024: 514.
Type species: Mythicomyia rileyi Coquillett (1893), by monotypy.
Key to the Neotropical species of Mythicomyia
[modified from Sánchez & Evenhuis (2024)].
1 Eyes holoptic.................................................................................... Males
- Eyes dichoptic................................................................................. Females
MALES
1 Knob of halter brown to black, usually white below and at apex................................................ 2
- Halter knob white or yellowish above and below........................................................... 10
2 Proboscis short, less than height of eye.................................................................... 3
- Proboscis longer, either equal to or greater than height of eye.................................................. 9
3 Postpronotal lobe entirely black, posterior margin in some specimens brownish............... M. collina (Philippi, 1866)
- Postpronotal lobe white or yellow........................................................................ 4
4 Scutellum with proximal half dark brown and distal half whitish.................................................................................................. M. bilobata Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024
- Scutellum entirely dark brown to black.................................................................... 5
5 First flagellomere ovoid (Fig. 2C); cercus flattened or rounded in lateral view (Figs 3A, B).......................... 6
- First flagellomere rod-like, cercus triangular-shaped in lateral view [Sánchez & Evenhuis (2024: figs 8, 27)]............ 7
6 Ejaculatory apodeme large, somewhat rounded-shaped in lateral view (Figs 3A, B); anterior arms of parameral sheath with rounded apex in lateral view (Figs 3A, B)............................................. M. curacaoensis sp. nov.
- Ejaculatory apodeme thin basally, thickened apically, with apex slightly truncated in lateral view (Hall 1976: fig. 20); anterior arms of parameral sheath with acute apex in lateral view Hall 1976: fig. 20)............ M. hyalinipennis (Brèthes, 1919)
7 Coxae and femora almost entirely brown; extreme base cell dm at level of R 2+3 bifurcation; anterior arms of parameral sheath characteristically spatulate with straight border......................... M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024 (in part)
- Distal third of coxae and femora yellowish; extreme base of cell dm anterior to R 2+3 bifurcation....................... 8
8 Bifurcation of R 2+3 at same level of cross vein r-m (Fig. 7F); vein m-m crossvein 0.5× shorter length than r-m crossvein (Fig. 7F); ejaculatory apodeme strongly thickened in lateral view (Figs 8A, B); anterior arms of parameral sheath with acute apex in lateral view (Figs 8A, B)........................................................... M. pedernalensis sp. nov.
- Bifurcation of R 2+3 before of r-m crossvein (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 5); m-m crossvein about as long as r-m crossvein (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 5); ejaculatory apodeme slightly thickened in lateral view (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 7–8); anterior arms of parameral sheath with rounded apex in lateral view (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 7–8)................................................................................. M. huk Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
9 Postalar callus brownish; cell dm six-sided; anterior arm of parameral sheath with apex rounded (Hall 1976: fig. 21 left).................................................................................... M. brachytis Hall, 1976
- Postalar callus black; cell dm five-sided; anterior arm of parameral sheath with apex acute (Hall 1976: fig. 23 left)........................................................................................... M. problis Hall, 1976
10 Middle tibia straight................................................................................. 11
- Middle tibia deformed (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 38) or somewhat arcuate basally (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 76), best seen in lateral view............................................................................... 16
11 Length of proboscis from oral margin equal to or longer than height of eye...................................... 14
- Length of proboscis from oral margin shorter than height of eye............................................... 12
12 Scutellum whitish yellow........................................................ M. pusillima Edwards, 1930
- Scutellum dull black................................................................................. 13
13 Epandrium somewhat rectangular-shaped and wide in lateral view; anterior arms of parameral sheath narrow with acute apex (Hall 1976: fig. 22 right)............................................................... M. orthis Hall, 1976
- Epandrium somewhat triangular-shaped; anterior arms of parameral sheath characteristically spatulate with straight border (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 26–27)............................... M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024 (in part)
14 Scape subequal in length to pedicel; face black, except along oral margin, narrowly yellow; diadem (tomentose band on the occiput) present...................................................................... M. macra Hall, 1976
- Scape much shorter than pedicel; face yellowish on upper half, black bellow; diadem absent........................ 15
15 m-m crossvein absent, if present much shorter than r-m crossvein (i.e. cell dm usually five-sided); first abdominal segment narrowly yellow medially; ejaculatory apodeme squarish paddle-like (Hall 1976: fig. 21 right)...... M. citrina Hall, 1976
- m-m crossvein present, as long as r-m crossvein (i.e. cell dm six-sided, rarely five-sided); first abdominal segment all black; ejaculatory apodeme broad, somewhat rounded (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: figs 61–62).................................................................................................... M. tawa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
16 Length of proboscis from oral margin less than height of eye................................................. 17
- Proboscis long, projecting at least twice eye height beyond oral margin............. M. kinsa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
17 Scape subequal to pedicel; middle leg without modifications.................................. M. trepta Hall, 1976
- Scape much shorter than pedicel; middle leg with modifications............................................... 18
18 m-m crossvein 2× longer than r-m crossvein (Fig. 5F); vein CuA ending in lower ¾ (Fig. 25); cell m 2 narrow, with a spot brown apically (Fig. 5F); cercus thickened with straight inner margins in posterior view (Figs 6C, D); gonostylus thickened, somewhat rectangular-shaped, sideways-directed in dorsal view (Figs 6E, F)................................ M. nigra sp. nov.
- m-m cross vein subequal than r-m, (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); cell m 2 broad, without a spot brown apically (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); vein CuA ending at the edge of the wing (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 75); cercus narrowed with sinuous inner margins in posterior view (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 81); gonostylus narrowed, elongate, upward-directed in dorsal view, (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 83)............................. M. pisqa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
FEMALES
1 Legs black, knees at most yellow and occasionally underside of femora narrowly yellow............................ 2
- Legs predominantly yellow, sometimes basal half of femora and tips of tarsi blackish............................... 7
2 Proboscis projecting beyond oral margin shorter than height of eye............................................. 3
- Proboscis equal to or longer than eye height................................................................ 5
3 Light colored stripe on lateral margin of mesonotum inside above near transverse suture, but not interrupted at transverse suture; scutellum entirely black.......................................................................... 4
- Lateral pale stripe broadly interrupted at transverse suture; scutellum white with posterior margin narrowly black............................................................................................ M. orthis Hall, 1976
4 Frons black, narrowly yellow above antenna; first abdominal tergite yellow............. M. hyalinipennis (Brèthes, 1919)
- Frons whitish on lower ¾, black on upper fourth; first abdominal tergite yellow on posterior margins......................................................................................... M. pisqa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
5 Scutellum black, or black in middle and yellow at sides...................................................... 6
- Scutellum entirely yellow, never with black............................................... M. citrina Hall, 1976
6 Proboscis equal to eye height or nearly so.............................................. M. brachytis Hall, 1976
- Length of proboscis at least three times height of eye........................................ M. macra Hall, 1976
7 Abdominal dorsum black, first segment yellowish white in middle of posterior margin only, rest of abdominal segments narrowly fasciate with yellow-white across their posterior margins or Abdominal dorsum black, tergite I entirely yellow or at least posterior and lateral margins of all segments yellow..................................................... 8
- Abdominal dorsum nearly entirely yellow; only extreme bases of all segments black, black color most extensive on two basal segments......................................................................... M. diasema Hall, 1976
8 Proboscis at most equals eye height, usually less........................................................... 11
- Proboscis projecting at least twice eye height, usually more, frons marked with small black stripe..................... 9
9 Halter black, at least dorsally; M. problis Hall, 1976
- Halter whitish...................................................................................... 10
10 Frons with conspicuous dark stripe on upper half; lateral margin of mesonotum (notopleural and supraalar regions) black emarginate above notopleural suture; spermathecal reservoir fusiform, extending to abdominal segment V ...................................................................................... M. kinsa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
- Frons with faint dark stripe at middle; lateral margin of mesonotum shallowly emarginate above notopleural suture; spermathecal reservoir knob-like, extending to abdominal segment III .......................... M. tawa Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
11 Abdominal segments narrowly yellow on posterior margins, bases broadly black, not reduced in extent posteriorly...... 12
- Posterior margin of abdominal segments broadly yellow, amount of black color at base reduced posteriorly............ 15
12 First flagellomere at least four times longer than scape and pedicel combined; frons black, lower half yellow; halter knob entirely yellow.................................................................. M. collina (Philippi, 1866)
- First flagellomere at most three times as long as scape and pedicel combined; frons yellowish, upper ¼ dark brown; halter knob whitish, usually dark brown dorsally..................................................................... 13
13 Scutellum yellowish, usually with subtriangular brown suffusion at middle (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 34); sperm pump phallus-shaped with plate-like base and apex (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 37); spermathecal reservoir homogeneous in thickness throughout its length, digitiform-shape (Sánchez & Evenhuis 2024: fig. 37).. M. iskay Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
- Scutellum entirely whitish yellow (Fig. 4C); sperm pump phallus-shaped with plate-like only at apex (Figs 4E, F); spermathecal reservoir not homogeneous in thickness throughout its length, no digitiform-shape (Figs 4E, F)...................... 14
14 Mesonotum with broad yellow margins in dorsal view (Fig. 4C); Genital fork U-shaped (Figs 4E, F); proximal spermathecal duct about 2× wider than distal (Figs 4E, F); spermathecal reservoir thin on proximal ½, thickened on distal ²⁄₄ and gradually thins on distal ¼, at its widest point (Figs 4E, F)........................................ M. curacaoensis sp. nov.
- Mesonotum with narrow yellow margins in dorsal view (Fig. 9C); genital fork V-shaped (Figs 9E, F); proximal spermathecal duct translucent, about 3× longer than sperm pump (Figs 9E, F); spermathecal reservoir rhomboid-shaped (Figs 9E, F).................................................................................... M. pedernalensis sp. nov.
15 Mesonotum with ground color brownish yellow, with three thick longitudinal bands................................................................................... M. bilobata Ramos-Pastrana, Rojas-Portilla & Evenhuis, 2024
- Mesonotum black with yellow markings, without longitudinal bands........................................... 16
16 Frons black with a small triangular yellow spot above antenna; lateral margin of mesonotum not emarginated above notopleural suture.............................................................................. M. trepta Hall, 1976
- Frons whitish yellow, except right below the ocellar triangle, dark brown; lateral margin of mesonotum broadly emarginated above notopleural suture................................................... M. huk Sánchez & Evenhuis, 2024
description: Published as part of Ramos-Pastrana, Yardany, Córdoba-Suarez, Eric & Evenhuis, Neal L., 2025, First records of Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893 (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae: Mythicomyiinae) from Central America, with description of three new species and an updated key to Neotropical species, pp. 69-90 in Zootaxa 5621 (1) on pages 70-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5621.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/15220029