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Chapter 67 - Lonchaeidae. Manual of Afrotropical Diptera.

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LONCHAEIDAE 67
(Lance Flies)
Iain MacGowan and Graham E. Rotheray

Fig. 67.1. Female of Lonchaea sp. (non-Afrotropical) (photograph © S.A. Marshall).

Diagnosis without strong facial carina or antennal grooves; 1 reclinate

Small-sized (body length: 3–6 mm), stout-bodied acalyptrate
flies (Fig. 1), with broad wings, long, usually shiny blue-black
(metallic blue-green in Lamprolonchaea Bezzi and Fulgenta
MacGowan); head wide and high; thorax broad; abdomen
broad and flat; wing usually hyaline, occasionally fumose or
with apical darkening, but never patterned; halter invariably
black.
Head (Fig. 2), with compound eye large, round to high oval
in profile, usually bare, occasionally pilose as in Dasiops aeth-
iopicus McAlpine, 1964 and several undescribed sub-montane
Lonchaea Fallén species; frons narrower in male than in fe-
male, strongly sclerotised and setulose, without lateral setae;
orbital plates reaching 1∕4–1∕3 distance from vertex to lunule;
lunule large (Fig. 2), exposed and bare (Earomyia Zetterstedt,
Fulgenta and Lamprolonchaea) or setulose (Dasiops Rondani,
Lonchaea and Silba Macquart); face broad, depressed, usually
fronto-orbital seta present (Fig. 2); ocellar and inner and outer
vertical setae strong (Fig. 2); postocellar setae divergent, rather
weak; gena below eye (Fig. 2) with 1 to several rows of setulae;
no distinct vibrissa present, but occasionally (Dasiops and some
Silba species), 1 or more genal setulae enlarged and seta-like;
antenna with postpedicel (Fig. 2) short and prominent, to long
and decumbent, black, but often orange-brown basally and/or
ventrally; arista (Fig. 2) bare to pubescent or plumose; palpus
moderately large, relatively broad and flattened at apex.
Thorax with mesonotum (Fig. 3) rather strongly arched, pruin-
escent to highly polished; setae and setulae fairly dense and
strong; 1 postpronotal seta, 1 presutural supra-alar seta, 2 noto-
pleural setae, 1 postsutural supra-alar seta, 2 postalar setae,
2 postsutural dorsocentral setae and 2 prescutellar acrostichal
setae present; a weak postsutural intra-alar seta frequently
present; proepisternum with 1 seta; proepimeron with 1 set-
ula (some Dasiops exceptionally with 2–5 setulae); anterior

Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. (eds). 2021. Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Volume 3. Brachycera—Cyclorrhapha, excluding
Calyptratae. Suricata 8. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria; pp. 1587–1596.
1588 SURICATA 8 (2021)
marginal portion of anepisternum, directly above, and slight-
ly posterior to prothoracic spiracle, with (Dasiops), or without
(all other genera) poststigmatal seta or setae; anepisternum
with numerous setae and setulae, sometimes without antero­
dorsal setae, but these invariably present on posterior margin;
katepisternum with 1–2 strong setae dorsocentrally and nu-
merous setulae; anepimeron bare; meron bare; prosternum
usually bare, sometimes with a few fine setulae laterally;
metasternal area bare. Scutellum with 4 marginal setae, i.e.,
lateral and apical pair, with or without additional setulae at
margins, apex or on disc. Wing (Fig. 4) rather strongly tapered
from base to apex, i.e., anal lobe and alula well-developed;
costal vein (C) extended to vein M1, constricted, but not en-
tirely broken at position of humeral and subcostal breaks; sub-
costal vein (Sc) complete and free from vein R1; pterostigmal
section (between insertions of veins Sc and R1), 1–3 × length
of r–m crossvein; cells bm and dm separated; cell cua present;
vein CuA+CuP extending to (or close to) wing margin as a fold
or not; membrane usually hyaline, but occasionally yellowish
to dark fumose, rarely with apical darkening; upper calypter
well-developed, with whitish to blackish margins and fring-
es, of uniform length in described Afrotropical species; halter
normally entirely blackish (brownish in Silba eximia McAlpine,
1964 from Madagascar). Legs stout, coxae, femora, and tibiae
blackish (dark brown in some Silba species); tarsi black, but
often with basal tarsomeres yellowish; femora rather swollen,
with numerous setae and setulae; tibiae with numerous rows
of setulae, but very few if any setae; preapical dorsal seta usu-
ally indistinguishable, except occasionally on mid tibia; apico­
ventral seta present on mid tibia.
Abdomen broad and flat; 7 pairs of spiracles in membrane
adjacent to respective tergites and sternites; male terminalia
(Figs 5–14), with tergite 6 present in Dasiops, otherwise absent,
or indistinguishably fused with tergite 5; sternite 6 varying from
well-developed, symmetrical, separate and in ventral position,
to reduced, asymmetrical, fused with sternites 7 and 8 and shift-
ed to laterodorsal position on left side; epandrium, hypandri­
um and associated structures usually symmetrical; hypandrium
in Dasiops (Figs 5, 6), relatively simple; pregonite rudimentary
usually in form of pair of broad, low blades; postgonites weakly
developed, membranous lobes near base of phallus; phallapo-
deme usually rudder-shaped, projecting from anterior margin
of hypandrium; in other genera hypandrium more complex
(Figs 7–12), pregonites usually in form of pair of arms or rods;
postgonite reduced, semi-membranous, to strongly developed
and toothed; relatively large, horizontal, plate-like hypandrial
apodeme arising anteriorly from anterior margin of hypand­
rium; vertical, blade-like anterior portion of phallapodeme
fused along midline of hypandrial apodeme; posterior margin
of phallapodeme divided vertically, with each side expanded
laterally to form phallic guide which is variable in shape and
complexity; some species-groups within Lonchaea with post-
gonites present on either side of phallus, often long and com-
plex; surstylus articulated with lateral margins of epandrium,
pendulant in Dasiops (Figs 5, 6), at least partially enclosed with-
in lateral margins of epandrium in other genera (Figs 7–14),
with (Figs 5, 6, 13, 14), or without (Figs 7–12), strong pren-
sisetae; phallus short, unsegmented and spout-like in Dasiops
(Figs 5, 6), to elongate, bi-segmented into basiphallus and dis-
tiphallus and ornamented in other genera (Figs 7–14); cerci in
form of simple lobes, usually flap-like, variously sclerotised and
MANUAL OF AFROTROPICAL DIPTERA – VOLUME 3
setulose; female terminalia with sclerotised telescopic ovipos­
itor (Figs 15, 16), abdominal sternite 6 and occasionally sternite
5 with median anteriorly directed apodeme arising from anter­
ior margin; oviscape composed of laterally fused tergite and
sternite 7, broadly conical in shape, with dorsal and ventral pair
of long strap-like extensions extending posteriorly, which can
be withdrawn into abdomen and into which retracted aculeus
is located; aculeus in form of 4 elongate rods, derived from
tergite and sternite 8, broad and blade-like in several Dasiops
species (Fig. 15), occasionally in Silba, but elongate and nar-
row in Lamprolonchaea (Fig. 16), Fulgenta and Lonchaea; api-
cal sclerite formed by fusion of epiproct, hypoproct and cerci,
variously shaped, often setulose and in some genera, especially
Dasiops, of considerable value in species recognition; 3 sperm­
athecae present, usually elongate and wrinkled, but sometimes
bell-shaped or spherical and smooth.
Adult Lonchaeidae superficially resemble some small Musc­
idae (see Chapter 113), but are separable by the absence of
a complete transverse suture on the mesonotum. They are
sometimes confused with Agromyzidae (see Chapter 86), but
differ in having a longer discal medial cell (dm) (shorter than
distal section of vein M1 in Agromyzidae). The metallic blue-
green species of the genera Lamprolonchaea and Fulgenta may
resemble representatives of several other acalyptrate families,
but the black halter and lack of setae on the tibiae are good
diagnostic features.
Biology and immature stages
Larvae of Lonchaeidae are associated with a wide range of
plant material. Species in the genera Lamprolonchaea, Lonch­
aea and Silba have been reared from various fruits, either as
primary or secondary invaders and have potential to be of eco-
nomic significance. Other Silba species have been recorded
from decay in the stems of plants, such as Sugarcane, Saccha-
rum spp. (Poaceae). Afrotropical species of Dasiops are more
associated with grassland habitats, where several species have
been recorded as forming galls on grass (Poaceae) stems, in
which the larvae develop. In overall terms, little is known re-
garding the larval biology of Afrotropical species. The strong as-
sociation of the majority of Nearctic and Palaearctic Lonchaea
with dead wood micro-habitats is unknown at present in the
Afrotropical Region.
Adult lonchaeids are unusual amongst acalyptrates, in that
they form aerial mating swarms and such behaviour has been
observed in all Afrotropical genera. The large eyes and broad
thorax, containing large flight muscles, are adaptations for
this form of mating behaviour. Otherwise, lonchaeids are of-
ten relatively slow-moving, females usually being observed or
captured at their preferred oviposition sites, males being less
frequently encountered, unless obtained from reared material;
sex ratio of reared specimens being usually 1 : 1.
The best documented immature stages are from the North-
ern Hemisphere, particularly those in the genera Dasiops and
Lonchaea (e.g., Ferrar 1987: 205; Krivosheina 1976: 250;
MacGowan & Rotheray 2008; Morge 1959, 1962). Lonchaeid
larvae utilise a diversity of plant parts and a range of feeding
modes, including saprophagy, zoophagy and phytophagy. As a
result, lonchaeid larvae exhibit great diversity in the form and
SURICATA 8 (2021) 1589

feeding mechanisms. So much so that it is difficult to establish
a character or characters in combination that readily distin-
guish lonchaeid larvae and puparia.
Based on an examination of larvae and puparia of the gen-
era Dasiops, Earomyia, Lamprolonchaea, Lonchaea and Silba,
a start towards defining a family-level set of larval and pupar-
ial distinguishing characters may include the following: basal
sclerite of cephaloskeleton with black sclerotisation, mostly
confined to the anterior end of the basal sclerite and dorsal
cornu (Figs 19–22); creeping welts with seven transverse rows
of spicules, which vary in size and arrangement (Fig. 17 indi-
cates five rows, as the remaining spicular rows are too small
to illustrate); posterior spiracles (Fig. 18) on upper margin, not
the centre, of the apex of abdominal segment 8 and borne
on basal projections, usually black, sometimes red or brown,
often with apical or other projections of great variety and form.
The pseudocephalon and prothorax are especially variable.
The fleshy pseudocephalon (Fig. 22), consists of two parallel
lobes, each of which ensheaths a mouthhook and on the dor-
sal side the maxillary palpus (not depicted in Fig. 22), while

Figs 67.2–4. Head, thorax and wing of Lonchaeidae: (2) head of Dasiops sp., anterior view; (3) same, thorax and wing, lateral
view; (4) same, wing, dorsal view. Figs 2–4 (after Morge 1963, figs 6, 2, 5, respectively).

Abbreviations: al – alula; an lb – anal lobe; anepm – anepimeron; anepst – anepisternum; ar – arista; bm – basal medial cell;
C – costal vein; cua – anterior cubital cell; CuA+CuP – anterior branch of cubital vein + posterior branch of cubital vein; dm
– discal medial cell; dm–m – discal medial crossvein; fc – face; gn – gena; i vt s – inner vertical seta; kepst – katepisternum;
kepst s – katepisternal seta; lun – lunule; M1 – first branch of media; M4 – fourth branch of media; o vt s – outer vertical seta;
pped – postpedicel; prepm – proepimeron; prepst – proepisternum; prth spr – prothoracic spiracle; pst s – poststigmatical seta;
R1 – anterior branch of radius; R2+3 – second branch of radius; R4+5 – third branch of radius; rc frorb s – reclinate fronto-orbital
seta; r–m – radial–medial crossvein; Sc – subcostal vein; u calyp – upper calypter.

LONCHAEIDAE (LANCE FLIES) 67

1590 SURICATA 8 (2021)

on the ventral side is a gap in each sheath, through which the
apical part of the mouthhook protrudes. The integument on
the ventral side is marked with arrangements of slight ridg-
es, or cirri, leading towards the functional mouth, which lies
between the two rectangular bases of the mouthhooks. The
lobes ensheathing the mouthhooks are fused to varying de-
grees apically. For instance, they are separate in Silba fumosa
(Egger, 1862) (non-Afrotropical) and fused in certain sapro­
xylic Lonch­aea species that feed on relatively dry, hard ma-
terial where these features facilitate rasping and gathering. In
contrast, separate lobes in Silba species, such as the Oriental
S. lashker MacGowan & Razak, 2012, suit gathering oily food,
such as that found in fruits or decaying plant stems. In most
other lonchaeid larvae, the lobes differ from these two states,
in being fused dorsally such that the oral cavity, the space be-
tween the lobes, is only open behind the mouthhooks. Such
an arrangement enables a portion of liquid food to be isolated
within the oral cavity each time the pseudocephalon is low-
ered into food.
The larva of the gall-forming lonchaeid, D. latifrons (Meigen,
1826), a predominantly Mediterranean species, with close af-
finities to many Afrotropical Dasiops, demonstrates modifica-
tions of the cephaloskeleton for feeding on hard plant food
within the gall (Fig. 19). The mouthhook is relatively large,
with a short, blunt tip and a crescent-shaped base, due to a
greatly extended projection of the anteroventral muscle at-
tachment apodeme. Furthermore, the intermediate sclerite

Figs 67.5–12. Male terminalia of Lonchaeidae: (5) Dasiops rugicavus McAlpine, ventral view; (6) same, lateral view; (7) Fulgenta
saegeri MacGowan, posterior view; (8) F. excisa MacGowan, lateral view; (9) Lamprolonchaea smaradgi (Walker), ventral view;
(10) same, lateral view; (11) Lonchaea grandiseta MacGowan, ventral view; (12) same, lateral view. Figs 5, 6 (after McAlpine
1960, figs 25, 27), Figs 7, 8 (after MacGowan 2017, figs 4, 5), Figs 9, 10 (after Morge 1963, figs 70, 69, respectively).

Abbreviations: cerc – cercus; epand – epandrium; hypd – hypandrium; hypd apod – hypandrial apodeme; pgt – postgonite; ph
– phallus; ph gd – phallic guide; phapod – phallapodeme; pregt – pregonite; prens – prensisetae; sur – surstylus.

MANUAL OF AFROTROPICAL DIPTERA – VOLUME 3

SURICATA 8 (2021) 1591

is short, deep and heavily sclerotised to support the mouth-
hook and the dental sclerite is relatively heavily sclerotised.
The cephaloskeleton of Dasiops latifrons is also distinctive in
lacking cibarial ridges.
The cephaloskeleton of Lamprolonchaea smaragdi (Walker,
1851) (Fig. 20), is very similar to Silba lashker (Fig. 21) and
both are “typical”, undifferentiated, indicative of a saprophag­
ous lifestyle. Dental sclerites (Fig. 21) are present in Silba and
Lamprolonchaea, but not differentiated in D. latifrons. Lam-
prolonchaea smaradgi and S. lashker also have cibarial ridges,
indicating that they feed in a saprophagous manner.
One additional feature of the D. latifrons cephaloskeleton,
not visible in L. smaradgi or S. lashkeris, is the development
of paired accessory oral sclerites (Fig. 19). This development
is associated with feeding on relatively solid food. In higher
Cyclorrhapha, accessory oral sclerites are incorporated into
the floor of the feeding channel and are not usually visible
when the cephaloskeleton is viewed laterally, e.g., L. smaragdi.
However, when they are developed, as in D. latifrons, they
appear in lateral view, as a narrow, curving bar that appears to
connect the mouthhooks with the intermediate sclerite. They
are not connected and are still part of the food channel and
in a developed state, provide an extra support for the chan-
nel, which is probably necessary given the lumpy nature of the
food. Developed accessory oral sclerites are present in most
phytophages and in many saprophages feeding on similar, hard
or lumpy food.
Unfortunately, we know relatively little of the detailed feed-
ing mechanisms of Afrotropical lonchaeids or indeed of few
other lonchaeids, aside from those mentioned above. Zoo-
phagy has long been claimed for some lonchaeid larvae in the
genus Lonchaea. It remains unclear, however, to what extent
predation occurs in lonchaeid larvae. A detailed assessment of
the evidence for and against predation per se can be found in
Ferrar (1987: 208), who concluded that the subject was by no
means closed.
Awadallah et al. (1980) undertook laboratory studies in Egypt
on the biology of Silba adipata McAlpine, 1956 (misidenti-
fied as S. virescens Macquart, 1851). Egg hatch was highest at
25°C; the third-instar larval stage lasted 7.3 days at 30°C; the
puparial stage lasted 33.4 days at 15°C and 21.3 days at 20°C.
Adult eclosion was highest at 25°C and 75% relative humidity.
The sex ratio was 1 : 1. Field observations indicated that there
were six generations per year. No data exists for Afrotropical
Dasiops, but Delgado et al. (2010) found development time
from oviposition to eclosion of the adult of the Neotropical D.
saltans (Townsend, 1913), averaging 20.8 days, with the mean
duration of the egg stage 3.7 days, larval stage 9.05 days and
puparial stage lasting eight days. On average, adults lived for
approximately eight days. The only information for the genus
Lamprolonchaea is for the Australasian species L. brouniana
(Bezzi, 1919). Under laboratory conditions, the puparial stage
of L. brouniana lasted for 11–14 days at 25°C; mean = 12 days
(Blacket & Malipatil 2010).

Figs 67.13–16. Male terminalia and female abdomens of Lonchaeidae: (13) male terminalia of Silba plumosissima (Bezzi), ventral
view; (14) same, lateral view; (15) female abdomen of Dasiops anasillus McAlpine, dorsal view (with distended terminalia); (16)
same, Lamprolonchaea smaragdi (Walker). Fig. 15 (after Morge 1963, fig. 11).

Abbreviations: acul – aculeus; ap scl – apical sclerite; basph – basiphallus; cerc – cercus; distph – distiphallus; epand – epand­
rium; hypd apod – hypandrial apodeme; ovscp – oviscape; ovscp ext – oviscape extensions; pgt – postgonite; pregt – pre-
gonite; prens – prensisetae; sur – surstylus; tg – tergite.

LONCHAEIDAE (LANCE FLIES) 67

1592 SURICATA 8 (2021)
Economic significance
There have been few published accounts of economically
important Lonchaeidae in the Afrotropical Region, aside from
that of the Black fig fly, Silba adipata McAlpine, 1956, in South
Africa (Giliomee et al. 2007) and of Silba species in Cameroon
(Stephan et al. 2016). Other recorded instances of an associa-
tion with commercial crops are mainly obtained from data labels
appended to museum specimens, rather than from published
records, or the concern of agriculturalists. This situation contrasts
with that found in the Neotropics, where numerous species of
the genus Dasiops and those in the genus Neosilba McAlpine,
sister-group to Silba, are well-documented as having a substantial
impact on commercial crops, such as Coffee, Coffea spp. (Rub­ia­
ceae) and Passion fruit, Passiflora spp. (Passifloraceae).
In the Afrotropical Region there are some data labels on
Lamprolonchaea specimens which were reared from tomatoes
and melons, but there are no published records of these as
commercial pests. The best studied Lamprolonchaea species is
the Australasian L. brouniana, which is considered as a serious
agricultural pest, often the primary invader of tomatoes and
other Solanaceae (capsicums and aubergines), Rosaceae (apri-
cots, nectarines and peaches), Rutaceae (grapefruits, lemons,
mandarins and oranges) and Lauraceae (avocados) (Blacket &
Malipatil 2010). For Lonchaea species, McAlpine (1956, 1960)
recorded L. avida McAlpine, 1960, as reared from squashes
(Cucurbita spp.) and aubergine, Solanum melongena L. (Solana­
ceae) and L. continentalis Bezzi, 1920, from diseased pawpaw
plants. The genus Silba is also associated with fruits, although
whether species of the genus are primary or secondary invad-
ers, is open to question. McAlpine (1956) noted that S. ophy-
roides (Bezzi, 1920) and S. plumosissima (Bezzi, 1919), were
reared from ripening, or rotting tomatoes and S. laevis (Bezzi,
1920) from fruits of Momordica involucrata E.Mey (Cucurbita­
ceae). He also records S. ophyroides (as S. fraterna McAlpine,
1956) from ripening tomatoes, brinjal fruits (= aubergines) and
fruits of Solanum sodomeum Hepper & P.-M.L.Jaeger (Solana­
ceae). McAlpine stated that H.K. Munro, the collector of the
S. ophyroides specimens, noted that these were apparently a
primary infestation of fruits by the lonchaeid larvae.
More recently Stephan et al. (2016) reported that a Neosilba
species (almost certainly a misidentification of Silba species)
caused losses of young fruits in two varieties of Solanum aeth­
iopicum L. and one variety of S. melongena L. (Solanaceae) in
the southern plateau and western highlands region of Cam-
eroon. They regarded this Silba species as one of the main
causes of fruit losses in these three varieties.
Given these records and the agricultural pest status of re-
lated Neotropical species, there appears to be a potential for
Lonchaeidae to have an increasing economic impact in the
Afrotropical Region, as agriculture intensifies.
Classification
Lonchaeidae are one of eight families included in the
super­family Tephritoidea. This superfamily comprises three
monophyletic subgroups, one of which comprises the Lonch­
aeidae alone, considered as the earliest branching tephritoid
lineage and sister-group to all other groups. This subgroup is
MANUAL OF AFROTROPICAL DIPTERA – VOLUME 3
distinguished by, among other things, unpatterned wings and
mating in aerial swarms.
Korneyev (2000: 73) split the Tephritoidea into two sec-
tions, a monophyletic “higher Tephritoidea”, comprising the
Ulidi­idae (= Otitidae and Pterocallidae (non-Afrotropical)),
Platy­stomatidae, Pyrgotidae and Tephritidae and a paraphy­
letic “lower Tephritoidea”, including the Lonchaeidae, Piophil­
idae, Pallopteridae (non-Afrotropical) and Richardiidae (non-
Afrotropical). Morphological support is limited for the exact
resolution of the relationships among the lower tephritoid
families (Yeates et al. 2007). Historically the Pallopteridae was
included within the Lonchaeidae, but due to differences in the
structure of the male terminalia and larval ecology, it is now
regarded as a distinct family.
Using DNA sequencing techniques, Han & Ro (2016) con-
cluded that the Lonchaeidae was one of four families within the
Piophilidae family-group, which also included non-Afrotropical
Pallopteridae, Piophilidae and Eurygnathomyiidae. They rec-
ognised the Lonchaeidae and Pallopteridae as sister-groups.
Their results also indicated that the three major lineages of
the Piophilidae family-group (ancestral Eurygnathomyiidae,
Piophil­idae and Lonchaeidae, plus Pallopteridae) existed in
the early part of the Eocene (ca 51 MYA).
Identification
There are just over 570 species in nine genera of Lonchae­
idae globally, five genera of which occur in the Afrotropical
Region, with Fulgenta being endemic to it. The taxonomy and
number of Afrotropical genera has remained relatively stable
since McAlpine (1980: 630) listed 52 species in four genera.
Recent unpublished work on the Afrotropical fauna undertak-
en in preparation of this chapter has identified Earomyia-like
species which has cast into doubt the distinction between
Lamprolonchaea and Earomyia. Further research is required to
clarify the true taxonomic status of both genera and in the fol-
lowing identification key no distinction is made between them.
The genus Fulgenta was erected in 2017 (MacGowan 2017).
Currently, there are no published overviews, or comprehen-
sive identification keys to Afrotropical Lonchaeidae. McAlpine
(1960) reviewed the South African fauna and provided species-
level identification keys to nine Dasiops, eight Lonchaea and
eight Silba species. Morge (1980) treated the Lonchaeidae in
sub-Saharan Africa and provided species-level identification
keys to 11 Dasiops and three Lamprolonchaea species. Mac-
Gowan (2015) reviewed and provided an identification key to
the Silba admirabilis species-group, which includes 15 Afrotrop-
ical species and MacGowan (2017) provided an identification
key to the Afrotropical genus Fulgenta. An identification key to
the seven genera occurring in Europe (excluding Fulgenta), was
provided by MacGowan & Rotheray (2008). The most recent
identification key to the lonchaeid genera of the world was
provided by McAlpine (1987: 795) and this has subsequent-
ly been revised for the three genera within the tribe Lonch-
aeini by MacGowan & Okamoto (2013) and for those within
the tribe Earomyinii by MacGowan (2017). Lonchaeidae are
best micro-pinned in the field for later double-mounting (see
Chapter 2), pinning through the thoracic dorsum is preferred
as this does not damage any of the key features.
SURICATA 8 (2021) 1593

Figs 67.17–22. Immature stages of Lonchaeidae: (17) habitus of third-instar larva of Lonchaea sp., lateral view; (18) same, pup­
arium; (19) larval cephaloskeleton of Dasiops latifrons (Meigen), lateral view (non-Afrotropical); (20) same, Lamprolonchaea
smaragdi (Walker); (21) same, Silba lashker MacGowan & Razak (non-Afrotropical); (22) larval pseudocephalon, prothorax and
metathorax of S. lashker, lateral view (indicating position of cephaloskeleton). Fig. 17 (after MacGowan & Rotheray 2008, fig.
10), Fig. 20 (after MacGowan et al. 2012, fig. 12).

Abbreviations: abd sg – abdominal segment; ac or scl – accessory oral sclerite; ant – antenna; b scl – basal sclerite; cr wlt – creep-
ing welts; d corn – dorsal cornu; den scl – dental sclerite; int scl – intermediate sclerite; md – mandible; mhk – mouthhook;
p spr – posterior spiracles; pastm b – parastomal bar; prth spr – prothoracic spiracles; th – thorax; v corn – ventral cornu.

LONCHAEIDAE (LANCE FLIES) 67

1594 SURICATA 8 (2021)

Key to genera of Afrotropical Lonchaeidae

1. Thorax with poststigmatal setae/setulae on anterior marginal portion of anepisternum dorsal and slightly
posterior to prothoracic spiracle (Fig. 3); male abdomen with 6 sternites (DASIOPINAE) . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dasiops Rondani
– Thorax without poststigmatal setae/setulae on anterior marginal portion of anepisternum; male abdo-
men with 5 sternites (LONCHAEINAE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2. Head with lunule bare; body colour metallic or black; thorax with anepisternum with or without, strong
anterior setae; katepisternum with single seta, or row of setae or setulae, close to dorsal margin (EARO-
MYIINI). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
– Head with lunule setulose; body colour black; thorax with anepisternum with strong anterior setae;
katepisternum with 1 or 2 strong setae close to dorsal margin (LONCHAEINI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3. Male terminalia positioned within abdomen, with posterior surface usually posteriorly directed; epan-
drium without additional distinct sclerite, square to higher than deep, posterior margin often with strong
setae; surstylus well-developed, with laminate lobes often extending beyond epandrium; cercus small,
upright square or triangular, extending posteriorly from epandrium; phallus usually in form of a simple
tube, without ornamentation (Figs 9, 10); body colour metallic green-blue to black; antennal arista
usually bare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earomyia Zetterstedt and Lamprolonchaea Bezzi
– Male terminalia with posterior surface ventrally directed; epandrium flattened, portion anterior to
suture well-developed as distinct sclerite, posterior margin without strong setae; surstylus rudiment­
ary, contained entirely within epandrium; cercus large, elongate, usually laminate; phallus often com-
plex and ornamented (Figs 7, 8); body colour metallic blue-green; antennal arista pubescent to short
plumose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fulgenta MacGowan
4. Thorax with katepisternum usually with 1 strong seta; antennal arista bare or at most pubescent; sur­
stylus of male terminalia without prensisetae, medial surface bearing setae or setulae, ventral margin
often corrugated, extended or modified into spines or processes (Figs 11, 12) . . . . . . . Lonchaea Fallén
– Thorax with katepisternum usually with 2 strong setae; antennal arista usually plumose; surstylus of
male terminalia with prensisetae, usually arranged in row, but sometimes individually, located either on
medial surface at base of cercus or along ventral margin, otherwise inner surface usually virtually bare,
ventral margin usually simple (Figs 13, 14). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Silba Macquart

Synopsis of the fauna
Dasiops Rondani (Dasiopinae). The subfamily Dasiopinae
includes only this single genus, which is the second largest in
the family, occurring in all zoogeographical regions, except
Antarctica, with 128 described species. Seventeen species
are recorded from the Afrotropical Region, but it is here est­
imated that there may be up to 100 undescribed species in
the region. Afrotropical species have the body colour invar-
iably blue-black to black; the antennal arista is always bare;
the postpedicel is usually barely longer than wide; the gena is
often with strong setae; the compound eye is bare or pilose;
the basal tarsomeres are black or yellow; and the wing mem-
brane is hyaline. Unlike other genera, species identification is
often based on the shape of the female aculeus, which is of-
ten blade-like as an adaptation for piercing plant stems. The
genus occurs throughout the Afrotropics, primarily associated
with open savanna-type habitat. An identification key to the
Southern African species was provided by McAlpine (1960).
Morge (1980) described one additional species and updated
the identification key of McAlpine (1960), covering the ma-
jority of the described fauna, although not all are keyed to
species-level. No additional new Afrotropical Dasiops species
have been described since Morge (1980).
Regions. The genus was not previously recorded from the Afro-
tropical Region, but research undertaken in preparation of this
chapter has resulted in the identification of several undescribed
species. The separation of these Afrotrop­ical species from Lam-
prolonchaea is, however, not clear-cut and a review of the rela-
tionship between both genera is required.
Fulgenta MacGowan (Lonchaeinae: Earomyiini). An en-
demic genus of 15 described species, but it is estimated here
that up to 30 undescribed species may occur in the region.
These are small, metallic green-blue flies, with a wing length of
2.5–3.1 mm; the antennal arista is pubescent to short plumose;
the antennae are usually entirely black, but the postpedicel is
occasionally slightly orange-brown on the medial base, with
a length to depth ratio ranging from 1.5–2.0:1; the legs are
black, with tarsomeres 1 and 2 pale and the apical tarsomeres
darker; and the wing membrane is hyaline or occasionally with
apical brown shading. The genus is distributed from South Af-
rica north to Ethiopia and from Nigeria in the west to Kenya
in the east. Based on the little information available, adults
occur in habitats such as secondary woodland and lowland
evergreen primary forest at elevations of up to 1,200 m. An
identification key to all Afrotropical species was provided by
MacGowan (2017).

Earomyia Zetterstedt (Lonchaeinae: Earomyiini). A genus of Lamprolonchaea Bezzi (Lonchaeinae: Earomyiini). A genus
23 described species recorded from the Nearctic and Palaearctic of 17 described species, mainly occurring in the Afrotropical,

MANUAL OF AFROTROPICAL DIPTERA – VOLUME 3

SURICATA 8 (2021) 1595
Australasian and Oriental Regions. Only one species, L. smar­
adgi, is currently recorded from the Afrotropics, but it is esti-
mated here that up to 30 undescribed species (includes
Earomyia; see above), may occur in the region. Afrotropical
species have the body colour invariably shiny metallic blue-
green; the antennal arista is plumose to bare; the postpedicel
is 1–2 × longer than wide; the gena lacks strong setae; the
compound eye is bare; the basal tarsomeres are almost always
pale, seldom darkened; and the wing membrane is hyaline.
Lamprolonchaea smaradgi occurs throughout the Afrotropics,
associated with decaying fruits. An identification key to three
Afrotropical species was provided by Morge (1980), but it is
considered now as outdated, due to a redefinition of the genus
by MacGowan (2017).
Lonchaea Fallén (Lonchaeinae: Lonchaeini). The largest
genus in the family, occurring in all zoogeographical regions,
except Antarctica, with 218 described species. Eighteen spe-
cies are recorded from the Afrotropical Region, but it is esti-
mated here that up to 100 undescribed species may occur in
the region. Afrotropical species have the body colour invaria-
bly blue-black to black; the antennal arista is always bare; the
postpedicel is 2–3 × longer than wide; the gena lacks strong
setae; the compound eye is usually bare, but pilose in at least
one sub-montane Afrotropical species; the basal tarsomeres
are black or yellow; and the wing membrane is hyaline to
slightly fumose. The genus occurs throughout the Afrotropics,
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