Taxonomy of black scavenger flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) from ... 2014-vol07-no01-p155-170...

ARTICLE

Taxonomy of black scavenger

flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) from

Luzon, Philippines

Socrates D. Letana Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines

F ourteen species of black scavenger flies in four gene-

ra are treated taxonomically in this paper. Five spe-

cies belonging to the subfamily Sepsinae are record-

ed for the first time in the Philippines, namely: Sep-

sis sepsi Ozerov, Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov, Di-

cranosepsis transita Ozerov, Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov, and

Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov. A new Philippine island

distribution record of Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker) is also

noted. Taxonomic keys for the genera and species are presented.

INTRODUCTION

In the most recent world catalogue of Sepsidae (Ozerov

2005), there are about 37 genera with 312 described species of

black scavenger flies worldwide. Twelve genera are distributed

in the Oriental region and six of these are from the Philippines.

Previously, Baltazar (1990) listed 12 species in five genera of

sepsid flies from the Philippines. In his catalogue, Ozerov (2005)

accounted for 14 species in six genera, adding Toxopoda viduata

and three more species of Dicranosepsis. Iwasa (2008) described

and added Toxopoda angulata as a Philippine endemic. The Sep-

sidae of the Philippines have been poorly investigated and rec-

ords are scattered. This study includes 14 species, five of which

are reported for the first time.

From 2000 to 2010, approximately an average of six sepsid

fly species per year are being discovered and are new to science

155 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters

*Corresponding author

Email Address: [email protected]

Submitted: March 31, 2013

Accepted: April 11, 2014

Published: May 10, 2014

Guest Editor: Victor P. Gapud

(Ozerov 2005, Ozerov 2010, Iwasa 2008, Iwasa et al. 2008, Ang

and Meier 2010). This discovery is largely from the Afrotropical

region, also with the highest generic endemicity, with some rep-

resentatives in the Neotropics, Oriental and Australasian regions.

There are about 78 species and two endemic genera from the

Oriental region (5.4% generic endemism) (Ozerov 2005). Iwasa

mainly contributed to the discovery and description of the Asian

and Oriental species (Iwasa 1980, Iwasa 1981, Iwasa 1982,

Iwasa 1984a, Iwasa 1984b, Iwasa 1985, Iwasa 1986, Iwasa 1995,

Iwasa 1999, Iwasa 2001, Iwasa 2007, Iwasa 2008).

The taxonomic literature and knowledge regarding the Phil-

ippine black scavenger flies are very limited. The early works of

Duda (1926a,b) and Zuska (1977b) included Philippine materi-

als. Later, Baltazar’s inventory of Philippine insects (Baltazar

1990) paved the way for gathering pertinent information about

this group and there are four species added since then in the

world catalogue (Ozerov 2005). Taxonomic keys in the generic

and species levels, literature citation, general description, distri-

bution and illustrations are included in this study.

This work is limited to the collections made in Luzon, Phil-

ippines (Camarines Norte: Daet; Laguna: Mt. Makiling, Univer-

sity of the Philippines (UP) Los Banos (UPLB), International

Rice Research Institute (IRRI), UP Land Grant; Pangasinan:

Sison; Quezon: Alabat island; and Zambales) covering a variety

of ecosystems, such as ricefields, pasture and grazing land, resi-

dential area, coastal area, dipterocarp forest, and bordering

mossy forest.

KEYWORDS

Philippine Sepsidae, black scavenger flies, ant-mimicking flies,

Dicranosepsis, Sepsis, Australosepsis, Meroplius

The Sepsidae had received little attention due to their minute

size and association with filth and disgusting habitat. Larvae and

adults of this group are exclusively saprophagous with most spe-

cies associated with mammal feces (Meier 1996, Pont and Meier

2002).

The black scavenger flies are considered an important group

of flies in the decomposition of pasture dung. There are species

associated with both cow and human excrements (Meier 1996).

This group of flies is believed to be of some public health con-

cern due to potential harm as vectors of pathogens and their

synanthropic association (Pont and Meier 2002). They are even

reported to be attracted to perishable foods, or foods prepared for

storage, which may induce the growth of bacteria and fungi

(Gagné 1987).

This group of flies has been a subject of studies in mating

behaviors, e.g., courtship involving leg displays, female recep-

tivity as related to ovarian status, precopulatory guarding, and

copulation posture in understanding male foreleg morphology

(Eberhard 2001, Eberhard 2002, Ingram et al. 2008, Puniamoor-

thy et al. 2008). Breeding substrates of Sepsidae are very varied,

ranging from bird and mammal droppings, vertebrate carrion,

decaying vegetation, slime molds, dead insects or snails, to de-

caying brown algae. There are reports of swarming of this group

of flies as a hibernation phenomenon (Pont 1987) that may have

been the result of mass emergence (Meier 1996).

The minute black scavenger flies (or ant-mimicking flies or

ensign flies) have been used in forensic investigations and crime

scene interpretations such as determining the time of death or the

season wherein other groups of flies could not have been present

(Benecke 2001).

METHODOLOGY

Collection and Preservation

Adult black scavenger flies were collected by sweeping and

hand-netting over substrates where adults are gathering for feed-

ing, mating or oviposition. Dung baits from cow, carabao, goats,

horse and pig were used in collecting the specimens placed in

various habitats such as ricefields, pasture and grazing land, for-

ested area, coastal and along rivers or natural water sources. Pre-

vious or relatively old excrements in the different localities were

also used in collecting the sepsids. Cow dung was used in rear-

ing some collected female sepsids from the field. Newly collect-

ed adults were killed in 70-95% ethyl alcohol in separate vials

with screw caps. They were sorted and stored in smaller vials

and/or tubes with 95% ethyl alcohol for future molecular work

and slide preparation. Specimens were provided with labels and

codes using lead pencils.

Specimens were kept in 90-95% ethyl alcohol in vials. The

ornamentation of the male forelegs and genitalia are highly spe-

cies-specific and are easily seen in alcohol materials. The col-

Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 156 Philippine Science Letters

lected live female specimens were kept alive and fed sugarwater

solutions for rearing. As for the armature of specimens with clus-

tered legs, the femoro-tibial joint was temporarily softened with

a drop of xylene and the tibia gently teased away from the femur

with a fine pin. All specimens are currently in the author’s col-

lection.

Method of Identification

The adults were identified using a light stereomicroscope up

to 40x magnification and good light quality to detect some of the

subtleties of bristling and pruinosity against the black back-

ground of the sepsid integument.

A single-female rearing technique was employed in associ-

ating collected live female sepsid flies. Males are more easily

identified because of their strong dimorphic characters especially

in their forelegs: tubercles, number of setae, setulae, spines, spi-

nules, and osmeterium, and their shape. Head and thoracic chae-

totaxy and wing venation are important characters in sorting to

genera and species. Female sepsids are difficult to pin down to

species since outstanding leg characters and genitalic features

are very rare and difficult as most taxonomic keys and descrip-

tions deal with male specimens. Some illustrations were used

along with photographs of observed specimens in identifying the

collection.

The species treated in this work were identified with the aid

of pertinent taxonomic literature.

The terminology follows that used by McAlpine (1981).

Abbreviations used in the descriptions are as follows: Head: oc,

ocellar setae; or, upper fronto-orbital setae; vti, inner vertical

setae. Thorax: dc, dorsocentral setae; m, mesopleural setae; npl,

notopleural setae; sa, supra-alar setae; pa, postalar setae; pprn,

postpronotal setae; sc, scutellar setae. Wings: bm, basal medial

cell. Length of body and length of wing were measured.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Family SEPSIDAE Walker, 1883

Sepsidae Walker, 1833: 245. Type-genus: Sepsis Fallén, 1810,

by present designation.

Taxonomy

The Sepsidae constitute a small family of acalyptrate flies in

the Sciomyzoidea. They are distributed in all known zoogeo-

graphic regions. Melander and Spuler (1917) separated Sepsidae

and Piophilidae and recognized them as different families along

with misplaced genera. The early classification scheme of the

Sepsidae was summarized by Duda (1926a,b), but Hennig

(1937), according to Meier (1996), completed the taxonomic

task by including Orygma luctuosum in Sepsidae; it was previ-

ously classified in the Coelopidae by using the female genitalic


one pair of dorsocentral; lower margin of face projecting;

middle femora of male bent in middle....Toxopoda Macquart

Body usually shining, at least on parts of pleura; microsetae

present, and often macrosetae on abdomen...........................3

3. A pair of strong orbital bristles present; abdomen lacking

macrochaetae except at tip, not or but slightly constricted

behind second tergite; always only one dorsocentral; wings

not spotted; postvertical bristles present; no strong acrosti-

chals; humeral bristle present; only one well-developed

vibrissa; wings hyaline or scarcely gray; genal bristle indis-

tinct or lacking; male hypopygial processes simple, cruciate,

with anteroventrally with four bristles or without bris-

tles............................................................Meroplius Rondani

Orbital bristles lacking or very small; abdomen with or

without preterminal macrochaetae, strongly constricted be-

hind second tergite; usually two dorsocentrals; wing with or

without spots.........................................................................4

4. Humerals and postoculars lacking; no wing spots; one

dorsocentral; abdomen without macrochaetae; male with

peculiar lateral processes (sternite brush) on fourth sterni-

te...................................................................Perochaeta Duda

Humerals and postoculars present; wing spot present at tip

of second vein or apically or wing unmarked or marked ba-

sally only...............................................................................5

5. Abdomen of male always with distinct macrochaetae and

sternite 4 absent; wing spot, if present, only in vicinity of

vein 2..................................................................Sepsis Fallén

Abdomen of both sexes without distinct macrochaetae, alt-

hough sometimes with somewhat stronger hairing on tergal

margins and with strong anal bristles; wing darkened along

costa basally and sometimes with apical spot; sternopleura

shining anteroventrally….………..……Dicranosepsis Duda

Genus AUSTRALOSEPSIS Malloch, 1925

Australosepsis Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-species: Australosepsis

fulvescens Malloch, 1925 [=Sepsis niveipennis Becker, 1903],

by original designation.

Saltelliseps Duda, 1926: 25. Type-species: Sepsis niveipennis

Becker, 1903, by designation of Hennig (1949): 63.

DIAGNOSIS. Head roundish or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.

Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae significantly larger

than the width of postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several se-

tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: or absent, but if present (1), then

very short, hair-like; 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ovt and 1 ivt. 2-3 vibrissae,

always striking from genal setulae.

features. Steyskal (1987) modified Duda’s (1926a,b) and Zus-

ka’s (1977b) systems probably only to reflect loosely phyloge-

netic relationships, unlike the strict and explicitly phylogenetic

intention of Hennig (1949) (see, also, Meier 1996).

Two subfamilies, Orygmatinae and Sepsinae, are recognized

in this study. The subfamily Orygmatinae contains only one Hol-

arctic species; only Orygma luctuosum Meigen of Sepsinae is

recorded in this region.

Diagnostic Character

Adult Sepsidae are relatively small, elongate, myrmecomor-

phic or ant-like in appearance. The abdomen is constricted basal-

ly. Vibrissa is absent but several strong peristomal hairs are pre-

sent; palp is vestigial. It can be distinguished from other families

of acalyptrate Diptera by the presence of one or more setae on

the hind margin of the posterior spiracle. ♂ spiracle 6 situated in

tergite 6 (spiracle 7 in tergite 7+8); ♂ sternite 7 not delimited,

either lost or fused with sternite 8 (the resulting sclerite termed

sternite 7+8); and, vein A1 shortened and not reaching wing mar-

gin.

Taxonomic Keys

Subfamilies

Key to the Subfamilies of Sepsidae [adapted from Steyskal

(1987) and Pont and Meier (2002)]

1. Eye small and gena very deep, the face strongly receding; 1

orbital and 2 frontal setae; anepisternum, anepimeron, kate-

pisternum and disc of scutellum densely setulose; 3 strong

dorsocentral and 2 postalar setae; large bristly species with

robust legs and short tarsi........................................................

......................subfamily ORYGMATINAE, Orygma Meigen

2. Eye large and gena narrow, the face not receding; 0-1 orbital

and 0 frontal seta; anepisternum and katepisternum with

only a few setulae, anepimeron and disc of scutellum bare; 1

-2 dorsocentral setae, or if with 4-5 (Susanomira, Zuskami-

ra) then 1 postalar seta; smaller species with more delicate

legs and longer tarsi.............................subfamily SEPSINAE

Genera

Key to the Philippine Genera of Sepsidae (Diptera) [modified

from several authors]

1. First and second basal cells of wing united; orbital bristles

lacking; abdomen constricted behind second tergite; ab-

dominal macrochaetae present...........Australosepsis Malloch

First and second basal cells separated...................................2

2. Thorax and abdomen dull black; abdomen with silvery prui-

nose bands; abdominal tergites lacking bristles and setae;

humeral bristle minute; outer verticals (postoculars) lacking;


part curved, clearly concave ventrally.

Abdomen: Constricted between second and third tergum, last

segments with long and strong marginal macrochetae. Hypopyg-

ium small, simple in structure.

Length: body: 2.8 to 3.9 mm; wing: 1.6 to 2.8 mm.

Specimens examined: CAMARINES NORTE: 4 ♂. Daet, Cama-

rines Norte, cow dung, May 2011, S. D. Letana (Coll. #44b);

LAGUNA: 15 ♂. UPLB Cattle Farm, cow dung, 30 May 2006,

S. D. Letana (Coll. #17); PANGASINAN: 3 ♂, Sison, Pan-

gasinan, unknown dung, May 2011, Ian Marca (Coll. #46);

ZAMBALES: 8 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield, carabao dung, 24 June

2006, S. D. Letana (#Z).

Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Nothern

Territory, Western Australia), New Caledonia (New Caledonia).

Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong, Taiwan), India

(Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu), Indo-

nesia (Lombok I., Sulawesi I., Sumbawa I., Timor I.), Japan

(Okinawa I.), Malaysia (Borneo I.) Nepal, Philippines (Balabac

I., Busuanga I., Culion I., Luzon I., Mindanao I., Palawan I.),

Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia:

Pakistan.

AUSTRALOSEPSIS NIVEIPENNIS (Becker, 1903)

(Figures 1 and 2)

Sepsis niveipennis Becker, 1903: 143. Type-locality: Asyȗt

(EGYPT); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968):

474, in ZMHUB.

Sepsis flava Brunetti, 1910: 351. Type-locality: Calcutta

(INDIA); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968):

474, in NHML.

Sepsis tincta Brunetti, 1910: 353. Type-locality: Allahabad

(INDIA); Lectotype ♀ by designation of Zuska (1968): 474,

NHML.

Australosepsis fulvescens Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-

locality: Sydney (AUSTRALIA: New South Wales); Holo-

type ♂, in AMS.

Head: Frontal plate mostly shining. Outer vertical ½ and post-

ocellar 2/3 length of inner vertical. Gena ½ to 2/3 width of an-

tennal flagellomere. Subvibrissal setae numerous and short.

Thorax: Scutum, postpronotal lobes and scutellum dull, only

around postalar callus. Anterior notopleural much shorter than

posterior; 1-2 dorsocentral setae; acrostichal and dorsocentral

ground-setulae minute. Wing apex including veins and mi-

crotrichia whitish with a diffused dark spot at the end of R2+3

vein. Fore tibia ventrally with longer row of setulae on basal

half, followed distally by 2 bare tubercles; distal parts of tibiae

Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 npl, pal

absent or present 1 thin, hair-like, 0+2 dc. Proepisternum without

setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Mediotergite shining under

scutellum. Scutellum dorsally without hairs, with a pair of well-

developed apical setae; basal setae absent or short, hair-like.

Coxa of male foreleg without osmeterium. Male femur and

tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half with ver-

tical row of thin setulae. Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male

hindleg with a hardly visible osmeterium-like area.

Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with darkened spot near

apex R2+3, usually almost unclear from yellowish–colored speci-

mens. Anal lobe well-developed. Cells bm and br fused. Alula

well-developed, bare. Margin of upper calypter with hair, margin

of lower calypter without hairs.

Abdomen constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of male

simple. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium. Epandrial pro-

cess absent.

Key to the species of Australosepsis

1. Wing clear, without white apex; Male: fore tibia ventrally

with short row of stout setulae on basal third, apical half

curved................................ Australosepsis frontalis (Walker)

Wing with diffuse dark subapical spot; wing apex milk-

white; Male: fore tibia ventrally with longer row of setulae

on basal half, followed distally by 2 bare tuber-

cles.................................Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker)

AUSTRALOSEPSIS FRONTALIS (Walker, 1860)

frontalis Walker, 1860: 163 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“Makessar: [now= Ujung Pandang] (Indonesia: Sulawesi I.);

Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968): 472, in

NHML.

tenella de Meijere, 1906: 183 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Singa-

pore; Lectotype ♂, by Zuska (1968): 472, in MTMB.

brevis Brunetti, 1910: 361 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Baroda

(India); Holotype ♂, not in NHML and presumed in ZSIC or

destroyed.

lieveni Frey, 1917: 25 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Anurandha-

pura (Sri Lanka); Holotype ♂, in ZMUH.

Head: Ocellar, postvertical, inner and outer vertical bristles

present and well-developed. 1 to 3 dorsocentral setae. Humeral

bristles developed.

Thorax: Wings clear with microtrichiae, without apical spot.

Anterior femora without tubercles bearing spinules; anterior tibi-

ae in proximal half with flat tubercles bearing black spines, distal

not strongly curved.

Abdomen: Subshining. Strongly constricted between syntergite

1+2 and base of tergite 3.

Length: body: 3.2 mm; wing: 2.0 mm.

Specimens examined: PANGASINAN: Sison, Pangasinan, 2 ♂,

11 May 2011, Ian Marca (Coll #46a).

Distribution: Afrotropical. — Angola, Botswana, Cameroon,

Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nige-

ria, Republic of the Congo, Republic of South Africa, Sierra

Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen,

Zimbabwe. Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Australian

Capital Territory, New South Wales, Nothern Territory, Queens-

land, Western Australia), Fiji, New Caledonia (New Caledonia),

Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Arch., New Guinea I.), Solomon

Islands, Vanuatu. Oriental. — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China

(Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Rajasthan,

Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Indonesia (Java I.,

Lesser Sunda Is, Sulawesi I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia

(East Malaysia), Nepal, Philippines (Jolo I.). Palaearctic. —

Asia: Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, Turkmenistan; Europe: Cyprus;

North Africa: Egypt, Morocco.

Genus MEROPLIUS Rondani, 1874

Meroplius Rondani, 1874: 175. Gender: masculine. Type-

species: Nemopoda stercoraria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

[=Sepsis minuta Wiedemann, 1830], by original designation.

Parameroplius Duda, 1926a: 37 [described as a subgenus of

Meroplius]. Gender: masculine. Type-species: Sepsis fasciculata

Brunetti, 1910, by monotypy.


Protomeroplius Ozerov, 1999: 92 [described as a subgenus of

Meroplius]. Gender: masculine. Type-species: Meroplius tris-

pinifer Ozerov, 1999, by original designation.




tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: 1 or, 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ivt, and 1 ovt. 1

vibrissa.

Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 npl, 1

spal, 1 pal, 0+(1-2) dc; often present rows of short setae between

lines ac (unpaired row) and along lines dc. Proepisternum with-

out setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Mediotergite with shining

(without pollen) spot under scutellum. Scutellum dorsally con-

vex, without hairs, with well-developed apical setae; basal setae

short, hair-like.


tibia of foreleg modified, usually posteriorly with two black

spines; female fore femur usually with a deta in apical third ven-

trally. Coxa of midleg in upper half bare. Femur of midleg

straight. Male tibia of hindleg with an osmeterium-like area or

with a conspicuous osmeterium.

Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with anal lobe well-

developed. Cells bm and br separate. Alula well-developed or

moderate, entirely covered with microtrichiae. Margin of upper

calypter with hairs, margin of lower calypter without hairs.

Abdomen not constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of

male modified. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.

Epandrial process absent or present.

Figure 1. Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker). Male. Scale

bar: 1 mm.

Figure 2. Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker). (After Zuska

1968) Male: A, wing; and B, surstylus, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.1

mm

A

B

MEROPLIUS FASCICULATUS (Brunetti, 1910)

(Figure 3)

fasciculata Brunetti, 1910: 365 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“Ceylon” [=Sri Lanka]; Holotype ♂, not in NHML and pre-

sumed in ZSIC or destroyed.

plumata de Meijere, 1913b: 363 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“rivier Kamp” (Irian Jaya: New Guinea I.); Lectotype ♂, by

designation of Ozerov (1999): 51, in ZMUA.

Head: Roundish, facial carina small, face receding, gena linear.

Orbital bristle strong and distinct, inner vertical and outer verti-

cal setae present.

Thorax: Wings with a distinct gray tinge. Distal modified bristle

on ventral side of fore femur small, club-like, anterior bristle in

basal fourth of femur long and strong, row of posteroventral set-

ulae in basal half not differentiated from normal pilosity; osme-

terium about two-third as long as hind tibia.

Abdomen: Hypopygium with a long, slender, apically widened

surstylus, and with a sharp anteroventral process.

Specimens examined: METRO MANILA: 1♂, Quezon Ave.,

Quezon City, 4 March 2007, S. D. Letana; QUEZON: 1♂, Del

Pilar, Quezon, Alabat Island, goat dung, 12 Dec. 2006, S. D.

Letana (Coll. #40).

Length: body: 4 to 4.3 mm; wing: 2.6 to 3 mm.

Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Papua New Guinea

(New Guinea I.). Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong,

Taiwan), India (Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Ben-

gal), Indonesia (Java I., Sulawesi I.), Kalimantan I., Malaysia

(East Malaysia), Nepal, Philippines (Luzon I., Jolo I.), Sri

Lanka, Thailand. Palaearctic. — Asia: China (Sichuan), Japan

(Honshu I., Kyushu I., Shikoku I.).


Genus SEPSIS Fallén, 1810

Sepsis Fallén, 1810: 17. Gender: feminine. Type-species: Musca

cynipsea Linnaeus, 1758, by designation of

Curtis (1829): Plate 245.

Threx Gistel, 1848: 599. Gender: masculine. Unjustified substi-

tute name for Sepsis Fallén, 1810. Type-species: Musca cynipsea

Linnaeus, 1758, automatic.

Acrometopia Lioy, 1864: 1088. Gender: feminine. Type-species:

Sepsis cornuta Meigen, 1826 [=Musca cynipsea Linnaeus,

1758], by monotypy.

Beggiatia Lioy, 1864: 1088. Gender: feminine. Type-species:

Sepsis barbipes Meigen, 1826 [=Musca cynipsea Linnaeus,

1758], by monotypy.

Sepsidimorpha Frey, 1908: 578, 584. Gender: feminine. Type-

species: Sepsis loewi Hendel, 1902 [=Sepsis duplicata Haliday,

1838], by monotypy.

Nicarao Silva, 1995: 203. Gender: masculine. Type-species:

Nicarao rarus Silva, 1995, by original designation.

Allosepsis Ozerov, 1992: 44. Gender: feminine. Type-species:

Sepsis indica Wiedemann, 1824, by original designation.


Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae larger than width of

postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several setae. Arista bare.

Chaetotaxy: absent or present, 1 very short hair-like; 1 oc, 1 pos,

1ovt and 1 ivt. 2-3 vibrissae, always striking from genal setulae.

Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 1-2 npl, 1

pal (usually short, hair-like), 0+ (1-2) dc; sometimes with a row

of thin and short setulae along each ac, dc, and ial line. Proe-

pisternum without setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Medioterg-

ite shining under scutellum. Scutellum dorsally without hairs.

With a pair of well-developed apical setae; basal setae absent or

shot, hair-like.


tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half with ver-

tical row of thin setulae. Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male

hindleg with a hardly visible osmeterium-like area.

Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with dark spot near

apex. R2+3 or without spot, with well-developed anal lobe. Cells

bm and br separate. Alula well-developed to narrow, entirely

covered with microtrichiae. Margin of upper calypter with hairs,

margin of lower calypter without hairs.



cess absent. Figure 3. Meroplius fasciculatus (Brunetti). Male habitus.

Scale bar: 1 mm.

Key to the species of Sepsis

1. Wing without a dark spot at the end of R2+3vein.................2

Wing with a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein; sternopleura

posterodorsally pruinose; fore femur of male with antero-

basal patch of long hair........................S. dissimilis Brunetti

2. Sternopleura dorsally and posteriorly pruinose.....................

..........................................................S. lateralis Wiedemann

Sternopleura wholly pruinose; abdomen of the male al-

ways, and often the female also, with distinct macrochaetae

.............................................................................................3

3. Pteropleura pruinose.............................S. indica Wiedemann

Pteropleura shining................................................................4

4. Fore femur of male with large ventromedial bump.................

........................................................................S. sepsi Ozerov

Fore femur of male without bump...S. coprophila de Meijere

SEPSIS COPROPHILA de Meijere, 1906

Sepsis coprophila de Meijere, 1906: 176. Type-locality:

SINGAPORE; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov

(1997): 479, in ZMHUB.

Body color of males generally reddish; sternopleura wholly

pruinose; wing without a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein;

Surstylus (hypopygial process) long and stout; male fore femur

without such distinct median tubercle. Postalar bristles strong.

Wing apex never whitish. Fore metatarsus ventrally, near

base, with 2 strong, black, sinuous bristles, clearly differentiated

from other ventral hairs. Male: Fore femur ventrally without

tubercle. But with a row of spines; fore tibia with a posteroven-

tral tubercle; surstylus longer, wider. flatter. with long, ventrally

directed, basal bristle posteriorly.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 1 ♂, UP Land Grant, pasture,

carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD Letana (Coll. #38c); QUE-

ZON: 5 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island, horse dung, 29 December

2006, SD Letana (Coll. #35b).

Length: body: 3.6 to 3.8 mm; wing: 2.5 mm.

Distribution: Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong, Tai-

wan), India (Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Na-

du, West Bengal), Indonesia (Java I., Sulawesi I., Sumatra I.),

Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia (East Malaysia), Nepal, Philip-

pines (Luzon I., Mindanao I., Palawan I.), Singapore, Sri Lanka,

Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia: Japan (Kyushu I.).


SEPSIS DISSIMILIS Brunetti, 1910

Sepsis dissimilis Brunetti, 1910: 355. Type-localities:

“Shashthancottah, 12 miles N. N. E. of Quilon”, Rajmahal,

and “Gathwal district, Western Himalayas” (INDIA); Syn-

types 4 ♂♂ and 1 ♀, not in NHML and presumed in ZSIC

or destroyed.

Sepsis albolimbata de Meijere, 1913: 115. Type-locality:

“Tainan” (CHINA: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂, by designation of

Ozerov (1997): 478, in ZMHUB.

Sepsis albopunctata Lamb, 1914: 323. Type-locality: “Mahé,

Cascade Estate, 800 feet or over; marshes on coastal plain of

Anse aux Pins and Anse Royale” (SEYCHELLES); Syntype

s ♂♂, in NHML (2 ♂♂) and MCZC (1 ♂).

Sepsis hirtifemur Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-locality:

Mosman (AUSTRALIA: New South Wales); Holotype ♂, in

NHML.

Sepsis acroleucoptera Duda, 1926: 41 [as a variety of al-

bopunctata]. Type-locality: “Anping” (CHINA: Taiwan);

Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov (1997): 478, in

ZMHUB.

Sepsis natalensis Brunetti, 1929: 27. Type-locality: Weenen

(REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Natal); Holotype ♂, in

NHML.

Fore femur of male with anterobasal patch of long hair;

postalar bristles weak; a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein com-

paratively weak; sternopleura posterodorsally pruinose; hypo-

pygial processes short and slender.

Specimens examined: CAMARINES NORTE: 7 ♂, Camambugan,

Daet, pasture area, cow dung, May 2011, SD Letana (#44a, 44c

and 44d); LAGUNA: 2 ♂, Animal Science, UPLB, horse dung,

23 April 2008, SD Letana (#27a); 8 ♂, IRRI, Laguna, pitfall cow

dung trap, 11 June 2010, SD Letana (#41a and 41c); QUEZON:

1 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island, pig dung, 30 December 2006, SD

Letana (#36a); ZAMBALES: 2 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield, carabao

dung, 24 June 2006, SD Letana (#Zd).

Length: body: 2.6 to 3 mm; wing: 1.5 to 1.8 mm.

Distribution: Afrotropical —Democratic Republic of the Con-

go, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of

South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe. Aus-

tralasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Queensland, New South

Wales), New Fiji, Hebrides, Papua New Guinea (New Guinea

I.). Oriental — China (Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam,

Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh), Indonesia (Lesser Sun-

da Is, Sulawesi I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia (East Malay-

sia), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines (Busuanga I., Culion I., Jolo I.,

Luzon I., Mindanao I., Negros I., Palawan I.), Thailand, Vi-

etnam. Palaearctic. — Asia: Japan (Honshu I., Kyushu I.).

SEPSIS INDICA Wiedemann, 1824

indica Wiedemann, 1824: 57 (Sepsis). Type-locality: “India

orient”; Lectotype♀, by designation of Ozerov (2004): 00,

in ZMUC.

decipiens de Meijere, 1906: 177 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

Stephansort, Astrolabe-Bai (Papua New Guinea: New Guin-

ea I.); Holotype ♂, in MNMB.

fusciventris Brunetti, 1910: 357 (Nemopoda). Unavailable

name; citation of a Bigot MS name, as nomen nudum is syn-

onymy with Sepsis indica Wiedemann.

The males generally reddish or reddish-brown. Sternopleura

dorsally and posteriorly pruinose; postalar setae strong; wing

without a dark spot at the end of R2+3. The males have strongly

modified forelegs with large femoral protrusions and spines.

Hypopygial process with long bristles.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 3 ♂, UPCO, UPLB, cow dung,

14-18 March 2008, S. D. Letana (Coll. #29a, 30a and 31a);

QUEZON: 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Quezon, Alabat Island, horse dung, 29

Dec. 2006, S. D. Letana (Coll. #35a); 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Quezon,

Alabat Island, pig dung, 30 Dec. 2006, S. D. Letana (Coll. #36a).

Length: body: 5.6 to 6.2 mm; wing: 4 to 4.8 mm.

Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Papua New Guinea

(New Guinea I.). Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Taiwan), India

(Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu), Japan (Okinawa I.), Nepal,

Philippines (Luzon I.),Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia:

Japan (Hokkaido I., Honshu I., Kyushu I.), Korea, Russia

(Khabarovskiy Kray, Primorskiy Kray).

SEPSIS LATERALIS Wiedemann, 1830

lateralis Wiedemann, 1830: 468 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

China; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Pont in Pont and

Meier (2002): 167, in ZMUC.

complicata Wiedemann, 1830: 468 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

China; Holotype ♂, in ZMUC.

inpunctata Macquart, 1839: 118 (Sepsis). Type-locality: not

stated [from title: Canary Is.]; Holotype ♂, in MNHNP.

algira Macquart, 1843: 389 (Nemopoda). Type-locality:

Algiers (ALGERIA); Holotype ♂, probably in MNHL.

lateralis Macquart, 1843: 390 (Nemopoda). Junior second-

ary homonym, preoccupied by Sepsis lateralis Wiedemann,

1830. Type-locality: “Du Brésil ou du Chili” [probably from

Africa, not South America]; Holotype ♀, in MNHNP.


immaculata Macquart, 1843: 391 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“De l’ile Bourbon” [=Réunion]; Holotype ♂, in MNHNP.

hyalipennis Macquart, 1851: 269 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

EGYPT; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Pont in Pont and

Meier (2002): 167, in UMO.

rufa Macquart, 1851: 269 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Cairo

(EGYPT); Holotype ♀, in UMO.

melitensis Rondani, 1874: 176 (Meroplius). Type-locality:

MALTA; Syntypes ♂♂, probably in MZLSF.

schembrii Rondani, 1874: 176 (Meroplius). Type-locality:

MALTA; Holotype ♂, probably in MZSLF.

senegalensis Bigot, 1886: 389 (Nemopoda). Type-locality:

SIERRA LEONE; Holotype ♀, in UMO.

fragilis Becker, 1903: 145 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Lake Bir-

ket-el-Karȗn (EGYPT); Syntypes ♂♂, in ZMHUB

astutis Adams, 1905: 174 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“Salisbury” [now=Harare] (ZIMBABWE); Lectotype ♂, by

designation of Ozerov (1998a): 85, in SEMK.

lutea Duda, 1926: 51 (Sepsis). Unavailable name; citation

of a Wiedemann name, in synonymy with Sepsis lateralis

Wiedemann.

unicoloripes Brunetti, 1929: 27 (Sepsis). Type-locality:

“Aburi” (GHANA); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov

(1998): 87, in NHML.

definita Brunetti, 1929: 29 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Weenen

(REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Natal); Lectotype ♂, by

designation of Ozerov (1998a): 85, in NHML.

kwanzaensis Vanschuytbroeck, 1963a: 31 (Sepsis). Type-

locality: Virunga National Parc: “riv. Kombo, affl. Riv. Ru-

anoli, 1550m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE

CONGO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.

bombokaensis Vanschuytbroeck, 1963: 50 (Sepsis). Type-

locality: Virunga National Parc: “Bomboka, prés Kyando-

lire, 1650m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CON-

GO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.

migeriensis Vanschuytbroeck 1963: 71 (Sepsis). Type-

locality: Virunga national Parc: “Kiribata (Migeri), Moy-

enne Lume, 1760 m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

THE CONGO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.

curiosa Ozerov, 1996: 144 (Sepsis). Substitute name for

Nemopoda lateralis Macquart.

“astuta”, incorrect subsequent spelling of astutis Adams

[Bezzi, 1908: 169; Vanchuytbroeck, 1961: 78].

“definita Duda” , error for definita Brunetti

[Vanschuytbroeck (1962): 459].

Head: dark, with only genal area brown to yellow; to mostly

yellow, with only fronto-orbital plates and median occipital scle-

rite brown. Antenna brown to almost wholly reddish-yellow.

Thorax: wholly dark with brown postpronotal lobes and proe-

pisternal area; to entirely yellow and a median line on post-

notum. Scutellum black to reddish-yellow. Legs wholly yellow;

to mid and hind coxae basally; fore femur mid and hind femora

except at base, mid tibia except on apical quarter, hind tibia

wholly, and tarsomeres 4-5 dark.

Abdomen: wholly dark; to mainly dark with basal part and api-

cal part reddish to yellow.

Specimens examined: 1♂ LAGUNA: Los Banos, Umali Subdivi-

sion, attracted to TV, 28 May 2011, S. D. Letana (Coll. #47); 2

♂, UP Land Grant trail, carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD

Letana (Coll. #42).


Distribution: Afrotropical. — Angola, Botswana, Cameroon,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,

Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of

South Africa, Republic of the Congo, Réunion, Seychelles, Sier-

ra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe;

Asia: Yemen. Australasian/Oceanian. — USA (Hawaiian Is.),

Papua New Guinea (New Guinea I.). Palaearctic. — Asia: Af-

ghanistan, China (Hebei), Iraq, Israel, Japan (Kyushu I.), Syria;

Europe: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain (incl. Balearic Is),

Turkey; North Africa: Algeria, Azores, Canary Is, Egypt, Libya,

Madeira Is, Morocco, Tunisia. Oriental. — Bangladesh, China

(Guangdong, Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,

Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, North Ben-

gal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Japan (Okinawa

I.), Malaysia (East Malaysia), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philip-

pines (Luzon I., Negros I.), Sri Lanka, Thailand.

SEPSIS SEPSI Ozerov, 2003 (Figures 4 and 5)

Sepsis sepsi, Ozerov 2003: 1276. Type-locality: Wawó,

450m (INDONESIA: Sumbawa I.); Holotype ♂, in DEI.

Sepsis sepsi can be distinguished from other Sepsis by the row of

four large spines on a large rounded ventromedial bump of the

fore femur (Fig.16a). The fore tibia (Fig.16b) lacks a rounded

lobe, and the surstylus differs in structure.

Specimens examined: ZAMBALES: 3 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield,

carabao dung, 24 June 2006, SD Letana (# Zb).



Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Sumbawa I.), Vietnam (Ha

Tay). Philippines (Luzon; New record).

Figure 4. Sepsis sepsi Ozerov. (After Ang and Meier 2010)

Male: A, fore femur, posterior; B, fore tibia, posterior view; and C,

hypopygium, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm

A

B

C

Figure 5. Sepsis sepsi Ozerov. (After Sepsidnet: sepsidnet-

rmbr.nus.edu.sg) Male habitus. Scale bar: 1 mm

Genus DICRANOSEPSIS Duda, 1926

Dicranosepsis Duda, 1926a: 43 [described as a subgenus of

Sepsis]. Gender: feminine. Type-species: Sepsis bicolor

Wiedemann, 1830, by original designation.

DIAGNOSIS. Head round or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.



tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: or absent, 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ovt, and 1

ivt. 2-3 vibrissae, always striking from genal setulae.

Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 nol, 0-1

pal, 0+2 dc. Proepisternum without setae. Metepimeral bridge

present. Mediotergite shining under scutellum. Scutellum dorsal-

ly without hairs, with a pair of well-developed apical setae; basal

setae absent or short, hair-like.


tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half bare.

Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male hindleg with a hardly

visible osmeterium-like are.

Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with moderate anal

lobe. Cells bm and br separate. Alula narrow, entirely coverd

with microtrichiae. Margin of upper calypter with hairs, margin

of lower calypter without hairs.



cess present.

Key to the species of Dicranosepsis

1. Anepimeron completely pruinose..........................................2

Anepimeron shining in anterior half or with shining spot

anteriorly................................................................................5

2. Fore trochanter strongly or somewhat extended ventrally ....4

Fore trochanter not extended ventrally..................................3

3. Hind trochanter posteriorly covered with hair-like setae........

......................................................................D. dudai Ozerov

Hind trochanter without hair-like setae .....D. transita Ozerov

4. Ventral process of fore trochanter same length as body of

fore trochanter.............................................D. sauteri Ozerov

Ventral process of fore trochanter shorter than body of fore

trochanter; fore femur with 1–2 anterobasal setae..................

.........................................................D. pseudotibialis Ozerov

5. Fore femur with 2 av setae in the basal third; distance be-


tween av setae in the basal fifth of fore femur less than

length of basal seta and apical end of distal av seta does not

reach the half-way point of fore femur....................................

..............................................................D. revocans (Walker)

Fore femur without av seta basally; mid-tibia without brown

ring at the distal end.........................D. javanica (de Meijere)

DICRANOSEPSIS DUDAI Ozerov, 2003

(Figure 6)

Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov, 2003: 89. Type-locality:

“Batoe Doelang: (Indonesia: Sumbawa I.); Holotype ♂, in

DEI.

Head: Frons dark or brownish near apex. Face yellow to brown,

but antennal grooves usually blackish. Gena brown to black.

Antenna brownish. Occipital sclerite with several setulae. Gena

with a row of setulae along lower margin. Postgena with seta, 2-

3 vibrissae.

Thorax: Black. Legs yellow but femur of midleg and hindleg in

apical half and tibia of midleg and hindleg in basal half usually

darkened; tibia of midleg blackish near apex. Tarsomeres 4 and 5

of all legs black. Wing clear, with brownish veins; basal-costal

cell basally and basal cell completely blackish. Upper calypter

and margins white, lower calypter and margins darkened. Halter

yellowish.

Abdomen: Black. Constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite

1+2 at sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of

thin marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 2 ♂, Hortorium, UPLB, ex cul-

ture from cow dung, 10 March 2007, SD Letana (#10).


Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Flores I., Sumbawa I.).

Philippines (Luzon; New record).

DICRANOSEPSIS JAVANICA (de Meijere, 1904)

Sepsis javanica de Meijere, 1904: 107: Type-locality: Tosari

(INDONESIA: Java I.); Lectotype ♂, by designation of

Ozerov (1997): 147, in ZMUA.

“javana”, incorrect subsequent spelling of javanica de Mei-

jere [Hennig (1949): 61]

Color of body black. Legs yellow. Wing without dark spot

near apex. Height of gena+subgena approximately 10 times

shorter than vertical diameter of eye . First flagellomere approxi-

mately 1.4 times as long as wide Proepisternum completely

greyish pruinose. Anepimeron shining in anterior half and prui-

nose in posterior half.

Fore trochanter simple. Fore femur without av in basal third.

Midtibia with 1 av in apical third. Length of av and pv on first

tarsomere of mid leg less than the height of tarsomere 4 of mid

leg. Length of av on first tarsomere of hind leg less than the

length of tarsomere 4 of hind leg.

Anal vein approximately 6 times as long as the width of bm

cell. Alula approximately 1.5 times as wide as bm cell.

Specimens examined: QUEZON: 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island,

carabao dung, 30 December 2006, SD Letana (#37b).


Distribution: Oriental. — China (Guangdong, Taiwan), India,

Indonesia (Java I.), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines

(Luzon), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

DICRANOSEPSIS PSEUDOTIBIALIS Ozerov, 2003

(Figure 7)

Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov, 2003: 88. Type-

locality: “Batoe Doelang” (INDONESIA: Sumbawa I.);

Holotype ♂, in DEI.

Head: slightly flattened dorsoventrally in lateral view. Postpedi-

cel in profile long-oval approximately 1.5 time longer than wide.

1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ivt, 1 ovt; or absent. Occipital sclerite with several

setulae. Gena with a row of setulae along lower margin. Post

gena with 1 seta. 2-3 vibrissae.

Thorax: Scutellum with well-developed apical setae; basal setae

short, hair-like. Scutum: 1 pprn, 2 npl, 1 spal, 1 pal, 0+2 dc. Fe-

mur of foreleg with 1 av basally. Coxa of midleg bare in upper

half. Femur of midleg with a row of short a. tibia of midleg with

1 v in apical third and with apical av and pv. Femur and tibia of

hindleg without striking setae.

Abdomen: constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite 1+2 at

sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of thin

marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 1 ♂, UPCO, UPLB, from cow

dung, 14 March 2008, SD Letana (#29b); 3 ♂, Tayabak Camp

Site, Mt. Makiling, fresh horse dung, 19 September 2008, SD

Letana (#23a).

Length: body: 3 to 3.3 mm; wing: 2.1 to 2.2 mm.

Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Sumbawa I.). Philippines

(Luzon; New record).

DICRANOSEPSIS REVOCANS (Walker, 1869)

Sepsis revocans Walker, 1869: 163. Type-locality:

“Makessar” [now=Ujung Pandang] (Indonesia: Sulawesi I.);


Holotype ♀, in NHML.

Sepsis acuta de Meijere, 1913a: 118 [as forma of bicolor].

Type-locality: “Tainan” (China: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂, by

designation of Ozerov (1997): 154, in ZMHUB.

Sepsis bipilosa Duda, 1926a: 48 [as variety of bicolor].

Type-locality: “Macuyam” (China: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂,

by designation of Ozerov (1997): 155, in DEI.

Sepsis bipilosiformis Duda, 1926a: 48 [as a subvariety of

bicolor variety of bipilosa]. Type-locality: Colombo (Sri

Lanka; lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov (1997): 155,

in MTMB.

parabipilosa Duda, 1926b: 55. Error for bipilosiformis Du-

da.

Head: Color of body from yellow to black. Height of

gena+subgena approximately 10 times shorter than vertical di-

ameter of eye. First flagellomere approximately 1.5 times as long

as wide.

Thorax: Proepisternum completely grayish pruinose, anepimer-

on shining in anterior half and pruinose in posterior half. Legs

yellow. Fore trochanter simple. Mid tibia with 1 av in apical

third. Length of av and pv on first tarsomere of mid leg less than

the length of tarsomere 4 of mid leg. Length of av on first tarso-

mere of hind leg less than the length of tarsomere 4 of hind leg.

Wing without dark spot near apex.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 6 ♂, Makiling Forest Reserve

Trail, approx 500m asl, Mt. Makiling Laguna, old horse dung, 15

September 2008, SD Letana (#19); 2 ♂, Makiling Forest Reserve

Trail, approx 500m asl, Mt. Makiling Laguna, cow dung, 15

September 2008, SD Letana (#20a and b).

Length: body: 3 to 3.5 mm; wing: 2.1 to 2.2 mm.

Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Queens-

land), Solomon Islands. Oriental. — China (Guangdong, Tai-

wan), India (Assam), Indonesia (Flores I., Sulawesi I., Sumbawa

I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines

(Luzon), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

DICRANOSEPSIS SAUTERI Ozerov, 2003

(Figure 8)

Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov, 2003: 87. Type-locality:

“Taihoku” (China: Taiwan); Holotype ♂, in DEI.

Head: Frons black, but brownish near apex. Face and gena red-

dish yellow; antennal grooves slightly darkened. Subgena, clype-

us and postcranium black. Antenna reddish yellow. 1 oc, 1 poc, 1

ivt, 1 ovt; or absent. Occipital sclerite with several setulae. Gena

with a row of setulae along lower margin. Postgena with 1 seta.


Distribution: Oriental — China (Taiwan), Philippines (Luzon;

New record).

DICRANOSEPSIS TRANSITA Ozerov, 1997

(Figure 9)

Sepsis gracilis Duda, 1926a: 48 [as variety of bicolor]. Jun-

ior primary homonym, preoccupied by Sepsis gracilis Zet-

terstedt, 1847. Type-locality: “Chosokei” (China: Taiwan);

Lectotype , by designation of Ozerov (1997): 157, in DEI.

Dicranosepsis transita Ozerov, 1997: 156. Substitute name

for Sepsis gracilis Duda.

Head: Dark brown to black. Height of gena + subgena approxi-

mately 12-16 times shorter than vertical diameter of eye. First

flagellomere approximately 1.4 times as long as wide.

2-3 vibrissae.

Thorax: Dark. Legs yellow, tibia of midleg blackish near apex.

Wing clear, with brownish veins; basal-costal cell and basal cell

completely blackish. Upper calypter and margin white, lower

calypter and margin blackish. Halter yellowish. Scutum with the

following paired setae: 1pprn, 2 npl, 1 spal, 1 pal, 0+2 dc. Ane-

pisternum in posterior half bearing scattered hairs and with long

seta near posterior margin. Scutellum with well-developed apical

setae; basal setae short, hair-like.

Abdomen: Black. Constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite

1+2 at sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of

thin marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 2 ♂, UP Land Grant trail, La-

guna, carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD Letana (#39); 1 ♂, IR-

RI, Laguna, cow dung pit fall trap, 11 June 2010, SD Letana

(#41d).


A B C

D

A B C

D

E

Figure 6. Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)

Male: A, fore tibia, posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C, fore

femur (left), posterior view; D, same, anterior view; and E, tro-

chanter of hindleg.

A B C

D

E

A B C

D

Figure 7. Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov. (After Ozerov

2003) Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior

view; C, fore femur (left), posterior view; and D, same, anterior

view.

Figure 8. Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)

Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C,

fore femur (left), posterior view; and D, same, anterior view

Figure 9. Dicranosepsis transita Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)

Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C,

for femur (left) posterior view; D, same, anterior view; and E, frag-

ment of tibia.

Thorax: Proepisternum and anepimeron completely grayish pru-

inose. Legs yellow; mid tibia completely yellow, or darkened on

anterior, ventral, and posterior sides near apex, or with black ring

near apex. Short av on first tarsomere of male hind leg. Wing

without spot near apex.

Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 8 ♂, DTRI, UPLB, cow dung,

10 March 2007, SD Letana (#11 and 12); 1 ♂, Hortorium,

UPLB, carabao dung, 12 March 2008, SD Letana (#34b).

Length: body: 3 mm; wing: 2 mm.

Distribution: Oriental. — China (Taiwan), Philippines (Luzon;

New record).

SUMMARY

This study of Philippine black scavenger flies covers the

subfamily Sepsinae and the genera Australosepsis, Meroplius,

Sepsis and Dicranosepsis, which include 14 species, four of

which are new records for the Philippines. The putative oriental

Australosepsis niveipennis has new Philippine distribution rec-

ord which was previously recorded in Jolo island.

Each species discussed was provided with literature citation,

general description, distribution, and habitat/substrate record.

Keys and diagnoses were also provided for each category when-

ever possible.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study would not have been possible without the support and

patience of my MS adviser Dr. Clare R. Baltazar, along with Dr.

Venus J. Calilung and Dr. Antonio J. Alcantara. Their guidance,

patience, and encouragement contributed immensely to this out-

come. I am grateful to my UPLB professors Dr. Victor P. Gapud,

Dr. Jessamyn Adorada, and the late Dr. Stephen G. Reyes for the

discussions and insights given. I thank Professor Rudolf Meier

(National University of Singapore) for the hospitality in accom-

modating me for a short but meaningful stint in his laboratory; to

Dr. Andrey L. Ozerov (Zoological Museum, Moscow State Uni-

versity) who has been gracious to all my queries, for reprints and

permission to use his excellent photographs; Dr. Ireneo Lit, Jr.

(UPLB Museum of Natural History) for allowing me to study the

museum sepsid collection; Dr. Jose Sargento (Makiling Center

for Mountain Ecosystems) for issuance of GP; Dr. Finbarr G.

Horgan (IRRI) for allowing me to work on insects associated

with dung and decomposing snails both in his laboratory and

field sites; to my fieldwork company in some sites Dr. Stephen

Marshall (University of Guelph), Almon Merep, Jouhannes Faid-

iban, and Ian Marca.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None.


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