Achalcus

Loew, 1857

Achalcus is a of long-legged flies ( Dolichopodidae, Achalcinae) established by Loew in 1857. The genus occurs in both the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, with most concentrated in damp coastal and riparian . Nearctic species form a characterized by five pairs of dorsocentral bristles and distinctive male genitalic structures. Several species previously assigned to Achalcus have been transferred to related genera, particularly Australachalcus.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Achalcus: //əˈkælkəs//

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Identification

Nearctic of Achalcus can be distinguished from related by the presence of five pairs of dorsocentral bristles and the incorporation of epandrial setae onto the shaft of the epandrial lobe. A key to males and females of Nearctic species has been published. Species-level identification requires examination of male genitalic characters.

Habitat

Most Nearctic occur in damp , including coastal forests and riparian vegetation. Specimens have been collected predominantly in Pacific coastal states from British Columbia to California.

Distribution

Documented from the Nearctic region (western North America from British Columbia to California, with isolated records from Utah and Ontario) and the Palearctic region (records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). A related occurs in the Neotropical region.

Similar Taxa

  • AustralachalcusMultiple formerly placed in Achalcus (A. albipalpus, A. brevinervis, A. longicornis, A. edwardsae, A. melanotrichus, and others) have been transferred to this based on revised .
  • EnliniaA. atratus and A. sordidus were transferred to Enlinia; these were previously misclassified in Achalcus.
  • SyntormonA. calcaratus was erroneously placed in Achalcus; this actually belongs to Syntormon (as Syntormon (Drymonoeca) aulicus).

More Details

Taxonomic History

The has undergone substantial revision. A systematic revision of Nearctic described three new species (A. californicus, A. dytei, A. similis) and redescribed two others. The Neotropical fauna has been revised with the description of a related new genus, indicating that Achalcus as previously constituted was polyphyletic.

Nomina Dubia

A. thoracicus (Philippi, 1865) is listed as a , and A. scutellaris Van der Wulp, 1891 is considered an unrecognised .

Sources and further reading