Haplopeodes
Steyskal, 1980
Species Guides
1Haplopeodes is a of small flies in the Agromyzidae, a group commonly known as leaf-miner flies. The genus was established by Steyskal in 1980 and contains 13 described distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the United States to Peru. Like other Agromyzidae, species in this genus are associated with plants, though specific relationships remain poorly documented for most . The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features of the and male genitalia that separate it from related genera.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Haplopeodes: //ˌhæpləˈpiːoʊdiːz//
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Identification
Haplopeodes can be distinguished from other Agromyzidae by the reduced chaetotaxy of the , particularly the arrangement of orbital setae, and by features of the male terminalia including the structure of the surstyli and hypandrium. The name refers to the simplified ("haplo-") appearance of the or head structures ("-peodes" from Greek pēdē, face). -level identification requires examination of male genitalia and detailed chaetotaxy; females of many species cannot be reliably identified to species.
Distribution
Recorded from the United States (including Vermont), with additional described from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Japan. The shows a primarily New World distribution with one Asian species (Haplopeodes punctiscutellatus from Japan).
Host Associations
- Lycium - Haplopeodes lycivorus is associated with Lycium (Solanaceae)
- Gomphrena - Haplopeodes gomphrenae is associated with Gomphrena (Amaranthaceae)
Similar Taxa
- PhytomyzaBoth are leaf-miner flies in the Phytomyzinae, but Phytomyza has more complex chaetotaxy with additional orbital setae and different male genitalia structure
- LiriomyzaSimilar in general appearance and leaf-mining habit, but Liriomyza typically have different wing venation patterns and structure; Haplopeodes has reduced setation on the
More Details
Etymology
The name combines Greek "haploos" (single, simple) with "peodes" (from pēdē, /), referring to the reduced or simplified chaetotaxy of the head.
Taxonomic History
Several were originally described in other (e.g., H. bullati as Phytomyza bullati, H. minutus as Agromyza minuta, H. lopesi as Phytomyza lopesi) and later transferred to Haplopeodes when the genus was established or revised. The most recently described species is H. loprestii (2021) from the United States.