Pericoma
Haliday, 1856
moth flies
Pericoma is a of ( ) comprising approximately 159–190 recognized arranged in four subgenera. The genus has a nearly distribution, with records from Europe, North America, and South America. Species within Pericoma are small, hairy flies characteristic of the Psychodidae family. The genus was established by Haliday in 1856 and remains taxonomically active with ongoing species descriptions.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pericoma: /ˌpɛrɪˈkoʊmə/
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Identification
Pericoma can be distinguished from other by features of the and male , though specific diagnostic characters vary among subgenera. The four subgenera (Pericoma, Botosaneanuiella, Pachypericoma, and Vaillantiella) are separated based on structural differences in , genitalia, and characteristics. Separation from the closely related genus Psychoda requires examination of wing branching patterns and hypopygial structure.
Distribution
Nearly . Documented records include Colombia (Chocó and Tolima departments), Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The occurs across multiple continents with adapted to various regional climates.
Similar Taxa
- PsychodaBoth belong to and share the -like appearance with hairy ; distinguished by and male structure.
- TelmatoscopusAnother with overlapping ; Pericoma differs in specific configurations and antennal structure.
More Details
Subgeneric classification
The is divided into four subgenera: Pericoma (Pericoma) Haliday, 1856; Pericoma (Botosaneanuiella) Vaillant, 1978; Pericoma (Pachypericoma) Vaillant, 1978; and Pericoma (Vaillantiella) Krek, 1983. This subgeneric structure reflects morphological diversity within the genus.
Species diversity
counts vary between sources: Wikipedia approximately 159 recognized species, while iNaturalist reports at least 190 described species, indicating ongoing taxonomic revision and description.