Bitheca
Marshall, 1987
Species Guides
1- Bitheca boleta(lesser dung fly)
Bitheca is a of small flies in the Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Marshall in 1987 and contains 14 described , most described in the same year. The genus is placed in the Limosininae. Species-level remains poorly documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Bitheca: /bɪˈθɛkə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Separation from other Limosininae requires examination of male genitalia and subtle chaetotaxy differences. The genus name refers to distinctive paired in the male terminalia (Greek 'bi-' = two, 'theca' = case/container). No reliable external morphological characters for field identification have been published.
Distribution
have been recorded from the Holarctic region. B. xanthocephala was described from Europe (1925), B. masoni from Canada (1985), B. steyskali from Nigeria (1980), and the remaining 11 species from the United States (Marshall, 1987).
Similar Taxa
- Other Limosininae generaBitheca resemble other small limosinine sphaerocerids in general habitus; definitive separation requires dissection and reference to Marshall's 1987 original description.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was erected by Stephen A. Marshall in 1987 to accommodate previously misplaced in other genera, along with newly described Nearctic species. The type species is B. dispar Marshall, 1987.
Etymology
The name refers to the paired (two) sclerotized structures (thecae) in the male genitalia.