Outstanding modified abdominal sternites present in the small South American endemic genus Myopinella Michelsen, 2010 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Abstract

Myopinella Michelsen (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) is a very small group of flies endemic to South America. The genus includes only two species, Myopinella angustifrons (Malloch) and Myopinella appendiculata (Stein). The species had been previously recorded from Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Here, we redescribe M. angustifrons and M. appendiculata based on female and male specimens, with detailed illustrations, photographs and scanning electronic microscopy images. We also present and describe in detail the outstanding modified male sternites for the family Anthomyiidae. Also, we analyze intraspecific and interspecific divergences with COI sequences of both Myopinella species and other Anthomyiidae, and present several new records. Finally, the generic name Myopinella Michelsen, 2010 is revalidated.