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Syrphidae
Surimyia minutula (Doesburg)
Nomenclature
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Tribe: MicrodontiniGenus: Surimyia
SUMMARY
Surimyia was established for two species similar to Paragodon but with bristle-like pile on the thorax and abdomen as well as bare postpronotum (Cheng and Thompson 2008). The genus Surimyia superficially resembles Paragodon Thompson, 1969. Differs from all other known Syrphidae by the absence of microtrichia on the katatergum (= ventral part of lateral postnotal sclerite, also known as pleurotergite). It differs from all other known Microdontinae by the absence of pilosity on the postpronotum and otherwise by the presence of strong black setae on thorax, tergites and sternites (Reemer 2008).
The bare postpronotum is unique among Microdontinae (Cheng & Thompson 2008, Thompson 1999), and the lack of microtrichia on the katatergum is apparently unique among all Syrphidae (see Hippa & Ståhls 2005). Another striking character of the Surimyia-species is the presence of bristly pile on the thorax (anepisternum, anepimeron, mesonotum, postalar callus, scutellum) and abdomen (sternites and tergites). Thoracic bristly pilosity is uncommon among Syrphidae and known to occur only in a small number of genera (like Brachyopa, Cheilosia, Copestylum and Volucella). Bristly pilosity on the abdomen, especially on the sternites, is very rare among Syrphidae. Only Tachinosyrphus Hull has abdominal bristles on the fourth tergite (Thompson 1972) (from Reemer 2008).