The male of Tetanoptera leucodactyla (Diptera : Sciomyzidae)

The male of Tetanoptera leucodactyla Verbeke, a genus and species of Sciomy zidae known until now only from one female specimen from the Congo, is desc ribed, and the genus is more fully characterized. The external morphology i s illustrated and the male genitalia are described and figured for the firs t time. The relationships of Tetanoptera to genera of the Sepedon group and certain other genera of Tetanocerini are discussed. Tetanoptera appears to be related to Verbekaria, and intermediate in an evolutionary lineage betw een the relatively primitive Tetanocera and the advanced Thecomyia.