| 
2 
: 

TACHINIDAE OF AUSTRALIA 79 
to Neaerini. (The only noteworthy difference between Voriella and Tongamyia 
lies in the vestiture of the hind coxa, as indicated in the key that follows.) 
Voriella and its allies have the following main features in common. 4 without proclinate 
orbital setae and with such fine straight reclinate orbital setae that they appear to form a 
continuous row with the frontal setae; 2 with one pair of reclinate orbital setae (sometimes 
slightly twisted outwards); vibrissae level with epistomal margin; frontal setae descending 
far down on the parafacials (sometimes to a level below the mid-point) and in ¢ the rows 
irregularly duplicated at the lower ends; upper occiput with some black setulae behind postocular 
row; normally 2 + 3 dc setae (3 + 3 occurring, perhaps aberrantly); 1 + 3 ia setae; 2 stpl 
setae; scutellum with only two pairs of strong setae, the basals and subapicals, the latter 
meeting or crossing at their tips; propleuron haired; infrasquamal hairs absent; mid tibia with 
a submedian v seta; mid tibia with one or two ad setae; hind tibia without $d preapical seta 
and with or without a very small pu apical seta; second costal sector haired ventrally; costal 
spine long; distance on vein M from bend to m-cu as great, or nearly so, as that from m-cu to 
y-m (Text-fig. 86); costa of 3 often with long fine ventromarginal hair on basal part; basal node 
of R,,, most often with only one strong setula above and below, sometimes with a hair tuft; 
abdomen with Tr + 2 not excavate to hind margin and with very strong erect discal setae on 
T3-T5. 
In addition to the type-species, Malloch described two other Australian species 
(viz. inconspicua and armiceps) that he placed in Voriella; neither correctly belongs 
in the genus or in the Neaerini. 
An undescribed species with haired parafacials has been seen from South Australia, 
and another with the characters of Tongamyia but with 3 + 3 dc setae has been 
seen from New South Wales. Both differ slightly from either Voriella or Tongamyia 
and their generic placement is uncertain at present. They have been placed, 
however, in the following key so that the differential features can be seen easily. 
There are evidently more forms yet to be discovered in Australia in this interesting 
and little-known complex. Probably when studied sufficiently it will be concluded 
that all should be treated as congeneric, and the definition of Voriella widened 
accordingly. 
The BMNH collection contains an undescribed species of Neaerini from Queensland 
that differs from all the other Australian Neaerini so far known by having the wing 
cell R, exceedingly long-petiolate. This species is very small (length only about 
2:5 mm) but differs from Tongamyia only by the petiolate cell R;. The species 
will either require a new genus (if the long petiole is considered a sufficient generic 
character) or will have to be placed in Tongamyia with the necessary widening of 
the definition of the latter. 
The affinities of the Neaerini appear to lie with the Siphonini, a tribe which 
Herting (personal communication) considers should be assigned to the Tachininae. 
Future work may well demonstrate that the neaerines also should be placed in 
the Tachininae, and possibly also that the tribe should be merged with the 
Eloceriini (=Helocerini of authors). In the latter event the correct tribal name 
would be Eloceriini. 
Key To AUSTRALIAN GENERA OF NEAERINI 
I Wing with cell R; closed far before the wing margin, the petiole very long (longer than 
either the second costal sector or M,) [Queensland] . . | Undescribed sp., ? gen. n. 
