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Records of the Australian Museum (2009) Vol. 61 
from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the 
Northern Territory and Tasmania. Aside from H. laticornis, 
the only other species currently known from Tasmania are 
H. spinulosa, H. asteia n.sp. and H. trisetosa n.sp.; only H. 
spinulosa was previously known from the island. 
All Australian species for which males are known, 
excluding Heteromeringia ptenopa n.sp., belong to the 
H. nitida species group—a clade defined by a pilose disc 
anterior and ventral to the male anepistemal bristle (Lonsdale 
& Marshall, 2007a; Figs 17,22). All species in this group also 
share a pubescent arista, with the exception of H. hypoleuca 
D.K. McAlpine, which has the short-plumose state retained 
by H. ptenopa. In neither of these species, however, are the 
hairs of the arista as long as those seen in the Neotropical H. 
czernyi group or those Oriental and Oceanian species with 
white distal fore tarsomeres. 
Although some Heteromeringia are distinct and/or 
colourful, most are difficult to characterize due to a relative 
lack of structural synapomorphies and sexual dimorphism 
in colour and pilosity. While this is seen to a degree in New 
World species, the Australian, Oriental and Afrotropical 
taxa are much more problematic. Consequently, a number 
of the Australian females discussed below (H. australiae 
Malloch, H. helina n.sp., H. montana and H. patula n.sp. in 
particular) are only tentatively allied with males on the basis 
of a handful of colour characters, and their association should 
be re-evaluated later with the collection of additional material 
and field observations. Heteromeringia imitans Malloch 
(known only from females) is another species with uncertain 
boundaries that as presently defined, is highly variable in 
colouration, and will likely prove to be a “dumping ground” 
for other predominantly black taxa. 
Key to the genera of Clusiidae in Australia 
1 Both mid and hind tibiae with dorsal preapical bristles. Posterior 
fronto-orbital bristle often smaller than anterior fronto-orbitals. 
Anterior fronto-orbital bristle always reclinate. Phallus sac-like . 2 
—— Hind tibia never with dorsal preapical bristle; mid tibia usually 
without bristle. Posterior fronto-orbital never smaller than anterior 
fronto-orbitals. Anterior fronto-orbital bristle usually inclinate, 
sometimes reclinate. Phallus long and coiled or rod-like. 3 
2 Four or five pairs of fronto-orbital bristles with third fronto-orbital 
from rear inclinate. Interfrontal bristle absent. Genal bristles small 
and hair-like, with hind bristle sometimes well developed. Head not 
wider than thorax. Ejaculatory apodeme enlarged distally so as to 
appear mushroom-shaped. Surstylus with few bristles on outer face. 
Spermatheca clear and untelescoped . Craspedochaeta Czerny 
-Two or three fronto-orbital bristles; all reclinate, with anterior 
and posterior bristles small to absent. Interfrontal bristle present. 
Several medial genal bristles more strongly developed. Head 
sometimes wider than thorax. Ejaculatory apodeme long and 
thin. Surstylus evenly setose on outer face. Spermatheca darkly 
pigmented and telescoped. Hendelia Czerny 
3 Anterior fronto-orbital bristle reclinate. Interfrontal bristles, 
if present, minute and near anterior margin of frons. Occiput 
often very large, triangular and silvery tomentose. Spermatheca 
segmented, but not telescoped . Allometopon Kertesz 
Anterior fronto-orbital bristle inclinate. Interfrontal bristles 
absent. Occiput usually narrow and shiny. Spermatheca various, 
but strongly telescoped if segmented. 4 
4 Triangular extension on outer margin of pedicel obtuse and 
blunt. Scutellum flat and dorsally wrinkled. One pair of thin 
lateral scutellar bristles. Distiphallus elongate, coiled, black, 
double-ribbed and fused to basiphallus. Pregonite large and 
fused to hypandrium. Phallapodeme highly reduced, thin and 
without ventral plate-like process. Postgonite absent. Lateral 
lobe of distiphallus absent. Ejaculatory apodeme comparable 
in length to hypandrium and with apex fan-like. Spermatheca 
strongly telescoped . Heteromeringia Czerny 
