© The Author, 2012. Journal compilation © Australian Museum, Sydney, 2012 
Records of the Australian Museum (2012) Vol. 64: 51-70. ISSN 0067-1975 
http://dx.doi.Org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.64.2012.1582 
Notes and Descriptions of Australian Helosciomyzidae 
or Comb-winged flies (Diptera: Schizophora) 
David K. McAlpine 
Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia 
Abstract. Notes on morphology, including costal features and sexual dimorphism, are given. Limited 
information on habitat and biology is noted. The Helosciomyzidae are compared with other fa mi lies with 
which they have been somet im es associated (e.g., the Dryomyzidae, Sciomyzidae, and Huttoninidae). The 
position of the Neotropical genus Sciogriphoneura Malloch in the Helosciomyzidae, not the Dryomyzidae, 
is confirmed from strong morphological evidence; this leaves no evidence of the Dryomyzidae in the 
Southern Hemisphere. The nomenclature of the Australian taxa of Helosciomyzidae is revised with 
reference to type specimens of all previously described species. The new genus Luta is described. Luta 
luteipennis is a new combination for Helosciomyza luteipennis Steyskal. Keys to the Australian genera, 
species groups, and species are given. Helosciomyza ferruginea Hendel is a new junior synonym of H. 
fuscinevris (Macquart). The following new Australian species are described: Helosciomyza bickeli, H. 
driesseni, H. neboissi, H. obliqua, H. steyskali, H. subacuta, Neosciomyza peckorum. 
McAlpine, David K. 2012. Notes and descriptions of Australian Helosciomyzidae or comb-winged flies (Diptera: 
Schizophora). Records of the Australian Museum 64(1): 51-70. 
The family Helosciomyzidae, as most recently reviewed 
and delimited by Barnes (1981), was formerly included in 
the Sciomyzidae, though Steyskal (1965) had previously 
recognized the group at subfamily rank. The present study 
is needed to clarify the application of some older specific 
names and to name seven new Australian species. 
The following collectors’ names are abbreviated to the 
initials: D.J. Bickel, G.L. Bush, D.H. Colless, I.F. Common, 
B.J. Day, M.M. Driessen, E.D. Edwards, L.F. Graham, 
J. Kukalova-Peck, I.M. Mackerras, S.A. Marshall, D.K. 
McAlpine, I.D. Naumann, A. Neboiss, S.B. Peck, K.T. 
Richards, M.A. Schneider, W. Smith. 
Institutions housing specimens are abbreviated as follows: 
AM, Australian Museum, Sydney; ANIC, Australian National 
Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra; MV, Museum Victoria, 
Melbourne; PM, Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris; 
QM, Queensland Museum, Brisbane; SAM, South Australian 
Museum, Adelaide; SPHTM, School of Public Health and 
Tropical Medicine, University of Sydney (collection now 
divided between AM and ANIC); TDPI, Department of 
Primary Industries, New Town, Tasmania; UQIC, University 
of Queensland Insect Collection, Brisbane (collection now 
held in the QM); USNM, National Museum of Natural History, 
Washington, D.C.; NMW, Natural History Museum, Vienna. 
Habitat and biology 
In my experience helosciomyzid flies are generally found 
in various forest or tall scrub habitats, but some exceptions 
have been noted. The very widely distributed Helosciomyza 
fuscinevris occurs in the Simpson Desert, Central Australia, as 
well as in some forest and suburban habitats. Most specimens 
of H. driesseni were collected in button grass moorland in 
the Tasmanian highlands. Cobergius vittatus is apparently 
restricted to seashore habitats, and some of its morphological 
features are shared with other shore-inhabiting flies, e.g., 
the reduced eye area, the predominantly greyish rather than 
