McAlpine: Australian Helosciomyzidae 
53 
Figures 4, 5. Luta luteipennis, left wing. (4) anterior view of basal section. (5) anterior view of part of costa near end of subcosta, be, 
basicosta; cb, costagial bristles; eg, costagium; h, hairs; mi, microtrichia; si, spinules; sp, spine; tg, tegula. 
I use the term scopula (as commonly used in Arachnology) 
to designate certain pad-like brushes of microtrichia on 
the ventral surface of some tarsomeres. The microtrichia 
comprising the scopulae are dense, longer and more erect 
than those forming the pruinescence of much of the cuticular 
surface, and are of remarkably even length, giving a velvety 
appearance (Figs 9, 10). These microtrichia differ from the 
tenent hairs of the pulvilli in being finely tapered apically, 
without the terminal adhesive discs. 
I find scopulae to be developed to a varying extent on 
the fore and hind tarsi of males of all Australian genera 
and species groups of the Helosciomyzidae, also in 
the New Zealand genera Napaeosciomyza Barnes and 
Dasysciomyza Barnes, but they are probably least developed 
in Luta luteipennis and Cobergius vittatus. They reach 
their maximum development on the hind tarsus of males of 
Neosciomyza anhecta and N. peckorum; scopulae are present 
on all segments, and that on the basitarsus extends for its full 
length (Figs 8, 9). In females of probably all taxa scopulae 
are less developed than in males and are often vestigial. 
In males of Helosciomyza australica and Dasysciomyza 
spp. the hind basitarsi have stout sub-basal ventral spines 
(strongly thickened black macrotrichia) which are absent 
in the females. The tarsal claws of male Helosciomyza spp., 
Figures 6, 7. Helosciomyza macalpinei, distal part of fore tarsus. (6) male. (7) female to same scale. 
