ARTICLE
Taxonomy of black scavenger
flies (Diptera: Sepsidae) from
Luzon, Philippines
Socrates D. Letana Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
F ourteen species of black scavenger flies in four gene-
ra are treated taxonomically in this paper. Five spe-
cies belonging to the subfamily Sepsinae are record-
ed for the first time in the Philippines, namely: Sep-
sis sepsi Ozerov, Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov, Di-
cranosepsis transita Ozerov, Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov, and
Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov. A new Philippine island
distribution record of Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker) is also
noted. Taxonomic keys for the genera and species are presented.
INTRODUCTION
In the most recent world catalogue of Sepsidae (Ozerov
2005), there are about 37 genera with 312 described species of
black scavenger flies worldwide. Twelve genera are distributed
in the Oriental region and six of these are from the Philippines.
Previously, Baltazar (1990) listed 12 species in five genera of
sepsid flies from the Philippines. In his catalogue, Ozerov (2005)
accounted for 14 species in six genera, adding Toxopoda viduata
and three more species of Dicranosepsis. Iwasa (2008) described
and added Toxopoda angulata as a Philippine endemic. The Sep-
sidae of the Philippines have been poorly investigated and rec-
ords are scattered. This study includes 14 species, five of which
are reported for the first time.
From 2000 to 2010, approximately an average of six sepsid
fly species per year are being discovered and are new to science
155 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
*Corresponding author
Email Address: [email protected]
Submitted: March 31, 2013
Accepted: April 11, 2014
Published: May 10, 2014
Guest Editor: Victor P. Gapud
(Ozerov 2005, Ozerov 2010, Iwasa 2008, Iwasa et al. 2008, Ang
and Meier 2010). This discovery is largely from the Afrotropical
region, also with the highest generic endemicity, with some rep-
resentatives in the Neotropics, Oriental and Australasian regions.
There are about 78 species and two endemic genera from the
Oriental region (5.4% generic endemism) (Ozerov 2005). Iwasa
mainly contributed to the discovery and description of the Asian
and Oriental species (Iwasa 1980, Iwasa 1981, Iwasa 1982,
Iwasa 1984a, Iwasa 1984b, Iwasa 1985, Iwasa 1986, Iwasa 1995,
Iwasa 1999, Iwasa 2001, Iwasa 2007, Iwasa 2008).
The taxonomic literature and knowledge regarding the Phil-
ippine black scavenger flies are very limited. The early works of
Duda (1926a,b) and Zuska (1977b) included Philippine materi-
als. Later, Baltazar’s inventory of Philippine insects (Baltazar
1990) paved the way for gathering pertinent information about
this group and there are four species added since then in the
world catalogue (Ozerov 2005). Taxonomic keys in the generic
and species levels, literature citation, general description, distri-
bution and illustrations are included in this study.
This work is limited to the collections made in Luzon, Phil-
ippines (Camarines Norte: Daet; Laguna: Mt. Makiling, Univer-
sity of the Philippines (UP) Los Banos (UPLB), International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), UP Land Grant; Pangasinan:
Sison; Quezon: Alabat island; and Zambales) covering a variety
of ecosystems, such as ricefields, pasture and grazing land, resi-
dential area, coastal area, dipterocarp forest, and bordering
mossy forest.
KEYWORDS
Philippine Sepsidae, black scavenger flies, ant-mimicking flies,
Dicranosepsis, Sepsis, Australosepsis, Meroplius
The Sepsidae had received little attention due to their minute
size and association with filth and disgusting habitat. Larvae and
adults of this group are exclusively saprophagous with most spe-
cies associated with mammal feces (Meier 1996, Pont and Meier
2002).
The black scavenger flies are considered an important group
of flies in the decomposition of pasture dung. There are species
associated with both cow and human excrements (Meier 1996).
This group of flies is believed to be of some public health con-
cern due to potential harm as vectors of pathogens and their
synanthropic association (Pont and Meier 2002). They are even
reported to be attracted to perishable foods, or foods prepared for
storage, which may induce the growth of bacteria and fungi
(Gagné 1987).
This group of flies has been a subject of studies in mating
behaviors, e.g., courtship involving leg displays, female recep-
tivity as related to ovarian status, precopulatory guarding, and
copulation posture in understanding male foreleg morphology
(Eberhard 2001, Eberhard 2002, Ingram et al. 2008, Puniamoor-
thy et al. 2008). Breeding substrates of Sepsidae are very varied,
ranging from bird and mammal droppings, vertebrate carrion,
decaying vegetation, slime molds, dead insects or snails, to de-
caying brown algae. There are reports of swarming of this group
of flies as a hibernation phenomenon (Pont 1987) that may have
been the result of mass emergence (Meier 1996).
The minute black scavenger flies (or ant-mimicking flies or
ensign flies) have been used in forensic investigations and crime
scene interpretations such as determining the time of death or the
season wherein other groups of flies could not have been present
(Benecke 2001).
METHODOLOGY
Collection and Preservation
Adult black scavenger flies were collected by sweeping and
hand-netting over substrates where adults are gathering for feed-
ing, mating or oviposition. Dung baits from cow, carabao, goats,
horse and pig were used in collecting the specimens placed in
various habitats such as ricefields, pasture and grazing land, for-
ested area, coastal and along rivers or natural water sources. Pre-
vious or relatively old excrements in the different localities were
also used in collecting the sepsids. Cow dung was used in rear-
ing some collected female sepsids from the field. Newly collect-
ed adults were killed in 70-95% ethyl alcohol in separate vials
with screw caps. They were sorted and stored in smaller vials
and/or tubes with 95% ethyl alcohol for future molecular work
and slide preparation. Specimens were provided with labels and
codes using lead pencils.
Specimens were kept in 90-95% ethyl alcohol in vials. The
ornamentation of the male forelegs and genitalia are highly spe-
cies-specific and are easily seen in alcohol materials. The col-
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 156 Philippine Science Letters
lected live female specimens were kept alive and fed sugarwater
solutions for rearing. As for the armature of specimens with clus-
tered legs, the femoro-tibial joint was temporarily softened with
a drop of xylene and the tibia gently teased away from the femur
with a fine pin. All specimens are currently in the author’s col-
lection.
Method of Identification
The adults were identified using a light stereomicroscope up
to 40x magnification and good light quality to detect some of the
subtleties of bristling and pruinosity against the black back-
ground of the sepsid integument.
A single-female rearing technique was employed in associ-
ating collected live female sepsid flies. Males are more easily
identified because of their strong dimorphic characters especially
in their forelegs: tubercles, number of setae, setulae, spines, spi-
nules, and osmeterium, and their shape. Head and thoracic chae-
totaxy and wing venation are important characters in sorting to
genera and species. Female sepsids are difficult to pin down to
species since outstanding leg characters and genitalic features
are very rare and difficult as most taxonomic keys and descrip-
tions deal with male specimens. Some illustrations were used
along with photographs of observed specimens in identifying the
collection.
The species treated in this work were identified with the aid
of pertinent taxonomic literature.
The terminology follows that used by McAlpine (1981).
Abbreviations used in the descriptions are as follows: Head: oc,
ocellar setae; or, upper fronto-orbital setae; vti, inner vertical
setae. Thorax: dc, dorsocentral setae; m, mesopleural setae; npl,
notopleural setae; sa, supra-alar setae; pa, postalar setae; pprn,
postpronotal setae; sc, scutellar setae. Wings: bm, basal medial
cell. Length of body and length of wing were measured.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Family SEPSIDAE Walker, 1883
Sepsidae Walker, 1833: 245. Type-genus: Sepsis Fallén, 1810,
by present designation.
Taxonomy
The Sepsidae constitute a small family of acalyptrate flies in
the Sciomyzoidea. They are distributed in all known zoogeo-
graphic regions. Melander and Spuler (1917) separated Sepsidae
and Piophilidae and recognized them as different families along
with misplaced genera. The early classification scheme of the
Sepsidae was summarized by Duda (1926a,b), but Hennig
(1937), according to Meier (1996), completed the taxonomic
task by including Orygma luctuosum in Sepsidae; it was previ-
ously classified in the Coelopidae by using the female genitalic
157 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
one pair of dorsocentral; lower margin of face projecting;
middle femora of male bent in middle....Toxopoda Macquart
Body usually shining, at least on parts of pleura; microsetae
present, and often macrosetae on abdomen...........................3
3. A pair of strong orbital bristles present; abdomen lacking
macrochaetae except at tip, not or but slightly constricted
behind second tergite; always only one dorsocentral; wings
not spotted; postvertical bristles present; no strong acrosti-
chals; humeral bristle present; only one well-developed
vibrissa; wings hyaline or scarcely gray; genal bristle indis-
tinct or lacking; male hypopygial processes simple, cruciate,
with anteroventrally with four bristles or without bris-
tles............................................................Meroplius Rondani
Orbital bristles lacking or very small; abdomen with or
without preterminal macrochaetae, strongly constricted be-
hind second tergite; usually two dorsocentrals; wing with or
without spots.........................................................................4
4. Humerals and postoculars lacking; no wing spots; one
dorsocentral; abdomen without macrochaetae; male with
peculiar lateral processes (sternite brush) on fourth sterni-
te...................................................................Perochaeta Duda
Humerals and postoculars present; wing spot present at tip
of second vein or apically or wing unmarked or marked ba-
sally only...............................................................................5
5. Abdomen of male always with distinct macrochaetae and
sternite 4 absent; wing spot, if present, only in vicinity of
vein 2..................................................................Sepsis Fallén
Abdomen of both sexes without distinct macrochaetae, alt-
hough sometimes with somewhat stronger hairing on tergal
margins and with strong anal bristles; wing darkened along
costa basally and sometimes with apical spot; sternopleura
shining anteroventrally….………..……Dicranosepsis Duda
Genus AUSTRALOSEPSIS Malloch, 1925
Australosepsis Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-species: Australosepsis
fulvescens Malloch, 1925 [=Sepsis niveipennis Becker, 1903],
by original designation.
Saltelliseps Duda, 1926: 25. Type-species: Sepsis niveipennis
Becker, 1903, by designation of Hennig (1949): 63.
DIAGNOSIS. Head roundish or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.
Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae significantly larger
than the width of postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several se-
tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: or absent, but if present (1), then
very short, hair-like; 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ovt and 1 ivt. 2-3 vibrissae,
always striking from genal setulae.
features. Steyskal (1987) modified Duda’s (1926a,b) and Zus-
ka’s (1977b) systems probably only to reflect loosely phyloge-
netic relationships, unlike the strict and explicitly phylogenetic
intention of Hennig (1949) (see, also, Meier 1996).
Two subfamilies, Orygmatinae and Sepsinae, are recognized
in this study. The subfamily Orygmatinae contains only one Hol-
arctic species; only Orygma luctuosum Meigen of Sepsinae is
recorded in this region.
Diagnostic Character
Adult Sepsidae are relatively small, elongate, myrmecomor-
phic or ant-like in appearance. The abdomen is constricted basal-
ly. Vibrissa is absent but several strong peristomal hairs are pre-
sent; palp is vestigial. It can be distinguished from other families
of acalyptrate Diptera by the presence of one or more setae on
the hind margin of the posterior spiracle. ♂ spiracle 6 situated in
tergite 6 (spiracle 7 in tergite 7+8); ♂ sternite 7 not delimited,
either lost or fused with sternite 8 (the resulting sclerite termed
sternite 7+8); and, vein A1 shortened and not reaching wing mar-
gin.
Taxonomic Keys
Subfamilies
Key to the Subfamilies of Sepsidae [adapted from Steyskal
(1987) and Pont and Meier (2002)]
1. Eye small and gena very deep, the face strongly receding; 1
orbital and 2 frontal setae; anepisternum, anepimeron, kate-
pisternum and disc of scutellum densely setulose; 3 strong
dorsocentral and 2 postalar setae; large bristly species with
robust legs and short tarsi........................................................
......................subfamily ORYGMATINAE, Orygma Meigen
2. Eye large and gena narrow, the face not receding; 0-1 orbital
and 0 frontal seta; anepisternum and katepisternum with
only a few setulae, anepimeron and disc of scutellum bare; 1
-2 dorsocentral setae, or if with 4-5 (Susanomira, Zuskami-
ra) then 1 postalar seta; smaller species with more delicate
legs and longer tarsi.............................subfamily SEPSINAE
Genera
Key to the Philippine Genera of Sepsidae (Diptera) [modified
from several authors]
1. First and second basal cells of wing united; orbital bristles
lacking; abdomen constricted behind second tergite; ab-
dominal macrochaetae present...........Australosepsis Malloch
First and second basal cells separated...................................2
2. Thorax and abdomen dull black; abdomen with silvery prui-
nose bands; abdominal tergites lacking bristles and setae;
humeral bristle minute; outer verticals (postoculars) lacking;
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 158 Philippine Science Letters
part curved, clearly concave ventrally.
Abdomen: Constricted between second and third tergum, last
segments with long and strong marginal macrochetae. Hypopyg-
ium small, simple in structure.
Length: body: 2.8 to 3.9 mm; wing: 1.6 to 2.8 mm.
Specimens examined: CAMARINES NORTE: 4 ♂. Daet, Cama-
rines Norte, cow dung, May 2011, S. D. Letana (Coll. #44b);
LAGUNA: 15 ♂. UPLB Cattle Farm, cow dung, 30 May 2006,
S. D. Letana (Coll. #17); PANGASINAN: 3 ♂, Sison, Pan-
gasinan, unknown dung, May 2011, Ian Marca (Coll. #46);
ZAMBALES: 8 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield, carabao dung, 24 June
2006, S. D. Letana (#Z).
Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Nothern
Territory, Western Australia), New Caledonia (New Caledonia).
Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong, Taiwan), India
(Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu), Indo-
nesia (Lombok I., Sulawesi I., Sumbawa I., Timor I.), Japan
(Okinawa I.), Malaysia (Borneo I.) Nepal, Philippines (Balabac
I., Busuanga I., Culion I., Luzon I., Mindanao I., Palawan I.),
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia:
Pakistan.
AUSTRALOSEPSIS NIVEIPENNIS (Becker, 1903)
(Figures 1 and 2)
Sepsis niveipennis Becker, 1903: 143. Type-locality: Asyȗt
(EGYPT); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968):
474, in ZMHUB.
Sepsis flava Brunetti, 1910: 351. Type-locality: Calcutta
(INDIA); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968):
474, in NHML.
Sepsis tincta Brunetti, 1910: 353. Type-locality: Allahabad
(INDIA); Lectotype ♀ by designation of Zuska (1968): 474,
NHML.
Australosepsis fulvescens Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-
locality: Sydney (AUSTRALIA: New South Wales); Holo-
type ♂, in AMS.
Head: Frontal plate mostly shining. Outer vertical ½ and post-
ocellar 2/3 length of inner vertical. Gena ½ to 2/3 width of an-
tennal flagellomere. Subvibrissal setae numerous and short.
Thorax: Scutum, postpronotal lobes and scutellum dull, only
around postalar callus. Anterior notopleural much shorter than
posterior; 1-2 dorsocentral setae; acrostichal and dorsocentral
ground-setulae minute. Wing apex including veins and mi-
crotrichia whitish with a diffused dark spot at the end of R2+3
vein. Fore tibia ventrally with longer row of setulae on basal
half, followed distally by 2 bare tubercles; distal parts of tibiae
Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 npl, pal
absent or present 1 thin, hair-like, 0+2 dc. Proepisternum without
setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Mediotergite shining under
scutellum. Scutellum dorsally without hairs, with a pair of well-
developed apical setae; basal setae absent or short, hair-like.
Coxa of male foreleg without osmeterium. Male femur and
tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half with ver-
tical row of thin setulae. Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male
hindleg with a hardly visible osmeterium-like area.
Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with darkened spot near
apex R2+3, usually almost unclear from yellowish–colored speci-
mens. Anal lobe well-developed. Cells bm and br fused. Alula
well-developed, bare. Margin of upper calypter with hair, margin
of lower calypter without hairs.
Abdomen constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of male
simple. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium. Epandrial pro-
cess absent.
Key to the species of Australosepsis
1. Wing clear, without white apex; Male: fore tibia ventrally
with short row of stout setulae on basal third, apical half
curved................................ Australosepsis frontalis (Walker)
Wing with diffuse dark subapical spot; wing apex milk-
white; Male: fore tibia ventrally with longer row of setulae
on basal half, followed distally by 2 bare tuber-
cles.................................Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker)
AUSTRALOSEPSIS FRONTALIS (Walker, 1860)
frontalis Walker, 1860: 163 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“Makessar: [now= Ujung Pandang] (Indonesia: Sulawesi I.);
Lectotype ♂, by designation of Zuska (1968): 472, in
NHML.
tenella de Meijere, 1906: 183 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Singa-
pore; Lectotype ♂, by Zuska (1968): 472, in MTMB.
brevis Brunetti, 1910: 361 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Baroda
(India); Holotype ♂, not in NHML and presumed in ZSIC or
destroyed.
lieveni Frey, 1917: 25 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Anurandha-
pura (Sri Lanka); Holotype ♂, in ZMUH.
Head: Ocellar, postvertical, inner and outer vertical bristles
present and well-developed. 1 to 3 dorsocentral setae. Humeral
bristles developed.
Thorax: Wings clear with microtrichiae, without apical spot.
Anterior femora without tubercles bearing spinules; anterior tibi-
ae in proximal half with flat tubercles bearing black spines, distal
not strongly curved.
Abdomen: Subshining. Strongly constricted between syntergite
1+2 and base of tergite 3.
Length: body: 3.2 mm; wing: 2.0 mm.
Specimens examined: PANGASINAN: Sison, Pangasinan, 2 ♂,
11 May 2011, Ian Marca (Coll #46a).
Distribution: Afrotropical. — Angola, Botswana, Cameroon,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nige-
ria, Republic of the Congo, Republic of South Africa, Sierra
Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen,
Zimbabwe. Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Australian
Capital Territory, New South Wales, Nothern Territory, Queens-
land, Western Australia), Fiji, New Caledonia (New Caledonia),
Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Arch., New Guinea I.), Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu. Oriental. — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China
(Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Indonesia (Java I.,
Lesser Sunda Is, Sulawesi I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia
(East Malaysia), Nepal, Philippines (Jolo I.). Palaearctic. —
Asia: Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, Turkmenistan; Europe: Cyprus;
North Africa: Egypt, Morocco.
Genus MEROPLIUS Rondani, 1874
Meroplius Rondani, 1874: 175. Gender: masculine. Type-
species: Nemopoda stercoraria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
[=Sepsis minuta Wiedemann, 1830], by original designation.
Parameroplius Duda, 1926a: 37 [described as a subgenus of
Meroplius]. Gender: masculine. Type-species: Sepsis fasciculata
Brunetti, 1910, by monotypy.
159 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
Protomeroplius Ozerov, 1999: 92 [described as a subgenus of
Meroplius]. Gender: masculine. Type-species: Meroplius tris-
pinifer Ozerov, 1999, by original designation.
DIAGNOSIS. Head roundish or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.
Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae significantly larger
than the width of postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several se-
tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: 1 or, 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ivt, and 1 ovt. 1
vibrissa.
Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 npl, 1
spal, 1 pal, 0+(1-2) dc; often present rows of short setae between
lines ac (unpaired row) and along lines dc. Proepisternum with-
out setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Mediotergite with shining
(without pollen) spot under scutellum. Scutellum dorsally con-
vex, without hairs, with well-developed apical setae; basal setae
short, hair-like.
Coxa of male foreleg without osmeterium. Male femur and
tibia of foreleg modified, usually posteriorly with two black
spines; female fore femur usually with a deta in apical third ven-
trally. Coxa of midleg in upper half bare. Femur of midleg
straight. Male tibia of hindleg with an osmeterium-like area or
with a conspicuous osmeterium.
Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with anal lobe well-
developed. Cells bm and br separate. Alula well-developed or
moderate, entirely covered with microtrichiae. Margin of upper
calypter with hairs, margin of lower calypter without hairs.
Abdomen not constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of
male modified. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.
Epandrial process absent or present.
Figure 1. Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker). Male. Scale
bar: 1 mm.
Figure 2. Australosepsis niveipennis (Becker). (After Zuska
1968) Male: A, wing; and B, surstylus, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.1
mm
A
B
MEROPLIUS FASCICULATUS (Brunetti, 1910)
(Figure 3)
fasciculata Brunetti, 1910: 365 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“Ceylon” [=Sri Lanka]; Holotype ♂, not in NHML and pre-
sumed in ZSIC or destroyed.
plumata de Meijere, 1913b: 363 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“rivier Kamp” (Irian Jaya: New Guinea I.); Lectotype ♂, by
designation of Ozerov (1999): 51, in ZMUA.
Head: Roundish, facial carina small, face receding, gena linear.
Orbital bristle strong and distinct, inner vertical and outer verti-
cal setae present.
Thorax: Wings with a distinct gray tinge. Distal modified bristle
on ventral side of fore femur small, club-like, anterior bristle in
basal fourth of femur long and strong, row of posteroventral set-
ulae in basal half not differentiated from normal pilosity; osme-
terium about two-third as long as hind tibia.
Abdomen: Hypopygium with a long, slender, apically widened
surstylus, and with a sharp anteroventral process.
Specimens examined: METRO MANILA: 1♂, Quezon Ave.,
Quezon City, 4 March 2007, S. D. Letana; QUEZON: 1♂, Del
Pilar, Quezon, Alabat Island, goat dung, 12 Dec. 2006, S. D.
Letana (Coll. #40).
Length: body: 4 to 4.3 mm; wing: 2.6 to 3 mm.
Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Papua New Guinea
(New Guinea I.). Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong,
Taiwan), India (Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Ben-
gal), Indonesia (Java I., Sulawesi I.), Kalimantan I., Malaysia
(East Malaysia), Nepal, Philippines (Luzon I., Jolo I.), Sri
Lanka, Thailand. Palaearctic. — Asia: China (Sichuan), Japan
(Honshu I., Kyushu I., Shikoku I.).
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 160 Philippine Science Letters
Genus SEPSIS Fallén, 1810
Sepsis Fallén, 1810: 17. Gender: feminine. Type-species: Musca
cynipsea Linnaeus, 1758, by designation of
Curtis (1829): Plate 245.
Threx Gistel, 1848: 599. Gender: masculine. Unjustified substi-
tute name for Sepsis Fallén, 1810. Type-species: Musca cynipsea
Linnaeus, 1758, automatic.
Acrometopia Lioy, 1864: 1088. Gender: feminine. Type-species:
Sepsis cornuta Meigen, 1826 [=Musca cynipsea Linnaeus,
1758], by monotypy.
Beggiatia Lioy, 1864: 1088. Gender: feminine. Type-species:
Sepsis barbipes Meigen, 1826 [=Musca cynipsea Linnaeus,
1758], by monotypy.
Sepsidimorpha Frey, 1908: 578, 584. Gender: feminine. Type-
species: Sepsis loewi Hendel, 1902 [=Sepsis duplicata Haliday,
1838], by monotypy.
Nicarao Silva, 1995: 203. Gender: masculine. Type-species:
Nicarao rarus Silva, 1995, by original designation.
Allosepsis Ozerov, 1992: 44. Gender: feminine. Type-species:
Sepsis indica Wiedemann, 1824, by original designation.
DIAGNOSIS. Head roundish or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.
Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae larger than width of
postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several setae. Arista bare.
Chaetotaxy: absent or present, 1 very short hair-like; 1 oc, 1 pos,
1ovt and 1 ivt. 2-3 vibrissae, always striking from genal setulae.
Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 1-2 npl, 1
pal (usually short, hair-like), 0+ (1-2) dc; sometimes with a row
of thin and short setulae along each ac, dc, and ial line. Proe-
pisternum without setae. Metepimeral bridge absent. Medioterg-
ite shining under scutellum. Scutellum dorsally without hairs.
With a pair of well-developed apical setae; basal setae absent or
shot, hair-like.
Coxa of male foreleg without osmeterium. Male femur and
tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half with ver-
tical row of thin setulae. Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male
hindleg with a hardly visible osmeterium-like area.
Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with dark spot near
apex. R2+3 or without spot, with well-developed anal lobe. Cells
bm and br separate. Alula well-developed to narrow, entirely
covered with microtrichiae. Margin of upper calypter with hairs,
margin of lower calypter without hairs.
Abdomen constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of male
simple. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium. Epandrial pro-
cess absent. Figure 3. Meroplius fasciculatus (Brunetti). Male habitus.
Scale bar: 1 mm.
Key to the species of Sepsis
1. Wing without a dark spot at the end of R2+3vein.................2
Wing with a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein; sternopleura
posterodorsally pruinose; fore femur of male with antero-
basal patch of long hair........................S. dissimilis Brunetti
2. Sternopleura dorsally and posteriorly pruinose.....................
..........................................................S. lateralis Wiedemann
Sternopleura wholly pruinose; abdomen of the male al-
ways, and often the female also, with distinct macrochaetae
.............................................................................................3
3. Pteropleura pruinose.............................S. indica Wiedemann
Pteropleura shining................................................................4
4. Fore femur of male with large ventromedial bump.................
........................................................................S. sepsi Ozerov
Fore femur of male without bump...S. coprophila de Meijere
SEPSIS COPROPHILA de Meijere, 1906
Sepsis coprophila de Meijere, 1906: 176. Type-locality:
SINGAPORE; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov
(1997): 479, in ZMHUB.
Body color of males generally reddish; sternopleura wholly
pruinose; wing without a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein;
Surstylus (hypopygial process) long and stout; male fore femur
without such distinct median tubercle. Postalar bristles strong.
Wing apex never whitish. Fore metatarsus ventrally, near
base, with 2 strong, black, sinuous bristles, clearly differentiated
from other ventral hairs. Male: Fore femur ventrally without
tubercle. But with a row of spines; fore tibia with a posteroven-
tral tubercle; surstylus longer, wider. flatter. with long, ventrally
directed, basal bristle posteriorly.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 1 ♂, UP Land Grant, pasture,
carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD Letana (Coll. #38c); QUE-
ZON: 5 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island, horse dung, 29 December
2006, SD Letana (Coll. #35b).
Length: body: 3.6 to 3.8 mm; wing: 2.5 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Guangdong, Tai-
wan), India (Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Na-
du, West Bengal), Indonesia (Java I., Sulawesi I., Sumatra I.),
Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia (East Malaysia), Nepal, Philip-
pines (Luzon I., Mindanao I., Palawan I.), Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia: Japan (Kyushu I.).
161 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
SEPSIS DISSIMILIS Brunetti, 1910
Sepsis dissimilis Brunetti, 1910: 355. Type-localities:
“Shashthancottah, 12 miles N. N. E. of Quilon”, Rajmahal,
and “Gathwal district, Western Himalayas” (INDIA); Syn-
types 4 ♂♂ and 1 ♀, not in NHML and presumed in ZSIC
or destroyed.
Sepsis albolimbata de Meijere, 1913: 115. Type-locality:
“Tainan” (CHINA: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂, by designation of
Ozerov (1997): 478, in ZMHUB.
Sepsis albopunctata Lamb, 1914: 323. Type-locality: “Mahé,
Cascade Estate, 800 feet or over; marshes on coastal plain of
Anse aux Pins and Anse Royale” (SEYCHELLES); Syntype
s ♂♂, in NHML (2 ♂♂) and MCZC (1 ♂).
Sepsis hirtifemur Malloch, 1925: 314. Type-locality:
Mosman (AUSTRALIA: New South Wales); Holotype ♂, in
NHML.
Sepsis acroleucoptera Duda, 1926: 41 [as a variety of al-
bopunctata]. Type-locality: “Anping” (CHINA: Taiwan);
Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov (1997): 478, in
ZMHUB.
Sepsis natalensis Brunetti, 1929: 27. Type-locality: Weenen
(REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Natal); Holotype ♂, in
NHML.
Fore femur of male with anterobasal patch of long hair;
postalar bristles weak; a dark spot at the end of R2+3 vein com-
paratively weak; sternopleura posterodorsally pruinose; hypo-
pygial processes short and slender.
Specimens examined: CAMARINES NORTE: 7 ♂, Camambugan,
Daet, pasture area, cow dung, May 2011, SD Letana (#44a, 44c
and 44d); LAGUNA: 2 ♂, Animal Science, UPLB, horse dung,
23 April 2008, SD Letana (#27a); 8 ♂, IRRI, Laguna, pitfall cow
dung trap, 11 June 2010, SD Letana (#41a and 41c); QUEZON:
1 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island, pig dung, 30 December 2006, SD
Letana (#36a); ZAMBALES: 2 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield, carabao
dung, 24 June 2006, SD Letana (#Zd).
Length: body: 2.6 to 3 mm; wing: 1.5 to 1.8 mm.
Distribution: Afrotropical —Democratic Republic of the Con-
go, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of
South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda, Zimbabwe. Aus-
tralasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Queensland, New South
Wales), New Fiji, Hebrides, Papua New Guinea (New Guinea
I.). Oriental — China (Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh), Indonesia (Lesser Sun-
da Is, Sulawesi I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia (East Malay-
sia), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines (Busuanga I., Culion I., Jolo I.,
Luzon I., Mindanao I., Negros I., Palawan I.), Thailand, Vi-
etnam. Palaearctic. — Asia: Japan (Honshu I., Kyushu I.).
SEPSIS INDICA Wiedemann, 1824
indica Wiedemann, 1824: 57 (Sepsis). Type-locality: “India
orient”; Lectotype♀, by designation of Ozerov (2004): 00,
in ZMUC.
decipiens de Meijere, 1906: 177 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
Stephansort, Astrolabe-Bai (Papua New Guinea: New Guin-
ea I.); Holotype ♂, in MNMB.
fusciventris Brunetti, 1910: 357 (Nemopoda). Unavailable
name; citation of a Bigot MS name, as nomen nudum is syn-
onymy with Sepsis indica Wiedemann.
The males generally reddish or reddish-brown. Sternopleura
dorsally and posteriorly pruinose; postalar setae strong; wing
without a dark spot at the end of R2+3. The males have strongly
modified forelegs with large femoral protrusions and spines.
Hypopygial process with long bristles.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 3 ♂, UPCO, UPLB, cow dung,
14-18 March 2008, S. D. Letana (Coll. #29a, 30a and 31a);
QUEZON: 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Quezon, Alabat Island, horse dung, 29
Dec. 2006, S. D. Letana (Coll. #35a); 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Quezon,
Alabat Island, pig dung, 30 Dec. 2006, S. D. Letana (Coll. #36a).
Length: body: 5.6 to 6.2 mm; wing: 4 to 4.8 mm.
Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Papua New Guinea
(New Guinea I.). Oriental. — Bangladesh, China (Taiwan), India
(Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu), Japan (Okinawa I.), Nepal,
Philippines (Luzon I.),Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic. — Asia:
Japan (Hokkaido I., Honshu I., Kyushu I.), Korea, Russia
(Khabarovskiy Kray, Primorskiy Kray).
SEPSIS LATERALIS Wiedemann, 1830
lateralis Wiedemann, 1830: 468 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
China; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Pont in Pont and
Meier (2002): 167, in ZMUC.
complicata Wiedemann, 1830: 468 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
China; Holotype ♂, in ZMUC.
inpunctata Macquart, 1839: 118 (Sepsis). Type-locality: not
stated [from title: Canary Is.]; Holotype ♂, in MNHNP.
algira Macquart, 1843: 389 (Nemopoda). Type-locality:
Algiers (ALGERIA); Holotype ♂, probably in MNHL.
lateralis Macquart, 1843: 390 (Nemopoda). Junior second-
ary homonym, preoccupied by Sepsis lateralis Wiedemann,
1830. Type-locality: “Du Brésil ou du Chili” [probably from
Africa, not South America]; Holotype ♀, in MNHNP.
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 162 Philippine Science Letters
immaculata Macquart, 1843: 391 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“De l’ile Bourbon” [=Réunion]; Holotype ♂, in MNHNP.
hyalipennis Macquart, 1851: 269 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
EGYPT; Lectotype ♂, by designation of Pont in Pont and
Meier (2002): 167, in UMO.
rufa Macquart, 1851: 269 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Cairo
(EGYPT); Holotype ♀, in UMO.
melitensis Rondani, 1874: 176 (Meroplius). Type-locality:
MALTA; Syntypes ♂♂, probably in MZLSF.
schembrii Rondani, 1874: 176 (Meroplius). Type-locality:
MALTA; Holotype ♂, probably in MZSLF.
senegalensis Bigot, 1886: 389 (Nemopoda). Type-locality:
SIERRA LEONE; Holotype ♀, in UMO.
fragilis Becker, 1903: 145 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Lake Bir-
ket-el-Karȗn (EGYPT); Syntypes ♂♂, in ZMHUB
astutis Adams, 1905: 174 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“Salisbury” [now=Harare] (ZIMBABWE); Lectotype ♂, by
designation of Ozerov (1998a): 85, in SEMK.
lutea Duda, 1926: 51 (Sepsis). Unavailable name; citation
of a Wiedemann name, in synonymy with Sepsis lateralis
Wiedemann.
unicoloripes Brunetti, 1929: 27 (Sepsis). Type-locality:
“Aburi” (GHANA); Lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov
(1998): 87, in NHML.
definita Brunetti, 1929: 29 (Sepsis). Type-locality: Weenen
(REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: Natal); Lectotype ♂, by
designation of Ozerov (1998a): 85, in NHML.
kwanzaensis Vanschuytbroeck, 1963a: 31 (Sepsis). Type-
locality: Virunga National Parc: “riv. Kombo, affl. Riv. Ru-
anoli, 1550m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE
CONGO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.
bombokaensis Vanschuytbroeck, 1963: 50 (Sepsis). Type-
locality: Virunga National Parc: “Bomboka, prés Kyando-
lire, 1650m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CON-
GO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.
migeriensis Vanschuytbroeck 1963: 71 (Sepsis). Type-
locality: Virunga national Parc: “Kiribata (Migeri), Moy-
enne Lume, 1760 m” (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO); Holotype ♂, in MRAC.
curiosa Ozerov, 1996: 144 (Sepsis). Substitute name for
Nemopoda lateralis Macquart.
“astuta”, incorrect subsequent spelling of astutis Adams
[Bezzi, 1908: 169; Vanchuytbroeck, 1961: 78].
“definita Duda” , error for definita Brunetti
[Vanschuytbroeck (1962): 459].
Head: dark, with only genal area brown to yellow; to mostly
yellow, with only fronto-orbital plates and median occipital scle-
rite brown. Antenna brown to almost wholly reddish-yellow.
Thorax: wholly dark with brown postpronotal lobes and proe-
pisternal area; to entirely yellow and a median line on post-
notum. Scutellum black to reddish-yellow. Legs wholly yellow;
to mid and hind coxae basally; fore femur mid and hind femora
except at base, mid tibia except on apical quarter, hind tibia
wholly, and tarsomeres 4-5 dark.
Abdomen: wholly dark; to mainly dark with basal part and api-
cal part reddish to yellow.
Specimens examined: 1♂ LAGUNA: Los Banos, Umali Subdivi-
sion, attracted to TV, 28 May 2011, S. D. Letana (Coll. #47); 2
♂, UP Land Grant trail, carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD
Letana (Coll. #42).
Length: body: 3.6 mm; wing: 2.5 mm.
Distribution: Afrotropical. — Angola, Botswana, Cameroon,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of
South Africa, Republic of the Congo, Réunion, Seychelles, Sier-
ra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe;
Asia: Yemen. Australasian/Oceanian. — USA (Hawaiian Is.),
Papua New Guinea (New Guinea I.). Palaearctic. — Asia: Af-
ghanistan, China (Hebei), Iraq, Israel, Japan (Kyushu I.), Syria;
Europe: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain (incl. Balearic Is),
Turkey; North Africa: Algeria, Azores, Canary Is, Egypt, Libya,
Madeira Is, Morocco, Tunisia. Oriental. — Bangladesh, China
(Guangdong, Taiwan), India (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, North Ben-
gal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Japan (Okinawa
I.), Malaysia (East Malaysia), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philip-
pines (Luzon I., Negros I.), Sri Lanka, Thailand.
SEPSIS SEPSI Ozerov, 2003 (Figures 4 and 5)
Sepsis sepsi, Ozerov 2003: 1276. Type-locality: Wawó,
450m (INDONESIA: Sumbawa I.); Holotype ♂, in DEI.
Sepsis sepsi can be distinguished from other Sepsis by the row of
four large spines on a large rounded ventromedial bump of the
fore femur (Fig.16a). The fore tibia (Fig.16b) lacks a rounded
lobe, and the surstylus differs in structure.
Specimens examined: ZAMBALES: 3 ♂, Cabangan, ricefield,
carabao dung, 24 June 2006, SD Letana (# Zb).
163 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
Length: body: 3.8 mm; wing: 2.5 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Sumbawa I.), Vietnam (Ha
Tay). Philippines (Luzon; New record).
Figure 4. Sepsis sepsi Ozerov. (After Ang and Meier 2010)
Male: A, fore femur, posterior; B, fore tibia, posterior view; and C,
hypopygium, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm
A
B
C
Figure 5. Sepsis sepsi Ozerov. (After Sepsidnet: sepsidnet-
rmbr.nus.edu.sg) Male habitus. Scale bar: 1 mm
Genus DICRANOSEPSIS Duda, 1926
Dicranosepsis Duda, 1926a: 43 [described as a subgenus of
Sepsis]. Gender: feminine. Type-species: Sepsis bicolor
Wiedemann, 1830, by original designation.
DIAGNOSIS. Head round or slightly flattened dorsoventrally.
Distance between eyes at level of vibrissae significantly larger
than the width of postpedicel. Occipital sclerite with several se-
tae. Arista bare. Chaetotaxy: or absent, 1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ovt, and 1
ivt. 2-3 vibrissae, always striking from genal setulae.
Scutum with the following paired setae: 1 pprn, 2 nol, 0-1
pal, 0+2 dc. Proepisternum without setae. Metepimeral bridge
present. Mediotergite shining under scutellum. Scutellum dorsal-
ly without hairs, with a pair of well-developed apical setae; basal
setae absent or short, hair-like.
Coxa of male foreleg without osmeterium. Male femur and
tibia of foreleg modified. Coxa of midleg in upper half bare.
Femur of midleg straight. Tibia of male hindleg with a hardly
visible osmeterium-like are.
Wing normal, longer than abdomen, with moderate anal
lobe. Cells bm and br separate. Alula narrow, entirely coverd
with microtrichiae. Margin of upper calypter with hairs, margin
of lower calypter without hairs.
Abdomen constricted after syntergite 1+2. Sternite 4 of male
simple. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium. Epandrial pro-
cess present.
Key to the species of Dicranosepsis
1. Anepimeron completely pruinose..........................................2
Anepimeron shining in anterior half or with shining spot
anteriorly................................................................................5
2. Fore trochanter strongly or somewhat extended ventrally ....4
Fore trochanter not extended ventrally..................................3
3. Hind trochanter posteriorly covered with hair-like setae........
......................................................................D. dudai Ozerov
Hind trochanter without hair-like setae .....D. transita Ozerov
4. Ventral process of fore trochanter same length as body of
fore trochanter.............................................D. sauteri Ozerov
Ventral process of fore trochanter shorter than body of fore
trochanter; fore femur with 1–2 anterobasal setae..................
.........................................................D. pseudotibialis Ozerov
5. Fore femur with 2 av setae in the basal third; distance be-
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 164 Philippine Science Letters
tween av setae in the basal fifth of fore femur less than
length of basal seta and apical end of distal av seta does not
reach the half-way point of fore femur....................................
..............................................................D. revocans (Walker)
Fore femur without av seta basally; mid-tibia without brown
ring at the distal end.........................D. javanica (de Meijere)
DICRANOSEPSIS DUDAI Ozerov, 2003
(Figure 6)
Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov, 2003: 89. Type-locality:
“Batoe Doelang: (Indonesia: Sumbawa I.); Holotype ♂, in
DEI.
Head: Frons dark or brownish near apex. Face yellow to brown,
but antennal grooves usually blackish. Gena brown to black.
Antenna brownish. Occipital sclerite with several setulae. Gena
with a row of setulae along lower margin. Postgena with seta, 2-
3 vibrissae.
Thorax: Black. Legs yellow but femur of midleg and hindleg in
apical half and tibia of midleg and hindleg in basal half usually
darkened; tibia of midleg blackish near apex. Tarsomeres 4 and 5
of all legs black. Wing clear, with brownish veins; basal-costal
cell basally and basal cell completely blackish. Upper calypter
and margins white, lower calypter and margins darkened. Halter
yellowish.
Abdomen: Black. Constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite
1+2 at sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of
thin marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 2 ♂, Hortorium, UPLB, ex cul-
ture from cow dung, 10 March 2007, SD Letana (#10).
Length: body: 4.1 mm; wing: 2.2 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Flores I., Sumbawa I.).
Philippines (Luzon; New record).
DICRANOSEPSIS JAVANICA (de Meijere, 1904)
Sepsis javanica de Meijere, 1904: 107: Type-locality: Tosari
(INDONESIA: Java I.); Lectotype ♂, by designation of
Ozerov (1997): 147, in ZMUA.
“javana”, incorrect subsequent spelling of javanica de Mei-
jere [Hennig (1949): 61]
Color of body black. Legs yellow. Wing without dark spot
near apex. Height of gena+subgena approximately 10 times
shorter than vertical diameter of eye . First flagellomere approxi-
mately 1.4 times as long as wide Proepisternum completely
greyish pruinose. Anepimeron shining in anterior half and prui-
nose in posterior half.
Fore trochanter simple. Fore femur without av in basal third.
Midtibia with 1 av in apical third. Length of av and pv on first
tarsomere of mid leg less than the height of tarsomere 4 of mid
leg. Length of av on first tarsomere of hind leg less than the
length of tarsomere 4 of hind leg.
Anal vein approximately 6 times as long as the width of bm
cell. Alula approximately 1.5 times as wide as bm cell.
Specimens examined: QUEZON: 1 ♂, Del Pilar, Alabat Island,
carabao dung, 30 December 2006, SD Letana (#37b).
Length: body: 3.7 mm; wing: 2.1 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — China (Guangdong, Taiwan), India,
Indonesia (Java I.), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines
(Luzon), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
DICRANOSEPSIS PSEUDOTIBIALIS Ozerov, 2003
(Figure 7)
Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov, 2003: 88. Type-
locality: “Batoe Doelang” (INDONESIA: Sumbawa I.);
Holotype ♂, in DEI.
Head: slightly flattened dorsoventrally in lateral view. Postpedi-
cel in profile long-oval approximately 1.5 time longer than wide.
1 oc, 1 poc, 1 ivt, 1 ovt; or absent. Occipital sclerite with several
setulae. Gena with a row of setulae along lower margin. Post
gena with 1 seta. 2-3 vibrissae.
Thorax: Scutellum with well-developed apical setae; basal setae
short, hair-like. Scutum: 1 pprn, 2 npl, 1 spal, 1 pal, 0+2 dc. Fe-
mur of foreleg with 1 av basally. Coxa of midleg bare in upper
half. Femur of midleg with a row of short a. tibia of midleg with
1 v in apical third and with apical av and pv. Femur and tibia of
hindleg without striking setae.
Abdomen: constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite 1+2 at
sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of thin
marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 1 ♂, UPCO, UPLB, from cow
dung, 14 March 2008, SD Letana (#29b); 3 ♂, Tayabak Camp
Site, Mt. Makiling, fresh horse dung, 19 September 2008, SD
Letana (#23a).
Length: body: 3 to 3.3 mm; wing: 2.1 to 2.2 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — Indonesia (Sumbawa I.). Philippines
(Luzon; New record).
DICRANOSEPSIS REVOCANS (Walker, 1869)
Sepsis revocans Walker, 1869: 163. Type-locality:
“Makessar” [now=Ujung Pandang] (Indonesia: Sulawesi I.);
165 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
Holotype ♀, in NHML.
Sepsis acuta de Meijere, 1913a: 118 [as forma of bicolor].
Type-locality: “Tainan” (China: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂, by
designation of Ozerov (1997): 154, in ZMHUB.
Sepsis bipilosa Duda, 1926a: 48 [as variety of bicolor].
Type-locality: “Macuyam” (China: Taiwan); Lectotype ♂,
by designation of Ozerov (1997): 155, in DEI.
Sepsis bipilosiformis Duda, 1926a: 48 [as a subvariety of
bicolor variety of bipilosa]. Type-locality: Colombo (Sri
Lanka; lectotype ♂, by designation of Ozerov (1997): 155,
in MTMB.
parabipilosa Duda, 1926b: 55. Error for bipilosiformis Du-
da.
Head: Color of body from yellow to black. Height of
gena+subgena approximately 10 times shorter than vertical di-
ameter of eye. First flagellomere approximately 1.5 times as long
as wide.
Thorax: Proepisternum completely grayish pruinose, anepimer-
on shining in anterior half and pruinose in posterior half. Legs
yellow. Fore trochanter simple. Mid tibia with 1 av in apical
third. Length of av and pv on first tarsomere of mid leg less than
the length of tarsomere 4 of mid leg. Length of av on first tarso-
mere of hind leg less than the length of tarsomere 4 of hind leg.
Wing without dark spot near apex.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 6 ♂, Makiling Forest Reserve
Trail, approx 500m asl, Mt. Makiling Laguna, old horse dung, 15
September 2008, SD Letana (#19); 2 ♂, Makiling Forest Reserve
Trail, approx 500m asl, Mt. Makiling Laguna, cow dung, 15
September 2008, SD Letana (#20a and b).
Length: body: 3 to 3.5 mm; wing: 2.1 to 2.2 mm.
Distribution: Australasian/Oceanian. — Australia (Queens-
land), Solomon Islands. Oriental. — China (Guangdong, Tai-
wan), India (Assam), Indonesia (Flores I., Sulawesi I., Sumbawa
I.), Japan (Okinawa I.), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines
(Luzon), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
DICRANOSEPSIS SAUTERI Ozerov, 2003
(Figure 8)
Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov, 2003: 87. Type-locality:
“Taihoku” (China: Taiwan); Holotype ♂, in DEI.
Head: Frons black, but brownish near apex. Face and gena red-
dish yellow; antennal grooves slightly darkened. Subgena, clype-
us and postcranium black. Antenna reddish yellow. 1 oc, 1 poc, 1
ivt, 1 ovt; or absent. Occipital sclerite with several setulae. Gena
with a row of setulae along lower margin. Postgena with 1 seta.
Length: body: 3.6 mm; wing: 2.2 mm.
Distribution: Oriental — China (Taiwan), Philippines (Luzon;
New record).
DICRANOSEPSIS TRANSITA Ozerov, 1997
(Figure 9)
Sepsis gracilis Duda, 1926a: 48 [as variety of bicolor]. Jun-
ior primary homonym, preoccupied by Sepsis gracilis Zet-
terstedt, 1847. Type-locality: “Chosokei” (China: Taiwan);
Lectotype , by designation of Ozerov (1997): 157, in DEI.
Dicranosepsis transita Ozerov, 1997: 156. Substitute name
for Sepsis gracilis Duda.
Head: Dark brown to black. Height of gena + subgena approxi-
mately 12-16 times shorter than vertical diameter of eye. First
flagellomere approximately 1.4 times as long as wide.
2-3 vibrissae.
Thorax: Dark. Legs yellow, tibia of midleg blackish near apex.
Wing clear, with brownish veins; basal-costal cell and basal cell
completely blackish. Upper calypter and margin white, lower
calypter and margin blackish. Halter yellowish. Scutum with the
following paired setae: 1pprn, 2 npl, 1 spal, 1 pal, 0+2 dc. Ane-
pisternum in posterior half bearing scattered hairs and with long
seta near posterior margin. Scutellum with well-developed apical
setae; basal setae short, hair-like.
Abdomen: Black. Constricted after syntergite 1+2. Syntergite
1+2 at sides with 2-4 thin setae. Tergites 3-5 each with a row of
thin marginal setae. Surstyli symmetrical, fused to epandrium.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 2 ♂, UP Land Grant trail, La-
guna, carabao dung, 23 March 2010, SD Letana (#39); 1 ♂, IR-
RI, Laguna, cow dung pit fall trap, 11 June 2010, SD Letana
(#41d).
Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 166 Philippine Science Letters
A B C
D
A B C
D
E
Figure 6. Dicranosepsis dudai Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)
Male: A, fore tibia, posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C, fore
femur (left), posterior view; D, same, anterior view; and E, tro-
chanter of hindleg.
A B C
D
E
A B C
D
Figure 7. Dicranosepsis pseudotibialis Ozerov. (After Ozerov
2003) Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior
view; C, fore femur (left), posterior view; and D, same, anterior
view.
Figure 8. Dicranosepsis sauteri Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)
Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C,
fore femur (left), posterior view; and D, same, anterior view
Figure 9. Dicranosepsis transita Ozerov. (After Ozerov 2003)
Male: A, fore tibia (left), posterior view; B, same, anterior view; C,
for femur (left) posterior view; D, same, anterior view; and E, frag-
ment of tibia.
Thorax: Proepisternum and anepimeron completely grayish pru-
inose. Legs yellow; mid tibia completely yellow, or darkened on
anterior, ventral, and posterior sides near apex, or with black ring
near apex. Short av on first tarsomere of male hind leg. Wing
without spot near apex.
Specimens examined: LAGUNA: 8 ♂, DTRI, UPLB, cow dung,
10 March 2007, SD Letana (#11 and 12); 1 ♂, Hortorium,
UPLB, carabao dung, 12 March 2008, SD Letana (#34b).
Length: body: 3 mm; wing: 2 mm.
Distribution: Oriental. — China (Taiwan), Philippines (Luzon;
New record).
SUMMARY
This study of Philippine black scavenger flies covers the
subfamily Sepsinae and the genera Australosepsis, Meroplius,
Sepsis and Dicranosepsis, which include 14 species, four of
which are new records for the Philippines. The putative oriental
Australosepsis niveipennis has new Philippine distribution rec-
ord which was previously recorded in Jolo island.
Each species discussed was provided with literature citation,
general description, distribution, and habitat/substrate record.
Keys and diagnoses were also provided for each category when-
ever possible.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study would not have been possible without the support and
patience of my MS adviser Dr. Clare R. Baltazar, along with Dr.
Venus J. Calilung and Dr. Antonio J. Alcantara. Their guidance,
patience, and encouragement contributed immensely to this out-
come. I am grateful to my UPLB professors Dr. Victor P. Gapud,
Dr. Jessamyn Adorada, and the late Dr. Stephen G. Reyes for the
discussions and insights given. I thank Professor Rudolf Meier
(National University of Singapore) for the hospitality in accom-
modating me for a short but meaningful stint in his laboratory; to
Dr. Andrey L. Ozerov (Zoological Museum, Moscow State Uni-
versity) who has been gracious to all my queries, for reprints and
permission to use his excellent photographs; Dr. Ireneo Lit, Jr.
(UPLB Museum of Natural History) for allowing me to study the
museum sepsid collection; Dr. Jose Sargento (Makiling Center
for Mountain Ecosystems) for issuance of GP; Dr. Finbarr G.
Horgan (IRRI) for allowing me to work on insects associated
with dung and decomposing snails both in his laboratory and
field sites; to my fieldwork company in some sites Dr. Stephen
Marshall (University of Guelph), Almon Merep, Jouhannes Faid-
iban, and Ian Marca.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None.
167 Vol. 7 | No. 1 | 2014 Philippine Science Letters
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