Genus Calycomyza

Calycomyza Hendel, 1931

Immature stages
Calycomyza can be described and established as a monophyletic taxon by some very distinctive larval characters: The basal part of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton shows an anterior window Cal domin ceph.pct; the dorsal bridge of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton is invisible from side view; the larval cuticle is densely covered with sense hairs and denticles.
Furthermore, the posterior spiracles usually with posterior bulb enlarged (Cal dominicensis Larva SEM.pct, see also Genus Liriomyza); mandibles always asymmetrical with right one being larger than the left one; mouth hooks usually rather long. The body of the larva known by the author is unusually densely covered with denticles.

Adults
The imagines are less specific: They are generally very similar to Liriomyza but a stridulation mechanism is always absent. Surstyli present, always articulated, usually densely covered with hairs. The articulation is broad. In Liriomyza the surstyli (if present) appear well apart from the epandrium. Tip of epandrium covered with spines distinctly thicker than the usual fine hairs on epandrium (In Liriomyza usually no spines or only one present).

According to Zlobin, 1997 (reference is not mentioned in the literature list of this card because Calycomyza is not explicitly treated there) some more characters can be used to exclude Liriomyza: basal parts of gonites (pregonites) rather small, situated behind the surstyli, basal part is always present.
Additionally, Calycomyza species can be confused with members of the genera Phytoliriomyza Hendel, 1931 and Metopomyza Enderlein, 1936. The latter two, however, usually do not occur on cultivated plants.
The aedeagus of Calycomyza spp. has generally a distinctly darkened, rather short distiphallus. Basiphallus often with appendages, similar as in Genus Liriomyza.

Bionomics
All known species live as leaf miners, pupariation takes place within the mine.

Distribution
Probably, the origin of this clearly monophyletic genus lies in North and South America because the highest diversity can be found there. In other regions only a few species occur.

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