PROBLEMS IN THE PALEARCTIC MOTH-FLIES AND THE IDENTITY AND AFFINITIES OF PERICOMA-UNDULATA TONNOIR AND PERICOMA-PLUMATA TONN (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE)

Abstract. The identity and affinities of two Belgian species of Pericoma Walker are examined to draw attention to unheeded basic taxonomic problems in the Palaearctic Psychodidae, including the fact that sixty‐two European species described by earlier workers (15% of the 424 named species, including many of the commonest forms) lack types and that re‐descriptions are often based on material from regions far from the original localities. Pericoma undulata Tonnoir is redescribed from Tonnoir's Belgian specimens, here designated as lectotype and paralectotypes; previous redescriptions based on material collected in Germany and southern France are thus superceded. Pericoma hispanica Sará is a synonym of undulata (syn.n.). P.undulata is placed in Pericoma (Pneumia) Enderlein (comb.n.). Pericoma plumata Tonnoir, previously ignored or treated as a synonym of undulata, is a separate species close to Pericoma fuliginosa (Meigen). It is redescribed using Tonnoir's Belgian specimens, here designated as lectotype and paralectotypes. Pericoma basaltica Vaillant is probably a geographical race of plumata. Ulomyia Walker, Pneumia, Berdeniella Vaillant and Saraiella Vaillant are ranked as subgenera of Pericoma (stat.n.). Colpopteryx Enderlein is a svnonvm of Pneumia Enderlein, syn.n. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved