Bittacomorphella Alexander 1916

Bittacomorpha (Bittacomorphella) Alexander, 1916: 545 (Original description) Type species: Bittacomorpha jonesi Johnson (Original designation)

Bittacomorphella Alexander, Alexander 1919: 790 (elevated to genus)

Bittacomorphella Alexander, Alexander 1920: 779 –780 (description of immature stages)

Bittacomorphella Alexander, Alexander 1927: 8 –9 (catalog)

Bittacomorphella Alexander, Alexander 1965: 98 (catalog)

Diagnosis. Larva (Figs. 5 c, 6e–f). Head subquadrate, deflexed, cranium flat, hypopharynx with median rectangular blade on anterior margin. Thorax and abdominal segments with tubercles having digitiform extensions, often covered in hardened substrate; anal division cylindrical, respiratory siphon fully retractile. Pupa. Left respiratory organ hypertrophied. Adult (Figs. 7 c–j, 11–17). Head triangular, 1 st tarsomere cylindrical.

Description. Adult. Head triangular, closely pressed to thorax, frons broad with vertex at same level as dorsal margin of eye, medial suture weak to distinct, extending between antennal bases to dorsal margin of face. Antennal scape sub-ovoid in cross-section, provided with 5–8 setiform sensilla subdorsally along anterior margin; pedicel with subspherical, with scattered dorsally directed setae; 18–21 flagellomeres. Face trapezoidal or indistinct, often incised by clypeus, suture with clypeus indistinct. Clypeus subacute, lateral margins straight, not inflated. Maxillary palpus as subfamily. Hypopharynx variable. Labium partially hidden to largely exposed by clypeus. Labella fused or separate, teardrop shaped. Scutum glabrous, shining or pollinose, color from black to ruddy brown. Prescutellum sometimes present. Scutellum pale yellow, with dense group of setae medially, ovoid or subcircular. Mediotergite variable, dense patches of setae at anteriodorsal margin, two parallel lines of setae medially. Paratergite shape variable, crescent or razor shaped. Anepisternal cleft shape variable, sclerotization variable. Anepisternal suture complete to absent, never prominent. Metapleural suture absent or weakly developed, complete or incomplete, emerging from posterior margin curving to halter; a weak prominence with setae below halter. Pleurites ruddy brown to yellow, with variously colored pollinosity. Wing with macrotrichia variously developed, alula present or absent. Halter and prehalter as described for subfamily, posthalter weak or well developed, often with distinct membranous webbing extending to halter. Coxae light, lateral surfaces proved with long setae; fermus light proximally, darkening distally. First tarsomere cylindrical. Leg banding variable, empodium round. Abdomen dark. Male. Epandrium platelike or bilobate; posteromedial stylus variable; epiproct prominent or absent, hypoproct ovoid or tonguelike. Epandrial claspers tapering to pointed apex. Parameres variable, heavily sclerotized, medial membrane never extending more than half length of paramere. Gonocoxite variable in length. Gonostylus pointed or rounded at tip, medial surface with rows of stout trichoid sensilla at inner apex. Basal division of hypandrium variable in shape, often with lateral trough in which the gonocoxite rests. Terminal division articulation and shape variable. Lateral lobes present or absent. Ventral surface sparsely provided with setae, dorsal surface glabrous. Superaedeagal membrane variable. Aedeagus with sperm sac as described for sub-family, lateral ejaculatory process variable. Ejactulatory apodeme apex rounded or pointed. Aedeagus with ventral apical apodemes present, dorsal apical apodemes present or absent. Subaedeagal sclerite variable.