PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 81(2), 1979, pp. 2X5-297 THE TAXONOMIC POSITION OF THE NEW ZEALAND GENUS PROSOCHAETA MALLOCH (DIPTERA: SCIOMYZIDAE)' Jeffrey K. Barnes Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A. 14853; and Department of Entomology, Lincoln University College of Agriculture, Canterbury, New Zealand. Abstract. — The monotypic New Zealand genus Prosocluieta Malloch is redescribed incorporating morphological characters of the abdomens of the male and female. Prosocluieta is placed in a new tribe, Prosochaetini, and the definition of the subfamily Huttonininae Steyskal (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) is expanded to receive this tribe. The relationships of Prosochaeta and the other Huttonininae to other sciomyzid taxa are discussed. The taxonomic position of the monotypic New Zealand genus Proso-chaeta Malloch has never been satisfactorily determined. Malloch (1935) referred it to the Sciomyzidae. Harrison (1959) retained it in the Sciomy-zidae and considered it to be most closely related to the New Zealand genus Xenosciomyza Tonnoir and Malloch. Steyskal (1965) did not include Pro-sochaeta prima Malloch in his subfamily classification of the Sciomyzidae because he was unable to examine sufficient material. Griffiths (1972) re-moved Prosochaeta from the Sciomyzidae and referred it to his new family Helosciomyzidae along with Huttonina Tonnoir and Malloch, Heloscio-myza Hendel, Xenosciomyza, and Polytocus Lamb. I have examined male and female specimens oi Prosochaeta prima, and I believe that the following revised generic definition lists the attributes that are most important for characterizing the genus and for determining its taxonomic position. The following abbreviations are used for institutions holding specimens: AIM = Auckland Institute and Museum, Auckland, New Zealand; ATI = Abteilung Taxonomic der Insekten, Institut fiir Pflanzenschutzforschung, Eberswalde, German Democratic Republic; CU = Cornell University, Ith-aca, New York, U.S.A.; FRI = Forest Research Institute, Rotorua, New ' This investigation was supported by research grants DEB 75-21782 and BMS 75-10451 from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
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