The Sphaeroceridae (= Borboridae or Cypselidae; Diptera, Cyclorrhapha) of the Australian region

Abstract

The species of the dipterous family Sphaeroceridae from Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand are listed and described, including three new wingless genera with altogether four new species, and three new subgenera and 37 new species of Leptocera Olivier. The species of the family are often very widely distributed, partly by human agency, and are not the best material for zoogeographical studies. Nevertheless, there are a few groups at the 'subgeneric level which are peculiar to the region and one of them, subgenus Biroina, with many endemic species. There are several species common to Queensland and New Guinea, but no indication of any faunal relationship with South America.