Hercostomus
Hercostomus is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae. It is a large genus, containing more than 483 species worldwide. Multiple studies have shown that Hercostomus is a polyphyletic assemblage of species.
Species groups
The genus currently includes the following species groups, at least 25 of which are known from China:Hercostomus abnormis group – ChinaHercostomus absimilis group – ChinaHercostomus albidipes group – ChinaHercostomus apiculatus group – ChinaHercostomus baishanzuensis group – ChinaHercostomus biancistrus group – ChinaHercostomus crassivena group – ChinaHercostomus curvus group – ChinaHercostomus cyaneculus group – ChinaHercostomus digitatus group – ChinaHercostomus digitiformis group – ChinaHercostomus fatuus group – ChinaHercostomus flavimaculatus group – ChinaHercostomus flaviventris group – ChinaHercostomus fluvius group – ChinaHercostomus hamatus group – ChinaHercostomus incisus group – ChinaHercostomus intactus group – ChinaHercostomus longicercus group – ChinaHercostomus longus group – ChinaHercostomus nanlingensis group – ChinaHercostomus plagiatus group – PalearcticHercostomus prolongatus group – ChinaHercostomus quadriseta group – ChinaHercostomus shennongjiensis group – ChinaHercostomus subnovus group – ChinaHercostomus takagii group – ChinaHercostomus ulrichi group – ChinaThe Palearctic species of Hercostomus are traditionally separated into five numbered groups, based on the coloration of the femora, postocular setae and antennae:Group I: Femora yellow; lower postocular setae yellow or white; antennae partly yellowGroup II: Femora yellow; lower postocular setae yellow or white; antennae blackGroup III: Femora yellow; lower postocular setae blackGroup IV: Femora black; lower postocular setae yellow or whiteGroup V: Femora black; lower postocular setae black
In 1999, Igor Grichanov divided the Afrotropical species of Hercostomus into three numbered groups. Two of these have since been separated into their own genera:Group I: now AfrohercostomusGroup II: considered part of Hercostomus sensu strictoGroup III: now ''Neohercostomus''