Dactylonotus Parent, 1934 – a disjunct generic distribution in southern Africa, New Zealand and New Caledonia (Diptera, Dolichopodidae)

The genus Dactylonotus Parent, 1934 (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) is characterized by a finger-like projection of the antennal pedicel along the dorsal margin of the postpedicel. It comprises six species from southern Africa, Dactylonotus formosus (Parent, 1933) from New Zealand and D. eurypterus n. sp. from New Caledonia. Of morphological interest, Dactylonotus eurypterus n. sp. totally lacks anterior preapical setae on femora II and III, present in all congeners. The disjunct distribution of Dactylonotus is unusual, suggesting a relictual distribution comprising Africa, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The genus is unknown from Australia.