Revision of the net-winged midge genus Horaia Tonnoir and its phylogenetic relationship to other genera within the tribe Apistomyiini (Diptera: Blephariceridae)

Based partly on recent collections from Nepal and northern Thailand, new data are added to the knowledge of Horaia Tonnoir. Pupal and larval stages of H. montana Tonnoir are re-described, larval descriptions for H. manaliella (Kaul) are provided, and two new species, H. diminutiva and H. namtoki, and a new subspecies, H. montana piedmonti, are described. Dichotomous keys to adults, pupae and instar IV larvae of blepharicerid genera from south-east Asia and of all known species of the genus Horaia are provided. Phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Apistomyiini suggests that Horaia is a monophyletic genus closely related to a clade containing Apistomyia Bigot and Parapistomyia Zwick. This clade is, in turn, sister to a weakly supported clade comprising Theischingeria Zwick +Austrocurupira Dumbleton. The New Zealand endemics Peritheates Lamb +Neocurupira Lamb are proposed as sister group to other apistomyiines, within which Nothohoraia Craig + (Curupirina Stuckenberg +Nesocurupira Stuckenberg) is sister group to the remaining genera. The proposed phylogeny supports Zwick’s Antarctic origin hypothesis for the biogeography of the Apistomyiini in Asia and Australasia.