Modified fore Femora in a New Species of Afrocamilla Barraclough: A Morphological Innovation in the Camillidae (Diptera)

A new species of Afrocamilla is described from a series of females from the Bale Mountains in south-eastern Ethiopia. The new species is unique within the Camillidae in having markedly swollen fore femora with a posteroventral protrusion of cuticle bearing a dagger-like spine on each femur. The ornamentation of the fore femora of other Camillidae is reviewed. Their possible functions in A. femorata sp. n. are evaluated, and based on the position of the spines it is suggested that they may be used to assist with movement over uneven substrates for breaking open dung pellets for egg deposition.