Anthracinae  

The Anthracinae have a round head, small frons (Becker 1913), clypeus not reaching base of antennae, medial indention on the posterior margin of the eyes, short bisecting line dividing facets except in Prorostomatini (Yeates 1994), well-developed swollen occiput, occipital central cavity deep surrounding anteriorly-directed cervical sclerites allowing considerable rotation of the head; shortened front legs; base of the wing vein R2+3 arising at approximately a right angle except in Xeramoebini and Aphoebantini (Yeates 1994), branched R4+5; body scales, and flattened broad abdomen (Becker 1913); male genitalia rotated, epiphallus a simple blind lobe above the aedeagus; female T8 usually with dorsal apodeme, acanthophorite spines present, S8 invaginated, sperm pump present (Yeates 1994).

Of the seven anthracine tribes, three (Villoestrini, Prorostomatini, Aphoebantini) are not found in Australia. The tribe Xeramoebini is represented Australia by only two undescribed species of Petrorossia. There are 28 species of Australian Villini in the genera Villa Lioy, Exechohypopion Evenhuis and Lepidanthrax Osten Sacken (Evenhuis and Greathead 1999). The Anthracini is represented by 34 described species in the genera Anthrax Scopoli, Brachyanax Evenhuis, and Thraxan Yeates & Lambkin (Yeates and Lambkin 1998). Based on the phylogenies presented (Figs 2, 8), the Australian Exoprosopini is expanded to ten genera containing 65 species.