Sphyracephala europaea - European stalk-eyed fly synonymization
The Sphyracephala europaea was described as a new species in 1997 by L. Papp, M. Földvári and P. Paulovics in the Folia Entomologica Hungarica Rovartani Közlemények under the title Sphyracephala europaea sp. n. (Diptera: Diopsidae) from Hungary represents a family new to Europe. The Hungarian name European stalk-eyed fly first appeared, to my knowledge, in the presentation of protected species in the Magyar közlöny.
The izeltlabuak.hu website primarily focuses on arthropods found in Hungary. This entry also deals with Hungarian fauna.
In 2025, Sphyracephala europaea was synonymized with the species Sphyracephala babadjanidesi by Hans R. Feijen, Frida A. A. Feijen, Cobi Feijen in the work A revision of the four Afrotropical and Palaearctic Sphyracephala Say (Diptera, Diopsidae) with an illustrated overview of the other five Sphyracephala.
I also implemented the synonymization in the izeltlabuak.hu species list.
László Papp deals in detail with the Sphyracephala babadjanidesi species in his publication about the species. Although he did not have access to the S. babadjanidesi species, he explains what reasons prevent the domestic specimens from matching it and why it is justified to treat it as a new species.
"Though we have not had the possibility to compare our specimens to those of Sphyracephala babadjanidesi, there are features, which are unlikely that would have been incorrectly given in the description and figures of S. babadjanidesi." - wrote László Papp and colleagues, then went on to present the differences in detail.
In the new synonymization paper, the authors also present the differences in detail, now based on examination of specimens. They reflect on the article published in Folia in the 'Remarks on synonymy' section.
The synonymization of Sphyracephala europaea with Sphyracephala babadjanidesi was received with skepticism by Hungarian entomologists. I received requests not to apply the name change.
Until the synonymization becomes widespread, I have restored the name to Sphyracephala europaea.