Brunetti, E. 1911. Revision of the Oriental Tipulidae with descriptions of new species. Records of the Indian Museum 6: 295.
The genus Trentepohlia is extensive, being represented by nearly 300 species and strongly represented in the Oriental Region. The species of Trentepohlia may be separated from other genera by the characteristic shape of the singular male gonostylus and characters of the wing venation that shows the loss of the R-M crossvein and the deflection of CuA2 towards A1, at times intersecting and closing off cell cup. The subgeneric divisions of Trentepohlia are based on variation in the wing venation and are easily separated based on various combinations of wing characteristics.
The subgenus Trentepohlia (Paramongoma) is based a combination of wing venation characteristics and on the elongate ovipositor of the females of these species. A combination of wing characters including 3 branches of Rs to wing margin, cell dm present, one Medial vein to the wing margin, and CuA2 directed to A2 but not intersecting it separate this subgenus from others of Trentepohlia. The females show an extreme elongation of the hypovalves and cerci whose length nearly equals or exceeds that length of the abdomen. The larvae of T. (Paramongoma) are known to inhabit the axils of bromileacous plants and this adaptation to the female is thought to aid in the delivery of the eggs to this peculiar habitat. The trait of elongation of the female ovipositor is uncommon, but is additionally seen in the species of Trichoneura (Xipholimnobia)
Head: Anterior vertex not produced. Rostrum subequal to remaining head. Maxillary palpus subequal to remaining head, palpomeres subequal. Antennae: 16 articles, antenomeres suboval to cylindrical.
Wing: Subhyline to lightly suffused; stigma present or absent, additional coloration uncommon; anal angle present. Wing venation: Sc long, Sc1 removed from Sc2, Sc1 ending after split of Rs; R1+2 subequal to R2, R2 typically directed toward wing base; three branches of Rs (R3, R4, R5) attaining wing margin, R3 and R4 strongly divergent; r-m crossvein absent; one Medial vein (M3) attaining wing margin; cell dm present; two Cubital veins (CuA1, CuA2) attaining wing margin, tips divergent, CuA2 directed toward A2 at wing tip; two Anal veins (A1, A2) attaining wing margin.
Male hypopygium: 9th tergite (9t) and sternite (9s) variable, either fused or separated by lateral or ventral division. Mesoventral lobe of gonocoxite present or absent. Gonostylus singular; style a broad flattened sclerotized lobe, a tooth present at about 1/3 the length of the style, tip variously produced. Aedeagus simple with one or two terminal openings. Proctriger simple, without modification.
Female ovipositor: Cerci and hypovalves greatly elongate.
The distribution of T. (Paramongoma) is strongly Neoptropical (38 species) with the distribution of the remaining species being strongly equatorial. The Oriental Region is represented by 4 species known from Indonesia and the Philippines. The remaining species are all weakly represented in both the Afrotropical (7 species) and Australian/Oceanic (2 species).
The larvae have been found to live "in the water that gathers in the axils of tropical bromeliaceous plants" (Alexander 1919).
