A checklist of soldierflies (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) in India

Abstract

The Indian soldierfly fauna is rich and diverse, yet it is poorly studied as most species were described in the 19th century. Soldierflies, like most other organisms, especially in developing nations such as India, have been largely overlooked in recent times. In this study, we present an inventory of all names so far validly published in Indian Stratiomyidae. Synonyms, notes about type localities, depositories, and distribution are included. The study revealed that the soldierfly species list from India comprises 84 valid species, distributed in 35 genera and 7 subfamilies. The present study provides a synopsis of the regional taxonomical work carried out until now, and can serve as a baseline survey for future studies. The study indicates that most areas of the vast Indian territory are unexplored for soldierflies, and perhaps the majority of the soldierflies in India still remain discovered.