Generic revision of the Chiromyzinae soldier flies of Australia (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), including the first record of Boreoides Hardy, 1920, from New Zealand

Abstract

AbstractWe review the generic limits and classification of the little studied Australian fauna of the soldier fly subfamily Chiromyzinae. Among chiromyzines are many species that are confirmed agricultural pests of sugar cane, maize and grasses, including Inopus rubriceps (Macquart, 1847) that has been introduced in New Zealand and the United States. A taxonomic treatment is provided for the genera that occur in Australia, including illustrations and the first robust identification key. Several nomenclatural changes are made. The monotypic genera Archimyza Enderlein, 1921, and Stenimas Enderlein, 1921, are synonymised under Chiromyza Wiedemann, 1820, and the status of four species is revised: Inopus grandicornis (Hardy, 1920a) comb. nov. and Inopus longicornis (Hardy, 1924) comb. nov. are transferred from their previous position in Chiromyza; and Chiromyza australis (Macquart, 1850) stat. rev. and Chiromyza matruelis (Enderlein, 1921) stat. rev. are transferred from their previous position in Hylorops Enderlein, 1921, rendering Hylorops a monotypic genus, endemic to Chile. A total of 13 genera are now recognised in the Chiromyzinae, with four genera and 18 described species known from Australia. We also present the first record for New Zealand of the Australian species Boreoides tasmaniensis Bezzi, 1922, which was most likely accidentally introduced.