Large Flies Overlooked: the Genus Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in the Neotropics, with 11 Synonyms and a New Species to Brazil.

Abstract

Hermetia Latreille, 1804 is currently globally distributed, with ~ 80 species, but is especially diverse in tropical regions. Hitherto, 52 species occur in the Neotropics. However, apart from H. illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) and a few other common species, the group is still poorly studied. One of the main persistent problems is the limited knowledge about the identity of most species, resulting in difficulties regarding species determination and discovery of new taxa. In our efforts to revise this genus, we address several of these issues and propose the following 11 synonyms after examination of 17 type specimens: H. ampulla James, 1938 syn. nov. and H. panamensis Greene, 1940 syn. nov. of H. aurinotata Lindner, 1935; H. burmeisteri Lindner, 1949 syn. nov. of H. cornithorax (Lindner, 1928); H. fimbriata (Lindner, 1931) syn. nov. of H. crabro Osten Sacken, 1886; H. geniculata Macquart, 1855 syn. nov. of H. illucens; H. coarctata Macquart, 1846 syn. nov. and H. scutellata Macquart, 1855 syn. nov. of H. pulchra Wiedemann, 1830; H. reinhardi James, 1935 syn. nov. of H. relicta Osten Sacken, 1886; H. tincta (Walker, 1851) syn. nov. of H. rufitarsis Macquart, 1846; and H. mitis Curran, 1934 syn. nov. and H. nana Lindner, 1935 syn. nov. of H. teevani Curran, 1934. Moreover, a new striking species with a pattern of abdominal coloration resembling social wasps of Brachygastra Perty, 1833 is described from Brazil-H. brachygastropsis sp. nov.-and two species are removed from the Brazilian fauna: H. aeneipennis Giglio-Tos, 1893 and H. sexmaculata Macquart, 1834.