Neotype designation and redescription of Sicus indicus Kröber, 1940 (Diptera: Conopidae)

Abstract

A neotype is designated for Sicus indicusKrober, 1940, the original type material of which is lost. This species is accepted as valid (rev. stat.) and is redescribed and illustrated from material collected in the Kashmir Valley of the Western Himalayas of India. Sicus indicus is distinguished from other Sicus Scopoli, 1763 species primarily by the shape and configuration of the female theca, and also by the long ventral setulae on the hind femur which are otherwise only shared with the very dissimilar S. ferrugineus (Linnaeus, 1761). Two other species with very similar-looking thecae in the female, i.e. S. abdominalisKrober, 1915 and S. ogumae (Matsumara, 1916), are distinguished by differences in colouration, dusting and setulation, the latter particularly with respect to the small sclerite at the inner hind edge of the hind coxa. Sicus indicus is the only species of the genus definitely recorded from India to date, and is confined to the Himalayan region.