Revision of the cluster‐flies of the Pollenia viatica species‐group (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

Abstract. The Pollenia viatica species‐group (=pallida species‐group) is defined and described. It consists of P.bicolor Robineau‐Desvoidy, P.bulgarica Jacentkovsk, P.fulvipalpis Macquart, P.mediterranea Grunin, P.ruficrura Rondani, stat.rev., P.viatica Robineau‐Desvoidy, stat.rev. (=P.pallida Rodendorf, syn.n.) and P.ponti sp.n. It is mono‐phyletic, mainly on the basis of a synapomorphic ovipositor tip, and the vagabunda species‐group is its sister group. A key to all species is provided, the terminalia of both sexes illustrated and all taxa redescribed. Lectotypes are designated for Pollenia bisulca Pandellé, P.ruficrura Rondani and P.viatica Robineau‐Desvoidy. Pollenia ruficrura is removed from its current status as a nomen dubium. Pollenia bicolor and P.ponti are western Mediterranean species, the latter also occurs in Czechoslovakia. P.fulvipalpis is endemic to France and Channel Islands. P.ruficrura is known only from Corsica and Italy. P.mediterranea is an eastern Mediterranean species reaching east to Armenia. P.bulgarica is distributed from Hungary to Caucasus. P.viatica is widespread from France, Great Britain and Southern Scandinavia to Central Asia. All species are summer or autumn species, and seem to have only one generation each year. The immature stages and life‐cycle of a species from Paris, France, named ‘Pollenia rudis’ by Keilin (1909, 1915) are tentatively assigned to P. viatica. It survives the winter as a first instar larva within the earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica Savigny.