Systematic study of the genus Rossimyiops Mesnil (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Abstract

The systematic position and generic limits of Rossimyiops Mesnil, 1953 (type species: R. whiteheadi Mesnil, 1953) are critically redefined. Examination of the male terminalia allowed us to demonstrate the unjustified placement of Rossimyiops within the subfamily Dexiinae, tribe Dufouriini and its probable affiliation with the subfamily Tachininae, tribe Minthoini. The following generic names are synonymised with Rossimyiops Mesnil, 1953: Mesnilomyia Kugler, 1972 (type species: M. magnifica Kugler, 1972) syn. nov., and Persedea Richter, 2001 (type species: P. exquisita Richter, 2001) syn. nov. The following new combinations are proposed: Rossimyiops achilleae (Kugler, 1972) comb. nov., R. exquisitus (Richter, 2001) comb. nov., R. longicornis (Kugler, 1972) comb. nov., R. magnificus (Kugler, 1972) comb. nov., and R. subapertus (Herting, 1983) comb. nov. Mesnilomyia rufipes Zeegers, 2007 is established as a synonym of Persedea exquisita Richter, 2001, syn. nov. Rossimyiops austrinus Cerretti sp. nov. from Namibia and Rossimyiops djerbaensis Cerretti sp. nov. from Tunisia are described, illustrated and compared with the other known species of the genus. Male terminalia and female external morphology of R. subapertus and R. whiteheadi are described for the first time. Finally, Mesnilomyia calyptrata Zeegers, 2007 is removed from this genus and placed as Tachinidae incertae sedis.