Keys to the genera and species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the West Indies and description of a new species of Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy
Author
Whitworth, Terry
text
Zootaxa
2010
2663
1
35
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.276279
280ecfda-718e-4b4c-b3a6-1077053c708c
1175-5326
276279
Lucilia eximia
(Wiedemann)
Figs. 42–43
,
54–55
,
67–69
,
83
,
90
Musca eximia
Wiedemann, 1819
: 53
Phaenicia eximia
:
Hall, 1948
: 239
Lucilia eximia
:
Whitworth, 2006
: 730
Diagnosis.
Male
frons 0.035 (0.03–0.05)/19 of head width, female frons 0.25 (0.24–0.28)/11. Basicosta tan; upper calypter pale both sexes, lower calypter brown in male, white in female; setal patterns on tibia are t1,1 pv; t2 1 or
2 v
to av; t3 2 p to pv.
Male
genitalia in lateral view with surstylus digitate, slightly curved forward; cercus with broad base and narrowing distally to a point, slightly longer than surstylus. In posterior view, surstylus curved inward; cercus tapering from broad base to a point (
Figs. 38, 39
). Phallus and ovipositor and other characters as described above for the
L
.
eximia
group (
Figs. 54–55
,
67–69
,
83
,
90
).
Distribution.
Specimens of
L
.
eximia
were examined from numerous locations in the West Indies, including
Barbados
(BMNH, USNM),
Dominica
(TW),
Dominican Republic
(CMNH),
Grenada
(FSCA),
Guadeloupe
(CNM),
Puerto Rico
(CNM, FSCA, TW, UPR, USNM),
St. Vincent
(CNM, USNM),
Trinidad
(BMNH, CNM, FSCA, USNM, USU) and
Virgin Islands
(FSCA). Despite being widespread, this species is generally less common than some other
Lucilia
.
Variation.
Previous researchers,
James (1967)
and
Woodley and Hilburn (1994)
, have noted that
L
.
eximia
-like specimens in the region do not match the mainland
L
.
eximia
. I came to the same conclusion after examining specimens from numerous areas throughout the region. After extensive study, only one consistent character was found that distinguishes the island specimens from those on the mainland. In island specimens, almost all of T4 is polished while in the mainland form the front 2/3 or more of T4 is microtomentose. A long series of specimens from
Trinidad
, which is close to the shore of
Venezuela
, is like the mainland form. Other than nearby
Tobago
, it is distant from other West Indies islands. For the rest of the region, the specimens are like the island form. Between islands there is considerable variation in vestiture color of the postoccipital area, fronto-orbital plate and parafacial. Color combinations varied from silver-silver to silver-gold to gold-silver. Also encountered were a number of specimens with a brilliant gold body color. A long series from
Barbados
initially led me to suspect a new species, but a detailed study of genitalia and other characters did not provide sufficient differences to justify new species status.