REVISION OF THE SPECIES OF FRONTINIELLA TOWNSEND (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractThe genus Frontiniella Townsend is transferred from the Eryciini to the Goniini, based on the production of microtype eggs in adult females. Frontiniella is known only from the Nearctic Region and the northern extreme of the Neotropical Region. Eufrontina Brooks is newly synonymized with Frontiniella and all species formerly placed in that genus are transferred to Frontiniella. Frontiniella is hypothesized to be monophyletic based on two derived character states: long hairs on the male surstylus, and elongate posterior spiracles on the puparium. Two species groups are recognized, one with six species and the other with four: the parancilla-group with F. parancilla Townsend, F. incarcerata sp.nov. (type-locality Hwy. 366, Graham Co., Arizona, USA), F. spectabilis (Aldrich) (new combination), F. surstylata sp.nov. (type-locality near Olustee, Florida, USA), F. jorgenseni sp.nov. (type-locality 20 miles northwest of Kenna, New Mexico, USA), and F. ethniae (Brooks) (new combination); and the festinans-group with F. festinans (Aldrich and Webber), F. apache sp.nov. (type-locality Sulphur Draw, Chiricahua Mts., Arizona, USA), F. mitis (Curran), and F. regilla (Reinhard). This revision includes a key to the 10 known species of Frontiniella, a description of each species (including puparium where known), maps of species distributions, an annotated list of hosts (including corrections to previously published records and additions from material examined), and illustrations of taxonomically useful features.