A new species of Medinodexia Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Japan, with a discussion on phylogenetic implications of the female postabdomen in Blondeliini

Abstract

Medinodexia japonica sp. nov. is described from Japan and an adult leaf beetle, Aulacophora nigripennis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is recorded as its host. A piercing-type ovipositor is one of the characteristics of the genus Medinodexia Townsend, but it is also found in other blondeliine genera. To evaluate the structural differences of the piercing-type ovipositor, the female postabdominal characters were examined within Blondeliini and their phylogenetic implications are briefly discussed. Females of Medinodexia are similar to those of Medina Robineau-Desvoidy for the presence of invaginations on tergite 6 and sternite 6 of the abdomen. Medinodexia exigua Shima and M. orientalis Shima are not treated here, because they are considered to belong to an undescribed genus due to differences in the male and female postabdominal characters distinguishing them from the remaining species of Medinodexia.