PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
issued I^JNvA, si^mi h the
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIONU. S. NATIONAL MUSEUMVoL 90 Washington: 1941 No. 3108SYNOPSIS OF THE TACHINID FLIES OF THE GENUSTACHINOMYIA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIESBy Rat T. WebberThe genus TacMnomyia was erected by Townsend (1892, p. 96)for the reception of two new species, robusta and -floridensh. Hedesignated the former as genotype. Coquillett (1897, p. 118) con-sidered the genus a synonym of Taehina {= Exori.^ta) ^ as also didAldrich (1905, p. 469). According to Townsend (1908, p. 107), how-ever, TacMnomyia "differs from Taehina in the vibrissae being in-serted higher above oral margin, cheeks one-half eye height in width,and abdomen very elongate."' Since these characters vary to someextent, more important, perhaps, is the structure of the genitalia,which, as pointed out by Curran (1926, p. 166), are entirely differentfrom those of Taehina.The writer wishes to acknowledge the assistance given him by thelate Dr. J. M. Aldrich, who prior to 1926 made a study of thematerial at the United States National Museum and was prepared torecognize Tcwhinomyia., with new species included, but did not pub-lish because of the appearance of Dr. C. H. Curran's paper (1926)
;
to Miss Daphne x\ubertin, of the Department of Entomology, BritishMuseum, for the comparison of material with Walker's types; andto T. H. Jones for the use of material and notes of his making.Appreciation is expressed also to David G. Hall for his suggestionsand advice. That which follows is the result of the writer's studyof material at the United States National ^luseum, and at thelaboratory of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine,United States Department of Agriculture, formerly maintained at286601?41 ,. 287
288 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 90Melrose Highlands, Mass., while it was under the direction ofC. W. Collins.The characters employed by Curran, particularly those pertainingto the genitalia and sternites, appear to be the most satisfactory onesfor the separation of the species. In order that they may be givencareful study the specimen must be relaxed and the genitalia exposed.Unless this is done considerable doubt remains as to the formation ofthe anal forceps and the lobes of the fifth sternite. In panaetius andapicata the lobes are smooth distally, their inner edges ridgelessexcept at base, where they unite in an abrupt, upwardly roundedflange. While there is no basal flange in any of the other species,except possibly foridemis, some of them have the distal portion ofeach lobe furnished with a more or less conspicuous ridge along itsinner edge. It is not clearly understood how much importanceshould be attached to this structure. Obviously it is subject toconsiderable variation within the species, as shown in the case ofcana and acosta. However, in nearly all the specimens of variatathat have been seen the ridges are well developed and provide a goodcharacter for identification. The form of the anal forceps is bestdetermined by the aid of a crosshatched eye-piece micrometer, whichwill forestall any imaginary concept. An additional character isfound in the lengthened villosity of the inner surface of the hindtibiae, and while applicable only in the case of panaetius, florldensis,and apicata (fig. 17, g), it is of constant occurrence and readilyrecognized.The females are identified with clifiiculty. With a few exceptionsthe species, even in the males, appear more or less similar, and fre-quently their identity is doubtful. Since several of them occur simul-taneously in the same region, association of sexes has but little value.Little is known regarding the biology of the species. Townsend(1911, p. 141) tentatively placed Tachinomyia in his meigeniineseries, species that glue a flattened macrotype ^gg to the body ofthe host. Several of the species have been occasionally bred fromlepidopterous larvae, but records of rearing are rare in comparison tothe field abundance of the flies, wdiich are among the earliest vernaltachinids. Aldrich regarded T. panaetms^ sensu lato^ as one of thecommonest North American species. In New England there is asingle generation, the species passing the winter as puparia.The generic characters of Tachinomyia are as follows : Eyes bare,although frequently thinly pilose in freshly emerged specimens;facial ridges bristly on at least the lowest third, usually about two-thirds way, but in no instance meeting the lowest frontals ^ ; ocellar
"^ Allophorocera montana Smith (191T, p. 140), which Aldrich (1927, p. 21) believedto be a Tachinomyia, can be excluded from the genus by this character as well as others.
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 289bristles present, directed forward, no orbital bristles in male; antennareaching lowest fourth of face, third segment at apex, outwardlytruncate, inwardly rounded; second segment somewhat elongate, infemale sometimes more than one-half length of third; arista bare,second segment short; frontal bristles extending below base of thirdantennal joint; front without evenly paired reclinate bristles outsideof frontal row ; no outer vertical bristle in male ; parafacialia bare, atnarrowest part ranging from less than one-half to more than one-halfdistance between vibrissae ; face moderately to strongly receding ; pro-boscis short, fleshy; cheeks usually broad, never less than one-fiftheye height ; vibrissae situated on or usually above oral margin ; palpiwell-developed. Thorax with three or four dorsocentral and threesternopleural bristles; pteropleural bristle normal; apical scutellurbristles present ; infrasquamal spinules absent. Abdomen black orbrownish in ground color, poUinose, decidedly elongated in male,shorter and stouter in female ; median marginal macrochaetae presenton all segments, second segment never with more than four macro-chaetae ; discal macrochaetae absent in all except dakotensU ; no ven-tral carina, male hypopygium prominent, anal forceps azygous; lobesof tenth sternite broad at base, each terminating in a small fingerlikeprocess at each side of the hooklike anal forceps. Hind tibia irregu-larly ciliate, middle tibia with two or more strong bristles on outerfront side, near middle ; claws and pulvilli in male conspicuously long.Wings long, with the usual tachinid venation; first posterior cellopen, ending considerably before apex of wing; bend of fourth veindestitute of a distinct appendage but frequentlj^ with a faint fold;last section of fifth vein less than one-half as long as the precedinveins bare except base of third. to 5KEY TO SPECIES OF TACHINOMYIAMALES1. Abdomen without discal macrochaetae 2Abdomen with discal macrochaetae dakotensis, new species2. Abdomen black ; two reclinate upper frontal bristles 3Abdomen broadly red at sides, fourth segment wholly red exceptat base; three reclinate upper frontal bristles; parafacialiaat narrowest less than one-half width of third antennal seg-ment (Florida) fioridensis Townsend3. Hind tibiae inwardly with long villosity (fig. 17, g), the villioften over twice the tibial width in length ; lobes of fifth ster-nite, at base, with conspicuous flange 4Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity, the villi scai'cely thetibial width in length; lobes of fifth sternite without basalflange, their inner edges smooth or with a conspicuous elon-gated ridge 5
290 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 904. Each half of anal forceps (fig. 17, a) viewed in profile straighton posterior edge for six-sevenths of its length, then gentlycurving inwardly and abruptly tapering to terminus? panaetius (Walker)Each half of anal forceps (fig. 17, e) viewed in profile straighton i)osterior edge for about one-half its length, then stronglycurved inwardly and tapering to a fine point apicata Curran5. Frontalia at middle of front about equal to or narrower thanparafrontalia ; hairs of cheeks predominantly pale ; bristles offacial ridges often weak and depressed ; face and front usuallywith a slight yellowish cast 6Frontalia at middle of front at least as wide as parafrontalia
;
hairs of cheeks predominantly black, comparatively long;bristles of facial ridges strong and erect; face and frontsilvery; a comparatively black, thinly gray-poll inose, westernspecies similis (Williston)6. Second genital segment orange-red 8Second genital segment black, usually reddish below 77. Viewed from the side the anal forceps (fig. 17, f) stronglyincurved, their posterior surfaces moderately to densely piloseand often obscured in outline acosta, new speciesViewed from the side the anal forceps (fig. 17, 6) comparativelystraight, tapering abruptly to terminus, their posterior sur-faces moderately pilose and distinct in outline nigricans, new species8. Parafacialia at narrowest part at least equal to if not widerthan one-half distance between vibrissae ; second antenualsegment mostly reddish brown ; lobes of fifth sternite usuallysmooth or with inconspicuous ridges on their inner edges- cana, new speciesParafacialia at narrowest part less than one-half distancebetween vibrissae; second antennal segment mostly black;lobes of fifth sternite usually with conspicuous ridges ontheir inner edges variata CurranFEMALES1. Abdomen without discal macrochaetae 2Abdomen with discal macrochaetae dakotensis, new species2. Posterior border of fourth segment fringed with long bristlesof unequal length 3Posterior border of fourth segment fringed with closely set,short bristles of nearly equal length ; front wider than eyeand widening slowly to base of antennae apicata Curran3. Frontalia at middle of front narrower than parafrontalia,usually brownish ; hairs of cheeks predominantly pale 4Frontalia at middle of front at least as wide as parafrontalia,usually black ; hairs of cheeks predominantly black, compara-tively long; fourth abdominal segment black, mottled withgray-poUinose areas; face and front silvery iX)lliuose withoutyellowish cast; western species similis (Williston)4. Posterior preintraalar bristle well-developed; front wideningslowly to base of antennae; cheeks about one-third the eyeheight; usually four dorsocentrals 5Posterior preintraalar bristle absent or vestigial ; usually threedorsocentrals 6
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 2915. Front at vertex over one-third the head width ; sides of frontwith a few scattered pale hairs panaetius (Walker)Front at vertex about or less than one-third the head width
;
sides of front with many fine hairs species near panaetius (Walker)6. Front at vertex less than one-third the head width, with parallelmargins; cheeks narrow, hardly one-fourth the eye height-- variata CurranFront at vertex over one-third the head width and wideningslowly to base of antennae species near variata CurranTACHINOMYIA PANAETIUS (Walker)Figure 17, aTachina panaetius Walkeir, List of the specimens of dipterous insects in thecollection of the British Museum, pt. 4, p. 767, 1849.Tachina pansa Walker, ibid., p. 787.Tachina violcnta Walker, ibid., p. 788.Tachina irrequieta Walker, ibid., p. 789.Tachinomyia robusta Townsend, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, vol. 19, p. 90, 1892.Townsend (1936, p. 281) considers Tachinomyia rohusta a synonymof Tachina panaetius Walker. In 1929 Aldrich (1931, p. 13) studiedWalker's types at the British Museum and formed the same con-clusions. The type of panaetius is a single female from Nova Scotia.Since the females of rohusta are not readily recognized from otherclosely allied species, this synonymy may be questioned. Aldrichalso believed that Tachina irrequista Walker, T. pansa Walker, andT. violenta Walker were likewise synonymous with panaetius Walker.The type of irrequieta is a female, and the same doubt exists as inthe case of panaetius. The types of pansa and violenta are males, andalthough the genitalia have not been relaxed, it is believed thatAldrich was correct in his synonymy. Furthermore, a cotype speci-men of pansa is in the United States National Museum collectionand it is identical with rohusta Townsend.In an attempt to clear up this synonymy, specimens of the variousspecies, with a key for their separation, was sent to Miss Aubertinat the British Museum. The results of this correspondence, whilenot entirely satisfactory, were in effect that the preceding synonymywas justified.A cotype of Tachinomyia rohusta Townsend, from Brookings, S.Dak. (Aldrich), is in the United States National Museum collection.It is a male and characterized as follows : Inner side of hind tibia withlong villi; lobes of fifth sternite with distinct basal flange; fourthsternite convexly produced; second genital segment reddish black;anal forceps as figured (fig. 17, a) ; fourth abdominal segment black,mottled with thin grayish pollen ; four dorsocentrals ; posterior prein-traalar bristle- present; second segment of antenna brownish, about
- The posterior preintraalar bristle equals tbe posterior sublatoral bristle of Curran.
292 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 90one-half the length of third ; parafacialia at narrowest part comparedwith distance between vibrissae as 11.0 : 19.8 (average of six) ; cheeksone-third or more of eye height.Thirty-five other males, with the essential characters of the cotype,show a slight variation. In all but two specimens, in which there werethree on one side, there were four dorsocentrals ; the posterior preintra-alar bristle was usually strong but sometimes only a hair. Twenty-nine specimens had the second genital segment black, tinged with redabove and wholly red beneath. In the others it was either wholly redor black above. Thirty-two flies had the second antennal segmentreddish or reddish brown and in three it was black, tinged with red.Thirty-three had the facial ridges bristly for two-thirds their way andin two on the lowest third. Length, 10-16 mm.Female.?Front at vertex 0.37 and 0.36 of the head width intwo specimens; parafrontalia lightly golden pollinose, sparsely be-set with pale hairs; inner and outer verticals developed; orbitalsstrong; frontals nine in number, strong; parafacialia silvery polli-nose with slight golden cast, at narrowest part compared Avith dis-tance between vibrissae as 9.5:18.5 (average of two); cheeks one-third of eye height ; second antennal segment mostly black, about one-half length of third; thorax black, grayish pollinose with brownishtinge above, pleurae more grayish ; four dorsocentrals ; posterior pre-intraalar bristle present; abdomen black, intermediate segmentsgrayish pollinose with trace of brown, particularly at apices; lastsegment wholly chalky white pollinose. Abdominal macrochaetaeas follows: One fly has a median pair on the basisegment; otherwisethe first and second segments each has one marginal pair ; third with amarginal row; fourth with a row of discal or submarginal onasbesides the marginal row of moderately long bristles of unequallength.Remarks.?The foregoing description of the female of panaetiusis from two specimens captured in coitu at Melrose Highlands, Mass.,in May 1934. Other descriptions of the female of Tachinomyiapanaetius have been given by Townsend (1915, p. 103) and Curran(1926, p. 169).Material examined.?At the United States National Museum thereare 62 males from various localities in the United States and Canadaeast of the Rocky Mountains. There do not appear to be any speci-mens from the Southern or Southwestern States. Six males andtwo females of the Melrose Highlands laboratory collection are fromMassachusetts and New Jersey localities.Hosts.?The writer has not seen any bred specimens that couldbe positively identified as panaetius. There are, however, in the
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 293Melrose Higlilands collection,^ females of species near panaetius bredby J. V. Schaffner, Jr., et al, from GraptoUtha antermata WalkerG. M. L. 12161 Tl) ; Orthosia hibisci Guene^, form imciens Walker(G. M. L. 12164 K14) ; Catocala sp. (G. M. L. 11707 M3) ; noctuid(G. M. L. 11707 J8) ; Acronycta hetulae Riley (G. M. L. 11707 M34).TACHINOMYIA APICATA CurranFigure 17, e, g, hTachinomyia apicata Curran, Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, ser. 3, vol. 20, sect. 5,p. 171, fig. 16, 1926.The species is readily recognized by the form of the anal forceps(fig. 17, e) and the conspicuous flange at the base of the fifth sternite(fig. 17, 7i). To these characters may be added the follovv^ng: Lastabdominal segment chalky white pollinose with narrow apical borderof black, red, or reddish black; fourth sternite brownish, transverselyflattened, not turned upward; second genital segment orange-red,rarely blackish; four dorsocentral bristles; posterior preintraalar bris-tle usually present, sometimes weak or wanting; first two segmentsof antenna, base of third, and apex of scutellum reddish ; face andfront silvery gray with yellowish cast of variable shades; para-facialia at narrowest part compared with distance between vibrissaeas 10.8 : 20.5 (average of six); cheeks one-third of eye height;facial ridges bristly one-half to two-thirds way to antennae; frontalsvarying from 7 to 10; palpi gradually thickened toward tip; orbitalhairs gray or yellowish gray. Length, 10-20 mm.Female.?Essentially like male except more robust in form; lastabdominal segment wholly chalky white-poUinose, posterior borderfringed with closely set, short bristles of equal length ; two pairs oforbital bristles and a wider front.Matenal examined.?Sixty-nine males and 50 females in the MelroseHighlands laboratory collection taken during May and June fromlocalities in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Also 7 males and 15females in the United States National Museum from Ottawa, Canada,the District of Columbia, and the following States : New Hampshire,Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, and Missouri.Host.?Unknown.TACHINOMYIA FLORIDENSIS TownsendTachinomyia floridensis Townsend, Trans. Amer. Eut. Soc, vol. 19, p. 97, 1892.The species was described from one specimen, a male, from Florida(C. W. Jolmson). Coquillett (1897, p. 82) included -fiondensis as
'The Melrose Higlilands collection of Tachinidae is now housed in the Forest InsectLaboratory of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine at New Haven, Conn.
294 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 90a synonym of Ma-siphya hrasiUana Braiier and Bergenstamm, whichspecies he phicod in Bioniyia. Aldrich (1925, pp. 108-109), however,examined the type of flondensk and believed it to be "a distinctspecies strictly congeneric with the genotype TacUnomyia rohustaTown^end."The original description is brief and does not mention all the char-aethers necessary for identification. The type has not been seen, butAldrich s description (unpublished notes) verbatim follows:
"Tachi'Twmyia floridensis Townsend.One large male type with label as follows :Florida26Jhnsn.inw ?'"^' 'r!.- ^?'^'''^^''^^^^^ ^* narrowest less than half the third antennaljoint or just about half (in rohusta much more). Cheeks less than half theeye height. Acrostiehal 3.3; dorsocentral 3.4; humeral 3; posthumeral 2; pre-(small) ; sternopleural 2.1 ; pteropleural small ; postscutellum distinct.Abdomen largely red on sides, pollen not in perfect condition. First andsecond segments with one pair marginal, third segment with a row of eightfour he^.,ent with a stout row at last fourth and smaller on margin ^rstdarker ZT T! ""'^' '"' "^' ^"""^^ ''^'^^ ^-^' ^airy, the forcepi er, not spread; fourth sternite at edge with thin, upstanding brownishmargin, entirely different from that in rohusta, and tiie infiexed ergui aUwith long hair entirely different from rohusta (I am comparing with typeof rohus a) : fifth sternite about a. in rohusta. but reddish. Legs Wack all thetibiae villous on flexor .lae about as in rohusfa. A good species(Kansas University, June 4, 1924)."J. M. Aldrich."^em.ar^.._The female of fondenm has been described by Town-fl ^' ''' '''^' '"' '''' '''''''' '' "^^^1^ '^ --^^- the speciesirom the description given.TACHINOMYIA SIMILIS (Williston)Figure 17, c^omery,^ simWs W,IXISTO^, North American Fauna, No. 7 p 256Taok?omy? <.rme?,aUs Cubh.,,, Tran.. Boy. .S?c. Canada, L' a! ?isect. 5, p. 170, fig. 17, 1926. . 6, 1893.20,Itus I?""T'' ^'\^'*'^' (""published MS.) gave it specificf^Z ,i"=?''''"'? '? >""- ^'"^1 =^s trifled by the writer, Curran'socoidentalt.'i is a synonym.
THE GENTJS TACHTNOMYIA?^WEBBER 295The following brief description is from a cotype, Sonoma County,Calif., now in the United States National Museum collection:Male.?Front and face silvery gray pollinose without trace of yel-low ; fourth abdominal segment mostly black, mottled gray pollinose
;
cheeks nearly one-half of eye height, clothed with comparativelylong hairs which are predominantly black; hind tibia with shortvillosity on inner side; frontalia wider than either parafrontal;bristles of facial ridges strong, reaching two-thirds way to antennae;lobes of fifth sternite reddish, without basal flange but with slightridges; apex of fourth sternite convexly produced: three dorsocen-tral bristles; no posterior preintraalar bristle; anal forceps (fig.17. c) somewhat as in nigricans: second genital segment orange-red;second antennal segment black.Forty-one other males in the United States National Museum col-lection agree well with the cotype. There are usually three dorso-central bristles although occasionally four are present : posterior pre-intraalar bristle absent in all but two specimens, in which case it isvestigial; facial ridges bristly two-thirds way to antennae, rarelyless; vibrissae well above oral margin; scutellum wholly black, fre-quently with reddish apex; face and front silvery gray pollinosewithout trace of yellow; usually three strong bristles on anteriordorsal side of middle tibia.Female.?Essentially like male except for the usual sexualdifferences.Variations.?Twenty-one males and 27 females bred by the writerfrom Stajmotia solids Linnaeus, collected at Puyallup, Wash., in1935. show the following variations: Three or four dorsocentrals,usually the latter, although very frequently the second from thesuture is either weak or hairlike. When three bristles are presentthey are often irregularly spaced. Posterior preintraalar bristleabsent in 39 and vestigial in 9. Second genital segment of maleorange-red in all but two specimens, in which case it is obscurely so.Abdomen wholly black, gray pollinose or frequently, in the male,with sides of second segment reddish yellow: second antennal seg-ment black. Face and front silvery gi'ay pollinose in all specimens.Length, 12-13 mm.Material examined.?About 90 specimens at the United StatesNational Museum from localities in California, Washington, Idaho,Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona.Hosts.?CUsiocamjya thoracia Stretch : Eemerocam/pa vefusta Bois-duval; Stilpnotia f^oIicU Linnaeus; Ualhidota argentafa Packard.
296 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. M
Figure 17.
?
Tachinomyia. Characters
a-f. Lateral aspect of anal forceps of male genitalia: a, T. panaetius (Walker); b, T. nigri-cans, new species; c, T. similis (Williston); d, T. variata Curran; e, T. apicata Curran;/, T. acosta, new species,g, Hind tibia of T. apicata viewed from behind.A, t, Apex of abdomen with drawn genitalia showing formation of fourth and fifth sternitesin lateroventral aspect: h, T. apicata; i, T. variata.
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 297TACHINOMYIA VAKIATA CurranFigure 17, d, iTachinomyia variata Citrkan, Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, ser. 3, vol. 5, sect. 5,p. 169, figs. 14, 15, 1926.According to Cun-an (1926, p. 168) varmta is characterized princi-pally by the dense, bristly pile on the lower surface of the analforceps, three or four dorsocentral bristles, and absence of ridges onthe lobes of the fifth sternite.In his description Curran omitted several characters which wouldhave aided materially in the identification of the species. At therequest of the writer more details concerning the type specimen havebeen furnished by G. H. Shewell, of the Canadian National Museum,where the type is deposited. His description is as follows
:
"Length, 12 nmi. Four posterior doi^ocentrals, the second veryfine; fourth abdominal segment black with reddish posterior border,thinly gray pollinose ; fifth sternite lobes reddish with distinct ridgeson their inner edge; second genital segment reddish; inner forcepspilose behind (about as in Curran's drawing) ; ratio of second tothird antennal segment 1 : 2.5."Tachinomyia variata differs slightly from T. cana as follows : Theridges on the inner edges of the lobes of the fifth sternite are betterdeveloped and apparently more constant in character; the secondantennal segment is mostly black ; the parafacialia are narrower ; theanal forceps are somewhat stouter and usually more densely piloseon their posterior surfaces; and there are usually three dorsocentrals.Redescription of male.?Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity,villi scarcely the tibial width in length ; inner edges of lobes of fifthsternite usually with a conspicuous ridge (fig. 17, i) ; anal forceps(fig. 17, d) with dense pilosity behind, stout at base and somewhatsimilar in outline to acosta.; fourth sternite convexly produced;fourth abdominal segment black, moderately gray pollinose, with red-dish-black apical border; first genital segment reddish black, secondorange red, moderately pilose above; scutellum black, apex slightlyreddish; tliree or four dorsoc^entrals; no posterior preintraalar bristle; .cheeks hardly one-third the eye height, with pale hairs; second an-tennal segment mostly black, third segment scarcely three times itslength. Front silvery gray pollinose, with slight yellowish cast, atnarrowest part about one-fifth the head width; 10 or 11 frontal bris-tles, the last 2 reelinate ; frontalia narrow, widening gradually to baseof antennae; parafacialia nearly concolorous with front, at narrowestpart compared with distance between vibrissae 7.6:17.5 (average ofsix); facial ridges bristly one-half way to antennae; vibrissae wellabove oral margin. Length 1^17 mm.
298 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 90Female.?Essentially as in male. Front at vertex less than one-third of head width, with parallel margins; two pairs of orbitalbristles; second antennal segment black, third about two and one-half times its length; cheeks narrow, less than one-fourth the eyeheight; palpi slender; four dorsocentrals, the second from sutureweak; no posterior preintraalar bristle; middle tibia with three an-terior dorsal bristles, the uppermost one shortest; hind tarsi slender;fourth abdominal segment black, thin gray pollinose, the posteriorborder fringed with moderately long bristles. Length 12 nmi.Material examined.?In the United States National Museum col-lection there are four paratypes, including both sexes, from Ontario,Quebec, and Alberta, Canada. There are also six males and onefemale from New Brunswick, Canada, and from the following States
:
New Jersey, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Colorado. Also thereare three specimens in the David G. Hall collection from Ohio,Kansas, and New Mexico.The material representative of this species in the Melrose High-lands laboratory collection consists of 10 specimens collected atLunenburg, Mass., from May 21 to June 29, 1914; 3 specimens col-lected at Melrose, Mass., June 1917, May 7, 1930, and May 26, 1934:4 specimens bearing "G. M. L." numbers 9427di, 9427a\ 9427a-, and9427b^, which were bred from Porthetria dispar, collected in Massa-chusetts, July 1925. These flies emerged in Jmie 1926 and were usedin a successful reproduction experiment by T. H. Jones. No. 9427d^ isthe progeny of Nos. 9427a^ ( $ ) and 9427b^ ( 9 ) . There are alsotwo other specimens from Morris County, N. J., collected May 19,1936. Specimens of this material were submitted to Mr. Shewellfor comparison with the type of varlata, and according to him theanal forceps agree with those of variata in general outline, thoughthey are smaller and more densely pilose behind.Hosts.?Nephelodes emmedonia Cramer (W. A. Squires, Sackville,New Brunswick, Canada, June 2, 1929) ; Porthetria dispar Linnaeus(as preceding). TACHINOMYIA CANA, new speciesThis species resembles variata but differs in having broader para-facialia, a brownish second antennal segment, and slenderer analforceps.Male.?Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity, the villi scarcelythe tibial width in length ; lobes of fifth sternite orange-red, smoothat base and inconspicuously ridged on their inner edges ; fourth stern-ite convexly produced; fouilli abdominal segment mostly chalkywhite, with narrow apical border of orange-red : dorsum of scutellumbroadly reddish at apex; first and second genital segments orange-
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 299red; first, second, and base of third antennal sef^ment brown orreddish brown. Anal forceps long; each half, viewed in profile,straight on posterior edge for two-thirds its length, hence stronglyforwardly curved; viewed from behind, slender and moderatelypilose; four dorsocentrals ; no posterior preintraalar bristles; thoraxblack, gray pollinose with brownish tinge; front silveiy gray polli-nose with definite yellowish cast, at narrowest part about one-fourththe head width; parafacialia concolorous with front, at narrowestpart compared with distance between vibrissae 10:19.6 (averageof six) ; cheeks nearly one-third the eye height; facial ridges stronglybristly over halfway to antennae; third segment of antenna less thanthree times the second. Length, 14 mm.Female.?Unknown.Typc.?Mix\^, U. S. N. M. No. 53387.Remarks.?The holotype is from Melrose Highlands, Mass., col-lected by the writer on May 24, 1932. The two paratypes are bothmales from the same locality as the type collected on May 21, 1932.Other material, in the Melrose Highlands laboratory collection, con-sists of 25 collected specimens from about the same locality as the type.Twenty-one of these have four dorsocentral bristles, one has three,and the remaining three have three on one side and four on the other;lobes of the fifth sternite smooth in five specimens and inconspicuouslyridged in the rest ; fourth sternite convexly produced ; first two seg-ments of antenna, and usually the base of the third, brown or reddishbrown ; second genital segment orange-red, posterior border of fourthabdominal segment orange-red in all but two specimens, in which itis mostly black ; scutellum black, thinly gray pollinose, broadly reddishat apex. Length variable, 11-16 mm. Besides the above there arethree specimens of this species in the David G. Hall collection fromKansas and Arkansas.TACHINOMYIA ACOSTA, new speciesFigure 17, fIn acosta the anal forceps are slenderer than in variata. The speciesalso differs in having the first and second genital segments as well asthe fifth sternite black and in characters of lesser importance.MaU.?Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity, the villi scarcelythe tibial width in length; lobes of fifth sternite black and withoutbasal flange, their inner edges smooth or at most with low, inconspic-uous ridges; fourth sternite black, convexly produced; fourth abdom-inal segment not densely gray pollinose but at most moderately graypollinose with black apical border; scutellum black, faintly reddishapically; first and second genital segments black, the latter faintly
300 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. soreddish beneath ; second antenna! segment mostly black, a little lessthan one-third length of third segment; anal forceps (fig. 17, /)strongly incurved, their posterior surfaces moderately pilose; fourdorsocentral bristles; no posterior preintraalar bristle; front andupper part of face yellowish pollinose, paler below; parafacialia atnarrowest part compared with distance between vibrissae 7.6 : 18.6(average of six) ; cheeks about one-fourth of eye height, with a predom-inance of pale hairs; facial ridges bristly about one-third way to an-tennae, the uppermost ones very weak; vibrissae slightly above oralmargin. Length 13 mm.Female.?Doubtfully known.ry;?e.?Male, U. S. N. M. No. 53388.RemarTis.?The holotype is from Morris County, N. J., collectedby the writer on May 10, 1936. The two paratypes are both males,from Eeading Mass., May 26, 1916 (K. T. Webber), and Wellesley,Mass., June 1, 1909 (J. D. Tothill), respectively.In 40 other males identified as acosta the lobes of the fifth sterniteare smooth in 19, nearly so in 11, and slightly ridged in 10. All butone of them have four dorsocentrals. In only one instance is theposterior preintraalar bristle present. The fourth sternite is turnedupward from the abdomen in all but eight, in which case it isflattened. Usually the fourth abdominal segment is black, moder-ately pollinose but occasionally thinly pollinose and indefinitelymarked; posterior border of segment black. Second antennal seg-ment usually black, in 3 specimens slightly reddish, scutellum whollyblack in 16, slightly reddish at apex in 22, and black, conspicuouslymarked with yellow, in 2; second genital segment always black,sometimes reddish beneath, densely pilose above. The pilosity on thehind surface of the anal forceps is dense in 23 specimens and butmoderately so in 17. The front and upper part of the face are paleyellow pollinose, in no instance distinctly golden. In some specimensthe lower part of the face is silvery either with or without a pale3'ellowish cast. Length 10-17 mm.Hosts.?Graptolitha disposlta Morrison (G. M. L. 11705 J7) ; G.innominata Smith (G. M. L. 11705 M8) ; G. a7itennata Walker(G. M. L. 12161 J9); Graptolitha sp. (G. M. L. 11705 N2). Allrecorded at the Melrose Highlands laboratory by J. V. Schaffner,Jr., et al.Material examined.?About 45 males, from Massachusetts andNew Jersey localities, contained in the collection of the MelroseHighlands laboratory.
THE GENUS TACHINOMYIA?WEBBER 301TACHINOMYIA NIGRICANS, new speciesFiGUBE 17, bResembles acosta but differs from that species in the structure ofthe anal forceps and their lack of dense pilosity.Male.?Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity, the villi scarcelythe tibial width in length ; lobes of fifth sternite black, without basalflange, their inner edges smooth or at most with low, inconspicuousridges; fourth sternite convexly produced; fourth abdominal seg-ment not densely gray pollinose but mostly black, mottled with thingrayish pollen, apical border shining black; scutellum black, thinlygray pollinose; second genital segment black above, reddish beneath;second antennal segment black with brownish apex; third segmenthardly twice its length; anal forceps (fig. IT, h) moderately pilosebehind, nearly straight, tapering abruptly to terminus; four dorso-central bristles; no posterior preintraalar bristle; front and facesilvery gray pollinose, with yellowish cast; parafacialia at narrow-est part compared with distance between vibrissae 7.1:18.6 (av-erage of six) ; cheeks about one-fourth of eye height, with pale hairs;facial ridges bristly about halfway to antennae; vibrissae slightlyabove oral margin. Length, 11-16 mm.Female.?Doubtfully known.Type.?M^\Q, U.S.N.M. No. 53389.Rernarhs.?The holotype is from Lunenburg, Mass., coUex^ted byH. W. Allen during 1916. The two paratypes are from Wellesley,Mass. (J. D. Tothill, June 1, 1909), and Morris County, N. J. (R. T.Webber, May 10, 1936). Other material, in the INIelrose Highlandslaboratory collection, consists of 60 males from localities in Massa-chusetts, some of which are bred specimens. All agree well withi\\Q, type, particularly as regards the structure of the anal forceps;the lobes of the fifth sternite are black, practically smooth, or eachbears an inconspicuous ridge; the anal forceps are moderately pilosebehind, rarely more so. There is some variation in the number ofdorsocentrals, 8 out of 60 males having 3 instead of the normal 4.Of all the specimens examined none had a posterior preintraalarbristle; the genital segments are black above, usually reddish be-neath; the scutellmn and second antennal segment are mostly black.Usually there are 11 or 12 frontal bristles, rarely less; the face andfront are silvery gray pollinose with yellowish cast in all but twospecimens, in which they are silvery.Another lot of males from Massachusetts localities number slightlyover 100 specimens. All have the vibrissae on or slightly above theoral margin ; the first and second genital segments are entirely black,or black above and reddish beneath; normally there are four dorso-
302 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 90central bristles; the second segment of the antenna and the scutellumare black in most part. Length, 0-12 mm.Placed provisionally with this species is a series of approximately200 flies bred at the Melrose Highlands laboratory from AlsophUa'pometaria Harris and other species of Geometridae, All these fliesare much smaller in size than the type but there does not appear tobe any other appreciable difference. Length, 6-10 mm.In the United Slates National Museum there are specimens fromNew Jersey, 1924; J. F. King; Hartford, Conn., May 9, 1916, I. N.Gabrielson ; ex AlsophiJ-a fometa-ria^ Quaintance No. 16610, Walling-ford, Conn., May 1, 1920, B. A. Porter; Browns Mills, N. J., July 9,1926, H. G. Hallock. Also there are one male from Minot, N. Dak.,June 18, 1918; one male from Lafayette, N. Dak., May 25, 1916; andone female from Big Stone City, S. Dak., June 8, 1918, Aid rich.Hosts.?Catocala mieronym'pha form jratercyida Grote and Robin-son (G. M. L. 11707 L4) ; Gr-optoUtha antennafa Walker (G. M. L.12161 E14) ; Porthetrla dispar Linnaeus (G. M. L. 9427) ; Ahophila'pometaria Harris (G. M. L. 10076 and sul>nos.) ; Phigalia titca Cramer(G. M. L. 10007 C) ; Physostegania ptiMulana Guene-e (G. M. L.10016 B) ; Eranrih tmaria Harris (G. M. L. 10018 S3). All recordedat the Melrose Highlands laboratory by J. V. Schaffner, Jr., et al.TACHINOMYIA DAKOTENSIS. new speciesThis species comes nearest to nigricans^ particularly to the smallforms reared from AlsophUa poTiietar^ia Harris, from which it differsin having discul abdominal bristles, brownish legs, and more broadlycurved anal forceps.Male.?Hind tibiae inwardly with short villosity, the villi scarcelythe tibial width in length; lobes of fifth sternite yellowish brown,without basal flange, their inner edges smooth; fourth sternite con-vexly produced; thorax and abdomen black, thinly gray pollinosewith strong brownish cast; fourth segment not densely gray polli-nose but mostly mottled with thin grayish pollen, the posterior borderblack, faintly brownish at sides; second antennal segment and mostof scutellum brown; genital segments orange-red; anal forcepssparsely pilose behind, their apices strongly curved forward as inaoosta\ three dorsocentrals ; facial ridges weakly bristled; vibrissaeat or but slightly above oral margin; third antennal segment threetimes the length of second ; parafacialia at narrowest part comparedw'ith distance between vibrissae 5.3:14.6 (average of six); cheeksone-fifth the eye height, with pale hairs; face and front concolorous,silvery gray pollinose with faint yellowish cast; third segment ofabdomen with one pair of discal bristles; legs brownish black.Length, 9 mm.
THE GENUS TACHINOMl'IA WEBBER 303Female.?Essentially as in the male, except for the usual sexualdifferences.ry/?e.?Male, U. S. N. M. No. 53390.Remarks.?Described from 14 specimens. The holotype is fromBig Stone City, S. Dak., collected on June 8, 1908 (Aldrich), and theallotype from Lake Metigoske, Turtle Mountains, N. Dak., June 20,1918 (Aldrich). The paratypes are as follows: Two males, LakeMetigoske, Turtle Mountains, N. Dak., June 20; one female, Mandan,N. Dak., June 16; one female, Bottineau, N. Dak., June 20; one female,Minot, N. Dak., June 18; two males, Wanbay, S. Dak., June 6; onemale. Turtle Mountains, near Bottineau, June 21 (all specimens col-lected by Aldrich in 1918) ; two males and one female, Algonquin,111. (Nason) ; one male. Oxbow, Saskatchewan, June 17, 1907 (Knab).The paratypes agree well with the type, all having brownish legs,orange-red genitalia, three dorgocentral bristles, and weakly ciliatedfacial ridges. All but three have well-developed discal abdominalmacrochaetae, and the scutellum is mostly brownish in all but twocases, in which black predominates.Material examined.?Besides the above there are specimens in theUnited States National Museum from Idaho, Washington, and Mani-toba, Canada; also a specimen from Kansas in the David G. Hallcollection.
LITERATURE CITEDAldbich, John Merton.1905. A catalogue of North American Diptera (or two-winged flies). Smith-sonian Misc. Coll., vol. 46, No. 1444, 680 pp.1925. Notes on some types of American muscoid Diptera in the collectionof the Vienna Natural History Museum. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer.,vol. 18, pp. 107-130.1927. Notes on muscoid synonymy. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, vol. 22,pp. 18-25.1931. Notes on Francis Walker's types of North American flies of the familyTachinidae. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 80, art. 10, 16 pp.COQUILLETT, DANIEI. WIIXIAM.1897. Revision of the Tachinidae of America north of Mexico. U. S. Dept.Agr., Bur. Ent. Techn. Ser. Bull. 7, 147 pp.CuEHAN, Charles Howard.1926. The Canadian species of the tachinid genera Ci-yptonveigenia B. B.and Tachinomyio, Town. (Dipt.). Trans. Royal Soc. Canada, 1926,sect. 5, pp. 155-171, illuaSmith, Harbison Edward.1917. Five new species of North American Tachinidae. Psyche, vol. 24,pp. 137-141.TowNSEND, Charles Henry Tyler.1892. Notes on North American Tachinidae sens, str., with descriptions ofnew genera and species. III. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, vol. 19,pp. 88-132.1908. The taxonomy of the muscoidean flies, including descriptions of newgenera and species. Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 51, No. 1803, 138 pp.1911. Announcement of further results secured in the study of muscoidflies. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., vol. 4, pp. 127-152.1915. New genera of muscoid flies from the Middle Atlantic States. In-secutor Inscitiae Menstruus, vol. 3, pp. 97-104.1936. Manual of myiology, pt. 4, 309 pp. Itaquaquecetuba, Sao Paulo,Brazil.304
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