Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
Belvosia
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 - Robineau-Desvoidy 1830: 103. Type species:
Belvosia bicincta
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, by monotypy.
Latreillia
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 - Robineau-Desvoidy 1830: 104. Type species:
Musca bifasciata
Fabricius, 1775 - Fabricius 1775, by subsequent designation of Coquillett 1910: 558. Junior homonym of
Latreillia
Roux, 1830. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Willistonia
Brauer and Von Bergenstamm, 1889 - Brauer and Von Bergenstamm 1889: 97. Type species:
Musca esuriens
Fabricius, 1805, - Fabricius 1805 [misidentified by Brauer and Von Bergenstamm, 1889 =
Willistonia aldrichi
Townsend, 1931], by monotypy. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Latreillimyia
Townsend, 1908 - Townsend 1908: 105, replacement name for
Latreillia
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Triachora
Townsend, 1908 - Townsend 1908: 105. Type species:
Latreillia unifasciata
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, by monotypy. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Goniomima
Townsend, 1908 - Townsend 1908: 105. Type species:
Belvosia luteola
Coquillett, 1900, by monotypy. Synonymy by action of Aldrich, 1928: 1.
Belvosiomima
Townsend, 1915 - Townsend 1915: 413. Type species:
Belvosiomima fosteri
Townsend, 1915, by original designation. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Belvoisia
Loew, 1862 - Loew 1862: 35. Incorrect subsequent spelling of
Belvosia
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830.
Belvosiopsis
Townsend, 1927 - Townsend 1927: 248. Type species:
Belvosiopsis brasiliensis
Townsend, 1927 [=
Belvosia fuliginosa
Walker, 1853], by original designation. Synonymy by action of Aldrich 1928: 1.
Pseudobelvosia
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 8. Type species:
Pseuodobelvosia lugubris
Blanchard, 1954, by original designation. Synonymy by action of Guimarães 1971: 181.
Neobelvosiopsis
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 20. Type species:
Neobelvosiopsis bosqi
Blanchard, 1954, by original designation. Synonymy by action of Guimarães 1971: 181.
Parabelvosia
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 12. Type species:
Parabelvosia tibialis
Blanchard, 1954, by original designation. Synonymy by action of Guimarães 1971: 181.
Eubelvosiopsis
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 15. Type species:
Eubelvosiopsis formosana
Blanchard, 1954, by original designation. Synonymy by action of Guimarães 1971: 181.
Conspectus of species currently included in
Belvosia
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
Willistonia aldrichi
Townsend, 1931 - Townsend 1931: 468 (
Willistonia
). Holotype male (NHMW) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil [misidentified as
Musca esuriens
sensu Brauer & Bergenstamm, and Aldrich, not Fabricius or Wiedemann]
Belvosia analis
Macquart, 1846 - Macquart 1846: 288 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (depository unknown) [not examined, specimen not located in MNHN or NHMUK]. Type locality: Brazil. Nomen dubium
Belvosia ansata
Reinhard, 1951 - Reinhard 1951: 2 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Mexico, Jalisco [as Michoacan, in error], Guadalajara.
Belvosia argentifrons
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 32 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, Virginia, Falls Church.
Belvosia atrata
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 284 (
Tachina
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil.
Belvosia auratilis
Reinhard, 1951 - Reinhard 1951: 1 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Mexico, Jalisco [as Michoacan, in error], Guadalajara.
Belvosia auripilosa
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 39 (
Willistonia
) Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina.
Belvosia aurulenta
Bigot, 1888 - Bigot 1888: 84 (
Frontina
). Holotype male published as female (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil.
Belvosia brasilensis
Townsend, 1927 - Townsend 1927: 291 (
Brachybelvosia
). Correct original spelling by present revision. Lectotype male (USNM), Townsend's statement "Ht male" in Manual of Myiology IX (Townsend, 1941: 62) constitutes a lectotype designation [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Itaquaquecetuba. Comb. n. & Syn. n.
Belvosia brasiliensis
Townsend 1927 - Townsend 1927: 248 (
Brachybelvosia
). Incorrect original spelling.
Belvosia australis
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 8 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (MCZ) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul.
Belvosia barbiellinii
Townsend, 1935 - Townsend 1935: 229 (
Belvosiomimops
). Holotype male (USNM or lost). Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, São Vicente. Comb. n.
Belvosia barbosai
Cortés and Campos, 1971 - Cortés and Campos 1971: 98 (
Triachora
). Holotype female (CEA) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Chile, Tarapaca, Codpa.
Belvosia basalis
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 285 (
Tachina
). One male syntype (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: South America.
Belvosia bicincta
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 - Robineau-Desvoidy 1830: 103 (
Belvosia
). Lectotype female (MNHN), by fixation of Townsend, 1931a: 176 (mention of “Ht” is regarded as a lectotype fixation) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: West Indies.
Belvosia biezankoi
Blanchard in Biezanko, 1961 - Biezanko 1961: 5 (
Willistonia
). Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Parana, Curitiba [Type locality published as Argentina, Buenos Aires by Guimarães in error, as Blanchard did not cite the type locality in the original publication, type locality appears handwritten on the specimen labeled holotype in MACN ( Mulieri et al. 2013)].
Belvosia bifasciata
Fabricius, 1775 - Fabricius 1775: 777 (
Musca
). Holotype unknown destroyed (ZMUC). Type locality: America (St. Croix). [The literature on this species is difficult to tease apart, it is likely that the current concept of
Belvosia bifasciata
R.D. is actually a complex of at least two separate species. Townsend 1941: 67 interpreted the locality of the Fabricius holotype as likely originating from Cuba, however based on the original collector cited by Fabricius it is more likely that the locality is St. Croix in what was then the Danish West Indies ( Papavero 1973, Thompson 1981)]
Belvosia borealis
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 28 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, Pensylvania, Harrisburg.
Belvosia orion
Brimley, 1928 - Brimley 1928: 205 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, North Carolina, Raleigh.
Belvosia pollinosa
Rowe, 1933 - Rowe 1933: 123 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (UMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: USA, Illinois, Alto Pass. Syn. n.
Neobelvosiopsis bosqi
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 20 (
Neobelvosiopsis
). Holotype female, published as male (MACN). Type locality: Argentina, Misiones, Loreto.
Belvosia bruchi
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 34 (
Belvosiomima
). Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Córdoba, Alta Gracia.
Belvosia canadensis
Curran, 1927b - Curran 1927b: 152 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Canada, Saskatchewan, Piapot Reserve.
Belvosia canalis
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 44 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Panama, Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island.
Belvosia catamarcensis
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 37 (
Belvosiomima
). Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Catamarca, Pomansillo.
Belvosia chaetosa
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 28 (
Latreillimyia
). Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Tucumán.
Belvosia chiesai
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 42 (
Willistonia
). Two male syntypes (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Córdoba.
Belvosia ciliata
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 22 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (AMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico.
Belvosia contermina
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 285 (
Tachina
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: South America.
Belvosia desita
Walker, 1861 - Walker 1861: 299 (
Eurigaster
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico.
Belvosia elusa
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 25 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (AMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Santa Anna da Chapada.
Belvosia equinoctalis
Townsend, 1912 - Townsend 1912: 348 (
Triachora
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Peru, Piura.
Belvosa insularis
Curran, 1927a - Curran 1927a: 4 (
Belvoisia
). Holotype female (AMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Puerto Rico, Barros [as Porto Rico, Barros].
Belvosia antilliana
Curran, 1927b - Curran 1927b: 151 (
Belvosia
). Type status not given, described in key only, from an unspecified number and unknown depository. Type locality: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Syn. n.
Belvosia ferruginosa
Townsend, 1895 - Townsend 1895: 71 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Jamaica, Bath.
Belvosia formosa
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 23 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: West Indies, St. Clair. [originally published as
Belvosia ciliata var. formosa
Aldrich, 1928: 33]
Eubelvosiopsis formosana
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 15 (
Eubelvosiopsis
). Six female syntypes (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Formosa.
Belvosiomima fosteri
Townsend, 1915 - Townsend 1915: 414 (
Belvosiomima
). Holotype female (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Paraguay, Sapucay.
Belvosia frontalis
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 24 (
Belvosia
). Lectotype male (AMNH), designated by Arnaud, 1963: [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Santa Anna da Chapada.
Belvosia fuscisquamula
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 44 (
Willistonia
). Unspecified number of syntypes (only 1 male syntype remaining in MACN, remainder of type series presumably deposited in IFML) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Catamarca, Belen, Hualfin.
Belvosia fuliginosa
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 286 (
Tachina
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: unknown, presumed South America according to label on holotype.
Belvosia weyenberghiana
Wulp, 1883 - Wulp 1883: 26 (
Belvosia
). Depository and type status unknown. Type locality: Argentina. Syn. n.
Belvosia brasiliensis
Townsend, 1927 - Townsend 1927: 289 (
Belvosiopsis
). Holotype female (unknown). Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Itaquaquecetuba. Syn. n.
Belvosia lata
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 39 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (USNM) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Guatemala, Puerto Barrios.
Belvosia leucopyga
Wulp, 1882 - Wulp 1882: 84 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (NHMW) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil.
Belvosia lilloi
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 47 (
Willistonia
). Holotype male (IFML). Type locality: Argentina, Tucuman.
Belvosia lugubris
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 10 (
Pseudobelvosia
). Holotype female (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Misiones.
Belvosia manni
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 7 (
Belvosia
) Holotype female (USNM) [Examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Bolivia, Ixiamas.
Belvosia matamorosa
Reinhard, 1951 - Reinhard 1951: 3 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) Type locality: Mexico, Puebla, Matamoros.
Belvosia mira
Reinhard, 1958 - Reinhard 1958: 232 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (CAS) [examined by AJF]. Type locality: Mexico, Oaxaca, Tehuantepec.
Belvosia naccina
Reinhard, 1974 - Reinhard 1974: 1158 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Mexico, Veracruz, Jalapa.
Belvosia nigrifrons
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 38 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: El Salvador, Mirasol.
Belvosia obesula
Wulp, 1890 - Wulp 1890: 46 (
Cnephalia
). Holotype female (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico, Tabasco, Teapa.
Belvosia ochriventris
Wulp, 1890 - Wulp 1890: 47 (
Cnephalia
). Lectotype, female by present designation of NEW (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico, Guerrero, Tierra Colorada, 2000ft. The paralectotype female from Mexico, Guerrero, Amula, 6000 feet is not conspecific with the lectotype.
Belvosia luteola
Coquillett, 1900 - Coquillett 1900: 253 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male, published as female (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Puerto Rico, Vieques Island. Syn. n.
Belvosia omissa
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 21 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, Virginia, Falls Church.
Belvosia piurana
Townsend, 1911 - Townsend 1911: 143 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Peru, [Piura], Sullana.
Belvosia potens
Wiedemann, 1830 - Wiedemann 1830: 312 (
Tachina
). Three male syntypes (NHMW) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. One syntype was apparently dissected by Townsend or Aldrich, as the male terminalia are glued to a label, and the abdomen is missing. This specimen bears a label "T. potens m/Rio Janeiro", apparently in Wiedemann's hadwriting.
Belvosia proxima
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 287 (
Tachina
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Para.
Belvosia socia
Walker, 1853 - Walker 1853: 286 (
Tachina
). Holotype male (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil. Syn. n.
Belvosia recticornis
Macquart, 1855 - Macquart 1855: 118 (
Gonia
). Lectotype male (BMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: unknown. [Lectotype label reads as follows: "LECTO-TYPE/
Gonia
Belvosia recticornis
♀. Macq. [verso reads]Brauer WIEN. CVI[???]. (No 94)/
Gonia
Belvosia recticornis
Macq. SYNTYPE ♂ NO LOCALITY ex.Bigot Coll: B.M.1960-539./C. Recticornis. ♂
Gonia
. id. Macq. J. Bigot." However the specimen labeled lectotype is in fact a male and the paralectotype is a female.] [This species was redescribed by Aldrich (1928) based on 34 specimens reared from
Lepidoptera
larvae collected in Panama, Mexico and Ecuador. We could not ascertain who may have published a lectotype designation.]
Belvosia bella
Giglio-Tos, 1893 - Giglio-Tos 1893: 3 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (MZUT) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico. Synonymy by Aldrich 1928.
Belvosia mexicana
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 11 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico D.F.
Belvosia ruficornis
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 16 (
Belvosia
). Lectotype male (AMNH), designated by Arnaud, 1963 [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Santa Anna da Chapada. [Originally published as
Belvosia recticornis var. ruficornis
Aldrich, 1928: 16].
Belvosia rufifrons
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 23 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (MLPA) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Cordoba.
Belvosia semiflava
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 11 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, New Mexico, White Mts., Rio Ruidoso.
Belvosia slossonae
Coquillett, 1895 - Coquillett 1895: 312 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (AMNH) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: USA, Florida, Charlotte Harbor.
Belvosia smithi
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 40 (
Belvosia
). Lectotype male (AMNH), designated by Arnaud, 1963 [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Santa Anna da Chapada.
Belvosia spinicoxa
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 41 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Paraguay, Sapucay.
Belvosia splendens
Curran, 1927b - Curran 1927b: 153 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Canada, Saskatchewan, Piapot First Nation.
Parabelvosia tibialis
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 13 (
Parabelvosia
). Holotype male (MACN) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Argentina, Misiones.
Belvosia townsendi
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 33 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: USA, Virginia, Oak Grove.
Belvosia unifasciata
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 - Robineau-Desvoidy 1830: 105 (
Latreillia
). Holotype unspecified sex (MNHN, lost according to Townsend 1941: 74). Type locality: USA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Belvosia chrysopyga
Bigot, 1887 - Bigot 1887: cxli (
Frontina
). Holotype female (NHMUK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Mexico. Syn. n.
Belvosia chrysopygata
Bigot, 1888 - Bigot 1888: 84. (
Frontina
). Unjustified emmendation of
Frontina chrysopyga
Bigot, 1887. Syn. n.
Belvosia flavicauda
Riley, 1870 - Riley 1870: 51 (
Exorista
). Lectotype male by present designation of D.M. Wood (USNM). Type locality: USA, Missouri.
Belvosia vanderwulpi
Williston, 1886 - Williston 1886: 303 (
Belvoisia
). Holotype female (SEMK) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Hispaniola [as "San Domingo"]. [Originally published as
Belvoisia
v. d. Wulpi Williston, 1886: 303].
Belvosia villaricana
Reinhard, 1951 - Reinhard 1951: 4 (
Belvosia
). Holotype female (CNC) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Paraguay, Villarica.
Belvosia vittata
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 41 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW & AJF]. Type locality: Paraguay, Sapucay.
Belvosia wiedemanni
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 19 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (NHMW). Type locality: Brazil, Santa Catarina, Blumenau. [Aldrich noted that all 13 specimens in the type series had identical labels, and that the "type" was returned to NHMW along with 8 paratypes, 4 being retained at USNM. The holotype has a typical USNM "Type" label, and all paratypes bear typical USNM "Paratype" labels prepared by Aldrich]
Belvosia williamsi
Aldrich, 1928 - Aldrich 1928: 43 (
Belvosia
). Holotype male (USNM) [examined by NEW]. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Campinas.
Belvosia willinki
Blanchard, 1954 - Blanchard 1954: 18 (
Eubelvosiopsis
). Holotype female (IFML). Type locality: Argentina, Misiones, Iguazú.
Belvosia
Belvosia bicincta
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
Description
Male, Head: head wide ranging from as wide as thorax to slightly wider; vertex 1/4-1/3 head width; gena 1/3 of head height, approximately 1/2 of eye height; with 1-3 rows of frontal setae; 1-3 of reclinate orbital setae (some species males with proclinate orbital setae present); ocellar setae most often absent, reduced to hair-like in some species; eye bare in all species; parafacial bare and wide, subequal to eye width; fronto-orbital plate ranging from shining silver or gold to brownish with a silver sheen, and displaying varying degrees of hirsuteness, with setulae not typically extending below lowest frontal seta; lower margin of face lower than vibrissa; facial ridge setulose, degree of hirsuteness ranging from halfway along facial ridge to 2/3 of its length; pedicel ranging from orange to black; postpedicel black to black with orange, 2-3X as long as pedicel; arista bare, usually distinctly-thickened on basal 4/5 almost to tip. Thorax: ranging from gold to black, sometimes with light gray to gold tomentum dorsally; four dorsal vittae, these can be thick and unbroken to thin and only scarcely present under certain angles of light; prosternum setose; postpronotum bearing three setae, middle basal seta in line with outer and inner basal setae; anterior margin of anepisternum setulose with long hair-like setulae either ranging from black to yellow or golden brown; chaetotaxy: acrostichal setae 3:3-4; dorsocentral setae 3:4; intra-alar setae 2:3; supra-alar setae 2:3; 3-6 katepisternal setae; scutellum ranging from black to gold tomentose, with 4-6 pairs of long flat marginal setae of subequal length; apical setae when present short often crossed and erect, at a slight upward angle from the plane of the rest of the scutellar marginal setae. Legs: most often black, many examples bearing yellow or reddish ground color, with yellow pulvilli of varying length; hind coxae bare. Anterodorsal row of setae on hind tibia either regular and comblike or irregular and not fringelike. Wing: ranging from pale translucent, to strongly infuscate, to dark gray (almost black); wing vein R4+5 setose, bearing only 2-3 setulae at base; calypters raging from dark gray infuscate to yellowish white. Abdomen: color ranging from grayish-brown to black; abdominal tomentosity ranging from strikingly yellow, often forming conspicuous bands to brilliant white or dull colored, and not forming distinct bands; in some species a narrow median black stripe is present; middorsal depression on syntergite 1+2 (ST1+2) ranging from halfway across tergite to almost reaching to hind margin; median marginal setae present on ST1+2-T5; median discal setae absent on all species; underside of abdomen with sex patch present in some species. Male terminalia: sternite 5 with a deeply excavated median cleft along posterior edge, smoothly U-shaped, margins covered in dense tomentum; posterior lobes rounded apically, either bare, with multiple fine hair-like setulae or with 2-3 strong setae surrounded by many shorter weaker setulae. Anterior plate of sternite 5 subequal to or longer than length of posterior lobes; unsclerotized "window" on anterior plate of sternite 5 ranging from absent to almost entirely transparent directly basal to posterior lobes, the shape of the window as well as its presence varies between species. Epandrium ranging from orange to black and variably hirsute. Cerci in posterior view variable between species ranging between rectangular, digitiform, to triangular, either longer than or only slightly shorter than surstyli; blunt and rounded at apex to apically pointed, either completely separate medially to fused basally along most of their length. Cerci in lateral view, often with a strong anterior curve on apex, giving it a clubbed appearance; cerci densely setose along basal 2/3rds, underside of cerci setose along entire length (visible in lateral profile). Surstylus in lateral view, almost equilateral along its length sometimes ending in a slightly downcurved apex making the structure appear bladelike; surstylus appearing to be separate and not fused with epandrium; when viewed posteriorly surstyli range from slightly divergent, to slightly convergent or bearing inward curved apices but not strongly convergent. Pregonite usually broad, well-developed, apically squared off or rounded, usually blunt, typically devoid of setulae. Postgonite, slightly narrowed, up to 1/3 as wide as pregonite, sharply pointed and curved at apex, typically short and scythelike, with few exceptions where postgonite is subequal in length to pregonite. Distiphallus broadly cone-shaped (in some species this cone or flare is much more pronounced, in others appearing square or barrel shaped), with a slender median longitudinal sclerotized reinforcement on its posterior surface and a broad, anterolateral, sclerotized acrophallus, on anterior surface near apex, ~1.3 times as long as basiphallus.
Female as in male differing in the following traits: Head: bearing two pairs of proclinate orbital setae. Abdomen: often slightly more globose than males; T5 folded over into a narrow slit a trait which is stereotypical of the tribe
Goniini
. In those cases where sexual dimorphism is observed the differing character states are mentioned in the species description. Sex patch absent in all female specimens.
Diagnosis
Belvosia
, as in all other
Goniini
, are difficult to characterize to tribe based on morphological character states but can be reliably ascribed to the tribe (sensu Herting 1984) based on their microtype ovipary.
Belvosia
are a large, heavy-bodied tachinid, often with brilliant
hymenoptera
-like abdominal banding in brilliant white or gold. They can be diagnosed based on the following gestalt or combination of traits which can be considered as stereotypical to the group: prosternum setose; males of many species have two pairs of well-developed reclinate fronto-orbital setae (sometimes absent, proclinate in:
B. luteola
,
B. unifasciata
,
B. fosteri
,
B. ochriventris
,
B. slossonae
,
B. equinoctialis
), proclinate in all females; ocellar setae most frequently absent, however can appear reduced and hair-like in some species; eyes bare; facial ridge setose at least over 1/3-1/2 its height; frons distinctively wide in both sexes; parafacial bare; the three major setae of the postpronotum are arranged more or less in a line; usually 4 well developed katepisternals, but numbers can vary between 3-6; three stout postsutural supra-alar setae; abdominal discal setae absent in all species. Previous descriptions of the genus also made mention of the absence of any discernible sex patch in males, however, present evidence suggests that sex patches are in fact present in some species of
Belvosia
(
B. bicincta
,
B. ciriloumanai
,
B. duvalierbricenoi
,
B. freddyquesadai
,
B. gloriasihezarae
,
B. guillermopereirai
,
B. harryramirezi
,
B. hazelcambroneroae
,
B. jorgehernandezi
,
B. josecortezi
,
B. joseperezi
,
B. robertoespinozai
,
B. sergioriosi
). Distance between eye and subcranial margin often 1/3 the height of the head. As can be seen in the key to the
Tachinidae
in Wood and Zumbado 2010,
Belvosia
can be distinguished from
Lespesia
Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 which bears the following differences: eye bearing ommatrichia, well developed ocellar setae, and the facial margin arising level with vibrissa. Distinguished from
Atacta
Schiner by its robust size in addition to
Belvosia
's presence setulae on facial ridge.
Distribution
Ubiquitous throughout the New World, inhabiting a wide variety of ecosystems, from southeastern Canada and northeastern USA west to California and south to Argentina and Brazil.
Ecology
Within the ACG inventory,
Belvosia
has been reared from the following
Lepidoptera
hosts throughout the diverse ecosystems of the research area:
Erebidae
,
Eupterotidae
,
Noctuidae
,
Notodontidae
,
Saturniidae
, and
Sphingidae
. Ecological and natural history analysis of the thousands of rearing records will be provided later by the same authors of this work.
Taxon discussion
Latreillia
Robineau-Desvoidy 1830, was proposed concurrently with
Belvosia
( Robineau-Desvoidy 1830), and originally included 10 species. Eight of the species were from the Old World; four of these are now recognized and are considered synonyms in four different genera ( Crosskey 1980, Herting and Dely-Draskovits 1993), and the remaining four are unrecognized Palaearctic species ( Herting and Dely-Draskovits 1993). Because Coquillett (1910) designated
Musca bifasciata
Fabricius, a typical species of
Belvosia
as now recognized, as type species,
Latreillia
became a synonym of that name. As
Belvosia
is restricted to the New World, none of the eight Old World species, including those that are unrecognized, belong to the genus. The tenth included species,
Latreillia unifasciata
Robineau-Desvoidy, is another species of
Belvosia
.
Latreillimyia
Townsend, a replacement name for
Latreillia
, automatically becomes a synonym of
Belvosia
.
Triachora
Townsend, was proposed by Townsend to include only
Latreillia unifasciata
Robineau-Desvoidy. It has been considered as a valid genus distinct from
Belvosia
by past authors ( Sabrosky and Arnaud 1965, Guimarães 1971) for a group of about seven species. It was recently synonymized with
Belvosia
by Wood ( Wood 1987, O’Hara and Wood 1998). Members of this species group are generally smaller than more typical
Belvosia
, and are not primarily black with yellow-gold abdominal bands, and males have proclinate orbital setae. However, the species exhibit the characters used to define
Belvosia
above.
Goniomima
Townsend, was proposed to include only
Belvosia luteola
Coquillett, and no additional species have ever been placed in the genus. Although it exhibits some apomorphic character states, such as the long setae on the male cerci and the narrowed abdomen similar to that found in some species of
Gonia
,
B. luteola
has the character states found in
Belvosia
and shows features that place it with the species formerly included in
Triachora
, such as the proclinate orbital setae found in males.
Goniomima
was synonymized with
Triachora
by Sabrosky and Arnaud (1965).
The previously described species
Belvosia antillana
( Curran 1927b) was only included in a key without any reference to type material and no specimens have been located. We believe Curran was probably referring to
Belvosa insularis
, described from Puerto Rico in the same year (Curran 1927a), but inadvertantly used a different name. We therefore regard
B. antillana
as a synonym of
B. insularis
.
Aldrich (1928) treated
Belvosia analis
( Macquart 1846) as unrecognized within
Belvosia
; this paper cites the original type material used by Macquart (1846) as originating from Brazil, and presumably destroyed. Aldrich's treatment of this species was based on Macquart's original description where the abdomen was described as "caeruleo-nigro" which Aldrich took to mean as blue, thereby excluding it from the genus
Belvosia
. The type of
Belvosia analis
sensu Macquart is no longer present in the Paris Museum type list, having since been lost or destroyed. Coquillett later identified material from Mexico as belonging to
B. analis
. It was on the basis of these specimens that Aldrich conducted his diagnosis and erected the name
Belvosia ciliata
to include those specimens Coquillet had described. Since the original type material has been lost, the basis for
B. analis
Macquart cannot be ascertained, we are hereby are treating this species as a nomen dubium.
It is somewhat surprising that the synonymy of
B. pollinosa
with
B. borealis
has gone undetected before now. Rowe (1933) clearly noted the multiple median marginal setae on tergites 1+2 and three (i.e., more than a single pair on each segment), a character state only found in
B. borealis
in the North American fauna. Curran’s "n. sp." label on the holotype of
B. pollinosa
was presumably added around the time he was working on the genus, before the Aldrich (1928) revision. Rowe was apparently unaware of Aldrich’s paper, as the holotype of
B. pollinosa
keys easily to
B. borealis
in Aldrich’s key.
During his long and prolific career D. Monty Wood had occasion to examine
Belvosia flavicauda
Riley, at the USNM. The original description cited 5 female syntypes in error, one captured and 4 reared from
Mamestra configurata
Walker, 1856. Careful examination by Dr. Wood, revealed the original captured specimen to be a male, along with 4 reared females. Prior to his passing in 2020, Monty was assisting AJ Fleming in the preparation of this paper where he suggested the inclusion of this male syntype as lectotype. We hereby propose the male syntype as the lectotype of
Belvosia flavicauda
by present designation of D. Monty Wood.
After careful examination of the two syntypes of
Belvosia ochriventris
Wulp, it was determined that they are in fact not conspecific. In his Biologia Centrali Americana, Wulp described the similar characters within the syntypes and then makes mention of additional information pertaining to the syntype originating from Tierra Colorada; further describing the ground coloration of the abdomen and the presence of a dark stripe along its midline. Given the fact that more information was shared about this specimen, we have elected to designate it the lectotype of the species. We consider that the herein designated lectotype of
Belvosia ochriventris
is in fact conspecific with
Belvosia luteola
Coquillett and therefore must sink
B. luteola
as a synonym of the former based on the morphological similarities between the two. The second syntype from Mexico, Guerrero, Amula 6000ft, we hereby designate as a paralectotype. We are not currently able to make a determination on this specimen which at the present time we have chosen to leave as unresolved.
