Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann)

Whitworth, Terry, 2010, 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, Zootaxa 2663, pp. 1-35 : 21

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.276279

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6209790

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6758CE0B-4E4C-993E-FF20-FCCCCBD6DFCB

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann)
status

 

Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann) View in CoL

Figs. 42–43 View FIGURES 38 – 49 , 54–55 View FIGURES 52 – 61 , 67–69 View FIGURES 62 – 72. 62, 63 , 83 View FIGURES 73 – 87. 73 – 81 , 90 View FIGURES 88 – 90

Musca eximia Wiedemann, 1819: 53 Phaenicia eximia: Hall, 1948: 239

Lucilia eximia: Whitworth, 2006: 730 View in CoL

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 View FIGURES 38 – 49 ). Phallus and ovipositor and other characters as described above for the L. eximia group ( Figs. 54–55 View FIGURES 52 – 61 , 67–69 View FIGURES 62 – 72. 62, 63 , 83 View FIGURES 73 – 87. 73 – 81 , 90 View FIGURES 88 – 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.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Calliphoridae

Genus

Lucilia

Loc

Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann)

Whitworth, Terry 2010
2010
Loc

Lucilia eximia:

Whitworth 2006: 730
2006
Loc

Musca eximia

Hall 1948: 239
Wiedemann 1819: 53
1819
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