Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Comptosia (Diptera : Bombyliidae)

Abstract

The Australian bee fly genus Comptosia is revised. Alyosia Rondani, Epidosia Hull, Opsonia Hull, Paradosia Hull and Anthocolon Hull are synonymised with Comptosia Macquart. There are 138 species of Comptosia in collections, of which 58 are treated here. The genus is divided into 19 species-groups that encompass the range of variation found in the described and undescribed species. Characters found most useful in forming the species-groups include: distance between the eyes of males, integumental colour, shape of the antenna1 flagellum, form of the labium and subcranial cavity, and shape of the loop in wing vein R2+3;. Keys to species-groups and to species in each group are provided. All, or almost all, of the species in eight of the species-groups are described. In the remaining species-groups, described species are redescribed, or a single representative species described. The number of recognised, but undescribed, species is given for each species-group. Seven new synonymies are proposed at species level: fenestrata Hull = gemina Hardy; aurifrons Macquart and edwardsi Hardy = praeargentata (Macleay); sobricula (Walker) and anthracina (Thomson) = prosimplex (Hardy); fasciafa (Fabricius) = stria (Walker); duofasciata Hull = tendens (Walker). Lectotypes are designated for the following: C. fascipennis Macquart, C. albofasciata (Thomson), C. tendens (Walker), C. duofasciata Hull, C. fenestrata Hull, C. rnaculipennis Macquart, Anthrax inclusa (Walker) and C. casimira Hull. Twenty-six species are redescribed and 32 species (C. paucispina, C. tutela, C. pitereka, C. pilosa, C. caesariata, C. capillata, C. magna, C. speciosa, C. heliophila, C. neosobria, C. kuranda, C. flava, C. sandaraca, C. xanthobasis, C. aurescens, C. paramonovi, C. nitella, C. flexuosa, C. flavipenna, C. insula, C. neobiguttata, C. mackerrasi, C. soror, C. neoapicalis, C. zona, C. thyris, C. calignea, C. lactea, C. mallota, C. scitula, C. acantha and C. microrhynchus) are described as new.

Pupal exuviae of five species are described and illustrated.