A revision of Neoaratus Ricardo, with the description of six allied new genera from the Australian region (Diptera : Asilidae : Asilini)

Abstract

Neoaratus Ricardo is redefined and considered as monotypic. Six new genera, Abrophila, Colepia, Dolopus, Mauropteron, Reburrus and Zosteria, are erected to accommodate 19 species previously placed in Neoaratus as well as 39 new species described below. The following are proposed as new synonyms: Asilus grandis Macquart, 1848 = A. rufiventris Macquart, 1838; Asilus leon Walker, 1849 = A. rubrithorax Macquart, 1838; Mochtherus lautus van der Wulp, 1872 = A. biligata Walker, 1864; Asilus ferrugineiventris Macquart, 1850 = A. fulvipubescens Macquart, 1850. Asilus grandis Macquart is removed from synonymy with Neoaratus hercules (Wiedemann) and proposed as a synonym of A. rufiventris Macquart, 1838. Abrophila whitei is proposed as a replacement name for the preoccupied Asilus aureus White, 1918. The following are new combinations: Colepia abludo (Daniels, 1983), C. ingloria (Macleay, 1826), C. malleola (Walker, 1849), C. rufiventris (Macquart, 1838); Dolopus genitalis (Hardy, 1920), D. rubrithorax (Macquart, 1838); Mauropteron pelago (Walker, 1849); Reburrus bancrofti (Hardy, 1935), R. kochi (de Meijere, 1913), R. macquarti (Bigot, 1860), R. wieneckii (van der Wulp, 1872); Zosteria alcetas (Walker, 1849), Z. biligata (Walker, 1864); Z. fulvipubescens (Macquart, 1850), Z. iflingworthi (Hardy, 1922), Z. murina (Macquart, 1838), Z. rosevillensis (Hardy, 1935), Z. sydneensis (Macquart, 1838). The following new species are described: Colepia chrysochaites, C. comatacauda, C. compernis, C. cultripes, C. flavifacies, C. horrida, C. ignicolor, C. lanata, C. naevia, C. novaeguineae; Dolopus mirus, D. silvestris, D. simulans; Mauropteron farinum; Reburrus aquilonius, R. caledonicae, R. peninsularis; Zosteria affinis, Z. alpina, Z. caesariata, Z. calignea, Z, claudiana, Z. clausum, Z. clivosa, Z. eastwoodi, Z. hispida, Z. lineata, Z. longiceps, Z. montana, Z, nigrifemorata, Z. novazealandica, Z. punicea, Z. queenslandi, Z. rubens, Z. ruspata, Z. suda, Z. varia and Z. venato.

All seven genera occur in Australia. Species of three genera, Colepia, Reburrus and Zosteria, also occur elsewhere, as follows: Timor (R. wieneckii], New Guinea (C. novaeguineae, R. kocki, Z. biligata and Z. illingworthi), New Caledonia and New Hebrides (R. caledonicae and R. macquarti], and New Zealand (Z. novazealandica). Z. illingworthi is common to Australia and New Guinea.

The female reproductive system and the components of the male terminalia are illustrated and briefly described for most species. Pupal exuviae of C. ingloria, C. malleola, C, rufiventris, N. hercules, Z. fulvipubescens and Z. sydneensis are illustrated and/or described. Keys to the genera of Australian Asilini and the species of the new genera are given. Lectotypes are designated for Antipalus wieneckii, Asilus ferrugineiventris, A. leon, A. murinus, A. pelago, A. rufiventris, Neoaratus bancrofti and N. rosevillensis. Asilus regius Jaennicke and Asilus tasmaniae Macquart, formerly considered as species of Neoaratus, are not treated because their status is uncertain.