Lucilia pionia ( Walker, 1849 )

Whitworth, Terry, 2014, A revision of the Neotropical species of Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Zootaxa 3810 (1), pp. 1-76 : 39

13. Lucilia pionia ( Walker, 1849)

Table 1, 2

Musca pionia Walker, 1849: 880 . Holotype male (BMNH, not examined). Type locality: Galápagos Islands.

Lucilia pionia: Shannon 1926: 129 ; Aubertin 1933: 399; Kosmann et al. 2013: 77; Tantawi & Sinclair 2013: 239.

Viridinsula pionia: Curran 1934b: 166 .

Phaenicia pionia: James 1966: 477 ; James 1970: 11.

Diagnosis. Lower parafacial and gena extends significantly downward and forward ( Tantawi & Sinclair 2013, fig. 3c); thorax and abdomen metallic greenish to coppery with whitish microtomentum; presutural seta weak or absent; male frons about 0.13 of head width, at narrowest.

Specimens examined. Ecuador: Galápagos Islands. Typical L. pionia - 3 females, Pinta Playa Ibbetson , 40m, March 13–22, 1992 , Malaise trap, S. Peck; 1 female, same data except 200m, March 14–22, 1992 ; 2 females, Fernandina, 5km ne Cabo Hammond , 110m, May 4–11, 1991 , Malaise, S. and J. Peck. Near L. pionia- 1 male, 1 female, Española, Bahia Manzanilla , June 8–10, 1985 , S. and J. Peck; 1 male, 1 female, same data, except June 5–10 .

Discussion. This species was described in detail by James (1966). Tantawi & Sinclair (2013) studied specimens of L. pionia and found that L. pionia -like specimens from the island of Española lack the typical forward and downward extension of the head. The specimens from Española are in poor condition, Tantawi and Sinclair (2013) have stated in their key that good quality male specimens of typical L. pionia are needed to assess the size of setae on T5. Some other differences were noted, but the male genitalia appeared identical. They suggested the status of identity of the specimens on Española that are close to L. pionia should be re-evaluated once better specimens are available. They found typical L. pionia on other Galápagos Islands.

Distribution. Ecuador, Galápagos Islands. James (1966) listed Walker’s type specimen as from Santa María Island (Floreana). He also lists it from Santa Cruz Island and Genovesa (Tower) Island. Tantawi & Sinclair (2013) listed it from the islands of Fernandina, Marchena, Pinta, and Santiago. They listed Lucilia sp. near L. pionia from the island of Española.