Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) benaci Böttcher, 1913

Whitmore, Daniel, 2011, New taxonomic and nomenclatural data on Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), with description of six new species, Zootaxa 2778, pp. 1-57 : 20-21

Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) benaci Böttcher, 1913

( Figs 69–71 )

Sarcophaga benaci Böttcher, 1913b: 247 .

Sarcophaga benaci var. tenuiforceps Böttcher, 1913b: 248 , syn. nov. Heteronychia (Heteronychia) vachai Povolný, 1987: 233 , syn. nov.

Type material examined. Sarcophaga benaci : Lectotype 3, herewith designated to fix unambiguously the identity of the nominal species and thus promote nomenclatural stability: [ Italy, Trentino] Rovereto / 26.VIII.90 [=1890] // Sarcophaga / benaci / Typ Böttch. // G. Böttcher ( SMF) [lectotype in very good condition with terminalia extended; epandrium somewhat crushed]. Paralectotypes: 2 3: Rovereto, VIII.90 ( SMF); 1 3: [ Italy] Resegone, 26.VIII.00 [= 1900] ( SMF); 1 3: idem, 11.IX.00 ( SMF) [all carry the label “ Sarcophaga benaci, Typ Böttch. ”; all four are conspecific with the lectotype].

Remarks. Böttcher (1913b: 249) based his description of Sarcophaga benaci upon 5 male syntypes from “Umgebung des Gardasee”; I consider the five males listed above, all of which were found under the original Böttcher heading label “ benaci Böttch. ” (pinned to the floor of the box), to correspond to the complete original type series. The lectotype was selected for its overall very good state of conservation.

Sarcophaga benaci var. tenuiforceps : Lectotype 3, herewith designated to fix unambiguously the identity of the nominal species and thus promote nomenclatural stability: [ Italy, Trentino] Rovereto / 2.VIII.10 [= 1910] // Mihi / ignota // Sarcophaga / benaci / v. tenuirostris [sic!] / Böttcher Typ // G. Böttcher ( SMF) [lectotype in good condition except for a slight tear on right wing; terminalia extended, epandrium somewhat crushed]. Paralectotype: 1 3: Resegone, 11.IX.00 ( SMF) [carrying the identification label “ Sarcophaga benaci v. tenuirostris [sic!] Böttch. Typ”; conspecific with lectotype].

Remarks. Böttcher (1913b: 249) based his description of Sarcophaga benaci var. tenuiforceps upon 2 male syntypes from “Umgebung des Gardasee”; I consider the two males listed above, both of which were found under the original Böttcher heading label “ var. ten ǔ iforceps Böttch.” (pinned to the floor of the box), to correspond to the original types series. The lectotype was selected for its overall better condition.

Heteronychia (Heteronychia) vachai : 5 3 (the holotype and 4 paratypes), all conspecific and corresponding to the original description and illustrations of H. vachai , preserved in what appears to be a mixture of (somewhat aromatic) ethanol and glycerin in a large glass vial with a plastic, screw-on lid ( MMBC).

Remarks. Povolný (1987: 235) based his description of Heteronychia vachai upon the holotype 3 and 4 male paratypes, all collected “ 19. Juni 1985 ” at “Čerešnik im Biokovo Gebirge über Makarska, Dalmatien, bei etwa 1.200 m Seehöhe”. I consider the five males listed above as corresponding to the complete type series. However, the poor labelling and conservation conditions of the type series did not allow me to single out the holotype; at the same time, the conditions for designating a neotype are not fulfilled and this taxon must remain without an identifiable name-bearing type specimen. The following material was also found in the vial containing the type specimens: a) two labels, one with the word “ vachai ” written in India ink, the other with practically illegible pencil inscriptions on both sides; b) a microvial with the dissected terminalia of two of the above type specimens and also containing a small label with the inscription “ vachai ”; c) a male of S. (H.) infantilis ; d) a microvial with the dissected terminalia of this last specimen and a small label with the inscription “ ostensackeni ” [= infantilis ]. The male of S. infantilis is presumably the one drawn by Povolný (1987: 235, fig. 3) and compared with H. vachai in his differential diagnosis ( Povolný 1987: 236). The vial was topped up with 70% ethanol after examination.

Additional material examined. Croatia: Biokovo, nr. Podgora, 29–30.VI.1990, D. Povolný leg., 12 3 ( MMBC); Hvar, nr. Jelsa, 5–8.VII.2003, T. Pape leg., 34 3, 8 ƤƤ ( NHRS); Krk, Veli Vrh, 16.VII.2003, T. Pape leg., 10 3, 1 Ƥ ( NHRS). Czech Republic: Pálava, 13.VIII.93, D. Povolný leg., 1 3 ( MMBC, as “ Heteronychia bezziana ”). Greece: Epyro, Thesprotia prov., Igoumenitsa, nr. Polydrosso, 1.VI.2002, Cerretti et al. leg., 1 3 (CNBFVR); Peloponnese, Taïyetos Mounts, 15–19.V. 1990, 1 3 ( ZMUC); Peloponnese, 15 km E Tripolis, 650m, 14.V.1990, 1 3 ( ZMUC); Platamon, 29.V.1992, D. Povolný leg., 5 3 ( MMBC); same locality, 2.IX.1992, D. Povolný leg., 1 3 ( MMBC); same locality, 26.V.1993, D. Povolný leg., 1 3 ( MMBC); Skotina, 29.V.1992, D. Povolný leg., 1 3 ( MMBC, as “ Heteronychia maritima ”). Italy: Abruzzi, Chieti prov., Vasto, Marina di Vasto, 7– 12.VIII.2002, M. Barták leg., 2 3 ( ZMUC); Apulia, Gargano, Monte S. Angelo, 800m, 29.VII.95, B. Merz leg., 1 3 ( NHRS); Lombardy, Pavia prov., Parona, 23.VII.1965, S. Langemark leg., 1 3 ( ZMUC); Venetia, Verona prov., Monte Pastello, VI.2006, P. Cerretti leg., 1 3 (CNBFVR). Spain (new country record): Costa Brava, Malgrat de Mar, 29.VI.1996, D. Povolný leg., 1 3 ( MMBC, as “ Heteronychia bezziana ”).

Remarks. The examination of the above type material and comparison with original illustrations ( Povolný 1987: 234, fig. 2) of Heteronychia vachai allowed me to ascertain the above synonymies. The correct year of description of H. vachai is 1987, not 1986 (cf. Pape 1996), as the author states having visited Sofia “Im Juli 1987 ” in an appendix of the paper ( Povolný 1987: 237).

Figures

FIGURES 66 – 77. 66 – 68. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) pseudobenaci (Baranov). 66. Cercus and surstylus, specimen from Greece, Hortiatis (CNBFVR), scale bar 0.15 mm. 67 – 68. Specimen from Greece, Stávros (ZMUC), scale bars 0.1 mm. 67. Distiphallus (lateral). 68. Juxta (dorsal). 69 – 71. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) benaci Böttcher, specimens from Croatia, Krk (NHRS). 69. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.1 mm. 70. Distiphallus (lateral), scale bar 0.05 mm. 71. Juxta (dorsal), scale bar 0.05 mm. 72 – 73. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) infantilis Böttcher, specimen from Austria, Steinernes Meer (NHRS). 72. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.1 mm. 73. Distiphallus (lateral), 0.05 mm. 74 – 75. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) shnitnikovi (Rohdendorf), specimen from Kyrgyzstan, Kaindy (ZIN). 74. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.25 mm. 75. Distiphallus (lateral), scale bar 0.1 mm. 76 – 77. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) vagans Meigen, specimen from Austria, Niedere Tauern (ZMUC), scale bars 0.25 mm. 76. Phallus and gonites. 77. Cercus and surstylus.