Lucilia problematica Johnson

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 : 25-26

Lucilia problematica Johnson

Fig. 96

Lucilia problematica Johnson, 1913: 448

Phaenicia problematica: Hall, 1948: 253

Lucilia problematica: Woodley and Hilburn, 1994: 13

Diagnosis. Body color dark, with olivaceous green luster ( Fig. 96 ). Male frons 0.02 of head width, male not examined (data for male from Hall 1948); surstylus and cercus illustrated in Hall 1948, figs. 25, A, B; female frons 0.30 (0.29–0.31)/2 of head width. Basicosta orange; male upper and lower calypters orange-brown; female upper calypter pale with tan rim lower calypter tan. Setal pattern of tibia on female, t1 1p; t2 1v, 1ad, 1p; t3 no strong setae.

Distribution. This species is known only from Bermuda.

Discussion. To my knowledge, only six specimens are known. Johnson (1913) described this species based on four specimens, two males and two females. Although a holotype was designated, all four specimens were labeled as cotypes. A male in good condition in USNM is clearly the holotype based on collection date and collector. The three paratypes are in MCZ. I did not examine specimens from the type series, but examined two female specimens (collected in 1934) from the Melander Collection (USNM). This species may now be extinct ( Woodley and Hilburn 1994). It lacks the normal shining metallic coloration of most Lucilia .

As Hall (1948) noted, the thorax and abdomen are dark with metallic olivaceous green luster and bronzy reflections that resemble L. graphita Shannon , described from the Hawaiian Islands.

Figures

FIGURES 95 – 96. Left lateral view of female Lucilia. 95. L. fayeae. 96. L. problematica.