Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann)

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 : 21

Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann)

Figs. 42–43 , 54–55 , 67–69 , 83 , 90

Musca eximia Wiedemann, 1819: 53 Phaenicia eximia: Hall, 1948: 239

Lucilia eximia: Whitworth, 2006: 730

Diagnosis. Male frons 0.035 (0.03–0.05)/19 of head width, female frons 0.25 (0.24–0.28)/11. Basicosta tan; upper calypter pale both sexes, lower calypter brown in male, white in female; setal patterns on tibia are t1,1 pv; t2 1 or 2 v to av; t3 2 p to pv. Male genitalia in lateral view with surstylus digitate, slightly curved forward; cercus with broad base and narrowing distally to a point, slightly longer than surstylus. In posterior view, surstylus curved inward; cercus tapering from broad base to a point ( Figs. 38, 39 ). Phallus and ovipositor and other characters as described above for the L. eximia group ( Figs. 54–55 , 67–69 , 83 , 90 ).

Distribution. Specimens of L. eximia were examined from numerous locations in the West Indies, including Barbados (BMNH, USNM), Dominica (TW), Dominican Republic (CMNH), Grenada (FSCA), Guadeloupe (CNM), Puerto Rico (CNM, FSCA, TW, UPR, USNM), St. Vincent (CNM, USNM), Trinidad (BMNH, CNM, FSCA, USNM, USU) and Virgin Islands (FSCA). Despite being widespread, this species is generally less common than some other Lucilia .

Variation. Previous researchers, James (1967) and Woodley and Hilburn (1994), have noted that L. eximia -like specimens in the region do not match the mainland L. eximia . I came to the same conclusion after examining specimens from numerous areas throughout the region. After extensive study, only one consistent character was found that distinguishes the island specimens from those on the mainland. In island specimens, almost all of T4 is polished while in the mainland form the front 2/3 or more of T4 is microtomentose. A long series of specimens from Trinidad, which is close to the shore of Venezuela, is like the mainland form. Other than nearby Tobago, it is distant from other West Indies islands. For the rest of the region, the specimens are like the island form. Between islands there is considerable variation in vestiture color of the postoccipital area, fronto-orbital plate and parafacial. Color combinations varied from silver-silver to silver-gold to gold-silver. Also encountered were a number of specimens with a brilliant gold body color. A long series from Barbados initially led me to suspect a new species, but a detailed study of genitalia and other characters did not provide sufficient differences to justify new species status.

Figures

FIGURES 38 – 49. Left lateral and posterior views of Lucilia male genitalia. 38, 39. L. cluvia. 40, 41. L. coeruleiviridis. 42, 43. L. eximia. 44, 45. L. fayeae. 46, 47. L. lucigerens. 48, 49. L. retroversa.

FIGURES 52 – 61. Phallus of Lucilia species in left lateral and dorsal views. 52, 53. L. cluvia. 54, 55. L. eximia. 56, 57. L. fayeae. 58, 59. L. lucigerens. 60, 61. L. retroversa ..

FIGURES 62 – 72. 62, 63. Phallus of Lucilia rica in left lateral and dorsal views. 64 – 72. Ejaculatory sclerites, pre- and postgonites and hypandria of Lucilia. 64 – 66. L. cluvia. 67 – 69. L. eximia. 70, 71, 72. L. fayeae.

FIGURES 73 – 87. 73 – 81. Ejaculatory sclerites, pre- and postgonites, and hypandria of Lucilia. 73 – 75. L. lucigerens. 76 – 78. L. retroversa. 79 – 81. L. rica. 82 – 87. Abdominal sternites of Lucilia. 82. L. cluvia. 83. L. eximia. 84. L. fayeae. 85. L. lucigerens. 86. L. retroversa. 87. L. rica.

FIGURES 88 – 90. Ovipositors of Lucilia. 88. L. retroversa, tergites and sternites labeled. 89. L. cluvia. 90. L. eximia.