Lucilia rica Shannon

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 : 30-32

Lucilia rica Shannon

Figs. 36 , 50–51 , 62–63 , 79–81, 87 , 94

Lucilia rica Shannon, 1926: 132

Phaenicia rica: Hall, 1948: 257

Lucilia rica: Woodley and Hilburn, 1994: 13

Diagnosis. Male frons 0.026 (0.02–0.035)/14 of head width, female frons 0.25 (0.24–0.26)/5. Basicosta usually tan, sometimes yellowish to orange; male upper calypter pale, lower tan, both calypters pale in female. Lower genal dilation with pale setae. Tarsi with the following pattern, t1 1p; t2 1a, 1v, 2p; t3 no strong setae. Presutural area of thorax with microtomentum except polished in posterolateral corners; anterior abdominal tergites with microtomentum, rear edge of T3, T4 and T5 polished.

Male genitalia in lateral view with surstylus parallel-sided, straight and digitate, broadly rounded distally; cercus tapering from a broad base to a point, longer than surstylus. In posterior view, lower one-third of surstylus curved inward; cercus long and straight ( Figs. 50–51 ). Phallus, ovipositor and other characters as described for L. eximia group ( Figs. 62–63 , 79–81, 87 , 94 ).

Distribution. Specimens were examined from Antigua (TW, USNM), Bermuda (USNM), Guadeloupe (CNC), and St. Lucia (CNC, FSCA, UGG). James (1970) listed this species from Antigua, Puerto Rico, and possibly Haiti.

Discussion. Both sexes have pale setae on gena, a character shared only by L. cluvia in the region. Much wider frons of male L. cluvia is distinctive for males, see discussion under that species. Females of this species can be confused with female L. cluvia because of the pale setae on lower gena. Pattern of microtomentum on the dorsum of abdomen normally separates females. There is some variation in specimens of L. rica from Guadeloupe that have microtomentum in upper, outer corners of T4, darker basicosta of L. rica separates these specimens.

There is no evidence of L. rica from outside the West Indies and Bermuda. I found this species to be quite common in Antigua from the desert-like shorelines to the subtropical forests in the mountains. Surprisingly, this is the only Lucilia known from Antigua. Woodley and Hilburn (1994) also reported this to be the dominant species of Lucilia in Bermuda.

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 37. Lucilia characters. 35. L. cluvia, pale setae on rear of gena. 36. L. rica, tomentum pattern on abdomen. 37. L cluvia, tomentum pattern on abdomen.

FIGURES 50 – 51. Views of Lucilia rica male genitalia. 50. Left lateral. 51. Posterior.

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 93 – 94. Ovipositors of Lucilia. 93. L. retroversa. 94. L. rica.