Sturmiopsis Townsend, 1916

Barraclough, D. A., 2004, A taxonomic review of Sturmiopsis Townsend, 1916, an Old World genus of Tachinidae (Diptera) parasitising economically significant lepidopterous stem borers, African Invertebrates 45 (1991), pp. 7-20 : 10-11

Genus Sturmiopsis Townsend, 1916

Sturmiopsis Townsend, 1916: 313 . Type species: Sturmiopsis inferens Townsend, 1916 , by original designation.

Rhodesina Curran, 1939: 3 . Type species: Rhodesina parasitica Curran, 1939 , by original designation. [Junior homonym, preocc. Rhodesina Malloch, 1921 .]

Curranomyia Townsend, 1941: 115 (replacement name for Rhodesina Curran ).

Diagnosis (relative to afrotropical and oriental Sturmiini) ( Fig. 3 ): Male with 2 pairs reclinate orbital setae. Second antennal segment moderate to elongate in length, 0.5– 1.0 X length of third segment. Facial ridge with setulae or strong setae on about lower half of height. Parafacial with hairing on almost entire height. Thorax with 4 post dc; 2 stpl. Humeral callus with 3 or more setae. Scutellum with 2 pairs lateral setae (usually) and apical setae typically directed upwards. Mid tibia with 2 ad. Basal node of R 4 +5 usually with 2 or more small setulae. Abdominal T1 +2 excavate to hind margin. Intermediate abdominal tergites without discal setae .

Discussion: At present it appears that Sturmiopsis comprises three valid species. However, I have seen very little material of S. emdeni , and I am concerned that once

additional material is examined, it will be difficult to separate S. emdeni from S. inferens , meaning that S. emdeni may prove to be a junior synonym. It would therefore be instructive to examine Sturmiopsis material collected from areas between the eastern Mediterranean and India. Despite the dissection and examination of the male postabdomen of a wide range of Sturmiopsis material, I have been unable to identify character states which reliably separate all three species. There is marked intra­generic variation in the length of the second antennal segment.

Figures

Fig. 3. Sturmiopsis parasitica; male holotype, head in profile (vestiture on antenna, eye, occiput and gena omitted).