A catalog of Stratiomyidae (Diptera: Brachycera) from Chile, with a new synonym and notes on the species

Abstract

A list of all 24 genera and 73 species of Stratiomyidae from Chile is provided, along with all their synonyms and photos of the type specimens of 20 species (including 12 primary types). Only one species is assigned to morphospecies level. All references known to us from the taxonomic and biological literature, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type specimens, type locality, and references are given. The geographic distribution of each species is given based on bibliographic and collection data. Three species are removed from the Chilean fauna: Nemotelus tenuivena James, 1974 is only known from the type locality in Argentina; Promeranisa nasuta (Macquart, 1850), which has its type locality corrected to Bolivia, Chiquitos Province; and Ptecticus pomaceus Loew, 1855, referred to Chile due to a locality information error, is a junior synonym of P. trivittatus Say, 1829, syn. nov.

No neonates without adults

“…The relative breadth of the niche which H. illucens occupies is curious to consider, particularly because they must contend with biological threats emanating from pathogens (fungi, [57] Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, [57] and entomopathogenic nematodes [58] ), insect predators and parasitoids, [59][60][61][62] as well as interkingdom, [63] intraguild, [64] and intraspecific competitors; [65] and yet, persist worldwide. Moreover, while most Stratiomyidae are confined to relatively narrow aquatic niches or scavenge amongst rotting wood, dung, or animal nests, [4] H. illucens can consume virtually any non-ligneous, non-chitinous organic matter [66] and has made an additional evolutionary "leap" to become facultative colonizers of carrion as well. [67] Yet, perhaps this leap is not so great as one might first imagine.…”

“…Since first being documented in North America, [5] it has been speculated that H. illucens was native to Central or tropical South America. [66] Now, a series of landmark genetic studies examining both patterns in nuclear [79,80] and mitochondrial DNA [81,82] have revealed that in addition to having its genetic epicenter in the neotropics, distinct populations occur throughout the globe due largely to maritime invasions.…”

“…Following this, genomic research has suggested that European populations admixed, [79] while a study examining mtDNA offered a contradictory opinion, [82] though the authors remain open to the possibility. Needless to say, the relatively fast postembryonic development of H. illucens, ability to consume nearly any organic matter, [66] and niche partitioning between reproducing adults and foraging larvae, aided the fly with expanding its range worldwide, [86] though limited by a lowtolerance for the cold. [87] Although these traits have been beneficial in the context of domestication, there is a growing concern about the potential risk posed by escaped flies, as oviposition substrates will often be readily available via human waste for flies to establish within.…”

“…Moreover, while most Stratiomyidae are confined to relatively narrow aquatic niches or scavenge amongst rotting wood, dung, or animal nests, [ 4 ] H . illucens can consume virtually any non‐ligneous, non‐chitinous organic matter [ 66 ] and has made an additional evolutionary “leap” to become facultative colonizers of carrion as well. [ 67 ]…”

“…Needless to say, the relatively fast postembryonic development of H . illucens , ability to consume nearly any organic matter, [ 66 ] and niche partitioning between reproducing adults and foraging larvae, aided the fly with expanding its range worldwide, [ 86 ] though limited by a lowtolerance for the cold. [ 87 ]…”