A study of the tribe Bombyliini (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Bombyliinae) of Iran with description of female genitalia

Abstract

The tribe Bombyliini (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Bombyliinae) was studied in the central-northern parts of Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2008–2011. Five genera of the tribe Bombyliini were identified: Bombylius Linnaeus, 1758 (nine species), Systoechus Loew, 1855 (two species), Bombylella Greathead, 1995 (one species), Triplasius Loew, 1855 (one species) and Bombomyia Greathead, 1995 (one species). Among them, the genus Triplasius and five species namely Bombylius major Linnaeus, 1758, B. cinerascens Mikan, 1796, B. analis diagonalis Wiedemann, 1820, B. discolor Mikan, 1796 and Triplasius pictus (Panzer, 1794) are new records for the fauna of Iran. Morphological characters, including female genitalia and geographical distribution of species, are presented. An identification key is provided for the genera and species of the tribe Bombyliini occurring in this region.

Musės zvimbeklės 2008–2011 m. buvo gaudomos Malezo gaudyklėmis Irano centrinėje ir šiaurinėje dalyse. Identifikuotos penkios Bombyliini (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Bombyliinae) tribos gentys: Bombylius Linnaeus, 1758 (9 rūšys), Systoechus Loew, 1855 (2 rūšys), Bombylella Greathead, 1995 (1 rūšis), Triplasius Loew, 1855 (1 rūšis) ir Bombomyia Greathead, 1995 (1 rūšis). Gentis Triplasius ir penkios rūšys (Bombylius major Linnaeus, 1758, B. cinerascens Mikan, 1796, B. analis diagonalis Wiedemann, 1820, B. discolor Mikan, 1796 bei Triplasius pictus (Panzer, 1794)) Irane aptiktos pirmą kartą. Straipsnyje aprašomas Irano musių zvimbeklių geografinis paplitimas ir jų morfologiniai požymiai, tarp jų patelių genitalijos. Pateiktas regiono Bombyliini tribos genčių ir rūšių apibūdinimo raktas.

Keywords:

• Bombylinii
• Bombyliidae
• Diptera
• female genitalia
• Iran

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University, for providing financial support for this research. Thanks also to two reviewers, Prof. Neal Evenhuis (Bishop Museum, Hawaii, USA) and Prof. Chris Lambkin (Queensland Museum, Australia), for their valuable comments and suggestions on the earlier version of this paper. Our cordial thanks are expressed to A. Nadimi and M. Kheyrandish (PhD students of Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran) for collection of specimens which were studied in this research.