Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

TACHINIDAE: Tachininae: Proscissionini: Erythronychia group

Erythronychia Group: Erythronychia Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1892; Type species: Demoticus australiensis Schiner, 1868 orig. des. [NHMW].
Neoerythronychia Malloch, 1932 Type species: Neoerythronychia hirta Malloch, 1932 orig. des. [NZAC].
Pygocalcager Townsend, 1935, Type species: Calcager humeratum Hutton, 1901 orig. des. [CMNZ].

Diagnosis

Characteristics of this group include: 1. Body size 6 – 15mm; 2. ventral surface of the scutellum densely haired to apex (this character only present in this group in NZ).
Pygocalcager differs from Erythronynchia by having 3 katepisternal setae as opposed to 2. There is a large discrepancy in identifications of species within Erythronychia and Pygocalcalger in NZAC. Until type specimens have been examined it is difficult to determine which is which. A revision of this group at genus and species level is recommended.

Distribution in NZ


North Island: AK, CL, ND, TK, TO, WN; South Island: BR, CO, DN, FD, MB, MC, MK, NC, NN, OL, SC, WD.

Species in New Zealand

Erythronychia aliena Malloch, 1932; E. aperta Malloch, 1932; E. australiensis (Schiner, 1868); E. defecta Malloch, 1932; E. grisea Malloch, 1932; E. hirticeps Malloch, 1932; E. minor Malloch, 1932; E. princeps (Curran, 1927); E. velutina Malloch, 1932; Neoerythronychia hirta Malloch, 1932; Pygocalcager humeratum (Hutton, 1901).

Biology and Hosts

Erythronychia velutina has been reported from pupae of Scythrodes squalidus Broun.

Citation

Schnitzler F-R 2016. Tachinidae of New Zealand. Genus Erythronychia
http://tachinidae.landcareresearch.co.nz
Accessed: 6 November 2024

Revised

v1.0. Schnitzler F-R. 2016