Variation in Chaetotaxy in Phaenicia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Author: JAMES MAURICE T.  

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

ISSN: 1938-2901

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.60, Iss.3, 1967-05, pp. : 706-706

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Abstract

Chaetotaxy provides important characters in the taxonomy of the Calliphoridae, and the constancy of certain bristles is sometimes surprising. In the North American species of Phoenicia, the presence of 3 postacrostichals separates P. sericata (Meigen) and P. cuprina (Wiedemann) from the species of the P. caeruleiviridis group, in which the number of postacrostichals is reduced to two. Deviaton from this number has been recorded; for example, Tothill (1913) published a study of aberrant chaetotaxy in several luciliines, including P. sericata. Though my examination of large numbers of specimens of this species has revealed an occasional fly in which 1 postacrostichal is lacking on 1 or both sides of the thorax, an extended series such as that described here is unique in my experience. This consists of 8♂ and 14♀ (Lansing, Mich., July 9–August 17, 1955, M. McReynolds, Michigan State University Collection), in which the number of post-acrostichals varies from 2 to 0, and in which other notable reductions in chaetotaxy occur.