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Title: Kerteszmyia, a new genus of Pachygastrinae from the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Author
item Woodley, Norman

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2008
Publication Date: 4/11/2008
Citation: Woodley, N.E. 2008. Kerteszmyia, a new genus of Pachygastrinae from the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Zootaxa. 1746: 39-45.

Interpretive Summary: Many species of soldier flies are beneficial to agriculture in that the larvae help to decompose plant material, although a few species are known to attack living plants, such as grass roots. This publication describes a new genus and species found in Central and South America, providing information on how to identify these flies. This new taxon is being described so it can be included in a chapter in a comprehensive manual on the flies of Central America, a work that will enable scientists, quarantine workers (such as APHIS PPQ), and others concerned with flies to identify these insects.

Technical Abstract: A new genus and species, Kerteszmyia ecuadora gen. nov., sp. nov., (Diptera: Stratiomyidae, Pachygastrinae) is described from material from Ecuador (type locality), Venezuela, and Costa Rica. A key to the known Neotropical genera of Pachygastrinae with two or more scutellar spines is presented.