Abstract
Metridius nov. gen. and types species M. robertsoni nov. sp. with winged males and apterous females is described from adults and larvae found infesting sugarcane stools from near Mackay, central Queensland. A second new species, M. mcalpinei nov. sp., based only on males from near Sydney, New South Wales is also described. Notes on the biology of both species and an identification key to the genera of the subfamily Chiromyzinae and to the species are also given.
References
Bull, R.M. (1976) The larval stages of the pasture and yellow soldier flies, Inopus rubriceps (Macq.) and I. flavus (James) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 65, 567–572.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300006258Coghill, E.H. (1961) Stratiomyid eggs. Victorian Naturalist, 78, 199.
Enderlein, G. (1921) über die phyletisch älteren Stratiomyiidensubfamilien (Xylophaginae, Chiromyzinae, Solvinae, Beridinae und Coenomyiinae). Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum Berlin, 10, 150–214.
Gerard, P.J. (1979) Effect of temperature and soil moisture on Australian soldier fly eggs. Proceedings of the 32nd New Zealand Weed Pest Control Conference, pp. 72–75.
Hardy, G.H. (1921) A revision of the Australian Chiromyzini (Diptera). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 45, 532–542, pls. 29 and 30.
Hardy, G.H. (1924) A revision of the Australian Chiromyzini (Stratiomyiidae, Diptera). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 49, 360–370.
Hitchcock, B.E. (1976) Studies on the life-cycles of two species of soldier flies (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) which affect sugar-cane in Queensland. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 65, 573–578, pl. 34.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s000748530000626xIrwin-Smith, V. (1921) Studies in life-histories of Australian Diptera Brachycera. Part i. Stratiomyiidae. No. 1. Metoponia rubriceps Macquart. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 45, 505–530, pls. 27 and 28.
James, M.T. (1973) Family Stratiomyidae. In: A Catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas South of the United States. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, pp. 1–95.
Kershaw, J.A. (1926) Notes on the fly Boreoides subulatus, Hardy. Victorian Naturalist, 43, 159–160.
Kessel, E.L. (1948) Australian sod fly introduced into California (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Science, (Washington D.C.), 108, 607.
McAlpine, J.F. (1981) Morphology and terminology—Adults. In: McAlpine, J.F., Peterson, B.V., Shewell, G.E., Teskey, H.J., Vockeroth, J.R. & Wood, D.M. (Eds.), Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Vol. 1. Monograph No. 27, Biosystematics Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, pp. 9–63.
McKeown, K.C. (1942) Australian Insects. An Introductory Handbook. Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Sydney, pp. 1–304.
Muggeridge, J. (1944) Record of an Australian fly (Metoponia rubriceps, Macquart) found in pastures in Opotiki. New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, A26, 190–192.
Osborn, A.W., Forteath, G.N.R. & Holloway, G.A. (1973) A new species of Neurogalesus (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), a parasite of the soldier fly, Inopus rubriceps (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 12, 124–126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1973.tb01647.xRaff, J.W. (1931) Notes on Chiromyza australis Macq. Victorian Naturalist, 47, 213–214.
Woodley, N.E. (1989) Family Stratiomyidae. In: Evenhuis, N.L. (Ed.), Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu & E.J. Brill, Leiden, pp. 301–320.