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Type: Article
Published: 2015-05-18
Page range: 467–479
Abstract views: 40
PDF downloaded: 18

The identity of Tachina westermanni Wiedemann, 1819 (Diptera: Calliphoridae or Tachinidae) with a solution to a nomenclatural problem

University of Stavanger, Faculty of Arts and Education, Department of Early Childhood Education, NO–4036 Stavanger, Norway.
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0C6.
DAFNAE-Entomology, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘Charles Darwin’, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 32, I-00185 Roma, Italy.
Diptera Calliphoridae Tachinidae zoological nomenclature lectotype fixation neotype designation museum specimens Afrotropical Region

Abstract

Tachina westermanni Wiedemann, 1819 was based on four syntypes, two conspecific calliphorids and two conspecific tachinids. Two existing but contradictory lectotype fixations have resulted in confusion as to the correct application of the specific name westermanni Wiedemann. Evidence is presented showing that the lectotype fixation of Townsend in 1931 is valid and assigns westermanni Wiedemann to the Calliphoridae, with Pericallimyia westermanni as the valid binomen. The valid name for the tachinid taxon becomes Brachelia westermanni Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 and a neotype is designated for it in the interests of nomenclatural stability.