Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5761 No. 1: 27 Feb. 2026
Type: Monograph
Published: 2026-02-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5761.1.1
Page range: 1-133
Abstract views: 38
PDF downloaded: 2

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Scione Walker, 1850 (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA); Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia (PPGEnt/INPA); Manaus; AM; Brazil.
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA); Coordenação de Biodiversidade; Manaus; AM; Brazil.
Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; Universidad de Guayaquil; Guayaquil; Ecuador.
Laboratório de Entomologia; Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT); Porto Nacional; TO; Brazil.
Diptera Entomologia Amazônia Brazil

Abstract

Scione Walker, 1850, is a Neotropical genus initially proposed as a subgenus of Pangonia Latreille, 1802, monotypic for P. incompleta Macquart, 1846. Currently, Scione has 46 valid species and has an exclusively neotropical distribution. The genus has been little studied, and only two reviews have been published; one by Szilády in 1926 and another by Kröber in 1930. Here, we review the genus Scione. We provide redescriptions, diagnoses, updated distribution records, identification key for the females, illustrations and comments for each species, and, additionally, made available photographs of 81% of the type specimens of the species. Furthermore, we designate a neotype for S. costaricana Szilády, 1926 and propose the status of nomen dubium for five species (S. albohirta Kröber, 1930, S. huancabambae Kröber, 1930, S. minuta Szilády, 1926, S. picta Szilády, 1926, and S. punctata Szilády, 1926), we treat S. grandis Philip, 1943 as incertae sedis, we consider S. lurida Enderlein, 1925 as a revised synonym of S. aurulans (Wiedemann, 1830), and nine new species (S. falsibilineata sp. nov., S. longibeccus sp. nov., S. nigella sp. nov., S. philipi sp. nov., S. peruviana sp. nov., S. smithi sp. nov., S. tinajillas sp. nov., S. walkeri sp. nov., and S. wilkersoni sp. nov.) are described.

 

References

  1. Aldrich, J.M. (1905) A catalogue of North American Diptera (or two‐winged flies). Smithsonian Institution Miscellaneous Collections. Vol. 46. No. 2. Publication No. 1444. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 680 pp.
  2. Arnaud, P.H. (1985a) The Diptera taxa described by Cornelius Becker Philip with bibliography (Culicidae, Pelecorhynchidae, Tabanidae). Myia, 3, 79–181.
  3. Arnaud, P.H. (1985b) A catalog of the Tabanidae (Diptera) in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences. Myia, 3, 617–712.
  4. Bachmann, A.O. (2012) A catalog of the types of Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, Asilidae sensu lato, and Syrphidae (Insecta, Diptera) deposited in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Buenos Aires (MACN): with an appendix on types of Tabanidae deposited in the Instituto “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Buenos Aires (ANLIS). Revista do Museu Argentino Ciencias Naturales, 14 (1), 97–123. https://doi.org/10.22179/REVMACN.14.211
  5. Barretto, M.P. (1957) Tabânidas da Guiana Inglêsa, com as descrições de seis novas espécies da fauna guianoamazônica (Diptera, Tabanidae). Revista Brasileira de Malariologia e Doenças Tropicais, 8 (l), 75–89. [“1956”]
  6. Bellardi, L. (1859) Saggio di ditterologia messicana. Parte I. Stamperia reale, Torino, 80 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8182
  7. Bequaert, J. (1931) Tabanidae of the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico, with descriptions of new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 39 (4), 533–553.
  8. Bequaert, J. & Renjifo-Salcedo, S. (1946) The Tabanidae of Colombia (Diptera). Psyche, 53 (3–4), 52–86. https://doi.org/10.1155/1946/40437
  9. Brèthes, J. (1920) Insectes du Pérou. Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina, 89, 26–54.
  10. Brèthes, J. (1921) Los tabánidos del Plata. Estudios, 21, 1–79.
  11. Brèthes, J. (1937) Nuevas especies peruanas de fauna y flora. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1, 1–6.
  12. Buestán, J., Navarrete, R. & Mejia, M. (2007) Lista actualizada de tábanos (Diptera: Tabanidae) del Ecuador. Revista Ecuatoriana de Higiene y Medicina Tropical, 44 (1), 23–78.
  13. Buestán, J. & Vera, G.A.B. (2024) Atypical case of sex ratio disruption in Tabanidae collections with Malaise traps in Ecuadorian forests. Biologia, 80, 117–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-024-01819-x
  14. Burger, J.F. (2002) Description of five new species of Tabanidae (Diptera) from Costa Rica and revised key to species for the genera Fidena Walker, Scione Walker, and Chrysops Meigen in Costa Rica. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 104 (4), 928–940.
  15. Cárdenas, R.E. & Vieira, J.M. (2005) Nuevas citas de tábanos (Diptera: Tabanidae) para Ecuador. Revista Sociedade Entomológica Aragonesa, 36, 153–156.
  16. Carrasco, F. (1972) Tábanos del Peru. Revista Peruana de Entomologia, 15 (2), 317–323.
  17. Chainey, J.E., Hall, M.J.R., Amayo, J.L. & Bettella, P. (1994) A preliminary checklist and key to the genera and subgenera of Tabanidae (Diptera) of Bolivia with particular reference to Santa Cruz Department. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 89, 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761994000300007
  18. Coscarón, S. (1967) Elenco sistemático de Tabanidae de Argentina. Segunda Jornada Entoepidemiologica Argentinas, 1, 105–131. [“1965”]
  19. Coscarón, S. (2000) El género Scione en la Argentina (Diptera, Tabanidae). Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 59 (1–4), 85–90.
  20. Coscarón, S. & Papavero, N. (2009) Catalogue of Neotropical Diptera. Tabanidae. Neotropical Diptera, 16, 1–199.
  21. Cumming, J.M. & Wood, D.M. (2017) Adult morphology and terminology. In: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. (Eds.), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Vol. 1. Introdutory chapters and key to Diptera families. Suricata 4. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 89–133.
  22. Curran, C.H. (1934) The families and genera of North American Diptera. Ballou Press, New York, New York, 512 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6825
  23. Enderlein, G. (1922) Ein neues Tabanidensystem. Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin, 10 (2), 332–351.
  24. Enderlein, G. (1925) Studien an blutsaugenden Insekten. I. Grundlagen eines neuen Systems der Tabaniden. Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin, 11 (2), 255–409.
  25. Enderlein, G. (1930) Dipterologische Studien XX. Tabanidae. Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift, 1930, 65–66.
  26. Fairchild, G.B. (1941) Notes on Tabanidae (Dipt.) from Panama. VI. The genus Fidena Walker. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 34 (3), 639–646. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/34.3.639
  27. Fairchild, G.B. (1942) Notes on Tabanidae (Dipt.) from Panama—VIII. The genera Pityocera, Scione and Esenbeckia. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 35 (2), 183–199. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/35.2.183
  28. Fairchild, G.B. (1947) Additional notes on the Tabanidae of Panama. Annals of the Entomological Society of America America, 39 (4), 564–575. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/39.4.564
  29. Fairchild, G.B. (1956) Synonymical notes on Neotropical flies of the family Tabanidae (Diptera). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 131 (3), 1–38.
  30. Fairchild, G.B. (1961) A preliminary checklist of the Tabanidae of Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical, 9 (l), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v9i1.30116
  31. Fairchild, G.B. (1964) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). IV. Further new species and new records for Panama. Journal of Medical Entomology, 1 (2), 169–185. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/1.2.169
  32. Fairchild, G.B. (1966) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). V. The species described by G. Enderlein. Journal of Medical Entomology, 3 (l), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/3.1.1
  33. Fairchild, G.B. (1967a) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). VII. The species described by C. R. W. Wiedemann. Pacific Insects, 9 (l), 73–104.
  34. Fairchild, G.B. (1967b) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). IX. The species described by Otto Kröber. Studia entomologica, São Paulo, 9 (1–4), 329–379.
  35. Fairchild, G.B. (1967c) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). X. The species described by J. R. Schiner and others. Pacific Insects, 9 (2), 243–256.
  36. Fairchild, G.B. (1971) Family Tabanidae. In: Papavero, N. (Ed.), A Catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas south of the United States. Museu de Zoologia. Vol. 28. Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, pp. 1–163.
  37. Fairchild, G.B. (1985) Notes on Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). XVIII. The Genus Leucotabanus Lutz. Myia, 3, 299–331.
  38. Fairchild, G.B. (1986) The Tabanidae of Panama. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, 22 (3), 1–139.
  39. Fairchild, G.B. & León, L.A. (1986) Lista provisional de Tabanidae (Diptera) del Ecuador. Publicaciones del Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Serie Revista, 7, 97–122.
  40. Fairchild, G.B. & Burger, J.F. (1994) A catalog of the Tabanidae (Diptera) of the Americas south of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 55, 1–249.
  41. Giglio-Tos, E. (1895) Mission scientifique de M. Ch. Alluaud aux îles Séchelles (Mars-Avril-Mai 1892). 5e mémoire. Diptères. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, Series 7, 5, 353–368.
  42. Hack, W.S. & García, M. (1959) Tabanidae. Primeras jornadas Entomoepidemiologicas Argentinas, 564–571.
  43. Henriques, A.L. (2016) Tabanidae (Diptera) of the American Museum of Natural History Collection. Zootaxa, 4137 (2), 151–186. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4137.2.1
  44. Hine, J.S. (1920) Descriptions of horseflies from Middle America.—II. Ohio Journal of Science, 20 (8), 311–319.
  45. Hine, J.S. (1925) Tabanidae of Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. Occas. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 162, 1–35.
  46. Hogue, C.L. & Fairchild, G.B. (1974) A revised checklist of the Tabanidae (Dipt.) of Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical, 22 (l), 11–27.
  47. Hunter, W.D. (1900) A catalogue of the Diptera of South America, Part 2.—Homodactyla and Mydiadae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 27, 121–155.
  48. ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, The Natural History Museum, London, 306 pp.
  49. Kertész, K. (1900) Catalogus tabanidorum orbis terrarium universi. Természetrajzi Füzetek, 23 (Appendix), 1–80.
  50. Kertész, K. (1908) Catalogus dipterorum hucusque descriptorum. Vol. III. Museum Nationale Hungaricum, Budapestini, 366 pp.
  51. Kröber, O. (1930) Die südamerikanischen Arten der Gattung Scione Wlk. (= Rhinotriclista End.) (Dipt.). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 91, 141–174.
  52. Kröber, O. (1931) Neue Arten der Gattung Fidena Walk. (Dipt. Tabanidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 95, 17–37.
  53. Kröber, O. (1933) Die neotropischen Arten der Tabanidengattung Fidena Walk. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, N.F., 2 (2), 231–284.
  54. Kröber, O. (1934) Catalogo dos Tabanidae da America do Sul e Central, incluindo o Mexico e as Antilhas. Revista de Entomologia, 4 (2–3), 222–276 + 291–333.
  55. Latreille, P.A. (1802) Histoire naturelle, genérale et particulière, des Crustacés et des Insectes. Ouvrage faisant suite à l’Histoire Naturelle générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon, et rédigée par C. S. Sonnini, membre de plusieurs Sociétés savantes. Tome Troisième. F. Dufart, Paris, 468 pp. [pp. i–xii + 13–467 + [1]] https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.15764
  56. Lessard, B.D. (2014) Revision of the austral horse fly tribe Scionini (Diptera: Tabanidae). Austral Entomology, 53 (2), 203–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12076
  57. Macquart, J. (1846) Diptères exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus. Supplément. Memoires de la Société (Royale) des Sciences, de l’agriculture et des Arts à Lille, 1844, 133–364.
  58. Macquart, J. (1847) Diptères exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus. 2e. supplément. Memoires de la Société (Royale) des Sciences, de l’agriculture et des Arts à Lille, 1846, 21–120.
  59. Moucha, J. (1976) Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the World. Synoptic Catalogue. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 7, 1–319.
  60. Oliveira, L.P., Henriques, A.L., Buestán, J. & Krolow, T.K. (2024) Description of four new species of the Neotropical genus Scione Walker, 1850 (Diptera: Tabanidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 947, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2024.947.2617
  61. Oliveira, L.P. & Henriques, A.L. (2025) Illustrated Catalogue of the types of Tabanidae (Diptera: Brachycera) housed in the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA). Zootaxa, 5612 (1), 1–97. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5612.1.1
  62. Osten Sacken, C.R. (1878) Catalogue of the described Diptera of North America. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. Vol. 16. Article 16. Publication 270. 2nd Edition. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., xlvi + 276 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.1728
  63. Osten Sacken, C.R. (1886) Diptera. In: Godman, F.D. & Salvin, O. (Eds.), Biologia Centrali-Americana, or, contributions to the knowledge of the fauna and flora of Mexico and Central America. Zoologia. Class Insecta. Order Diptera. Vol. I. Frederick Du Cane Godman and Osbert Salvin, London, pp. 1–24 + 35–48 + 49–72 + 73–104 + 105–128, pls. 1–2 [cont.].
  64. Papavero, N. & Ibáñez Bernal, S. (2001) Contributions to a history of Mexican dipterology.—Part I. Entomologists and their work before the Biologia Centrali-Americana. Acta Zoológica Mexicana, 84, 65–173.
  65. Pechuman, L.L. (1942) Lista provisional de los tabánidos de Venezuela. Boletín de Entomología Venezolana, 1 (3), 51–58.
  66. Philip, C.B. (1943) New Neotropical Tabanidae (Diptera). Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 51 (2), 111–116.
  67. Philip, C.B. (1958) Descriptions of new neotropical Tabanidae mostly in the California Academy of Sciences (Diptera). The Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 34 (2), 63–76.
  68. Philip, C.B. (1969) Descriptions of new Neotropical Tabanidae and new records for Argentina. Acta Zoológica Lilloana, 22, 105–132.
  69. Ricardo, G. (1900a) Notes on the Pangoninae of the family Tabanidae in the British Museum Collection. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 5 (25), 97–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930008678247
  70. Ricardo, G. (1900b) Descriptions of 5 new species of Pangoninae from South America. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 6 (33), 291–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930008678377
  71. Ricardo, G. (1902) Further notes on the Pangoninae of the family Tabanidae in the British Museum collection. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 9 (54), 424–438. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930208678613
  72. Röder, V. von (1886) Dipteren von den Cordilleren in Colombien. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 47, 257–270.
  73. Röder, V. von (1892) Dipteren gesammelt in den Jahren 1868–1877 auf eine Reise durch Süd-Amerika von Alphons Stübel. Berlin, 16 pp., 1 pl.
  74. Schiner, I.R. (1867) Zweiter Bericht über die von der Weltumseglungsreise der k. Fregatte Novara mitgebrachten Dipteren. Abhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 17, 313–314.
  75. Schiner, J.R. (1868) Diptera. In: [Wullerstorf-Urbair, B. von (in charge)], Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair. Zoologischer Theil. Zweiter Band. 1. Abtheilung. B.K. Gerold’s Sohn, Wien, vi + 388 pp.
  76. Stone, A. (1944) Some Tabanidae from Venezuela. Boletin de Entomologia Venezolana, 3 (3), 125–138.
  77. Surcouf, J.M.R. (1919) Diptères. Brachycères piqueurs (Tabanidae). In: Mission du Service Géographique de l’Armée pour la mesure d’un arc de méridien équatorial en Amérique du Sud sous le contrôle scientifique de l’Académie des Sciences, 1899–1906. Tome 10. Entomologie. – Botanique. Fascicule 2. – Opiliones. – Diptères. – Myriapodes. Guathier-Villars et Cie, Paris, pp. 217–233.
  78. Surcouf, J.M.R. (1921) Fam. Tabanidae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed.), Genera Insectorum, 175, pp. 1–182, 5 pls.
  79. Szilády, Z. (1926) New and Old World horseflies. Acta biologica Hungarica, l (7), 1–30.
  80. Tyler, M.J., Fucsko, L.A. & Roberts, J.D. (2023) Calamities causing loss of museum collections: a historical and global perspective on museum disasters. Zootaxa, 5230 (2), 153–178. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5230.2.2
  81. Walker, F. (1850) Diptera. Part I. In: Insecta Saundersiana: or characters of undescribed insects in the collection of William Wilson Saunders, Esq. F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. Vol. 1. Van Voorst, London, pp. 1–75, pls. 1–2.
  82. Walker, F. (1854) List of the specimens of dipterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part V. Supplement I. British Museum, London, 330 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.20821
  83. Wiedemann, C.R.W. (1830) Aussereuropäische zweiflügelige Insekten. Als Fortsetzung des Meigenschen Werkes. Zweiter Theil. Schulz, Hamm, xii + 684 pp., 5 pls.
  84. Wilkerson, R.C. (1979) Horse flies (Dipt. Taban.) of the Colombian Departments of Choco, Valle and Cauca. Cespedesia, 8 (31–35), 87–433. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.45984
  85. Williston, S.W. (1901) Supplement [part]. In: Godman, F.D. & Salvin, O. (Eds.), Biologia Centrali-Americana, or, contributions to the knowledge of the fauna and flora of Mexico and Central America. Zoologia. Class Insecta. Order Diptera. Vol. I. Frederick Du Cane Godman and Osbert Salvin, London, pp. 249–264 + 265–272 + 273–296 + 297–328 + 329–332, pls. 4–5 + 6, figs. 1–6.

How to Cite

Oliveira, L.P., Henriques, A.L., Buestán, J. & Krolow, T.K. (2026) Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Scione Walker, 1850 (Diptera: Tabanidae). Zootaxa, 5761 (1), 1–133. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5761.1.1