Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5719 No. 2: 12 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-12
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5719.2.2
Page range: 207-227
Abstract views: 72
PDF downloaded: 4

Four new species of Helina Robineau-Desvoidy from far northwestern China (Diptera: Muscidae)

Liaoning Key Laboratory of Biological Evolution and Biodiversity; College of Life Science; Shenyang Normal University; Shenyang 110034; China
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Biological Evolution and Biodiversity; College of Life Science; Shenyang Normal University; Shenyang 110034; China
Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; Rua do Matão; Travessa 14; n. 101; Cidade Universitária; São Paulo-SP; 05508–900; Brazil. (Research Fellow; CNPq-Brazil)
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Biological Evolution and Biodiversity; College of Life Science; Shenyang Normal University; Shenyang 110034; China
Diptera Muscoidea Mydaeinae taxonomy Xinjiang

Abstract

In this paper, four new species of Helina Robineau-Desvoidy are described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, namely, Helina ctenophora Xue sp. nov. in the H. annosa-group, H. franzosternita Xue sp. nov. in the H. calathocerca-group, H. xinyiliia Xue sp. nov., and H. umbratiseta Xue sp. nov. in the H. subpubiseta-group. Identification keys to species of those three species-groups are provided. The examined specimens are deposited at the Insect Collection of Shenyang Normal University.

References

  1. Carvalho, C.J.B. de (1989) Classificação de Muscidae (Diptera): uma proposta através da análise cladística. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 6, 627–648. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81751989000400009
  2. Carvalho, C.J.B. de, Couri, M.S., Pont, A.C., Pamplona, D. & Lopes, S.M. (2005) A Catalogue of Muscidae (Diptera) of the Netropical Region. Zootaxa, 860 (1), 1–282. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.860.1.1
  3. Chen, L.Z., Chen, Z.Z., Wang, S.P. & Wang, Y.F. (2005) Part two and three. In: Sun, H.L. (Ed.), Ecological Systems of China. Science Press, Beijing, pp. 55–1281. [in Chinese]
  4. Cumming, J.M. & Wood, D.M. (2017) Adults morphology and terminology. In: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Sinclair, B.J. (Eds.), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Vol. 1. Introduction chapter and keys to Diptera families. Suricata 4. National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, pp. 89–133.
  5. Emden, F. van (1951) Muscidae. C. Scatophaginae, Anthomyiinae, Lispinae, Fanniinae and Phaoniinae. Ruwenzori Expedition, 1934–35. Vol. II. No. 6. British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 325–710.
  6. Emden, F. van (1965) The Fauna of India and the adjacent countries. Diptera. Vol. 7. Muscidae. Part 1. Government of India, Delhi, 647 pp.
  7. Evenhuis, N.L. & Pape, T. (2025) Systema Dipterorum. Available from: http://diptera.org/ (accessed 30 May 2025)
  8. Fan, Z.D. (1992) Key to common Muscidae in China. 2nd Edition. Science Press, Beijing, pp. 210–456.
  9. Haseyama, K.L.F., Wiegmann, B.M., Almeida, E.A.B. & Carvalho, C.J.B. de (2015) Say goodbye to tribes in the new house fly classification: a new molecular phylogenetic analysis and an updated biogeographical narrative for the Muscidae (Diptera). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 89, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.006
  10. Hennig, W. (1955) Los Insectos de las Islas Juan Fernandez. 16. Phryneidae, Helomyzidae, Lonchaeidae, Piophilidae, Anthomyzidae und Muscidae (Diptera). Revista Chilena de Entomologia, 4, 21–34.
  11. Hennig, W. (1957–1958) 63b. Muscidae. In: Lindner, E. (Ed.), Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart, pp. 145–232.
  12. Hennig, W. (1958) Die Familien der Diptera Schizophora und ihre phylogenetischen Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen. Beiträge zur Entomologie, 8 (5/6), 505–688.
  13. Hennig, W. (1965) Vorarbeiten zu einem phylogenetischen System der Muscidae (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, 141, 1–100.
  14. Kutty, S.N., Pont, A.C., Meier, R. & Pape, T. (2014) Complete tribal sampling reveals basal split in Muscidae (Diptera), confirms saprophagy as ancestral feeding mode, and reveals an evolutionary correlation between instar numbers and carnivory. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 78, 349–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.027
  15. Man, S.B. & Sha, B.T. (2012) n.k. In: Geography of Xinjiang. Beijing Normal University Publication Hose, Beijing, pp. 3–120.
  16. Pont, A.C. (1977) Family Muscidae. In: Delfinado, M.D. & Hardy, E.E. (Eds.), A catalogue of the Diptera of the Oriental Region. Vol. III. Suborder Cyclorrhapha (excluding division Aschiza). The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, pp. 451–523.
  17. Pont, A.C. (1980) Family Muscidae. In: Crosskey, R.W. (Ed.), Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region. British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 721–761.
  18. Pont, A.C. (1986) Family Muscidae. In: Sóos, A. & Papp, L. (Eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera. Vol. 11. Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, pp. 57–215.
  19. Pont, A.C. (1989) Muscidae. In: Evenhuis, N.L. (Ed.), Catalogue of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, pp. 675–686.
  20. Poole, R.W. & Gentili, P. (1996) Muscidae. In: Nomina Insecta Neartica: A checklist of the Insects of North America. Vol. 3: Diptera, Lepidoptera, Siphonaptera. Entomological Information Services, Rockville, Maryland, pp. 179–190.
  21. Ringdahl, O. (1924) Översikt av de hittills i vart land funna arterna tillhörande släktena Mydaea R.-D., och Helina R.-D. (Muscidae). Entomologisk Tidskrift, 45, 49–66.
  22. Ringdahl, O. (1949) Forsok till artgruppering inem slakene Phaonia R.-D. och Helina R.-D. (fam. Muscidae). Entomologisk Tidskrift, 70, 136–146.
  23. Robineau-Desvoidy, J.B. (1830) Essai sur les Myodaires. Mémoires présentés par divers Savans á l’Académie Royale des Sciences de l’Institut de France. Science Mathématiques et Physiques, Series 2, 2, 1–813.
  24. Séguy, E. (1937) Diptera. Fam. Muscidae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed.), Genera Insectorum. Fascicle 205. Desmet-Verteneuil, Bruxelles, pp. 1–604.
  25. Skidmore, P. (1985) The biology of the Muscidae of the world. Series Entomologica 29. Junk Publishers, Dordrenct, pp. 1–550.
  26. Wang, M., Wang, R. & Xue, W.Q. (2006) A review of the H. obtusipennis species-group of the genus Helina R.-D. (Diptera: Muscidae) from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, with description of one new species. Zootaxa, 1137 (1), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1137.1.4
  27. Wang, S. (2010) A systematics research of the genus Helina from China (Diptera: Muscidae). Shenyang normal university, Shenyang. [unknown pagination]
  28. Wang, S., Xue, W.Q. & Du, J. (2022) Descriptions of four new species of Helina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscidae) from Yunnan, China. Entomotaxonomia, 4, 250–259.
  29. Wang, M., Zhang, D. & Wang, R. (2008) Two new species of the genus Helina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscidae) from China with revised diagnosis on the Chinese species. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 44, 139–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2008.10697550
  30. Wu, J.W. (1989) Five New Species of the genus Helina from Gansu, China (Diptera: Muscidae). Entomotaxonomia, 4, 323–332.
  31. Xue, W.Q. & Du, J. (2020) Cyclorrhaphous Brachycera (i). In: Yang, D., Wang, M.Q. & Li, W.L. (Eds.), Species Catalogue of China. Vol. 2. Animals. Insecta (Ⅶ). Diptera (3). Science Press, Beijing, pp. 672–691.
  32. Xue, W.Q. & Li, F.H. (2000) Five new species of genus Helina R.-D. from Yunnan, China (Diptera: Muscidae). Zoological Research, 21 (4), 303–307.
  33. Xue, W.Q. & Sun, H.K. (2014) Diagnosis and key for the Helina annosa-group (Diptera: Muscidae) from China, with descriptions of nine new species. Journal of Natural History, 49 (25–26), 1549–1583. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2014.954019
  34. Xue, W.Q. & Sun, H.K. (2015) Diagnosis and key for the Helina subpubiseta-group (Diptera: Muscidae) from China, with descriptions of eight new species. Journal of Entomological Research Society, 17 (2), 17–37.
  35. Xue, W.Q., Wang, S. & Tian, X. (2012) a review of species-groups and description of two new species of Helina (Diptera: Muscidae) from China. Oriental Insects, 46 (2), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2012.689486
  36. Xue, W.Q., Ma, Z.Y., Mu, G.S., Wu, Y.Q., Wang, M.F., Ni, T., Liu, L., Cui, Y.S., Zhang, C.T., Li, F.H., Wu, J.W., Zhao, B.G., Liu, M.Q., Cao, R.F., Xiang, C.Q., Zhou, Z.K., Cao, Y.C. & Liu, A.Q. (1998) Diptera: Muscidae. In: Xue, W.Q. & Chao, C.M. (Eds.), Flies of China. Vol. 1. Liaoning Science and Technology Publishing House, Shenyang, pp. 836–1365.
  37. Zhang, R.Z. (1999) Chapter 5 The zoogeographical regions. In: Zhang, R.Z. (Ed), Zoogeography of China. Science Press, Beijing, pp. 300–392.

How to Cite

Li, S., Xue, W., Nihei, S.S. & Zhang, C. (2025) Four new species of Helina Robineau-Desvoidy from far northwestern China (Diptera: Muscidae). Zootaxa, 5719 (2), 207–227. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5719.2.2