Genus Scaptia Walker, 1850
- Scaptia Walker, F. 1850. Diptera. Part I. pp. 1-76 in Saunders, W.W. (ed.). Insecta Saundersiana: or characters of undescribed insects in the collection of William Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. London : Van Voorst 474 pp. [8] (as subgenus of Pangonia).
Type species:
Pangonia aurata Macquart, 1838 by subsequent designation, see Coquillett, D.W. 1910. The type-species of the North American genera of Diptera. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 37(=No. 1719): 499-647 [603].
Introduction
A genus of endemic horse flies distinguished from other Scionini by the parallel frons, long sabre-like palpi and short thick proboscis with fleshy labellum (Lessard 2014). Adult flies are nectar feeding, visiting flowers of Leptospermum, as well as exhibiting blood-feeding behaviour as they are known to bite humans (Mackerras 1960; Lessard 2014). Larvae and pupae are known only for a single species, Scaptia patula (Walker, 1848).
Following the taxonomic revision of the Scionini based on molecular and morphological data, the genus now comprises species previously belonging to the former subgenus Scaptia(Scaptia) (Lessard et al. 2013; Lessard 2014).
A key to all 25 known species was provided by Mackerras (1960), with an additional species described by Lessard (Lessard & Yeates 2013).
Distribution
States
Queensland
IBRA
Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)
General References
Lessard, B.D. 2014. Revision of the austral horse fly tribe Scionini (Diptera: Tabanidae). Austral Entomology [printed version: Austral Entomology (2014) 53, 203–239]
Lessard, B.D., Cameron, S.L., Bayless, K.M., Wiegmann, B.M. & Yeates, D.K. 2013. The evolution and biogeography of the austral horse fly tribe Scionini (Diptera: Tabanidae: Pangoniinae) inferred from multiple mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 68: 516-540
Lessard, B.D. in Lessard, B.D. & Yeates, D.K. 2013. New species of the hairy-eyed horse fly subgenera Scaptia (Myioscaptia) Mackerras, 1955 and Scaptia (Scaptia) Walker, 1850 (Diptera: Tabanidae) from Australia. Zootaxa 3680(1): 118-129
Mackerras, I.M. 1960. The Tabanidae (Diptera) of Australia III. Subfamily Pangoniinae, tribe Scionini and supplement to Pangoniini. Australian Journal of Zoology 8: 1-152
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22-Mar-2022 | TABANIDAE | 01-Nov-2021 | MODIFIED | Dr Bryan Lessard (ABRS) |
| 17-Apr-2014 | 03-Jul-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 27-Apr-2012 | 27-Apr-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |