Diptera types in the Canadian National Collection of Insects

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Part 4
Tachinidae

Cooper, B.E. and O'Hara, J.E. 1996. Diptera types in the Canadian National Collection of Insects. Part 4. Tachinidae. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Publication 1918/B. ISBN 0-662-62254-5. 94 pp.

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Abstract
The primary type material of the family Tachinidae (Diptera) housed in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, as of 31 December 1994, is cataloged. The Tachinidae collection contains 897 holotypes, 239 associated allotypes, 35 lectotypes (no associated allolectotypes), 2 neotypes, and 117 species that are represented by syntypes. Reference to the original description of each taxon is cited. Label data associated with the specimens are quoted fully, except for paratypes and paralectotypes. A bibliography and an index to named taxa are provided. Certain lectotype fixations, particularly by Mesnil for nominal species described by Villeneuve, are recognized for the first time.

Introduction
This work is the fourth, and last, in a series of catalogues on the Diptera types in the Canadian National Collection of Insects (CNC). The first, published in 1991, dealt with the Nematocera. The second, published in 1993, documented the types of brachyceran Diptera exclusive of the Schizophora. The third, currently in production, will cover the Schizophora exclusive of the Tachinidae. A brief history of the Diptera collection in the CNC is given in Part 1 of this series.

It is estimated that the Canadian National Collection of Insects houses approximately 250,000 specimens of the family Tachinidae. A large portion of these were collected by past members of the Diptera Unit, particularly A.R. Brooks, C.H. Curran, J.F. McAlpine, G.E. Shewell, J.R. Vockeroth, and D.M. Wood. The collection has been enhanced significantly by the addition of the personal tachinid collections of H.J. Reinhard (acquired 1968; specimens collected mostly from southwestern United States and Mexico), L.P. Mesnil (acquired 1970-1986; Old World specimens, including many types of J. Villeneuve), and W.R. Thompson (acquired 1969; Trinidad specimens), and through purchase of South American specimens from such private collectors as F. Plaumann and L.E. Peña. Holdings of Tachinidae in the CNC are largest for the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, though all zoogeographic regions of the world are represented.

The number of primary types of Tachinidae in the CNC, as of 31 December 1994, totals 1051. More than 90% of these represent nominal species described by seven authors, namely H.J. Reinhard (267 primary types), L.P. Mesnil (250), J. Villeneuve (178), W.R. Thompson (118), C.H. Curran (91), A.R. Brooks (58), and J.D. Tothill (22).

The format of this work is very similar to that in previous Parts of the series. Entries are arranged alphabetically by genus and species, using the original combinations and spellings. Subgeneric names are included if they were used in the original description of a new species, and are placed in alphabetical order following names without subgenera. Each entry includes the following information: name of taxon and author, year of publication, abbreviated reference (volume number and page where description begins), and current name of country of origin of holotype. Label data associated with each primary type and allotype are cited in full, with diagonal lines separating information given on separate labels (a diagonal line not followed by a space indicates that the diagonal line is present on the label). The number of paratypes or paralectotypes is given along with their country or province/state of origin. The sex of each specimen is given. Notes about nomenclature, genitalic dissections, major damage to primary types, etc., are included under Remarks. For additional information about the names of Mesnil, see "The tachinid taxa of Louis P. Mesnil, with notes on nomenclature (Insecta: Diptera)" (O'Hara, in press). Certain lectotype fixations, particularly by Mesnil for nominal species described by Villeneuve, are recognized for the first time.

First published on the NADS website on 28 March 2003
Last update: 29 May 2006
J.E. O'Hara