Tachinidae

The tachinid genus Cholomyia presents Neotropical and Nearctic distribution with three species: C. acromion (Wiedemann, 1824), C. filipes (Walker, 1857), and C. inaequipes Bigot, 1884. In the present paper, all species are reviewed and redescribed, and a new species from Costa Rica is described, C. zum-badoi sp. nov. An identification key based on males is provided. For the first time, the male terminalia of all species, and the female terminalia and first instar larva of C. inaequipes are described and illustrated. Finally, based on the detailed morphological study we discuss the systematic placement of Cholomyia into Myiophasiini-Tachininae. A list of host–parasite records is synthesized.

Diaugia angusta Perty, 1833 is a Neotropical species of Tachinidae (Diptera) reported here as a parasitoid
of Metamasius ensirostris (Germar, 1824) and M. hemipterus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)
in Brazil. Several species of Dryophthoridae and Curculionidae cause damage to bromeliad and palm
species, and most are regarded as pests. In the present study, the male and female of D. angusta are morphologically
characterized and illustrated to provide a means for the identifi cation of this parasitoid. Data
obtained from preliminary fi eld research show that natural parasitism of Metamasius pupae by D. angusta
varies by year but can reach nearly 30%. A network of parasitoid-host interactions among tachinid parasitoids
and coleopteran hosts reported as bromeliad and palm pests (Dryophthoridae and Curculionidae)
in the Americas indicates that the species of the tribe Dexiini sensu lato (including D. angusta) might be
promising as biological control agents of these pests.

A new species of the New World genus Lespesia, Lespesia melloi sp. nov. (Diptera: Tachinidae), is described from southeastern Brazil. The species is reported here as a parasitoid of Xanthopastis timais (Cramer, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The caterpillars of this noctuid feed on leaves and bulbs of amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae) in Brazil.