New species of genus Dexia (Diptera: tachinidae) from western Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Tachinid flies are important biocontrol agents of various insect pests. Therefore, a new species Dexia indica sp. n has been described and reported for the first time from India. Tachinid flies have been collected from western Maharashtra at 15 days interval during the year 2011-2015. According to key of Rayner & Raper [7] this species runs close to Dexia vacua by having, sternopleuron with 2 sternopleural setae, calyptrae at outer edge with hairs and tergites dusted. However, it differs from the above species by having 4th and 5th abdominal tergites nearly black, scutellar apical bristles parallel but slightly inwarded at tip, 5th tergite abruptly smaller and narrower than 4th and antennal formula: S L/W = 1.45, P L/W = 1.9, F L/W = 6.18, A = 3.17.