A KEVISION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN TACHINID 

 FLIES OF THE GENUS ACHAETONEURA 



By R. T. Webber 



Of the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of ^.grioulture 



The identification of certain species belonging to the genus Achae- 

 toneura is extremely difficult and, in some cases, unless the specimen 

 to be identified is accompanied by its puparium or host record, a posi- 

 tive determination is apparently next to impossible. Moreover, the 

 species which compo'se the genus are very variable and, in two cases 

 at least, are of a complex nature. Naturally, many variants are 

 present, and it is believed that recognition of such forms as species 

 has caused the confusion which exists throughout the group. This 

 conclusion has been arrived at from the 'study of a large number of 

 bred specimens at the Gipsy Moth Laboratory, the results of studies 

 conducted by J. V. Schaffner, jr., and C. L. Griswold, and from ma- 

 terial at the United States National Museum. 



Since the species discussed are extremely liable to misidentifica- 

 tion and because of the impracticability of their verification, previ- 

 ou'sly published records as regards host and distribution have been, 

 in most part, omitted from this revision. In another paper now in 

 manuscript, this subject, particularly the host relations, will be fully 

 considered. 



The writer expresses his indebtedness to Dr. J. M. Aldrich, of 

 the United States National Museum, for advice and assistance in the 

 preparation of this paper. 



Genus ACHAETONEURA Brauer and Bergenstamm 



Achaetoneura Beaueb and Bebgenstamm, Zweif. Kais. Mus. Wieu, vol. 5, p. 334, 



1891. 

 Parafrontina Braver and Bergenstamm, Zweif. Kais. Mus. Wien, vol. 6, p. 115, 



1893. 

 Rileyella Townsend, Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., vol. 2, p. 249, 1909. 

 Ypophaemyia Tov^^nsend, Ins. Ins. Mens., vol. 4, nos. 7-9, p. 75, 1916. 

 Masiceropis Townsend, Ent. News, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 178, 1916. 



No. 2853.— Proceedings U. S. National Museum. Vol. 78. Art. 10, 

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