R. W. CROSSKEY 



SYNOPSIS 



A taxonomic conspectus is given that is intended to ensure a firm foundation for the future 

 development of tachinid systematics in the Oriental Region. The work includes newly con- 

 structed identification keys to the subfamilies, tribes, genera and subgenera so far recognized 

 in the Oriental fauna, and in some instances to species also, and incorporates preliminary 

 characterizations of suprageneric taxa aimed at integrating the Oriental tachinids into the 

 world fauna. A complete systematic catalogue is given of all described Oriental Tachinidae, 

 based upon an examination of almost all extant primary types. The known host-relations 

 are discussed, and parasite-host and host-parasite lists provided for authentically established 

 relationships. The nomenclatural changes established in the catalogue are summarized and 

 include 75 new genus-group synonyms, 73 new species-group synonyms, 156 new generic 

 combinations, and two new names for preoccupied homonyms; fifty-four lectotypes are newly 

 designated. A new genus and four new species are described because specially pertinent to the 

 text. An addendum to a previously published conspectus of Australian Tachinidae is included. 



PREAMBLE 



That Tachinidae can perform the role of biological control agents on behalf 

 of man, in certain circumstances at least, has not been doubted since the outstandingly 

 successful introduction of Bessa remota Aldrich from Malaya into Fiji, fifty years 

 ago, for the control of Levuana coconut moth - a success story that has become a 

 classic of biological control (DeBach, 1974). That they are not always very 

 obliging at doing so, however, is attested by the dismal record of failure in recent 

 attempts to establish Neotropical tachinids in south-east Asia for the control of 

 rice and sugarcane stem-borers (Kamran, 1973), and by similar failures in the past. 



Nevertheless, economic entomologists show an intensifying interest in the possible 

 exploitation of Oriental Tachinidae for biological control purposes, as is well 

 shown - for example - by recent or continuing efforts to introduce and establish 

 Indian tachinids in the United States for the control of gypsy moth and Javanese 

 tachinids in the Caribbean islands and Mauritius for the control of sugarcane borers. 

 That the Oriental Region is a fruitful potential source of tachinids that could be 

 used in biological control work cannot be doubted, for the Oriental tachinid fauna 

 is - like that of other tropical regions - immensely rich and varied. 



The taxonomy of this large and fascinating fauna has up to now remained in 

 an inchoate state, characterized by hundreds of haphazard descriptions and un- 

 studied types and by a scattered literature in need of synthesis. Keys for the 

 identification of the fauna have been almost entirely lacking, except for the fact 

 that Mesnil (1944-1975 in Lindner's Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region) has 

 included many Oriental taxa, in an incidental way, in his keys to the Palaearctic 

 fauna. A comprehensive work specifically on the Oriental fauna has been a major 

 need in tachinid taxonomy for some time, as the lack of any organized system of 

 existing taxonomic knowledge has made it difficult to deal with practical problems 

 of identification on behalf of Departments of Agriculture, the Commonwealth 

 Institute of Biological Control, and similar organizations in south-east Asia that 

 are concerned with Tachinidae in the field. 



The conspectus here published is intended to supply the kind of synthesis that, 

 it is felt, is needed if the taxonomy of Oriental tachinids is to emerge from its 



