New species without dead bodies: a case for photo-based descriptions, illustrated by a striking new species of Marleyimyia Hesse (Diptera, Bombyliidae) from South Africa

By

Masrshall, Stephen A.
Evenhuis, Neal L., 1952-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

525

Pages

117-127

Subjects

bee fly , mimicry , Photography , South Africa , taxonomy , Type specimens , Xylocopa

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.525.6143

 

Abstract

A new bombyliid species Marleyimyia xylocopae Marshall & Evenhuis, sp. n., an apparent mimic of the carpenter bee Xylocopa flavicollis (De Geer), is described from South Africa on the basis of photographs only. The pros and cons of species descriptions in the absence of preserved type specimens are discussed.