A second survey of Surinam Syrphidae (Diptera): Introduction and Syrphinae

Abstract

A faunistic study of the Syrphidae of Surinam was published by Van Doesburg (1962, 1966), based on material collected in the years 1957-1963. The present paper constitutes the first part in a series of papers presenting the results of a second faunistic survey of Surinam Syrphidae, mostly based on recently collected material. This part contains a general introduction and accounts of the species of the subfamily Syrphinae. Historical records are reviewed and, when necessary, modified according to present taxonomic knowledge. When available, ecological and biological information is given. Pictures of all recorded species are included. A total number of 60 species of Syrphinae is recorded. Compared with the checklist of Van Doesburg (1966), 22 species are added and 16 are removed. Tw o new species are described: Leucopodella guianica sp. n. and Ocyptamus icarus sp. n. The following new synonyms are proposed: Baccha cultrina Curran, 1939 = B. cultrata Austen, 1893; B. satyra Hull, 1943b = B. cultrata Austen, 1893; B. prunella Hull, 1943b = B. funebris Macquart, 1834; Mesogramma flaviplurus Hall, 1927 = Syrphus costalis Wiedemann, 1830. Six potentially new species in Ocyptamus Macquart, 1834 and two in Trichopsomyia Williston, 1888 are left unnamed, pending revisions of (the relevant parts of) these genera. A key to the species of Ocyptamus known from Surinam is given.