Contribution to the knowledge of Honduran flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Abstract

Abstract: Sarcophagids are a diverse group of flies most commonly associated with carrion. In the neotropics the group is highly diverse but for some regions of Central America it is still poorly studied. For Honduras only 15 species are known compared to the more than 100 in the neighboring Costa Rica. During 2019 we collected sarcophagids attracted to decomposing pigs (Sus domesticus Erxleben, 1777, Artiodactyla, Suidae) in a multicropping system surrounded mostly by farmland in Zamorano, Honduras. Thirteen species were found, nine being new records for the country: Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann, 1830), Dexosarcophaga transita Townsend, 1917, Helicobia surrubea (Wulp, 1895), Oxysarcodexia peltata (Aldrich, 1916), Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830), Peckia pexata (Wulp, 1895), Peckia volucris (Wulp, 1896), Ravinia lherminieri (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830), and Titanogrypa placida (Aldrich, 1925). Blaesoxipha plinthopyga, Oxysarcodexia bakeri (Aldrich, 1916), and Peckia lambens (Wiedemann, 1830) were the most abundant species and were found in every stage of decomposition. Two additional species were collected in the study area: Argoravinia rufiventris (Wiedemann, 1830) on a dead opossum (Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758, Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae), and Tripanurga aurea (Townsend, 1917), also a new country record, on bird feces. Including the new country records, Honduras now has a diversity of 25 species distributed in 11 genera.