The first fossil species of Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in Miocene Mexican amber

Abstract

The first fossil species of Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is described as Hermetia cenoteevani sp. nov., based on a female specimen preserved in Miocene Mexican amber. This new Hermetia species shares with the extant species Hermetia flavipes Wiedemann, 1830 and with Hermetia teevani Curran, 1934 a short and slender body shape, bare eyes, and the presence of a subtle beak-like projection in the face. Hermetia cenoteevani sp. nov. is distinguished by a light-colored scutellum on its distal two-thirds and light-colored abdominal tergites with dark transverse bands on tergites 1–5, with no semi-translucent area on tergites 1–2. Hermetiella bifurcata Meunier, 1908, the only other fossil species previously assigned to the Hermetiinae, does not fit within this subfamily or even Stratiomyidae. Therefore, we place it as incertae sedis within the suborder Brachycera.