A review of the North American Criorhinina (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The North American species concepts of the Syrphidae subtribe Criorhinina are reviewed. Members of this subtribe are easily recognizable, with their robust size and convincing wasp or bumble-bee mimicry. The North American region contains 26 recognized species in three genera: Criorhina Meigen, 1822, Sphecomyia Latreille, 1829 and Merapioidus Bigot, 1879. Of these genera, the North American Criorhina have never been reviewed, Sphecomyia was reviewed in 1965, and Merapioidus is monotypic. This revision is based on external morphological characters of the adult flies and includes studies of the male terminalia. Five new synonyms are proposed.  Criorhina bubulcus (Walker, 1849) is senior to Criorhina quadriboscis Lovett, 1919. Criorhina kincaidi Coquillett, 1901 is senior to Criorhina grandis Lovett, 1921 and Criorhina latipilosa Curran, 1925. Criorhina nigriventris Walton, 1911 is senior to Criorhina mystaceae Curran, 1925. Criorhina metallica (Bigot, 1882) is senior to Criorhina lupina (Williston, 1882).

The 21 concepts found to represent valid species are re-described.  14 new species are recognized and described totaling 8 new Nearctic Sphecomyia, 2 new Nearctic Criorhina and 4 new Neotropical Criorhina.  The biogeography of the subtribe in North America is discussed. While generic concepts are not examined, morphological and molecular evidence is presented indicating that Sphecomyia are derived Criorhina. Additionally, evidence is presented indicating that the Central and Mesoamerican species of Criorhina are not closely related to other Criorhina but instead to the mostly Oriental Matsumyia Shiraki, 1949.