Revision of the Australian soldier fly genus Antissella White, 1914, including six new species (Stratiomyidae: Antissinae)

Abstract

Antissella White, 1914 is a small genus of soldier flies endemic to Australia, previously thought to comprise only two described species and suspected to have a role in pollination. Six new species of Antissella are named, described and illustrated herein, and an updated identification key to all known species is provided. The new species include: Antissella alicespringsensis Lessard & Woodley sp.n., Antissella elongata Lessard & Woodley, sp.n., Antissella kalbarriensis Lessard & Woodley sp.n., Antissella nigricentralis Lessard & Woodley sp.n., Antissella ottensorum Lessard & Woodley, sp.n., and Antissella purprasina Lessard & Woodley, sp.n. A lectotype and paralectotype are also selected for Antissella quinquecella (Macquart, 1846). Eight species of Antissella are now recognised from Australia. Three of the new species are known from areas burned by the devastating 2019/2020 Australian summer bushfires. Now that they are formally named and described, the species may be recognised in future bushfire recovery monitoring programs.