Five species of Brontaea Kowarz (=Gymnodia Robineau-Desvoidy, preocc.) occur in the New World. B. humilis (Zetterstedt) has been introduced from Europe and is known from a few localities in eastern and Pacific coast Canada and USA. B. normata (Bigot) is an endemic Neotropical species. The other species, B. debilis (Williston), B. quadristigma (Thomson) (=cilifera Malloch, syn.nov.) and B. delecta (Wulp) (=arcuata Stein) occur throughout warm and temperate areas of the Americas. They are common filth flies, and are frequently collected in faeces-baited traps. Brontaea is probably a polyphyletic genus. The species discussed here appear to be correctly placed in the subfamily Mydaeinae. An identification key. descriptions, illustrations and geographic distribution are given for all five species.
Brontaea; distribution; habits; New World; taxonomy