A Taxonomic Study Of The Genus Phora From China (Diptera: Phoridae)

The genus Phora belongs to subfamily Phorinae, family Phoridae, superfamily Phoroidea, Diptera. Presently 70 species were known around the world, in which 7 species were from China. It is very characteristic in appearing deep velvety in male adult and in having a dorsal row of several long bristles on mid tibia. The species of genus Phora mainly feed on decaying materials, partly necrophagous, so some species of this genus can be used as forensic entomology. And some other species are beneficial insects for argriculture.Using Olympus optical microscope to observe morphology characteristics of the genus Phora, and some important characteristics were captured via Olympus digital three-dimensional photographic technique. Characteristics of structure were drawn using CorelDRAW12 software.In the study, we reported the research history on the Phora flies and their economic significance, introduced briefly the morphology of genus Phora. More than 200 specimens of genus Phora collected from 18 provinces or autonomous regions of China were prepared and identified. We here reported 20 species, of which 3 species were described as new to science,2 species for the first time in China, and added the further distribution records of 3 known species. In the meanwhile, we analysized preliminarily the faunistic characteristics of the genus, drew 90 figures and took 34 photos. The key to species and distribution catalogue were given.New species of genus Phora from China (3 species)Phora furcularis sp. nov., P. rostrata sp. nov., P. concava sp. nov..New records from China (2 species)Phora amplifrons Goto, P. edentata Schmitz.