The taxonomy of the Pollenia rudis species‐group in the Holarctic Region (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

. A rudis species‐group is defined within Pollenia Robineau‐Desvoidy, and new characters found useful in the taxonomy of this genus are presented. P.rudis (Fabricius), P.angustigena Wainwright, stat.rev. and P.pseudorudis Rognes are redescribed. P.hungarica sp.n., P.longitheca sp.n. and P.luteovillosa sp.n. are described as new to science. A key is provided, and the terminalia of both sexes are illustrated for all the species. Some features of the puparia are figured for the species where these are known. A neotype is designated for Musca rudis , and a lectotype for P.angustigena. P.angustigena, P.pseudorudis and P.rudis are Holarctic species, and the latter two have also been found in New Zealand. The remaining species are confined to the western Palaearctic. P.hungarica is known from central Europe, including southern parts of Scandinavia, P.longitheca from the eastern Mediterranean, and P.luteovillosa from Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. In the larval stages P. rudis group members are parasites of or predators on earthworms. The species have several generations each year, and normally overwinter as adults. Eisenia rosea (Savigny) serves as a host for P.hungarica, P.pseudorudis and P.rudis according to the reared material available. A previous detailed account of the immature stages and life‐cycle of lsquo;rudis’ from North America is tentatively assigned to pseudorudis. Keilin's (1909,1915) often cited accounts of the immature stages and life‐cycle of a species called ‘rudis’ are rejected as a source of information for any member of the rudis group.