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Subfamilies

Apocleinae
Asilinae
Dasypogoninae
Dioctriinae
Laphriinae
Laphystiinae
Leptogastrinae
Ommatiinae
Stenopogoninae
Stichopogoninae
Trigonomiminae

Key to the genera of the Nearctic Apocleinae

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Apocleinae & Asilinae (part)

References: Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1997): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.1. Subfamily Asilinae Leach (including Apocleinae Lehr): Key to generic group. - Arquivos de Zoologia do Estado de Sao Paulo 34(2): 57-63; Sao Paulo. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1997): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.2. Subfamily Asilinae Leach - Efferia -group, with the proposal of five new genera and a catalogue. - Arquivos de Zoologia do Estado de Sao Paulo 34(3): 65-95; Sao Paulo. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.3. Subfamily Asilinae Leach, Eichoichemus - group, with the proposal of two new genera and a catalogue. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 59(1): 97-102; Concepcion. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.4. Subfamily Asilinae Leach -Glaphyropyga group-, with the proposal of two new genera and a catalogue. - Boletin de la Sociedad de Biologia de Concepcion 66: 11-33; Concepcion. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.5. Subfamily Asilinae Leach -Lochmorhynchus group-, with a catalogue of the Neotropical species. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 59(2): 131-144; Concepcion. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1997): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.6. Subfamily Asilinae Leach - Mallophora -group, with a catalogue of the Neotropical species. - Arquivos de Zoologia do Estado de Sao Paulo 34(4): 97-120; Sao Paulo. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.7. Subfamily Asilinae Leach, Proctacanthus-group, with the proposal of a new genus and a catalogue. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 59(2): 145-160; Concepcion. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.8. Subfamily Asilinae Leach -Eicherax group-, with a catalogue of the Neotropical species. - Boletin de la Sociedad de Biologia de Concepcion 66: 35-42; Concepcion. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.9. Subfamily Asilinae Leach -Myaptex-group, with the proposal of two new genera and a catalogue. - Revista chilena de Entomologia 22: 55-73; Santiago. Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1995): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. IX.10. Subfamily Asilinae Leach - Lecania-group, with a catalogue of the Neotropical species. - Theoria 4: 33-56; Concepcion. Martin, C.H. (1975): The generic and specific characters of four old and six new Asilini genera in the western United States, mexico and Central America (Diptera: Asilidae). - Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences 119: 1-107; San Francisco.


1 Costal section situated between tips of R5 and M1 two or more times longer than costal section situated between tips of R5 and R4, i.e., R5 ends at or above wing apex.
wing  wing
2
-Costal section situated between R5 and M1 subequal to or much shorther than costal section situated between tips of R5 and R4, i.e., R5 ends below wing apex.
wing  wing
3


2Aedeagus with 3 tubes (sometimes extremely short). Hypandrium variable, but most often produced, sometimes with dense apical tuft of hairs. Female tergite 10 never with spines or spinules . . . . . Efferia-group (part)
aedeagus  hypandrium
hypandrium   ovipositor dorsal
7
-Aedeagus with 2 more or less long tubes arising from a common base. Hypandrium short and broad, not produced, without an apical tuft of hairs. Female tergite 10 with strong spines (except in Proctacanthus coquillettii and P. occidentalis, which have tergites 9 and 10 covered with numerous spinules) . . . . . Proctacanthus-group (part)
aedegaus  hypandrium
ovipositor dorsal
14


3 Subalar sclerite with characteristic conical projection. Posterior basalare with at least some bristles and hairs, sometimes very dense. Wing with cell r2+3 broad apically, and vein R4 with a complete extra vein near its junction with R5, which unites R4 with R2+3 (i.e., 3 submarginal cells present). Male terminalia small, in line with body axis. Aedeagus small with 3 more or less long tubes. Female ovipositor conical, weakly sclerotized, beginning with segment 6, 7 or 8; tergite 10 never with spines . . . . . Mallophora-group
subalar sclerite and posterior basalare  wing
16
-Never with the above combination of characters. Vein R4 without a complete extra vein near its junction with R5, or if present (Efferia), fork of R4 and R5 much or just before apex of discal cell.
subalar sclerite and posterior basalare  wing
4


4 Male terminalia elongate, forming an angle of almost 45º - 90º with the body axis. Aedeagus a very long, crescent-shaped tube with three very short tubes at apex. Female ovipositor strongly flattened laterally, blade-like, tergite 8 elongate and slender . . . . . Efferia-group (part, Nerax)
abdomen lateral
7
-Male terminalia usually shorter, forming an angle of almost 0º - 30º with the body axis. Never with the above combination of characters.
abdomen lateral
5


5 Abdominal tergites 2 - 3 or more without lateromarginal bristles . . . . . Proctacanthus-group (part, Proctacanthella part)
tergites lateral
14
-Abdominal tergites 2 - 3 or more with lateromarginal bristles.
tergites lateral
6


6 Scutellum tumid, no sign of an impressed rim . . . . . Myaptex-group: Furcilla Martin, 1975
scutellum  _
 
-Scutellum with clear impressed rim . . . . . Glaphyropyga-group: Nevadasilus Artigas & Papavero, 1995
scutellum  lateral view
 


7 [Efferia-group] Wing with 3 submarginal cells, i.e., an extra vein arises in R4 near its junction with R5, which unites R4 with R2+3 . . . . . Efferia Coquillet, 1893
wing  lateral view
 
-Wing with only 2 submarginal cells.
wing
8


8 Fork of R4 and R5 much or just before apex of discal cell.
wing  wing
9
-Fork of R4 and R5 opposite to or beyond apex of discal cell.
wing  wing
10


9 Ocellar tubercle without bristles, only short hairs present. Female ovipositor conical. Male hypandrium produced, with a tuft of bristles on hind margin . . . . . Triorla Parks, 1968
ocellar tubercle  ovipositor dorsal
hypandrium  lateral view
 
-Ocellar tubercle with bristles. Ovipositor either rounded at tip, not split in dorsal view, or pointed and split at tip in dorsal view. Male hypandrium not produced, with usual hairs on hind margin . . . . . Pogonioefferia Artigas & Papavero, 1997
ocellar tubercle  ovipositor dorsal
hypandrium  lateral view
 


10 R5 curves backwards at the tip and meets the costa below the apex of wing, i.e., costal section between tip of R5 and tip of M1 shorter than costal section between tips of R1 and R5 . . . . . Nerax Hull, 1962
wing  lateral view
 
-R5 curves forward, meeting the costa above the apex of wing, i.e., costal section between tip of R5 and tip of M1 larger than costal section between tips of R1 and R5.
wing  wing
11


11 Scutum compressed laterally and the mid-dorsal line with narrow crest of long hairs or bristles . . . . . Carinefferia Artigas & Papavero, 1997
scutum frontal  scutum lateral
 
-Scutum not compressed laterally, hairs anteriorly usually short, but if long not covering the dorsocentral as well as the central row.
scutum frontal  scutum lateral
scutum lateral
12


12 Scutum anteriorly with numerous erect hairs as long as scape and pedicel together. Scutellum usually with numerous marginal bristles. Bristles of tarsi usually white . . . . . Aridefferia Artigas & Papavero, 1997
anterior scutum  scutellum
 
-Scutum anteriorly usually with hairs shorther than scape and pedicel together. Scutellum usually with not more than 6 - 8 marginal bristles. Bristles of tarsi usually black.
anterior scutum  scutellum
13


13 Male abdomen ventrally with prominent tubercles on segments 4 - 6. Rather small, slender flies . . . . . Tuberculefferia Artigas & Papavero, 1997
_  _
 
-Male abdomen without ventral tubercles. Small to large species, the small species frequently with short stout bristles in the upper part of the mystax . . . . . Albibarbefferia Artigas & Papavero, 1997
_
 


14 [Proctacanthus-group] R5 ends below wing apex. Medium-sized flies (12 - 16 mm), with slender body . . . . . Proctacanthella Bromley, 1934
wing  lateral view
 
-R5 ends above wing apex.
wing  wing
15


15 Mystax formed by very dense, long, oral hairs and short ones above; the mystax forms a tuft that hides the integument where hairs and bristles are implanted . . . . . Eccritosia Schiner, 1866
head lateral  lateral view
 
-Mystax of usual shape . . . . . Proctacanthus Macquart, 1838
mystax  lateral view
 


16 [Mallophora-group] Claws acute. Facial gibbosity waek, usually confined to lower half of face: mystax extending up to antennal basis, bristles usually confined to oral margin. Male epandria short, slender, frequently with dense white hairs above. Female ovipositor beginning with segment 6, 7 or 8 . . . . . Promachus Loew, 1848
claws  head lateral
hypogygium  ovipositor
 
-Claws obtuse. Other combination of characters.
claws  _
17


17 Face 1/6 width of head below antennae. Frons between antennae and ocelli as long as wide. Female ovipositor beginning with segment 6. Male epandria 8 times as long as wide; aedeagus with 3 divergent tubes, more or less long . . . . . Amblyonychus Hermann, 1921
face  frons
ovipositor
 
-Face 1/5 width of head or more below antennae. Frons between antennae and ocelli wider than long. Female ovipositor beginning with segment 8. Male epandria variable.
face  frons
ovipositor
18


18 Lower half of face swollen, long hairs of mystax confined to gibbosity; oral bristles present at times, short sparse hairs between antennae and gibbosity. Fore and middle femora swollen, hind femur slender, hind tibia bowed, with 1 - 4 strong bristles on anterior side . . . . . Mallophora Macquart, 1838
head lateral  hind leg
 
-Face slightly and evenly convex. Other combination of characters.
head lateral  hinf femur
19


19 The dense, erect scutellar hairs parted at middle. Tarsomeres 2 - 4 as long as wide. Face 1/3 width of head below antennae. Male epandria about three times as long as wide. Hind femur with dorsal anterior row of bristles . . . . . Promachella Cole & Pritchard, 1964
scutellum  tarsomeres
face  epandrium
 
-Dense erect scutellar hairs unparted. Tarsomeres 2 - 4 about twice as wide as long. Face 1/4 to nearly 1/3 width of head below antennae. Male epandria about twice as long as wide. Aedegaus with only one tube. Hind femur with only apical aneterior dorsal bristles . . . . . Megaphorus Bigot, 1857
scutellum  tarsomeres
face  epandrium
 

 

 

 

Contents: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, Jorge N. Artigas, 2007
Layout & images: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, 2007