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Subfamilies

Apocleinae
Asilinae
Dasypogoninae
Dioctriinae
Laphriinae
Laphystiinae
Leptogastrinae
Ommatiinae
Stenopogoninae
Stichopogoninae
Trigonomiminae

Key to the genera of the Nearctic Dasypogoninae

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 Dasypogoninae

References: Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1988): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. II. Key to the genera of Dasypogoninae Macquart, with descriptions of new genera and species and new synonymies. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 52(3-4): 199-260; Concepcion.
In addition:: Back, E.A. (1909): The robber flies of America, north of Mexico, belonging to the subfamilies Leptogastrinae and Dasypogoninae. - Transactions of the American Entomological Society 35: 137-400, pl. 2-12; Philadelphia.

1 Antenna with two-segmented style, the first minute. Fore tibial spur weak, sigmoid. First tarsomere of fore leg never with basal flange. All wing cells open, although sometimes cel cup almost closed at wing margin. Anatergite bare. Female tergite 10 with spines . . . . . [Isopogonini]
Antenna with two-segmented style, the first minute  Antenna with two-segmented style, the first minute
 2
-Antenna without or with one-segmented style. Other combinations of characters.
Antenna without or with one-segmented style  Antenna without style
 6

2 Pulvilli present.
Pulvilli present (ventral view)
 3
-Pulvilli entirely absent.
Pulvilli entirely absent (dorsal view)
 5

3 Mystax dense, occupying entire face, bristles longer at lower margin . . . . . Comantella Curran, 1923
Mystax dense, occupying entire face, bristles longer at lower margin  dorsal view
  
-Mystax thin, reduced to subcranial margin, with at most sparse hairs above mystax, and decreasing in density towards base of antennae when present.
Mystax thin, reduced to subcranial margin  Mystax thin, reduced to subcranial margin
 4

4 Male abdomen with only six visible segments, the last two (5 - 6) widened, flat, spatulate, covered with dense silvery pollen. Wing, in both sexes, spotted brown at crossveins and bifurcations, or brown almost to apex, including bifurcation of R4 and R5 . . . . . Nicocles Jaennicke, 1867
Male abdomen with only six visible segments  Wing spotted brown at crossveins and bifurcations
Wing brown almost to apex, including bifurcation of R4 and R5  Male abdomen with only six visible segments
  
-Male abdomen with seven visible segments, the last two (6 - 7) not modified as above. Wing hyaline or basal two-thirds brown, not spotted as above, or entirely infuscated . . . . . Cophura Osten Sacken, 1887
Male abdomen with seven visible segments  Wing hyaline or basal two-thirds brown
Wing entirely infuscated  Male abdomen with seven visible segments
  

5 Dorsocentral bristles erect and extending to mesonotal declivity. Face with dense fringe of long, adjacent, tectiform, drooping bristles, reaching nearly up to base of antennae. Scape and pedicel with stout, long, blunt bristles. Diameter of all femora uniform . . . . . Omninablautus Pritchard, 1935
Dorsocentral bristles erect and extending to mesonotal declivity  Face with dense fringe of long, adjacent, tectiform, drooping bristles, reaching nearly up to base of antennae
Scape and pedicel with stout, long, blunt bristles  Diameter of all femora uniform
 
-Dorsocentral bristles recumbent when present, confined to mesonotal declivity. Mystax composed of hair-like bristles, never as above. Scape and pedicel without long, stiff, ventral bristles. Diameter of hind femora 1.3 - 1.5 times diameter of middle femora . . . . . Hodophylax James, 1933
Dorsocentral bristles recumbent when present, confined to mesonotal declivity  Mystax composed of hair-like bristles, never as above
Scape and pedicel without long, stiff, ventral bristles  Diameter of hind femora 1.3 - 1.5 times diameter of middle femora
  

6 Veins CuA1 and M3 ending separately at wing margin (i.e. cell m3 open), if cell m3 is closed, veins CuA1 and M3 meet at wing margin. Postpedical normally without small bristles on lower dorsal surface. Style present or absent. Cell r1 open . . . . . [Dasypogonini]
Cell m3 open  Postpedical normally without small bristles on lower dorsal surface
 7
-Veins CuA1 and M3 fused before wing margin (i.e. cell m3 closed and petiolate). Postpedical with small bristles on lower dorsal surface. Cell r1 open or closed.
Cell m3 closed and petiolate  Postpedical with small bristles on lower dorsal surface
 10

7 Pulvilli absent . . . . . Parataracticus Cole, 1924
Pulvilli absent  dorsal view
  
-Pulvilli present.
Pulvilli present
 8

8 Postpedical with a dorsal incision near its middle or apical third bearing a spine. Abdomen notoriously punctate . . . . . Taracticus Loew, 1872
Postpedical with a dorsal incision near its middle or apical third bearing a spine  Abdomen notoriously punctate
  
-Postpedical always with a minute apical spine. Abdomen predominantly smooth.
Postpedical always with a minute apical spine  Abdomen predominantly smooth
 9

9 At least three pairs of presutural dorsocentral bristles present . . . . . Lestomyia Williston, 1884
At least three pairs of presutural dorsocentral bristles present  dorsal view
  
-No presutural dorsocentral bristles, or, at least, these undistinguishable from pilosity . . . . . Saropogon Loew, 1847
No presutural dorsocentral bristles  dorsal view
  

10 Marginal scutellar bristles present . . . . . Lastaurini: Diogmites Loew, 1866
Marginal scutellar bristles present  dorsal view
  
-Marginal scutellar bristles absent . . . . . Blepharepiini: Blepharepium Rondani, 1848
Marginal scutellar bristles absent  dorsal view
  

 

 

 

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