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Subfamilies

Apocleinae
Asilinae
Dasypogoninae
Dioctriinae
Laphriinae
Laphystiinae
Leptogastrinae
Ommatiinae
Stenopogoninae
Stichopogoninae
Trigonomiminae

Key to the genera of the Nearctic Leptogastrinae

Start
 Leptogastrinae

References: Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1988): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermatecae and other morphological details. I. Key to the subfamilies and subfamily Leptogastrinae. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 52(1-2): 95-114; 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. Scarbrough, A.G. & Kuhar, T. (1992): Biodiversity of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in Maryland and Delaware: Part I. Subfamily Leptogastrinae. - The Maryland Naturalist 36: 13-38.

1 Anal angle of wing absent. CuA unbranched and A1 absent. Halter as long as scutum . . . . . Leptopteromyia Williston, 1907
Anal angle of wing absent. CuA unbranched and A1 absent  Halter as long as scutum
  
-Anal angle of wing reduced but not absent. CuA branched to form CuA1 and CuA2. Halter much shorther than scutum.
Anal angle of wing reduced but not absent. CuA branched to form CuA1 and CuA2  Halter much shorther than scutum
 2

2 Middle of abdominal tergite 2 with a transverse band of long hairs. Base of M2 closing discoidal cell short, not more than 1.5 times length of crossvein m-m. Crossvein m-cu present but short, or M3 and CuA1 narrowly united with each other, the union shorter than length of crossvein r-m.
Middle of abdominal tergite 2 with a transverse band of long hairs  Base of M2 closing discoidal cell short, not more than 1.5 times length of crossvein m-m
 3
-Abdominal tergite 2 without transverse band of long hairs at middle. Base of M2 long, twice or more length of crossvein m-m. Crossvein m-cu absent. M3 and CuA1 broadly united, the union longer than length of crossvein r-m.
Abdominal tergite 2 without transverse band of long hairs at middle  Base of M2 long, twice or more length of crossvein m-m
 4

3 Width of face, at narrowest point, no wider than diameter of an adjacent eye facet. Empodium lacking. Epandrial lobe of male deeply divided, almost to base, forming narrow dorsal and wider ventral lobes . . . . . Psilonyx Aldrich, 1923
Width of face, at narrowest point, no wider than diameter of an adjacent eye facet  Empodium lacking
  
-Width of face, 1.5 - 3.0 times as wide as diameter of an adjacent eye facet. Empodium unusally present. Epandrial lobe of male at most shallowly notched . . . . . Beameromyia Martin, 1957
Width of face, 1.5 - 3.0 times as wide as diameter of an adjacent eye facet  Empodium unusally present
  

4 Hind femur with distal swelling arising gradually, beginning at or before mid length. Scutellar margin with bristles or with hairs on disc as long as crossvein r-m. Epandrial lobe of male deeply divided almost to base, with ventral branch subequal in length to and narrower than dorsal branch . . . . . Apachekolos Martin, 1957
Hind femur with distal swelling arising gradually, beginning at or before mid length  Scutellar margin with bristles or with hairs on disc as long as crossvein r-m
Epandrial lobe of male deeply divided almost to base, with ventral branch subequal in length to and narrower than dorsal branch
  
-Hind femur with distal swelling arising at about twothirds or more distance from the base. Scutellar margin and disc bare or with a few small hairs. Epandrial lobe of male undivided, or, if divided, with the ventral branch longer and wider than the dorsal lobe (Leptogaster) or with both branches of equal length (Tipulogaster).
Leptogaster  Tipulogaster
Leptogaster: Scutellar margin and disc bare  Tipulogaster: Scutellar margin and disc with a few small hairs
Leptogaster: Epandrial lobe of male undivided  Tipulogaster: Epandrial lobe of male divided, with the ventral branch longer and wider than the dorsal lobe
 5

5 Flagellum 2.5 times or more as long as the combined length of scape and pedicel and one-sixth as wide as long . . . . . Tipulogaster Cockerell, 1913
Flagellum not more than twice as long as combined length of scape and pedicel and one-quarter as wide as long
  
-Flagellum not more than twice as long as combined length of scape and pedicel and one-quarter as wide as long . . . . . Leptogaster Meigen, 1803
Flagellum not more than twice as long as combined length of scape and pedicel and one-quarter as wide as long
  

 

 

 

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