Asilinae
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. 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.
Remarks: The following key is not very clever and a revision is necessary.
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1.
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Face with shiny spot in the middle and only eye margins tomentose . . . . . Nigrasilus Hine, 1908 [= Rhadiurgus Loew, 1849]
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| Face completely covered with pubescence or only with a very narrow shiny longitudinal stripe.
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»2
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2.
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Wings opaque yellowish . . . . . Asilus Linnaeus, 1758 [Asilus is restricted to the Palaearctic region]
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| Wings hyaline or brownish tomentose.
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»3
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3.
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Apical tarsal segment of foreleg with two strong brsitles projecting over basal third or less of tarsal claws. Wings opaque, subhyaline along posterior veins. Tergites 8 of female pollinose . . . . . Wyliea Martin, 1975
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| Apical tarsal segment of foreleg without strong bristles projecting over tarsal claws. Wings hyaline to opaque. Tergite 8 of female either polished or pollinose.
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»4
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4.
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Inside surface of epandrium with a patch of several to many erect spines on the apical half or less . . . . . Polacantha Martin, 1975
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| Inside surface of epandrium without a patch of erect spines on apical half.
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»5
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5.
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Aedeagal sheath bifurcate. Gibba weak . . . . . Dicropaltum Martin, 1975
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| Aedeagal sheath single or triple-tuped. Gibba weak to strong.
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»6
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6.
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Postocular bristles (occipital bristles) long and sharply, bent anteriorly in right-angled medially. At least two last segments anterior to ovipositor shiny black . . . . . Neoitamus Osten Sacken, 1878
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| Postocular bristles (occipital bristles) either weakly bent or straight. Two last segments anterior to ovipositor tomentose.
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»7
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7.
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Cerci of ovipositor enclosed by last tergite . . . . . Eutolmus Loew, 1848 [questionable]
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| Cerci not surrounded by last tergite or otherwise.
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»8
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8.
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Ovipositor with erect spines . . . . . Philonicus Loew, 1849
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| Ovipositor otherwise.
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»9
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9.
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Apex of epandrium notched apically on rounded apex. Aedeagal sheath a large single tube with 1 - 3 microtubes apically. Facial gibbosity restricted to lower third of face.
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»10
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| Apex of epandrium without a notch, or at most with an emargination. Aedeagal sheath 3-tubed. Facial gibbosity well-developed or restricted to lower third of face.
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»11
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10.
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Dorsocentral and acrostichal bristles weakly developed or entirely lacking anterior to transverse suture . . . . . Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878
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| Dorsocentral and acrostichal bristles well-developed anterior to transverse suture . . . . . Cerdistus Loew, 1849 [questionable]
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11.
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Tergites 2 - 3 laterally with only short recumbent bristles. Style about 1/4 as long as postpedicel . . . . . Negasilus Curran, 1934
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| Tergites 2 - 3 laterally with a few to a patch of hairs longer than the short recumbent bristles. Ovipositor flattened laterally.
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»12
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12.
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Bristles laterally on incisures long, weak. Pile on sternites long, usually abundant. Long, erect, weak bristles along mesal margin of epandrium, which is narrow. Body usually pale brownish . . . . . Prolatiforceps Martin, 1975
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| Bristles laterally on incisures strong, short. Pile on sternites not abundant. Short, semirecumbent strong bristles along mesal margin of epandrium, which is broad. Usually greyish black or reddish brown species . . . . . Machimus Loew, 1849 & Tolmerus Loew, 1849
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Contents: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, 2003
Layout & images: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, 2003