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Apocleinae
Asilinae
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Key to the genera of the Nearctic Asilinae

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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 provisional and a revision is necessary.


1 Face with shiny spot in the middle and only eye margins tomentose . . . . . Rhadiurgus Loew, 1849 [= Nigrasilus Hine, 1908]
Face  lateral view
 
-Face completely covered with pubescence or only with a very narrow shiny longitudinal stripe.
Face
2


2 Wings opaque yellowish. Body and legs yellowish . . . . . Asilus Linnaeus, 1758
wing  lateral view
 
-Other combination of characters.
wing
3


3 Apical tarsal segment of foreleg with two strong bristles projecting over basal third or less of tarsal claws. Wings opaque, subhyaline along posterior veins. Tergites 8 of female pollinose . . . . . Wyliea Martin, 1975
apical tarsal segment  lateral view
 
-Apical tarsal segment of foreleg without strong bristles projecting over tarsal claws. Wings hyaline to opaque. Tergite 8 of female either polished or pollinose.
Apical tarsal segment
4


4 Inside surface of epandrium with a patch of several to many erect spines on the apical half or less . . . . . Polacantha Martin, 1975
Inside surface of epandrium  lateral view
 
-Inside surface of epandrium without a patch of erect spines on apical half, but with bristles along mesal margin of epandrium.
bristles along mesal margin of epandrium  bristles along mesal margin of epandrium
5


5 Aedeagal sheath bifurcate. Facial gibbosity weak . . . . . Dicropaltum Martin, 1975
Aedeagal sheath bifurcate  Facial gibbosity
 
-Aedeagal sheath single or triple-tuped. Facial gibbosity weak to strong.
Aedeagal sheath 3-tubed  Facial gibbosity
6


6 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
Postocular bristles  ovipositor
 
-Postocular bristles (occipital bristles) either weakly bent or straight. Two last segments anterior to ovipositor tomentose.
Postocular bristles  ovipositor
7


7 Ovipositor with erect spines . . . . . Philonicus Loew, 1849
ovipositor lateral  ovipositor dorsal
 
-Ovipositor otherwise.
ovipositor lateral  ovipositor dorsal
8


8 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 . . . . . Neomochtherus Osten Sacken, 1878
Apex of epandrium  lateral view
 
-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.
Apex of epandrium  Aedeagal sheath 3-tubed
9


9 Tergites 2 - 3 laterally with only short recumbent bristles. Style about 1/4 as long as postpedicel . . . . . Negasilus Curran, 1934
Bristles laterally on incisures  Style
 
-Tergites 2 - 3 laterally with a few to a patch of hairs longer than the short recumbent bristles. Style usually longer.
Bristles laterally on incisures  style
10


10 Bristles laterally on incisures long, weak. Long, erect, weak bristles along mesal margin of epandrium, which is narrow. Body usually pale brownish . . . . . Prolatiforceps Martin, 1975
Bristles laterally on incisures  bristles along mesal margin of epandrium
 
-Bristles laterally on incisures strong, short. 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
Bristles laterally on incisures  bristles along mesal margin of epandrium
 

 

 

 

Contents: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, 2003
Layout & images: © Fritz Geller-Grimm, 2003