Key to the genera of the Nearctic Asilidae

Keys Comparison Catalogue Terminology Notes

Apocleinae
Asilinae
Dasypogoninae
Dioctriinae
Laphriinae
Laphystiinae
Leptogastrinae
Ommatiinae
Stenopogoninae
Stichopogoninae
Trigonomiminae

Key to the genera of the Nearctic Dioctriinae

Dioctriinae

References: Artigas, J.N. & Papavero, N. (1991): The American genera of Asilidae (Diptera): Keys for identification with an atlas of female spermathecae and other morphological details. VII.3. Subfamily Stenopogoninae Hull - Tribes Dioctriini and Echthodopini. - Gayana. Zoologia. Universidad de Concepcion, Instituto Central de Biologia 55(4): 261-266; Concepcion.

Remarks: This key will not run with Palaearctic species of the genus Dioctria, because the variation of characters is higher. The subfamily Dioctriinae is a questionable taxon and a comprehensible diagnosis is lacking.

	R4 ending behind wing tip. Ocellar tubercle without strong bristles. Hind femur club-shaped, abruptly enlarged apically. Hind metatarsus conspicuously enlarged, at least as long as subsequent three tarsomeres. Apex of proboscis pointed, opening between labella dorsal and subapical, hypopharynx protruded above and slightly proximal at apex; labella without subapical notch; prementum shorter than labella, with sparse pile restricted to apex. Alula sometimes reduced . . . . . [Dioctriini]
	R4 ending before wing tip. Ocellar tubercle with long hairs or bristles curving forward. Hind femur thickened subbasally, or at middle, or gradually enlarged apically. Hind metatarsus shorter than three subsequent tarsomeres. Apex of proboscis rounded, opening terminal; labella with subapical notch; prementum as long as or longer than labella, with abundant pile on entire surface. Alula always present . . . . . [Echthodopini]

	Antennal basis not raised on tubercle, hidden behind eye margin in profile. 1st segment of style short and narrow, one-fifth as long as postpedicel, subtruncate or cup-shaped . . . . . Nannodioctria Wilcox & Martin, 1942
	Antennal basis not raised on tubercle, visible in profile. 1st segment of style long, subequal in width to postpedicel, one-third to one-half as long as postpedicel, more or less board-shaped . . . . . Dioctria Meigen, 1803

	Upper half of face and frons prominently swollen, bearing the antennae and a brush of abdundant long hairs below their base; these hairs extending ventrally along lateral margins of face . . . . . Dicolonus Loew, 1866
	Swelling at antennal base less well-marked or nearly absent; upper part of face either bare or with only a single row of hairs along eye margin (except Metadioctria with a group of hairs below antenna base).

	Upper part of face bare. Abdominal tergite 2 with a groove about one-third to one fourth apart from base of segment, groove extending laterally, separating a shiny crescent-shaped area on the first third of the segment.
	Upper part of face with a few weak hairs besides eye and occasionally with a few under antennal bases. Abdominal tergite 2 without a groove, or with the groove close to the proximal margin and not separating off a crescent-shaped area.

	Scutellar margin with moderately long erect hairs, as long as scutellum, disc of scutellum with appressed short hairs. Anepisternum covered with recumbent hairs . . . . . Echthodopa Loew, 1866
	Scutellar margin without long hairs, disc of scutellum bare or at most with minute hairs. Anepisternum pilose on upper one-third and along posterior margin . . . . . Eudioctria Wilcox & Martin, 1941

	Abdominal tergites strongly arched dorsally, rounded, in cross sections, making abdomen chrysidid-like. Scutellum bare, or with sparse minute hairs. Scutellar margin with very short appressed hairs. Frons and occiput pruinose . . . . . Bohartia Hull, 1958
	Abdominal tergites flattened dorsally. Scutellum and scutellar margin with long fine hairs. Frons and occiput shining black . . . . . Metadioctria Wilcox & Martin, 1941