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Type: Articles
Published: 2011-09-16
Page range: 37–46
Abstract views: 39
PDF downloaded: 23

Tentative key to robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) subfamilies based on pupal cases

1105 Myrtle Wood Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32086-4838, USA
Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, 319 Agriculture Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Diptera Immature Diptera Insecta Brachycera Asiloidea Asilidae robber fly pupal cases subfamily key

Abstract

Subfamily keys for pupal cases of Asilidae are currently based on 5 taxa, Asilinae, Dasypogoninae, Megapodinae, Laphriinae and Leptogastrinae. Analysis of recently published adult morphological data and DNA sequence data suggests that the family consists of 14 subfamilies. A tentative key based on known pupal cases is provided for 10 of these subfamilies: Asilinae, Brachyrhopalinae, Dasypogoninae, Dioctriinae, Laphriinae, Leptogastrinae, Ommatiinae, Stenopogoninae, Stichopogoninae and Willistonininae. It is difficult to distinguish between Brachyrhopalinae and Dasypogoninae pupal cases because so many characteristics overlap. There are no described pupal cases for 4 subfamilies: Bathypogoninae, Phellinae, Tillobromatinae and Trigonomiminae. Morphological data are available for only approximately 10% of the genera and 2% of the species of Asilidae.

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