Laphria rufa Röder

Young, Charles L. & Hradský, Milan M., 2007, Robber flies of South Korea III. South Korean species of the Subfamily Laphriinae Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1388, pp. 1-23 : 19-20

Laphria rufa Röder

( Fig. 32 , 55, 56 )

Laphria rufa Röder, 1885: 192 .

Medium to large, 14.5– 23 mm, black and yellow/red flies. Bumble bee like in appearance. The body hair is long, with a combination between yellow to red, and black hair. There exists a great degree of variation in the species (as with L. mitsukurri , a very closely related species) in regards to coloration and size (see “Discussion” below).

Redescription. Head: Face covered with long gold hair. Long, dense yellow mystax. Parafacial hair same as surrounding hair. Orbital hair black. Postocular hair yellow and black. Ocellar tubercle with long yellow bristles. Antenna black with yellow hair and black bristles; relative lengths of segments: 3>1>2; postpedicel (segment 3) with an apical pit and spine. Thorax: Scutum pale blue black covered in dense yellow hair and erect thin sparse black hair. Postpronotal hair yellow. Chaetotaxy with notopleural, supraalar and postalar surfaces covered in red and yellow hair; some stronger, black lateral bristles. Long, thick, abundant erect, yellow dorsocentral hair. Discal scutellar hair sparse, yellow. Scutellar margin ringed densely with long gold bristles. Lateral aspect of thorax black with ling yellow hair. Anepisternum with dense long yellow/gold hair; 2 black weak posterior bristles. Katatergal bristles dense, long, yellow/gold. Legs: Entirely black covered in dense long gold/yellow/red hair and black bristles. Wings: Tinged brown surrounding veins. Abdomen: Pale blue/ black, covered in yellow/red hair. Tergites 1–4 covered in hair, except medially bare. Tergites 5–7 completely covered in dense yellow/gold mats of hair. Male genitalia: ( Fig. 32 .) Female: Similar to male. Abdomen clavate.

Material examined. Chollabuk­Do Province: 1ɗ: 5/VI/2004, Sonunsan Prov. P., Koch’ang­Gun, 35°27’50”N, 126°34’28”E; 1ɗ: 4/VII/2004, Iksan­Shi Miruksan, 36°01’12”N, 127°01’52”E; 1Ψ: Same data except 15/IV–20/V/2006, Malaise trap. Chollanam­Do Province: 1ɗ: 4/VII/2000, Chirisan N.P. Piagol Valley, Chiri Mt. 570 m., 35°16’39”N, 127°33’91”E. Ch’ungch’ongbuk–Do Province: 1ɗ: 29/V/2004, Okcheon Saesan­Li, 36°16’36”N, 127°36’42”E. Kang­won­Do Province: 5ɗ: 12/VI/2004, Odaesan N. P., Chinbu­Myon 660– 900m., 37°44’57”N, 128°34’19”E; 1ɗ: Same data except 6/VI/2003; 2ɗ, 2Ψ: 24/VI/2006, Ch’unch’on­ Shi, Namsan­Myon Kangch’on, Hongchon River (east), 37°42’40”N, 127°35’26”E. Kyongsangbuk­Do Province: 1ɗ: 28/VI/2002, Kimch’on­Shi Kimch’on 400m., 36°06’44”N, 128°07’50”E. Kyongsangnam­Do Province: 1ɗ: 11/V/2002, Samjeong­Li Macheon, Chirisan Mt. 6– 800m., 35°21’36”N, 127°38’25”E; 1Ψ: Same data except 25/V/2002; 1ɗ: 18/V/2003, Macheon Chirisan Mt. 705m., 35°20’55”N, 127°38’21”E; 1ɗ: 18/VI/ 2005, Chiri Mt. 1300m., 35°19’73”N, 127°37’64”E.

Field notes. L rufa frequents clearings in pine and hardwood forests. Dead wood is a common factor in L. mitsukurri and L. rufa habitats as the females oviposit in decaying wood. Piles of logs in northern South Korea, both pine and hardwood were productive collecting areas.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 32. Laphria — male genitalia. 29. L. hakiensis, lateral. 30. L. mitsukurri, lateral. 31. L. mitsukurri, gonopod. 32. L. rufa, gonopod.

FIGURES 51 – 56. 51. Laphria hakiensis, ♂ dorsal. 52. Laphria hakiensis, ♂ lateral. 53. Laphria mitsukurri, Ψ dorsal. 54. Laphria mitsukurri, Ψ lateral. 55. Laphria rufa, Ψ dorsal. 56. Laphria rufa, Ψ lateral.