Asilidae

Dennis, D. Steve, Barnes, Jeffrey K. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2008, Pupal cases of Nearctic robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1868 (1), pp. 1-98 : 16-17

Key to subfamilies and subfamily­groups of Nearctic Asilidae based on pupal cases

The following key is adapted from Dennis & Knutson (1988). Although the Megapodini are confined to the Neotropical Region, they are included here because of their distinctive morphology, in particular the presence of dorsal antennal processes and the absence of anterior and posterior mesothoracic spines.

1 Anterior antennal processes dorsoventrally flattened and joined at base, or tuberculate and poorly developed; posterior antennal processes palmate or represented by only a ridged callosity; dorsum of thorax with 4 bristle­like structures forming corners of a square or rectangle; abdominal segments dorsally with anterior row of short spines and posterior row of hair­like processes longer than length of each segment; abdominal segments laterally and ventrally with hair­like processes longer than length of each segment; last abdominal segment with 1 pair of terminal processes ................................................... Leptogastrinae

­ Anterior antennal processes long, acuminate; posterior antennal processes consisting of a group of 3–5 basally fused, horn­like or hook­like processes; dorsum of thorax with 0, 2, or 4 bristle­like structures; abdominal segments dorsally with spines and spurs, lacking long bristle­like or hair­like processes; abdominal segments laterally and ventrally with spines shorter than length of each segment; last abdominal segment with 2–6 pairs of terminal processes........................................................................................2

2 Suborbital spines, median facial spines, and dorsal antennal processes present; anterior antennal processes almost straight; mesothorax without lateral anterior and posterior spines, but with posterior callosity ........ .................................................................................................................................................... Megapodini

­ Suborbital spines absent; lateral facial spines present or absent; dorsal antennal processes absent; anterior antennal processes somewhat curved ventrally; mesothorax with or without lateral anterior and/or posterior spines, but with posterior callosity.........................................................................................................3

3 Abdominal segments 1–7 lacking discernable dorsal spurs; lower facial area with small median or lateral spines; each posterior antennal process consisting of 3–5 confluent hooks; abdominal segment 9 usually with ventral posterolateral processes larger and/or broader than dorsal posterolateral processes.................. ...................................................................................................................................................... Laphriinae

­ Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of spurs; segments 2–7 with dorsal row of spurs alternating with spines; lower facial area without median or lateral spines; each posterior antennal process usually consisting of only 3 confluent hooks (if 4–6, then hooks may be short to very long and narrow); abdominal segment 9 with ventral posterolateral processes smaller than dorsal posterolateral processes..4

4 Abdominal segment 9 with dorsolateral and ventral posterolateral processes curved dorsally; medioventral callosities not tuberculate; ventral posterolateral processes curved toward dorsal posterolateral processes, or processes straight to curved dorsally.......................................................... Dasypogoninae­group

­ Abdominal segment 9 with dorsolateral and ventral posterolateral processes and medioventral callosities, if present, usually tuberculate, with dark, sclerotized tip; dorsal posterolateral processes curved or pointed dorsally, ventral posterolateral processes generally pointed ventrally or opposite direction of dorsal posterolateral processes...................................................................................................................Asilinae­group