Lasiopogon drabicolum Cole, 1916: 65 Lasiopogon drabicola Cole Melander 1923: 137 Molecular phylogeny of the genus Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae) and a taxonomic revision of the bivittatus section Mcknight, Tristan A. Cannings, Robert A. Zootaxa 2020 2020-08-24 4835 1 1 115 88HK5 Cole Cole [151,503,1914,1941] Insecta Asilidae Lasiopogon Animalia Diptera 53 54 Arthropoda species drabicolum      Lasiopogon drabicolum Cole, 1916: 65.    Lasiopogon drabicolaCole;  Melander 1923: 137. Unnecessary emendation.   Diagnosis. ( Fig. 31) A small to medium dusty grey species from southern and central California; mystax variable but usually partly to completely white; setae on scape and pedicel at least partly white; scutal macrosetae black, finer setae white at least medially; scutum tomentum grey to brown with dorsocentral and acrostichal stripes indistinct; tergites with faint patches of brown tomentum basally, but mostly greyish white; lateral setae on tergites white. Male terminalia cuticle reddish to dark brown with sparse setae; epandrium in dorsal view appears circular, evenly rounded from base to apex; gonostylus in lateral view flattened, longer than tall; phallus with dorsal carina flat, extended apically equidistant to gonopore like a rounded porpoise fin. Ovipositor dark brown/black; acanthophorite spines black.   Redescription. Body length ♂ 6.9–7.7mm; ♀ 8.1–9.2mm. Head. HW ♂ 1.62–1.78mm; ♀ 1.84–2.14mm. FW ♂ 0.32–0.37mm; ♀ 0.38–0.46mm. VW ♂ 0.64–0.68mm; ♀ 0.68–0.83mm. VW/HW = ♂0.36–0.40; ♀0.35–0.42. FW/VW = ♂0.50–0.54; ♀0.49–0.56. VD/VW = ♂0.12–0.19; ♀0.12–0.17. GH/GL = ♂0.36–0.46; ♀0.37–0.48. Face grey, vertex brown-grey; occiput grey. Ventral setae (on beard, labium, palps) white; occipital setae black; orbital and ocellar setae usually black, rarely white; mystax and frontal setae usually predominately white, but variable from completely white to mostly black with some ventral white setae. Occipital macrosetae relatively straight, longest (to 0.6mm) and most curved posterior corners of vertex; frontal and orbital setae relatively short, reaching base of postpedicel; ocellar setae also relatively short. Antennae. Dark brown, with thin grey tomentum. Setae mostly white, at most 2 brown macrosetae dorsally and 1 ventrally on pedicel; no setae on postpedicel. Postpedicel moderately long, dorsal and ventral margins straight; stylus moderately long. WPP/LPP = ♂0.26–0.33; ♀0.33–0.38. LAS/LPP ♂0.54–0.70; ♀0.56–0.72. Thorax. Prothorax grey, with white setae; postpronotal lobes grey, the lateral angle light chestnut, setae white. Scutum tomentum brown to grey; dorsocentral and acrostichal stripes slightly darker but indistinct. Fine notal setae usually white, sometimes black except anteromedially; macrosetae always black. Dorsocentral and lateral macrosetae well developed: anterior dorsocentrals 3–5 (to 0.8mm); posteriors 3–5; postalars 2, with 2–3 fine setae; supra-alars 2–3; presuturals 2–3; posthumerals 0–1. Scutellar tomentum greybrown; apical macrosetae black, 4–9 on each half; shorter setae pointing straight up white, about 60% the length of apical macrosetae. Pleural tomentum greyish brown. Katatergite setae black, 6–8, with a few shorter white setae, sometimes 1–2 white long macrosetae; katepisternal setae wispy, white; anepisternal setae 3–4, black (to 0.5mm), with short white setae along dorsal margin and a few in posteroventral corner; anepimeron with 2–3 short fine white setae. Legs. Cuticle dark brown/ black, covered in grey tomentum except at femur joints. No coxal peg. Coxae with white setae. Fine setae of femur and tibia white, on tarsi black; Macrosetae of femur and tibia white basoventrally, black dorsoapically; black (rarely white) on tarsi. Ventral setae on femur as long as or shorter than femur width; dorsolateral macrosetae on profemur 5–11, with many finer setae; on mesofemur 3–5; on metafemur 7–12. Protibia with ventral macrosetae 2–3 times longer than tibial width; faint patch of short yellow setae on apical half of protibial and brown setae on metatibia. Claws chestnut over basal 60%, apically black. Wings. Veins brown; membrane hyaline but brown when viewed obliquely. DCI = 0.30–0.47. Halter knob cream, without spot, stem light brown.  Abdomen. Tergite cuticle dark brown/black. Apical bands of grey tomentum frequently weakly extend anteriorly along midline to divide basal brown tomentum into two lateral spots, but overall pattern weakly apparent and occasionally replaced by straight bands or totally grey (tergite 1 entirely covered in grey tomentum); lateral margin of tergites broadly grey. Tergite 1 with 0–4 brown and 2–7 white lateral macrosetae; lateral setae on tergites white, as long as halter on tergites 1–3, as long as scape + pedicel on tergites 4–7 inmale, as long as scape only in female; dorsal setulae very fine, white or pale brown in male; black in female. Sternite tomentum grey, setae white. Male genitalia. Epandrium and hypandrium/gonocoxite complex cuticle red/dark brown, thin grey tomentum on epandrium, hypandrium mostly bare; setae mostly black (a few white), moderately long and erect but sparse; setal brush dark brown. Epandrium elongate, in lateral view the width about 50% the length, widest in basal third, dorsal and ventral margins gently sinuate; apex rounded into strong ventral subapical tooth. In dorsal view, epandrium appears circular, evenly rounded from base to apex; medial margins moderately curved, curvature starts about 39% from base; basal sclerite prominent. Phallus paramere sheath dorsally 55% the length of phallus; paramere sheath without ventral ornamentation; dorsal carina flat, extended apically equal to gonopore like a rounded porpoise fin, leaving a broad gap between apices. Ejaculatory apodeme in lateral view strongly bent dorsally in basal quarter, with broad dorsal carina. Subepandrial sclerite with triangular central unsclerotized area in basal 71%; spines parallel-sided, blunt, sparsely but evenly distributed.  Female genitalia. Undissected: Tergite 8 cuticle dark brown/black; sternite 8 dark brown/black basally, pale red-brown apically and at bases of hypogynial valves. Setae on segment 8 fine, white; cerci with white setae; a few short white setae on lateral lobes; acanthophorite spines black.  Variation.Mystax, frontal, orbital, and antennal setal color vary greatly from all white to mostly black in this species, but this observed variation does not follow a geographic cline and frequently occurs within a single population.   Type Material.  HOLOTYPE(examined) ♂labelled: “[rectangular beige label] Redlands,/ 1913 Cal.”; “[rectangular beige label] FRCole/ Coll”; “[rectangular beige label] Lasiopogon/ drabicola/ Cole”; “[rectangular red label] Type No./ 20183/ U.S.N.M.”; “[rectangular white label] USNMENT00972437”. USNM.   PARATYPE( 1 specimenexamined):  U.S.A.: CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co.,  La Quinta[ 33.643 -116.319], 14.iii.?, col. F.R. Cole( 1♀ USNM, USNMENT01100210[ allotype]).  Other Material Examined( 273 specimens). [no loc], D. Martin( 1♂ FSCA);   U.S.A.: CALIFORNIA:[county uncertain] Santa Ana Canyon,  11.iii.1934, M.W.Stone ( 1♀ CAS),  Santa Ana Canyon,  21.iii.1934, M.W.Stone ( 1♂ 1♀ CAS);   Los Angeles Co., Artesia[ 33.865 -118.103],  10.ii.1935, M.W.Stone ( 1♂ BEZA, 5♂ 4♀CAS, 1♂ ESUW),  27.iii.1934, M.W.Stone ( 1♀ BEZA, 13♂ 3♀CAS, 1♀ ESUW, 1♂ FISH, 2♂ 2♀ USNM, USNMENT1100212–USNMENT1100215);  Burbank[ 34.171 -118.309],  23.iii.1933, C.H. Hicks( 1♂ 1♀ WSUC);  El Monte[ 34.066 -118.004],  18.iii.1933, M.W.Stone ( 1♂ 2♀ CAS), [K.] Sloop& [ M.W.] Stone ( 1♂ CAS),   31.iii.1933, [K.] Sloop& [ M.W.] Stone ( 5♂ CAS, 1♂ 1♀ MCZ),  2.iii.1934, M.W.Stone ( 4♂ CAS, 1♂ FISH, 1♂ OSUC, OSUC 194420, 1♂ RBCM, 1♂ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449926),  17.ii.1935, M.W.Stone ( 16♂ 5♀ CAS, 1♀ RBCM, 2♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449924– UCRC ENT 449925);  El Monte, San Gabriel Riverwash [ 34.066 -118.004],  2.iii.1934, M.W.Stone ( 8♂ 8♀ CAS, 1♂ 1♀CNC, 1♀ OSUC, OSUC 194423, 1♂ 1♀ RBCM, 2♂ 2♀ USNM, USNMENT1100206– USNMENT1100209);   Napa Co., Monticello[ 38.578 -122.207],  16.iv.1952, E.I. Schlinger( 1♂ CAS), R.M. Bohart( 1♀ CAS);  Samuel Springs[ 38.605 -122.311],  24.iii.1956, R.C. Bechtel( 1♂ 1♀[1 pr in cop] RBCM);    OrangeCo., [no loc],  3.iii.1957, R. Swigart( 1♂ CAS);  Anaheim[ 33.835 -117.863],  5.iii.1937, J. Wilcox( 3♂ 5♀ CAS),  M.W.Stone ( 1♂ CAS);   Riverside Co., Mira Loma[ 33.973 -117.511],  26.iii.1957, J. Wilcox( 1♀ CAS);  Riverside[ 33.989 -117.393],  17.iii.1935, A.L. Melander( 1♂ 4♀ USNM, USNMENT1100216–USNMENT1100220),  23.iii.1941, Timberlake( 2♂ 5♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449928– UCRC ENT 449931, UCRC ENT 449937– UCRC ENT 449939),  6.iv.1941, Timberlake( 4♂ 2♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449932– UCRC ENT 449936, UCRC ENT 449940);  Riverside, Santa Ana River[ 33.969 -117.426],  24.iii.1942( 2♂ 1♀ FSCA), C.H. Martin( 3♂ 6♀ FSCA), D. Martin( 4♂ FSCA, 1♀ RBCM),  12.iii.1944( 1♀ FSCA, 1♂ RBCM), C.H. Martin( 2♂ 5♀ FSCA), D. Martin( 1♀ FSCA),   11.iv.1964, M.E. Irwin( 1♂ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449944),  24.iii.1969, F.G. Andrews( 2♂ 1♀ UCRC, UCRC ENT 449941– UCRC ENT 449943);  Santa Ana Riverat Mt. Rubidoux[ 33.98948 -117.39281],  4.iii.2013, T.A. McKnight( 1♂ 2♀[1 pr in cop] RBCM, 3♂ 2♀[1 pr in cop] TAM, 2♂ 2♀[3 EtOH] UMMZ);   San Bernardino Co., South Fork[ 34.169 -116.826],  12.vii.1942, C.H. Martin( 2♂ 2♀ FSCA);   San Diego Co., Warner Springs[ 33.281 -116.654],  23.v.1953, R. Mackie( 1♀ SDMC, SDNHM014871);   San Luis Obispo Co., Paso Robles, Salinas RiverE side [ 35.642 -120.683],  17.iv.1990, D.W. Webb, M.E. Irwin( 1♂ 1♀ INHS);  San Simeon Creek, rapids above bridge ~  4 miE of San Simeon, 35.60795 -121.09053,  10.v.2012, T.A. McKnight( 1♀[1 EtOH] UMMZ);  Simmler, 10 miW [ 35.387 -120.151],  5.v.1962, R.W. Thorp( 2♀ FISH);   Ventura Co., Casitas Springs[ 34.372 -119.309],  20.iv.1979, R.P. Meyer( 2♀ BEZA);  Moorpark[ 34.284 -118.856],  22.iv.1941, M.W.Stone ( 1♂ 3♀ CAS, 1♂ FISH);  Ojai valley[ 34.439 -119.237],  6.iv.1941, J. Wilcox( 1♀ CAS);  Piru Creek, NE base Alamo Mtn[ 34.703 -118.937],  3.v.1959, J. Powell( 1♀ FISH);  Santa Ana Valley,  6.iv.1941, J. Wilcox( 13♂ 9♀ CAS, 1♀ FISH, 1♂ RBCM);  Sespe River[ 34.492 -118.945],  6.v.1942, M.W.Stone ( 3♂ 3♀ CAS);   Yolo Co., Davis[ 38.5177 -121.7696],  17.iv.1952, R.C. Bechtel( 1♂ 1♀ CAS),   2.iv.1952,A.T. McClay( 2♂ CAS), E.I. Schlinger( 2♂ 1♀ CAS, 1♀ RBCM),  22.iv.1959, J.R. Powers( 1♀ FISH),   27.iv.1951, R.C. Bechtel( 1♂ 1♀ FISH),   6.iv.1951, R.C. Bechtel( 2♂ CAS, 1♂ FISH, 1♂ 1♀[1 pr in cop] FSCA),  7.iv.1956, W.H. Lange( 1♂ 1♀[1 pr in cop] CAS, 1♂ 1♀ ESUW, 2♂ 3♀ FSCA),  7.v.1961, V.L. Vesterby( 1♂ BEZA),   8.iii.1960, F.D. Parker( 1♀ CAS);  Putah Canyon[ 38.514 - 122.072],  21.iv.1949, H.E. Cott( 2♀ LACM, LACM ENT 334039– LACM ENT 334040),  15.iv.1952, A.T. McClay( 1♀ FISH), S. Miyagawa( 1♂ FSCA),   2.iv.1954, R.C. Bechtel( 1♂ CAS, 1♂ 1♀[1 pr in cop] FSCA, 1♂ RBCM),  20.iii.1951, A.T. McClay( 1♂ CAS), R.M. Bohart( 1♀ CAS, 1♂ FSCA),  24.iii.1951, R.C. Bechtel( 1♂ FSCA),   25.iii.1951, E.J. Taylor( 1♂ RBCM).  Taxonomic Notes.Cole’s original description used the spelling “drabicolum”, but most subsequent authorsincluding Cole in his later publications—have used the corrected Latinization “drabicola” undoubtedly because that is the actual masculine form for names ending in ‘-cola’. However, this change does not appear to be compliant with the modern ICZN Code. The first published usage of “drabicola” was by Melander (1923), but the first usage that was a demonstrably intentional change in the sense of article 33.2.1 was by Cole & Wilcox (1938), who cited both spellings. Unfortunately, incorrect Latinization does not count as an “inadvertent error” that must be corrected according to the Code (article 32.5.1), so this emendation is unjustified (article 33.2.3). Furthermore, we do not judge that “drabicola” meets the prevailing usage standard to override this rule as in article 33.2.3.1. Most notably, the high-profile monograph “ Robber Fliesof the World” ( Hull 1962) used “drabicolum” and is still a routinely consulted reference, and we have encountered several museum collections using this spelling. The Code’s definition of “prevailing usage” is vague (and only the glossary definition applies for questions of spelling), but “drabicola” would not meet the standard suggested for evaluating prevailing usage for synonyms and homonyms (Code Introduction clause 11). Thus, our recommedation is that the name should revert to the original spelling “drabicolum”. Several cryptic new species in Californiahave historically been identified as this species, including  L. apoecus sp. nov.,  L. esau sp. nov., and  L. nelsoni sp. nov.   Etymology.No explanation given in the original description, but the description mentions that the flies “were collected on wild flowers” and the name was evidently derived from the Latin “draba” = mustard plant, “cola” = dweller of.   Distribution.( Fig. 37) Nearctic, U.S.A., southern and central California. Typelocality: U.S.A., California, San Bernardino Co., Redlands.  Phylogenetic Relationships.Member of the bivittatus section,  drabicolumgroup. Likely closely related to  L. esauand  L. nelsoni.  Natural History.Habitat: mountain and lowland river banks. Despite Cole’s remarks about collecting this species on flowers, we have only ever encountered it perching on patches of bare sand interspersed with vegetation or rocks along riverbanks < 1–20 mfrom the water ( Fig. 21). Specimens recorded between 10 February to 12 July, most in March and April. Two males and two females with prey: 3 small Scarabaeidae( Coleopterac.f. Aphodiinae, see Fig. 4) and Muscidaec.f.  PhaoniaRobineau-Desvoidy (Diptera). Broadly sympatric and occasionally found flying simultaneously with  L. nelsoni, but perching habit may help distinguish these taxa, as  L. drabicolumtends to perch on sand and  L. nelsonion rocks. 3022619795 USNM United States of America U. S. 55 56 1 1 holotype 3022619456 USNM La Quinta & F. R. Cole United States of America Riverside Co. 33.643 La Quinta 72 -116.319 55 56 USNMENT01100210 2 1 California paratype 3022619503 [712,1063,438,465] FSCA Martin 55 56 1 1 3022620293 1934-03-11 CAS D.M. Wood United States of America Santa Ana Canyon 55 56 1 1 California 3022619688 1934-03-21 CAS D.M. Wood United States of America Santa Ana Canyon 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022620202 1934-03-27 1935-02-10 1934-03-27 BEZA, ESUW, FISH, USNM D.M. Wood United States of America Los Angeles Co. 33.865 Artesia 72 -118.103 55 56 34 11 23 California 3022619335 [601,1397,582,609] 1933-03-23 WSUC Hicks United States of America 34.171 Burbank 72 -118.309 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022619801 1933-03-18 CAS D.M. Wood United States of America 34.066 El Monte 72 -118.004 55 56 3 2 1 California 3022619441 [878,1298,618,645] CAS Sloop & D.M. Wood United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022619575 1933-03-31 1935-02-17 1933-03-31 CAS, MCZ, FISH, OSUC, RBCM, UCRC D.M. Wood United States of America Sloop 55 56 OSUC 194420, ENT 449926, ENT 449924, ENT 449925 39 9 30 California 3022619485 1934-03-02 CAS, OSUC, RBCM, USNM D.M. Wood United States of America 34.066 San Gabriel River 72 -118.004 El Monte 55 56 OSUC 194423, USNMENT1100206, USNMENT1100209 25 13 12 California 3022619400 1952-04-16 CAS Schlinger United States of America Napa Co. 38.578 Monticello 70 -122.207 55 56 1 1 California 3022619330 [282,551,835,861] CAS Bohart United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022619450 1956-03-24 RBCM Bechtel United States of America 38.605 Samuel Springs 70 -122.311 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022619899 [317,952,870,897] 1957-03-03 CAS Swigart United States of America Orange Co. Orange Co. 55 56 1 1 California 3022620275 1937-03-05 CAS Wilcox United States of America 33.835 Anaheim 72 -117.863 55 56 8 5 3 California 3022620084 [408,665,907,933] CAS D.M. Wood United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022619813 1957-03-26 CAS Wilcox United States of America Riverside Co. 33.973 Mira Loma 72 -117.511 55 56 1 1 California 3022620248 1935-03-17 1941-04-06 1935-03-17 USNM, UCRC Melander & Timberlake United States of America 33.989 Riverside 72 -117.393 55 56 USNMENT1100216, ENT 449928, ENT 449931, ENT 449937, ENT 449939, ENT 449932, ENT 449936, ENT 449940 18 11 7 California 3022620136 [404,1237,1050,1077] 1942-03-24 FSCA United States of America 33.969 Santa Ana River 72 -117.426 Riverside 55 56 3 1 2 California 3022619803 FSCA Martin United States of America 55 56 9 6 3 California 3022619838 [289,1432,1086,1113] 1944-03-12 FSCA, RBCM Martin & C. H. Martin United States of America 55 56 14 7 7 California 3022619790 [151,408,1123,1149] FSCA Martin United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022619525 1964-04-11 1969-03-24 1964-04-11 UCRC Irwin & Andrews United States of America 55 56 ENT 449944, ENT 449941, ENT 449943 4 1 3 California 3022620159 2013-03-04 RBCM, TAM, UMMZ McKnight United States of America 33.98948 Mt. Rubidoux 1 -117.39281 Santa Ana River 55 56 12 6 6 California 3022619645 1942-07-12 FSCA Martin United States of America San Bernardino Co. 34.169 South Fork 72 -116.826 55 56 4 2 2 California 3022620242 1953-05-23 SDMC Mackie United States of America San Diego Co. 33.281 Warner Springs 72 -116.654 55 56 SDNHM014871 1 1 California 3022619512 1990-04-17 INHS Webb & Irwin United States of America San Luis Obispo Co. 35.642 Salinas River 71 -120.683 Paso Robles 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022620024 2012-05-10 UMMZ McKnight United States of America 35.60795 San Simeon Creek 1 -121.09053 55 56 1 1 California 3022619716 [264,1085,1374,1401] 1962-05-05 FISH Thorp United States of America 35.387 Simmler 71 -120.151 55 56 2 2 California 3022619493 1979-04-20 BEZA Meyer United States of America Ventura Co. 34.372 Casitas Springs 71 -119.309 55 56 2 2 California 3022619327 1941-04-22 CAS, FISH D.M. Wood United States of America 34.284 Moorpark 71 -118.856 55 56 5 3 2 California 3022619329 [396,1105,1446,1473] 1941-04-06 CAS Wilcox United States of America 34.439 Ojai valley 71 -119.237 55 56 1 1 California 3022619421 1959-05-03 FISH Powell United States of America 34.703 Alamo Mtn 71 -118.937 Piru Creek 55 56 1 1 California 3022619791 1941-04-06 CAS, FISH, RBCM Wilcox United States of America Santa Ana Valley 55 56 24 10 14 California 3022620165 [372,1138,1518,1545] 1942-05-06 CAS D.M. Wood United States of America 34.492 Sespe River 71 -118.945 55 56 6 3 3 California 3022619958 1952-04-17 CAS Bechtel United States of America Yolo Co. 38.5177 Davis 6 -121.7696 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022619669 [733,1115,1554,1581] 1952-04-02 CAS McClay United States of America 55 56 2 2 California 3022620090 1959-04-22 CAS, RBCM, FISH Schlinger & J. R. Powers United States of America 55 56 5 3 2 California 3022619846 [709,1161,1590,1617] 1951-04-27 FISH Bechtel United States of America 55 56 2 1 1 California 3022620162 1951-04-06 1961-05-07 1951-04-06 CAS, FISH, FSCA, ESUW, BEZA R. C. Bechtel & W. H. Lange & Vesterby United States of America 55 56 15 6 9 California 3022619938 [764,1148,1663,1689] 1960-03-08 CAS Parker United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022620075 1949-04-21 1952-04-15 1949-04-21 LACM, FISH Cott & McClay United States of America 38.514 Putah Canyon 70 -122.072 55 56 ENT 334039, ENT 334040 3 3 California 3022619761 [287,577,1735,1761] FSCA Miyagawa United States of America 55 56 1 1 California 3022619711 1951-03-20 1954-04-02 1951-03-20 CAS, FSCA, RBCM Bechtel & A. T. McClay United States of America 55 56 5 1 4 California 3022619940 [582,1432,1770,1797] 1951-03-24 CAS, FSCA Bohart & Bechtel United States of America 55 56 3 1 2 California 3022619774 [151,560,1806,1833] 1951-03-25 RBCM Taylor United States of America 55 56 1 1 California