Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Australian Asilidae

Posted by Graeme Cocks on 28-11-2014 08:53
#1

Can anyone suggest a subfamily or genera for this Asilidae? Netted. Townsville, Queensland.

Edited by Graeme Cocks on 28-11-2014 09:06

Posted by John Carr on 29-11-2014 03:01
#2

I think it is Laphriinae: R2+3 ending in R1, antenna with stylus inconspicuous or absent.

Posted by Graeme Cocks on 29-11-2014 05:52
#3

Thanks John

Posted by Graeme Cocks on 29-11-2014 06:18
#4

Hi John. I've found a key which says the feature you mention (R2+R3 swinging around to join R1) is the subfamily Laphystiinae, so I'll go with that. The key is by Fritz Geller-Grimm (1998), after Artigas and Papavero, 1988.

Posted by Graeme Cocks on 29-11-2014 06:28
#5

Ahh, further reading and it appears that the Laphystiinae have been incorporated into the Laphriinae. Pity it was a nice key.

Posted by Eric Fisher on 29-11-2014 22:28
#6

As John says, this is a Laphriinae--even a Laphria sp. (cf. bancrofti).

Posted by Graeme Cocks on 29-11-2014 22:52
#7

Thanks Eric.

Posted by Quaedfliegh on 02-12-2014 01:49
#8

Maybe a silly remark but some of those Australian Laphria species look very much like our European Choerades species like this one. Laphria in Europe looks more like this: http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=63769
: )
What makes this one a Laphria?

Posted by Eric Fisher on 02-12-2014 02:53
#9

Mainly tradition I think. Australians do not recognize the genus Choerades among their fauna (even though this sp.--cf. bancrofti--and many others look like they belong to this genus rather than Laphria. Laphria and relatives (Laphriini) very much need a world-wide revision at the generic level.

Posted by Quaedfliegh on 02-12-2014 14:38
#10

Oh noooooooo, not again! : ) The more i try to get acquained with the family the more taxonomic problems and loads of work i encounter. Nice! a never ending story....

Thank you Eric! (It wasn't such a silly question after all)