Mallophora leschenaulti Macquart, 1838

Dennis, D. Steve, Barnes, Jeffrey K. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2008, Pupal cases of Nearctic robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1868 (1), pp. 1-98 : 57-60

Mallophora leschenaulti Macquart

( Figs 4–5 , 35–36)

Two pupal cases of M. leschenaulti are from the United States National Museum collection. One male case is labeled "Uvalde, Tex.; VII­17­17; D. C. Parman Coll." The other case is a female labeled "Uvalde, Tex.; VII­ 7­17; D.C. Parman Coll."

Description: Greatest length, including anterior antennal processes, ♂ 33.5 mm, ♀ 35.0; greatest width of thorax ♂ 9.0 mm, ♀ 10.0 mm; greatest width of abdomen ♂ 8.0 mm, ♀ 9.0, tapering to ♂ 2.0 mm and ♀ 2.5 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8. Integument subshining dark golden brown, posterior abdominal segments with dark reddish­brown mottling; spines and other processes glistening reddish brown, darker apically.

Head with pair of dorsally flattened, ventrally wedge­shaped anterior antennal processes not joined at base and group of 3 basally fused posterior antennal processes located ventrolaterally on each side; middle and outer posterior processes fused basally for greater distance, appearing shorter than inner or first process; outer or third posterior process elbowed basally; processes apically rounded to acute. Labral sheath rugose; posterior keel surrounded by dark, sclerotized, concentric rings and with slight posterior tubercle. Proboscial sheath rugose on each side of midline and posteriorly; tubercles on each side of midline posteriorly. Maxillary sheath with large, posterior, acuminate process. Labral sheaths very rugose on inner surface toward facial area, small median processes on each side.

Anterior coxal sheath smooth to slightly rugulose, with anterior, median, longitudinal split and long, apically rounded, posterior suborbital spine. Prothoracic spiracle on rugose, upraised area midlaterally at anterior margin of thorax. Anterior mesothoracic spines consisting of pair of subequal, apically rounded spines on each side of thorax above base of sheaths of mid legs; first spine flatter and broader than second or outermost spine. Thoracic area above spines slightly rugulose. Posterior mesothoracic callosity large, rugose, at base of wing sheath, often with minute median posterior mesothoracic spine. Wing sheath rugose with large tubercle near base, 2 small median tubercles, and small, upraised, oblong, rugose area on posterior margin below abdominal segment 1. Thoracic area above wing sheath smooth to slightly rugose. Apex of hind leg sheath reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of abdominal segment 2.

Abdominal spiracles C­shaped, shining reddish brown, along midline laterally.

Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of 15 apically recurved spurs along anterior margin; outermost spur and 2 median spurs short; some larger spurs bifurcate to quadrifurcate apically; most spurs expanded basally, sagittate; dorsolateral bristle­like spines absent; 3 lateral bristle­like spines behind spiracle, toward venter; venter obscured by wing and leg sheaths.

Segments 2–7 with dorsomedian, transverse row of 12–13 alternating long, basally­expanded, sagittate spurs and shorter, straight spines; most spines slightly anterior to spurs; outermost spines bifurcate or with several furcations, other spines mostly bifurcate or trifurcate; with 3–6 dorsolateral bristle­like spines, outermost 2–3 spines usually basally fused, some spines bifurcate; with 7–9 bristle­like spines behind each spiracle.

Segment 2 with 6–9 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of hind leg sheath; some spines bifurcate or trifurcate; outermost spines sometimes basally fused. Segments 3–6 with row of 9–14 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of midline divided by median space; segment 7 with 7–10 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of midline; outermost 2–5 spines basally fused; some spines bifurcate.

Segment 8 with 10 dorsal spurs, median pair very short; with 2 lateral spines and 4 ventral spines on each side of midline; spiracle absent.

Segment 9 with pair of long dorsal posterolateral processes and pair of very short ventral posterolateral processes fused basally to dorsal posterolateral processes; pair of median midventral tubercles; pair of lateral, apically blunt tubercles slightly in front of median tubercles; and pair of median, apically blunt tubercles near juncture of segments 8 and 9, larger in male pupal case.

Figures

FIGURES 4–5. Mallophora leschenaulti Macquart, 4. abdominal segment 1, anterodorsal view, 5. abdominal segments 2–3, anterodorsal view.