Mallophora bomboides (Wiedemann)

Dennis, D. Steve, Barnes, Jeffrey K. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2008, Pupal cases of Nearctic robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1868 (1), pp. 1-98 : 55

Mallophora bomboides (Wiedemann)

( Fig. 33 )

The United States National Museum has four pupal cases of M. bomboides . One male case is labeled "Lake Worth, Florida; 1, 21, 24; S.W. Bromley Collection 1955." Two female cases are labeled "McBee, S.C.; 7 Aug. 1926; S.W. Bromley; S.W. Bromley Collection 1955" and "McBee, S.C.; Aug. 29, 1930; S.W. Bromley Collection 1955." One damaged case is labeled "Lake North, Florida; 1, 21, 24; S.W. Bromley Collection 1955."

Description: Greatest length, including anterior antennal processes, ♂ 34.0 mm, ♀ 37.0– 39.5 mm; greatest width of thorax ♂ 8.0 mm, ♀ 8.5–9.5 mm; greatest width of abdomen ♂ 7.0 mm, ♀ 7.5–8.0 mm, tapering to ♂ 2.5 mm and ♀ 2.3–2.5 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8. Integument subshining brownish yellow to dark golden brown; several abdominal segments mottled yellowish to reddish brown; 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 posterior process; outer or third posterior process elbowed basally but not as sharply as in M. leschenaulti ; processes apically rounded. Labral sheath with small posterior concave keel surrounded by 4–5 dark sclerotized rings and with transverse rugose ridges anteriorly. Proboscial sheath slightly rugose on each side of midline, very rugose and tuberculate posteriorly. Maxillary sheath with large rugose, acuminate posterior process; male with small median tubercle on each side of labral sheath.

Anterior coxal sheath rugose especially along margin, with anterior, median, longitudinal split. Prothoracic spiracle on rugose upraised area, situated midlaterally at anterior margin of thorax. Anterior mesothoracic spines acuminate, subequal, situated on each side of thorax above bases of of mid leg sheaths. Thoracic area above spines rugose. Posterior mesothoracic callosity large, rugose, situated at base of each wing sheath, usually with small median posterior mesothoracic spine. Wing sheath highly rugose, especially toward apex, with large tubercle near base and smaller tubercle medially. Thoracic area above wing sheath smooth to slightly rugose. Apex of hind leg sheath reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment 2.

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

Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of 16–19 apically recurved spurs along anterior margin; outermost 1–3 spurs smaller than other spurs; dorsolateral bristle­like spines absent; with 3 lateral spurs behind and below spiracle; venter obscured by wing and leg sheaths.

Segments 2–7 with dorsomedian transverse row of 13–16 alternating broad, straight, narrow, apically recurved spurs and broad, apically unforked, bifurcate, or trifurcate spines slightly anterior to spurs; with 4–8 dorsolateral bristle­like spines and 6–14 bristle­like spines (usually 9–10) behind each lateral spiracle.

Segment 2 with 5–9 median ventral bristle­like spines on each side of hind leg sheath; segments 3–7 with ventromedian transverse row of 20–36 bristle­like spines (usually 24–34); posterior segments with fewer spines; row complete in male, with median space in female.

Segment 8 with 2–3 dorsal spurs on each side of midline, 2–3 lateral bristle­like spines, and 2–3 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of midline; spiracle absent.

Segment 9 with pair of long dorsal posterolateral processes and pair of short ventral posterolateral processes fused basally to dorsal processes, both pairs curved upward; male with pair of ventromedian tubercles.

Figures

FIGURE 33. Mallophora bomboides (Wiedemann), lateral view with enlarged anterodorsal view of row of spurs on abdominal segment 1.