Laphria ferox Williston

Dennis, D. Steve & Barnes, Jeffrey K., 2013, Pupal cases of four Nearctic species of Laphria (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 3681 (4), pp. 478-492 : 481-484

Laphria ferox Williston

( Figs. 2–5 )

Laphria ferox Williston, 1883: 29 .

This description is based on one male (USNMENT00876524) and one female (USNMENT00876742) pupal case associated with separately pinned adults labeled, “11828 Hopk. U.S., Reared May 25-14 CT Greene”.

In the USNM there are six Hopkins record cards that have information related to specimens 11828 as follows: (1) “ Laphria ferox, Will., Spruce - caged 5/26/13, Evaro, Mont., May 25, 1914 – Reared by C.T. Greene”; (2) “ Laphria ferox . Will., May 25, ’14 Reared by CT Greene, from”; (3) “Evaro Mont. Spruce; 5.26–13 – caged. 6–11– 13 - Asemum sp. emerged. 6.26.13 – Siricidae emerged – mtd. May 23 – 14 - (16) Asemum emerged – mtd. May 25 –14 - (2) Asilidae – mtd. (to Greene). Aug. 3 –14 - (1) adult emerged. Aug. 18 – 14 - (2) adults emerged. Cage Closed”; (4) ADULT, Asemum atrum Esch. Leptura obliterata Hald., Det. by W. S. Fisher”; (5) Asemum atrum Esch., Det. WSF., Picea, L. O. Schwarz, Colr., Reared May 23, 1914, Aug. 3, 1914, Aug. 18, 1914, June 11, 1913, ADULT”; and (6) “ Leptura obliterata Hald., Det. W.S.F. ” We believe that this information indicates that the L. ferox larvae or pupae were initially recovered from a spruce ( Picea ) tree in or near Evaro, Montana, on May 26, 1913, placed in a rearing cage, and the adults emerged on May 25, 1914. Also found with the asilid immatures were the cerambycid beetles, Asemum atrum and Leptura obliterata , and a siricid wasp.

Description. Pupal cases mostly straight. Greatest length of male case, including anterior antennal processes, 14.0 mm; greatest length of female case 18.0 mm; greatest width of male thorax 3.0 mm; greatest width of female thorax 3.5 mm; greatest width of male abdomen 2.5 mm, tapering to 1.5 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8; greatest width of female abdomen 3.5 mm, tapering to 2.0 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8. Integument subshining, light golden brown, becoming darker apically on wing and leg sheaths, and slightly darker on anterior part of head. Spines and other processes glistening reddish brown; spines uniformly colored to darker on apical half; anterior antennal, posterior antennal, and dorsal and ventral posterolateral processes of abdominal segment 9 darker apically ( Fig. 2 ).

Head with pair of rugose, recurved, dorsally rounded, ventrally-wedge shaped, anterior antennal processes not joined at base; with group of 4 (male) or 5 (female) basally rugose, dorsally rounded, ventrally wedge-shaped posterior antennal processes curving and becoming shorter posteriorly; inner or first posterior process longer than and separated from outer processes by flattened area of cuticle; outer 3 (male) or 4 (female) posterior processes basally fused and very close together, becoming shorter posteriorly; sensory pore on outermost process not visible. Facial area with 2 pairs of short, stout, dark, reclinate spines posterior to antennal processes; median facial spines bifurcate, bearing long, thin bristlelike spines posteriorly; lateral facial spines unbranched, laterally compressed ( Fig. 3 ). Labral sheath narrow, elongate, heart-shaped, smooth with median furrow. Palpal sheaths tubercle-like, present on each side of labral sheath about half way down maxillary sheath. Proboscidal sheath smooth, with median furrow; sheath posteriorly flat in male, bulbous in female on each side of furrow; sheath apically bumpy. Maxillary sheath smooth, extending 2/3–3/4 length of proboscidal sheath.

Anterior coxal sheath smooth, except for some median striations or furrows, with anteromedian longitudinal split. Posterior coxal sheath smooth, folded inward. Prothoracic spiracle light reddish brown, elongate oval, on slight callosity, situated midlaterally at anterior margin of thorax. Anterior mesothoracic spines present on each side of thorax above, and extending over, bases of mid leg sheaths, consisting of anterior pair of basally broad and fused, dorsoventrally flattened, straight to posteriorly curved spines with sclerotized edges, and single, short, posterior spine basally broad to narrow, dorsally flattened, ventrally wedge-shaped, straight, widely separated from anterior pair. Posterior mesothoracic callosity at base of wing sheath bulbous, with short, broadly rounded, posterior mesothoracic spine consisting of sclerotized posterior ridge. Wing sheath smooth, with elongate grooves. Thoracic area above wing sheath smooth. Apex of hind leg sheath (leg sheath 3) reaching to middle of abdominal segment 3. Leg sheaths apically bilobed with median projection.

Abdominal segments 1–7 each with dorsomedian transverse row of long and short spines in irregular patterns, becoming larger and longer posteriorly, and shorter laterally. Dorsolateral and ventral bristlelike spines about same length but becoming longer posteriorly, and postspiracular bristlelike spines mostly very long, with some shorter lateral spines, male spines more equal in length than female spines, and spine(s) toward venter longest. Some bristlelike spines bifurcate for almost entire length.

Spiracles of abdominal segments 1–7 situated along midline laterally, light reddish brown, very small, spherical to elongate oval, flush or almost flush with cuticle.

Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of 31–33 spines consisting of median pair of equal-length, short spines on each side, with 3–4 long spines between which are 1–2 short spines in male, then 8–10 variable length spines with lateral spine very small on each side in male and with 12–16 variable length spines on each side in female. Male with 1 light brown dorsolateral bristlelike spine on each side; female with 2–3 very small or vestigial spines; male with 7–9 postspiracular bristlelike spines, some small and very short; female with 6–8 alternating long and short spines; venter obscured by wing and leg sheaths.

Male abdominal segment 2 with dorsal transverse row of 28 spines consisting of 4 median short spines, 2 inner and 2 outer spines of equal lengths, flanked by 12–15 variable length spines, some alternating long and short or 2– 3 short spines between long spines, lateral spine vestigial; female with 30 spines consisting of 3 short median spines, middle one shortest, flanked by 2 long spines between which are 4 short spines, then 7–8 variable length spines. Dorsolateral bristlelike spines on each side of male pupal case consisting of 3–5 long and short spines; in female pupal case 6 long and short spines with lateral spines shorter; male pupal case with 5–7 long and short postspiracular bristlelike spines; female pupal case with 6–9 long postspiracular spines; male with 3–4 short ventral bristlelike spines on each side of wing and leg sheaths, female with 6–8 spines on each side of wing and leg sheaths.

Male abdominal segment 3 with dorsal transverse row of 28 spines consisting of 4 short median spines, with inner 2 and outer 2 of equal lengths, and 10–13 variable length spines on each side, sometimes alternating long and short or with 3–4 short spines between long spines; female with dorsal transverse row of 35 spines consisting of 5 short, median spines, with outer 2 and middle 3 equal and middle spine slightly posterior to others, and on each side with 2 long spines with short spines in between and 10–12 variable length spines; male case with 3 long and short dorsolateral bristlelike spines, female with 4–5 long spines; male with 4–5 long bristlelike postspiracular spines; female with 7–8 long and short postspiracular spines; male with row of 23 mostly long, ventral bristlelike spines; female with row of 22 ventral spines, including 10 median short spines; male and female with median space in ventral row of spines.

Male abdominal segment 4 with dorsal transverse row of 28 spines consisting of 3 short median spines, with middle spine shortest, flanked by 2 long spines between which is one short spine, then 7–8 variable length spines; female with dorsal transverse row of 28 spines consisting of 2 equal length short median spines flanked by 12–13 variable length spines; male with 3–4 long and short dorsolateral bristlelike spines, female with 3–6 long dorsolateral spines; male with 4–5 long and short postspiracular bristlelike spines; female with 6–8 long postspiracular spines; male with ventral transverse row of 26 mostly long spines, 2 median short spines, median space absent; female with ventral transverse row of 23 mostly long spines, but median spine short, and slight median space present.

Male abdominal segment 5 with dorsal transverse row of 28 spines consisting of 4 short median spines with middle 2 and 1 outer spine shortest, flanked by 11–12 variable length spines; female with dorsal transverse row of 30 spines consisting of 3 short median short spines with middle spine shortest, flanked by 12-15 variable length spines; male with 3–6 long dorsolateral bristlelike spines, female with 5–6 long dorsolateral spines; male with 4–5 long postspiracular bristlelike spines; female with 7 long postspiracular spines; male with ventral transverse row of 20 mostly long bristlelike spines, but 2 median spines short and outer spine on each side short; female with ventral transverse row of 23 bristlelike spines, including 12 median short spines.

Male abdominal segment 6 with dorsal transverse row of 19 spines consisting of 3 short median spines (middle spine slightly longer) and 8–9 variable length spines on each side; female with dorsal transverse row of 33 spines consisting of 2 short median spines and 14–19 variable length spines on each side, some anterior to others, sometimes alternating long and short, and some close together and laterally flattened; male with 7 long dorsolateral bristlelike spines; female with 6–7 mostly long dorsolateral spines, but 2 anterior spines short; male with 4 long postspiracular bristlelike spines; female with 7–10 long postspiracular spines; male with ventral transverse row of 27 mostly long bristlelike spines, but median 3 spines and outer spine on each side short; female with ventral transverse row of 29 spines, including 10 median short spines.

Male abdominal segment 7 with median space in dorsal transverse row of 20 spines, including on each side 1– 2 equal length short spines, 2 long spines between which are 3 variable length spines and 3–4 variable length outer spines; female with median space in dorsal transverse row of 24 spines including on each side 1–2 short, equal spines, 2 long spines between which are 4 short spines and 2–4 variable length outer spines, outer spine on each side shorter; male with 6 long dorsolateral bristlelike spines, female with 6–10 long dorsolateral spines; male with 10–13 long and short postspiracular bristlelike spines; female with 10–11 long postspiracular spines; male with ventral transverse row of 19 long and short bristlelike spines, including 4 short median spines; female with ventral transverse row of 26 mostly long spines, but 14 short median spines, extending almost to lateral bristlelike spines.

Segments 8 and 9 curved ventrally ( Fig. 2 ). Male abdominal segment 8 with 2 subequal dorsal spines on each side of midline, one inner spine with basal short spine; dorsolateral, lateral and ventral spines absent; female with 1 very short and 1 long dorsal spine on each side of midline, 1 short dorsolateral spine; lateral and ventral spines absent. Spiracle small, elongate oval, yellowish (male) to light reddish brown (female).

Male segment 9 with pair of proximate dorsomedian callosities; with subequal dorsal and ventral posterolateral processes, with dorsal processes mostly smooth, dorsally wedge-shaped, ventrally flat to concave, curved ventrally or inwardly and ventral processes mostly smooth, dorsally flat to concave, ventrally wedge-shaped, curved dorsally; with pair of midventral tubercles ( Fig. 4 ). Female segment 9 with pair of large dorsomedian callosities; with pair of short, rugose, dorsally wedge-shaped, ventrally flat, ventrally curved posterolateral processes; with pair of larger, slightly longer, rugose, ventrally wedge-shaped, dorsally flat, dorsally curved ventral posterolateral processes ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 5. Laphria ferox Williston, 2. Female pupal case, lateral view, 3. Facial sheath, ventral view, 4. Male abdominal segments 8 – 9, ventral view, 5. Female abdominal segments 8 – 9, ventral view. Abbreviations: dpp = dorsal posterolateral process, lfsp = lateral facial spine, mfsp = median facial spine, mvt = midventral tubercles, vpp = ventral posterolateral process.