Perasis, Hermann, 1905

Londt, Jason G. H., 2007, A review of Afrotropical Perasis Hermann, 1905 (Diptera: Asilidae: Laphriinae), Zootaxa 1521, pp. 9-18 : 17

Key to Afrotropical species of Perasis

Oldroyd (1970) mentioned the very close resemblance between carpenteri and transvaalensis , listing only two characters useful for their separation. Apart from the obvious differences in male genitalia (not studied by Oldroyd) I can find no other diagnostic features useful for keying these species. While arabicus and maura , both palaearctic species, have erroneously been listed as Afrotropical, both are readily separated from truly Afrotropical species by their possession of well-developed scutellar macrosetae.

1. Thoracic pleura uniformly micropruinose; silver pruinescence of hind margins of abdominal terga 2–5 continuous (broad laterally, narrow medially); ♂ genitalia as Figs 4–8 ; East African species .................... ....................................................................................................................................... carpenteri Oldroyd

- Thoracic pleura not uniformly micropruinose, anepisternum and katepisternum with shiny apruinose areas anteriorly; silver pruinescence of hind margins of abdominal terga 2–5 confined to lateral parts, these areas not joining medially; ♂ genitalia as Figs 9–12 ; Southern African species ..... transvaalensis Ricardo

Figures

FIGURES 4–8. Perasis carpenteri Oldroyd, 1970. Holotype male terminalia. 4. Lateral. 5. Dorsal. 6. Ventral view of hypandrium. 7. Gonocoxite lateral view. 8. Ventral. Scale line 1 mm.

FIGURES 9–12. Perasis transvaalensis Ricardo, 1925. Topotypic male terminalia. 9. Lateral. 10. Dorsal. 11. Ventral view of hypandrium. 12. Ventral. Scale line 1 mm.