Lasia Wiedemann, 1824

Gillung, Jéssica Paula & Carvalho, Claudio José Barros De, 2009, Acroceridae (Diptera): a pictorial key and diagnosis of the Brazilian genera, Zootaxa 2175, pp. 29-41 : 38

Lasia Wiedemann, 1824

( Figs. 11 , 13,15)

Lasia Wiedemann, 1824: 11 . Type-species: Lasia splendens Wiedemann, 1824 .

Diagnosis. Eyes holoptic above the antennae and widely separated below. Scape and pedicel short, the latter cylindrical; flagellum longer than the scape and pedicel combined, more or less laterally compressed ( Fig. 13 ). Proboscis very long, often extending past the end of abdomen, arising from the middle of the head, just below the antenna ( Fig. 13 ). Veins R2+3, R4 and R5 parallel in Neotropical species ( Fig. 15 ).

Comments. The genus was poorly described originally by Wiedemann (1824). Wiedemann (1830) described Panops flavitarsis and Panops ocelliger , which are today included in Lasia . Yet, Panops is Australian while Lasia is restricted to the New World. Lasia is easily distinguished from Panops by the insertion of the antenna and the pilosity of the eyes. In Panops the antennae are inserted close to the vertex, while in Lasia the antennae are placed in the middle of the head ( Fig. 11 ). In Panops the eyes are bare, while in Lasia the eyes are conspicuously pilose ( Fig. 11 ).

References. Cole (1919), Bequaert (1931).

Brazilian species. L. auricoma (Westwood, 1848) [ Brazil], L. ocelliger ( Wiedemann, 1830) [ Brazil, São Paulo, Caçapava (type-locality)], L. rufipes (Westwood, 1848) [ Brazil], L. splendens ( Wiedemann, 1824) [ Brazil].

Figures

FIGURE 15. Wing, dorsal view, Lasia sp. 2.

FIGURES 11, 12. 11. Head, lateral view, Lasia sp. 2; 12. Head, lateral view, Ogcodes sp. 1.

FIGURES 13, 14. 13. Body, lateral view, Lasia sp. 2; 14. Head, lateral view, Ocnaea sp. 1.