Mallophora fautrix Osten Sacken, 1887

Dennis, D. Steve, Barnes, Jeffrey K. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2008, Pupal cases of Nearctic robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1868 (1), pp. 1-98 : 56-57

Mallophora fautrix Osten Sacken

( Fig. 34 )

This description is based on a pupal case with a pinned male from the United States National Museum labeled "Coquillett; Los Angeles, Cal."

Description: Greatest length, including anterior antennal processes, 27.0 mm; greatest width of thorax 6.5 mm; greatest width of abdomen 5.0 mm, tapering to 2.0 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8. Integument subshining golden brown, with some orange to tan mottling; spines and other processes glistening reddish brown.

Head with pair of dorsally flattened, ventrally wedge­shaped anterior antennal processes not joined at base and group of 3 subequal, basally fused posterior antennal processes; outer or third posterior process elbowed, middle and outer posterior processes round to flat apically, inner or first posterior process rounded. Labral sheath rugulose anteriorly, with apical keel surrounded by 2 dark, concentric rings. Proboscial sheath with 2 indistinct tubercles on each side of midline posteriorly and larger, posteriorly convex posterior tubercle. Maxillary sheath with large, posterior, apically rounded process, base and area on each side of labral sheath highly rugulose.

Anterior coxal sheath mostly smooth with anterior, median, longitudinal split. Prothoracic spiracle elongate, surrounded by ring of cuticle flush with prothoracic area, situated laterally at anterior margin of thorax. Anterior mesothoracic spines consisting of pair of subequal, apically rounded spines above base of sheath of mid legs; thoracic area above spines rugose. Posterior mesothoracic callosity large, at base of wing sheath, with posterior median spine, rugose and indented near dorsal surface. Wing sheath apically rugulose, rugose and pitted above spiracle of abdominal segment 1; tubercle near base and shorter tubercle medially. Thoracic area above wing sheath and near anterior mesothoracic spines rugulose. Apex of hind leg sheath reaching to middle of abdominal segment 2.

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

Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of 16 dorsoventrally flattened, straight to apically recurved spurs; median pair and dosolateral spurs short; 3 lateral bristle­like spines behind and below spiracle; venter obscured by wing and leg sheaths; dorsolateral bristle­like spines absent.

Segments 2–7 with dorsomedian transverse row of 13–20 alternating long, narrow spurs and short, straight to slightly recurved spines; short spines slightly anterior to long spurs; with 2–4 dorsolateral bristlelike spines, often basally fused.

Segment 2 with 5 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of hind leg sheath; some spines fused basally. Abdominal segments 3–4 with 21–29 ventral bristle­like spines; segments 5–7 with 16–18 bristle­like spines; some spines bifurcate, apically round to more acute or pointed.

Segments 2–7 with 6–8 bristle­like spines behind spiracles, some spines bifurcate or close together but not fused basally.

Segment 8 with 4 dorsal spurs on each side of midline, 2 dorsolateral spines on each side, 2–3 very broad lateral bristle­like spines, and 6 ventral spines; spiracle absent.

Segment 9 with pair of long dorsal posterolateral processes curved upward; pair of short ventral posterolateral processes fused basally to dorsal posterolateral processes; pair of large, midventral, apically rounded tubercles; and pair of large, rugose, posteroventral tubercles.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Mallophora fautrix Osten Sacken, lateral view with enlarged dorsolateral view of thoracic region and ventral view of abdominal segments 8–9. Abbreviations: amsp = anterior mesothoracic spine, dpp = dorsal posterolateral process, pmc = posterior mesothoracic callosity.