Lampria bicolor (Wiedemann)

Dennis, D. Steve, Barnes, Jeffrey K. & Knutson, Lloyd, 2008, Pupal cases of Nearctic robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae), Zootaxa 1868 (1), pp. 1-98 : 21

Lampria bicolor (Wiedemann)

( Figs 1–3 )

The following description is based on two pinned pupal cases in the Charles A. Triplehorn Insect Collection, Ohio State University , Columbus. Both are labeled " Campbell Co., Tenn.; Cedar Creek; August 10, 1950; Robert M. Goslin. ” Several adults pinned separately bear the same label data .

Description: Greatest length, including anterior antennal processes, 11.1–12.2 mm; greatest width of thorax 2.4–2.9 mm; greatest width of abdomen 2.2–2.5 mm, tapering to 1.2 mm at greatest width of abdominal segment 8. Integument subshining yellowish brown, darker at apex of wing sheath; spurs, spines, and processes reddish brown, often darker apically; some dorsal abdominal spines uniformly colored; bristle­like spines yellowish to light reddish brown.

Head with pair of long, cone­shaped, apically curved anterior antennal processes not joined at base and group of 5 basally fused posterior antennal processes curving and becoming shorter posteriorly, inner or first posterior process barely fused to other posterior processes by area of flattened, heavily sclerotized cuticle, outer or fifth posterior process may be broadly rounded. Facial area with pair of small, basally fused, bifurcate or trifurcate median spines on each side of midline and single, short, outer spine lateral to each outermost posterior antennal process. Labral and proboscial sheaths mostly smooth, with median groove; proboscial sheath terminating with slight keel which has 2 small, anterior tubercles and median groove. Maxillary sheath smooth to slightly rugulose, elongate, extending two­thirds length of proboscial sheath, with minute process on inner margin apically.

Anterior coxal sheath smooth, with anterior, median, longitudinal split. Prothoracic spiracle round, located midlaterally on slight callosity. Anterior mesothoracic spines at base of mid leg sheath, consisting of anterior pair of posteriorly curved, fused spines and widely separated, single, posterior, short, straight spine. Posterior mesothoracic callosity small, smooth, at base of wing sheath, with very small, apically rounded posterior mesothoracic spine. Wing sheath smooth to irregularly rugulose, with median, elongate grooves; median and/or basal tubercles absent. Thoracic area above wing sheath mostly smooth except for creases where sheath joins thorax. Apex of hind leg sheath reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of abdominal segment 2.

Abdominal spiracles round, yellowish to light reddish brown, almost flush with cuticle, located along midline laterally on segments 1–8.

Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal transverse row of 23 short, unequal, apically pointed spines and single, short, broad, median bifurcate or trifurcate spine; lacking discernable dorsolateral spines or spurs; 3 lateral bristle­like spines behind each spiracle; venter obscured by wing and leg sheaths.

Segments 2–8 lacking spurs; segments 2–5 with dorsal transverse row of 24–33 short, stout spines; segment 6 with 11 spines of unequal length, some alternately short and long; segment 7 with 8 elongate dorsolateral spines on each side of midline. Segments 2–5 with 3–5 dorsolateral bristle­like spines; segment 6 with 4– 6 dorsolateral bristle­like spines; segments 1–6 with 3 lateral bristle­like spines; segment 7 with 4–5 lateral bristle­like spines. Segment 2 with 6–8 ventral bristle­like spines on each side of, or extending under, sheaths of mid legs; segments 3–6 with 19–22 bristle­like spines; ventral spines on segment 3 interrupted medially where presumably mid leg sheaths rubbed venter; segment 7 with 13–17 bristle­like spines, outer 1–2 spines frequently short; venter of all segments with spines of irregular length, some very short, spines becoming longer and often thicker posteriorly.

Segments 8–9 curved downward. Segment 8 with 1 dorsal spine on each side of dorsal midline and round, reddish­brown spiracle at lateral midline; lacking dorsolateral, lateral, and ventral spines.

Segment 9 with pair of stout dorsomedian tubercles, short dorsal posterolateral processes, and pair of short, stout, rugose ventral posterolateral processes.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Lampria bicolor (Wiedemann), 1. ventral view, 2. lateral view with abdominal segments numbered, 3. dorsal view. Abbreviations: aap = anterior antennal process, absr = abdominal spiracle, acsh = anterior coxal sheath, amsp = anterior mesothoracic spine, cesh = compound eye sheath, ctst = cephalothoracic suture, dpp = dorsal posterolateral process, fst = frontal suture, lesh 1 = fore leg sheath, lesh 2 = mid leg sheath, lesh 3 = hind leg sheath, lfsp = lateral facial spine, lsh = labral sheath, mfsp = median facial spine, msh = maxillary sheath, pap = posterior antennal process, pcsh = posterior coxal sheath, pmc = posterior mesothoracic callosity, prsh = proboscial sheath, pthsr = prothoracic spiracle, vpp = ventral posterolateral process, wsh = wing sheath.