Efferia Coquillett, 1893

Lavigne, Robert J. & Dennis, Steve, 2019, Robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA with keys to genera and species, Zootaxa 4662 (1), pp. 1-126 : 33-35

Efferia Coquillett Group

Efferia Coquillett, 1893b: 175 . Species found in Wyoming: Albibarbefferia albibarbis , Aridefferia arid a, A. snowi, Carinefferia costalis , C. cressoni , C. jubata , C. prolifica , C. subcuprea , Nerax aestuans , Pogonioefferia benedicti , P. bicaudata , P. dubius , P. frewingi , P. helenae , P. kelloggi , P. pallidula , P. pogonias , P. rapax , P. staminea , and P. varipes .

Key to Species [adapted from Hine (1919) (as Erax ); Wilcox (1966b) (as Efferia )]

1 Forking of third vein (R 4+5) distinctly before the medio-cubital crossvein (m-cu; discalcrossvein of authors) or base of the second posterior cell ( Fig. 2C )............................................................................. 2

- Forking of third vein opposite or beyond the medio-cubital crossvein or base of the second posterior cell............... 12

2 Male abdominal segments 6 and 7 only, silvery white pollinose, ovipositor of female viewed from above pointed and split at tip.................................................................................................. 3

- Male abdomen with several segments grayish pollinose; ovipositor of female rounded at tip and not split................ 7

3 Scutellar bristles all or largely black...................................................................... 4

- Scutellar bristles in part or largely white................................................................... 6

4 Scutellar setae largely white; mystax white with some black bristles in male, 8–16 in female; male abdominal segments 1–4 dorsally and 2–3 ventrally with black setae, female abdominal segments white setae ventrally, dorsally sometimes with narrow center line of black setae; male setae on femora largely white, with short black above and longer below, female setae on legs and several bristles basally on femora white.............................................. Pogonioefferia frewingi

- Scutellar setae black: mystax yellow or white, usually with black bristles; male abdominal segments 1–5 dorsally and 2–5 ventrally with black setae; female abdominal segments 1–7 dorsally and 2–3 or 2–7 at least ventrally with black setae; setae on legs black or white.................................................................................... 5

5 Mystax yellow to light reddish brown, male usually with a few black bristles below; black setae on the femora and tibiae.................................................................................... Pogonioefferia pogonias

- Mystax white, male usually with black bristles above and below laterally; female usually with more than 20 black bristles; femora with mostly black setae; tibiae with long white and ventrally long black setae............. Pogonioefferia kelloggi

6 Mystax white usually with 19 black bristle and a few black setae below; basistyle of male genitalia forked, the upper arm short pointed inward, 2/5 the length of lower arm; female abdominal tergites 6 and 7 with short white setae only................................................................................................ Pogonioefferia bicaudata

- Mystax white with 4–5 black bristles below laterally and a few black setae below; upper arm of basistyle of male lacking; female abdominal tergites 6 and 7 with patch of short black setae dorsocentrally................. Pogonioefferia helenae

7 Mystax yellow to yellowish white........................................................................ 8

- Mystax white....................................................................................... 10

8 Tibiae and tarsi yellowish red to largely red except tips of tibiae; scutellar bristles black on margin in both sexes............................................................................................. Pogonioefferia dubius

- Tibiae black to reddish, tarsi black to reddish black; scutellar bristlesblack on males, white to yellowish on females....... 9

9 In males, abdominal tergite 3 basally and dorsomedially with patch of short black setae; lower arm of basistyle short, fringe golden, short sparse, shorter than basal two antennal segments combined.......................... Pogonioefferia rapax

- In males, abdominal tergite 3 with at most 5–6 short black setae dorsomedially; lower arm of basistyle long, curved downward, fringe as long as basal two antennal segments combined................................... Pogonioefferia staminea

10 Blackish gray species; postpronotal (humeral of authors) setae yellowish; meral (hypopleural of authors) bristles yellowish; posterior side of femora red or with reddish stripe........................................... Pogonioefferia varipes

- Silver and gray species; postpronotal setae at least white anteriorly and/or along margins; femora black................ 11

11 Sternite 8 of male produced apically with long black setae, basistyle abruptly right angled subapically; ocellar bristles of female usually white...................................................................... Pogonioefferia pallidula

- Sternite 8 of male produced apically with long white setae, gently subapically curved basistyle; ocellar bristles of female black............................................................................ Pogonioefferia benedicti

12 Posterior branch of third vein curves backward at tip and meets the costa beyond the apex of the wing....... Nerax aestuans

- Posterior branch of third vein curves forward and meets the costa well before the apex............................. 13

13 Mesonotum compressed laterally with a narrow crest of long setae or bristles on mid-dorsal line; wings of male with costa thickened or dilated at 4/5th its length.................................................................... 14

- Mesonotum not compressed laterally, no crest of long black setae or bristles on mid-dorsal line; wings of male without costa thickened or dilated.................................................................................. 18

14 Setae of scutellum predominantly black, numerous long and bristly............................................. 15

- Setae of scutellum, aside from black marginal bristles, white.................................................. 16

15 Male abdominal segments 1–5 mostly black, 6–7 silvery pollinose; segment 5 with short black setae; sternite 9 visible as two shining lobes; female ovipositor constricted between segments 8–9, tergite 9 rugose on upper half....... Carinefferia jubata

- Male abdominal segments 1–4 mostly black, 5–7 silvery pollinose; segment 5 with long white setae apically; sternite 9 not visible; female ovipositor not constricted, tergite 9 mostly polished with a small dorsal rugose area....... Carinefferia prolifica

16 Mesonotal crest of setae and bristles sparse with long black bristles and numerous short setae......... Carinefferia cressoni

- Mesonotal crest of setae dense with long black bristles and setae............................................... 17

17 Mesonotal crest curved backwards and setae as long as antennal segments 1–3; setae of epandrium (surstyli) of male genitalia black; meral (hypopleural of authors) bristles of female black................................ Carinefferia subcuprea

- Mesonotal crest with straight black setae as long as antennal segments 1–2, with some black setae curved backwards; setae of epandrium largely white; meral bristles of female straw white to white............................ Carinefferia costalis

18 Mesonotum anteriorly usually with setae shorter than antennal segments 1–2; scutellum with 8 white marginal bristles; femora black, tibiae and tarsi yellowish red, tops darker, tarsal bristles usually black.................. Albibarbefferia albibarbis

- Mesonotum anteriorly with numerous erect setae as long as antennal segments 1–3; scutellum usually with numerous white or pale yellowish and black marginal bristles; legs all or largely black; tarsal bristles usually white...................... 19

19 Mystax yellowish, sometimes with some black setae below on the sides; wings faintly yellowish hyaline; at least 3 abdominal segments thinly yellowish pollinose laterally, pale yellowish, long setae on sides; basal 1/4–1/2 of fore and mid tibiae and hind tibiae faintly reddish...................................................................... Aridefferia snowi

- Mystax white, at most with a few black setae below; wings hyaline; abdomen black to brownish, gray pollinose, setae white on at least sides of some segments; legs all black.................................................. Aridefferia arida

Figures

FIGURE 2 A–D. Robber fly wing venation and cells. A. Leptogaster sp. (Leptogastrinae) (Hull 1962), B. Atomosia puella (Laphriinae) (Hull 1962), C. Pogonioefferia staminea (Asilinae) (Hine 1919), D. Backomyia limpidipennis (Stenopogoninae) (Hull 1962). Abbreviations: veins—C, costa; CuA, anterior branch of cubital (cubitus); CuP, posterior branch of cubital; R1, anterior branch of radius; R, radius branching into R2+3, R4, R5. Cross veins: m-cu, medio-cubital; r-m, radio-medial. Cells: cua, anterior cubital; cup, posterior cubital; d, discal; m, medial (m1, m2, m3, m4); r1, radial (marginal); r3, r4, r5 posterior (submarginal). Figures not to scale.