Proctacanthus Macquart

Scarbrough, Aubrey G. & Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E., 2006, A review of the asilid (Diptera) fauna from Hispaniola with six genera new to the island, fifteen new species, and checklist, Zootaxa 1381, pp. 1-91 : 14

Proctacanthus Macquart

Proctacanthus Macquart, 1838: 120 (1839: 236) . Type species: philadelphicus Macquart ( Coquillett, 1910: 595). Hull, 1962: 487; Martin & Papavero, 1962: 77. Catalogue.

Remarks. A largely New World genus, only 6 WI species are known, and 3 of these are from Hispaniola. Here we add Azua, La Altagracia, La Vega, National District, Peravia, and San Cristóbal provinces in the Dominican Republic and Haiti to its distribution in Hispaniola. The species are recognized by a large body (20–45 mm), abruptly produced face, long tapered abdomen that extends beyond the wings, and veins R 4 and R 5 meeting the wing margin before the apex. Species perch on bare soil or low on vegetation. Ovipositors have conspicuous spines to deposite eggs in the soil.