Ommatius Normus

Scarbrough, Aubrey G., 2008, New Ommatius Wiedemann from the Americas with two new species groups, keys, and taxonomic notes (Diptera: Asilidae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (32), pp. 1-14 : 3

Ommatius Normus SPECIES GROUP

This group consists of six species and is thus far limited to Brazil, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its similarity to the costatus species group suggests that it is derived from within that lineage. The normus species group is distinguished from other congeners by the following: 1) posteroventral bristles on the hind femora are either absent or sparse; if present the bristles usually form two groups which are separated by a wide bare space, one at the extreme base and another on the apical 1/3-1/4, and usually consisting of 1-2 bristles basally and 1-5 apically; the male hind femora are usually swollen; 2) cell r 4 is horizontal, only slightly divergent with sides nearly straight, only slightly wider at the wing margin (Fig. 1-5); 3) base of cell m 1 narrow, 1/3-1/2 as wide as cell at basal 1/3 (Fig. 6, 15, 24, 33, 42); 4) epandrium with 1-3 long bristly setae or stout bristles which are longer and thicker than the surrounding setae (Fig. 1, 15, 24, 34, 43); 5) distiphallus horizontal, tubular and thick in cross-section (Fig. 12, 21, 30, 39, 48, 55), the anterior corners of the aedeagal sheath extend forward and fuse below the distiphallus, forming a transverse plate (Fig. 11-12, 20-21, 29-30, 38-39, 47-48); and 5) spermathecae usually 3-5 times longer than wide, often strongly constricted medially (Fig. 14, 23, 32, 41).