Records of Coleoptera as prey of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in eastern New Mexico and west Texas.
By Pollock, D.A. and R.J. Lavigne.
BioOne
Pollock, D.A. and R.J. Lavigne. 2019. Records of Coleoptera as prey of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in eastern New Mexico and west Texas. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 121(1): 81-102.
Abstract
Two hundred and ninety-three records for 20 families of Coleoptera (excluding Carabidae) preyed upon by 36 species (in 18 genera) of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in eastern New Mexico and adjacent west Texas are listed. Among genera of asilid predators, individuals of
Heteropogon Loew, 1847 (4 spp.) were responsible for 54.6% of all Coleoptera prey records, followed by
Efferia Coquillett, 1893 (7 spp.) with 10.2% and
Diogmites Loew, 1866 (3 spp.) with 9.2%. The three genera of asilids with the highest percentage of beetle prey among all insect and spider prey collected were
Ospriocerus Loew, 1866 (41% of 44 records),
Heteropogon Loew, 1847 (23% of 814 records) and
Proctacanthus Macquart, 1838 (10% of 440 records).