Genus Apiocera - Flower-loving flies

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Apiocera haruspex atrifaciata? - Apiocera - female

Two species known from this remote desert locale - Apiocera macswaini - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)

Superfamily Asiloidea

Family Apioceridae

Genus Apiocera (Flower-loving flies)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

revised in (1)

Explanation of Names

Apiocera Westwood 1835

'pear-horn', refers to the shape of antennomere 3

Numbers

48 spp. in our area (all in the subg. Pyrocera), >140 spp. in 4 subgenera total(2)

Identification

Males are easily recognized by their pair of large, dark, bulbous, hemitergites (the dorsolateral covering of the terminalia arising as lateral posterior projections of the ninth tergite(1)).

Females have short, tapering, cylindrical sclerites near the end of the abdomen, the tip covered by numerous, stout, outwardly-radiating, spines.

Some species have distinctive abdominal markings, but for most species ID must be confirmed via examination of male terminalia, visible by properly spreading hemitergites (see here)

Range

each subgenus in a diff. region, with Australia having the largest species number of any continent; in NA, western (mosly sw.US)(2)

Print References

Cazier M. (1985) New species and notes on flies belonging to the genus Apiocera (Diptera, Apioceridae). Am. Mus. Novitates 2837: 1-28. (Full text)

Wharton R.A. (1983) The biology of Apiocera haruspex Osten Saken (Diptera: Apioceridae) in central California, and comparison with other Asiloidea. Pan-Pac. Entomol. 58: 296-301

Internet References

photos of type specimens

Works Cited

1.	A revision of the North American flies belonging to the genus Apiocera (Diptera, Apioceridae) Mont A. Cazier. 1982. Bulletin of the AMNH ; vol. 171, pp. 287-467.

2.	Dikow T. (2001–) Asiloid Flies web-site

Contributed by Keith Bayless on 13 March, 2008 - 8:37am
Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff, Vox Sciurorum, v belov
Last updated 2 June, 2023 - 4:16pm

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