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Genus Lasia

Unknown - Lasia purpurata Neolasia purpurata - Lasia purpurata small headed fly - Lasia purpurata small headed fly - Lasia purpurata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)
Family Acroceridae (Small-headed Flies)
Genus Lasia
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lasia Wiedemann 1824
Explanation of Names
Lasia Wiedemann 1824
Numbers
2 spp. in our area, dozens in the Neotropics
Size
The largest of acrocerids, with body up to 30 mm (proboscis can reach twice that length)(1)
Identification
Proboscis very long; eyes widely separated below bases of antennae; abdomen more swollen and evenly convex above than in Eulonchus, and no ocellar tubercle.
"Our species are brilliant, metallic, blue, green, or purple, and extremely rapid in flight."(1)
Key and discussions for L. klettii and 4 Central American spp. in(2)
Original descriptions: L. purpurata | L. klettii
Range
our spp.: L. kletti AZ-NM & Mexico; L. purpurata southern Great Plains(3)
Print References
Bequaert J. (1933) Description of a new North American species of Lasia (Diptera, Cyrtidae). Am. Mus. Novit. 617: 1-2 (Full text)
Osten-Sacken C.R. (1875) Report upon the collection of Diptera made in portions of Colorado and Arizona during the year 1873. In: Wheeler’s report on geological and geographical exploration and surveys west of the 100th meridian 5: 803-807. (Full text)
Works Cited
1.The Flies of Western North America
Frank R. Cole and Evert I. Schlinger. 1969. University of California Press.
2.The genus Lasia (Diptera, Cyrtidae) in North America, with descriptions of two new species
Bequaert J. 1931. Am. Mus. Novit. 455: 1-11.
3.Thompson F.C., Pape T., Evenhuis N.L. (2013) Systema Dipterorum, Version 1.5