Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. IV. Asilidae and other Diptera.

BACKGROUND: This is the fourth in a series of papers detailing the terrestrial arthropods collected during an intensive survey of a site near Steel Creek campground along the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The survey was conducted over a period of eight and a half months in 2013 using twelve trap types, including Malaise and canopy traps, Lindgren multifunnel traps, and pan traps. NEW INFORMATION: We provide collection records for 38 species of Asilidae and other Diptera, 7 of which are new state records for Arkansas: (Asilidae) Lasiopogon opaculus Loew, 1874; (Lygistorrhinidae) Lygistorrhina sancthecatharinae Thompson, 1975; (Stratiomyidae) Cephalochrysa nigricornis (Loew, 1866), Gowdeyana punctifera (Malloch, 1915), Sargus decorus Say, 1824; (Ulidiidae) Callopistromyia annulipes Macquart, 1855; and (Xylophagidae) Rachicerus obscuripennis Loew, 1863.

Review and analysis of information on the biology and morphology of immature stages of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae).

Recent publications on the immature stages of robber flies (Asilidae) are reviewed and listed for the 14 currently recognized subfamilies (Asilinae, Bathypogoninae, Brachyrhopalinae, Dasypogoninae, Dioctriinae, Laphriinae, Leptogastrinae, Ommatiinae, Phellinae, Stenopogoninae, Stichopogoninae, Tillobromatinae, Trigonomiminae, and Willistonininae). For the Phellinae there are only limited data on the pupal cases, and for the Tillobromatinae there are only limited data on the eggs (potential oviposition site in soil) and pupal cases. The recent literature is compared with pertinent pre-1972 publications.

Pupal cases of four Nearctic species of Laphria (Diptera: Asilidae).

The pupal cases of the Nearctic robber flies Laphria canis Williston, 1883: L. ferox Williston, 1883: L. macquarti (Banks, 1917): and L. posticata Say, 1824 are described and illustrated. A key is provided to the pupal cases of these and seven other species of Laphria previously described. A revised key also is included for the pupal cases of three genera of Laphriinae: Andrenosoma, Lampria, and Laphria.

Pupal cases of three nearctic species of Machimus (Diptera: Asilidae).

The pupal cases of the Nearctic robber flies, Machimus latapex Martin, 1975, M. occidentalis (Hine, 1909), and M. prairiensis (Tucker, 1907) are described. They are compared with the previously described pupal cases of six other Nearctic species of Machimus. The pupal case of M. latapex and facial sheaths and posterior antennal processes of M. occidentalis are illustrated.