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NEW SYNONYMY OF RHADIURGUS VARIABILIS (ZETTERSTEDT) (DIPTERA: ASILIDAE) WITH NOTES ON MORPHOLOGY, NATURAL HISTORY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Robert A. Cannings
Robert A. Cannings
Affiliation:
Biology Section, Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8V 1X4
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Abstract

Rhadiurgus variabilis (Zetterstedt 1838), a robber fly described from Europe, and Nigrasilus nitidifacies Hine 1908, described from North America, are newly synonymized. Lectotypes are designated for Asilus variabilis Zetterstedt and N. nitidifacies Hine. Some new descriptive material, including measurements and colour data, is given for five geographical regions: Europe, Eastern Siberia, Alaska/Yukon, Western Cordillera, and Boreal North America. Illustrations of male and female genitalia are presented. The species’ range is clarified and ecological data are summarized. Rhadiurgus variabilis inhabits northern and mountain forests from Scotland eastward to Labrador; it is one of the world’s most northerly ranging robber flies. Variation in the species includes an increasing proportion of dark body setae in individuals from Eurasia eastward through North America.

Résumé

Rhadiurgus variabilis (Zetterstedt 1838), un asile d’Europe, et Nigrasilus nitidifacies Hine 1908, trouvé en Amérique du Nord, sont synonymisés. Des lectotypes d’Asilus variabilis Zetterstedt et de N. nitidifacies Hine ont été désignés. Des caractères descriptifs nouveaux, notamment des mesures et des données relatives à la coloration, permettent de reconnaître l’espèce dans cinq régions géographiques, Europe, est de la Sibérie, Alaska/Yukon, Cordillère occidentale et zone boréale de l’Amérique du Nord. Les pièces génitales mâles et femelles sont illustrées. La répartition de l’espèce est précisée et on trouvera ici un résumé des données écologiques qui la concernent. Rhadiurgus variabilis habite les forêts boréales et les forêts de montagne de l’Ecosse au Labrador en faisant le tour du globe; il s’agit de l’une des espèces les plus boréales d’asile. L’un des caractères les plus variables de l’espèce est la proportion de plus en plus importante des soies corporelles foncées d’ouest en est, soit de l’Eurasie jusqu’à l’extrémité de l’Amérique du Nord.

[Traduit par la rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 125 , Issue 2 , April 1993 , pp. 337 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1993

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