Machimus
Creators: name: Dennis, D. Steve
name: Barnes, Jeffrey K.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Asilidae
Machimus

description: Key to known pupal cases of Nearctic Machimus species
Dennis et al. (2008a) provided a key to the pupal cases of five species of Machimus (M. lecythus, M. notatus, male M. occidentalis, M. paropus, and M. snowii). This key is revised below to include M. latapex and M. prairiensis, and the female pupal cases of M. occidentalis and M. erythocnemius (Hine, 1909). The latter was not included in the original key because Scarbrough and Kuhar (1995) did not mention the presence or absence of a tubercle-like swelling (i.e., the palpal sheath) on the maxillary sheath. However, they did indicate that the maxillary sheath is entirely smooth and thus, it is assumed that there is not a tubercle-like swelling or palpal sheath.
1. Palpal sheaths sometimes visible on inner margin of maxillary sheaths towards apex of labral sheath; abdominal segment 8 with 0–4 (usually 1–4, on M. lecythus they are absent) dorsolateral bristlelike spines............................... 2
- Palpal sheaths not visible on inner margin of maxillary sheaths towards apex of labral sheath; abdominal segment 8 lacking dorsolateral bristlelike spines........................................................................... 4
2. Palpal sheaths present; anterior mesothoracic spines equal or subequal in length and posteriorly curved................ 3
- Palpal sheaths present or absent; outer or lateral anterior mesothoracic spine 1.5–2 times as long as inner anterior spine that is posteriorly curved......................................................... Machimus lecythus (Walker, 1849)
3. Abdominal segments 2–6 lacking short, dorsolateral spines, with 6 long spurs alternating with 7 short spines that are not bifurcate; segment 8 with 2 dorsal spurs and 1–2 dorsolateral bristlelike spines; male with 16 ventral bristlelike spines............................................................................... Machimus notatus (Wiedemann, 1828)
- Abdominal segments 2–6 with 1–2 dorsolateral spines on each side and 6 long spurs alternating with 5–7 short spines that may be bifurcate; abdominal segment 8 with 4–8 (usually 6–8) dorsal spurs, dorsolateral bristlelike spines usually absent; with 1–9 (male) or 4–8 (female) ventral bristlelike spines.................................. Machimus paropus (Walker, 1849)
4. Abdominal segment 8 with 1–3 dorsal spurs on each side of midline; long single spur or inner spur usually longer than outer spur(s)............................................................................................. 5
- Abdominal segment 8 with 2 dorsal spurs on each side of midline; spurs subequal in length.................................................................................................. Machimus prairiensis (Tucker, 1907)
5. Proboscidal sheath with or without posterior medial groove or furrow anterior to 1–2 horizontal or vertical tubercles; abdominal segment 8 with 2 dorsal spurs on each side of midline..................................................... 6
- Proboscidal sheath lacking posterior medial groove or furrow anterior of single horizontal, terminal tubercle; abdominal segment 8 with 2–3 dorsal spurs on each side of midline........................... Machimus erythocnemius (Hine, 1909)
6. Proboscidal sheath with posterior medial groove or furrow anterior of single horizontal or vertical tubercle; posterior antennal processes innermost process not widely separated from outermost processes; interior and sometimes outer, anterior mesothoracic spines usually curved posteriorly................................................................... 7
- Proboscidal sheath with or without medial groove or furrow anterior of two indistinct to minute vertical terminal tubercles; posterior antennal processes innermost process widely separated from outermost processes; anterior mesothoracic spines straight................................................................. Machimus occidentalis (Hine, 1909)
7. Proboscidal sheath with horizontal terminal tubercle; abdominal segments 2–6 with row of 1–6 outer short dorsal spines on each side of alternating long spurs and short spines; segment 8 with 3–4 postspiracular bristlelike spines............................................................................................. Machimus snowii (Hine, 1909)
- Proboscidal sheath with vertical posterior tubercle; abdominal segments 2–6 lacking row of short dorsal spines on each side of alternating long spurs and short spines; segment 8 with 5–6 postspiracular bristlelike spines.................................................................................................... Machimus latapex (Martin, 1975)
description: Published as part of Dennis, D. Steve & Barnes, Jeffrey K., 2013, Pupal cases of three Nearctic species of Machimus (Diptera: Asilidae), pp. 561-570 in Zootaxa 3683 (5) on pages 569-570, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3683.5.4, http://zenodo.org/record/217203