Robber flies of South Korea
Subfamily Laphriinae
Subfamily: Laphriinae Diagnostic features
Prosternum fused to proepisternum.
Supero-posterior angle of anepisternum, in front of
wing insertion, with at least one strong, long bristle.
Katatergite never with vertical row of bristles.
Often large, robust hairy flies mimicking bees and
wasps.
Prosternum fused to proepisternum
Key to the South Korean Genera of the Subfamily Laphriinae
1. Proboscis short, triangular in cross section; vein closing discal cell aligned with vein closing 4th posterior cell; metallic,
purple/blue flies . . . Orthogonis
- Proboscis much longer, laterally flattened; vein closing discal cell not aligned with vein closing 4th posterior cell . . . 2
2. Parafacial hair in dense gold/yellow/silver/black mats, clearly differentiated from surrounding hairs and bristles; elongated,
slender setose flies, not resembling bumble bees; gonocoxite clearly separated into 2 halves by a depression or long setae
. . . Choerades
- Parafacial hair not in dense mats, not differentiated from surrounding hairs or bristles; short, squat, heavily setose flies resembling
bumble bees; gonocoxite not separated into 2 halves . . . Laphria
Key to the South Korean Species of the Genus Choerades
1. Proboscis apex narrowed to a blunt point; 18 mm in length . . . Choerades sp.
- Proboscis apex not narrowed . . . 2
2. Proboscis apex dorsally sharp, ventrally upturned; 10-14.5 mm in length . . . Choerades caudatus
- Proboscis apex not dorsally sharp, not ventrally upturned . . . 3
3. Proboscis apex angled, longer ventrally; males with apical knobs on tergites 6 & 7; 15-23 mm . . . Choerades caucasicus
- Proboscis apex not angled; males without tergal knobs . . . 4
4. Scutum of thorax with a distinct, narrow integumental stripe; 11 mm in length . . . Choerades nigrovittatus
- Scutum of thorax without a distinct, narrow integumental stripe . . . 5
5. Tergites 2-4 with light gray/white pollinose spots on posterior lateral edges; 11 mm in length . . . Choerades asprospilos sp. nov.
- Tergites 2-4 without light gray/white pollinose spots on posterior lateral edges . . . 6
6. Long, gold appressed hair on scutum and scutellum; long gold hair on tergites; denser on 3 apical tergites; gonocoxite with a sharp,
thin, apical fin-like projection of fused bristles; 11-19 mm . . . Choerades komurai
- Hair on scutum and scutellum different, or bare, gonocoxite without apical fin . . . 7
7. Long gold/red mats of hair on tergites 3-7 contrasting against black tergites 1 & 2; 16 mm . . . Choerades gilva
- Tergites of different color and hair . . . 8
8. Bare black flies; integument of scutellum wrinkled; 12-17 mm . . . Choerades japonicus
- Long mats of bright gold hair on medial and lateral surfaces of tergites; similar to C caucasicus, but much smaller,
less setose flies; 13-16 mm . . . Choerades amurensis
Key to the South Korean Species of the Genus Laphria
1. Abdominal tergites integumental black, with sparse yellow hair . . . Laphria hakiensis
- Abdominal tergites with long black, red, orange or yellow dense hair, covering integument . . . 2
2. Hair posterior of transverse suture mostly black; tergites 1-3 with short black medial hair and longer black lateral hair;
tergite 4 with bright orange marginal hair; tergites 5 & 6 covered completely in long mats of bright orange hair . . . Laphria mitsukurii
- Hair posterior of transverse suture yellow; tergites 1-3 with short yellow medial hair and longer yellow lateral hair; tergites 4-6 covered in
long mats of yellow hair . . . Laphria rufa
South Korean Species of the Genus Orthogonis
