Key to Laphria Meigen s. str. from Western North America North of Mexico
by S. W. Bullington
Couplet 1
Thorax mostly black haired; abdominal segments 2-6 with thick-set,
appressed straw-yellow hair, on segments 4-6 this yellow hair
sharply demarcated from lateral black hairs; mystax entirely black
in female. . . . . semitecta (Coquillett)
Thorax always with preponderance of yellow and/or red (usually
yellow) hairs on mesonotum, especially on posterior portion;
abdominal segments variable, but never as described above; mystax
in female mostly yellow. . . . .
Couplet 2
Thoracic mesonotum with a band of red hair across posterior margin;
scutellum with red hair . . . . . insignis (Banks)
Thoracic mesonotum with yellow hairs; scutellar hairs yellow or
black, never red. . . . .
Couplet 3
Abdominal tergite 6 black-haired in both sexes. . . . .
Couplet 4
Yellow hairs on posterior portion of mesonotum longer and more
thickly set than on anterior portion, giving dorsum of thorax a
definite "two-tone" look . . . . .
Couplet 5
Abdomen of male with most light hairs yellow, a few however forming
indistinct patches of washed-out red; first 3 abdominal tergites
black dorsally in female, contrasting sharply with the predominant
yellow on the more apical segments . . . . . columbica Walker and partitor (Banks)
Abdomen of male and female with extensive red hairs; contrast in
female between black and lighter portions of abdomen not marked . . . . .
Couplet 6 (4)
Scutellar hairs yellow; mystax entirely yellow except possibly for a
few black hairs in lower third; palpal hairs yellow . . . . . unicolor (Williston)
Scutellar hairs black; mystax with lower third entirely black; some
or all of palpal hairs black . . . . .
Couplet 7
First three and usually four abdominal tergites mostly or entirely
black haired, especially dorsally . . . . . Go to Couplet 8
Abdominal segments 2-4 with extensive yellow and/or red hairs . . . . .
Couplet 8
Tuft of hair in front of wings and tuft in front of halteres yellow;
tibiae yellow haired . . . . . astur Osten Sacken
Tuft of hairs in front of wings black, tuft in front of halteres
mostly or entirely black; tibiae black haired . . . . .
Couplet 9 (7)
Both sexes with yellow hairs on upper surface of posterior tibiae
extending to only slightly over half distance from base, forming
sharp contrast to black hairs on apical portion; hairs at sides of
first abdominal segment mostly black; red hairs at sides and
sometimes in middle of abdominal tergites 2-5 . . . . . engelhardti (Bromley)
Both sexes with yellow hairs on upper surface of posterior tibiae
extending entirely to apex; hairs at sides of first abdominal
segment mostly yellow; red hairs at sides of abdominal tergite 3,
on most of 4, and in some specimens on middle of 5 . . . . .
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