Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Pupa from Warbler nest
#1
Hi,
I found this pupae burrowed among nest material of Wood Warbler nest. Is it Asilidae?
#3
Ans last one, more focused on the head part:
#4
Looks like it. Normally asilid larvae are found in soil, so I'd say this ended up in the nest accidentally. I assume the wood warbler was ground-nesting, as is usual for the species.
#5
Could it be a Rhagionidea?
#6
I still have this pupa, preserved in alcohol. I may put here additional photo, if there is a chance to id to the family level.
#7
I hope more colleagues will have a look at it. Usually pupae of the Asilidae have more projections at the head, but I could find one illustration in Melin 1923 of a pupa of Leptogaster cylindrica which only has two projections, similar to this one.
#8
On these pictures two additional projectors (below these huge) are visible. Maybe this could be useful.
#9
And another perspective:
#10
This appears to be a member of Therevidae. The supra-alar processes are elongate, whereas they are truncate and resemble a short carina in Asilidae. Furthermore, note the laterally-protruding antennal sheaths (these are more posteriorly directed in Asilidae) and the slender posterior processes, which are thickened and thornlike in Asilidae.
Stubbs & Drake 2001 have a good key to families of British pupae, and in this case its diagnosis would have been correct (it doesn't always work in other parts of the world).
I wouldn't be surprised if somebody more familiar with Therevidae could identify this further.
#11
May I suggest Scenopinidae? Perhaps also more likely to be found in a bird's nest?
#12
I recall reading somewhere that elongate supra-alar processes like we see here are limited to Therevinae (which has certainly been my experience with specimens). I'll see if I can find the reference soon.
#13
Comparing with Manual of Nearctic Diptera I concur with Therevidae.