Leptogaster
Meigen, 1803
Slender Robberflies
Species Guides
30Leptogaster is a large of robber flies (Asilidae) containing at least 260 described . Members are commonly known as slender robberflies due to their elongated body form. The genus belongs to the Leptogastrinae, a group distinguished by their gracile compared to more robust asilids. A complete sequence has been published for Leptogaster cylindrica.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Leptogaster: //ˌlɛptoʊˈɡæstər//
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Identification
Distinguished from other Asilidae by slender, elongate body and long thin legs. Leptogastrinae placement can be confirmed by gracile contrasting with the robust build of most robber flies. -level identification requires examination of specific morphological characters not defined at level.
Images
Appearance
Slender, elongate body form distinguishing them from the typically robust build of other robber flies. Long, thin and legs relative to body size. Members of Leptogastrinae are characterized by this gracile .
Distribution
Records from Denmark (DK), Norway (NO), Sweden (SE), Vermont (USA), and other US locations. Wider distribution likely given large count but not documented in available sources.
Ecological Role
As members of Asilidae, are predatory as . Specific ecological roles vary by species and have not been documented at level.
Human Relevance
Leptogaster cylindrica has been subject to sequencing research, contributing to genomic resources for Diptera.
Similar Taxa
- Other Asilidae generaLeptogaster differ by slender gracile build versus the robust, stocky typical of most robber flies
More Details
Taxonomic note
Sources referencing 'Speolepta leptogaster' ( Mycetophilidae) are not applicable to this . That name refers to a cave-dwelling fungus gnat, not a robber fly.
Genomic resources
Reference available for Leptogaster cylindrica (De Geer, 1776) through Wellcome Open Research
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Let’s folk-us on Folklore... - Buglife Blog - Buglife
- Figure 3 from: Dörge D, Zaenker S, Klussmann-Kolb A, Weigand A (2014) Traversing worlds - Dispersal potential and ecological classification of Speolepta leptogaster (Winnertz, 1863) (Diptera, Mycetophilidae). Subterranean Biology 13: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.13.6460
- Figure 2 from: Dörge D, Zaenker S, Klussmann-Kolb A, Weigand A (2014) Traversing worlds - Dispersal potential and ecological classification of Speolepta leptogaster (Winnertz, 1863) (Diptera, Mycetophilidae). Subterranean Biology 13: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.13.6460
- Figure 4 from: Dörge D, Zaenker S, Klussmann-Kolb A, Weigand A (2014) Traversing worlds - Dispersal potential and ecological classification of Speolepta leptogaster (Winnertz, 1863) (Diptera, Mycetophilidae). Subterranean Biology 13: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.13.6460
- Figure 1 from: Dörge D, Zaenker S, Klussmann-Kolb A, Weigand A (2014) Traversing worlds - Dispersal potential and ecological classification of Speolepta leptogaster (Winnertz, 1863) (Diptera, Mycetophilidae). Subterranean Biology 13: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.13.6460
- The genome sequence of a robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica (De Geer, 1776).