Eudioctria unica

Adisoemarto & Wood, 1975

Eudioctria unica is a of robber fly in the Asilidae, described by Adisoemarto and Wood in 1975. It belongs to the Stenopogoninae and is among the smallest North American robber flies, measuring only 6–8 mm in length. The Eudioctria is primarily western in distribution, with only four species extending into eastern North America.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eudioctria unica: /ˌjuːdiˈɒktriə ˈjuːnɪkə/

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Identification

Eudioctria are among the tiniest North American robber flies at 6–8 mm length. They superficially resemble Cerotainia ( Laphriinae) but lack the extra-long characteristic of that . According to Norman Lavers, Eudioctria can be distinguished behaviorally from Cerotainia: Eudioctria prefers flat leaves at the top of small shrubs, while Cerotainia tends to perch on twig-ends. Species-level identification requires examination of facial gibbosities and assessment of pollinosity on various body parts.

Distribution

The Eudioctria is primarily a western U.S. genus. Four of its 14 (albius, brevis, propinqua, tibialis) occur in eastern states, though the specific distribution of E. unica is not detailed in available sources.

Behavior

Eudioctria preferentially perch on flat leaves at the top of small shrubs, a behavioral trait distinguishing them from the morphologically similar Cerotainia.

Similar Taxa

  • CerotainiaSuperficially similar in appearance due to small size, but distinguished by extra-long and different perching (twig-ends vs. flat leaves on shrub tops).
  • Other Eudioctria speciesFour (albius, brevis, propinqua, tibialis) occur in eastern North America alongside E. unica; require examination of facial gibbosities and body pollinosity for separation.

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