Robber flies in cretaceous ambers (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae)

Abstract

Cretaceous fossils of Asilidae are reviewed, and two new taxa from Burmese and Raritan (New Jersey) ambers are described. The first robber fly from Burmese amber, †Burmapogon bruckschi, new genus and species, is described based on specimens of both sexes. A scientific name is provided for the previously described but unnamed fossil assassin fly from Raritan amber, †Cretagaster raritanensis, new genus and species, preserved as a fragmentary specimen. The amber fossils are placed phylogenetically within Asilidae. Specifically, †Burmapogon is postulated to be a representative of the clade comprised of (Brachyrhopalinae + Stichopogoninae), while †Cretagaster is a member of the Leptogastrinae and postulated to be an extinct sister group to (Acronychini + Leptogastrini). © American Museum of Natural History 2014.