RECORDS OF COLEOPTERA AS PREY OF ROBBER FLIES (DIPTERA:ASILIDAE) IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS

Two hundred and ninety-three records for 20 families of Coleoptera (excluding Carabidae) preyed upon by 36 species (in 18 genera) of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in eastern New Mexico and adjacent west Texas are listed. Among genera of asilid predators, individuals of Heteropogon Loew, 1847 (4 spp.) were responsible for 54.6% of all Coleoptera prey records, followed by Efferia Coquillett, 1893 (7 spp.) with 10.2% and Diogmites Loew, 1866 (3 spp.) with 9.2%. The three genera of asilids with the highest percentage of beetle prey among all insect and spider prey collected were Ospriocerus Loew, 1866 (41% of 44 records), Heteropogon Loew, 1847 (23% of 814 records) and Proctacanthus Macquart, 1838 (10% of 440 records). Four families of beetles accounted for 72% of prey records: 33% were Chrysomelidae (comprising 16 species), 18% Scarabaeidae (15 species), 11% Tenebrionidae (4 species), and 10% Melyridae (6 species). Data are presented on the prey composition for each of the 18 asilid genera documented in this paper. Comments are made on the top three asilid genera and specific beetle families that were relatively well represented among the prey records; photographs of localities mentioned in the paper are provided.