Robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA with keys to genera and species
Author
Lavigne, Robert J.
Author
Dennis, Steve
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-08-30
4662
1
1
126
journal article
25823
10.11646/zootaxa.4662.1.1
7070ef91-15db-4b7e-a87d-72e7b0bdb192
1175-5326
3383448
366A1E81-946C-4ED4-8A65-C51151FE87CC
Megaphorus guildianus
(Williston)
Mallophora guildiana
Williston, 1885: 60
.
Recognition characters:
Yellow species; length
9–13 mm
; mystax straw white; thorax yellow pilose, scutellar setae yellowish white; scutellar bristles lacking; wings brownish; abdomen yellow pilose, lateral setae on first abdominal segment yellowish white; legs, femora and tibiae orange with thick yellow setae, apex of hind tibiae with majority of bristles black, reddish brown with setae yellow above tarsi.
Distribution:
FREMONT: Lander, WANG, LTA,
8 Aug. 2004
(
CSU
,
GMAD
). HOT SPRINGS: Dutch Nick Flats, Big Horn Basin,
25 July 1962
(
CK
). GOSHEN: Lingle,
4 Aug. 1965
(
MHB
) (specimen in
NMSCA
). LARA- MIE: Pine Bluffs,
29 July–2 Aug. 1967
(
WAN
). NIOBRARA: Lance Creek,
5 Aug. 1995
(Wheeler-AMNH); Niobrara Co.,
17 Aug.
(
REP
,
JW
),
17 Aug. 1945
(
REP
) (specimen in
CAS
). PLATTE: Glendo,
19 Aug. 1959
(specimen in
CAS
),
6 July 1964
(
FRH
) (specimen in
NMSCA
); Glendo,
5 Aug. 1959
(specimen in
CAS
),
5 Aug.–3 Sept.
(
REP
,
JW
). Dwyer numerous records,
6 July–3 Sept.
(
RJL
); Camp
Guernsey
, WANG, 2001b (
CSU
,
GMAD
);
Guernsey
,
18 Aug. 1974
(
RJL
) (specimen in
MNSU
,
NMSCA
);
Guernsey
, numerous records
14 July–6 Sept.
(
LJS
,
RJL
,
SD
); Twin Pine Ranch,
13 km
W of Dwyer,
25 Aug. 1966
(
RJL
,
MHB
); Wheatland,
5–25 Aug. 1964
(
RJL
,
FRH
),
27 Aug. 1965
(
FRH
);
37 km
N of Wheatland, numerous records,
6 July–29 Aug.
(
SD
). SHERIDAN: Sheridan, WANG, LTA,
17 July 2006
(
CSU
,
GMAD
);
8 km
N Sheridan,
6 Aug. 1963
(
GEB
,
PT
) (specimen in
CAS
). TETON: Jackson,
21 June 1961
(
VR
). Recorded from Wyoming by: Cole & Pritchard, (1964) (Glendo, Lance Creek, Niobrara Co.);
Dennis & Lavigne (1975)
[as
Mallophorina guildiana
;
as prey of
Proctacanthus milbertii
(as
Proctacanthus micans
)], (1976b) (pupal case; as
Mallophorina guildiana
), (1976c) (as prey of
Efferia varipes
), (2007) (as
Megaphorus guildiana
);
Dennis
et al.
(2008)
(pupal case; as
Megaphorus guildiana
);
Geller-Grimm (2018)
;
Lavigne &
Holland
(1969)
[as
Mallophorina guildiana
; as prey of
Diogmites angustipennis
,
Pogonioefferia pallidula
(as
Efferia pallidula
)];
Lavigne
et al.
(1976)
[as
Mallophorina guildiana
; as prey of
Pogonioefferia benedicti
(as
Efferia benedicti
)], (1994).
Habitat:
Sagebrush steppe and wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe shrub and grassland, and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass and grama-buffalo grass grassland vegetation
types
. Open range, short- to mid-grass plains in areas having a high forb density (see
Dennis & Lavigne 1975
, as
Mallophorina guildiana
).
Ethology:
Usually forages from vegetation, and only rarely lands on the ground or a rock (e.g., when the sun is obscured by clouds) (see
Dennis & Lavigne 1975
).
Prey:
COLEOPTERA
,
DIPTERA
,
HEMIPTERA
(as Heteroptera and Homoptera),
HYMENOPTERA
(see
Dennis & Lavigne 1975
;
Rogers & Lavigne 1972
, both as
Mallophorina guildiana
).