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
Proctacanthella leucopogon
(Williston)
Asilus leucopogon
Williston, 1893b: 75
.
Recognition characters:
Brown species; length
15–16 mm
; mystax white; thorax brown pollinose; scutellar setae and bristles white; wings hyaline; abdomen brown pollinose; male genitalia without white pencil of setae, legs similar to
P. cacopiloga
; females can be separated on the basis that all setae on the underside of the first antennal segment are white in this species whereas in
P. cacopiloga
some are black; female
P. leucopogon
also have light colored setae/bristles dorsally on the hind tarsi (
P. cacopiloga
have dark setae).
Distribution:
BIG HORN: Lovell, WANG, LTA,
7 Aug. 2004
(
CSU
,
GMAD
). CONVERSE: Glenrock, Dave Johnston Plant, 6,
13 July 1974
(
RJL
). FREMONT: Lander, WANG, LTA,
8 Aug. 2004
. GOSHEN: Fort Laramie,
24 July 1958
(
DRT
); Goshen Co.,
12 July1943
(
REP
),
21 July 1944
(
REP
); Torrington,
18 July 1960
(
DGF
). LARAMIE: Pine Bluffs,
1 Aug. 1962
(
RJL
),
3 July–3 Aug. 1963
(
LJS
). NIOBRARA:
64 km
N of Lusk,
July 1895
(
RM-UK
). PLATTE: Camp
Guernsey
, WANG, 2001b (
CSU
,
GMAD
); Chugwater,
23 July 1952
(
REP
);
24 July 1953
(
REP
); Dwyer, numerous records,
23 June–17 Aug.
(
RJL
);
Guernsey
, numerous records,
6 July–1 Sept.
(
RJL
); Register Cliff,
15 July 1964
(
RJL
);
Guernsey
State Park,
16 July 1964
(
RJL
); Hartville,
17 Aug. 1963
,
7 July 1964
(
RJL
),
9 Aug. 1964
(
RJL
); Platte Co.,
2 Aug. 1945
(
REP
); Wheatland,
5 Aug. 1964
(
RJL
,
FRH
),
27 July–25 Aug
, 1965 (
RJL
), T25N R67W
S27,
6
July 1974 (
RJL
). WESTON: Newcastle,
11 km
S,
11 July 1980
(
RJL
). Recorded from Wyoming by:
Dennis
et al.
(2010)
;
Geller-Grimm (2018)
;
Lavigne & Dennis (1994)
.
Habitat:
Saltbrush-greasewood shrub, wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe shrub and grassland, and gramaneedlegrass-wheatgrass, grama-buffalo grass and wheatgrass-needlegrass grassland vegetation
types
. Protected gullies both with and without pine cover on the short grass plains area; rangeland.
Ethology:
Rests on and forages from soil and vegetation, depending on substrate temperature (see
Rogers & Lavigne 1972
).
Prey:
DIPTERA
,
Culicidae
:
Aedes
sp.;
HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera)
,
Geocoridae
:
Geocoris pallens
Stål
,
Guernsey
State Park,
16 July 1964
.
HYMENOPTERA
,
Halictidae
:
Halictus
sp. (two records) (
COLEOPTERA
,
DIPTERA
,
HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera, Homoptera)
,
HYMENOPTERA
,
ORTHOPTERA
(see
Dennis
et al.
2010
;
Lavigne & Dennis 1994
;
Rogers & Lavigne 1972
).