Dicropaltum mesae (Tucker)

Lavigne, Robert J. & Dennis, Steve, 2019, Robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA with keys to genera and species, Zootaxa 4662 (1), pp. 1-126 : 33

Dicropaltum mesae (Tucker)

Tolmerus mesae Tucker : 92.

Recognition characters: Grayish brown species; length 7–10 mm; mystax white; thorax largely yellowish brown pollinose; scutellum gray pollinose, setae white, bristles 2 white; wings hyaline, very faintly clouded apically; abdomen yellowish brown pollinose; legs with femora black, tibiae and tarsi reddish brown, setae and bristles white, exceptionally numerous on femora.

Distribution: ALBANY: Bosler, 13 July 1937 ( CLJ, RHB-UK); Centennial, 2 Aug. 1960 ( RJL); Laramie, 5 Aug. 1949 ( RHB-UK), 2–8 July 1973 ( SD). BIG HORN: Greybull Airport, 16 June 1966 ( RJL). CARBON: Rawlins, 26 June 1920 ( AMNH). FREMONT: Gas Hills Road, Riverton, 11 June 1963 ( LJS, RJL); 11 km SW of Shoshoni and 16 km S of Shoshoni, numerous records, 3 June–17 July ( FRH, LR, RJL, SD). GOSHEN: 2 July 1943; 2 July 1944; 18–19 July 1945 ( REP). JOHNSON: 24 km S of Buffalo, 23 June 1943 ( REP). LARAMIE: 22 July 1944 ( REP). NATRONA: Casper, 3 June 1960 ( CH); Rte. 220, Casper Jct., 24 June 1964 ( FRH, RJL). NIOBRARA: Lusk, 14 July 1937 ( RHB-UK); 6 July 1946 ( REP); Manville, 24 June 1949; 14 July 1947 ( REP); 2–9 July 1943; 18 July 1945; 18 July 1952 ( REP). PARK: Horse Creek Campground, Shoshone National For., 21 July 1957 ( AD & HD-CU); Laramie, 5 Aug. 1949 ( RHB-UK); 2–8 July 1973 ( SD). PLATTE: Dwyer, numerous records, 3 June–11 Aug. ( DRT, REP, RJL); Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b ( CSU, GMAD); Gray Rocks Ranch, Camp Guernsey, 25 June–5 Aug. 2008 ( CSU, GMAD); Guernsey, numerous records, 31 May–28 July ( REP, RJL); Hartville, 9 July 1964 ( RJL); 11–14 July 1944; 4 July 1945; 20 June–10 July 1951 ( REP); Pruitt Ranch, 22 June 1966 ( NM); Wheatland, 14 July 1937 ( RHB-UK). SHERIDAN: 6 June 1939 ( REP); Sheridan, WANG, LTA, 15 June 2007 ( CSU, GMAD). SWEETWATER: 16 km W of Farson, 20 July 1965 ( GEB, PT) (specimen in CAS); Green River, 2 July 1920 ( AMNH); Wamsutter, 21 June 1950 ( CHM). Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Green River, Rock Springs, Rawlins, Carbon County, as Asilus mesae ); Cole (1969) (as Asilus mesae ); Dennis & Lavigne (1975) (as Asilus mesae ; as prey of Ospriocerus latipennis , Proctacanthella cacopiloga ); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Holland (1969) [as Asilus mesae ; as prey of Pogonioefferia staminea (as Efferia staminea )]; Lavigne et al. (1976) [as Asilus mesae ; as prey of Pogonioefferia benedicti (as Efferia benedicti )]; Martin (1975).

Habitat: Saltbrush-greasewood shrub, sagebrush steppe shrub and grassland, and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass grassland vegetation types. Open range, short- to mid-grass plains and greasewood.

Ethology: Forages from both the ground and vegetation, depending on the temperature of the ground surface (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975).

Prey: DIPTERA , HETEROPTERA, HOMOPTERA, HYMENOPTERA , LEPIDOPTERA , ORTHOPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975 and Rogers & Lavigne 1972, both as Asilus mesae ).